In the end, Eden and Luffy formed an alliance.
If Eden could gather all his missing Fairy Tail guildmates from this world before Luffy became the Pirate King...
Then he would help Luffy and participate in the final war to seize the ONE PIECE.
However, if Luffy found the legendary treasure ONE PIECE and became the next Pirate King before Eden completed his search...
Then Luffy would use his influence to help Eden find his Fairy Tail companions scattered across the world.
Moreover, Luffy promised Eden that after all their adventures ended, he would join Fairy Tail and journey to another world for a brand new adventure.
After all, Luffy loved adventures. Just thinking of countless unknown worlds waiting for him made his heart race with excitement.
As for Zoro, as long as there were stronger swordsmen in the world, his journey would never end...
—
"Seriously."
After everyone finished their meal at the restaurant (Nami paid the bill, since Eden had handed all his money over to her. He was too used to spending recklessly in the Fairy Tail world, and if he kept the money, the tens of millions of Berries would be gone in no time), the group walked to the docks.
"Hehe."
"This ship is actually pretty nice."
Zoro crossed his arms, rubbing his chin as he appraised the 'Shark Superb' docked at the pier with a satisfied look.
As a pirate crew's flagship, the 'Shark Superb' was undoubtedly among the top tier.
"No."
"Zoro, I think you're mistaken."
"Your and Luffy's ship is over there."
Nami pointed to a tiny, weathered boat moored in front of the 'Shark Superb'—a dinghy barely big enough for two.
"Huh?!"
Zoro looked at the small boat, then turned to Luffy and yelled, "Seriously? You're the captain, and you don't even have a proper pirate ship?!"
"We'll get one later," Luffy replied nonchalantly, picking his nose and tilting his head.
"Great... This guy's even less reliable than I imagined."
Zoro twitched and spoke with a helpless tone.
"Anyway, you two can only ride that small boat. If you want to board our pirate ship, you'll have to pay."
Nami's eyes gleamed with monetary ambition.
"No money."
Zoro and Luffy glanced at each other and replied in unison.
"Then forget it."
Nami shrugged.
With no money, they could only sail on the dinghy.
And so—
Watched by Koby, the Marines, and the townspeople, Eden and the others set sail...
"A fearsome bunch has emerged."
On the town's dock, the Marine major who had temporarily replaced Colonel Morgan after Eden easily defeated him, quietly maintained order with his men as they watched the ship leave.
He murmured to himself as he observed Eden—a man with a 30 million Berry bounty, a true great pirate no matter where he went in this world—who had just paid for his food and supplies, hurt no innocent civilians, and peacefully departed after defeating Morgan.
At that moment, the tides of a new era surged.
Literally.
Zoro and Luffy's dinghy was overturned by the waves in an instant.
Their friendship boat? Gone.
In the end, Eden had to manipulate the water to rescue Luffy, a Devil Fruit user, and the now-boatless Zoro, and bring them back aboard the 'Shark Superb'.
"Can someone like him really become the Pirate King...?"
"Whatever. Saving you two cost me money too."
"Both of you owe me one million Berries each. Got it?"
Nami looked helplessly at the soaked Zoro and Luffy and spoke firmly.
"O-One million?!"
Zoro twitched as he protested weakly.
As for Luffy, he was too busy spitting seawater to respond.
"Aye~"
Happy nodded in agreement.
"What are you 'aye-ing' for?!"
Nami glared at Happy.
"Hey! Stop the ship over there!"
Just as Eden and the others rescued Zoro and Luffy and prepared to set sail again, a cry for help came from the sea.
Three ragged pirates were flailing in the endless waters, shouting for help.
"Did we not check the 'luck calendar' before heading out today? Why are there so many people overboard?"
Nami sighed and said to Eden, "Judging from their outfits, they look like pirates. Probably tried to rob someone and got smacked into the sea. Let's not save them."
"Makes sense."
Eden nodded.
"Gum-Gum... Lifeline!"
At that moment, Luffy, now recovered, reached out to the drowning pirates.
"We can't just leave people drowning, can we?!"
"Didn't think you'd be so nosy," Nami sneered. "You just got rescued yourself. These guys' ticket fares are on you."
"Phew, saved."
The three pirates, once onboard, immediately drew their blades and shouted:
"Thanks for saving us, but your luck ends here! We're from the Buggy Pirates! Hand over this ship if you know what's good for you!"
"Called it."
Nami wasn't even surprised. She scoffed and turned to Zoro and Luffy:
"You guys started this. Handle it."
"Got it."
Zoro drew his sword.
—Five minutes later—
"S-Sorry!"
The three Buggy Pirates were kneeling on the deck, kowtowing to Eden, Zoro, and Nami.
"We didn't mean it!"
"We used to have our own ship! But we ran into this creepy woman drifting alone on a small boat. Her body turned into water and rain kept falling around her! She stole everything from us!"
The pirates looked utterly pitiful.
"Drifting alone..."
"Body like water..."
"Rain falling constantly..."
"Could it be..."
Eden and Happy's eyes lit up.
"That's gotta be Juvia."
"Where did she go?"
Eden grew excited. Using water, he lifted the pirates up as if about to toss them into the sea.
"She headed toward the town where our captain, 'Buggy the Clown', is located!"
"Y-Yeah, that's right!" the terrified pirates quickly shouted.