Captain Davy Jones returned to the deck drenched from the downpour, dragging Zoro by one leg. He dropped him beside Luffy, unconscious as well.

The fear he had just harvested was intense—"bone-chilling" at its worst—and far richer than any previous. Instantly, he powered himself up further.

To his surprise, the new ability he had acquired was "Haki", the very technique Mihawk had mentioned—but far broader in scope.

Haki wasn't only Armament, as Mihawk had described: it also included Observation (Kenbunshoku) and Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku).

Now Davy Jones had learned the basics of Armament and Observation, and had even triggered uncontrolled bursts of Conqueror's Haki—something rare among millions.

His attack, defense, perception—all had improved. Because of his innate kingly nature, he unmistakably possessed rare Conqueror's Haki.

Moreover, his tentacles increased from three to four—letting his aura of fear spread over an entire small town!

Seeing their captain safe, Alvida celebrated joyfully. Buggy and Kuro, who had doubted Davy Jones's capabilities until he fought Mihawk, now breathed in relief. The captain had delivered once again.

They could never have predicted that, while disadvantaged, Davy Jones would fully exploit the sea itself to counter Mihawk's assault—and force Mihawk to withdraw.

Back aboard the Terror Phantom, his presence felt sharper, more commanding. Alvida and Kuro sensed something unsettling. Buggy—who had encountered some of the strongest fear-based Haki—instinctively recognized the change in their captain's aura.

What in the world had happened?

---

Under Davy Jones's will, the storm abated—but the sky remained dark and oppressive.

Looking down at the unconscious Luffy and Zoro, his tentacles quivered. He recalled Mihawk's parting words:

"Davy Jones… take that man, Roronoa Zoro, and bring him somewhere safe."

Mihawk hadn't explained why—only politely expressed respect. Jones asked no further questions; the request was simple.

Zoro's life was spared. What about his friend?

Jones glanced at Luffy's missing straw hat—then saw Buggy holding it.

Realizing the captain's gaze, Buggy's nose twitched nervously. "Uhh… Captain, I know the previous owner of this hat."

"Oh? Do tell."

Buggy hesitated—but spoke: "The last owner—was Red-Haired Shanks."

Shanks?

Davy Jones had never heard the name, but Alvida and Kuro gasped—it was legendary.

"What's so special about this Shanks?" Jones asked, noting their reactions.

Alvida chimed in, anxious: "Captain, Red-Haired Shanks is one of the Four Emperors on the Grand Line—one of the most famous pirates in existence."

"The Four Emperors? What's that?"

"They're the four dominant pirate crews in the New World, rivaling even the Marines. The second half of the Grand Line is basically their territory."

From the Shichibukai to the Four Emperors—pirate power stretched far beyond the government's reach.

Alvida studied Jones's face. She had never questioned him before. But now… could he really be that legendary Davy Jones?

Perhaps he was the same man who once commanded the Flying Dutchman, sealed in the sea until now?

Her scalp tingled with realization as she remembered first meeting him aboard the Phantom.

Davy Jones looked at Buggy.

"And why would you know one of the Four Emperors?"

Alvida's heart skipped—so many hidden connections.

Buggy flushed. "Well… before he became an Emperor, I met him—then I returned to the East Blue."

He didn't elaborate—too many secrets at stake involving both Shanks and the straw hat.

"I recognized that hat—it belonged to him," Buggy continued. "I've seen him wear it. I'm sure."

The crew sensed Buggy was withholding more—but Jones didn't press. After all—it was just tangled relationships. Not his concern.

Jones said: "Buggy, give the hat back."

All three crew members stared. Were they about to be abandoned?

Jones smiled: "Yes, I promised Mihawk I'd deliver Zoro to safety. Since Luffy is his comrade, I'll send him as well."

He took the straw hat from Buggy and placed it back on Luffy's head. Then with two tentacles, he lifted them both.

"I'm not your babysitter." His tone changed. "I don't have time to steer them to land myself."

Facing the Going Merry, he bent like a bow and hurled both of them powerfully.

All three watched—jaw dropped.

Whoosh—

The two bodies flew through the air across an arc and slammed onto Merry's deck—cracking its boards on impact.

Thud!

Usopp and Nami, still aboard Merry, shrieked at the sudden silhouettes smashing in.

They shrank into a corner, staring at the hole in the deck—they had no idea what was happening.

"Go check it out." Nami poked Usopp's waist with her stick. "See what it is."

"I—I have a disease…" Usopp tried to fake illness but got shoved forward by Nami.

He sprawled onto the deck with a crack—twisting his long nose.

He stood, rubbing it, and peered into the hole.

Inside, unconscious—Luffy and Zoro.

They blinked in shock.

"Go get them inside. Zoro looks seriously hurt."

"On it."

Suddenly—a thunderous crash in the distance.

They froze, then turned to see: the black ship collided with what looked like a naval vessel.

But no dramatic destruction. Instead, the navy ship disintegrated—torn apart by the black ship—wreckage scattered and sucked beneath.

Misty fog rose. The black ship drifted into the haze, vanishing without trace.

"That's the stuff of nightmares." Usopp shook his head, nose trembling. "I never want to see them again. My lifespan's halved just from watching."

Nami fell silent again.

Davy Jones' style—it wasn't like the Arlong Pirates who mercilessly oppressed others. Arlong wouldn't spare those who defied him—but his cruelty was simple.

Over the years, Nami had known fish-men as xenophobic but deeply loyal to their own.

What if Arlong and Davy Jones ever met—and Alvida convinced Jones to ally with him? Together they could dominate Cocoyasi Village, the East Blue...

Her blood ran cold at the thought of two major evils conspiring.

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