Within the inner courtyard, surrounded by statues of celestial beasts and blossoming stardust lilies, Jessie stood in his usual calm stance—arms crossed, coat swaying in the breeze. His eyes lazily traced the horizon until a presence flickered beside him in a flash of light and melody.
It was Uta.
Her elegant boots touched the ground like a dancer completing a perfect pirouette. She wore her signature red-and-white ensemble, her microphone pendant shimmering like a divine note frozen in time.
"Yo, Jessie!" Uta chirped, her voice playfully teasing. "Guess who I just saw at my event?"
Jessie raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk creeping onto his lips.
"Let me guess. A new fanboy?" he joked, tapping his chin.
Uta laughed and gave him a playful elbow bump.
"Bingo! It was that grumpy surgeon—Trafalgar D. Law. I think he's secretly into idol concerts. Poor guy was trying so hard to act cool, but I saw his jaw drop the moment I hit that high note." She laughed again, louder this time. "He's totally my fan now."
Jessie shook his head, amused by her antics.
"The infamous Heart Pirate Captain… reduced to a flustered concert-goer," he chuckled. "What brings you here, anyway? Just to gloat?"
Uta's demeanor shifted slightly, growing more serious.
"Actually, I came to inform you. Kuina is preparing to fight 100 Void Knights as their graduation trial. She wants to test if they've made progress under her."
Jessie's playful smirk faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.
"All hundred?" he asked.
Uta nodded. "She wants to see how far they've come. The trial begins in three days."
Her words settled over them like a quiet storm. The Void Knights—trained by the elite systems of the Voidreign Kingdom and enhanced with Celestial Garden technology—were each formidable. Ranked at Vice Admiral-level strength, they represented the military heart of the kingdom.
"So, Kuina's taking on all of them?" Jessie murmured, half in admiration, half in curiosity. "She's not the little girl from Shimotsuki anymore."
The wind stirred again, carrying the distant sound of ocean waves crashing far below. The moment was peaceful… until Uta's next words broke through.
"Also—intel just came in from our Intelligence Division."
Jessie turned toward her fully now.
"Let me guess—more trouble?"
Uta's tone dropped to a whisper.
"A dog-headed ship was spotted sailing full speed toward Hachinosu—Pirate Island."
Jessie's eyes narrowed, the name slicing through the air like a blade.
"Dog head... That's Garp's ship."
He didn't need confirmation. The image of the legendary Marine Vice Admiral flashed through his mind. The Hero of the Marines. A titan among men. And if Garp was heading toward Hachinosu…
"Then he's going after Blackbeard—Garp plans to rescue Coby."
A long silence followed.
Jessie closed his eyes briefly. The sea was stirring again—another battle was brewing, one that could shift the power balance of the entire New World. Garp, the relentless force of justice. Blackbeard, the chaotic embodiment of darkness. Their clash would be nothing short of cataclysmic.
"When?" Jessie asked quietly. "How long until they reach Hachinosu?"
Uta tapped her chin, recalling the report.
"At their current speed? Nine days."
Jessie tilted his head, deep in thought.
He turned, gazing toward the horizon as if already seeing the battlefield unfold in his mind.
"I want to witness that fight," he said at last.
Uta nodded in agreement. "It'll shake the seas for sure."
Then Jessie looked back at her. "Before that… bring Law here. I want to talk to him."
Uta saluted jokingly. "Aye aye, Void King."
She turned to leave, her form shimmering as she descended toward the city below. Her song lingered faintly in the air, like a promise whispered to the wind.
Meanwhile, in the Hotel…
Law sat in silence, legs crossed, the newspaper Uta had handed him lying beside a stack of historical records. He wasn't reading anymore—he was processing.
"hundred Void Knights vice admiral-level strength. Kuina, Uta, Vash, Meruem, panda, two seraphim … Jessie…"
He leaned back, letting his head fall against the plush headrest of the chair.
"This isn't just a powerful crew," he muttered. "It's a new power altogether. A kingdom built in the ashes of a fallen world."
Footsteps echoed behind him.
He turned to see Uta stepping into the room, her smile bright and mischievous.
"Captain Jessie wants to see you."
Law raised an eyebrow.
"Now?"
Uta giggled. "You're not going to leave your king waiting, are you?"
He stood up, grabbed his nodachi, and strapped it to his back.