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Aero's voice crackled through the Den Den Mushi. On the other end, Ray stood in a quiet safehouse and paused, listening intently.
"Understood, Captain. We're setting sail now."
Ray didn't question Aero's destination, which wasn't his job. His mission was clear: keep the fleet safe, and support the captain's strategy. He could guess what was happening though something had gone wrong in town, and Aero was buying them time by staying behind.
Ray turned to the officers in the room.
"Captain's orders. We leave immediately."
The squad leaders nodded without hesitation and rushed to gather their men. Within moments, the fleet was prepping for departure. A new voyage was beginning and they needed to be far from Loguetown before trouble hit.
---
Meanwhile, Aero darted deeper into the city's narrow alleys.
This part of Loguetown was unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
He didn't need confirmation. Smoker had found them.
Aero kicked up his speed, sprinting toward the shipyard Ray had mentioned over the Den Den Mushi. It was their only chance at getting a new ship before all hell broke loose.
As they moved, Eddie suddenly split off down another street.
A few minutes later, Gin broke formation and veered down a different alley.
Only Dylan stayed by Aero's side until he, too, stopped.
He handed Aero a small black case, which was carrying three hundred million berries.
Then, wordlessly, he pulled the [Ten Edge] from his back, slung it over his shoulder, and waited. He knew the hidden Marine surveillance squads wouldn't stay hidden for long.
Now alone, Aero vanished his form blurring into wind and leaving nothing behind but a faint breeze.
He had finally gone full elemental. Until now, he'd kept it in check to avoid drawing attention. But that was no longer an option.
---
Above the rooftops, Aero soared like a gust. His sharp eyes scanned the city below until they locked onto a massive shipyard in the distance.
He dove.
Landing hard just outside the gates, Aero didn't hesitate. The case of berries was still in hand secured, untouched.
Then—
Tap. Tap. Tap…
Footsteps behind him.
He stopped.
"Aero of the Hurricane Pirates! You're under arrest!"
The voice was firm. Female. Commanding.
He didn't turn around.
"Hey! Are you ignoring me?!"
She was mad.
A second later, she flashed ahead of him cutting off his path, katana pointed straight at his throat.
That's when he saw her.
Short, dark green hair. Square-framed red glasses. Fire in her eyes.
Tashigi.
She stood her ground with a mix of pride and frustration.
Aero simply flicked his wrist. A small gust of wind knocked her blade aside, sending her stumbling backward.
Before she could recover, he had already walked past her.
"H-Hey!" she shouted, swinging again.
Another burst of wind sent her crashing into the street.
As she struggled to rise, a squad of Marines finally caught up. They helped her up, and one of them whispered:
"Sergeant… Colonel Smoker said just to track him. He's out of our league."
Tashigi stared at the ground, teeth clenched.
"Damn it… he was right there, and I couldn't do a thing…"
She looked up just in time to see Aero disappear into the shipyard.
---
Inside, Aero was immediately approached by a burly shipwright with a friendly grin.
"You must be the guy Ray told me about!"
"That's me," Aero said flatly, already scanning the surroundings.
The shipyard was massive. From sleek cutters to towering warships it had everything.
"I need a medium-sized, durable sailing ship," Aero said.
He already knew what he wanted. His crew wasn't large enough to manage a full battleship. What they needed was speed, strength, and potential for upgrades.
"Medium?" The shipwright raised a brow. He glanced at the case in Aero's hand, then back at Aero himself.
This is the VIP Ray hyped up? Thought he'd be aiming higher than a mid-tier vessel.
Aero ignored the reaction. He was already walking, eyes locked on a particular ship.
It stood out.
No figurehead on the prow is perfect for customizing later.
He stepped closer and ran a hand along the hull—
Then recoiled instantly.
It was freezing cold.
Seastone.
The ship had been reinforced with Seastone plating a deadly surprise for any Devil Fruit user. Even a touch had drained his strength.
He pulled his hand back and narrowed his eyes, scanning the shipwrights around him.
Was this a coincidence… or a setup?
Either way, he was ready for whatever came next.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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