To ensure he wouldn't be meddling in others' affairs without cause, Ray activated his Observation Haki.
His powerful Haki instantly covered the entire island, clearly revealing the cruel events unfolding there.
In the town of this unnamed winter island, a massacre was taking place.
Large numbers of males over twelve years old and older women past their prime were being slaughtered without mercy.
Meanwhile, women with decent appearances and all the children were being tied up by the pirates, clearly taken as spoils of war.
As for what these captives would be used for in the future, it was obvious at a glance.
The women would become slaves or worse.... a sex slave.
The young girls would be sold off.
The young boys would be trained from childhood as suicide squad members, while those who failed could also become slaves.
In more extreme cases, knowing the connections of the Big Mom Pirates, being used for biochemical experiments was entirely plausible.
In chaotic times, those without the ability to protect themselves were no different from livestock.
Naturally, Ray didn't care about these strangers' survival—his kindness was reserved only for his own people.
Thus, even after activating his Observation Haki and clearly sensing the atrocities committed by the Big Mom Pirates, he merely approached the town at a leisurely pace.
However, Ray noticed something interesting at the town center.
Standing amidst the carnage was a handsome man about two meters tall, with shoulder-length golden curly hair.
He wielded a rapier, wore stylish cropped pants, and brown combat boots.
He was currently pressing one hand against his bleeding waist, his face filled with righteous anger as he confronted a four-meter-tall long-legged woman—Smoothie.
'This guy... is he... Cavendish?' Ray thought.
...
Town Center
Cavendish was extremely angry.
This winter island was the first place he had taken under his protection since entering the New World a year ago.
But these despicable Big Mom Pirates were slaughtering people here, completely disregarding his presence and his pirate flag while he was resting on the island.
After all, he was one of the top Supernovas who had entered the New World this year, captain of the Beautiful Pirates with a bounty of 330 million Belly.
The reason for their attack was simple: they wanted the island's unique resource, "Snow Lotus Paste."
It was a rare plant with both medicinal and edible uses.
Cavendish had even agreed to have the villagers help Smoothie collect the Snow Lotus Paste to avoid conflict, but her attitude was utterly hostile, leaving no room for a peaceful resolution.
"Cavendish, this island contains ingredients that Mother needs, so it must belong to our Big Mom Pirates," Smoothie spoke coldly.
She was extremely arrogant, not showing the slightest regard for the Supernova pirate before her.
"You have only two choices before you," she continued, staring down at him. "One is to become a subordinate of our Big Mom Pirates and bear me two children. The other is death."
"As for the insects on this island... their fate was sealed the moment they dared to resist Mama."
Seeing Smoothie's arrogant and confident expression, Cavendish grew furious!
Struggling to his feet, he pointed his rapier, Durandal, at this pirate from an Emperor's crew whose bounty was three times his own.
"I admit I'm no saint!" he shouted. "But the girls on this island like me! They respect me! The other residents have paid me ample protection fees!"
"That makes them my people," Cavendish declared, gritting his teeth. "And no matter what, I must protect them. This is the principle of me, the Pirate Prince, White Horse Cavendish!"
His words were righteous and stirring, moving the hearts of all the people who heard them.
By the roadside, the group of captured girls listened to Cavendish's impassioned speech, their blood boiling with excitement.
Their agitated hormones made them ignore the pain of being bound by ropes, and with hearts in their eyes, they began cheering for their idol.
"Cavendish-sama is so handsome!"
"Don't worry about us, my lord, please run!"
"Yes, husband, run quickly! We're willing to die for you!"
"I am Cavendish-sama bride, and dying for you is my greatest wish!"
One after another, the captured girls voiced their support for Cavendish.
Hearing his supporters' voices, Cavendish immediately became fired up!
"To repay all your love, i can achieve anything!" he shouted loudly. "Prepare to die, Smoothie!"
Smoothie looked at the overconfident insect before her and the infatuated girls supporting him by the roadside, curling her lips in disdain.
"Love? How boring."
She extended her massive right hand and grabbed the girl who shouted 'I am Cavendish-sama bride' and wore a wedding dress.
Then, gripping her tightly with both hands, she mocked Cavendish.
"Then try to protect your bride from me?"
With that, Smoothie activated her Squeeze-Squeeze Fruit ability.
"Eeeeeek~~"
The girl let out an ear-splitting scream.
The delicate body of the girl instantly contorted in the hands of the four-meter-tall Smoothie, twisting into a spiral shape like a wet towel being wrung dry by a strong man.
As Smoothie applied force with her hands, liquid was extracted.
In an instant, all the moisture was squeezed out of the girl's body.
Smoothie casually tossed her to the ground, where she lay like a dry, shriveled rag.
Even though she had withered into a mummy, the girl still voice her support for Cavendish.
"My... life... is fulfilled... Lord... Caven..."
Before she could finish, she completely lost her ability to speak, her dehydrated body unable to produce even a whisper.
Witnessing this scene, Cavendish flew into a rage.
This girl's final words echoed in his ears like a curse.
In an instant, Cavendish coated his famous sword with Armament Haki and thrust directly at Smoothie.
"Beautiful Sword - Blue Bird!"
A powerful sword aura imbued with Haki shot toward Smoothie at extreme speed, its force so intense that it caused the air to tremble.
Yet Smoothie didn't evade. Instead, she simply coated her right hand with Armament Haki and threw a straightforward punch against the sharp sword aura.
Bang!
After a brief confrontation, Smoothie's expression remained calm, showing no sign of strain.
Cavendish's sword aura shattered like glass and vanished into the air.
Having gauged Cavendish's strength, Smoothie lost her patience.
She charged forward and launched an assault on Cavendish.
...
Five Minutes Later
The battle was over.
Smoothie looked down contemptuously at the bloodied "Pirate Prince" lying on the ground.
Cavendish was struggling to breathe, his body covered in bruises and cuts.
"Though your strength is mediocre," Smoothie said, smirking disdainfully, "your looks could be considered second only to that person in my memory. As a reward, you'll come back with me to serve as a breeding machine."
With that, Smoothie ordered her subordinates.
"Bring a dog chain."
She intended to fasten it around Cavendish's neck herself.
But just then, she suddenly heard the agonized screams of her crew members in the distance.
"Ah! You can't kill me!"
"Damn it, who are you? Don't you know we're the Yonko's— Ah!"
"Smoothie-sama, save me!"
The screams were cut short almost as soon as they began.
As Smoothie prepared to move to investigate, a corpse abruptly plummeted from the sky and landed at her feet with a heavy thud.
It was the Tea Minister.
One of the 34 Ministers of the Big Mom Pirates—and also Smoothie's younger brother.
Staring at the lifeless corpse beneath her, though enraged, Smoothie forced herself to remain calm.
Her hand drifted to the hilt of the sword on her back.
Anyone capable of instantly killing a Minister was undoubtedly powerful—not someone to be taken lightly.