One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

The sky was high, the sea wide, and the wind and waves calm. Another three days had passed.

At the bow of the ship, Kalifa clasped her hands together, then pulled them apart. Blue lightning crackled between her palms, the air sizzling with electricity.

She glanced toward Esdeath and called out, "Hey, Ice Woman! Toss me a fish!"

"What are you doing now?" Esdeath asked, sounding bored.

She had only been aboard the King for three days, and already she was restless. Kalifa had explained much about this world over the past few days—the pirate era, the Marines, the Revolutionary Army, Marine Headquarters, the three Admirals, the World Government, the Five Elders, and the New World where they currently were. She'd also learned about the Yonko, the four Pirate Emperors who ruled the seas, and the mysterious Devil Fruits, like the one Kalifa had—[Thunder Fruit].

It was certainly more exciting than her original world.

Still, the ship had sailed for three days without encountering a single vessel or island. Aside from a couple of news-carrying gulls, they had seen nothing. At times, it felt like the ship hadn't moved at all.

She was growing impatient. When would they finally run into some pirates?

Esdeath, ever the battle junkie, found this kind of idle life maddening.

"Hey, Ice Woman! What's going on in that head of yours?" Kalifa frowned. This woman was spacing out again.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"I said bring me a fish! Now!"

Blue lightning sparked louder between Kalifa's hands as she raised her voice.

"Where are the fish?"

"In the kitchen. Inside the tank."

Esdeath rose from the deck and made her way to the kitchen. The water tank held live fish kept fresh for meals.

"There are three left," she noted, then picked the largest.

Summoning a blade of ice in her right hand, she struck with precision. The fish was instantly skewered.

"What exactly are you planning? I just killed this fish—you're not about to ask me to release it, are you?"

"No, just place it across my lightning. I'm going to try grilling it."

"Grilled fish? With lightning?"

"Exactly. Thunder can generate heat. I heard that a former [Thunder Fruit] user could melt gold with their lightning."

"Seriously?"

Esdeath looked genuinely intrigued.

"Of course. Haven't you ever seen a forest catch fire during a thunderstorm?"

"Nope."

"You—! Ugh, whatever. Just give me the fish."

Without arguing further, Esdeath held the fish over the streaks of lightning. The carcass twitched and jolted under the current. Though dead, it seemed unnervingly alive, especially with its wide, unblinking fish eyes.

A few minutes later, the fish was cooked, and an inviting aroma filled the air.

"You're amazing, Kalifa."

Esdeath was impressed. She tossed her ice blade into the sea—its fishy smell was unpleasant.

"Naturally," Kalifa said, smug. "I've been refining my cooking skills. The [Thunder Fruit] can do far more than just zap people."

She brought the fish back into the kitchen, cleaned and seasoned it with practiced care.

Another delicious dish was born.

She split the fish evenly. One portion went to her, the second to Esdeath, and the last was reserved for Vane.

At the moment, Vane was still napping. Kalifa had grown used to his routine.

"Kalifa, this is actually really good," Esdeath complimented her.

"I've cooked for Vane-sama every day for over two months. I'd better be good at it."

The two women stood at the bow, each with a small plate. They ate the grilled fish with casual elegance, unhurried and graceful.

"So, when do we finally run into some pirates?" Esdeath asked suddenly. "I really want to see what they're like in this world."

"No idea. The New World is huge," Kalifa replied with a shrug.

She recalled that Esdeath had arrived from another world only days ago. According to Vane, it was a world where the power system was based on Teigu—an inferior power structure, with Esdeath being its apex. The same mysterious force that brought Esdeath here had granted Vane the [Investment System]. Kalifa knew better than to pry.

"The New World is full of monsters," Esdeath muttered, gazing toward the distant sea.

Her eyes narrowed. A black dot appeared on the horizon—barely visible, but steadily approaching.

"Huh? What's that? Kalifa, where's the telescope?"

"What is it?" Kalifa followed her line of sight and noticed the speck too.

She retrieved the telescope from a windowsill nearby and aimed it.

"It's a pirate ship."

"A real one?"

Esdeath's interest skyrocketed.

Kalifa focused the lens. "The Big Mom Pirates... It's actually them!"

Her voice rose in surprise. She recognized the unmistakable flag—an eerie skull wearing a pink hat. One of the most recognizable Jolly Rogers in the world.

"The Yonko's crew?"

Esdeath's blood began to boil with anticipation.

She grinned wickedly. "You mean Charlotte Linlin? The one with 43 husbands, 46 sons, and 39 daughters? A crew made up of her entire bloodline?"

"Exactly."

"I can feel my blood boiling," Esdeath whispered.

Her eyes glowed red, and a grin spread across her face—wild, eager, and full of bloodlust.

---

Huge shout-out and heartfelt thanks to everyone who became a patron, your support truly means the world to me!

If you'd like to support the work and get early access to chapters (and maybe some exclusive content), feel free to check out my Patreon:

Patreon.com/Zphyr_