April 26, 1497, Age of the Sea Circle
After sailing for days without finding any islands, Orion finally spotted land on the horizon.
He checked the system map, where a new marker had appeared, and calculated the remaining distance to the island.
The island he was approaching was the one marked by the Eternal Pose Effilée had given him, but this wasn't where the new marker had appeared.
Reading the system notification, which indicated that a "small energy source" had been detected, Orion felt his luck was improving lately.
Not only had he obtained a major power-up in Guanhao by consuming the Doa Doa no Mi, but now he had once again encountered another fruit classified by the system as a "small energy source."
Obviously, it was a Devil Fruit that wasn't as compatible with the system as the previous energy sources encountered, but it would still be superior to a normal Devil Fruit, such as the Inu Inu no Mi: Wolf Model, which was currently stored in one of his system inventory slots.
On the deck of the small ship, only Orion was present. Kalifa was sleeping in the Pocket Dimension, where Orion had created a bed using his "Art Coating" ability.
In the future, he planned to "furnish" his small parallel dimension with real furniture, rather than taking up one of the precious uses of his ability.
After all, he couldn't use "Art Coating" on more than five items at a time, so taking up one of its uses on a piece of furniture was a waste.
Orion opened a door in the air, saw that Kalifa was still sleeping peacefully, and didn't wake her up. He continued sailing toward the island, and when he was close enough, he deposited the small boat into his inventory and used his Geppo + Pocket Dimension combination to advance toward the island at high speed.
He reached the beach and saw the town spread out in front of him.
Overall, there wasn't anything too unusual about it; it was a medium-sized town, similar to Beru, where Doll had previously lived. If there was one thing odd about this place, it was that there was a bizarre amount of socks.
There were shops that sold nothing but socks, artisans who knitted woolen socks to order, artists who customized socks, and other such strange things.
Orion was very curious about the reason behind the people of this place's obsession with socks, but he didn't investigate too deeply.
Using money he had borrowed from Galette, he stocked up on groceries and other things he needed for his journey on the Grand Line.
He had escaped from Guanhao without many supplies, and he wouldn't be able to survive a long journey to South Blue without resupplying.
Orion noticed with some curiosity that the people in this city had a rather strange fashion: wearing a sock on their head as if it were a mask. Seeing people passing by wearing the classic costume of a bank robber from his past life, Orion decided to inquire about it, and ended up at a store that sold this gadget.
He bought one of the socks, the one he thought looked the least ridiculous, and put it on his head, concealing his appearance.
He was now a fugitive, and would surely be pursued by Cipher Pol, which wouldn't tolerate his act of betrayal.
Orion had not only escaped from the Guanhao training island, but had also destroyed a good portion of its facilities, stolen three Devil Fruits, injured multiple agents, and kidnapped two elite recruits, one of whom had "special" status and the other belonging to an important bloodline that had been under the command of the world government for centuries.
He knew Cipher Pol would be searching for him now, and would likely extend their search to South Blue eventually. After all, that was where he had been abducted.
One thing that reassured him, however, was that Cipher Pol didn't know he was originally from Pacific Town, so they wouldn't go there to cause trouble for his loved ones.
This city was the first he had arrived at since his escape from Guanhao, and it wouldn't hurt to be cautious. The possibility that such a convenient fashion existed on this island, allowing him to hide his face without arousing suspicion, was welcomed with open arms by Orion, although he wished they'd used masks instead of brightly colored socks.
Orion saw that evening was falling and decided to stay in this city for another day. He could take advantage of this opportunity to gather information about his destination, which was the nearby Marine base, as well as about the events in this part of the world unknown to him.
He walked through the city's central streets and soon found an inn, where he rented a room for the night.
Technically, there was no need to do so, since he could sleep inside his Pocket Dimension just as Kalifa was currently doing, but he wanted to avoid attracting too much attention.
He couldn't tell if someone was watching him, and might discover him vanishing into thin air without a trace. That was the type of information that traveled the fastest, and it was gathered just as quickly by Cipher Pol agents spread around the world.
During his time on the training island, Orion not only increased his power and gained several useful spy skills, but he also gained a deeper understanding of how the World Government's intelligence agency, Cipher Pol, worked.
This organization's ability to gather information and carry out missions to influence the direction of any nation in this world was truly terrifying, and no one who hadn't been in close contact with this organization would be able to fully understand it.
Even he, who had trained as an elite recruit and spied on the island's confidential information files, didn't know the extent of Cipher Pol's influence. After all, Guanhao wasn't the organization's base of operations, and the information he'd been able to access there was still limited.
One thing that comforted him, however, was that while the organization was massive and powerful, it was infested with termites, which gnawed at its firm foundations and could cause it to falter in the future.
He had surmised that a similar problem plagued the Marines, though he couldn't say for sure. On the other hand, he had witnessed Cipher Pol's corruption, laziness, and, to a certain extent, arrogance.
Orion was grateful that this organization didn't function perfectly, as otherwise he'd have no way to hide from it and would be captured without too much trouble.
Orion's assessment was simple: Cipher Pol was a massive and dangerous organization, but flawed and corrupt. It was only a shadow of its former self, though this shadow was so imposing that it still represented a constant danger to him and the people of the world.
Orion knew that Cipher Pol wouldn't go public with his situation, and wouldn't put a bounty on his head, since they would never admit that one of their key bases, like Guanhao, had been nearly destroyed by a dissident spy. Orion's existence was an embarrassment to Cipher Pol and the World Government, and he would be hunted down silently, without warning.
Perhaps only Marines of sufficiently high rank would know of what had happened and his actions. Lower-ranking officers would either be unaware of his existence or would learn of it under trumped-up charges.
After all, with the power Orion had demonstrated during his escape from Guanhao, low-ranking Marines probably wouldn't be able to do anything against him even if they knew his identity. It was better for the Marines to keep a low profile and not alert Orion, who could become careless and sooner or later expose himself to Cipher Pol's information network, thus sealing his fate.
At least this was what Orion had surmised based on the information he had and his knowledge of Cipher Pol's workings.
After stocking up and renting a room at the inn, Orion wandered the streets of this city and finally entered a tavern, where he ate a halfway decent meal while listening to the conversations of the other people there.
One piece of information in particular caught his attention.
At a table not far from his, several disheveled-looking men were drinking happily, and it wasn't difficult to deduce that they were pirates.
He had noticed two pirate ships docked on this island, but in the Grand Line the presence of pirates wasn't as uncommon as it might be in the South Blue.
"Hey, did you hear what happened to "Double Axe" Cali and his crew?" said one of the pirates, lowering his beer mug and making a mysterious expression, as if he were about to reveal a big secret.
"Cali? That pervert who's been gaining a reputation lately? What happened to him?" another pirate asked curiously.
"Surely he was eliminated by the Marines, right? Wasn't he being chased by a Vice Admiral until recently?"
"Heh, are you referring to Grodiger? Apparently, he captured him, but then let him go," said the first pirate, who seemed to be the most knowledgeable of the group.
"Let him go? What was he up to? Grodiger isn't exactly known for his mercy."
"That's what's interesting," said the first pirate, and continued his story.
"Shortly after Cali was freed, part of the Ice Witch's crew was captured by Grodiger, and a few days ago, Cali was completely destroyed by the Ice Witch herself."
The pirates listening to the pirate's tale inhaled sharply and held their breaths.
The Ice Witch, Whitey Bay, was one of the strongest captains in these waters, and she was as ruthless as she was beautiful. It was said that she had been part of Whitebeard's crew and had recently begun captaining her own crew, which was subordinate to the fleet commanded by such a legendary figure.
One of the pirates gulped and said,
"So… Cali dared to touch the Ice Witch's crew?"
"I don't have definitive information, but that seems to be the case, and not only that, the Ice Witch has been seen sailing towards the Marine Base under Grodiger's command. It looks like there's going to be a big commotion in this area very soon!" said the pirate with a smile, and downed the rest of his beer in one gulp.
The pirates around him didn't seem so relaxed, and upon hearing the relaxed pirate's words, they began to feel uneasy.
One of them stood up abruptly and left the tavern without paying. The other pirates didn't react for a moment, then came to their senses and followed his example, hastily leaving the place.
"Hey! Where are you going? Aren't you going to keep drinking?" said the pirate who had been recounting the events that had happened in the area and was the only one left at the table.
The other pirates didn't answer him and continued hastily heading towards their ships, ready to set sail.
They didn't dare remain here any longer; after all, it seemed that one of Whitebeard's subordinates was about to come into conflict with a Vice Admiral, and perhaps even attack a Marine base in the process!
Such an attack would have dire consequences, and this area would likely be invaded by Marine vessels arriving as reinforcements. Pirates of their caliber staying on this island and getting involved in this problem could only end badly for them.
Orion listened carefully to the pirate's words and looked at the system screen, where the map was displayed.
Not far from his current location, there was a marker indicating the presence of a "small energy source," but there was also another marker that had appeared yesterday, and it was heading toward the energy source.
It was the marker indicating the presence of a Named Character: "Whitey Bay" (25).
He knew this name, having heard it in stories his master Roger had told him years before.
This woman, known as the'Ice Witch' had been part of Whitebeard's crew, and her power level was undoubtedly far superior to that of a normal pirate.
What's more, with her power level, her area of influence should be in the New World, and in this first half of the Grand Line where they were now, her presence was definitely overkill.
After analyzing the information he had obtained and seeing the speed with which Whitey Bay was approaching the power source, Orion decided he couldn't stay in this city any longer, as he had initially planned.
Clearly, the pirate captain was trying to go to the Marine Base, which would cause a major conflict and make it more difficult for him to infiltrate and steal the Devil Fruit he was seeking.
With this in mind, it would be best for him to hurry and obtain the power source before Whitey Bay reached the base and chaos ensued.
Orion ran toward the shore, then pulled his ship from his inventory and began sailing toward the marker that appeared on the system map as the sun began to set over the horizon.
.................
Meanwhile, on Drum Island, in the Grand Line, Gloriosa opened her eyes after being unconscious for several days.
She looked around, still somewhat confused, and saw that she was in an unfamiliar room.
Little by little, her memories began to return, and her eyes opened wide.
She tried to get out of bed, but a sharp pain in her back forced her to stop.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings. She found herself in a small room, filled with books and all sorts of herbs and medicines. The place was quite messy, so whoever lived here definitely wasn't a very tidy person.
The door to the room opened as she was surveying her surroundings, and a man in a suit entered carrying a black briefcase with a drawing of a skull surrounded by pink petals.
Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be a doctor, although he had an inherently disheveled look that seemed to be etched into his bones.
Seeing that Gloriosa had woken up, the man smiled excitedly and approached, laughing heartily.
"Hahaha! I see you woke up safely. I knew my leech treatment would be a success!"
Gloriosa shuddered, as goosebumps rose on her skin at the doctor's words. If there was one thing she couldn't tolerate, it was insects, worms, and other such vermin, and leeches definitely fell into that category!
The fact that this doctor had used leeches to treat her didn't please her at all, but she couldn't hold any animosity toward her savior, and simply felt uncomfortable at the thought of the treatment she had received.
"Where are we? What place is this?" Gloriosa asked, her voice hoarse.
The last memory she had was of being attacked by Rob Lucci by surprise, and then fainting before she could escape from Guanhao. Now she had woken up in this unfamiliar room, next to a doctor she had never seen at the base, and it was only natural that she had doubts about her whereabouts.
Could it be that Orion had managed to escape and take her with him? But then, where was he now?
"You're in my house, in the mountains. I found you passed out in the snow with serious injuries, so I brought you here and treated you. I must say, I didn't expect you to survive; my skills have certainly been improving!"
Gloriosa heard that he had saved her, and she felt great gratitude toward the eccentric man. She struggled to sit up in bed and gave a small bow of gratitude.
"Thank you so much for saving me. I will definitely repay this favor!" Gloriosa said solemnly. Normally, she was very lively and hyperactive, but she could also be serious when necessary, and she would always repay the good intentions with gratitude.
"Hahaha! No need to thank me, little one! It's my job as a doctor to help sick or injured people!" the man said, raising his arms. His manner of speaking was quite theatrical, almost flamboyant.
What Gloriosa didn't know was that this doctor had only worsened her injuries with his treatment, and if it weren't for the innate power of her body, which was far superior to that of a normal person, she would have died at the hands of this man with good intentions but poor medical talent.
Regardless, it was true that he had saved her life, since if he hadn't found her in the snow and taken her home, she would have frozen to death before her body could have healed itself.
"Was there anyone else with me?" Gloriosa asked cautiously.
She knew she was no longer in Guanhao, since there was no snow there, at least not at this time of year. So she must have been moved somewhere else by Orion while she was unconscious. But if that was the case, where was he? And Kalifa? Could the little girl have escaped with them?
The doctor shook his head and sighed.
"There was no one with you, but don't worry, as long as you're alive you'll find people who love you!" His voice was thick with emotion.
Gloriosa opened her mouth in surprise and wondered what story this extravagant man was imagining in his mind. From his words, he made it sound as if she were an outcast no one wanted around, and had been left to die!
What kind of insult was that? She was beautiful, intelligent, sweet, and kind! How could she not find people who loved her?! For example, Orion, who had fallen in love with her at first sight and followed her around like a lost dog; or little Kalifa, who had recognized her as her older sister the moment she saw her!
Clearly, she was perfectly capable of forming bonds—and being loved!
Hiriluk saw that Gloriosa didn't say anything about it. Instead she had crossed her arms and was grimacing and smiling as if she were fantasizing about something, and for a moment he thought that perhaps she had lost too much blood and her brain had been damaged.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared at full speed, entering through the door of the room that had been left open.
It was Yara, the snake that had accompanied Gloriosa since her birth in the MADS labs, who threw herself at the girl, interrupting her narcissistic self-defense thoughts.
Gloriosa hugged the snake with relief and confirmed that it was in perfect condition.
"Ah, this snake was with you. At first, I thought it was attacking you and wanted to eliminate it, but when I saw it was harmless, I brought it here with you," said Hiriluk, who was standing off to the side, witnessing Gloriosa's reunion with Yara.
Of course, his words were a lie. In reality, he had been beaten by Yara, who spared his life only because it needed him to treat Gloriosa's wounds.
Yara was a snake far more intelligent than a common animal, and was capable of actions that ordinary people would consider incredible.
Gloriosa heard that the doctor had tried to harm her precious companion, and she almost exploded with anger, but when she remembered that this was her benefactor, she suppressed her temper and let it pass. In any case, Yara was in perfect condition, and they had been successfully reunited, so there was no need to make such a fuss about the process.
Gloriosa looked out the window and saw snow falling intensely from the sky.
It was the first time she had seen such a snowfall, and her curiosity began to grow.
In her mind, a thought began to grow and occupy her full attention:
Now she was far from Guanhao, and for the first time in her life, she was 'free' Now, she could do whatever she wanted, go wherever she wanted!
She remembered her dream of visiting Amazon Lily and learning about her roots, and a big smile appeared on her face.
Finally, she had the chance to realize her dream.
She hugged Yara tightly and thought about her future plans.
In her mind, there were two desires: to fulfill her dream of going to the Island of Women, and to see Orion and Kalifa again.
The young Kuja was about to embark on her first great adventure.