Chapter 189: You Stole From Me First? Tell It To My Sacrifice Points!
Extremely strong.
Those two words made Red-Hair pause. He turned to look at Benn Beckman. Such high praise was a rare thing to hear from his first mate.
"I'm not one for exaggeration," Benn said, tapping the ash from his cigarette, his voice grave. "But it's the simple truth."
"The most noteworthy among them is undoubtedly the female swordmaster, Kuina. She's likely on par with 'Flower Sword' Vista... possibly even stronger. We'd have to see them fight to know for sure."
"Then there's that Mammoth Jack, an Ancient Zoan, Mammoth model. He's a real brawler. Even I would have to expend considerable effort to take him down."
"The rest of their combatants—the shipwright, the cook, the archaeologist, and even those two pets—are all remarkably capable."
"Even that youngest one, the orange-haired girl, is a Logia user with a 160 million Belly bounty. The Marines gave her the epithet 'Demon of Gluttony,' so I doubt she's as simple as she appears."
Benn offered Shanks a cigarette.
"So you're saying their least impressive crew member still has a bounty over 100 million?" Shanks waved it away, lost in thought. "They're going for a balanced, 'iron wall' crew structure. A bit like us, in a way."
In terms of overall power, there was still a significant gap, of course. They were a bona fide Yonko crew.
But... when he really thought about it... most of their crew members were incredibly young, and they'd only been at sea for a little over seven months. For their entire crew to have grown this strong, this fast... the rate of their progress was staggering. At this rate, who knew what the future held?
"Since that kid said he's not on the same path as you, we need to take precautions," Benn said. He pulled a Vivre Card from his coat and let it flutter in the moonlight. He grinned. "I lifted this off that big guy, Jack, while we were drinking."
Shanks looked at the small piece of paper, which was stubbornly pointing northwest. That was the direction Shane's crew had taken. After their meeting, they hadn't wanted to stay on the island a moment longer, setting sail that very night to continue their journey deeper into the New World.
He understood immediately. He didn't know whose card it was specifically, but it had to belong to a key member of Shane's crew. The fact that it was kept so carefully on their person meant it could very well be Shane's own.
"Isn't this a bit much?" Shanks frowned slightly. "Benn, this doesn't seem like your style."
"If it were any of the other Emperors, I wouldn't bother. But these guys are different. To maintain the balance of the seas, this is a necessary evil," Benn shrugged. "Look at it one way, it's an insurance policy. Look at it another... deep down, you don't really want anything bad to happen to them, do you? This way, if they act rashly and get into trouble, we can get there in time to help."
"..."
Shanks fell silent. He didn't argue. His first mate knew him far too well.
Meanwhile, aboard The Curtain Call, having already left Blackstone City far behind.
Soaked from the rain, Shane had just finished a hot bath and a relaxing session in the sauna. With a towel slung over his shoulders, he was heading back to his room when he saw Jack in the locker room, sweating profusely and frantically rummaging through his locker.
"What are you looking for, Jack?" Shane asked with a smile, opening his own locker to change into his pajamas.
"Oh, Boss!" Jack spun around, relieved to see it was Shane. But his relief quickly turned back to panic. "I... I lost one of my Vivre Cards! I swear I had it on me when we went ashore this afternoon!"
"You lost one? Whose was it?" Shane asked with a frown. Back at Water 7, he had been the only one who missed out on getting his Vivre Card made because he was off fighting Kaido. Everyone else had a full set.
"It's not one of ours! I was afraid I'd lose those, so I keep all the crew's cards in my bedside table! I never took them off the ship!" Jack said miserably. "The one I lost... I bought it on Fish-Man Island. A fish-man was running a little food stall, and he sold it to me. He said I looked strong, and he just so happened to have a piece of a Vivre Card from the strongest fish-man alive. He said if I had the ambition to challenge him, this card would help me find him..."
"The strongest fish-man alive?" Shane raised an eyebrow. That would be Jinbe. "A random street vendor, selling pieces of Jinbe's Vivre Card?"
Shane looked at him, completely deadpan. "That's the oldest, fakest scam in the book... and you actually fell for it? How much did you pay?"
"Eh? It was a fake?!" Jack's jaw dropped.
"Obviously."
"WAAAAAH! That fish-man bastard! I saw his hair was all white and he was raising three daughters, looked like he was having a tough time! I felt sorry for him, so I bought everything on his stall! And he scammed me!" Jack stomped his foot in a rage. "Counting the Vivre Card, I spent a whole 100,000 Belly at his stall!"
Dammit, that was his entire month's allowance!
"Live and learn. Since it was a fake, it's no big loss," Shane said, patting his arm. "Chalk it up to experience. Be more careful next time."
"Yes, Boss..." Jack nodded pitifully and shuffled back to his room, pajamas in hand.
After Jack was gone, Shane turned and stared out the porthole. He let out a cold laugh.
Jack thought he'd lost it. But what were the odds that it would just vanish after having a drink with the Red-Hair Pirates? It had to have been them.
Hmph. Stealing is one thing... but you're going to steal from ME?!
Just because you sailed with the Pirate King, you think you can underestimate the REAL deal?
Shane had actually been a little moved by Shanks's concern earlier. He had been planning to sneak onto their ship that night, swipe a few personal items for some quick points, and call it a day. But after this...
He looked toward the distant silhouette of Blackstone City on the horizon. His face was emotionless as he quickly changed his clothes, leaped off the ship, and began swimming back.
Since you started it...
Don't blame me for what happens next!
Late at night, the moonlight was like water on the sea.
Aboard the Red Force, the crewman on watch sat lazily in the crow's nest, yawning. Most of the crew had followed Captain Shanks to the tavern district for the night. The few left guarding the ship were all new recruits, barely out of their apprentice phase. They weren't the most vigilant or powerful bunch, but no one expected any trouble.
After all, this was Whitebeard's territory. Add the flag of the Red-Hair Pirates to the mix... under the deterrence of two Yonko, who in their right mind would dare cause trouble on this ship?
Suddenly, he felt something move underneath the hull.
"Hm?" He leaned over the railing, peering into the moonlit water, but saw nothing but calm sea.
Must be my imagination...
The rookie shook his head. Just as he was about to lean back and doze off, he felt a cataclysmic lurch and a powerful feeling of weightlessness.
WAAAAAH!
The entire ship was being lifted out of the water!
"Is it a Sea King?!"
"I don't know!"
"We have to stop it, or the ship will capsize!"
The handful of rookies drew their weapons and rushed to the side, ready to leap over the railing and investigate. But just at that moment—
The ship was gone.
Half an hour later, at the Blackstone City port.
Shanks, Benn, and the others stood on the empty dock, staring blankly at the spot where the Red Force had been moored. There was nothing there now, only a shimmering, phantom outline of a ship blinking in and out of existence...
Shanks rubbed his eyes. He walked around the dock, patting the empty space to confirm it wasn't an illusion. Then his jaw dropped, his eyes bulged, and a line of snot dripped from his nose.
Hey, where's my ship?
WHERE IS MY GIANT-ASS SHIP, THE RED FORCE?!!!
Benn was stunned into silence, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow. The cigarette fell from his lips unnoticed. "...H-How is this even possible?"
"Hey! You lot!" Yasopp was the first to snap out of it. He ran to the shivering, soaking-wet rookies on the shore, grabbing them by the collars. "What the hell just happened?! Where's the ship?!"
"W-We really don't know!" one of the recruits wailed. "We were on watch the whole time, Captain! We never even blinked! The ship just... lurched, like something was lifting it from below, and the next second it was just gone! Vanished without a trace!"
"Yeah, Captain! One second it was there, the next it was gone! We just fell into the water, and when we swam back up, it was nowhere to be found! We didn't even see who did it!"
Lifted by something in the water? And then vanished in an instant, right before their eyes?
The top officers exchanged bewildered looks. Hongo frowned. "These guys don't look like they're lying, and they wouldn't dare. But not even a massive Sea King could do something like that..."
"No, I don't think it was a Sea King. It sounds more like some kind of bizarre Devil Fruit power."
"Yeah, to take the ship and disappear instantly... that kind of ability..."
Listening to his officers' debate, Shanks slowly came out of his petrified state. He suddenly looked up in a specific direction, and a wide, booming laugh erupted from his throat.
"HAHAHA, AHAHAHAHAHA!!"
"Shanks?" Lucky Roux's heart sank. He quickly placed a hand on his captain's forehead. "A-Are you okay? Don't scare me!"
"Yeah, Captain, it's okay to cry if you want to. You can use my shoulder," Yasopp said, his voice full of concern. "This reaction isn't normal..."
"AHAHAHA~!!!"
But Shanks just kept laughing, his voice echoing through the night. After a long while, he gently pushed Lucky's hand away, signaling he was fine.
"Cry? Why would I cry?" He wiped the grin from his face, his gaze turning as sharp as a blade as he stared into the distance. "Those self-important 'gods' up on high... they think they can scare me with these cheap tricks?"
Benn's brow furrowed. "You mean... the Holy Knights?" He deliberately lowered his voice. The senior members knew the score, but it wasn't something the rookies were ready to hear.
"Who else could it be?" Shanks sneered. "To come and go without a sound, to erase a ship without leaving a trace—isn't that their signature 'Divine Punishment'?!"
"They're scared! They saw me meeting with that Shane kid, and they think we're going to team up! They're finally getting scared!"
"Is this supposed to be a warning? They think taking my ship will make me back down? Make me shut up? Make me stop 'meddling' in their affairs?"
"How laughable!" He kicked a nearby crate, sending splinters flying. "The more they do this, the more it proves I'm on the right path! It just makes me happier!"
Compared to seeing the fear in those bastards' eyes, what was losing a ship he'd had for years?
Shanks's gaze was heavy as he looked up. The direction he was looking, then and now, was toward Mary Geoise.
Just you wait...
Those fools who have brought this world to ruin... you're getting scared already? It's just getting started! Even if that Shane kid fails, Nika is still coming! It won't be long now... a few more years... When the Sun God Nika fully awakens, and the drums of liberation sound across the seas, the entire Holy Land will know the meaning of true fear!
Aboard The Curtain Call.
Shane took another shower and changed back into his pajamas. This time, however, his face was wreathed in a cheerful smile. His mood had improved considerably. The haul this time was just too good.
Humming the tune to "Binks's Brew," he opened his system panel and reviewed the information log.
[You have sacrificed Benn Beckman's spare rifle. You have gained 2800 points.]
[You have sacrificed Yasopp's photo of his late wife. You have gained 1900 points.]
[You have sacrificed Lucky Roux's sunglasses. You have gained 1900 points.]
[You have sacrificed Hongo's single bed. You have gained 1400 points.]
...
A few other named officers provided another 3000 points combined. But those were just appetizers. The real prize was this...
Shane's eyes landed on the final line, and he opened the details.
[You have sacrificed Shanks's ship, the Red Force. You have gained 15,000 points.]
[The Red Force]
[Quality: Legendary]
[Value: 15,000 Points]
[Appraisal: The flagship of one of the Four Emperors, "Red-Haired" Shanks. It carries the will and glory of one of the New World's supreme conquerors. The hull is crafted from the boughs of the Treasure Tree Adam, making it exceptionally durable. Since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, it has weathered countless storms and battles, remaining indestructible. It is both a loyal companion that has sailed with Red-Hair and his crew for nearly twenty years, and a symbol of an Emperor's might.]
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