Although there was still no word from Doflamingo, Mio had already decided on his next destination—the Kingdom of Skadi.
Maybe Vegapunk is still there, he thought.
Night deepened.
A bright moon hung high in the sky, casting silvery light across the ocean's surface. The ship gently sailed in one direction, leaving ripples in its wake as Mio, Warwick, Erica, and the others returned to their rooms to rest.
…
The next morning.
Mio opened his eyes, stretched slightly, then got up to wash and freshen up. Afterward, he stepped onto the deck.
He stretched his limbs, taking in the peaceful atmosphere. Today looked like another good day.
The sky was clear and blue—comforting in a way that reminded him how different the four seas were compared to the Grand Line or the New World. Among them, the East Blue stood out the most. While it had its share of strong individuals, it was undeniably the most peaceful and suitable sea for retirement.
As Mio enjoyed the scenery, a seagull flapped its wings overhead and landed gracefully on the bow of the ship. With a practiced motion, the bird produced a rolled-up newspaper and handed it over.
Mio pulled out some Berries, handed them to the bird, and accepted the newspaper in exchange.
Unlike regional news, this edition came from a global distributor, featuring headlines from across the world. Mio quickly scanned through the major stories.
"Devil's Child Nico Robin Suspected to Be in the North Blue!!"
"Shocking! Great Pirate Golden Lion Escapes from Impel Down!"
That headline immediately caught Mio's eye, and he began to read the article with great interest.
After a few moments, he folded the newspaper and set it aside.
Robin's appearance in the North Blue wasn't too surprising. The destruction of O'Hara by the Buster Call had only taken place a few months ago. Naturally, Robin was now a fugitive, beginning her long journey of escape and survival.
What truly caught Mio off guard, however, was the news about Golden Lion.
He glanced again at the picture in the paper, which showed the man's artificial legs—sharp blades replacing the limbs he had cut off to escape from Impel Down.
Mio couldn't help but smirk. "If I run into the Golden Lion one day, maybe I should try to claim those two weapons for myself."
After all, Sakura Ju and Mokuba, the swords attached to Golden Lion's legs, were renowned blades.
Golden Lion had just escaped from the underwater prison, and according to his original timeline, he'd soon begin executing his long-devised plan to wreak havoc in the East Blue. Mio chuckled at the thought.
This guy… he's got patience, I'll give him that.
Besides that, the only thing that stirred Mio emotionally was the bond between Golden Lion and Roger. Though they were enemies, their friendship was undeniably genuine. For Golden Lion, Roger had always been an opponent he admired—perhaps even the one person he truly respected.
Shaking his head, Mio decided to stop thinking about it. His thoughts returned to Robin and the island mentioned in the report.
The island where she had appeared was located far in the North Blue, a journey that would take at least half a month at full speed.
Still, Mio had plans for Robin.
She was invaluable—especially when it came to deciphering the poneglyphs and locating the ancient weapons. Mio wasn't interested in Pluton's blueprints, which he knew were currently being watched by the World Government. He couldn't afford to get involved with those spies yet.
But if Robin joined him, she could lead him to a Pluton from the Void Century, one that might be mentioned in the historical texts.
Perhaps it lies in Alabasta… or maybe in Water Seven…
"We'll see how things go. If I come across her, I'll definitely keep her," Mio murmured, turning back into the cabin to prepare breakfast.
After all, he was the only one on board who could cook.
…
In the kitchen.
Mio began prepping ingredients for the morning meal when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.
He turned and saw Erica approaching.
She wasn't wearing her usual cloak today. Instead, she had on a more casual outfit—blue cropped pants, a white short-sleeved shirt, and a pair of black leather boots. Her long silver hair framed her youthful face, and her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Master, are you cooking?" she asked softly, her voice gentle and sweet.
"Yeah," Mio replied with a warm smile, while thinking about what to prepare. Barbecue? A bit too greasy for breakfast. Maybe porridge? But the tools for that were limited.
"Master, can you teach Erica how to cook?" she asked suddenly, blinking her large eyes nervously.
Mio blinked in surprise. "Why do you want to learn?"
Her pale cheeks flushed slightly. "Erica wants to make breakfast for Master."
Mio grinned, clearly delighted by the answer. "Alright, come over here. I'll teach you."
"Okay!" she nodded, quickly stepping beside him, her curiosity evident.
Mio began showing her the basic utensils and seasonings. Though it took a bit longer than usual to cook today, the time spent was worth it. Erica was quick to pick things up. Even if she hadn't mastered everything yet, she had already memorized a lot.
Watching her learn so eagerly, Mio felt genuinely pleased. He looked forward to the day he could wake up to a homemade breakfast not made by his own hands.
…
After breakfast.
Warwick finally woke up. However, instead of looking alert, he sat in silence on the deck, a bottle of rum in his hand, staring at it in a daze.
Mio glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. Judging by the open bottle, Warwick had clearly helped himself to a drink before morning.
After staring for a while, Warwick finally looked up and declared with great seriousness, "Master… this wine is delicious!!"
Mio rolled his eyes. "If it tastes good, then drink more."
Warwick nodded with equal seriousness. "Okay."
Mio smirked. He already knew that Warwick had two great hobbies: fishing and drinking.
…
The day passed peacefully.
Mio stood on the deck, practicing swordsmanship with Erica. Occasionally, he had her spar with him. In terms of sword technique, Erica still had the edge over him. Her movements were precise, and her understanding of the blade came naturally.
Meanwhile, Warwick sat at the bow, fishing rod in one hand, rum bottle in the other.
"Hah!" Mio exhaled after a round of sparring, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel. He looked at Warwick and grinned.
"Hey, Warwick! You should dive into the sea sometimes. There might be treasure down there. If you find any, we'll be rich, haha."
He wasn't entirely joking.
There really were a lot of treasures under the sea—especially around shipwrecks. Most of them had treasure chests onboard before they sank.
Sometimes the loot was in Berries, but often it was gold coins, jewels, or precious metals.
And most of the wrecked ships belonged to pirates.
Which meant loot was practically guaranteed.
Warwick didn't respond immediately, but a subtle shift in his expression suggested he might seriously consider it.
Mio laughed quietly to himself.
Another calm day on the open sea.