Chapter 11: I Am the Sun, You Are the Moon, Together We Are Sun and Moon

"The greatest ship in the world is one that possesses a ship spirit."

Franky gazed at the pirate ship in awe.

Did I just create a ship with a spirit?

Tom-sensei always said that only ships that shared a mutual love with their crew could develop a spirit. A brand-new ship shouldn't have a ship spirit.

"Could it be…?" Franky looked in disbelief at Kuke, who had just boarded the ship.

It was the moment he stepped onto the ship that the spirit had appeared.

Impossible! A ship spirit manifesting in a second?

Franky felt his understanding of the world completely collapse.

…

Kuke expressed his thanks to them and bid farewell to the still-dumbfounded Franky and Iceburg. Soon after, the ship sailed out of the shipyard, gliding over the open sea.

The real journey had begun.

"Set sail!"

Everyone on board the new ship was brimming with excitement.

"Kuke, what will we name our pirate ship?" Gion asked, glancing at the empty flagpole.

Every pirate crew needed a name and a flag to represent their pride and identity. These were non-negotiable symbols of honor.

"The Black-Haired Pirates?" Hancock suggested, her eyes lingering on Kuke's short, black hair.

Kuke's mouth twitched slightly.

"How about the Beardless Pirates?" Boa Sandersonia added, "After all, the most feared crew on the seas is the Whitebeard Pirates, and our captain… doesn't have a beard."

Kuke's expression twitched again.

"The Hundred Beauties Pirates?" Gion offered, referring to Kuke's goal of having a hundred female crew members.

Kuke's face darkened. The Hundred Beauties Pirates? He could already imagine the kind of gossip that would spread about the captain of such a crew.

"The Handsome Pirates?" Hancock proposed again, her gaze dreamy as she stared at Kuke, seemingly unable to ever get enough of him.

"Alright, enough!" Kuke finally intervened, unable to handle more of these absurd suggestions.

The women stared at him expectantly, waiting for the crew's official name.

Kuke furrowed his brows in thought. His crew would consist of one man and many women—a balance of yin and yang?

"No, that doesn't fit," he muttered to himself, glancing up at the blazing sun in the sky. "The sun… and the moon? Sun and Moon Pirates."

Yes, that was it.

"The Sun and Moon Pirates."

Hancock, Gion, and the others repeated the name, testing how it sounded.

"Kuke, does this name have a special meaning? Does it reflect your dream?" Gion asked curiously.

"I represent the sun, and you all represent the moon. Together, we are the Sun and Moon," Kuke explained.

Hearing this, Hancock and the others felt a deeper sense of belonging and purpose. They were more than just crew members—they were part of something greater, something that included Kuke himself.

Kuke then painted the flag. Against a black backdrop, he inscribed the words:

"Sun and Moon… Brightness!"

The flag was black with red lettering, symbolizing their pirate crew's banner.

"This ship shall be named the 'Radiant Eclipse.' Radiant Eclipse, set sail!" Kuke declared, his arm raised in command.

With surprising speed, the Radiant Eclipse left Water 7 behind and sailed into the open sea.

"Is the ship moving on its own?" Hancock and the others were shocked to see the ship sailing forward with no one at the helm.

"That's the ship spirit," Kuke explained. "It can control the ship, navigate on its own, and even repair damage."

"Wow!" Hancock and her sisters exclaimed in wonder.

Gion, who had heard of ship spirits before, looked at Kuke with suspicion.

"Strange… We've known each other for years. I thought I knew everything about you, Kuke, but it seems like you've gained a lot of new secrets." Gion teased as she started playfully patting him down, searching him.

"Well, maybe you haven't gotten to know me thoroughly yet," Kuke raised an eyebrow with a sly smile.

"Oh? Then tonight, I'll make sure to learn everything," Gion whispered.

"Uh… what?" Kuke was momentarily flustered.

…

"Gion, do you have an Eternal Pose for Enies Lobby?" Kuke asked suddenly.

Water 7 was quite close to Enies Lobby, the two islands being neighbors.

During their ten days in Water 7, Kuke had been gathering information, and with the intelligence provided by Shakky, he had a clearer understanding of the current situation.

Tomorrow, a group of criminals was scheduled to be judged at Enies Lobby.

These prisoners were the slaves captured from the Holy Land over the past couple of weeks. Many had managed to escape, but the Navy had recaptured several of them.

They would be taken to Enies Lobby, branded with fabricated crimes, and paraded as scapegoats to restore the World Government's tarnished reputation.

Since they were already close to Water 7, Kuke figured it wouldn't hurt to take a detour to Enies Lobby.

Enies Lobby, being one of the three central government agencies, was the weakest in terms of military strength but was the most well-known. It was the perfect place for Kuke to rack up achievement points.

It would also give the world a proper introduction to the Sun and Moon Pirates, as well as the crew—especially Vice Captain Gion.

…

Marineford, Navy Headquarters.

"What's the status on Sakazuki?" Sengoku asked.

"He hasn't found Kuke yet, but he's captured several pirates leaving Fish-Man Island. They all claim they haven't seen any trace of Kuke there," a marine reported.

Sengoku chuckled, "Kuke must be hiding deep within Fish-Man Island, collaborating with Fisher Tiger. His ties with the Fish-Man Island run deep, and it's no surprise they're helping him hide. But he'll come out eventually."

"Tell Sakazuki to continue his mission and stay on alert. It's only a matter of time before Kuke shows himself."

"Yes, sir!"

Sengoku glared at Kuke's photo, the man responsible for his recent sleepless nights, and slammed his fist down on the picture.

"If you dare step out of hiding, you're dead."