The news of the Golden Lion had caused quite a stir, drawing attention from various factions. But aside from Morgans, who had been secretly monitoring the battle in the Calm Belt, and the two combatants, no one else knew what had truly happened there.
Morgans would likely continue with follow-up reports.
However, the Navy didn't have the luxury of focusing too much on the Golden Lion.
In the New World, the struggle for supremacy among the Sea Emperors had already begun.
The first to claim the title of Sea Emperor was Whitebeard, who had made a name for himself by "recruiting pirates" on a massive scale.
With Whitebeard now officially recognized as an Emperor, the other great pirates of the New World were making their moves. Many were expanding their territories, both openly and in the shadows, which only added to the chaos sweeping across the New World.
In particular, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin were rapidly growing their forces.
Kaido had dealt with internal threats in Wano Country earlier this year. After killing Kozuki Oden, he launched a series of raids, becoming more aggressive by the day.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin had used her notorious tea parties to bring many underground factions under her control, using both charm and intimidation.
Then there was the Wang Zhi Pirate Group, which had made Hive Island their stronghold.
Adding to the chaos were the first wave of rookie pirates from the Four Seas. These new pirates, who had entered the Grand Line after the start of the Great Pirate Era, had survived the crucible of the early years. Now, three or four years into their journeys, they were beginning to flood into the New World, further intensifying the disorder.
Faced with this rising tide of chaos, the Navy had no choice but to pull back its forces in the New World, focusing its efforts on defending key strongholds.
Meanwhile, in the East Blue—by far the most peaceful and stable of the Four Seas—things remained calm.
Back on Starfish Island, life for Noah and his family carried on as usual, with everyone going about their daily routines.
But with the introduction of Armament Haki and the Six Powers training methods, the strength of the family had grown significantly.
By early September 1502.
After more than three months of intense training, Noah finally awakened his Armament Haki. However, he could only cover one fist with it, and the duration didn't last beyond twenty minutes.
Thanks to his naturally strong body, he had also mastered Iron Body and Finger Pistol.
His Conqueror's Haki had become even more potent. The range of its oppressive force had expanded to roughly 1,200 meters, and he had gained some control over its intensity. However, controlling its direction was still hit-or-miss.
His Observation Haki had also improved. The maximum range for full 360-degree awareness now extended to a radius of 1.5 kilometers, while his focused range in a single direction could stretch up to 7.5 kilometers.
Among the family members, Joshua and Mary had successfully awakened their Observation Haki, while Vic had mastered the basics of Iron Body. The others hadn't made any significant breakthroughs yet.
Sitting in his study, Noah set down the training progress report and fell into thought.
From the progress reports, Noah had seen a result he had expected: individual talent varied greatly among the group.
Joshua and Mary showed strong talent for Observation Haki, while Vic excelled in physical techniques and Armament Haki. Anthony had a clear talent for swordsmanship, and Ari was gifted with marksmanship. The others, however, showed no specific standout abilities.
Noah wasn't surprised by this result.
But talent isn't always set in stone. For instance, Devil Fruits could greatly enhance an individual's physical potential.
Looks like it's time to move on to the next phase of the plan, Noah thought.
________________________________________
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
At the northwest bay of Starfish Island, beside the small makeshift dock.
Over the past three months, Noah and Arjay had been upgrading the submarine.
The submarine now stretched to 18 meters in length, with a diameter of 4.5 meters. They had also added an underwater hatch at the base to make it easier for people in diving suits to enter and exit while submerged.
On the dock.
Noah and Vic climbed into the submarine.
The vessel quickly dove beneath the surface, beginning its exploration of the seabed around the Starfish Archipelago.
The route Noah had chosen for this mission wasn't random. He had carefully selected the trade route between the Starfish Archipelago and Loguetown as their target for this treasure hunt.
After all, busy trade routes were bound to have plenty of shipwrecks lying at the bottom of the sea.
The waters around uninhabited islands, however, could go years without seeing a single ship pass by—so where would the sunken ships be?
After about an hour of sailing, Noah studied the Starfish route map. One section was marked with a warning: a cluster of underwater reefs. This was information he had purchased during his last trip to Loguetown.
Well-established trade routes like these often had detailed hydrographic data.
Sure enough, using his Observation Haki, Noah detected a cluster of over twenty underwater reefs nearby. He slowed the submarine's propulsion system, allowing the vessel to drift more slowly through the waters.
Before long, the first shipwreck appeared within his Observation Haki's range.
"Vic, there's a wreck below us. I need you to dive down and check it out."
"Got it, Brother Noah. Leave it to me."
"Be careful."
Noah activated his Conqueror's Haki, driving away all the sea creatures within a one-kilometer radius.
The submarine hovered about ten meters above the wreck. Soon, Vic, suited up in diving gear and equipped with an air hose and an emergency safety line, swam out through the submarine's hatch.
Holding a waterproof flashlight, Vic peered through the glass of his helmet at the overturned wooden ship, half-buried in the mud on the seafloor.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his metal hook, flashlight in hand, and pried open the wooden door of the wreck.
An hour later, Vic crushed a small wooden card strapped to his arm.
Inside the submarine, Noah instantly sensed the card's destruction and began reeling in the rope to pull Vic back.
After about twenty minutes, Vic climbed back into the submarine, dragging a net bag behind him.
"Brother, this is what I found."
Noah glanced inside the bag. It contained several gold and silver vessels, a few hundred gold and silver coins, and a handful of gemstones—together worth about 300,000 Beli.
"Not bad. Have something to eat and rest for a bit."
"Sure thing." Vic opened the storage locker, grabbed a carton of milk and a large piece of jerky, and sat down to eat.
Meanwhile, Noah sealed the gold and silver treasures inside the "Mika—Treasure Vault" card.
The submarine continued its journey, heading toward the next shipwreck.
________________________________________
Before they knew it, the year 1503 had arrived.
Since September of the previous year, Noah had taken Vic out on treasure hunts once a month, spending a week each time scouring the trade routes.
In four consecutive treasure hunts, Noah's manor had accumulated treasures worth over 80 million Beri, including gold and silver jewelry. He had also discovered a fine-quality sword and two Eternal Poses for the Grand Line.
In the world of pirates, the ocean floor was where the true treasures lay.
After all, over the course of several millennia and countless eras, the number of shipwrecks scattered across the ocean floor was staggering.
Rather than fighting for territory on land, Noah realized that the ocean floor was where many transmigrators should be focusing their attention.
This planet was more than 80% ocean, and with most factions lacking the ability to explore the depths, and the World Government showing little interest, the seafloor remained largely untouched. Even the Fish-Men were confined to the waters near Ryugu Kingdom.
Across the Four Seas, the vast majority of the ocean floor was completely undeveloped.