Somehow it's finished. No, they were surprisingly strong.
Their attacks were strangely refined too, and there were some dangerous ones. I avoided them by instinct.
It really shows how weak the East Blue Marines were. There was about as much difference as between a group of standing targets and a group that could land a hit if you let your guard down.
Based on how it felt, we probably had an offensive and defensive battle for about 30 minutes. I could land attacks but they were blocked one after another, and it took an incredible amount of time to break through that.
...If there had been a few more Marines, or if there had been another ship's worth of forces, it could have been dangerous
Or if that most unexpected Hina had become "Black Cage"... that would have been out. That girl I took down first thinking I might hurt her badly in a melee turned out to be Hina... she's not that different in age from me.
"Captain, is it over?" Daz asked as I landed back on the island using Moon Walk—no wait, Stealthy Step.
"Yeah, according to plan... huh...?" I trailed off, looking around. Only Daz and Perona were there. "Um... where are those terrified villagers?"
"Horo horo horo," Perona giggled. "Those guys saw you slice off that ship's mast and ran away in a panic."
"Where to?"
It's not like there are escape routes on the island. Well, honestly, I have no more business with them.
"Their own houses or into the mountains," Perona replied.
"I see... By the way, Daz."
"What?" he grunted.
"You've got smoke coming from your forehead, what happened?"
"Got shot," Daz answered casually.
"Hah hah hah!!!!"
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at Daz casually mentioning what would be a disaster for a normal person, or rather, something that would prevent them from opening their mouth at all.
"That must have surprised them!"
When I asked that, Daz smiled fearlessly and said, "Yeah, they were surprised."
"Hah hah hah hah!!"
I definitely would have liked to see that scene. The villagers here probably looked at Daz like he was a monster.
This world has video communication, so isn't there something that can record stuff like that? Sky Island's Dial technology probably has something like that. If I ever go there, I'll look for it.
"Now then."
Meanwhile, I face Perona, who's naturally here.
"Whatever you decide to do from now on, won't you leave this place for now? It would definitely be bad to stay here."
The Marine I fought seemed like he'd properly investigate various things...
"Actually," Perona admitted, "there was originally no meaning in being here. ...I was already thinking of leaving the island somewhere along the line."
Daz nods like "Well, of course..." I completely agree. The villagers probably don't realize it, but they're becoming unable to construct a village society without a sacrifice. For a while they'll probably blame it on Perona, but when Perona disappears, they'll probably find a different sacrifice.
Specifically, like the current leader.
"Really," Perona mused, "I never thought I'd suddenly be treated as part of a pirate crew."
"Those are my words," Daz grumbled. "The Captain had been recruiting, but for it to turn out like this."
Really, that. Good grief, I never expected it to turn out like this...
"Horo horo horo," Perona laughed. "Well, fine. Going with you guys seems more interesting."
"Let's do it," I said simply. "Become pirates."
–
"I never thought a man of your caliber would be defeated by a rookie from the East Blue."
"I apologize, Fleet Admiral Kong."
"No, it's fine. We misjudged the enemy's strength."
The battle with a certain pirate that occurred due to a report from a certain island. That report was not a glorious one, but a bitter one that had muddied the faces of promising Marines.
"It was fortunate that there were no deaths," Kong added.
"...'Silent Step' also seemed to intend to fight but didn't want deaths to occur," the captain reported. "One of the officer candidates said she heard this from him."
"...Another outrageous fellow has appeared."
"Yes, I was surprised," the captain agreed. "For such an existence to emerge in these four seas, let alone the Grand Line."
He switched the Den Den Mushi receiver, opening and closing the hand that had gripped his saber.
"I could certainly see that man's attacks... No--" he corrected himself, "By the time I could see them, the attacks had already arrived."
There was a small groan from the other side of the Den Den Mushi.
"He had mastered Soru, Geppo, and Rankyaku through self-study," the captain continued. "The problem is that the techniques he mastered are more refined than the Six Powers."
"...I've heard reports from the other officers who were aboard as well," Kong said.
"They couldn't catch his form, and there was no sound at all. Correct?", Kong asked.
"...My spine froze at that time," The captain admitted. "Despite standing right behind me, I couldn't sense his presence at all until he spoke."
"The crew members I questioned earlier said the same thing," the captain confirmed. "No one could see his form, there was no sound, and no one noticed when he landed on the ship."
"I've been a Marine for a long time, but... it was the first time I'd been caught completely defenseless from behind," the captain confessed.
"...'Silent Step,' huh. A terrifying man," Kong concluded.
"Yes, probably," the captain agreed. "'Silent Step' Kuro has refined his speed and the legs that support it to a level that would work even in the 'New World'."
–
"What," Perona asked, "so we're going to the East Blue?"
One month after making Perona a crew member. For some reason, after beating down assassins from the Five Great Families targeting us, beating down bounty hunters, and beating down pirates when we got hungry, we've settled on a certain island, putting an end to that lifestyle for now.
Though I say settled, we've hidden the ship somewhere inconspicuous and are secretly replenishing supplies while wearing sunglasses and simple disguises.
"There are various things I left in the East Blue," I explained. "I'm thinking of recovering those for now, but..."
"We're still a group of three," Daz pointed out. "Will you gather the remaining crew in the East?"
"...That's what I'm thinking about now."
As I've been considering before, I want to recruit as many people with mental manipulation skills as possible. Among them, the only one whose origin is clear is Jango, who uses hypnotism. With his hypnotism, training in 'Haki' might progress.
"For now, let's solidify everyone's equipment," I decided. "We've finally saved up money."
"We could've just plundered from the villagers," Perona suggested. "Like proper pirates."
No way, that seems like it would dirty us somehow. No, that's not it... it seems like it would jinx our luck.
"I don't want to become a source of grudges and resentment from the likes of them. I visited that island and gained you. That alone is more than enough as a result."
No really. Being able to make Perona a crew member at this point is huge. To be honest, I think we can neutralize most enemies. Since this is a world where you die quickly if you slack off on training, I try not to overdo it though.
At most, it's for clearing out small fry.
"Horo horo," Perona laughed. "I'm happy you say that, but as a result we can barely buy anything other than food and clothes."
"Sorry about that," I apologized. "I wanted to spend a little money on clothes."
"So everyone's in black suits?" Daz asked.
"...Well, it's easy to understand, right?"
Black suits are fine. Daz looks good in them as expected, and even Perona looks surprisingly good. Since there'll probably be rough business and I'd feel unsettled if she stayed in a skirt, I think I'll have my pirate crew all wear black suits.
"Well, equipment for now," I continued. "Daz doesn't really need any, but Perona, think of something."
"Do I need any?" she asked.
"Self-defense weapons for emergencies are important, right?"
There are definitely opponents you can't beat, and while we probably won't fight the Four Emperors... I can't say there won't be skirmishes with executive-level opponents.
In that case, there's a possibility that Perona's Devil Fruit, which could be called gag-specialized, might be blocked. ...Probably high-level Haki or something could defend against it.
"Well, anyway. The next job is raiding a Five Great Families smuggling ship. We'll take a good haul, so organize the ship's cargo. Big purchases and other things come after that."
And once that plundering is done, I'll clean up in the West Blue and return to the East once. If I wanted to, I could carry the two of them and fly with Geppo—no no, Stealthy Step to save time.
"Mm, ...hm?" I grunted, lifting an empty barrel that felt strangely heavy. Was there something in it? I opened the lid and peered inside.
"...Ah..."
There was a small girl with black hair and black eyes crammed inside.
"Seriously."
The eye of the storm in the current West Blue.
Nico Robin was hiding there.
"Um..."
Help me, please help me.
--
Powerstones Goal: 30