The sea breeze carried a salty, briny scent as it swept across the Iron Anchor, the two-masted sailing ship that had just changed owners.
Several bundles of supplies lay scattered across the deck.
They were the spoils Kael and Killua had “inherited” from the unconscious Gray Pirates.
“Kael, what should we do with these people?”
Killua lightly nudged the former captain, “Iron Anchor” Gray, with the tip of his foot.
The man lay sprawled on the ground like a dead pig, while Killua wore the playful smile of a cat tormenting a mouse.
Gon had controlled his strength perfectly, ensuring that none of the pirates would wake up and cause trouble before the ship reached the next island.
Kael was counting the final chest of Berries.
Without raising his head, he answered, “Leave them here.
They aren’t far from the coastline, and the tide won’t reach this spot.
The Marines will eventually come and ‘take care’ of them.”
He efficiently closed the chest with a dull thud.
“The supplies have been fully counted.
We have enough food and fresh water to last half a month.”
“Most importantly…”
Kael straightened and raised a constantly swaying glass instrument.
The needle inside pointed steadily in a particular direction.
“We obtained a navigation compass.”
Killua whistled, his eyes lighting up.
“So this is our ticket to the next stage?”
“You could say that.”
Kael carefully put the navigation compass away.
“Come on.
It’s time to get this ship moving.”
The three boys boarded the pirates’ former vessel.
The ship was not particularly new.
Its hull was covered in marks left by blades and axes, while its sails were visibly worn.
Fortunately, the ship’s frame remained sturdy.
Kael noticed several old cannons positioned along one side of the deck.
He walked over and ran his hand across the cold metal barrel as an idea entered his mind.
“Let’s leave a farewell signal for our Marine friends on the island.”
The corner of his mouth rose slightly as he skillfully loaded gunpowder and a cannonball.
Gon and Killua watched curiously from beside him.
Kael adjusted the barrel and aimed toward an empty section of beach.
Boom—!
A tremendous explosion shook the entire bay.
Flames and thick smoke erupted from the cannon’s mouth.
The cannonball screamed through the air before crashing into the distant sand and throwing up a towering cloud of dust.
“Whoa!”
Gon shouted excitedly.
Killua stared at the enormous crater with equal enthusiasm.
The cannon blast was like a stone dropped into a tranquil lake.
Before the smoke had fully dispersed, sharp whistles and faint shouting could already be heard from the direction of Shells Town’s harbor.
“The Marines probably won’t take long to arrive,” Killua said casually as he looked into the distance.
“Perfect.”
Kael dusted the black powder from his hands. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“They can handle the cleanup.
Gon, Killua, prepare to raise the sails!
It’s time for us to leave!”
“Got it!”
Moving as nimbly as a monkey, Gon climbed to the lookout platform atop the mainmast in only a few movements.
From above, he loudly reported the conditions of the waters ahead.
Killua and Kael untied the mooring ropes together, then pulled hard on the thick lines controlling the sails.
The enormous sails slowly unfurled along the masts.
The instant they caught the sea breeze, the entire ship shuddered slightly and began moving away from the shore.
By the time more than a dozen Marine soldiers arrived under the command of an officer wearing a Justice coat, all of them were panting heavily.
The Iron Anchor was already sailing toward the distant blue horizon, propelled by the wind and leaving a long white wake behind it.
“Sir!
Look!
That’s ‘Iron Anchor’ Gray!”
A young Marine discovered the unconscious pirates lying across the beach and swallowed in disbelief.
“How did they all end up like this…?”
The commanding officer narrowed his eyes.
He looked at the pirate ship gradually shrinking into a black speck in the distance, then examined the obvious cannon crater in the sand.
He immediately understood what had happened.
“Hmph.
Pirates robbing pirates?”
He snorted coldly.
“Either way, they’re all scum!
Put every one of them in handcuffs and take them back to the base!”
His gaze returned to the ocean.
“As for that ship’s new crew, report this to headquarters immediately and record the vessel’s identifying features.”
“It seems another group of troublesome rookies has appeared on the seas.”
“Yes, sir!”
…
By then, the Iron Anchor had entered open water and was sailing steadily.
“Kael, turn the rudder thirty degrees to starboard!”
Gon shouted from the high lookout platform, his voice drifting slightly in the wind.
“Understood!”
Kael, who was standing at the helm, took a deep breath.
Gripping the heavy wooden wheel with both hands, he began turning it forcefully to the right.
This was the first time he had truly piloted a pirate ship.
He was not yet familiar with the resistance of the wheel or how quickly the vessel responded.
“No, no!
That’s too far!”
Gon hurriedly corrected him.
“You’ve turned almost fifty degrees!
Twenty degrees back to port!”
“Got it!”
Without hesitation, Kael immediately reversed the wheel. Find the original chapter at g.com.
The wood creaked loudly in his hands.
Killua leaned against the railing and watched Kael’s slightly clumsy yet completely serious movements.
His own hands began itching to try it.
“Hey, Kael.
Let me take a turn later.”
Gon checked the direction indicated by the navigation compass and compared it with the distant landmarks on the horizon.
“That’s good!
Maintain this direction and lock the wheel!”
Kael and Killua used the nearby securing mechanism to hold the wheel firmly in place.
With steady winds and a fixed heading, the ship began cutting through the waves on its own.
“Is that really enough?”
Kael released the wheel and wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead with a smile.
It was a strange feeling, entrusting their direction to the sea and wind.
“Yeah!”
Gon slid down the mast and landed steadily on the deck.
“Based on the compass direction, this wind should carry us all the way to the next island!”
Just as the three relaxed and began enjoying the novelty of their first voyage, a News Coo flapped its wings above their heads.
It circled the ship while crying loudly.
A copy of the latest newspaper was clutched in its talons.
“Is that this world’s newspaper bird?”
Kael immediately took several Berries from the money chest they had just counted and tossed them upward.
The News Coo accurately caught the coins in the shoulder bag strapped across its back.
At the same time, it released the newspaper, allowing it to flutter toward the deck.
Killua’s figure flashed like silver lightning.
He effortlessly snatched the paper from the air.
“Kael, is this how information is distributed in this world?”
He unfolded it and laughed.
“It looks unbelievably old-fashioned.”
“That’s right.
This is a newspaper published by the World Economy News Paper.”
Kael pointed toward one of its sections.
“It contains ordinary news, but more importantly, it also includes wanted posters issued by the Marines.”
“Anyone with a bounty—whether they’re a pirate or some other dangerous criminal—can be captured and delivered to a Marine base in exchange for the corresponding number of Berries.”
To the three boys, who came from a technologically more advanced world, newspapers certainly seemed antiquated.
However, the contents were filled with the wild and lawless character of this world.
“Huh?”
Gon leaned closer and immediately noticed the brightly smiling, straw-hatted face printed across the front page.
“Isn’t this the guy I defeated?
Luffy?”
He read the wanted poster aloud.
“Monkey D.
Luffy…”
“Bounty: thirty million Berries!”
(End of Chapter)