The New World.
Somewhere in unknown waters.
The sea was shrouded in a dense fog. The thick clouds above and the fog below merged, preventing sunlight from penetrating, rendering the scene dark.
On the edge of this eerie mist, a massive two-masted sailing ship plunged headfirst without hesitation, disappearing from view in a short while.
"Did it really go in?"
Not long after the two-masted ship vanished, another small, specially designed warship arrived.
Gazing at the fog before him, even the middle-aged captain, who had sailed the seas for years and was highly experienced, harbored a deep sense of apprehension.
He glanced at the masked man standing beside him and replied, "After spotting the Silver Hair Pirate Group's ship this morning, we've been making rapid progress. With the speed of a warship, the Silver Hair Pirate Group's ship shouldn't be faster than us, and we saw their ship's silhouette earlier. Now that we're here, there's no trace of them."
The captain looked up at the sky, continuing, "Unless they flew away, the only explanation is that they didn't know this area and blundered right into it."
"Didn't know?"
The masked man looked at the colossal fog that seemed to block out the sky, and quietly let out a sigh of relief.
He was the one dispatched by the Gentleman Five Elders to deliver a message to Silver Hair.
No...
It should be said, a declaration of war.
He hadn't met Silver Hair, but that didn't prevent his fear of Silver Hair, because every CP0 agent who had seen Silver Hair had never reappeared.
None, without exception.
He didn't believe he would be the anomaly, the one lucky enough to return alive.
As a cold-blooded weapon cultivated by the World Government since childhood, he had no reason or right to refuse this seemingly suicidal mission.
Therefore, the moment he received the mission, he had prepared himself for death.
But he never expected fate to be so kind to him.
That he should lose track of them on this vast sea just as he was about to meet Silver Hair.
The foggy sea area before them was, in the pirate world, in the New World, an undisputed forbidden zone. To this day, no one had ever emerged alive from it. This was the answer summarized by countless years of history.
He didn't know if this answer was true, but as a special agency under the World Government's power core, he knew this answer. Even if there was some exaggeration, this was not a place ordinary people could venture deep into.
"Return?"
The captain withdrew his gaze and looked at the masked man.
Awaiting the masked man's orders.
Although he was a Marine, he was merely a junior admiral. The person before him was a Chief of CP0, whose status was equivalent to a Marine Admiral.
Therefore, after meeting him, the highest-ranking officer on this warship had become the masked man before him.
The masked man stared at the dense fog, not giving an immediate order. He tapped his chin in thought before speaking.
"We cannot return. We will go to the other side of this sea area. Just because others couldn't get out doesn't mean Silver Hair can't."
Deep down, he naturally didn't want Silver Hair to reappear, because then he wouldn't have to face his inner fear and meet that person.
But if he returned like this, and the Five Elders were angered, he wouldn't be in a good situation either.
"Wait two more days. Just two days. This sea area isn't large. If Silver Hair still can't get out in two days, then I'll go back."
The masked man lowered his head, a flicker of hope appearing in his eyes behind the mask.
...
Half a day later.
"Kouta, it seems we're just going in circles."
At the bow of the Freedom, Aruo's forehead tentacles swayed incessantly. He directed Molo to adjust the sails while speaking to the silver-haired youth who had been sitting cross-legged on the railing at the bow since they entered this sea area. "This place feels just like the sea area where we encountered the sea monster when we first entered the New World."
He then looked up at the hazy, gray sky, a flash of red light appearing in his eyes.
"The sea area is the same, there must be a huge whirlpool in the center. But what's strange is that this area is suppressing my senses, my Observation Haki. And the deeper we go, the more I realize we're actually going deeper, and we can't get out at all."
"What should we do?"
Looking down, Aruo's gaze fell back on the silver-haired youth. The red light in his pupils had faded, revealing a hint of excitement.
How long had it been since he encountered such a blood-pumping sea area?
Unknown adventures were truly adventures.
Known ones were merely journeys.
After all, for their team, having sailed this far, all the sea areas in this world held no challenge for them. It was fortunate to encounter such a sea area here.
"Since we can't get out, then we won't."
The silver-haired youth's body, which had been like a statue, finally moved. He stared at the sea area to his front right, a murderous glint flashing in his azure eyes.
"Since you won't let me leave, I'll come in and find you. I hope my arrival will be as you wish, and I hope you can give me more surprises."
Upon entering this sea area, Kouta knew it was peculiar. It was as if it had sensed his arrival. The moment they entered, a faint but special power, like eyes in the void, fixed upon them.
Kouta knew this feeling. It was like someone entering his domain; he could also watch those who entered his domain in the same way.
This world held many secrets. Having seen gods and slain demons, he thought this was merely a colossal creature that had lived since ancient times. If there was no malice, Kouta wouldn't have to go, and could treat this journey as an adventure, going with the flow.
However, from the ship's trajectory, Kouta understood the attitude of this place's owner.
Since others were so welcoming, he would, as the owner wished, go and meet it!
Pointing to the front right of the ship, Kouta waved his hand, "No more circling, we're going straight there."
"Alright."
Aruo replied, turned, and directed Molo to change the sails. A Tao, in the control room, also received Aruo's hand signal, abruptly turned the helm, and steered directly towards where Kouta had pointed.
...
This sea area, though called large, was actually much smaller than the Thriller Bark area they had experienced in Paradise.
However, the dangers within were incalculable.
If one were to look down from space, they would see that the clouds above this sea area were rotating around it as if being pulled by something. If one looked more closely, they would find that the center of this sea area was a strange eye.
And at this moment, as if sensing something.
The eye, which had been closed, slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black abyss within, like a dark chasm connecting to hell.