The next morning, as the sun slowly rose over the horizon, its golden light spread across the sea, illuminating the waters.
When people opened the newspaper that day, their eyes widened in shock, and their mouths dropped open in disbelief at what they saw.
A shocking headline dominated the page: The Dream Exploration Team announced that they would all the money earned from selling maps to the World Government's welfare homes!
News of this spread like wildfire across the seas, causing a huge stir.
People were surprised and deeply impressed by this decision.
The Dream Exploration Team had always been known for their adventurous spirit and pursuit of dreams, yet this time, they chose to use their wealth for charity.
This act not only showed their kindness and generosity but also reminded people that beyond personal gain, social good matters too.
What made it even more exciting was that the headquarters of the welfare homes would be set up in the peaceful East Blue.
East Blue had always been one of the most stable and quiet seas, far from the chaos of war and conflict.
Choosing this location ensured the safety and well-being of the children who would live there.
It also reflected the Dream Exploration Team's vision of peace and harmony.
The person in charge of running the welfare homes was Bellemere—Nami's mother. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
In addition, the Marines announced that they would fully support the Dream Exploration Team's efforts.
Their role was to transport orphans from all over the world to East Blue and ensure their safe arrival.
Leading this mission was Admiral Aokiji, who personally took charge of coordinating the entire operation.
Meanwhile, the one responsible for overseeing the project was none other than Marine hero Garp.
With his reputation and capabilities, the project would surely gain even more support and trust.
As soon as the news broke, it grabbed worldwide attention.
People praised the Dream Exploration Team's generosity and expressed their willingness to support and contribute.
More and more individuals joined the cause, hoping to lend a hand in helping these orphans.
In such a challenging and uncertain era, this act of kindness brought warmth and hope to many.
With all preparations in place, the Dream Exploration Team shifted their focus away from the welfare homes.
They trusted that with Bellemere's leadership and the Marines' dedication, the orphans would be well taken care of.
Right now, their main concern was Hog—their shipwright—who had mysteriously disappeared.
Leah sobbed, wiping her tears with her hands.
"Ryuen, I've searched every corner of Water 7, but I still can't find my brother! What should I do? Waaahhh~~~"
Her crystal-clear tears rolled down like broken pearls, streaming endlessly down her face.
Ryuen furrowed his brows, deep in thought.
"Leah, don't panic just yet. This is really strange... Given Hog's strength, there shouldn't be anyone here who could take him down.
Did he go anywhere besides Dock No. 1 yesterday?"
Leah choked back her tears and replied, "That's right. He only went to Dock No. 1, and last night, he was still there, learning from the experienced shipbuilders."
Nojiko nodded in agreement.
"Ryuen...!" Leah clung tightly to Ryuen's sleeve, her eyes filled with helplessness and fear.
Ryuen gently patted Leah's shoulder to comfort her. "Don't worry, Leah. I'm sure your brother is fine.
With his skills, it's nearly impossible for someone to take him down without a sound. The only reasonable explanation is that he might have come across something—or someone—so interesting that he chose to leave on his own."
"That must be it, Leah. Don't worry, your brother should be back soon." Nami reassured her softly.
"That idiot brother of mine... He knows I'm worried about him... Damn it...!" Leah sobbed, her face turning red as she cursed Hog.
Everyone understood that as Hog's only family, Leah was just worried about his safety. After all, he had truly vanished from Water 7.
But after hearing Ryuen's analysis, they realized something—Hog was the third strongest fighter in the Dream Exploration Team. He wasn't weak.
For someone like him to disappear without a trace, the only explanation was that he left by choice.
"Even so, Ryuen, we still need to find Hog as soon as possible. No matter the reason, him vanishing without a word has everyone worried." Robin said seriously.
The others nodded in agreement. The whole situation was just too strange—they had to find Hog.
"I understand. Don't worry, I'll track him down." Ryuen said.
He then leaped onto the villa's rooftop, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. A mysterious yet powerful aura spread from him.
The Dream Crew didn't disturb him—they all knew what Ryuen was doing.
He was summoning every bird in the nearby sea.
Sure enough, within seconds, dozens of birds started appearing in the sky above the villa. And the numbers kept growing with time!
The sight immediately caught the attention of the island's residents and the Marine forces.
Everyone in Water 7 was uneasy. They started whispering to each other, wondering if something big was about to happen.
Most importantly, was this a sign that the Water Gods would come even stronger next time?
Once the number of birds seemed enough, Ryuen opened his eyes and held up a portrait—Hog's face was drawn on it.
"Find him as fast as possible. Go!" Ryuen ordered.
The birds chirped in response, signaling that they understood. Then, in an instant, they scattered in all directions, flying over Water 7 and the surrounding islands.
With so many birds searching, it didn't take long for them to find Hog's whereabouts.
"Found him. Hog never left Water 7. He's near the abandoned shipyard..." Ryuen said with a strange expression.
"My brother went to the abandoned shipyard? But we were just there—we didn't see him." Leah was confused.
"According to the birds, Hog is currently training under a master who wields an axe," Ryuen took a deep breath and said.
"A master who uses an axe?"
The Dream Crew gasped in shock.
"That's right. A master with an axe." Ryuen confirmed.
You can read 10 Chapters ahead on my