Hanafuda Pirates hunting Alvida

The journey back to East Blue was peaceful. Nami's massive cloud construct effortlessly carried them across the sky.

Jacob was entangled between Nami, Carina, and Yamato inside his luxurious bedroom.

Yamato hugged his left arm tightly, her strength keeping him locked.

Carina was draped over his chest, and Nami was curled up by his right.

Jacob sighed. As much as he enjoyed waking up like this, he needed to check on his other allies.

Jacob carefully pried himself free and stepped outside onto the floating cloud deck.

There, he found Kaya tending to Desire.

Desire looked exhausted, still drained from storing Ark Maxim and so much gold inside her cards.

"How's she holding up?" Jacob asked.

Kaya entangled her soft blonde hair. "She is good now. But she needs to recover with some rest."

Desire managed a weak grin. "I don't regret it. That much gold? Totally worth it."

Jacob smirked, patting her red hair. "You did good."

Further along, Jacob spotted Kuina training.

She stood on the cloud court, sword in hand, performing precise, fluid movements with Wado Ichimonji.

Her focus was intense, every motion clean and powerful.

Jacob watched for a moment, appreciating how much she had grown. She was stronger than ever.

Kuina paused, noticing him. "Enjoying the view?" she teased.

Jacob grinned. "Always."

She rolled her eyes but smirked. "Good. Because I didn't get enough love last night."

Jacob smirked, walking to her, and decided to smack those juicy ass. Kuina turned to face him, smiling; he was two inches taller than her now; they kissed for a while before Jacob continued on his walk.

Finally, Jacob checked on their newest members: Raki, Conis, and Porche.

He expected them to settle in, but he didn't expect to see Raki casually summon a lightning bolt in her hand.

Jacob froze.

"…Is that—?"

Raki smirked. "Yeah. I inherited Enel's divine power."

Jacob blinked. He wasn't sure how, but somehow, she had obtained the Goro Goro no Mi.

Porche hugged Suu tighter in her arms. "Tch. And here I thought I'd be the next powerhouse."

Jacob chuckled, shaking his head at her antics. The Revenants keep getting crazier.

***

Three days after Jacob and his crew departed for Sky Island.

Hanafuda, the Black Beast, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, sat in his grand office, exuding arrogance and power.

Yet, today, there was a rare sight— his hands clenched into fists, his expression dark.

The reason?

A Den Den Mushi call from King, one of the All-Stars of the Beast Pirates.

King's calm but menacing voice echoed through the room.

"Hanafuda. You know why I'm calling."

Hanafuda gritted his teeth.

"I can guess."

King's voice grew colder.

"The woman who stole the Mithycal Zoan. Bring her to us. Now."

Hanafuda, for the first time in a long time, felt hopelessness, something he wasn't used to.

King wasn't just a commander.

He was a monster.

A beast who could reduce islands to rubble if he wished.

Hanafuda forced a smirk, masking his unease.

"You think you can order me around?"

A long silence.

Then, King spoke.

"If you delay, you will be dealt with."

The call cut off.

Hanafuda sat there, his clawed fingers digging into the armrest of his mahogany desk.

He needed to act fast.

"Find her," he growled to his subordinates. "Search every inch of East Blue."

The hunt had begun.

***

A dark mist hung over the seas. The sky was overcast, the ocean still. An eerie silence had settled over the area, broken only by the occasional whimper of a terrified man.

A rough-looking pirate, his body shaking, was held by the throat in the massive hand of a towering beast of a man.

Jigu, the Mammoth Executioner.

Vice-Captain of the Hanafuda Pirates.

A brute standing over four meters tall, his body was built like a fortress, with thick arms covered in scars, and a cold, merciless glare. The air around him was suffocating, heavy with predatory intent.

The unfortunate pirate gasped for air, his legs flailing.

"P—Please! I don't know anything!"

Jigu's grip tightened.

"Lies." His deep, gravelly voice was void of emotion. "You were in Alvida's crew. You know something."

Beside him, two figures stood, watching the scene unfold.

One was Ayame, the Water Tiger—a tall woman with flowing blonde hair, sharp blue eyes, and clawed fingers. She watched in amusement as her right arm rested on the wooden bar countertop while she absentmindedly bit on her left-clawed fingers.

The other one was Oroshi, the Black Snake—a thin, sinister-looking man with oily black hair, a forked tongue that flickered in and out, and a habit of leaning too close when he spoke.

"We don't have time for games, Jigu." Oroshi's eyes gleamed. "Just squeeze a little harder. He'll talk."

The ex-Alvida pirate sobbed.

"I swear, I don't—"

A wet crunch.

Jigu's grip partially crushed the man's throat, making him choke.

"A name." Jigu's voice was low and commanding. "Now."

Tears streamed down the man's face as he desperately pointed toward another captive. A scrawny pirate, shaking like a leaf, eyes darting around for an escape.

"H-He knows! He saw it happen!"

All eyes turned to the second man, who froze in terror.

Jigu crunched, dropped the first pirate like discarded trash, and loomed over the second.

"Talk."

The pirate gulped so hard that his Adam's apple bobbed.

"I-I don't know where she is right now, but!" he stammered. "We were in the ocean, attacking a passenger ship—when it happened! It happened so fast!"

Ayame arched a brow. "What happened?"

The pirate clenched his eyes shut. "Captain Alvida... she was taken."

Oroshi grinned. "Oh? By who?"

The pirate hesitated. Then, voice barely above a whisper, he uttered a name.

"Fire King."

Jigu's expression darkened, his massive fists clenching at his sides.

Ayame let out a low whimper. "The fire logia user, huh?"

Oroshi licked his lips. "Now, this just got interesting."

Jigu exhaled slowly, his breath hot and heavy, like a beast preparing to charge.

"Killed him." His voice was final, absolute. "We take the woman with us."

***

Syrup Village was peaceful. The gentle breeze carried the scent of the sea and the distant laughter of children.

Alvida sat on the bed inside a small wooden room, her wrists bound in sea stone cuffs. She looked exasperated, yet something else flickered in her eyes—frustration.

A tray was placed on the dining table in front of her.

A warm meal.

Across from her, Nojiko stood with one arm on her hip, watching her with a calm but firm expression.

Alvida scoffed. "You're treating me like some prisoner."

Nojiko smiled lightly. "Aren't you?"

Alvida clicked her tongue, lifting her cuffed hands and having difficulty grabbing the spoon. She hesitated momentarily before muttering, "At least the food's good."

As she ate, she glanced up at Nojiko. "Come on, just take these off. You don't expect me to fight you, do you?"

Nojiko leaned back. "You say that, but you'd probably try to smash my head in the second those cuffs are off."

Alvida smirked. "I'd at least wait until after dessert."

Nojiko shaked her head. "Jacob will decide when you're free."

Alvida narrowed her eyes. "That Fire Brat?"

Nojiko's expression darkened.

Outside, in the sunny garden, Reiju Vinsmoke sat on a wooden fence, watching three children run around in circles. Their carefree and full-of-life laughter filled the air.

The three boys who once followed Usopp now played without a care in the world. Tamanegi had a wooden sword, swinging it like a pirate. "I am Captain Tama, the Great Adventurer!"

Neji countered, "No way! I'm the real captain!"

Piiman, the smallest, just laughed and ran after them, pretending to be a monster.

Reiju smiled genuinely, watching them.

A peaceful life.

One she never thought she would have. Away from war. Away from Germa.

Her fingers absentmindedly traced her lips as she remembered the taste of freedom.

For the first time in her life, she didn't have to be a killing machine.

But peace never lasts.

Far from Syrup Village, in the endless blue of the sea…

A ship emerged from the mist.

A sinister fox figurehead adorned its bow, its wooden fangs bared in a permanent, eerie grin. The sails, dark as the night, billowed as they silently cut through the waters.

A prominent, tall figure stood at its helm, arms rested, eyes locked onto the distant shoreline.

The hunt had begun.