"Goodbye, Laboon! If you want to fulfill the promise, stay alive and well, you hear me!"
Amidst Sakura and the others' cheerful farewells, the Leviathan went full speed ahead, gradually moving away from Twin Cape.
"Ooo--!"
Behind them, the giant island whale also called out loudly, spraying a large amount of water to see them off.
"The Grand Line is truly amazing! Sakura-nee can even develop medicine like that!"
Kuina, who was sparring with Tiger on the deck, exclaimed, glancing sideways at Sakura waving goodbye at the stern.
"Having a captain with superb medical skills is a good thing. At least we don't have to worry about injuries in the future."
Tiger's raised fist was already wrapped in Armament Haki. He punched Kuina's blade, forcing her back several steps.
"Damn it, why do I instinctively hold back when clashing with Haki-infused attacks?"
Kuina pouted, gripping her two swords again. "And a girl's body is so troublesome, strength just can't keep up with a man's!"
"There are many ways to increase strength. The fastest is to find a Devil Fruit and eat it."
Sakura's voice suddenly sounded behind Kuina. She was holding a multi-colored Devil Fruit.
"I grabbed this fruit in the Goa Kingdom. Don't know its ability. Want to take a gamble?"
"No!"
Kuina shook her head, her eyes showing no attachment to the sea's secret treasure. "If a swordsman starts relying on things other than their sword, their heart will grow dull!"
Saying this, she picked up her twin swords again and charged at Fisher Tiger once more.
Time spent sailing on the sea was hard to keep track of precisely.
Under the alternating beatdowns from the two Haki experts on the ship, Kuina was grudgingly honed Observation Haki.
Just as she was cheering with joy, the ship slowly sailed into Whisky Peak.
…
Whisky Peak.
Night fog enveloped the island.
It was the liveliest time on the island. Bounty hunters gathered here in small groups, raising their glasses together to mock the foolishness of young pirates who actually believed a town welcoming pirates existed in the world.
"Amateurs! It's definitely Hancock! The Pirate Empress!"
A wooden mug bound with an iron hoop slammed onto the table, its orange contents spilling out.
A man held up a newly printed bounty poster, hearts shining in his eyes.
"Young whippersnapper, what's so good about those cold, aloof types? The two previous Snake Empresses who took the seas by storm in my youth were the best!"
An old man with white hair and beard slammed his wooden prosthetic leg on the tavern table, baring his shark-like teeth as he roared at them.
"That was forty or fifty years ago! No matter how beautiful they were, they're just dried-up seaweed now."
A young, drunk bounty hunter pinched his chin and teased, turning his head away.
"What did you say?!"
The enraged old man pushed through the crowd, grabbed the young man's collar, and shook him violently.
"You guys just don't get it. Strength is beauty. So shouldn't the best-looking one be Whitebeard?"
Another mug rapped the tavern table. Someone sitting in a corner cupped their hands.
"I said it's the 'World's Most Beautiful Woman'!"
His statement provoked unanimous condemnation from the troublemakers at the table. Someone even punched him directly, nipping this increasingly dangerous preference in the bud.
"You all have no taste! Considering age and beauty, the Emperor Candidate Higanbana Sakura is the best looking, right? Although her chest is still a bit disappointing, it'll grow bigger in the future!"
A man with a crew cut, silently holding his drink at the bar, bit his straw and downed the alcohol in his glass.
"Oh? And what size do you think is appropriate?"
A clear voice rang out. The cheerful party atmosphere in the square instantly quieted down.
However, the man holding the glass didn't notice at all the pink-haired girl standing behind him, all smiles.
"Well, you see, with her height of nearly two meters, I personally think a D-cup is the perfect curve. And let me tell you..."
The man turned around with his glass, speaking in a tone of experience, his face excited as he prepared to hold forth.
But when he saw clearly who was behind him, it was as if his neck had been squeezed shut. The sound stopped abruptly.
"Hmm, and what else?"
Sakura walked over and sat down at the bar, looking like she was waiting for him to continue.
The man couldn't withstand the pressure, foamed at the mouth, and fainted.
"Exactly like the bounty poster! The crew members with her match too."
"An Emperor Candidate? Why would such a big shot come to Whisky Peak?"
"The newspaper reported before that she was entering the Grand Line. That was actually true!"
The entire bonfire party of bounty hunters present erupted. Greed, desire, envy... all sorts of gazes intertwined and fell upon them.
"This feeling is a bit unpleasant."
Kuina uncomfortably loosened her shoulders. Having awakened Observation Haki, she immediately detected dozens of malicious gazes from the crowd.
These gazes felt like pinpricks, making her want to draw her sword and slash at their owners.
"Get used to it slowly. But for now, at least be alert. We can't let the pirate crew lose dignity at the very first stop!"
Fisher Tiger crossed his arms, using his ferocious gaze to counter those who dared show malice.
"Hey, you guys-!"
Sakura drew out her tone, making the bounty hunters hold their breath.
"Aren't you having a party? Where's the wine? The meat? Bring it all out!"
The deadly silent atmosphere was reversed by these words. Whisky Peak became a scene of bustling excitement once again.
The grand party became even more lively than before, because a big shot from the seas had joined the festivities.
"Sigh, I knew it!"
Leviathan sighed with a headache, her small eyes already shaped like steak, her cleaned wings also grabbing a plate from the table.
"You have the nerve to say that about her?"
Kuina knocked on Leviathan's head.
"Whatever, since it's the captain's order..."
Fisher Tiger took the wine offered by someone nearby and drank deeply.
"Uncle Tiger, even you..."
Kuina, who had intended to maintain some reserve, was sunk by the desserts brought by the people around her and succumbed, joining the party.
The mountain of food disappeared at a staggering speed under the feast of the crowd.
When the full moon in the sky cast its bright light on the hillside behind Whisky Peak, covered in graves, the malice on the island finally began to act.
In the center of the square, large numbers of people lay strewn about, drunk after the party. The very few sober ones got up, carrying swords, guns, and cannons.
"Hey, are you sure the drug you used will really work?"
A man with a full beard, carrying a rocket launcher on his back, asked in a low voice.
"Relax, it's a drug that can even knock out Sea Kings!"
The man who had participated in the earlier discussion grinned, giving the others a thumbs-up.
"No time to lose. Quickly take the heads of the Higanbana crew!"
Several bounty hunters coordinated their actions and soon managed to take the heads of Sakura's crew.
Then they would hand them over to the World Government for the bounty, become famous overnight, and rise to the peak of life.
"Hmm, not bad ideals~"
Sakura's fingers, forming hand seals, relaxed. The boiling Chakra gradually calmed.
On the square, still strewn with unconscious bounty hunters, Sakura sat on the bar counter, legs crossed, pouring fine wine for herself.
"These bastards! So this was their plan all along?"
Hearing the entire plan from the other party's sleep-talking, Kuina was so angry she gritted her teeth.
"How should we deal with them?"
Fisher Tiger put down his glass, his gaze turning to Sakura.
"Plunder their treasure and food, then leave!"
Sakura shook her head helplessly, stood up from the chair, and stepped forward.
"Not going to finish them off?" Leviathan pulled a cleanly gnawed bone from her beak. "Letting enemies off won't make them grateful to you."
"Enemies? Don't sell yourself so cheaply, Leviathan."
Sakura reached out and stroked her feathers. "Small fries like these aren't worth considering as enemies. Hahahaha!"
"So," Tiger said with a light laugh, crossing his arms, "this is the leeway of the strong?"
Kuina, hugging her swords, grinned foolishly. "Sakura-nee is so cool!"
"Let's go. Take the stuff. It's time for us to set sail!"
Sakura stopped in front of the group, turned around, and waved at them.
"Whoa!"