Aboard the massive warship slicing through the waves, Wilder reclined on his beach chair. Though outwardly relaxed, his mind was busy charting the course ahead, seeking direction for the path his burgeoning power would take.
East Blue, ultimately, was just a stepping stone. One day, his entire operation would shift its focus to the New World. Everything he did now was merely laying the groundwork, constructing a formidable stronghold for the future.
The other three Blues were already dominated by established forces; it stood to reason that someone needed to "preside over the big picture" in the East Blue as well. Regardless of his future successes or failures in the New World, as long as his East Blue base remained secure, as long as he maintained control here… anyone seeking to move against him would have to think twice.
There were other benefits too, advantages that came with widespread influence, much like the Four Emperors possessed. Big Mom, for instance, could ascertain situations in the West Blue and mobilize forces there while remaining in the New World. The other Emperors wielded similar terrifying reach. That was the advantage of being a maritime emperor.
Wilder himself held little interest in claiming the title of Emperor, but he certainly had no desire to bow his head to anyone. Therefore, he needed the East Blue as his secure backing.
Talent was indispensable. Mid-level officers—the core strength of any organization—were crucial if Wilder was ever to feel secure enough to leave the East Blue behind. So, besides cultivating talent from within, he also needed to actively seek out and recruit individuals suitable for officer positions.
Furthermore, the "Officer Factory" needed to be established urgently as a preparatory talent development base. However, after much consideration, Wilder concluded that East Blue wasn't the right place for it. These were future officers, not rank-and-file members, and finding enough promising "seeds" in the East Blue would be difficult. For now, Wilder had no immediate solution beyond issuing orders to recruit officer-level talent externally. The Officer Factory itself, he decided, would have to wait until he reached the New World and could establish it within his future main base there. As a vital talent pipeline, it needed to be implemented perfectly.
As the warship sailed on, Wilder wasn't idle, even while lounging. He continuously manipulated the swamp within his body, honing his control. His ever-increasing mastery was the result of relentless, daily accumulation; he didn't dare slack off for even a moment.
His Armament Haki training had also progressed. He now had preliminary mastery, capable of coating both his arms. Of course, in terms of raw strength, it likely couldn't compare to those who had wielded Haki for years – that was a gap that couldn't be bridged in such a short time. After all, less than a month had passed since Wilder had first awakened his Armament Haki.
The seas had only grown more turbulent since the Summit War. The journey towards Marine Headquarters was far from peaceful.
In the distance, a pirate ship flying a red skull flag approached aggressively.
Aboard the Black Serpent, the fifty crew members currently on deck tensed, instantly alert. These fifty had been handpicked from the lower ranks; they possessed decent strength, and Wilder intended to cultivate their potential further.
Leading this group of fifty was a middle-aged man named Jacks. He had rough features, messy black hair, and a tall, powerful build nearly matching Wilder's own height.
"Everyone, ready yourselves! If they even think about getting close, open fire!" Jacks ordered, his fierce gaze fixed on the rapidly approaching pirate vessel. After giving the command, he turned and strode towards Wilder at the bow to report.
"Boss, pirate ship incoming. Judging by the flag, looks like the Red Lotus Pirates – total bounty around 280 million Belly. Captain's 'Blood Hand' Red Lotus, worth 98 million himself." Jacks added, "We've entered the Grand Line now, Boss. The pirates out here are a whole different league compared to East Blue."
Hearing Jacks' report, Wilder opened his eyes on the beach chair, a dangerous glint flashing within them.
"Good timing. Our supplies were running a bit low anyway," Wilder said with a smile, rising to his feet. "Engage them. Take everything."
Claire offered a slight smile of her own, falling into step behind him.
Jacks' face lit up with excitement. He hurried back to relay the orders to the crew.
"Alright, listen up! Boss gave the word! Hit 'em! Hit 'em hard! But be careful not to sink the damn ship! We want every last bit of treasure on board!"
"OOOH! HAHAHA!" The crew roared, raising their cutlasses high, laughter booming across the deck. Bloodlust filled every eye!
"KILL!" The numerous cannons mounted along the warship's sides erupted with fire and smoke. Cannonballs soared through the air in graceful arcs, launched from their muzzles.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Over a dozen projectiles arced towards the sky before plummeting down towards the unsuspecting pirate ship below! Simultaneously, the Black Serpent began rapidly closing the distance, preparing to board.
Aboard the Red Lotus Pirates' ship, the sudden attack threw the crew into chaos. The dark spots rapidly descending from above sent waves of panic through their ranks.
"Run for cover!"
"Dammit! Why'd they fire first?! Isn't that supposed to be our job?!"
As the crew scrambled in disarray, a gaunt-faced man glowered, staring up at the falling cannonballs. "IDIOTS!" he roared. "Shoot them down! What are you panicking for?! It's just a merchant ship!"
"Ah! Right!" Hearing their captain, the pirates paused, then regained a sliver of composure. Some frantically tried to steer the ship evasively while others attempted to shoot down the incoming projectiles.
"Bastards! We'll show you the consequences!" the gaunt captain snarled, stepping menacingly onto the bow. His hands, stained a deep red, began to emit wisps of white steam.
"What consequences? Like this?" a low voice suddenly inquired. A tall figure had landed silently on the bow right in front of him.
Red Lotus's expression changed instantly! He looked up, the imposing figure blocking the sunlight, casting him in shadow. As his gaze traveled upwards and locked onto the face before him, his heart seemed to stop for a beat. His pupils dilated wildly!
"Wi…" He tried to speak, but his mouth trembled uncontrollably. He staggered backward involuntarily, cold sweat breaking out across his face.
Gurgle. A creeping shadow of ooze slowly crawled up towards Red Lotus's head. He looked up, mouth agape in silent terror!
"No… No! I'm not…" He stumbled back frantically, shaking his head, desperately trying to explain or plead, but the surging swamp descended upon him!
"Mmph! Agh!" He opened his mouth only to have swamp flood into it. Red Lotus's eyes bulged, his body thrashing violently as the heavy ooze crushed and suffocated him, swallowing him whole.
"HAHAHA! KILL THEM! TAKE ALL THE TREASURE!" The Black Serpent successfully drew alongside the pirate vessel. Wilder's crew swarmed aboard, charging onto the Red Lotus ship's deck, cutting down everyone in their path.
Screams filled the air. Beneath Claire's high heel, the Red Lotus Pirates' Vice-Captain lay sliced in two, mouth wide open, blood pouring out, eyes glazed over in death.
Gradually, the sounds of slaughter subsided. The Red Lotus Pirates were annihilated.
Treasure and resources from the pirate ship were quickly transferred onto the warship. The crew bustled about their tasks. Wilder returned to his beach chair, lying back down. Claire stood behind him, her soft hands gently massaging his shoulders with just the right amount of pressure.
The next day, news of the encounter spread like wildfire throughout that stretch of sea, ripples even reaching other parts of the world.
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