<h4>Chapter 84: Current Status of the Grand Line!</h4>


    As soon as udius decided to set sail, his team moved with impressive speed. Several strong servants pushed arge fish tank through the halls of Mariejois, in which swam the mermaid sisters, Mero and Lenny. udius and Stussy led the way, while Nia, the head butler, walked beside them, holding little Enel''s hand. They made their way across Mariejois toward the port, drawing the attention of passersby.


    Many people looked on with envy, including several other Celestial Dragons. After all, mermaids were a rare and prized sight in Mariejois, and udius was in possession of not one, but two. When they realized it was udius the rising star among Celestial Dragons walking ahead, any thoughts of jealousy quickly shifted to respect.


    Once they departed, udius''s luck with the sea remained as unpredictable as ever. It had been over two weeks since they left Mariejois, and while they hadn''t been in a hurry, leisurely passing a few inds here and there, they didn''t stay long in any one ce. However, one thing was clear: the sea was teeming with pirates.


    On almost every ind they visited, pirate gs flew high at the ports. If there was an ind where they didn''t see at least one or two pirate ships docked, it felt strange. Inds with strong defensive forces or stationed Marines were somewhat safer, but on others, piracy was rampant. Many inds were raided three or even four times a day, with different pirate crews shing in chaotic fights for territory and plunder.


    udius knew this pandemonium was part of the initial madness sparked by Roger''s deration, marking the dawn of the Great Pirate Era. As time passed, both the Marines and local inds would adapt, managing the chaos better. For now, though, the sea was a frenzied mess.


    As udius''s ship approached the waters near Water 7—a hub of shipbuilding on the Grand Line the capital city of shipwrights looked bustling as ever. The constant traffic and trade kept the ce alive and thriving, unlike other inds that struggled amidst the surge in piracy.


    But themotion onnd had little to do with udius, who was loungingfortably on a sun chair on the deck, reading the daily news. Most recent headlines were dominated by reports of new rising pirate stars, including his "associates" Crocodile and Domingo, along with other names like Mihawk and Moria.


    On the other side of the deck, Stussy and Nia were enjoying a game of badminton, dressed in bikinis that showed off their athletic and toned figures. The game wasn''t easy, though, as the sea breeze often disrupted their shots, adding an extra challenge.


    Meanwhile, Enel had found his own way to rx he sat by the railing, fishing rod in hand, patiently waiting for a catch. He seemed to have developed a fondness for the tranquility of fishing, despite his usual impatience.


    In the water below, two graceful mermaid figures swam in joy, diving and surfacing like dolphins, asionally leaping out of the water in elegant arcs before sshing back down. It was Mero and Lenny, clearly ecstatic to be back in the ocean after so long in captivity. udius had allowed them to swim freely, only asking that they return to the ship when they were tired. For the most part, they stayed in the water, only climbing aboard to rest before diving back in.


    udius was amused by their loyalty. If they wanted to escape, they could have done so easily by disappearing into the vast ocean. But they stayed, perhaps out of genuine attachment to their Celestial Dragon master, or perhaps out of a sense of gratitude. Either way, udius felt a touch of pride.


    As he lounged, Stussy suddenly paused in the middle of her game, looking out to sea. She was so distracted that Nia''s badminton shot bounced off her head, but she ignored it, calling out, "Your Highness, looks like we''ve got another group of... visitors."


    udius didn''t even nce up. "Enel," he said calmly.


    Enel sighed, setting down his fishing rod. "Are they reallying at us again? These pirates are so annoying. Your Highness, I don''t think I want to be a pirate anymore."


    udiusughed. "Then maybe you should be the kind of pirate who cleans up the trash! Take control, keep them in line, and take out those who don''t obey!"


    Enel''s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Right! When I''m the boss of the pirates, I''ll make sure they listen, and anyone who doesn''t... I''ll wipe them out!"


    Rising to his feet, Enel spotted the pirate ship closing in on them, clearly aiming tounch an attack. With a focused look, he raised his arm, lightning crackling around him.


    "Divine Judgment!" Enel shouted, sending a massive bolt of lightning into the sky. Momentster, a powerful thunderbolt descended, striking the pirate ship with terrifying uracy. The ship was obliterated in a sh, shattered to pieces, with nothing left but debris floating on the water.


    Satisfied, Enel returned to his spot by the railing, picking up his fishing rod as if nothing had happened. udius nced over, chuckling, "Good work, Enel. I don''t think they''ll be bothering us again."


    Stussyughed as well, leaning over to Enel. "Divine Judgment, hmm? That''s a grand title. Do you n on bing a god someday, Enel?"


    Enel, who had been puffed up with pride just moments ago, suddenly looked sheepish. "No, no, of course not. But His Highness here, he''s like a god on Earth, right? So, as his follower, that makes me something like a divine messenger! Isn''t that right, Your Highness? That''s why my punishment is Divine Judgment!"


    udius chuckled from his spot on the lounge chair. "Sure, Enel, we''ll go with that. Just keep at it."


    Nia smirked, arching an eyebrow at Enel. "A god''s envoy, is it? Quite the grand ambition for a young fisherman."


    udius, amused, intervened, "Alright, alright, don''t tease the kid too much." He nced at the small device on the table next to him—a Log Pose, its needle shifting back and forth.


    "We must be getting close to Water 7. The needle''s movements are bing more frequent," udius noted with a smile.


    For someone who had taken several trips across the Grand Line, he''d picked up a few tricks of navigation. The Log Pose needle tended to stabilize when an ind was far off, but as they drew nearer, it would oscite and adjust rapidly, indicating the proximity of their destination.


    Satisfied, udius reclined once more, his gaze shifting to Enel. "You''re doing great, Enel. Thunder Fruit is indeed one of the strongest Logia fruits out there. Keep honing your skills."


    Enel gave a proud nod but stayed silent, focusing once more on his fishing.