The large transport ship was like a sharp blade cleaving the ocean, its snowy-white wake etched upon the water.
Zephyr, dressed in a porter's uniform with tattoos drawn on his cheeks and neck—and a bag of flour stuffed into his back to feign a hunchback—was inspecting the ship's hold. The tall Wellen, on the other hand, was mingling with the sail-haulers. He wore a gum mask over his nose, sitting on the deck to listen to their conversations and gather information.
One of the sail-haulers looked at Wellen, who was built like an iron tower, and joked, "Hey, Warren! You wear that mask every day. How do you even eat?"
Wellen simply unzipped the mask, revealing his mouth, but didn't say a word. The crew burst into laughter, satisfied with the silent answer.
The foreman noticed the weather turning cold. He looked up to see sparse snowflakes falling as the sun sank into the sea, leaving a crimson sunset. His expression grew serious. "We're about to enter Winter Island's waters. Everyone, stay sharp. Don't go looking for trouble with any pirates."
"Understood, Uncle Benn!" the men shouted.
The workers put their jokes aside and headed to their posts. Fulo, leaning on his cane, walked the deck for a routine inspection. He felt lucky that Wmyt had decided to sign the trade agreement with Winter Island. After six months of trading, they had made a fortune. He didn't look down on the "impoverished" island anymore.
As the ship pulled into the dock, pirates waved small flags to direct them into the shallow bay. The crew furled the sails and dropped a massive anchor that gripped the rocky seabed. Once the ship was secure and Fulo finished a brief chat with the lead pirate, the workers swarmed the gangway to begin loading cargo.
Under the cover of night, Zephyr and Wellen snuck onto the island. They moved swiftly across the ice and rocks despite the heavy snow. Spotting pirates guarding a warehouse, they exchanged a glance and attacked.
Bang!
Zephyr's punch caved in a pirate's chest, sending him flying through the warehouse doors. Inside, four pirates eating bento boxes froze. Before they could react, Wellen lunged in. Clad in his Marine coat, he grabbed two pirates by their heads and slammed them into the ground.
The ground vibrated with the impact. The remaining two pirates pulled their guns and fired at Wellen.
"Iron Body!" Wellen barked.
His body turned to steel, and the bullets ricocheted off him with a metallic clang. The pirates tried to run, but Wellen grabbed them by the necks and threw them like bowling pins, smashing human-shaped holes through the warehouse walls.
Zephyr strode in, his coat fluttering. He punched open a wooden crate to find rows of firearms. "Tsk... just as I thought. They're selling weapons. It's been a long time since I've handled one of these."
Zephyr grinned, slinging two guns over his shoulders. Nearby, Wellen smashed open a crate to find a rocket launcher.
"Vice Admiral Zephyr, this one's got more kick!" Wellen said with a smirk.
Zephyr lit a cigarette with a torch, took a puff, and tossed the flame onto the crates. The warehouse erupted into an inferno.
"Let's go!" Zephyr commanded.
As they stepped outside, dozens of pirates were waiting with guns drawn. "These brats are alert, aren't they? Support got here fast!" Zephyr laughed, unleashing a barrage of gunfire. His marksmanship was surprisingly poor, hitting only limbs, while the pirates were even worse, missing the Marines entirely.
After emptying his clips, Zephyr tossed the guns aside and charged in with his fists, with Wellen right behind him.
Inside the palace, Kaido was drinking alone when a subordinate rushed in. "Lord Kaido! The west warehouse was infiltrated! The men we sent to stop them... they've vanished!"
"Hmm?" Kaido narrowed his eyes.
His Observation Haki spread across the island like a web. He immediately locked onto two powerful presences on the west side.
"They aren't someone you can deal with," Kaido muttered to the pirate, who was now shaking with fear. Kaido drained his sake in one gulp, stood up swaying, and walked out.
At the warehouse, Wellen and Zephyr froze.
"Was that Observation Haki?!" Wellen's face went grim. He felt like an insect caught in a spider's web. The chilling aura of the opponent was unmistakable.
Zephyr realized they had underestimated Kaido's strength. "Contact Vice Admiral Kerber and the others. Tell them the infiltration is a success. It's time to move!"
Wellen pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and dialed, but the sound of heavy artillery came through the receiver.
"What's going on?" Wellen shouted.
"Vice Admiral Wellen, we're under attack!" Kerber's voice crackled through. "One warship is already disabled. It looks like they were waiting for us. They're luring us away!"
Zephyr's expression darkened. "Save our comrades first! Kerber, take one ship to pursue them, but stay in contact. The rest of the warships need to hit Winter Island now!"
After hanging up, Zephyr pinched the bridge of his nose. The plan was falling apart. If the pirates were prepared for the warships, they likely knew about the infiltration too. They had been targeted from the start.
"Hmm?" Zephyr's head snapped toward the distance.
Something was rushing toward them at high speed, creating a massive wake of snow and smashing through buildings in its path.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The ground shook violently, making bullet casings dance at Zephyr's feet.
Kaido had arrived.