Chapter 377: The Aura of a Beast
Sharlo could already picture tomorrow's front-page headlines.
The World Government would absolutely spread propaganda worldwide about the "brutality" of the Rockefeller Pirates.
While such public opinion didn't matter much to Rockefeller Sharlo himself—
After all, the name of the Rockefeller Pirates had long been dragged through the mud—
Being constantly harassed by the World Government was still irritating.
"Dad! I was wrong!"
Robert immediately stepped forward and apologized when he saw the helpless expression on his father's face.
The other kids also stepped up one after another, sincerely apologizing.
Their attitude was so earnest that Sharlo didn't even know what to say.
"Dad! When we raided Drum Kingdom, I found two Devil Fruits!"
Suddenly, Caesar stepped forward and opened two treasure chests.
Sharlo glanced over.
Caesar opened them.
"One's the Swallow-Swallow Fruit and the other's the Fungus-Fungus Fruit. Both are pretty solid abilities!" Caesar grinned.
Sharlo looked at the two Devil Fruits.
He'd originally planned to go search for some himself, but didn't expect his kids to beat him to it.
He shook his head with a sigh.
"Well, you're not entirely at fault this time. Just don't let it happen again!"
Sharlo warned.
Sure, pirates raiding islands was pretty normal.
Hadn't he done the same when he first set sail?
But now, the situation was different.
When ordinary pirates loot a kingdom, it's one thing.
When the Rockefeller Pirates do it, it's another story entirely.
The World Government and Marines would absolutely keep a close eye on him.
Sharlo didn't want to be on their radar before even reaching the New World.
"Yes!"
Robert perked up and bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
Caesar placed the Devil Fruits beside Sharlo.
"Alright, you're all dismissed. Focus on training. We're heading back to the New World soon. Once we're there, constant battles will break out. Any slip-up could cost you your life."
Sharlo accepted the Devil Fruits and looked around at his dozen or so children.
His tone was deadly serious.
The others could feel the gravity of his words.
The Rockefeller Pirates remained in Drum Kingdom for two more days.
They collected every bit of medical knowledge the kingdom had.
After that, the Poseidon set sail from Drum Kingdom's harbor.
Strangely, nothing happened.
The Marines and the World Government didn't make a single move.
Not even a whisper in the news.
The quieter it was, the more anxious Sharlo became.
This was definitely the calm before the storm.
---
Gaya Island—a pirate-infested island.
Near the seas surrounding Gaya Island,
the Rockefeller Pirates had arrived.
"Huh? Why isn't the Log Pose moving? And why is it pointing up?"
Robert stared at the Log Pose on his wrist in confusion.
"What's so weird about that? The island's probably above us,"
Deidara, exhausted and drenched in sweat, waved a dumbbell lazily.
"Sky Island?" Robert exclaimed.
"Mhm. Most likely. There are a few like that in the New World too."
Esdeath walked over, surveying the wide-open sea.
"Big Sis!"
Robert and Deidara immediately perked up when they saw her.
"Dad said we're heading to Sky Island. If the ship can go up, we'll take it. If not, we'll ride on Caesar."
Esdeath looked up toward the sky.
"Fly up there?"
Robert and the others were shocked.
Caesar walked over at that moment, his face twisted with dread.
"It's all on you," Esdeath told him, gaze sharp.
Caesar forced a bitter nod.
Flying up 10,000 meters into the air wasn't hard for him.
But dragging the massive Poseidon ship along using island clouds? That would be tough.
Even though he was already 14 years old and looked like a mini-adult at over 3.2 meters tall,
and even though he was extremely powerful thanks to his talent—
he knew his stamina wasn't great.
It was an age limitation Caesar couldn't overcome.
Standing on the highest deck, Sharlo surveyed the surrounding sea and the kids gathered on deck. He smiled faintly.
"Sky Island, here I come."
Sharlo had wanted to visit Sky Island for ages.
Whether it was the island's gold, the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit), or the skyfaring technology,
he wanted it all.
Ever since he reincarnated into this world, he had longed for it.
When he was weaker, he even considered eating the Rumble-Rumble Fruit himself.
It was, after all, known as the strongest Logia fruit—not a claim to be taken lightly.
Unfortunately, the chaos of the New World had always held him back.
But now… finally, the chance had come.
He looked toward the endless sky.
To him, that 10,000-meter altitude was nothing.
As his Observation Haki extended,
he suddenly sensed a black dot in the sky.
10,000 meters above the sea—
"Help! We're gonna fall to our deaths!"
A red-nosed boy clung tightly to the ship's mast, tears streaming down his face as the ship hurtled downward.
"Buggy! You're such a coward! We've got octopus balloons—there's no way we'll die!"
A red-haired boy shouted back, clinging just as tightly to another mast.
"Shut up, Shanks! If you're so brave, why are you still holding on?!"
Buggy was clearly not buying it.
Their banter didn't bother the rest of the Roger Pirates.
Roger looked up at the octopus balloons and smiled.
"Roger! Looks like we're descending safely!"
Rayleigh commented as he surveyed the situation.
"Yeah… but I doubt this ship will survive it."
Roger gazed sadly at the vessel that had carried them for decades.
Rayleigh's expression turned serious too.
"This home of ours is falling apart."
Rayleigh's words carried a deeper meaning.
Roger laughed heartily.
"Wahaha! I know a great shipwright in Water 7! We'll build a ship that can sail the New World!"
Roger said confidently.
"Mhm."
Rayleigh nodded, saying nothing more.
But suddenly—
Both Roger and Rayleigh looked up, their faces turning grim.
Even Kozuki Oden froze in place.
Back on the sea—
Sharlo's eyes also shot upward, locking onto the black speck in the sky.
Barrett, standing on deck, did the same.
"That's… the aura of a beast," Barrett muttered.
His odd behavior was immediately noticed by Esdeath and Caesar.
They both looked up toward the sky.
As Esdeath activated her Observation Haki, her face gradually darkened.
"We've got trouble," she said flatly.
Her hand gripped the sword at her waist.
Everyone else tensed up, looking around nervously—
unsure what was coming.
---
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