"Captain, just like you said, the Marines have suddenly increased in number. It seems they're looking for someone."
"Figured as much. ...Let's both keep an eye on the rumors. We should be able to read the direction of the Marines' movements from that. We'll move through the gaps."
"Aye, Captain."
It's been a month since that fateful encounter (bitter laugh), and after one more battle following that, Daz Bones actually became my crew for real.
Why? I can't help but wonder, but the result is exactly what I was aiming for. ...Yeah, I really need to do something that shakes the world, or I feel like I'll be betrayed, so somehow... I have to do something that'll make the world go "Whoa!"
Hey, how exactly do you make the world gasp in surprise???
... Well, whatever. That's not the current problem. Once again, an unexpected situation has arisen.
One of the major turning points in the original story—the destruction of Ohara by Buster Call.
Excuse me, wasn't Ohara supposed to be an island on the Grand Line? (trembling voice)
I don't know the details, but in Robin's flashback scenes, Marines were coming to all sorts of places. Various people were making reports, and even when she was picked up by pirates, the Navy kept chasing her.
I had completely assumed it was on the Grand Line, but if they mobilized that many personnel to the West Blue, I thought I could read their movements, and sure enough. It might lack accuracy, but through rumors, I can hear all sorts of things at taverns and gossip spots about where arrests or naval battles happened.
...Good, it seems I'm not being talked about. This past month, Daz and I have been hunting some minor bounty heads, and I've had Daz, who doesn't have a bounty yet, cash them in.
Really, I'm grateful that Daz followed me. Moreover, he properly treats me as captain, so I need to secure a proper source of income.
Well, to be honest, the bandits and pirates I used to just rob blind are now bringing in money all at once, so I'm financially well-off.
"So Captain, what's next?"
"...I'm planning to build a proper ship in the East Blue."
"A ship that can break through that windless zone, the Calm Belt? Are you sure about that?"
"Positive. In fact, the Sea-Prism Stone I have was taken from the bottom of a Marine ship."
I do intend to enter the Grand Line eventually, but I also want to secure a way to make money.
For example, trading specialties, local products, or technologies unique to certain islands on the Grand Line. As before, I want to limit pillaging to villains as much as possible. It's a matter of ethics, but it also affects the morale of both myself and Daz. That policy should be fine.
"I couldn't exactly carry all the Sea-Prism Stone with me when moving."
"Is there a possibility our hiding place was discovered and it was recovered?"
"Quite possible, but... well, no problem."
Either way, I want to go to the East Blue. In the end, I couldn't find him on my own, but I want to recruit Jango.
Not just Haki, but this world basically has the rule that 'if you strongly believe you can do it, you really become strong'... I think. Well, naturally, like in a proper shonen manga, there's also appropriate effort and training involved. That's precisely why I want to gather people with abilities that affect the mind.
Jango with his hypnotism, of course, and Miss Golden Week who uses powerful hypnosis with her paints... was it Marianne?
I want to secure this lineup, or people with similar powers, as much as possible.
With me being Kuro, the original story's flow is practically meaningless! I'll do whatever I want! ...Besides, I'd hate to make a cute, younger girl cry and then get smashed by a hard rubber head-butt.
"I have several plans prepared just in case. What we need now are food and weapons, and the money to support buying them... well, let's set that aside for now."
"--Manpower, then."
"Quality over quantity."
If I carelessly gather just numbers, I might have to resort to large-scale pillaging due to food and other problems. That's a no, absolutely no.
To navigate skillfully in this world that's harsh on evil despite being a pirate manga, it's extremely difficult but best to stick with a small elite force.
"...So coming from the East Blue to West Blue at great risk—was that your goal from the beginning?"
"That's right. There are probably useful people in the East Blue too, but... I judged it was still too early to gather people in that sea."
I searched around quite a bit, but I couldn't find Jango at all. So it'll probably be after some more time has passed.
...In the first place, in the original timeline, even Kuro probably wouldn't be doing piracy yet at this point.
"Well, regarding that, we have no choice but to take our time. For now, let's deal with the immediate problems."
What we're heading toward in our small boat right now is an island controlled by a certain pirate crew. Normally the Marines would come out to subjugate them, but right now the Navy's movements are sluggish. They're probably pouring most of their manpower into searching for Nico Robin and putting everything else on the back burner. That's so typical of the World Government.
"Pirates, huh. The bounties total 4 million berries including the captain... Given the numbers and amount, it doesn't seem like that lucrative a deal, but why here?"
"One reason is the Family's sphere of influence. A place that's been ravaged by pirates, or effectively occupied and left that way, probably isn't part of anyone's territory. If possible, I'd like to use it as a base for a while after liberating it."
"I see... And the other reason?"
"By liberating a place that neither the Mafia nor the Marines—the government—will quickly send help to, we gain fame."
"...A wanted Captain doing that?"
"Precisely because I'm wanted."
If I build up a bad reputation, naturally the danger level increases—or rather, my importance level to the Marines increases. If importance increases, the Marines' actions will speed up when I cause trouble.
That's probably unavoidable as long as I keep surviving, but it's definitely too early now. I don't need to master Haki, but at least until I learn "Moonwalk" I don't want to stand out. If possible, I'd like to learn "Tempest Kick" before entering the Grand Line too...
"Well, anyway, let's beat up the pirates and take their supplies. Then negotiate with the island's people... and if possible, let us use it as a base for a while."
"What a modest bounty head, Captain."
"I'm different from the usual riffraff."
--
"Captain."
"Yeah."
"What is... this?"
"...I can guess. But surely not..."
What awaited me upon landing on the island were the pirates and the villagers who had been enslaved by those pirates—but they were all hanging their heads in dejection. They were muttering things like "I'm trash" and "I'm lower than a cockroach."
Um, could this possibly be...
"Captain."
"Yeah."
"Why are those translucent guys over there staring at us?"
"Ghostly things. They're harmless if you don't touch them."
"I see, ghostly things."
"Yeah."
"...What do you mean by 'ghostly things'?"
"Never mind that, first let's tie up the guys who are obviously pirates. We'll talk after that."
Perona!? You were in the West Blue too!?
--
Crew:
Captain: Captain Kuro
Combat Member: Daz Bones
--
From now on: 1 Chapter daily!
50 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter.
OR
Join Patreon.com/RealPosion using code: 1F25B to get a discount and read 2 more chapters. I will upload 4 more chapters tomorrow, gonna grind tonight.