And just as the entire ship's crew was shocked by what was happening before them...
On a distant island in Wano, two unfamiliar ships arrived at the harbor.
"Woman, give up, you can't escape, hahaha!"
"Didn't we agree? We promised to take you to the 'Shogun,' didn't we?"
"Beauty, don't run, we don't want to harm you."
A group of people on the shore shouted at a woman dressed in Wano attire, relentlessly pursuing her.
Soon, the woman found herself cornered.
Facing the human traffickers closing in on her, she drew the long sword at her waist.
"You scoundrels are clearly up to no good. I can't believe I fell into your trap. I was so foolish."
Confronted with the woman's resistance, the human traffickers simply smiled, seeing her struggle as futile.
Originally, they had planned to go to an island engulfed in war to purchase slaves, but unexpectedly encountered this naive target on the way. They knew that such merchandise would be in high demand at the slave auctions in Sabaody.
"You have the sea behind you; there's nowhere for you to run. And as for going to Wano, we can convert the room on our ship into Wano for you, haha!"
Watching the woman, who had nowhere to run, the leader of the traffickers joked.
However all of a sudden …
"SPLASH"
"Oh my goodness, there's a sea monster!"
"Mommy, help me!"
"Quick, run!"
The monster quickly approached her!
"I heard a woman's cry for help."
...
"So, you're saying you're called 'Amatsuki Toki' and you got tricked by these guys when you got lost and want to return to Wano?"
"That's right, I came with whitebeard pirates and while I was shopping, I got lost and was kidnapped by these guys, And to think that the whitebeard pirates forgot me T-T ."
"What's so great about Wano? The people there are boring, and everything is so rigid."
Ignoring the latter part and having gradually regained his human form, Oden complained about Wano, unable to understand why someone would desperately want to escape from it.
"I've always dreamed of going to Wano. Can you take me there again?" Toki looked at Oden with hopeful eyes.
However, Oden wore a reluctant expression. After all, he had just managed to escape. There was no way he would go back, not in this lifetime!
"By the way, I don't even know your name yet."
Although Oden didn't agree, Toki couldn't help but ask. After all, Oden had saved his life.
"Kozuki Oden."
As Oden spoke, the atmosphere between them suddenly became tense. Even Oden, with his thick skin, sensed that something was amiss, while Toki couldn't help but cover his mouth in shock.
After all, both "Kozuki" and "Amatsuki" were names that ordinary people in Wano couldn't use. The former belonged to the ruling Kozuki family of Wano, while the latter was one of the five families loyal to the ruling lord.
Ordinary people had no right to use such prestigious surnames.
[AN-I have changed toki's circumstances a bit so take it as my imagination of this story and don't complain that toki was never in whitebeard ship before meeting oden]
...
Time passed.
Another month went by.
"Lord Simon, we've once again repelled the attacks from those samurai! However, we're running low on bullets, and many people have been injured in battle and need medical treatment."
A leader of the Wano resistance army reported to Simon.
"Don't worry about the medicine; we can provide as much as you need."
Simon was about to respond when June, wearing a mask, walked in seriously and spoke. She then had someone place a box on the ground behind her.
"The box contains various antibodies, antidotes, hemostatic agents, and anesthetics. I hope it helps you, but I also hope it doesn't."
Upon opening the box, the resistance leaders found the medicines neatly arranged on soft cloth wrapped in oiled paper.
Counting them, there was enough medicine to last the resistance army for months.
"Thank you, Lady Saint."
Several resistance leaders expressed their sincere gratitude. June had saved many lives among them. Even their wives had learned some basic medical skills and knowledge of herbs from her, and their children had the opportunity to learn to read and write, things they could only dream of before.
"Lady Saint, why are you helping us?"
Thinking about the changes in their lives, someone blurted out the question to June.
June paused for a moment, then a hint of longing appeared on her fair face.
"I'm helping you because Nicholas wants to help you."
When it came to Nicholas, June's face lit up with happiness.
"..."
Simon was no longer surprised by this. After all, when he drank with Vista in private, he had heard Vista mention that within their free pirate group, June only truly valued Nicholas. The other members were considered companions, but if June had to choose between them and Nicholas, her choice would undoubtedly be Nicholas.
...
At a certain town's port on an island in the Grand Line.
A man sat calmly on a wooden crate, reading a newspaper with his head lowered.
In the center of the newspaper was a photo of Nicholas, Big Mom, and Kaido on the battlefield of Whole Cake Island.
The local port workers couldn't help but look at the sturdy man with a sense of astonishment.
This man, like a statue, remained motionless sitting there for about two hours.
During this time, all he did was read the newspaper.
"Even though he's blind, he's so focused on reading the newspaper, what a strange fellow."
The workers thought to themselves.
Suddenly, a commotion arose nearby.
"Why would a Marine battleship come to this place?"
"And that looks like... Vice Admiral Dragon's ship!"
"It really is...
Seeing the flagship with its iconic Dragon emblem, the local townsfolk were suddenly anxious.
For these townsfolk, the least they wanted to see were ships flying pirate flags or Marine flags.
As for pirates, it went without saying that each visit from these sea parasites was a disaster for the town's ordinary people. And as for the Marines, they usually had special supply towns and wouldn't change easily. Once they arrived unexpectedly, it meant that there might be a notorious criminal or pirate crew hiding in the town.
Many people couldn't help but look at the sturdy man sitting there for two hours, reading the newspaper.
Noticing the questioning gazes from all directions, the man remained unmoved. At the same time, his sightless eyes slowly moved away from the newspaper and looked towards the approaching warship.
Under the gaze of the townsfolk and alongside Vice Admiral Dragon, the man walked towards the gangway.
As they stepped onto the gangway together, the crew on deck of the battleship all stared at the man who walked alongside Vice Admiral Dragon.
"Who is this man? What's his background, to make Vice Admiral Dragon personally come to greet him..."
The Marines speculated, their curiosity piqued by the man's mysterious aura. After all, it was widely assumed that Dragon would be the next Fleet Admiral, and even the appearance of the two monstrous individuals who emerged from the training camp only had the potential to become admirals.
That's why they found it so unbelievable.