"Set sail!"
Soon, they arrived on the Hades. Everything on the ship had been prepared by Athena, waiting only for Nox's word, and the Hades immediately set off.
The Hades looked bulky as a giant steel battleship, but it sailed across the sea at lightning speed. The fastest ship in the World currently is the Hades.
The Hades sailed directly into the Calm Belt near Wano Country. With Sea Stone embedded beneath the Hades, there was no need to worry about Sea Kings attacks.
"Husband, over the years, we have continuously searched for various islands in the Calm Belt, and almost all of these islands have very rich resources. Now, the Calm Belt can be said to be a continuous resource pool waiting to be developed!"
Athena lay lazily in Nox's broad embrace, drawing circles on Nox's chest as she spoke.
Although the Limitless Pirates have sold many ships capable of sailing in the Calm Belt, and many forces have even mastered this technology.
But this technology has limitations; only those with powerful Haoshoku Haki can rely on such ships to navigate the Calm Belt.
Without Haoshoku Haki to deter Sea Kings, even if a ship can sail in the Calm Belt, they wouldn't dare enter because it's the Sea Kings' lair, and the chance of being attacked by Sea Kings is very high.
Currently, only the Limitless Pirates have mastered the technology of embedding Sea Stone in the hull, and it hasn't been publicly announced yet.
In other words, the only force capable of developing the resources of the many islands in the Calm Belt is the Limitless Pirates, at most adding Golden Lion, that guy also likes to steal islands in the Calm Belt.
Over the years, the Limitless Pirates have dispatched many ships to search for islands throughout the Calm Belt, and any found are marked.
On the surface, it seems the Limitless Pirates' territory and influence haven't increased in recent years, but in reality, the Limitless Pirates' territory has been continuously expanding.
"These resources are raw materials; only by converting them into goods and selling them can profits be maximized. Are we, the Limitless Pirates, preparing to enter the Four Seas recently?"
Nox rubbed Athena's beautiful hair and said.
"Yes, Shakky sister's intelligence network has covered three sea areas. We can contact other forces within the Four Seas through underground forces. At that time, we will transport goods from the Calm Belt to the Four Seas for sale."
"This can save a lot of transportation costs and also Training our own merchant fleet and network of contacts. We don't need to rely on others for everything, as that makes it easy to have our throat held."
Athena said.
The "others" she mentioned were precisely those from underground forces. The Limitless Pirates' goods, after leaving the New World, are all sold by underground forces.
Because outside the New World is the territory of the Marine and the World Government, once the Limitless Pirates openly sell goods, many people wouldn't dare cooperate with the Limitless Pirates.
The World Government and the Marine would even crack down on the Limitless Pirates' merchant fleet, which is why the goods need to be sent to underground forces for sale, as that's where all the illegal and dark transactions happen.
Currently, the Limitless Pirates have the deepest relationship with Sea Transport King Umit in the underground world. At the same time, Umit also relies on the Limitless Pirates to greatly expand his business; for example, his transport ships now traverse many places between the New World and the Four Seas.
But Athena felt that Umit was not fully aligned with the Limitless Pirates yet, and she also couldn't hand over all the transportation and sale of goods to Umit.
"Establishing our merchant fleet probably won't be that easy, right? Entering the Four Seas will be targeted by the World Government and the Marine."
Nox smiled.
Nox had no objections to Athena's arrangements. After all, Athena was now a qualified manager; Nox only outlined the general direction for many matters, and Athena could handle them very well.
"Husband, have you forgotten? We have spatial scrolls! With spatial scrolls combined with Shakky sister's Mirror World, isn't it very simple to transport goods anywhere we want?"
"At that time, we will train a group of people in the Four Seas specifically for transportation and trade with the forces in the Four Seas, and we won't let those merchants know about the Mirror World. They will only be responsible for trade."
Athena said confidently.
"I see, this indeed makes things much simpler. However, we just need to ensure secrecy and not let outsiders know about the Mirror World."
Originally, when Nox had Shakky create the Mirror World, it was for developing intelligence. Now, Athena using it for transporting goods is also perfectly fine.
"Gravity Island reached!"
As Nox and Athena chatted, they soon arrived at Gravity Island.
There were many tall trees on this island, but they were all growing bent, clearly curved by the powerful gravity.
"Brother, brother, tasty, tasty!!"
After the ship approached Gravity Island, Eva opened its large mouth, looking like it was about to drool, but unfortunately, it had no saliva to drool.
"Husband, I'll go with you."
Athena held Nox's hand and walked onto Gravity Island with Eva.
"Roar!!!"
However, just as they landed on the island, a three-meter-tall spotted leopard rushed out from the forest.
The ferocious leopard was incredibly fast, and its Leopard Claw, gleaming with a cold light, pounced towards Nox.
"Husband, let me handle this!"
Seeing this, Athena immediately rushed out excitedly, using Soru to instantly appear beside the leopard.
"Burst Soru!"
Busoshoku Haki covered her jade foot, and a kick sent the leopard flying dozens of meters away.
"Swish!!!"
The next moment, a five-meter-tall spotted tiger suddenly rushed out from the forest, pouncing towards Athena like a tiger hunting its prey.
"Kneel!"
However, facing this sudden fierce tiger, Athena didn't dodge at all. Instead, her gaze sharpened, and an invisible psychic force instantly surged into the tiger's mind.
"Bang!!"
The fierce tiger, which had just been exceptionally ferocious, immediately collapsed onto the ground, its limbs weak, kneeling before Athena. Anyone who didn't know might have thought Athena had intimidated it with Haoshoku Haki.
"Husband, let's ride it in."
Athena happily jogged towards Nox, like a little girl wanting to show off.
When Athena first followed Nox, she was just an ordinary witch and hadn't trained at all.
But ever since following Nox, she started training her physique just like Lesley. Later, Lesley formulated various medicinal baths, which Athena also used.
With the arrival of the Gravity Bracelet and the Battle Pyramid later, Athena also frequently went to the Battle Pyramid to hone herself.
She has now mastered two types of Haki and possesses the Wisdom Fruit. She is no worse than some Vice Captain of the Limitless Pirates.
Even though she is a civilian staff member, she still persists in training because she knows that even if she doesn't need to fight, she can at least protect herself and not make Nox, who is fighting on the front lines, worry about her safety.
"Alright!"
Nox walked forward with a smile, sat on the tiger's back, with Athena sitting in front.
"Little tiger cub, let's go!"
Athena was as happy as a little girl. She patted the spotted tiger's head, and then the spotted tiger stood up and carried Nox and Athena towards the forest.
At this moment, Athena was like a girl riding a tiger, freely roaming through the forest with her man.
Any fierce beasts they encountered didn't require Nox to act; Athena alone could handle them, giving Nox the feeling of being a kept man. It seemed being protected by his woman was also a good experience.
However, as they continuously approached the center of the island, the gravity became stronger and stronger, and the spotted tiger carrying them was almost unable to bear it.
"Let's get down and walk."
Nox said, looking at the spotted tiger that could barely walk anymore.
"Alright then!"
Athena said regretfully.
"The gravity here has reached 15 times. It seems the gravity on this Gravity Island is very high."
Nox said in surprise.
"Roar!!!"
Just as Nox and the others were about to continue walking, three large figures, about eight meters tall, rushed towards them from the front: a Golden Lion, a black Masira, and a giant python.
These three giant beasts all emitted faint Beast King aura. Most importantly, they actually knew how to use Busoshoku Haki! Although not profound, it was undoubtedly Busoshoku Haki!
"Athena, let me handle this!"
Seeing these three big guys, Athena immediately wanted to rush up and try, but she was stopped by Nox.
Seeing Nox stop her, Athena didn't continue to act.
"Kneel!"
However, Nox himself didn't make a move. The Haoshoku Haki on his body directly suppressed them, and in an instant, that unparalleled aura enveloped the entire island.
All the fierce beasts on Gravity Island trembled and knelt on the ground, filled with fear.
The three giant beasts that had just wanted to attack also instantly knelt on the ground with a thud, not even daring to lift their heads.
"Roar!!!"
However, just as Nox thought there was nothing else, a violent and raging Beast King aura suddenly surged from the depths of the forest. That was also a surge of Haoshoku Haki, and it was Haoshoku Haki rising from a fierce beast!
"Whoosh!!!"
A dark golden figure with a metallic sheen was seen flying rapidly at low altitude. It was a giant ant, five meters tall, but its body was covered with various metal armors like an exoskeleton.
Two pairs of metallic wings on its back allowed it to fly, and its sharp mouthparts and keen limbs were full of power.
Ants themselves are very powerful, let alone such a huge Ant King!
"Ant King? Or an Ant King with wings? Let me see how strong you, this Beast King, are!"
Upon seeing this Ant King, Nox immediately became interested. It was the first time he had seen a Beast King possessing both Busoshoku and Haoshoku Haki.
Nox didn't use Haki, nor did he use the Seven Star Sword; he just raised his fist and punched it.
"Bang!!!"
The huge Ant King's forelimb, covered in Busoshoku Haki, was violently struck by Nox. Its rapidly flying body was instantly sent flying back several hundred meters by Nox's punch, only stopping after breaking several large trees.
"This strength is truly powerful. Even if it can't surpass Giant Soldier Pirates Captain Dorry, it's not far off, especially under this dozen-times gravity."
Nox nodded in satisfaction.
After the Ant King, sent flying by Nox's punch, flipped its body over, its injured forelimb quickly secreted a strange substance, which was repairing its wound.