chapter 185 part 2
In the distance, a slightly worn but still sturdy-looking sailboat was moored quietly, rocking gently with the light lapping of the waves.
Ren Arakawa glanced at Carrot beside him. Without a word, he bent down, slung a large bag over his shoulder, and with a powerful push from his legs, launched himself like a cannonball, landing steadily on the ship.
Not to be outdone, Carrot followed with a light leap, nimble as a rabbit.
At that moment, a one-legged pirate was sitting on a stool on the deck, teasing a parrot on his shoulder with some nuts.
Hearing the commotion, he whipped his head around. When he saw a humanoid rabbit and a strange pirate appear on his ship without warning, he was so frightened he almost toppled over, chair and all.
His face instantly flushed red with anger. He pulled an old flintlock pistol from his waist, pointed it at Ren Arakawa and Carrot, and yelled hoarsely, "Where did you two freaks come from? Scram! If you don't leave now, I'll shoot!"
Pirate Ren Arakawa's expression was calm, a corner of his mouth curling up into a playful smirk. He said unhurriedly, "Don't be so hasty, brother. I've taken a liking to your ship. Name a price, I'll buy it."
With that, he untied a pouch full of gold coins from his waist and shook it in the air, the coins clinking crisply.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, the pouch flew through the air in an arc toward the one-legged pirate.
The one-legged pirate was stunned for a moment before reacting, quickly shooing the large parrot off his shoulder.
Like a well-trained circus performer, the parrot flapped its wings, flew over, and accurately snatched the money pouch with its talons before flying steadily back.
The one-legged pirate took the pouch and eagerly opened it. His eyes instantly widened into saucers. The glittering gold coins inside made his heart bloom with joy.
A greedy smile appeared on his face as he muttered, "Quite generous." He contentedly stuffed the money pouch into his coat.
Carrot was incredibly excited, running back and forth on the ship, touching the sails one moment and looking at the compass the next, letting out happy cries from time to time.
Just then, with a loud "BANG," a bullet shot out from the flintlock pistol with a puff of smoke, grazing the sail as it flew past.
The sudden gunshot startled Carrot so much that she trembled and nearly fell over.
Ren Arakawa's face darkened, his eyes turning ice-cold in an instant. He looked at the one-legged pirate and asked in a low, deep voice, "What's the meaning of this? Didn't you sell us the ship? Why are you still shooting?"
The one-legged pirate let out a shrill laugh, his face filled with greed and cunning. He boasted, "Hmph, you're too naive! That money was just to save your pathetic lives for a moment. You want to buy my ship with that little bit of cash? Not a chance! Scram, or the next shot will blow your brains out!"
Hearing this, Pirate Ren Arakawa was stunned for a moment, then threw his head back and roared with laughter, a sound filled with disdain and mockery.
He leaned forward slightly, and a violent burst of Conqueror's Haki surged from his body, enveloping the entire ship like a black tsunami in an instant.
The very air seemed to freeze under this pressure, and the surrounding temperature plummeted.
The one-legged pirate on the deck felt as if a great mountain was crushing his chest, making it incredibly difficult to breathe. His face contorted in pain as he foamed at the mouth.
The parrot on his shoulder, which had been chattering away just moments before, now seemed frozen in place. Its body went completely rigid, and then it fell stiffly toward the deck, landing with a "thud" and not moving an inch.
As for the one-legged pirate, his eyes rolled back, showing only the whites, and his legs gave out. With a "thud," he collapsed unconscious on the deck.
With a "splash," Ren Arakawa mercilessly tossed the unconscious one-legged pirate into the sea, creating a sizable splash.
Then, his hands flew through a series of seals. In an instant, two figures appeared out of thin air beside him—two clones he had created with the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
One clone scrambled up to the bow in a few moves and skillfully raised the anchor.
The other clone rushed toward the mast, pulling hard on the ropes. With a "whoosh," the giant sail was hoisted high, snapping and crackling in the sea breeze.
These were all skills he had learned during his two years as a slave on a pirate ship, and now they were finally coming in handy.
Carrot was already in the wheelhouse, her hands steady on the ship's helm, her eyes betraying a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Her ears twitched from time to time, sensing every movement around them.
Pirate Ren Arakawa stood at the bow, his gaze fixed firmly ahead. After taking a deep breath, he suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs, "Genshin! Activate!"
After seven long years, he was finally setting sail!
And on his own ship, no less!
Carrot immediately responded, "Yes, Captain!" She applied a little force, turning the helm. The ship slowly changed direction, rocking and swaying as it headed for the deep sea.
The coastline of the Sabaody Archipelago gradually receded. The pirates who had just rushed over were now standing on the beach, stomping their feet and cursing, but their voices were quickly drowned out by the sound of the waves and the wind.
Ren Arakawa waved at them with a sincere smile on his face, as if declaring his victory, but it was more of a farewell to his past life.
*I'm finally out of that damned Impel Down!*
*Next up, it's time for an adventure!*
"Has any other transmigrator had it this rough? Seven years in prison, that's really something else."
After a while, the ship's course stabilized.
Carrot let go of the helm and trotted over to Ren Arakawa's side, her tail wagging happily behind her. "Captain, where are we going next?"
Ren Arakawa tilted his head up slightly, looking at the clouds drifting in the sky. After a moment of thought, he said, "We'll just head in the opposite direction of these pirates. As for the rest, let's not think about it for now."
Carrot nodded, her eyes full of anticipation.
She returned to the wheelhouse, once again taking the helm and steadily steering the ship in the direction Ren Arakawa had indicated.
Ren Arakawa found a clean spot on the deck and lay down comfortably. The sea breeze blew gently, and the waves rhythmically lapped against the hull, like a natural lullaby. Before long, he drifted peacefully into dreamland.
He didn't know how long he'd slept when a faint, humming song floated into his ears.
Ren Arakawa slowly woke up, thinking he had misheard. He rubbed his drowsy eyes and turned his head, only to be stunned by the sight before him.
Carrot was lying comfortably in a huge bathtub, which she had clearly found from who-knows-where.
At this moment, she was lathering up with body wash, rubbing it all over her body. Lather slid down her arms and shoulders, glistening in the sunlight.