Kuroken's Sharingan had allowed him to learn the Six Styles in just a few days. Although he hadn't mastered them yet, he had made decent progress.
As for Haki—he hadn't learned that yet. After all, the Sharingan couldn't replicate something it couldn't observe or understand at a conceptual level.
But this was within expectations.
Kuroken's figure soared through the sky and soon landed on the warship.
Moments later, a distant scream echoed across the sea.
Mio didn't pay it any mind. He remained standing at the ship's edge, eyes fixed on the ocean, quietly waiting for Hanba's return.
Roughly a quarter of an hour passed before Kuroken flew back from the warship, carrying a large treasure chest on his shoulder. As he landed on the deck, he placed the chest in front of Mio and reported in a calm tone, "Master, this is all the treasure from the warship. Nothing's missing."
"There's more treasure?" Mio raised a brow in surprise, then opened the chest.
His mouth twitched.
It was, indeed, a treasure chest. Inside were gold coins, paper bills, and plenty of scattered currency—some of which looked like they'd been crumpled and stuffed into pockets.
Hei Yan stepped forward to explain. "These were found on the bodies of the navy."
"You searched all of them?" Mio asked, clearly impressed.
"Yes," Hei Yan nodded seriously.
Mio fell silent, then closed the chest with a sigh. "That was… very thoughtful."
Judging by the time Hei Yan spent on the warship, he must've only fought for about three minutes. The remaining ten? Probably spent searching pockets and looting bodies. The Bailey notes, some with face values as low as 150, confirmed it—there really was nothing left unsearched.
Mio's casual compliment made Hei Yan's eyes flash with pride. With a nod, he stepped away and stood silently at the corner of the ship, gazing at the sea, awaiting the arrival of the next target.
Another fifteen minutes passed before a large head emerged from the water.
"Master, I found it," Hanba's voice echoed.
Mio stood up immediately. "Take me there," he ordered.
Without hesitation, he jumped into the sea.
Beneath the surface, Mio swam after Hanba, who sped ahead through the depths. Mio kept pace by blinking in and out of space behind Hanba with short-range teleportation.
Soon, Hanba began diving deeper and deeper, finally leading Mio to the seafloor.
And there, Mio saw it.
A hidden island lay quietly at the bottom of the sea. Bright, colorful corals clung to the rocks—and littered around were massive dragon bones.
And among them…
A single dragon egg.
Along with the egg, Mio noticed remnants of shattered eggshells embedded in the soil. They hadn't floated to the surface, which meant a dragon had already hatched and possibly left. It was likely a thousand-year-old dragon had once emerged from this very place, or perhaps was taken away by another.
Mio didn't hesitate. He activated his swap ability and exchanged the dragon egg's position with a piece of seaweed lying next to it.
Holding the egg in his hands, he quickly signaled Hanba and began the journey back to the surface.
Even underwater, Mio could feel the rhythmic beating within the egg—there was still life inside. It hadn't died. The egg could hatch at any time.
This thought lifted Mio's spirits.
When he surfaced and climbed back onto the deck, the crew quickly gathered around him, their gazes fixed curiously on the large egg in his hands.
"Is that a thousand-year-old dragon egg?" Robin asked, poking it lightly with her finger. "Can something like this still hatch after being pulled from the ocean?"
"It looks ancient. There's coral growing on it," someone else noted.
Mio accepted a towel from Erica and dried himself off. With a grin, he replied, "Don't worry. There's life inside. I can feel it. It'll hatch soon."
"Where are we heading next, Master?" Lilith asked eagerly.
"To Rogue Town," Mio replied without hesitation. "Then we go through Reverse Mountain and head back into the Grand Line."
The ship began preparations to sail.
But just then—another warship appeared on the horizon.
On its deck stood a tall, muscular man wearing a distinct dog-head hat. A navy officer beside him, dressed in the standard cloak of Marine justice, stepped forward and saluted.
"Vice Admiral Garp, we've contacted the nearest naval branches and confirmed that the warship ahead belongs to the East Blue's 8th Branch. However, we couldn't reach anyone on board."
"No need to contact them," Garp said calmly. "They're all dead."
The officer was stunned. "Dead?"
Garp nodded, his expression serious. "Can't you smell it? The stench of blood is heavy."
He turned his gaze to the distant pirate ship and narrowed his eyes. "It's those pirates over there."
The officer picked up a telescope and took a closer look. His face changed. "Vice Admiral Garp, that ship belongs to the Black Crow Pirates! They're the rookie crew that just entered the Grand Line from the North Blue! What are they doing here in the East Blue?"
"The Black Crow Pirates?" Garp looked surprised. "Is that the same rookie crew Sengoku warned Momonga to keep an eye on?"
"Yes. The captain, Kurokawa Mio, currently has a bounty of 100 million. His crew member Erica has a bounty of 70 million, and Warwick is at 60 million. Pirates of this level shouldn't be hanging around the East Blue…"
"I heard Momonga got injured, and Tsuru won't stop nagging me about it," Garp muttered. "Well, since we've met them, we might as well finish this now."
He raised his voice. "Bring me the shells!"
"Yes, sir!"
Navy soldiers rushed to bring over the artillery. Without waiting for them to load, Garp picked up a cannonball with one hand and threw it straight at the pirate ship.
The shell screamed through the sky.
But a moment later—clang!
A slash of sword energy cut the shell cleanly in half.
"Oh?" Garp raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "No wonder Sengoku's been annoyed about this group. They've got some strength."
He grabbed another shell. "Let's see how long they can keep blocking."
Again, he hurled it.
And again—clang!—a slash of sword energy intercepted it.
Garp's face darkened. "Fine. Bring out that one."
The soldiers quickly got to work, dragging out a massive cannonball—far larger than any they'd used so far.
With both hands, veins bulging along his forearms, Garp hoisted the shell over his head. With a loud shout, he hurled it with all his might. The air tore with a deafening sound as the monstrous cannonball hurtled toward the pirate ship.
"Vice Admiral Garp's strength is insane!"
"He's a hero of the navy. Of course he is!"
"This time, the pirates are doomed!"
Back on the pirate ship—
Mio stared up at the incoming cannonball, massive and terrifying. He sheathed Raikiri and shouted, "Hanba!"
ROAR!
A tremendous bellow echoed from beneath the sea.
And then, as the cannonball neared the ship—
A colossal red arm erupted from the ocean.
It reached into the sky and—BOOM!—snatched the cannonball from midair.