Chapter 16: 16. The Free Ocean, You Must Know How To Enjoy It

I AM BORED so I am giving you the opportunity to recommend some good fanfics with 100+ chapters ----- After several years, Alex, who had once again stirred up an incident, had now taken command of the Akazakura and was flying towards Wano Country in the New World, following the map coordinates he'd acquired. While his Float-Float ability allowed him to bypass many of the New World's dangerous seas, the mysterious and unpredictable weather remained a concern. The Golden Lion Shiki had twice fallen victim to treacherous weather, both incidents deeply tied to sudden storms. Even though he had only inherited Shiki's power, Alex remained particularly cautious when it came to the weather. Fortunately, the bizarre weather had not troubled him since entering the New World. Still, as a precaution, he had taken on a navigator for this journey. This navigator was the very one he'd secured from the Sabaody Archipelago auction house. Flying in the air shortened the voyage considerably, providing extra security, and Alex had selected a few of the former slaves from the auction's stock to accompany him and Gion on this airborne journey. These weren't combatants, but rather individuals skilled in cooking, navigation, music, and other tasks that made life on board more pleasant. In total, five people joined the crew—three women and two men. Among the women were Lilith, the maid; Emily, the musician; and Alice, the chef. Besides Alex, the only men on board were Joe, the navigator, and Meyer, who served as the lookout. Of course, they weren't the only ones he'd considered bringing on board. After awakening an advanced form of Observation Haki—one that allowed him to perceive emotions and intentions—Alex realized that a few of the former slaves, though outwardly grateful, harbored deceitful thoughts. Those individuals were promptly thrown overboard. Among the five who remained, some had prominent backgrounds. There was a noble daughter from a defeated kingdom, a famous singer from Music Island, and even an author renowned for a book on nautical travel. Unfortunately, they had all fallen into the hands of human traffickers and ended up as commodities on display at the auction house. These five were, in some ways, the result of Alex's test through Observation Haki. They were genuinely grateful to him for freeing them from slavery and sincerely wished to serve him in return. Of course, with Alex's strength and the advantage of flight, they clung to him out of both respect and self-preservation, a natural response given their traumatic experiences. Alex, understanding this, paid it little mind. At that moment, several kilometers above ground, his fully refurbished pirate ship drifted calmly through the blue sky. On the deck, Alex lay back on a beach chair, letting Lilith and Emily fan him with cattail fans to relieve the stuffy heat after his training. "The 'Resourceful General,' huh? Not a bad move, Sengoku," he mused aloud. Hearing Alex's voice, the two women beside him glanced at the newspaper he held, and after just a few glimpses, their eyes widened. Their respect for Alex grew even deeper. As he held the intercepted news from the News Coo in his hand, Alex glanced at the article and couldn't help but laugh. This headline, inside and out, emphasized Alex's Float-Float ability and his new title of Flying Admiral, presenting him to the world as a formidable threat, comparable to the infamous Golden Lion Shiki. The article suggested that, through his time in Impel Down and his battle with Shiki, Alex likely obtained the Float-Float Fruit by defeating the Golden Lion. Though the report lacked solid evidence, readers accepted it as truth based on how it was written. Such a story—implying one could obtain another's Devil Fruit ability by killing them—was bound to stir a frenzy across the seas. This single article not only raised Alex's reputation but also meant that, besides the Marines and World Government, pirate crews and underground forces would be actively searching for him. Sengoku's use of this story was clearly a strategy to cause trouble. If Alex were simply looking to develop slowly, Sengoku's actions might have felt bothersome. But with his next goal set on the closed borders of Wano Country, he knew any such "trouble" would ultimately be minor. Blackbeard had done something similar, demonstrating his dual Devil Fruit abilities to the world without the World Economy News. Despite the attention his powers attracted, he rose to claim Whitebeard's title among the Four Emperors, his terrifying abilities deterring any challengers. Alex knew that, with enough strength, a solid reputation, and a hard enough fist, these nuisances would eventually be kept at bay. From another perspective, this situation even worked in favor of Alex's training. His strength still had room for growth, and breaking through his bottleneck would require the challenge of facing capable opponents. And if worse came to worst, with both the Float-Float and More-More Fruits, plus an advanced Observation Haki that sensed emotions, Alex could easily escape any unwanted encounters. After setting the newspaper aside, he heard a voice call out. "Master Alex, your cold drink is ready." Emily, who had been singing softly nearby, stepped forward with the juice in hand. If these three women had made it to Auction House No. 1 in Sabaody, then it was clear they'd been chosen for both appearance and skill. With a strong crew and a powerful ship, Alex knew how to enjoy life as a man sailing the world's freest seas. Taking a sip of the chilled juice, he felt a coolness settle within him and raised his hand, lifting Emily's chin to study her with an appraising look. As she blushed under his gaze, Alex laughed heartily, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her closer, enjoying the sound of her beautiful voice as she continued her song for him.