Super Card System

Chapter 597: Meeting Another Supernova

At the endpoint of their Sky Island, the windmills, serving as engines, was slowly turning. Though not operating at full power, it was still moving the Sky Island gradually across the sky.

Soaring above the clouds, the sunlight was naturally excellent. Many members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates had pulled out lounge chairs, put on sunglasses, and were enjoying sunbathing.

However, below the cloud layer of the Sky Island, the sea was experiencing a violent storm, and it was a rather peculiar “diamond storm.”

The so-called diamond storm didn’t rain diamonds but instead brought hailstones shaped like diamonds. These hailstones were almost all the size of a fist, falling from high altitudes with tremendous force, whistling as they crashed down. In such weather, any ship caught in it would meet only one end: total destruction and death…

Standing at the edge of the Sky Island, Urouge held a telescope, gazing down below. He saw a pirate ship sailing on the sea, battered by the diamond-shaped hailstones until it was riddled with holes, eventually spinning and sinking into the sea. Unable to help himself, he clasped his hands together, muttering, “Amitabha,” and offered a prayer for the doomed vessel.

No one attempted to rescue the ship; such incidents were too common in the New World, and it was impossible to save everyone.

Ian was sparring with Trafalgar Law in an open area, consciously training this Supernova.

Swinging his Senbonzakura blade, Ian slashed seven times in an instant, attacking Law from different directions. Law gritted his teeth, desperately defending himself with his nodachi, Kikoku.

“Stay focused!” Ian yelled as he slashed. “Your weak Haki will dissipate if you lose concentration! How do you expect to take down Doflamingo with such inadequate strength!?”

Although Law was trying his best, he couldn’t keep up with Ian’s speed. After blocking a dozen strikes, Ian suddenly kicked him in the abdomen, sending him flying.

Law rolled on the ground several times before struggling to get up, clutching his stomach and retching. Seeing him drenched in sweat, Ian sheathed his blade and said, “Alright, take a break!”

“Good!” Law nodded, too exhausted to say anything else as he collapsed onto the ground.

Bepo and the others rushed over with towels and water, attending to Law.

Ian walked over to Reiju, who was sunbathing in a bikini and reading a magazine. He asked, “Reiju, how much longer until we arrive?”

“Almost there! Probably another day,” Reiju replied, pushing her sunglasses up to her forehead. “Tezoro’s ship is on the same route as ours. Since we’re trailing it, it’s taking a bit longer.”

Ian nodded, glancing at her voluptuous figure, and felt a bit parched. He quickly grabbed a drink from the table and took a sip.

Reiju gave him a knowing smile but didn’t say anything. Instead, she gestured for him to sit and chat. “Want to sit down and talk for a while?”

Ian, of course, wouldn’t refuse a chat with a beautiful lady. After sitting down on the lounge chair next to Reiju, he asked, “I wonder where Sanji and the others are now.”

Hearing Ian mention her brother, Reiju’s smile widened. “They should be heading to Fish-Man Island first. Don’t forget, Jinbe took them back to Sabaody Archipelago.”

Fish-Man Island… Ian felt a twinge of nostalgia. He had wanted to visit Fish-Man Island several times but had always missed the opportunity. However, now that the Whitebeard Pirates were safe, the island was still under the Whitebeard’s protection, so he could visit anytime he wanted.

“By the way, has your father, Judge, contacted you?” Ian asked Reiju. “He must have seen you during the live broadcast of the Battle of Edd War, right? And Sanji too!”

Reiju shook her head. “No, he hasn’t! I’ve been with you this whole time, so they probably understand the situation. The misunderstanding between you and the Germa Group hasn’t been completely resolved. My father likely feels unease about coming to you and asking for me.”

“He is your father, after all. If you want to go back and see him, you can do so anytime,” Ian said to her.

“I don’t want to go back for now,” Reiju said, resting her chin on her hand and looking at Ian with her enchanting eyes. “He’s probably busy trying to establish a connection with the Big Mom Pirates, so he doesn’t have time to worry about me.”

“Heh,” Ian chuckled. “In that case, let’s have a good time in the Golden City. It’s the largest casino in the world, you know.”

“Tezoro is a wealthy man who loves gold,” Reiju said. “He’ll probably be very interested in the gold we brought back from Skypiea. But he’s not someone to be trifled with, so be careful around him!”

Ian nodded in understanding. He was well aware that Tezoro was not an easy person to deal with.

Imagine a person who controls an immense amount of gold and holds 20% of the world’s wealth. In a world plagued by pirates, the fact that he could remain unscathed for so many years was certainly unusual.

Ian was well aware that, besides being incredibly powerful, Tezoro’s survival was also due to his connections in both the underworld and the government.

“Money makes the world go round” is a saying that holds true in any world. With his enormous wealth, Tezoro had managed to gain the favor of both the Navy and the World Government. Ian recalled that even the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, were frequent visitors to his casino, highlighting his connections in high society. Secretly, Tezoro also collaborated with many underworld bosses. Before Doflamingo’s downfall, the two were known to be good partners.

It was rumored that some of the non-artificial Devil Fruits sold by Doflamingo were actually provided by Tezoro.

Ian speculated that Tezoro, if judged solely by strength, might be above the level of a Shichibukai. With the home-field advantage of his territory, he could possibly even reach the level of a Marine Admiral. Including his extensive connections in both the legal and illegal worlds, his hidden influence was certainly comparable to that of the Four Emperors.

The title “Golden Emperor” was not given lightly. Both “Emperor” and “King” signifies a ruler of immense power.

Of course, his influence was largely maintained through mutual benefits. Nevertheless, only such a formidable presence could allow him to thrive and eliminate anyone who harbored ill intentions against him in these vast seas.

The gold Ian brought back from Skypiea was too much for an ordinary person to handle in one go. Only someone like Tezoro could digest such an enormous amount of gold at once. Ian had never dealt with Tezoro before, but from these signs, he could roughly infer what kind of person Tezoro was. Although Ian wasn’t worried about Tezoro trying any tricks given his own strength, it was still wise to heed Reiju’s advice and stay cautious.

While Ian and Reiju were chatting, a faint rumbling sound suddenly echoed, catching everyone’s attention.

When it was confirmed that the sound came from below, Ian went to the edge of the island and asked Urouge, “What’s going on?”

“It seems like a pirate ship below is being pursued! The sound we heard was cannon fire, which has become faint by the time it reached us up here!” Urouge explained. “I’m trying to see what’s happening.”

Hearing this, Ian decided not to ask further and turned to head back to Reiju. However, just then, Urouge suddenly exclaimed, “Huh?”

“What is it?” Ian turned back and asked him.

“It’s too far to see clearly,” Urouge said, peering through his telescope. “But the pirate ship below looks somewhat familiar!”

Given the current altitude of Skypiea, looking down at the ships on the sea, even a standard naval vessel would appear as small as a sesame seed. So it was normal for Urouge to struggle with the details. However, the sense of familiarity he mentioned piqued Ian’s interest.

“I’ll go down and take a look!” Ian spread his flaming wings and leaped off the edge of the island, diving straight towards the sea below.

As he descended, Ian finally understood what Urouge had meant by “familiar.” The pirate ship being chased below was none other than the Drake Pirates!

Red Flag X Drake, one of the Eleven Supernovas—Ian recognized the flag on their pirate ship.

It wasn’t surprising to Ian that a Supernova would appear in the New World, but what startled him was the pirate crew chasing Drake. They were flying a flag with a skull and crossed horns!

The Beasts Pirates!?

Ian instantly realized that Red Flag X Drake had somehow provoked the Beasts Pirates…