On these turbulent seas, what is the hardest currency of all?
Not the "Belly" issued by the World Government.
Nor the precious metal known as "gold."
It's the seemingly unremarkable "ships"! In the world-famous shipbuilding city—Water 7.
A well-preserved second-hand ship can cost around 100 million Belly.
And a brand-new ship? The price starts at 300 million Belly or more!
To put this into perspective, even the legendary "Great Sea Treasure"—the Devil Fruit—has an average selling price of just 100 million Belly.
By this measure, a single new ship could be exchanged for roughly three Devil Fruits!
Moreover.
The ships publicly sold in Water 7 are typically just wooden sailing vessels meant for pirates and merchants.
But what about the warships the World Government and Marine Headquarters rely on to dominate the seas and maintain order? Take the three battleships Storm seized in the recent battle as an example.
These are massive steel-hulled vessels with four masts, dozens of cannons mounted on the front and sides, and the capability to safely traverse the Calm Belt!
Each of these massive warships stretches nearly sixty meters in length! Based on the Knowledge Storm acquired at the naval academy.
Battleships of this size—capable of carrying 800 marines across the seas—cost tens of billions of Belly each to build! Storm isn't sure why the World Government—or perhaps Marine Headquarters—
deployed three such battleships at once to subdue the "Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma of the Sorbet Kingdom.
But in any case, these three warships have now fallen into Storm's hands.
And he just happened to be in need of a ship.
When recruiting future crewmates, Storm could proudly point to the battleship and say—
"My ship is big and comfortable!"
Of course.
Storm has no intention of keeping all three warships for himself.
He isn't the type to "preserve one, admire another, and preach about the third"...
He plans to keep one for his own use.
The other two? He intends to find a suitable "buyer" to take them off his hands! Along with the hundreds of marines stranded on the shore—they'll be part of the ransom package! This would provide the perfect startup capital for his pirate venture. Burdog glanced at the three warships on the sea, then at the young "pirate" beside him.
"You're planning to steal these marine battleships?"
"Not 'planning to'—already have!"
Storm corrected Burdog's phrasing, speaking earnestly.
"Being a pirate means plundering whoever has money!
"How much can you squeeze from the poor?"
Hearing this.
Burdog finally believed this man before him was a lawless pirate of the seas.
Though he couldn't quite articulate why, the man's dismissive attitude toward the poor eased his mind somewhat...
Just then.
Kid and Killer, having finished their preliminary inspection of the supplies aboard the three marine battleships, approached with excitement.
"Boss! These marine ships are huge! And packed with supplies!"
"Food, fresh water, sabers, cannonballs, and new weapons and equipment I've never even heard of before!"
The reports from Kid and Killer showcased their distinctly different personalities.
"Unload the perishable food first, then take some men with you..."
Storm paused mid-sentence.
He glanced at the captured marines and the group of elderly standing on the shore, shaking his head inwardly.
[Clay Golems]! Storm activated the power of the [Clay-Clay Fruit], and one after another, three-meter-tall Little Giants materialized along the coastline.
He arranged the Clay Little Giants into orderly ranks before waving Kid and Killer over.
"You two, take these Clay Golems and unload everything from the ships. Leave nothing behind."
"Aye, boss!" X2 The duo obeyed promptly, leading the troop of small giants back toward the naval vessels at sea.
Storm created additional Clay Golems to guard the detained marines.
Then, using clay manipulation, he lifted the unconscious Kuma and another "important prisoner"—King Bekley.
[Nine-Tailed Fox]! A vivid white fox spirit leaped from Storm's body.
Its mythical appearance, straight out of legends, startled Burdog and the other elders nearby.
"Old man, I won't linger here for small talk."
Storm leaped onto the Nine-Tailed Fox's head, sitting cross-legged.
"I'm heading to the Great Bear King's 'palace' now. Care to join me?"
Palace?
How does this pirate know its location? Burdog's heart skipped a beat.
He hadn't mentioned anything about a "palace" earlier! "Very well, seems you prefer walking back alone."
Storm patted the Nine-Tailed Fox beneath him, which immediately began striding inland.
"Then I'll take my leave!"
"W-wait!"
Burdog hastily raised his hand, calling out.
"Please take me with you!"
Burdog steeled himself.
If this young pirate's words were true—
If he truly sought Kuma's "palace," that hidden chapel sheltering little Bonney—
Then Burdog would stop him, even at the cost of his life! But if it was a lie...
If Storm hadn't discovered Kuma's refuge, but King Bekley's palace instead—
"King Bekley??"
No sooner had Storm pulled Burdog onto the fox than he spotted another familiar figure.
None other than the former king of Sorbet Kingdom, Bekley himself!
This notorious pirate! Staring at Storm's back, Burdog felt utterly bewildered. First capturing Kuma, now King Bekley...
What game was this man playing? The Nine-Tailed Fox moved with astonishing speed.
Before Burdog could process events, they'd already penetrated deep into Sorbet Kingdom's island.
Under Storm's guidance, the fox came to a smooth halt before an unusual small chapel.
Unlike conventional churches, every window of this structure had been tightly sealed shut.
Storm could easily imagine it.
Under such stringent protective measures, absolutely no natural light could penetrate into the church!
Storm jumped down from the Nine-Tailed Fox's back and carefully lowered Kuma, Burdog, and King Bekley to the ground.
Just as he set them down—
Burdog suddenly swung his cane with all his might, aiming straight for Storm.
"You pirate!"
"Old man, that's quite rude, don't you think?"
Storm frowned slightly at the feeble strike of the cane.
"You can stay outside with that so-called king!"
Before Burdog's cane could land on Storm—
The Nine-Tailed Fox's fluffy tail coiled around Burdog's body with a gentle flick.
By the time the tail withdrew, Burdog had turned into a clay statue, just like King Bekley.
Storm, carrying the still-unconscious Kuma, slowly walked toward the church.
Creak—
With the sound of the door opening, Storm pushed the church entrance wide.
The moment he stepped inside—
A stern-faced, pint-sized figure burst out from the shadows.
She had long pink hair cascading to her waist, her delicate face adorned with gem-like fragments.
"Die!"
The tiny figure leaped high into the air, lifting her right leg to deliver a "heavy kick" at Storm.
Yet, the force behind her kick was even weaker than Burdog's cane.
Storm reacted swiftly, grabbing the pink-haired girl's ankle and hoisting her upside-down with one hand.
"Little girl, what exactly are you trying to do?"
He shook her lightly, causing an assortment of "weapons" to clatter to the ground.
A crucifix, garlic, a candlestick, a brick…
Storm's eye twitched at the sight.
"The locals here are downright uncivilized!"
Dizzy from being shaken, the pink-haired girl squealed in protest.
Her cries reached the ears of the man nearby.
Kuma, who had been unconscious moments ago, suddenly snapped his eyes open and scrambled to his feet.
"Bonney!"
Seeing his daughter in Storm's "grasp," Kuma raised his right hand anxiously, ready to intervene.
But the distance between Storm and Bonney was too close.
In the end, Kuma could only raise both hands above his head in a gesture of surrender.
"Let Bonney go! I'll agree to anything you want!"
"Dad!"
Jewelry Bonney, still dangling upside-down, let fat tears roll down her cheeks.
"Hey, hey, hey! The way you're acting makes me look like some kind of villain!"
Storm released Bonney's ankle and gently tossed her toward Kuma.
"Bartholomew Kuma, spend some time with your 'daughter.'"
"Bonney!"
Kuma caught her mid-air, his focus entirely on his daughter.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!"
Bonney curled up in Kuma's arms, fighting back her tears.
"That guy just now—"
Storm, standing nearby, shot them a cold glare.
"Hmm?"
"That person just now—"
"Tch!"
Bonney gathered her courage and continued speaking.
"That person just now didn't hurt me."
Kuma personally examined Bonney's body and confirmed she had no injuries before finally relaxing.
He looked up at Storm, recalling the man's earlier words.
"You—what did you mean by what you just said?"
"You don't know?"
Storm casually molded a clay figurine of Jewelry Bonney between his fingers, poking at its face with his fingertip.
"Your daughter has an incurable disease."
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