"That somehow sounds like a very dangerous statement..."
Aokiji carefully mulled over Storm's recent declaration and couldn't help but shake his head.
To think of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Emperor pirate crews reigning over the New World with just one person's strength? In the past few decades, only the legendary "Lone Red" Patrick Redfield had achieved such a feat! Yet even he—the fabled Patrick Redfield—ultimately met defeat at the hands of the Marines and was imprisoned in Impel Down's Infinite Hell.
The strength of an Emperor's crew wasn't solely due to their "Emperor" alone.
Reputation, status, wealth, influence, territory...
Becoming one of the "Four Emperors" required meeting countless criteria in every aspect!
If it were otherwise, Red-Haired Shanks wouldn't have had to wait until this year to officially be recognized alongside Whitebeard, Beast, and Big Mom as one of the "Four Emperors."
Aokiji felt Storm's ambition was somewhat perilous, but he had no intention of dissuading him.
Members of the SWORD Unit could act freely, disregarding superior orders.
This was the rule established when SWORD was founded! Even Aokiji couldn't casually break this principle.
Let's see just how far Storm can take this ambition...
"Still, your idea of seeking allies is correct."
Aokiji spoke up.
"Would you like me to introduce you to a few fellow SWORD members?"
"Other SWORD members?"
Storm hadn't expected Aokiji to bring this up, but he refused outright.
"No need! If the rest of SWORD is at Kujaku's level, they're far too weak. I want to recruit like-minded comrades with suitable strength—not become a babysitter!"
Back then, Aokiji had thought sending Storm directly to the New World would be sending him to his death.
Now, Storm similarly believed the other SWORD members weren't qualified to enter the New World.
At least not yet!
Take X Drake, SWORD's future captain.
As part of the Worst Generation, some had already risen to become Emperors.
Yet X Drake's strength couldn't even compare to the Beast Pirates' top executives!
An outright embarrassment to the Worst Generation!
If even the captain X Drake was only at this level, the caliber of the other SWORD members spoke for itself.
At this stage, Storm had no interest in nurturing newcomers.
"Playing pirate house" or the like...
Without the Sun God's destiny and background, did they really think anyone could pull it off?!
"But speaking of which,"
Storm abruptly changed the subject.
"Admiral Aokiji, there is one person in SWORD I do have my eye on. I just wonder if you'd be willing to release them."
Aokiji grew intrigued.
"Who?"
"Kuzan."
"...Huh? Who?"
"One of the World Government's Top Three, Marine Headquarters Admiral, Ice Fruit user, Aokiji—Kuzan."
"Me?"
Aokiji froze.
"Wait! Let me get this straight. You're saying you want me to go undercover as a pirate with you?"
"Exactly!"
Storm replied with undisguised enthusiasm.
"Admiral Aokiji, so you're also a member of the SWORD Unit!" Every member of the SWORD Unit should have the resolve to temper themselves in the darkness!"
Aokiji opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
Asking a Marine Admiral to serve under you? To be your subordinate?
Storm, you're completely turning things upside down!
Aokiji's thoughts were thrown into disarray by Storm's sudden invitation to join his crew.
He originally had many things he wanted to discuss with Storm.
But now his mind was buzzing with confusion.
"Ah, la la..."
Aokiji rubbed his dazed head.
"That's not a funny joke, kid.
"Fine, go ahead and continue your activities on the sea as you see fit. If there's anything important, I'll contact you immediately."
Seeing that Aokiji was about to hang up the Den Den Mushi, Storm quickly shouted.
"Admiral Aokiji, won't you really consider becoming a pirate?"
"...Don't forget your own identity, Storm! You're a Marine!"
After a moment of silence, Aokiji reminded him sternly.
"Even if members of the SWORD Unit can't openly wear the Justice Coat.
"We have always been Marines who uphold justice!"
"Justice? Justice that maintains the World Government's rule? Justice that protects the Celestial Dragons' tyranny?"
Storm scoffed at the so-called "Marine justice."
"Never mind, Admiral Kuzan, I don't want to argue with you about what 'Marine justice' really is.
"I have one more question—what's my bounty this time? ...What? No bounty!?"
Click—
Storm angrily hung up the Den Den Mushi.
"The World Government is so shameless in handling things!"
"With such a huge incident happening in Impel Down, they could at least issue a bounty as a formality!"
Storm had originally thought that as long as the World Government issued a bounty, he would have gained some initial "fame."
To become a great pirate, "fame" was the first step! And once he had fame, his plans to recruit crewmates would go much smoother.
Otherwise,
a complete nobody suddenly approaching powerful figures and trying to recruit them...
That would be tough!
The World Government's decision to cover up the truth had significantly impacted Storm's plans.
"I need to come up with a new plan to make a name for myself first!"
As Storm pondered how to revise and improve his "crew recruitment plan,"
the Blue-Eyed White Dragon, after flying for most of the day, finally spotted a small island in the vast sea.
When Storm guided the Blue-Eyed White Dragon to land on the island,
he found it completely deserted, with no signs of human activity.
"I was hoping to grab a meal and find a place to stay, but it looks like I'll have to fend for myself..."
Storm turned his gaze toward the nearby sea.
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon also looked at the sea and opened its massive jaws.
Clumps of white Clay were released by the Blue-Eyed White Dragon, exploding violently the moment they hit the water.
BOOM—
The once calm and endless sea was instantly churned into towering waves.
In just a few seconds...
One after another, dark shadows glided beneath the blue ocean surface.
They were all Sea Kings, drawn by the power of the recent "Explosive Clay"!
The Calm Belt—the nesting grounds of Sea Kings.
Even the slightest disturbance on the ocean's surface could pique their interest.
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon flapped its wings, soaring over the sea before plunging abruptly into the water.
Ordinary clay would soften and dissolve when drenched in large amounts of water.
But sturdy porcelain clay had no such vulnerability.
Splash—!
The sea erupted skyward as violent clashes erupted beneath the waves.
Storm waited on the shore for a while.
Several [Grand Prize Trophies] materialized out of thin air—all of them:
[Silver Trophy: Sea Kings]
"Back at Impel Down, if I hadn't been busy taming the water monkeys, hunting in the Calm Belt would've been a great way to farm trophies..."
Storm glanced at the Silver Trophies before shifting his attention back to the sea.
Before long.
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon emerged from the ocean, dragging several massive Sea Kings onto the sandy shore.
Storm drew the [Goethite Sabre] from his waist, clumsily twirling it once.
Infinite inspiration for [Swordsmanship] surged through his mind.
Instantly, Storm could perceive the "breathing" of everything around him.
The sky's "breath," the ocean's "breath," the stones' "breath," and even the corpses of the Sea Kings before him...
"If I were to describe it in Sword Master terms,"
"This must be what they call the realm of [Iron Cutting], right?"
Storm lightly swung the [Goethite Sabre].
In an instant.
A soaring slash infused with blazing flames tore through the air, striking the Sea Kings' carcasses.
Swish—swish—swish—!
The unstoppable flying slash effortlessly cleaved the corpses into multiple pieces.
After processing the remains, Storm started a fire and began roasting the meat.
His culinary skills were lacking.
But it didn't matter.
A few Silver Trophies descended.
And Storm instantly gained four-star [Cooking] skills! A rich aroma soon spread across the deserted island.
With all the food prepared, Storm quietly summoned his last remaining [Diamond Trophy].
[Physique] enhancement! [Stamina: ★★★★★★☆] (Six and a half stars) The familiar pangs of hunger returned.
Storm threw himself into the battle against the feast.
Over the next two days.
Storm remained on the small island in the Calm Belt.
He hunted Sea Kings, gathered food, enhanced his physical abilities, and assimilated his upgraded skills.
All the abilities he had previously enhanced—including two new Devil Fruit powers—were now fully mastered.
Not only that.
He also utilized the "wish" function of the three unused [Platinum Trophies] obtained from deaths during this time.
[Byrnndi World], [Pleshy], [Bade Wan Grace].
Three Platinum Trophies exchanged for three new five-star abilities.
On this day.
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon spread its wings and soared away from the secluded island deep in the Calm Belt.
Storm held only one [Navy Headquarters Eternal Pose]—a "freebie" he had acquired from the equipment department.
He had no intention of heading to Marine Headquarters now.
So he flew in the opposite direction across the sea.
After several days of high-altitude flight.
After journeying through one uninhabited island after another,
Storm finally spotted an island with signs of human habitation.
He steered the Blue-Eyed White Dragon downward, landing near the island's docks.
The arrival of the mythical White Giant Dragon instantly sent the island's residents into a panic.
On the docks,
Storm picked out a relatively composed bystander from the crowd.
"Excuse me, what's the name of this island?"
"B-Belfast Island."
"Never heard of it... What are the nearest major islands around here? Enies Lobby? Water Seven?"
"I've never heard of those places, sir..."
"Huh? So we're not on the Grand Line?"
"This is the South Blue."