"It's Miss Bakkin!!!"
"She's here again to confess to Whitebeard!!!"
"She's been rejected so many times, but she never gives up! That kind of persistence... it's gotta win Newgate over someday!"
"I'm so jealous of that guy... how'd he end up with Miss Bakkin falling for him?!"
Chatter filled the deck of the Rocks Pirates' ship as dozens of crewmates gossiped and drooled over the scene playing out on the port.
With Bakkin's voluptuous figure and skin-tight clothes, more than a few eyes were practically glued to her.
Silver Axe leaned over the railing and whistled toward the port. "Miss Bakkin! If Whitebeard won't have you, how about giving me a shot?!"
That immediately sent the nearby pirates into howls of laughter.
"Scram!! Or I'll kill you myself!!"
Bakkin's voice roared from the shore, full of venom.
Silence fell like a hammer.
The entire port went dead still.
Bakkin slowly took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of stunning eyes that scanned the towering pirate ship.
Searching.
For Whitebeard.
Whitebeard, meanwhile, was awkwardly hiding behind the mast, grumbling to himself. "She's here again?! Didn't I already tell her not to confess in front of everyone?"
He was clearly stressed. He didn't want to settle down. As a pirate, his life was full of danger. He couldn't protect anyone.
He could die any day.
Shiki puffed on his cigar with a teasing smirk. "Whitebeard, maybe it's time you said yes to her. You know how many guys would kill to be in your position?"
Whitebeard shot him a death glare. "Shut the hell up."
Shiki chuckled and floated off toward the dock.
Meanwhile, a loud splash echoed across the port.
Ares burst out of the sea like a dolphin, landing on the dock with a soaking wet thud. Water streamed from his clothes as he stood tall, surveying the bustling hive of activity.
"So this is the Rocks Pirates' base..."
He shook himself dry, water spraying from his pants like rain.
Wang Zhi walked up beside him. "Come on. Let's get you into some dry clothes. You're expected at the feast tonight."
"It's tradition. Every time we return victorious, we party hard."
Ares nodded and followed him toward Skull Castle, the massive fortress at the island's heart.
His towering frame drew attention. People stared and whispered. Who was this stranger walking beside Officer Wang Zhi?
Hive Island's streets were home to pirates and criminals alike. Even the so-called civilians were anything but soft.
Soon, Wang Zhi led Ares into a private room.
"This is yours from now on. Being an official member of the Rocks Pirates comes with perks."
"A hell of a lot safer than living outside the castle walls. Out there, you'd have to worry about someone gutting you in your sleep and stealing everything you own."
"Even your organs."
This world was brutal. Ruthless. The booming pirate era had spawned a massive underground economy.
There was profit to be made in everything: intel, women, weapons, stolen goods, contraband...
Even body parts.
But Ares only had one question.
"Is there a place to train?"
Wang Zhi blinked. Then laughed. "You really never stop, huh? You're dead set on turning yourself into the ultimate blade."
His eyes glinted as he replied, "Skull Castle has a training facility. Get changed, and I'll show you."
He leaned against the doorframe while Ares changed, his eyes drifting to the dimming sky.
A little while later, Ares emerged, and Wang Zhi led him to the training hall.
The next day, before dawn even broke, Ares opened his eyes.
Bright. Focused.
He got out of bed in one smooth motion, like a machine.
Was he sleepwalking?
He washed up, then stepped outside.
From his vantage point, he could see the lights of Hive Island still glowing in the night.
He made his way toward the training grounds.
Suddenly, a sultry laugh rang out nearby.
"Even if you're an officer in the Rocks Pirates, you'll still leave here walking funny!"
Ares looked over and saw a silver-armored man stumbling out of a building, one hand against the wall.
It looked like Officer Silver Axe.
A nearby madam caught sight of Ares and waved him over with a grin. "Well, well, a fresh one! And still a virgin, I bet!"
She eyed his towering, muscular frame and muttered, "That one's too big... My girls wouldn't survive him."
Four meters tall. Yeah, that was too much.
Her girls were money-makers, not martyrs.
Silver Axe turned back for a split second, spotted Ares, and bolted.
Panic hit him hard. "Crap! Did he see me?! Please tell me he didn't recognize me in the dark..."
For Ares, it was all just background noise.
He ignored everything and headed straight for the training hall.
He picked up a massive iron rod and began hammering his own body.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
The brutal clang of metal against flesh echoed through the chamber.
What did it feel like?
Ares felt his muscles harden with every strike.
A blade forged through endless trials.
Pain was just part of the process. He was long used to it.
Addicted to it.
His body craved the punishment. He felt off if he didn't train.
Even a single day without it made him restless.