Pirate: It’s not a phantom beast, it’s a phantom god!

Chapter 283 Four Years
The year was 1496 in the Haiyuan calendar, four years after 1492.

During these four years, no major events that shocked the world occurred on the high seas. It was as if a strange period of calm had begun, with all forces quietly pushing forward with their own affairs.

Of course, if you zoom out a bit, there are still many things worth noting.

For example, the Navy has officially established a special operations force called the 'Science Force,' which is said to be equipped with the most advanced weapons currently available at sea.
Beasts Heavy Industries has successfully established weapons factories in the Grand Line and the four seas, and is secretly and fiercely competing with the World Government for the market.

Following Sakazuki and Borsalino, two monsters from the same generation, Zephyr's recruit training camp has welcomed a third man with a voice very similar to DIO.

A Celestial Dragon in the North Sea killed his own father with his own hands;
In the same year, in the same North Sea, Admiral Sengoku secretly adopted a son.
Meanwhile, in the West Blue, the great pirate Chinjao of the Flower Country was unfortunately punched into a round-headed old man by a certain vice admiral.
In the New World, after Whitebeard's pirate crew suddenly disappeared for a period of time, they reappeared with a samurai on board who called him brother.

There was also a man named Sien who had met Ra once before. He left MADS, but did not come to find Kaido as promised.

In short, beneath the calm surface, booby traps that could one day ignite the world are being laid one by one.

……

On the eastern shore of Fenrir Island, a large warship with a bull-shaped prow and fish-scale patterns on its hull is moored on one side of the dock. It is Bourfat's ship, the "Bullfighting Ship".

After years of weathering the elements and enduring the smoke of gunfire, the warship is no longer as pristine as it was when Ossi and Obe first boarded it; numerous small cracks are visible throughout its hull and deck.

Even after several renovations and upgrades in the dock, with all sorts of new weapons and technologies added to it, this ship, built with ordinary materials, was gradually approaching the limit of its lifespan in countless high-intensity battles.

Compared to the lifespan of ordinary merchant ships and fishing boats, which can easily reach ten or even several decades, the replacement cycle of pirate ships is as short as the average lifespan of pirates.

Unless it's a flagship ship of a pirate crew, built with the priceless and rare top-tier material 'Adam Tree', the lifespan of an ordinary warship is at most about ten years.

Battle-hardened warships like the "Bullfighting" typically have a lifespan of only five to six years.

In other words, this warship is on the verge of being scrapped.

However, Bulfat didn't care and showed no intention of changing... He continued to drive his personal vehicle through the gunfire as before.

In his words, "This ship has been with me through so many battles over the years. I know its temperament well. It's impossible to let it stay obediently in the dock and wait to be scrapped and dismantled."

"Its best fate is to sink into the sea after firing its last shell."

That being said, this time its voyage was not for any combat mission, but simply to transport people to their destination.

Wow~
The sound of chains scraping filled the air as the sailors worked together to raise the anchor, seemingly preparing to set sail.

……

"Everyone, farewell. There's no need to see us off any further."

Beside the suspended steps on the dock, Jinbe, dressed in a loose white robe embroidered with light blue water patterns, carrying a huge bundle three times larger than his body on his back, waved goodbye to everyone with a somewhat helpless expression.

He has grown much taller than he did four years ago, and he has shed his boyish immaturity, with a youthful vigor gradually emanating from him.

Yes, now that he is eighteen, Jinbe is preparing to set sail alone to find and confirm the dream that has always been vague in his heart, just as he said before.

"Waaaa~ Brother Jinbe, please take good care of yourself out there!"

We'll all miss you! *kiss*

"Hmph! Hachi, Chu, how can you men behave like this, crying in front of Jinbe-sama!"

Looking at his two friends crying their eyes out, Ah Long crossed his arms, frowned, and scolded them.

Four years have also gradually transformed this once mischievous and troublesome kid into the big brother he is today.

"Haha! Ah Long is right."

"Miss La once said: 'A man doesn't easily shed tears.' Little Eight, chirp, we are only separated for a short time now, and we will surely meet again one day."

"Mmm, mmm." *2
After comforting the two little fishmen, Shen calmed them down and gave Ah Long a little nudge.

"But you, Arlong... even if I'm gone, you can't slack off on your Fish-Man Karate and Rokushiki training. You must keep practicing consistently, understand?" "Don't worry about that, Boss Jinbe. I'm improving every day now. When you come back, I'll definitely surprise you!"

"Hahaha! Is that so? Then I'll be watching!"

Jinbe patted Arlong on the shoulder, then punched him in the right chest, feeling the solid touch of his fist, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Okay, it's time for me to go."

Jinbe tightened his pack on his back, turned around, and stepped onto the deck of the 'Bullfighting Ship' via the suspension ladder.

……

"Yo~ You've finished saying goodbye to those friends downstairs?"

As soon as he boarded the ship, Jinbe saw a crimson figure.

The other person was talking to Bulfat on the ship with one hand on his hip. When he heard the noise, he turned around and greeted them.

"Uh... um."

Jinbe paused for a moment before responding.

Even though he could see the other person's face frequently because of his training, Jinbe was still briefly amazed every time.

Now, Ossie has grown to about fourteen years old, and her face has gradually shed its childlike cuteness, developing into the infinite beauty of a young woman.

Although he is still in a transitional phase, his face still has a bit too much youthful innocence, but his abyss-like charm has already begun to emerge.

"Speaking of which, Sister La really is a worrywart; she's prepared so many things for you."

Watching Jinbe carefully put down the huge bundle behind him, the crimson figure stepped forward a few steps and then poked it twice with her delicate fingers. Then, the strange voice that was going through puberty came out of the girl's throat again.

"And this outfit you're wearing was also made by Sister La, right? I could feel her divine power fluctuations on it."

"That's right, we are truly grateful for her kindness."

Looking down at his warm and comfortable robe, which felt like being draped in the morning sun, Jinbe said with shame:

"I am truly ashamed that I have caused you so much trouble by accommodating my willfulness."

"Well, we've been planning to go to sea for a long time. We support you in pursuing your dreams. There's nothing to be willful about."

Osei took a few more steps in his red and white ankle boots, bypassing the huge package and arriving in front of Jinbe.

Osei, who is already over 1.6 meters tall, still has to look up to see Jinbe's face. In fact, the height difference between the two has not only not shortened in the past four years, but has actually widened.

That's still considered good; someone like Jhin is now taller than he was four years ago by the size of an Occi.

It can only be said that in this world, the development of certain races is still too unrestrained.

With his hands behind his back, Osei looked into Jinbe's eyes and spoke earnestly.

"Since Sister La has already prepared everything, then I won't say anything more."

"Just remember what I said back then: if you cause trouble outside, remember to mention my name."

"Putting everything else aside, I have gained some minor fame on the high seas over the years."

That's a bit of an understatement. In fact, as the Beasts have made steady progress and expanded over the past few years, Osei has also accumulated quite a few achievements alongside Kaido.

Not long ago, she even forcibly killed a Shichibukai who coveted the Beast Arms business in front of the Navy, and then left triumphantly.

Compared to Obey, who almost never leaves his home, and Ra, who is practically unknown, the name of [Meihime] is now a well-known name on the high seas. Most pirates and even marines would secretly take a few pictures and then walk around her.

(End of this chapter)