Although Uzu had long been declared the number one public enemy of the World Government, that reputation did little to dissuade people from attempting to visit the island.
Naru never tried to stop outsiders from coming to her territory either. It didn't matter if they were marines, pirates, or just some ordinary people, but once they managed to brave the treacherous sea of whirlpools that guarded the island and successfully made landfall, they would be met by warriors personally assigned by her to intercept and escort them to the nearest port.
Of course, reaching the island was only step one. For those who came, Naru had established several non-negotiable rules.
Some of the more important ones included:
They were strictly forbidden from entering specific zones without prior approval.
Their duration of stay would be dictated by the Uzukage herself, determined on a case-by-case basis depending on their purpose and attitude.
And for those harboring dreams of settling down on the island? That privilege, too, rested solely in Naru's hands. This wasn't a place for the wandering or the entitled. Uzu was originally forged as a safe haven, a sanctuary for the victims she had personally rescued from the twisted claws of evil. Naru had built this peace with her own hands, and there was no chance she would throw it all away on a whim, or for the comfort of an outsider.
Fortunately, one of her many powers included a heightened sense of perception, particularly when it came to reading others. She could almost always tell if a person harbored malicious intent.
But even with that power, there was still protocol. A process. And nobody, not even the rich or the royal, got to bypass it.
At Uzu's northern port, tension clung to the air like mist. A crowd had gathered, murmuring anxiously among themselves, their fingers pointing toward the horizon where a ship slowly emerged from the distant sea. Under ordinary circumstances, the sight of a vessel approaching the dock would have been a mundane event, barely worthy of a second glance. But this ship was no ordinary craft.
It was a World Noble's ship.
And not a single soul failed to recognize it.
Murmurs swept through the crowd like wildfire.
Why would a Celestial Dragon dare to approach this place, especially so soon after the devastating events of the Summit War?
Both locals and foreigners began to stiffen as the grand, ostentatious ship drew closer. Even the fish-men, who were usually stoic and professional in carrying out their duties, now bore grim expressions as they silently guided the vessel toward the dock. Their hands did not falter, but their eyes flicked about nervously, clearly wondering if someone had already notified the Uzukage.
The Marines stationed at the port were practically sweating bullets. As servants of the World Government, the very idea of mishandling a visit from a Celestial Dragon was enough to make their blood run cold. If they failed to welcome and serve the lord properly, it could very well be their necks on the chopping block. Still, deep in their hearts, they prayed that this Lord, whoever he was, would not be stupid enough to offend anyone here.
The scars of the war were still fresh. Nobody could afford to ignite a new conflict.
Meanwhile, the pirates had a very different approach. They simply didn't give a damn, but they weren't reckless either. They steered clear of the commotion, keeping their heads down and staying well out of the way. It didn't matter whether it was the Uzu's people or a World Noble, both were far too dangerous to get tangled with. So with uncharacteristic humility, the pirates quietly resumed loading their supplies onto their ships.
As for the island's locals, their reactions were more complicated. They watched the approaching ship with eyes filled with a bitter cocktail of dread and fury. Though no longer enslaved, many still carried the trauma in their hearts. The fear of being dragged away again, ripped from their homes and families, never truly left them.
And now, one of them was here.
"Look! It's Sir Nikolas and Miss Yuzu!" someone shouted suddenly, breaking the tension.
All eyes turned skyward to see two figures descending on the back of a majestic Giant Eagle, its wings slicing the wind with graceful precision. The bird landed with effortless majesty, and Nikolas and Yuzu leapt from its back, their movements fluid, practiced, and imbued with silent authority.
"Thanks, Leo," Nikolas said, giving the bird a friendly pat on its beak. The eagle cried out once before taking to the skies once more.
"Sir, is Naru-sama not coming with you?" asked one of the warriors, approaching them quickly.
The smiling Nikolas then replied, "For this small thing, it's enough for us to be here. Why bother to disturb the Uzukage over small matter like this?"
Yuzu, less concerned with diplomacy, scoffed derisively. "And what makes that person deserving of Uzukage-sama's personal attention?"
The eyes of the Uzu citizens brightened at her words. She's right! If Naru-sama herself had not deemed this situation serious enough to intervene, then why panic
No matter how powerful the World Government might be, it couldn't hold a candle to their Uzukage.
And with Sir Nikolas and Miss Yuzu here, everything would be fine. Absolutely nothing could go wrong.
The ship docked at last, and from it, a single figure stepped onto the pier.
He was unmistakably a World Noble, with green hair combed into that familiar pompous style, a gleaming protective suit marking his status, though interestingly, he wasn't wearing the signature bubble helmet the Nobles usually used to avoid breathing the same "filthy" air as commoners.
Some fish-men who were staring at the man, widened their eyes in horror upon recognizing who he was as awful memories kept on playing inside their heads.
The marines greeted him with a respectful bow reluctantly. And out of habit, the others, including the Uzu people, almost lowered themselves to the ground. Only to halt their movements as if they were suddenly struck by lightning when they came to their senses that the only person that they were willing to lower themselves to, was their savior.
And so, with pride rekindled in their hearts, they straightened their backs and glared at him without fear.
The Noble's eyes swept over the crowd, searching for someone specific, only to be met with disappointment. Instead, he found himself facing Uzu's infamous duo. Unfazed by the collective scrutiny, he advanced, carrying the air of entitlement common to those born into privilege.
"Greetings, Miss Yuzu," he said with a courteous bow before turning to Nikolas. "And Sir Nikolas."
A stunned hush fell over the assembly. A World Noble, bowing? Such a thing was unthinkable.
Yuzu and Nikolas exchanged mildly surprised glances, though neither appeared overly moved. Nikolas, never one to make things easy, sneered.
"You're the first World Noble to set foot here," he said coolly. "You've got some balls. Do you even know where you are right now?"
His tone was razor-sharp, with no hint of politeness.
Immediately, the Marines accompanying the Noble tensed. Their eyes darted between the two parties, unsure of how to intervene. One side was a Celestial Dragon, and the other, a top general of Uzu. This was not covered in their training manuals!
"This region is, of course, under the rule of Lord Uzukage," the World Noble replied smoothly, his smile never faltering.
"We're not here to exchange pleasantries," Yuzu said coldly, cutting him off. "Spare us the empty words. State your business."
The man gave a low, respectful bow.
"I am Mjosgard," he announced, "of the Donquixote family."
He watched Yuzu for any flicker of reaction. But the brown-haired warrior woman did not even blink. The name meant nothing to her.
Despite the lack of reaction, Lord Mjosgard continued. "I humbly request a private audience with Uzukage-sama. I carry a message of utmost importance, one that must be delivered directly. And should I overstep, you are welcome to take my life without hesitation."."
Yuzu's hand casually drifted to the hilt of her blade, her expression unreadable. "That's a very generous offer," she said dryly. "You'd better hope we aren't in the mood to collect heads today."
Lord Mjosgard chuckled softly, unshaken. "So I've heard that Uzu's swords don't need a reason. Just a good excuse."
Nikolas stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "You don't get it. Our leader doesn't take kindly to summons. If you want an audience, you wait. If she wants to see you, she will. If not…" he gave a loose shrug. "You'll be sent back home with fewer limbs than you arrived with. Assuming we're feeling charitable."
Mjosgard's face remained a perfect mask of civility, but there was a faint twitch in his brow. Small, but telling.
"I understand the weight of her time," he replied carefully. "But this message… it concerns not just the Uzukage, but also, the well-being of the people in Uzu."
A ripple went through the crowd, and some curses were thrown out, and even Yuzu tilted her head slightly.
"...Is that a threat?"
"I assure you, I have nothing to gain by deception," Lord Mjosgard said, and for the first time, something genuine cracked through his polished demeanor, urgency. "Please. I'm not here as a World Noble. Not today. I come… as a desperate man."
Eventually, Yuzu made the decision to take the man away. No reason to keep him here and made the citizens anxious.
Under the watchful and suspicious eyes of all present, the unwelcomed World Noble was escorted up the towering watchtower by the two Generals. This place housed a special office, one reserved exclusively for the esteemed Uzukage whenever official matters required her presence on-site.
Yuzu and Nikolas did not bother to offer even the slightest hint of courtesy during the entire ascent. No welcoming nods were exchanged. No polite greetings were spoken. Not a single honorific left their lips. In Uzu, the title of World Noble carried no prestige whatsoever.
Yuzu did not spare him so much as a glance, and Nikolas was far from the type to exchange small talk with someone he considered the enemy.
So what if the man bore the same bloodline as her, the Donquixote?
That name held no value here. Yuzu had long severed every tie with every person, and every memory connected to the despicable heights of Mary Geoise.
As they climbed the spiraling staircase, Lord Mjosgard could not stop himself from glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
She was the girl who had survived Doflamingo's ruthless massacre.
The lone child who had emerged alive from a blood-soaked massacre that had claimed nearly every member of their family. The memory was carved deeply into his mind. He remembered those days vividly, the suffocating dread that had coiled around their throats like an invisible serpent. Servants, nobles, even relatives had cowered before the violent whims of the young pirate prince who delighted in the slaughter of his own blood. Fear had clung to everyone like a second skin.
And yet Dorothy had been spared.
Why?
Mjosgard had failed to figure out the reason back then, and he still could not make sense of it now.
Then there was the Uzukage herself, a woman whose existence defied every rule the world had known.
Once, calling someone of her background with a respectful title like 'Lord' would have been unthinkable for someone of his current status. But that man, Lord Mjosgard of the World Nobles, no longer existed. The person who remained had been humbled, reshaped, and forced to confront the truth of his own sins. And it had all begun because of one gentle mermaid who had stripped away his arrogance and rebuilt him into something resembling a real human being.
He had heard rumors that Uzu had become home to many Fish-men and merfolk. These whispers were what pushed him to make this reckless pilgrimage. He had not come for politics, nor for diplomacy, nor to gain an advantage for the World Nobles. He had come because he sought redemption.
He was here to face his sins.