On the merchant ship, after Captain Joey Fello had left, Portia sighed softly. The guard who had handed her the spyglass earlier, Clark, spoke up, "Miss, your attitude is too soft. Joey Fello is an old-fashioned sailor who looks down on women. This is your ship, and he's just someone you hired. By being overly deferential, you're only making him despise you more."
Portia replied with a hint of helplessness, "Most of the crew on this ship are his people. This is my first time running a ship, and my family's savings from all these years are tied up in this voyage. I just don't want any disputes that might jeopardize it."
Meanwhile, regardless of Joey Fello's attitude, at least as a captain, his command was competent. His decision to assign familiar people to key roles wasn't purely favoritism but rather a practical choice based on teamwork and coordination. Under his direction, the massive merchant ship was skillfully maneuvered toward the small, shabby boat where William, Gin, and Selkirk awaited.
As the two vessels drew closer, William, Gin, and Selkirk could see the neatly arranged gunports along the side of the merchant ship. The protruding metal barrels resembled spikes on the ship's body. On the Grand Line, whether pirate or not, most ships carried some form of self-defense.
"So, the weaponry on the Grand Line isn't all that impressive, huh?" William remarked, glancing at the cannons with a smirk.
"Some are good, some are bad. The quality varies significantly," Gin commented objectively.
From behind the ship's protective railing, a few heads popped up. A man with a thick, bushy beard shouted down to William and his companions, "Who are you? What happened to you?"
"We're crew members of a deep-sea fishing vessel. We accidentally encountered a Sea King that wandered out of the Calm Belt, and our ship was wrecked. The three of us managed to escape on this lifeboat, but we lost everything—no supplies, no Log Pose to navigate. We've just been drifting here, hoping for some kind souls to rescue us," William shouted back, his dirty face turned upward, feigning desperation. "Please, save us!"
The bearded man disappeared momentarily, then reappeared to shout again, "Climb up one at a time, and don't try anything funny! See those cannons? They're not just for show. If you're pirates, we'll blast that little excuse for a boat of yours to pieces!"
With his warning, a rope ladder was thrown down.
"We're not pirates; we're law-abiding citizens!" William declared righteously, then began climbing the ladder.
Selkirk, standing beside him, wore an expression of exasperation but kept his head down, ensuring the crew above couldn't see his reaction.
Using both hands and feet, William quickly climbed to the top. But before he could step onto the deck, several burly men grabbed him by the shoulders, yanked him over the railing, and threw him onto the ground. Flintlock rifles were immediately pointed at his head, while others with swords surrounded him, their eyes filled with suspicion.
With his hands on his head, William crouched on the deck, his face contorted in fear. "Are you pirates? There's nothing of value on our boat! We're just poor fishermen, and our families don't have any money!"
While putting on this act, William's sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar uniform through the gaps between the rough-looking sailors. His eyes narrowed slightly but quickly returned to their frightened state as he scanned his surroundings.
Gin and Selkirk soon climbed aboard, receiving the same treatment as William. They were made to crouch in a corner of the deck, surrounded by armed sailors.
From a distance, Portia, accompanied by Clark, observed the three huddled figures.
Among the trio, one was dark-skinned, gaunt, with prominent cheekbones and an unattractive face. His black hair was unkempt and tangled, as if it hadn't been cared for in a long time.
The second man was of medium height with an ordinary appearance. His black hair, also dirty and matted, clumped together. He appeared to be the oldest, around thirty years old.
The third man, the youngest of the group, wore a tattered straw hat with several holes in it. Golden hair peeked out from under the brim. His face was smeared with a messy mix of sweat, salt, fish scales, and blood, making it hard to discern his features.
Portia, however, had no interest in examining the strangers' appearances closely. She wasn't some sheltered maiden fantasizing about a prince charming while passing her days with romance novels. As a merchant heiress braving the seas to support her family's business, she was far more concerned with uncovering the true identities of these three castaways.
A young woman in a Marine uniform with a ponytail approached Portia.
"What's your assessment, Karslana?" Portia asked softly.
The Marine, Karslana, glanced back at the three men crouching obediently on the deck. "They're unarmed, reek of fish, and are covered in Sea King blood, not human blood. They don't seem like pirates. They really do look like fishermen."
Portia let out a sigh of relief. Deep down, she had feared this might be a pirate trap. Such a scenario wouldn't just give Joey Fello an excuse to lash out at her; it could also result in casualties among the crew.
The armed sailors surrounding William and his companions soon lowered their weapons. Out of the corner of his eye, William noticed the young woman who had been observing them earlier. She was now approaching, flanked by the Marine and a guard. She carried some bread and fresh water.
"I apologize for the precautions, but this is the Grand Line. We have to be careful about everything. I hope you understand," Portia said, stopping a few steps away from the trio. "Here's some food. Unfortunately, we don't have much fresh water on board, so I'm afraid we can't offer you a chance to clean up."
"It's fine. Food is enough," William said as he stepped forward to take the bread and water. Portia instinctively took a small step back, subtly covering her nose. William didn't mind; he had deliberately made himself as unappealing as possible to keep others at a distance.
"I don't know where you're headed, but we're on our way to the Sabaody Archipelago. If that's not your destination, we can drop you off at the next island or transfer you to another merchant ship heading in your direction," William said, shoving bread into his mouth as he spoke. Crumbs fell from his lips onto the deck, which he promptly picked up and ate.
"We're also heading to the Sabaody Archipelago, so we can take you there," Portia replied politely, though William's crude eating habits and unpleasant odor clearly dampened her interest in further conversation.
"My name is Baker," William continued, seemingly oblivious to her attitude. He pointed to Gin and Selkirk. "This is Gannis and Bedivere. I know a bit about navigation, and they can help steer the ship. If you need any assistance, just let us know. You saved us, after all."
"I'm Portia, and this is my family's merchant ship. Captain Joey Fello and his crew are experienced sailors. You can just rest and recover," Portia said courteously. She wasn't foolish enough to entrust critical tasks like steering the ship or plotting its course to three strangers.
Portia instructed the crew to escort the trio to the dining hall and arrange accommodations for them before leaving, with Karslana following closely behind.
In the dining hall, the merchant crew served the three men a more substantial meal. Having already filled their stomachs with bread, William, Gin, and Selkirk now ate with slightly better manners.
Even so, the accompanying crew member stayed far away, clearly repelled by their smell.
At the table, Selkirk whispered, "What's with that Marine girl? I thought all the Marines had been recalled to headquarters for lockdown."
Gin took a sip of water and replied calmly, "She's probably a minor figure who hasn't been summoned back yet. The ship's owner likely hired her to deter small-time pirates or keep the crew in line."
Selkirk glanced at William, who had already finished his plate. Slowly, William pulled out a crude pipe and a small pouch of tobacco from his pocket. Lighting the pipe, he took a puff and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Don't worry about it," William said with a smirk. "In the Florian Triangle, dozens of ships and countless people vanish every year. What's a few more?"
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