Achieving Nothing, I Can Only Be the Pirate King-Chapter 614 - 364: Cloud Mountain Kingdom

On the eastern horizon, the sun slowly rises and hangs suspended in the sky, illuminating the deep blue sea that changes color as it connects with the sky.

In the Calm Belt, where not a breath of wind stirs and the water lies still like a sheet of glass, the Death Star cuts through the waves, surrounded at intervals by several Sea Kings clinging to the surface.

Splash!

A Sea King, resembling a frog and only slightly larger than the Death Star, breaks through the surface, opening its mouth to reveal a long, coiled tongue hidden amongst sharp teeth, ready to shoot towards the largest structure onboard the Death Star.

Shing!

Just then, a sudden flash of light appears, and a flock of Flying Birds charge towards the shooting tongue, tearing it into pieces.

As the Flying Birds shred the tongue, they also dive towards the Froglike Sea King’s head, creating an irregular hole that sends the creature plummeting back into the sea, splashing up colossal waves.

Lily stands alone atop the structure, swinging the White Thunder in her hand before returning it to its sheath.

Ka.

Boom!

On the other side of the Death Star, just as Lily sheathes the White Thunder, a Sea King resembling a seahorse leaps out, rushing directly towards the ship along the water.

Renedia happens to be sitting on the bulwark on that side, quickly pulling out and extending the Mechanical Hammer.

"Seahorse! Taste my explosive Blast Gale Bullet!"

She twists the handle of the hammer, releasing a stored burst of energy that fires a Power Cannon.

The white light engulfs and shatters the upper half of the seahorse within its glow, fragments of the creature’s body visible amidst the brightness.

Soon after, a distinct shadow appears in the sea near the stern.

"Ah, we can’t have that now, can we?"

Marika appears at the stern, her hair forming spirals that, infused with Haki, dive into the water like snakes.

"Hair Binding: Snake Strangulation."

Soon, the sea is suffused with a blossoming red.

As the Death Star powers past, a shark-shaped Sea King emerges within the red waters.

"Hold on a moment, Reidi."

Marika turns to Reidi with a smile, saying, "Some ingredients shouldn’t be wasted."

She then looks at the shark Sea King with a grin, saying, "Shark fin is a good thing, hmm, and those frog legs aren’t bad either. Extract from the seahorse can be nutritious and tasty."

The Calm Belt may be dangerous, but if one overlooks the danger, it can be a paradise for some.

Take Marika, for instance.

She’s been in high spirits lately; with the departure of the gigantic Sea Kings, none of that scale were encountered on the subsequent journey, although many smaller, less intelligent Sea Kings remained.

Especially crossing into the midpoint of the Calm Belt, the center of the Sea King’s nest, where attacks could occur literally every second...

A bit troublesome, yes, but not really dangerous, more like a constant cycle of day and night.

Initially, Sage would face the Sea King attacks, using lightning or just exercising, swinging fists and feet to knock out a bunch of them.

After passing the central point, Sage and a few High-Ranking Officers took turns, Sage during the day, and the others at night.

A few days later, the relentless attacks eased, and the crew size was reduced, turning into a single-person rotation, each taking a shift.

Eventually, it became Gin guarding alone...

With Pearl occasionally on the night watch.

Sea voyages can be incredibly monotonous, especially in the Calm Belt, where there’s little land and only sea beyond the horizon.

After a while, it might even make one want to jump overboard.

However, for someone like Sage, who enjoys eating, certain comforts of travel are indispensable.

Monotonous?

Sage has brought along musician Byron, Dancing Girl Pasia, and maid Bella.

And with the Sea Kings defeated, Marika retains the prime cuts, ensuring a feast-worthy supply of food every day.

Listening to music, watching dance performances, being attended to, and with Marika constantly inventing new dishes, the voyage wasn’t so dull.

Except one couldn’t fish...

No fish in the Calm Belt, only Sea Kings, which don’t need fishing; Sage has seen enough of them.

In the captain’s cabin, Sage yawns, drinks the last sip from his glass, and waves Bella away as she approaches to pour more:

"Enough, you’ve been up all night, go get some sleep."

"Yes, sir." Bella bows respectfully, sets down the bottle and retreats obediently.

Originally, when Bella entered the Calm Belt, she stayed hidden inside the ship, as no one knew how perilous it might be.

Once acclimated, Sage had non-combat personnel exercise outside, like playing the piano or beating drums amidst the Sea King attacks, or having a hotpot or dancing.

Over time, they gained courage and could provide Sage with entertainment during battles.

Like last night, an all-night party ensued with constant Sea King attacks; whichever High-Ranking Officer was free went out to guard, partying until the deep of night.

The three female officers retired to sleep first, while Gin, already half-drunk, took the night watch, and Sage kept partying.

As dawn arrived, Gin went to rest, and Lily and the others took over.

"You should get some rest too."

Lily enters, approaches the table, picks up the wine bottle, corks it and places it back in the wine cabinet.

"There are no Sea Kings for now, so we might be able to rest for a few hours."

"Have Marika prepare breakfast, using the Sea King we caught today, maybe some porridge..."

Sage leans back, thinks briefly, and asks, "Lily, how long has it been?"

"Thirteen days."

Lily replies, "The frequency of Sea King attacks is getting lower; we estimate we’re near the West Sea."

"Heh heh heh, this training has been rather good, fighting large enemies offers quite the urgent practice."

Sage laughs quietly for a moment and asks, "Since we’re arriving soon, what about intelligence?"

"Yesterday was a party, intended to brief you once you’re rested..."

Lily says, "Based on the people we brought along and the intelligence I gathered, we have a rough understanding."

The Four Seas are far larger than the Grand Line.

Even the potent forces and abilities of a Pirate Emperor don’t fully occupy the New World, which is just half the size of the Grand Line, merely a somewhat larger channel...

In comparison, the Four Seas are so vast that their extent is unknown.

The World Government only has affiliations with less than half of the countries on the sea...

The ocean is both magical and expansive.

In such a vast place, intelligence is naturally hard to find.

Those who accompanied them to the West Sea, although natives of the destination, are civilians and know little.

Most of the intelligence comes from Jabra and the others.

It’s Lucci and his team who handle the intelligence.

Though indeed vast, verification takes time.

The fortunate part is...

"The Cloud Mountain Kingdom, also known as Kadashal Kingdom, is geographically located not far from the Calm Belt."

Lily says, "The island covers 4,160 square kilometers, with a population of three years ago totaling 539,448 people, it’s a World Government affiliated kingdom."