On the deck, Michion and Basil Hawkins stood fishing.
“Have you made up your mind yet? Will you join us?” After their routine training, Michion chatted with Basil Hawkins daily, constantly trying to invite him to join them.
“Not yet. I want to sail with you longer and then divine my decision,” Basil Hawkins replied slowly. It was hard to imagine that this mature-sounding boy was only seven.
But that’s how it is in the world of pirates. Orphans and street kids have to fend for themselves from an early age. Swindling, cheating, stealing, anything to survive and fill their stomachs. Such an environment makes many children mature quickly. Those who were once wealthy and educated before becoming street kids are more exceptional and mature in their thinking.
But there are also plenty of idiots—kids who gain a bit of strength and think they’re invincible, inflating their egos. It’s not their fault; they just haven’t seen the world.
The naval ship’s route didn’t pass many countries. Rear Admiral Yake mentioned that this route was close to the Ishar Kingdom, with only one country suitable for a stopover and rest.
They encountered several pirates, but they were all just cannon fodder. Their strength didn’t match their arrogance. Michion and his group easily dispatched them without needing the soldiers to intervene. There wasn’t a single Devil Fruit user among them, likely thanks to Aokiji’s efforts. Any Devil Fruit user capable of becoming a pirate in the North Blue would be quite strong, making them prime targets for Aokiji.
Running into the future admiral would mean their end—frozen or dead. Those who escaped were likely scared and fled to the Grand Line.
In the early days of the Great Pirate Era sparked by Roger, the world was in turmoil, but pirates were no match for the navy. The sheer number of pirates was the only thing overwhelming the navy. Roger’s death, Golden Lion’s rampage, and subsequent imprisonment in Impel Down left only Whitebeard in the New World. The “Lone Red” sailed alone, his whereabouts unknown.
Eventually, “Lone Red” would also be imprisoned in Impel Down, leaving more power vacuums in the New World and increasing chaos. It wasn’t until Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, and Shanks rose to power as the Four Emperors that the New World began to stabilize.
For now, the New World was a battleground. Strong pirates fought for territory, with the navy and CP agencies monitoring the situation. Most of the navy’s top forces were redirected to the Grand Line’s first half and the Four Seas to suppress the pirates, inspired by Roger’s last words.
But this was a temporary solution. The rampage of the Great Pirate Era couldn’t be stopped so easily. The current situation was just a brief respite, thanks to the navy’s swift response. Once this “crackdown” period ended, pirates would surge again. For instance, when Aokiji was no longer stationed in the North Blue, the pirates would multiply, with people continuously setting sail.
After going through a period of fierce competition, these pirates would grow stronger. Only then would Michion encounter formidable opponents in the North Blue.
Those who stood out were targeted by Aokiji, the hunter of these “standout” pirates. Those who didn’t catch his attention were mostly hot-headed cannon fodder.
Leaving those considerations aside, Michion and his group arrived at the only island on their route back to the Ishar Kingdom—Karate Island.
After docking, Sola was the most excited. Rear Admiral Yake had told her that the island had various styles of karate, including one that combined karate and yoga, which piqued her interest.
The others weren’t particularly interested in karate, as they had already learned the superhuman techniques of the Navy’s Six Styles. However, exploring a unique island was still appealing, especially after a long journey at sea.
Sailing continuously can be exhausting, and seeing the same vast ocean every day, no matter how beautiful can become tedious.
So, even though their supplies were sufficient, taking a break on the island was a welcome change.
After landing, they found that the island lived up to its name. Martial arts were prevalent, with people wearing martial arts uniforms everywhere. Various dojo signs were visible along the streets, and training sounds echoed from within.
These dojos, mostly wooden buildings reminiscent of traditional Japanese karate dojos, were initially interesting but quickly became repetitive.
However, the local cuisine deeply fascinated Michion and his crew.
You might wonder why an island known for karate would have unique food. This stems from the island’s characteristics. As the name suggests, the island has a strong martial arts culture, attracting students and challengers from other islands. These people share a common trait: large appetites. Most residents also train in martial arts, leading to increased food consumption.
At a restaurant, a server placed a plate the size of a basin on the table with a heavy thud, drawing everyone’s attention to the massive portion of food.
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