Inside the cabin, Roy finished the food Stella had prepared. The warmth of the meal spread through his body, and the pallor on his face finally returned to a healthier shade.
He rolled his shoulders and stretched. The injured areas still ached, but the wounds had already begun to scab over. In a few days, they would be fully healed.
"Where are we now?" Roy pushed the empty tray aside and looked at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh was leaning against the doorframe, watching Tesoro train. "In about half a day, we'll pass an island called Momiji Island. There's a supply town on it. If you want to split off, you can get off there and restock."
To be honest, Rayleigh had briefly considered inviting Roy to join the Roger Pirates.
But after thinking it over, he let the idea go.
Judging from everything Roy had done so far, this kid clearly had his own path and his own goals.
"Understood." Roy nodded and spoke sincerely. "Thank you for taking care of us these past few days, Mr. Rayleigh."
Without Rayleigh's help, there was no way they would've escaped Sengoku and Kizaru's pursuit.
Rayleigh waved it off, but the look in his eyes carried weight. "It was nothing. But kid, your name is already echoing across the sea. A two hundred million bounty is like a lighthouse in the dark. It'll draw every pirate and bounty hunter who wants to make a name for themselves."
"From here on out, you'd better be careful."
Roy curled his lips into a smile. There wasn't a trace of fear in his eyes, only a flicker of excitement. "Good. I was just thinking I needed a few whetstones to test my new power."
Not long after, the ship slowly approached an island that looked lively and prosperous.
The harbor was crowded with all kinds of vessels. Some even flew vicious pirate flags.
It was the kind of supply island where pirates and merchants mixed freely, a typical lawless stopover.
The ship docked.
"All right. Get off here." Rayleigh drained the last sip from his bottle and casually tossed it into the sea. "I should go find Roger and the others. I've been away too long. Those idiots are probably getting anxious."
Roy led Tesoro and Stella down the gangplank, then turned back and bowed his head slightly, solemn and sincere.
"Mr. Rayleigh, I can't thank you enough. I'll remember this debt."
"Hahaha!" Rayleigh laughed loudly, lifting a hand in farewell. "Just stay alive and get stronger. I'm sure we'll meet again somewhere on the sea."
He grinned, then waved again. "Well then, goodbye, you interesting little brats. Smooth sailing."
Without waiting for a response, he untied the ropes, guided the small sailboat away from the harbor, and soon disappeared beyond the horizon.
Tesoro watched him go, full of emotion. "What a strong and stylish old man."
Stella nodded too, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Roy pulled his gaze back, inhaling the island's mixed, messy air. "Let's go. We find somewhere to stay, stock up on supplies, and pick up some information."
The three stepped onto the island.
Roy might have been young, but his nearly one-meter-eighty height and the invisible pressure he carried after awakening Conqueror's Haki made people think twice before underestimating him.
Tesoro's face still carried bruises, but after everything that had happened, his eyes were steadier than before.
Stella stayed quietly at Roy's side, looking around with curiosity at this unfamiliar place.
They walked along the noisy streets, searching for an inn and shops. Roy's Observation Haki spread out in silence, gathering information from the crowd.
Most of it was meaningless chatter, bargaining, and pirates bragging about their so-called glorious feats.
But as they passed a rowdy tavern, it happened.
Clang!
The tavern door was slammed open.
A drunken pirate stumbled out. He was huge, with a scar across his face, swaying on his feet. He nearly crashed into Roy at the front.
"Hey! Brat! Don't block the road!" the scarred pirate roared, reeking of alcohol.
A few of his companions poured out behind him, laughing as they surrounded Roy's group with nasty looks. When they saw Stella's delicate features, their eyes turned greasy and shameless.
Tesoro tensed instantly and stepped in front of Stella.
Roy only glanced at the scarred pirate, calm as still water. "You bumped into me. Apologize. Then get lost."
"Huh?" The scarred pirate pointed at his own nose. "You want me to apologize? Do you know who I am? I'm the combat captain of the Giant Axe Pirates! I've got an eight million Beli bounty! And you're talking to me like that?"
People nearby hurried away, afraid of getting dragged into it. Some whispered under their breath.
"That's the Giant Axe Pirates. Those guys are trouble."
"That blond kid's finished. With a pretty girl like that, he's definitely been targeted."
"He looks young. Probably some noble brat who ran away from home. Doesn't know how high the sky is."
Faced with the pirate's shouting and the crowd's pitying looks, Roy's expression turned amused.
He'd been wondering where he could find a chance to test himself.
And it was also a perfect lesson for Tesoro and Stella.
On this sea, retreat and restraint only made pirates bolder.
"Eight million?" Roy chuckled softly. "Where did this… small fry come from?"
He raised his head. His gaze sharpened, and an invisible pressure spread from him like a tide.
He didn't fully release his Conqueror's Haki, but the sheer weight of that superior will was enough to sober the drunken pirates in an instant. A chill ran straight through their hearts.
"I'm in a good mood," Roy said evenly. "I'll give you one last chance. Get lost."
The scarred pirate was clearly shaken, but alcohol and arrogance had rotted his judgment. His companions' laughter pushed him over the edge, and he snapped.
"Brat! You're asking to die!"
He roared and swung a fist the size of a pot, smashing it toward Roy's face.
Tesoro shouted, "Boss, watch out!"
Stella covered her mouth.
But Roy didn't move.
He simply raised his index finger.
The next second, under everyone's stunned gaze, the scarred pirate froze mid-charge, like he'd slammed into an invisible wall.
His massive fist stopped less than ten centimeters from Roy's nose, unable to move forward even a single inch.
"Wha…?!" The pirate's eyes bulged with disbelief. It felt like something unseen had wrapped around his arm and locked it in place. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free.
Roy's mouth curved into a cold smile. His finger lightly tapped forward.
Bang!
A tremendous invisible force exploded.
The scarred pirate's thick body flew backward like he'd been hit by a charging beast. He crashed straight through the tavern's wooden wall, sparking screams inside.
Silence.
A dead, suffocating silence.
The remaining Giant Axe Pirates froze, their grins turning stiff and ugly. The drunken haze vanished completely, replaced by cold sweat soaking their backs.
They stared at Roy as if looking at a monster.
Roy's eyes swept over them. His voice stayed calm. "Anyone else want to try?"
"No! No!"
The pirates stumbled backward, screaming things like "Monster!" and "Run!" before turning tail and sprinting away. They didn't even think about retrieving their scarred captain, who was still lying inside the tavern.
Roy withdrew his gaze and looked at Tesoro and Stella, who were still stunned. He smiled faintly.
"See that? This is power. In this world, it's the best pass you can carry."
Tesoro nodded hard, flames of determination burning in his eyes.
Stella lowered her gaze, thoughtful.
"Let's go." Roy turned and continued down the street. "Find a place to stay."
"Our adventure is only just beginning."
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