Drop Some power stones! If you like the chapter! It helps to keep me motivated to upload more!đź’Žđź’Žđź’ŽÂ
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At sea — inside Reggie's cabin aboard the Akio Pirates' flagship, The Akio.
"Go ahead and ask, Aaron. There's no need to hold back," Reggie said calmly to his student, who had been standing before him, hesitating to speak.
Aaron straightened his posture, then asked respectfully, "Teacher Reggie, aren't we taking a huge risk by doing this? The seas are the pirates' territory. And this time, it'll be impossible to hide the deal from the rival factions back in the city. They wouldn't dare move against us on land—but out here on the open sea, it's a different story."
To be honest, Aaron had little confidence in this deal with Donquixote Doflamingo.
The biggest problem, in his eyes, was the location—conducting the exchange at sea was, to him, an outright blunder.
After all, the seas were no longer what they once were. Now, they were chaotic—an untamed world ruled by pirates.
By agreeing to conduct the transaction at sea, the Akio Gang had effectively given up their home advantage.
And just as Aaron had said, rival groups in the city, like the Dars Gang, were unlikely to miss such a golden opportunity. They would almost certainly ally with nearby pirate crews to wipe out the Akio Gang while they were vulnerable and isolated on the water.
That was why, when Aaron first heard the meeting would take place at sea, he hadn't wanted to come at all. If not for the fact that he couldn't go against the gang's command, he would've stayed behind.
He hadn't dared voice his concerns earlier onshore—he didn't want to undermine morale—but now that the crew was spread out, he had come to Reggie to get some answers and prepare himself for what was to come.
Aaron never liked to fight unprepared battles.
He believed that the Akio Gang's survival in Vilia Port for so many years must be backed by real strength and strategy. Their leader, Akio, was no fool. If he agreed to Doflamingo's terms and chose to make the exchange at sea, he must have had his reasons.
And Reggie—being one of the gang's top decision-makers—would surely know the truth behind it.
Reggie looked at Aaron with a grave expression that made his student's heart tighten.
But then, a faint smile appeared on his face. "Aaron, you're clever—sharper than most in the gang. Your concern is valid. But there's no need to worry. The so-called 'new generation' of pirates that roam these seas are nothing but trash fish. Compared to real pirates, they're insignificant. No matter how many come, they won't be our match."
Aaron was stunned. It was the first time he'd ever heard Reggie speak so arrogantly—but he could tell this wasn't blind arrogance. Reggie truly despised the pirates of these waters. It was a deep, instinctive disdain—and he had absolute confidence in their own strength.
"As for those fools back in the city," Reggie went on with a chuckle, "Lord Akio will handle them. If they dare to set sail, they're already dead men. The sea isn't like the city. Once those arrogant idiots leave the shore, the things that protect them there will no longer work out here. Relax, Aaron. Nothing's going to happen."
Reggie smiled again when he saw the puzzled look on Aaron's face—but he still didn't explain further.
Seeing that, Aaron knew better than to press. "Understood, Teacher. I won't disturb your rest any further."
Reggie nodded in satisfaction. The boy knew his limits—what to ask, what not to ask. His swordsmanship was gifted, and his temperament was steady. He'd make a fine successor someday.
After Aaron left, Reggie stepped out onto the deck. Staring up at the cloudy sky, he murmured softly, a nostalgic smile on his face:
"Captain… how much longer must we wait? These old bones of mine are rusting away. I wish I could raise hell on the seas again, like the old days…"
Back in his cabin, Aaron frowned in deep thought.
"What other secrets is the Akio Gang hiding from me? From the way Reggie spoke… it's as if the Akio Gang never even considered the Donquixote Family or the Dars Gang a threat. And the way he dismissed this 'new age' of pirates—it wasn't arrogance. It was disdain. As if he'd seen the real thing before…"
The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt. Maybe he didn't understand the Akio Gang as well as he believed.
He began to doubt the accuracy of the intelligence that Shuma had gathered back in the city. Not because Shuma had lied—but because the information itself might have been incomplete.
According to that intel, Akio possessed the power of a Giant-Transformation Devil Fruit, granting him tremendous strength. That much was certainly true—it had been witnessed years ago, and confirmed again recently.
But the rest—about him being born in the Drum Kingdom, going to sea as a young man, becoming a pirate captain, founding the Akio Pirates, then later retiring from piracy to establish the Akio Gang in Vilia Port—sounded far too neat. Too clean.
There had to be something missing—something deliberately hidden.
"The Akio Pirates… that might be the key," Aaron muttered. "That's where Shuma's investigation hit a dead end. If I can learn their true history, maybe I'll finally understand what's really going on here…"
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the ship.
The entire hull shuddered violently from the impact of a cannon blast.
Aaron grabbed the wall to steady himself. As soon as the deck stopped shaking, he activated the power of the Munch Munch Fruit, fusing it temporarily with the Speed-Speed Fruit he had devoured earlier. His movement and reaction speeds instantly multiplied.
In a blur, he vanished from the room and reappeared on deck.
Reggie and Getra were already there. Seeing Aaron arrive third from below deck, both men looked mildly impressed.
"Old friend," Getra said with a smirk, glancing at Reggie, "you really did find yourself a gem. Looks like you won't be left without an heir."
Reggie chuckled, stroking his beard. "He's still got a long way to go."
Then he turned to Aaron. "Aaron, take care of that pirate ship. The one without eyes that dared fire on us. Deal with the crew however you like."
Aaron had already spotted the ship in question—a small pirate vessel to the southeast, flying a crude Jolly Roger. They'd probably mistaken The Akio for a merchant ship leaving Vilia Port. Through his Observation Haki, Aaron could sense the killing intent of the pirates preparing to board.
"Yes, Teacher Reggie. I'll handle it and return shortly."
Without another word, Aaron strode to the side of the deck, leapt into a small boat, and sped alone toward the approaching pirate ship.
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