As soon as Cudius decided to set sail, his team moved with impressive speed. Several strong servants pushed a rge fish tank through the halls of Mariejois, in which swam the mermaid sisters, Mero and Lenny. Cudius and Stussy led the way, while Nia, the head butler, walked beside them, holding little Enel's hand. They made their way aariejois toward the port, drawing the attention of passersby.

  Many people looked on with envy, including several other Celestial Dragons. After all, mermaids were a rare and prized sight in Mariejois, and Cudius was in possession of not one, but two. When they realized it was Cudius the rising star amoial Dragons walking ahead, any thoughts of jealousy quickly shifted to respect.

  Ohey departed, Cudius's luck with the sea remained as uable as ever. It had beewo weeks sihey left Mariejois, and while they hadn't been in a hurry, leisurely passing a few isnds here and there, they didn't stay long in any one pce. However, ohing was clear: the sea was teeming with pirates.

  On almost every isnd they visited, pirate fgs flew high at the ports. If there was an isnd where they didn't see at least one or two pirate ships docked, it felt strange. Isnds with strong defensive forces or stationed Marines were somewhat safer, but on others, piracy was rampant. Many isnds were raided three or even four times a day, with different pirate crews g in chaotic fights for territory and plunder.

  Cudius khis pandemonium art of the initial madness sparked by Roger's decration, marking the dawn of the Great Pirate Era. As time passed, both the Marines and local isnds would adapt, managing the chaos better. For now, though, the sea was a frenzied mess.

  As Cudius's ship approached the waters near Water 7—a hub of shipbuilding on the Grand Lihe capital city of shipwrights looked bustling as ever. The stant traffid trade kept the pce alive and thriving, uher isnds that struggled amidst the surge in piracy.

  But the otion on nd had little to do with Cudius, who was lounging fortably on a sun chair on the deck, reading the daily news. Most ret headlines were dominated by reports of new rising pirate stars, including his "associates" Crocodile and Dofmingo, along with other names like Mihawk and Moria.

  Oher side of the deck, Stussy and Nia were enjoying a game of badminton, dressed in bikinis that showed off their athletid toned figures. The game wasn't easy, though, as the sea breeze often disrupted their shots, adding ara challenge.

  Meanwhile, Enel had found his own way to rex he sat by the railing, fishing rod in hand, patiently waiting for a catch. He seemed to have developed a fondness for the tranquility of fishing, despite his usual impatience.

  Ier below, two graceful mermaid figures swam in joy, diving and surfag like dolphins, occasionally leaping out of the water i arcs before spshing back down. It was Mero and Lenny, clearly ecstatic to be ba the o after so long in captivity. Cudius had allowed them to swim freely, only asking that they return to the ship when they were tired. For the most part, they stayed ier, only climbing aboard to rest before diving ba.

  Cudius was amused by their loyalty. If they wao escape, they could have done so easily by disappearing into the vast o. But they stayed, perhaps out of geat to their Celestial Dragon master, or perhaps out of a sense of gratitude. Either way, Cudius felt a touch of pride.

  As he lounged, Stussy suddenly paused in the middle of her game, looking out to sea. She was so distracted that Nia's badminton shot bounced off her head, but she ig, calling out, "Yhness, looks like we've got anroup of… visitors."

  Cudius didn't even gnce up. "Enel," he said calmly.

  Enel sighed, setting down his fishing rod. "Are they really ing at us again? These pirates are so annoying. Yhness, I don't think I want to be a pirate anymore."

  Cudius ughed. "Then maybe you should be the kind of pirate who s up the trash! Take trol, keep them in line, and take out those who don't obey!"

  Enel's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Right! When I'm the boss of the pirates, I'll make sure they listen, and anyone who doesn't… I'll wipe them out!"

  Rising to his feet, Enel spotted the pirate ship closing in on them, clearly aiming to un attack. With a focused look, he raised his arm, lightning crag around him.

  "Divine Judgment!" Enel shouted, sending a massive bolt of lightning into the sky. Moments ter, a powerful thunderbolt desded, striking the pirate ship with terrifying accuracy. The ship was obliterated in a fsh, shattered to pieces, with nothi but debris floating oer.

  Satisfied, Enel returo his spot by the railing, pig up his fishing rod as if nothing had happened. Cudius gnced over, chug, "Good work, Enel. I don't think they'll be b us again."

  Stussy ughed as well, leaning over to Enel. "Divine Judgment, hmm? That's a grand title. Do you pn on being a god someday, Enel?"

  Enel, who had been puffed up with pride just moments ago, suddenly looked sheepish. "No, no, of course not. But His Highness here, he's like a god oh, right? So, as his follower, that makes me something like a divine messenger! Isn't that right, Yhness? That's why my punishment is Divine Judgment!"

  Cudius chuckled from his spot on the lounge chair. "Sure, Enel, we'll go with that. Just keep at it."

  Nia smirked, arg an eyebrow at Enel. "A god's envoy, is it? Quite the grand ambition for a young fisherman."

  Cudius, amused, intervened, "Alright, alright, don't tease the kid too much." He g the small devi the table o him—a Log Pose, its needle shifting bad forth.

  "We must be getting close to Water 7. The needle's movements are being more frequent," Cudius noted with a smile.

  For someone who had taken several trips across the Grand Line, he'd picked up a few tricks of navigation. The Log Pose needle teo stabilize when an isnd was far off, but as they drew nearer, it would oscilte and adjust rapidly, indig the proximity of their destination.

  Satisfied, Cudius reed once more, his gaze shifting to Enel. "You're doing great, Ehunder Fruit is indeed one of the stro Logia fruits out there. Keep honing your skills."

  Enel gave a proud nod but stayed silent, fog once more on his fishing.