“Don’t worry, everyone.
I’m an expert in theft, eavesdropping, and communications.
Two weeks ago I leaked information about this island to the outside world—someone out there should already know about it.”
On God Valley, Ginny was trying to boost everyone’s morale.
The slaves gathered there had formed a small escape group, which even included a shark Fish-Man.
He had just used his sharp teeth to bite through Ivankov’s chains.
Hearing Ginny’s words, he suddenly had a question in mind.
“Um… will Lord Nereus receive your message?”
“Nereus?
Who’s that?
Some big shot?”
Ginny had become a slave at the age of four, so the name meant nothing to her.
The shark Fish-Man was about to explain, but an older slave nearby cut in.
“Nereus… now that’s a big name.”
The man picked up a newspaper he had found on the island, then gathered some dry leaves and rolled himself a crude cigarette.
But only after finishing did he realize he had no way to light it.
In the end, he just leaned against a dead tree, holding the unlit cigarette in his mouth, savoring the imagined taste.
“I was captured and made a slave three years ago.
Back when I was free, I’d heard of him—captain of the Fish-Man Pirates, one of the Rocks Grand Fleet, a monster from the deep sea.”
“Back then… his bounty was already astronomical.
Something like over three billion Berries, right?”
“Hibulu… that’s definitely a big shot.
You know him?”
After hearing the man’s explanation, Ivankov turned to look at the shark Fish-Man, surprised that there was such a “connected” person among the slaves.
“How could any Fish-Man not know Lord Nereus?!
Anyone born in Fish-Man Island grew up hearing his stories!
But… Lord Nereus probably doesn’t know someone like me exists…”
“Then what’s the point of saying that?
Just because he receives the message doesn’t mean he’ll come save you, right?”
“Not necessarily,” the shark Fish-Man replied.
“Other pirates, maybe not… but Nereus… he might actually come.”
That man had, since the very beginning of his career, been continuously attacking the World Government’s slave transport ships.
It was said that many slaves had gained their freedom because of him.
Among those who regained their freedom were musicians.
One of them supposedly even composed a song for him.
The man recalled hearing it aboard a ship once, and tried to sing it from memory…
Remove the chains and shackles, and don’t cry until dawn
Hear the tides calling out, moonlight lighting the road home
Tears turn into waves of foam!
Until dawn rises again, everyone shall be set free!
Yo-ho-ho~Yo-ho-ho~
Sing this song!
Wave of return home!
The man wasn’t a skilled singer, and in the end the tune drifted into something resembling “Binks’ Sake”, the most widely known song among pirates.
“That sounds like a good person.
We should pray he received the message too—if he did, maybe more of us will survive.”
“A good person?
I heard he’s killed countless Marines.
Almost every fleet sent to capture him was wiped out.
Very few survived…”
Although the World Government didn’t have perfect control over information dissemination, and unfavorable news often still spread, it remained the largest ruling power on the seas.
Most newspapers still portrayed the World Government as the central authority.
Under such circumstances, the public reputation of bounty targets was usually either mixed or outright infamous.
Rarely was it anything positive.
To many, Nereus’s name was that of a merciless, bloodthirsty monster.
But to Ivankov, it sounded like something entirely different.
“I take back what I said earlier.
If he really killed that many Marines, then he must be a great hero!
He-HAW!
But right now, that’s not our concern.
We should focus on how to save ourselves.”
In Ivankov’s eyes, the Celestial Dragons treated them as slaves, and the Marines merely helped transport those slaves for them.
So however many Marines died, it hardly mattered.
However, he didn’t place his hopes on that.
Instead, he turned his attention back to plotting how to seize Devil Fruits.
At the same time, in the waters near God Valley, more and more pirate ships were gradually coming into view.
Sebastian and the others had already followed Nereus’s orders, hiding their ship on a distant island, where the crew was standing by.
Nereus and Barbel himself had already boarded the Rocks Pirates’ ship, closing in on God Valley.
“Shakky can’t be split evenly!”
“Who’s the idiot who said that?
Obviously we let Shakky choose!
She’ll definitely pick the one who stole the most treasure!”
“No, she’ll choose the one who saved her!”
The men on the ship were still in a state of intense, irrational desire-driven agitation.
Even Barbel had joined in—he was also interested in Shakky and wanted a chance to win her favor.
At that moment, however, another pirate ship began approaching the Rocks Pirates’ vessel.
It was a streamlined ship, much narrower than most pirate ships, and noticeably fast.
On its bow stood a man around two meters tall.
He wore a neat white suit and a monocle.
His appearance made him look less like a pirate and more like a CP0 agent.
“Excuse me!
Is Lord Nereus on this ship?!
My name is Valentine, captain of the Valentine Pirates, bounty 437 million Berries!”
“Hey!
Hey, Nereus!
Someone’s looking for you!”
Whitebeard called out from the ship’s railing, drawing the attention of the rest of the Rocks Pirates.
Nereus naturally heard it as well and turned to look.
“Lord Nereus, as expected, you’ve joined this affair as well.
I’ve long admired your reputation.
Ever since I became a pirate, your name has appeared repeatedly in the newspapers.”
“I’ve always been following your footsteps.
Today, I finally have the chance to meet the real thing!
As long as I kill you here, I can surpass you completely and use your head to make a name for myself across the seas!”
Silence.
A deathly silence fell over the Rocks Pirates’ ship.
Even the earlier chaotic tension surrounding Shakky was shattered by Valentine’s words, leaving only the sound of wind and waves.
Then, like thunder breaking through still skies, the ship erupted into laughter.
Golden Lion laughed so hard his cigar fell to the deck without him noticing.
Buckingham doubled over, laughing so violently she looked like her stomach hurt.
Streusen rolled on the ground, as if he had just heard the greatest joke in the world.
“Everyone… why are you mocking me like this?
After I take Lord Nereus’s head, won’t you be the ones embarrassed?”
Valentine didn’t seem offended by the ridicule at all.
Instead, he regarded them as ignorant and continued speaking with polite composure.
And at that moment… even Nereus himself took an interest in him.