Chapter 102: The Unlucky Supernova
“Artificial dragons… Revolutionary Army…”
“I didn’t expect the Revolutionary Army to have this kind of technology…”
Gripping a hard, crimson scale, Judge held it up to his eyes, carefully observing every detail. He had a faint sense of familiarity with the object. The scale had a metallic sheen. He forcefully broke off a corner and used a subtle technique to grind that fragment into fine dust.
“Composed primarily of calcium? This method… it’s a bit like exoskeletons…”
His gaze swept over his two “modified” sons beside him, and Judge’s expression subtly shifted. His modified-human technology was based on research into bloodline factors. If the manufacturing technology for these dragons was similar to his modifications, then it was highly likely derived from bloodline factors as well…
However,
Bloodline factors were first discovered by Vegapunk. He was in an illegal research organization with Vegapunk back then. There were a few others in the team, but their organization was later shut down by the World Government. Vegapunk was taken away by the World Government, and the other members of the team were executed.
Fortunately, Vegapunk did not leak Judge’s information. Otherwise, if the World Government knew that Judge also possessed the secret of bloodline factors, the “life blueprint,” no matter how powerful Germa 66 was, they absolutely could not withstand a serious World Government.
And now,
Judge sensed traces of Vegapunk’s techniques in the scales shed from this dragon.
“This is impossible…” Judge frowned deeply.
Vegapunk was working for the World Government, and all the team members at the time were executed. Logically, only the World Government, besides him, possessed the technology to utilize bloodline factors. The Revolutionary Army was the least likely to have access to such technology…
Yet, the Revolutionary Army controlled artificial dragons and breached a Navy base.
“Ichiji.”
He called out his eldest son’s name.
“Father, what is it?”
Vinsmoke Ichiji, as eye-catching as a flame, looked up.
“Gather intelligence on the Revolutionary Army in the North Blue, and find a channel to contact them.” Judge clenched the scale in his hand, seeing hope for breaking through his bottleneck in it.
Based on bloodline factors, he had developed “modified humans” and “clones.” And Vegapunk, assuming these dragons were products of Vegapunk’s developed technology, had clearly taken a similar but different path in their manufacturing. Judge vaguely glimpsed the possibility of drastically improving the combat power of “clones.”
Two technologies originating from the same foundation, but choosing different development paths, might allow for their integration.
“Also, try to avoid conflict with the Revolutionary Army. No, do not engage the Revolutionary Army.” Finally, Judge added another safeguard.
“The Revolutionary Army? I understand.”
Ichiji agreed. His still somewhat youthful face showed no trace of fear. These were modified humans, possessing extraordinary physiques, “emotionless machines” that understood neither fear nor the terror of death.
Even the Revolutionary Army, in Ichiji’s view, was no different from the enemies defeated and annihilated in the past. If not for the final directive, to find the Revolutionary Army faster, he would undoubtedly employ quite brutal methods, even if it meant harming Revolutionary Army officers.
“Revolutionary Army… Vegapunk…”
Judge pondered how to adjust his grand plan for revival.
He dreamed of recreating the Vinsmoke family’s most glorious era, controlling the entire North Blue with his clan’s might. That was the future he yearned for. Although the Germa Kingdom today was a top power in the North Blue, it was still not strong enough compared to that most brilliant and radiant era.
Even with the development of “clones” who were fearless and absolutely obedient, and the creation of a new army for Germa 66, this ultimately could not bridge the gap in high-end combat power. Having operated in the New World, Judge knew clearly that against those “monsters,” clones might not be of much use.
To recreate the Vinsmoke’s past glory, he needed more power.
————
Outside Black Swan Island in the New World.
A fleet of over ten warships sailed out of the port and slowly headed east.
“Prince Shirohoshi, are you adjusting well to life in the military?”
“Instructor Jinbe, please don’t add the suffix ‘Prince’ here. I am just an ordinary Fish-Man officer now.” Prince Shirohoshi looked helplessly at Jinbe, who was walking over, glancing around to confirm no one else was nearby before letting out a sigh of relief.
Today was his fifth day since joining the Eckmond Kingdom Navy.
As the eldest prince of the Ryugu Kingdom and the undisputed next king, Shirohoshi had come to Eckmond as an envoy. On one hand, it was to deepen exchanges with the Eckmond Kingdom, and on the other, it was to broaden his horizons.
As a future king, he would eventually have to leave Fish-Man Island and see the outside world for himself, rather than being a frog in a well.
He brought his younger sister Shirahoshi and a group of open-minded young merfolk and Fish-Men to the Eckmond Kingdom. They received a warm welcome and then rested for three days, roughly adapting to life on land. After that, he found Elus and expressed his desire to understand human society from more aspects.
Finally,
Shirohoshi and over a dozen young male Fish-Men joined the army, belonging to the training camp under the command of Jinbe, the grand instructor of Fish-Man Karate. All the members here were humans, but their superior officers were Fish-Men. This was convenient for Shirohoshi and the others to adapt for a while. Once they were accustomed to interacting with humans, they could be transferred to other units. And when they got tired of being in the army, they could then move to the administrative departments.
Elus provided Shirohoshi with a clear plan. After Shirohoshi and his advisors studied it, they felt the plan was excellent and would satisfy his need to understand humans more deeply. Moreover, he wasn’t saying he could only come to the sea once. As long as his father Neptune was on the throne, he had no need to rush back.
He had plenty of time to understand humans.
Thus, Shirohoshi found himself on this warship.
“The military is the same everywhere. Human armies and the Sea King Army don’t seem too different to me. At most, the Sea King Army patrols the deep sea, without the changes of wind and rain on the surface. Well, though the storms aren’t that interesting…”
Shirohoshi spoke of his impressions.
He was truly excited.
All the scenery on the sea was completely different from the world in the deep sea. He had basked in the underwater sunlight for thirty years, but only recently had he truly seen the sun. Although he was nearly blinded by the light at the time and cried for half a day before recovering.
“…And the moon. The Sun Tree Eve only transmits sunlight but cannot accept moonlight. The moon is truly… so beautiful…”
Jinbe stood beside him, nodding frequently.
He fully understood Prince Shirohoshi’s excitement.
When he left Fish-Man District back then and joined the Sun Pirates to venture with Boss Tiger, even though he still harbored hatred for humans in his heart, upon seeing the round moon hanging in the night sky and feeling the flowing moonlight drifting through the air, he was captivated without resistance.
After drifting at sea for over half a year, he gradually got used to it, no longer becoming so excited by the sight of the moon that he couldn’t sleep by the window.
“Shark Star King… Shark Star Second Lieutenant.”
Glared at by Shark Star, Jinbe promptly corrected himself, addressing Shark Star by his rank. After all, Shark Star was a prince of the Ryugu Kingdom, and he had also mastered Fish-Man Karate, so it wasn’t as if he had to climb up from the lowest ranks; he was directly granted the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Also, Fish-Man Karate and Mermaid Karate are essentially the same thing, just different terms used by fish-men and mermaids.
“Second Lieutenant Shark Star, notify all ships to prepare for engagement. Our rendezvous target… is arriving soon.”
“Yes.”
Shark Star immediately became serious.
Without lingering to question Jinbe, he went to relay Jinbe’s orders without hesitation. This prince commanded the Sea King Army while at the seabed, and as he had said before, human armies and mermaid armies are fundamentally the same.
“How wonderful!”
Watching Shark Star’s receding back, a happy smile appeared on Jinbe’s face.
The more outstanding the next king of the Ryugu Kingdom performs, the more secure the future of Fish-Man Island will be.
“Hmm! As expected of a former Marine Admiral… this presence is not much weaker than those three current ones…” Jinbe collected his thoughts, putting aside extraneous notions. His deployed Observation Haki had already captured the fierce and valiant aura from afar.
They were on a mission to Black Swan Island.
Originally, this matter wouldn’t have been under his instructor’s purview, but to give Prince Shark Star more experience, he had accepted this mission.
In the distance,
where the sea and sky meet, a small black dot suddenly emerged.
The black dot was moving extremely fast, speeding towards Black Swan Island. As the distance closed, a ship could be clearly seen through the telescope – a pirate ship. The black pirate flag at the top of the main mast fluttered loudly in the wind, and there was a skull pattern on the somewhat tattered foresail of the pirate ship.
The condition of this pirate ship was not good. Cannonballs from behind were chasing its tail, and huge water columns continuously splashed up on both sides of the ship’s hull, causing the pirate ship to sway left and right. Sword Qi crisscrossed the air, slashing and detonating all cannonballs that were about to hit the pirate ship, thus preventing it from being directly torn to shreds by the dense gunfire and sent into the sea to feed the fish.
However, even with this, it was a mere struggle for survival. It was evident that without any unforeseen circumstances, it likely couldn’t escape the pursuit.
After all,
the pursuers behind them were the Pirate Guerilla Squad.
Former Marine Admiral, Zephyr the “Black Arm,” was stationed on the flagship.
“Target confirmed: a horse skull wearing a cowboy hat, and two crossed rapiers. It’s the Beautiful Pirates.”
The lookout on the crow’s nest loudly reported the results of his observation.
The Beautiful Pirates.
Jinbe and his crew had come for this, ordered by Elus to intercept this pirate crew related to the pillar of support for the Eckmond Kingdom. Well, mainly for the captain of this pirate crew, this year’s Pirate Supernova, Cavendish the White Horse.
During a meeting some time ago, Elus had promised that if Cavendish could escape to the territory of the Eckmond Kingdom, he would help rescue this Pirate Supernova, who was related to his kingdom’s pillar of support, from the clutches of the Pirate Guerilla Squad.
As it turned out, Cavendish was indeed lucky; he narrowly avoided Zephyr’s pursuit several times and managed to escape all the way, heading towards Black Swan Island, the easternmost gateway of the Eckmond Kingdom. Elus had originally intended to send an aide-de-camp from his side to handle this.
But later, Jinbe took over this mission. Elus didn’t refuse. However, as a precaution, he also arranged for Isca to cooperate.
“Someone, pass down the order: maintain cruising speed, do not advance recklessly, and no firing without my command.”
Jinbe’s orders were accurately relayed.
The warships lined up with Jinbe’s flagship at the center, maintaining a moderate cruising speed, and leisurely approached the Beautiful Pirates who were speeding towards them.
Shark Star had returned to the deck by this time.
“Instructor Jinbe, this human pirate crew doesn’t seem to be in a good situation? Aren’t we going to offer support?” Shark Star asked, holding a monocular and watching the pirate ship being chased in disarray.
“We will intervene once they approach the coast of Black Swan Island.”
Isca emerged from the helm, sword in hand, standing tall beside Jinbe as she gazed at the pirate ship continuously growing larger in their field of vision.
·····
“Captain, there’s a fleet blocking the way ahead!!”
The members of the Beautiful Pirates were not blind, of course. They noticed the roadblock ahead and immediately reported loudly to the captain, who was busy cutting cannonballs at the stern of the ship.
“Charge! No matter who it is, I don’t believe they can be more terrifying than Black Arm.”
The utterly disheveled captain shouted angrily.
The crew members exchanged glances. Faced with such a predicament, with wolves in front and tigers behind, there was no better option. They could only steel themselves and charge forward as the captain ordered. Could it be that the fleet ahead… the Golden Coffee Tree Flag? That’s the Navy of the Eckmond Kingdom. Wait, the Navy of the Eckmond Kingdom?
The Black Prince’s fleet?
Oh my!
“Captain, it’s the Black Prince’s fleet ahead!”
The lookout was almost in tears.
What rotten luck!
How could they have run into the Black Prince’s army? Their luck was abysmal. Even if the Black Prince himself wasn’t on the fleet ahead, colliding with the Black Prince’s fleet was tantamount to provoking the Fifth Overlord of the New World.
