Mio didn't know how long he sat on the beach.
He just sat there, eyes vacant, watching the tide creep in. Some of the corpses had already been swallowed by the rising water, their blood diluted into the ocean. Though the sight was still uncomfortable, Mio found that he could now face it directly.
This… is something I have to get used to.
He took a deep breath and stood, brushing the sand from his clothes. His gaze shifted to the pirate ship docked not far away. A grin crept onto his face.
"We can finally leave this island."
"Warwick."
"Master." Warwick appeared instantly, dragging the wild boar he had killed earlier like it was the greatest prize in the world. His eyes gleamed with anticipation, like a loyal student awaiting praise from his teacher.
Mio chuckled. He leapt up and patted Warwick's shoulder. The werewolf towered over him, but that didn't matter.
"Good job."
Warwick beamed, tail wagging faintly. Then he nodded seriously.
"Warwick will go kill two more beasts in the forest. We will leave soon, yes?"
"Yeah, go ahead." Mio waved him off, a subtle warmth in his chest. "But don't go too deep. If something happens, I'll need you nearby."
Warwick nodded again, but after taking a few steps, he paused and looked back. His tone turned solemn.
"Warwick will stay close. If Master is in danger, just call. Warwick will come."
Mio smiled, waving again. "Yeah, yeah. Now go."
As Warwick disappeared into the trees, Mio turned toward the pirate ship. Before the sun could dip too far below the horizon, he climbed the mast and pulled down the tattered pirate flag flapping in the wind.
He entered the cabin next, cautiously examining every corner.
The ship wasn't big. The materials used were cheap, the build was standard — nothing fancy. There were about seven or eight rooms, most of them small. One large room was filled with hammocks, clearly used as a barracks. Other sections served as storage and a small kitchen, surprisingly well-equipped.
What really caught Mio's attention was one particular room.
Stacks of money.
He blinked. "No way…"
Excited, he rushed over and started flipping through the banknotes, licking his fingers as he counted.
"One, two, three…"
When he finished, his eyes lit up like stars. "1.07 million Baileys?! Jackpot!"
Grinning from ear to ear, Mio looked around the room. "This must've been the captain's quarters. What a shame there's no Devil Fruit, though…"
Unfortunately, there weren't many other valuables aboard. Aside from some half-rotted clothes and food supplies, the only useful thing was the money.
Still, it was something.
He had a ship now — modest, but serviceable. And more importantly, it was his. In this world, even a tiny step like this could make a huge difference.
By the time the sky dimmed to twilight, Warwick returned from the forest, carrying a large black panther in one hand and a fat, gray rabbit the size of a wolfdog in the other.
"Warwick, skin the rabbit. I'll grill it for you," Mio called out while flipping through a book he'd found earlier.
It was a beginner's guide on navigation.
Nothing too complex, just basic techniques on reading maps, steering ships, and understanding sea currents. Mio hadn't known anything about sailing before arriving in this world, but now, he was starting to get the hang of it.
Bit by bit.
He kept studying for a while longer until he eventually set the book aside and picked up a newspaper lying nearby.
He frowned as he read, murmuring under his breath. "So I'm in the North Sea…"
It wasn't the safest of the four seas. Honestly, he had hoped to land in the East Blue — the sea where Luffy came from — a place relatively peaceful compared to the Grand Line or the other Blues.
But fate clearly had other plans.
The North Sea, or North Blue, was a war-torn sea. Pirates frequently participated in conflicts between small nations, using war as an excuse to pillage and grow stronger. It was also the birthplace of many powerful figures — like the Vinsmoke family, or Donquixote Doflamingo and his crew.
Powerful, dangerous people.
Mio tapped his chin thoughtfully. "The North Sea, huh…"
He glanced at the newspaper again, scanning the articles for anything useful. The next steps were obvious — he needed to find a town, gather information, and learn about the world's current state. Only with that knowledge could he plan ahead with any real confidence.
More importantly, he had to become stronger.
Power was the key to survival in this world — especially for someone like him, who carried secrets and a companion like Warwick. Joining the Navy wasn't an option. Even if he were alone, he might have considered it, but with Warwick by his side — and possibly more like him to come — it would only raise suspicion.
If the World Government ever discovered Warwick's origin, they'd surely drag Mio off to be dissected by Vegapunk or worse.
Thinking of Vegapunk caused a spark in Mio's mind. He furrowed his brow and quickly skimmed the newspaper again.
The articles were all recent and local to the North Sea.
One headline caught his eye:
"Scientists from Balkimoa, the land of genius, are raising funds to build massive heating furnaces to improve islander life. The King of Skanda reportedly said: 'Only fools would pay.'"
It was just a small blurb, barely occupying a corner of the page, but the name Balkimoa struck something deep in Mio's memory.
"Balkimoa…" he muttered. "That sounds really familiar. Where have I heard that before?"
He stood up, pacing as he thought. The name echoed in his mind.
Future Kingdom… genius scientists…
Then it clicked.
"Vegapunk!!" Mio's eyes widened. "That's it! That has to be Vegapunk's homeland!"
If that scientist was currently active in the North Sea, and not yet under the World Government's control, then this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Vegapunk — the genius responsible for countless world-changing inventions.
If Mio could meet him before he was recruited by the government, if he could gain even a fraction of his knowledge or insight…
It would be huge.
"Go? Don't go? Go? Of course, I go!"
Mio tossed the newspaper aside and grinned confidently.
His next destination was clear — the Kingdom of Skanda.
Time to set sail.