The ideal was beautiful.
Reality was harsh.
Sami's clever plan to scavenge abandoned Log Poses from the remains of previous pirates ultimately yielded nothing but corroded scrap metal—devices long ruined by sea air, jungle humidity, and the passage of time.
Left with no other choice, the Jellyfish Pirates began a brutal year-long struggle for survival on this dangerous prehistoric island.
A Year of Blood and Growth
Time flew.
Nearly a full year passed in the blink of an eye.
Just as Dorry and Brogy had warned—
The dinosaurs, poisonous insects, disease, and occasional volcanic activity of Little Garden claimed nearly one third of the Jellyfish Pirates' lives.
But those who survived emerged transformed.
Every ordinary combat sailor now possessed the reaction speed, strength, and ferocity of a pirate worth 3 million Berries.
As for the officers—and Sami himself—
After a year battling dinosaurs, natural disasters, and occasionally sparring with the two giant warriors, their strength had become terrifyingly profound.
Training Interrupted
"Boss! Another ship has docked!"
At that moment, a fierce training duel was reaching its conclusion in a clearing deep in the jungle.
"HYAH!"
Officer Aldo roared as his fist tore through the air toward Sami's face.
But Sami stood there with his eyes closed, completely still.
The wind from the punch lifted the strands of hair on his forehead.
At the final instant—
His head tilted slightly.
Whoosh!
The fist brushed past his ear.
In the same instant, Sami—still with his eyes closed—countered and knocked Aldo flat onto the ground.
"Ugh!"
Aldo crashed heavily onto the dirt.
Only then did Sami slowly open his eyes and glance at his fist.
"Tch… still not quite there."
"That feeling disappears the moment I try to grasp it."
He sighed.
"Forget it."
"Blow the assembly horn!"
"Full force deployment!"
A Noble's Arrival
Meanwhile, aboard the approaching ship Crown Ark…
"Prince Lucas, the island ahead should be the second island of the Grand Line—Little Garden."
A butler-like man knelt respectfully before a figure lounging on a luxurious chair atop the upper deck.
"We've spotted nearly ten pirate ships already docked on shore."
"The island may be extremely dangerous."
The man addressed as "Your Highness" had perfectly combed blond hair and held a crystal wine glass elegantly.
He replied with the languid tone typical of aristocrats.
"Hmm, Vasili."
"They're likely just common rabble gathered here."
"Nothing to worry about."
"Prepare for landing."
Sami's "Trade Proposal"
When Sami and his crew reached the shoreline, the newly arrived ship had just docked beside the other vessels.
Its lavish decorations clashed sharply with the battered pirate ships around it.
Sami grinned and shouted up toward the deck.
"Hey there, brothers!"
"You came from far away—do you happen to have any liquor on board?"
"Rum would be perfect!"
Butler Vasili stepped forward to the railing, frowning as he looked down at the shore.
His eyes were filled with disdain.
"Where did these savage peasants come from?"
"Leave immediately!"
"If you disturb the noble Prince Lucas, you will suffer the consequences!"
"Huh? A prince?"
Sami raised an eyebrow at the ship's crowned skull flag.
"I don't really understand your pirate role-playing game…"
"But relax."
"I just want to make a trade."
He waved a Log Pose.
"This island's Log Pose takes a year to record."
"I happen to have some extras."
"This one only needs one more month."
"How about trading it for some alcohol?"
"Fair deal, right?"
The Prince's Order
Their shouting attracted Lucas's attention.
He stepped forward, his polished shoes clicking across the deck.
"What's all the noise down there?"
After Vasili whispered the situation to him, Lucas snorted.
His gaze swept across Sami's crew.
When he saw that many of them were wearing animal-skin clothing, his expression grew even more contemptuous.
"Hmph."
"A bunch of uncivilized savages eating raw meat."
"And they dare negotiate with me?"
"Vasili."
"Kill them."
"Take the Log Pose."
"It will save me plenty of time."
"Oh ho ho ho!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Guards!"
"Load your weapons!"
Negotiation Failed
"Tch."
"Negotiations failed."
Sami sighed helplessly.
"Fire!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The moment the guns fired—
The Jellyfish Pirates scattered like ghosts.
Most of the bullets hit nothing but empty ground.
"They're so fast!"
"AHHH!"
"Ugh!"
The battle became one-sided almost immediately.
The Crown Ark's guard squad couldn't even organize a second volley before the Jellyfish Pirates stormed onto the deck.
Within moments—
The guards were cut down like vegetables.
Bodies covered the deck.
A Noble Prisoner
Even after being pinned to the ground, Butler Vasili looked utterly stunned.
"How… how is this possible?!"
"This is only the second island of the Grand Line!"
"How could monsters like you exist here?!"
"You peasants!"
"Do you know who I am?!"
Prince Lucas shouted arrogantly despite being captured.
"I will not forgive this!"
Marcus licked his lips and grinned wickedly.
Then he slapped Lucas twice across the face.
"I'll show you 'peasant.'"
"You're already a prisoner and still acting high and mighty."
"I hate nobles like you the most."
Interrogation Results
Not long after, newly promoted officer Nostra Cahero returned with interrogation results.
"Boss, we got the information."
"They're from the North Blue."
"Captain Lucas was originally a noble from a small kingdom."
"He failed a palace coup and fled to sea with his remaining guards and wealth."
"That's how the so-called Crown Pirates were formed."
"Only Lucas himself has a bounty."
"17 million Berries."
Aldo spat on the ground.
"Damn North Blue nobles."
"No real ability but endless arrogance."
Sami waved his hand casually.
"Dispose of them."
"Inventory the supplies."
Feast and Reflection
That night, a huge bonfire burned once again on Little Garden.
This time, instead of dinosaur meat—
They roasted luxurious ingredients seized from the Crown Ark.
"Boss… this wine sucks."
Aldo gulped down the confiscated red wine and grimaced.
"Rum is way better."
Cahero chuckled while swirling a glass elegantly.
"You uncultured boar."
"That single bottle of wine is worth ten crates of rum."
"Just endure it for now," Sami said with a smile.
He lifted a bottle.
"In one month the Log Pose will finish recording."
"Then we'll leave this place and head to the next island."
"I'll let you drink all the rum you want."
Farewell Approaching
Hearing the conversation, Dorry and Brogy approached.
"GAHAHAHA!"
"So you little humans are leaving soon?"
"Time flies."
"Yeah."
Sami looked at the pirate crew in front of him—now far larger than a year ago.
He sighed.
At first, they had no choice but to stay a full year.
The losses were heavy.
But the survivors had grown tremendously stronger.
And because the Grand Line's routes were fixed—
More pirate crews kept arriving at Little Garden.
Through trade, Davy Back Fights, and outright conquest, the Jellyfish Pirates absorbed manpower and resources.
Their strength expanded rapidly.
They even gained three new core officers:
"The Gentleman" Nostra Cahero – former captain of the Twilight Pirates (19 million bounty)"Mute" Alberto – former Twilight Pirates officer (10 million bounty)"Harpoon" Leon – former captain of the Cormorant Pirates of East Blue (14 million bounty)
At first Sami got excited when he heard "Cormorant Pirates."
He thought Leon might be a Zoan user.
Sadly—
Leon was just an extremely tough ordinary human.
A Stronger Crew
Now the Jellyfish Pirates were a melting pot of the four seas:
East BlueWest BlueNorth BlueSouth Blue
Of course, not every encounter was peaceful.
Many pirates didn't even bother talking.
They answered with bullets and blades.
For such fools—
The Jellyfish Pirates treated them as experience points.
After a year of brutal survival and consolidation on Little Garden:
The crew had grown to 137 elite membersWeapons had been constantly upgraded through battleEven their ship, the Swordfish, had undergone several major upgrades using captured materials
The Jellyfish Pirates were no longer the same crew that had first arrived on this prehistoric island.
They had become something far more dangerous.
And soon—
They would leave Little Garden.
Stronger than ever before.
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