Mowak Island.
Mio skillfully maneuvered the boat toward the port of the Meg Kingdom.
Fortunately for him, he wasn't registered as a pirate—at least, not yet. That meant he didn't have to worry about Marines chasing him down as he docked and set foot on the island.
As soon as he disembarked, Erica and Warwick followed closely behind. The trio began their journey toward the capital of the Meg Kingdom. This port city was just a small border town; there was still some distance to cover before they could reach the capital. Thankfully, the Meg Kingdom had its own means of transportation—a kind of manual carriage that ran on a dedicated road leading to the capital. While not fast, it was reliable, and the trip only took about half a day.
The roads were bustling with activity.
But pirates were scarce.
Most of the people traveling were merchants.
Even with rising tensions and looming war between the Meg and Skanda Kingdoms, these merchants still risked their lives for the promise of profit. Greed, after all, often outweighed fear.
After hiring a manual carriage, Mio and his companions began their trip to the capital.
It was nearly midnight by the time they arrived.
The capital lived up to its reputation—it was vibrant and prosperous, even in the dead of night. The streets gleamed under ornate lamplight, and people moved about with purpose. Among the crowd, nobles could be spotted easily, dressed in elaborate garments with glittering jewels, their status flaunted by the slaves trailing beside them.
Mio took in the sight.
And frowned.
Despite the splendor, he could see ordinary people being bullied—even by those same nobles. Watching the injustice unfold before him, Mio sighed inwardly.
It wasn't just pirates that pushed people into the arms of the Revolutionary Army.
Sometimes, it was their own rulers.
…
The group found an inn and checked in.
Once inside, Mio gave Warwick a task—to scout the area and gather information. After Warwick left, Mio picked up the Den Den Mushi resting on a table in the room. He paused for a moment, then decided to make a call—to Doflamingo.
He needed the man's help gathering two specific things.
After a few seconds, the line connected. On the other end, a familiar voice cackled.
"Hihihihihihihihi! My friend, calling me again—are we making another deal?" Doflamingo's signature evil laugh echoed from the speaker.
"Of course," Mio replied with a small smile. "I need two things. First, a special insect. Anything rare or powerful will do. Second, a Devil Fruit. That one might be a little harder, but considering the Donquixote Family's power in the North Blue, collecting a few shouldn't be impossible, right?"
"Insects and Devil Fruits?" Doflamingo repeated with mild amusement. "The Devil Fruit I can understand—but insects? What are you up to?"
He chuckled but didn't press further.
"Well, whatever. I'll let you know when I've got what you need. But you should know, Devil Fruits aren't exactly cheap."
"Don't worry," Mio said calmly. "I can afford it. If not now, then soon enough."
He had ways to make money—he just needed a little time.
"Alright, then we'll talk later." Doflamingo's voice clicked off as the Den Den Mushi ended the call.
Mio placed the receiver down and crossed his legs on the bed, closing his eyes in thought.
In the same room, Erica sat quietly by the side, flipping through a thick book. The title was related to cooking. She read intently, occasionally frowning in confusion as she encountered difficult parts. Her fair face was serious, clearly absorbed in her new study.
Ten minutes later, a knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door creaked open. Warwick stepped inside, his broad frame wrapped in a black cloak. Under his hood, his glowing scarlet eyes shone faintly.
"Master," Warwick said, his voice low and gravelly. "I found the place."
"Oh? Where is it?" Mio stood up, a glimmer of interest in his eyes.
"It's not far. In that direction." Warwick gestured with his hand, though the exact location wasn't clear.
"Perfect," Mio nodded, then turned to Erica. "Erica, we're heading out."
"Okay, Master." Erica gently closed her book and tucked it into the side pouch beneath her cloak, then rose and pulled up her hood.
The three slipped into the night.
Following Warwick's lead, they quickly moved across the quiet streets, blending seamlessly into the darkness. Within ten minutes, they had reached their destination.
It was near the royal palace.
Surrounding the site were at least three hundred national defense guards, all well-armed and alert. While Mio and his companions could likely overwhelm these guards, brute force would only backfire. Any disturbance would summon reinforcements—possibly the entire capital's garrison. If it came to that, they'd be dealing with thousands of soldiers. Not ideal.
The trio stood atop a tall house, concealed by shadows and silence.
Mio sat cross-legged on the rooftop, eyes narrowed in thought as he observed the patrols below.
After a few moments, he turned to Erica.
"Erica, can you create a distraction—something loud enough to pull attention away from this place?"
"Yes, Master," she answered softly, her voice sticky and obedient.
"I'll leave it to you," Mio nodded, smiling slightly.
"Hm."
Erica pulled down her hood, revealing her unusual features. From her forehead, a pair of soft tentacles emerged and began to sway gently.
Her eyes closed as the tentacles pulsed, releasing invisible signals into the night.
Mio's mind drifted to one of her abilities, and his expression turned expectant.
Then—
Buzz.
Buzz.
His ears picked up the faint sound of trembling earth.
His eyes sharpened as he stared into the distance.
A sea of black poured into the city from the outskirts—dense, shifting, crawling.
An ant colony.
A massive one.
Even from this distance, he could see the horrifying number. In seconds, the black tide consumed a small house, reducing it to rubble and dust.
"Erica," Mio warned calmly, "just make noise. No unnecessary deaths."
"Yes, Master." Erica nodded once more.
The chaos began to escalate.
Citizens screamed and scattered, trying to escape the ant tide. The national defense soldiers quickly shifted attention to the emerging threat. From every corner of the city, cries for help rang out.
But despite the destruction, there were no casualties.
Erica's command was clear.
This—this was her power.
Ant King.
A terrifying ability that allowed her to control vast colonies of ants. Even without killing, the sheer number alone could overwhelm entire cities.
Watching the display, Mio couldn't help but marvel.
If they ever encountered a powerful enemy on land, Erica could completely shift the tide of battle. Even a Warlord of the Sea would hesitate in the face of such overwhelming numbers. And if these ants were anything like those on Insect Island?
Even the Warlords might run.
Only an Admiral would face them head-on without fear.
This was the potential of Erica's power.
And tonight, it was only just beginning.