**Chapter 3: The Executives**
"There's never a shortage of guys on this sea... who aren't afraid to die..."
"Not afraid to die? I'd say they're courting death... Hic..."
Nereus and the others left the tavern one after another. Their voices while discussing matters hadn't been quiet, so the patrons in the tavern had overheard their conversation and knew what Nereus was leaving to do.
Although they didn't know who the provocateurs were, in the eyes of these people, those challengers had already been sentenced to death.
"Are you that certain? To reach the New World, those people can't be weak."
Amidst the concurring voices, a discordant note suddenly rang out, causing the patrons at several nearby tables to focus their gaze on him.
"Kid, how long have you been a pirate... no, how long have you been in the New World?"
The middle-aged pirate who spoke first looked at the person contradicting him—a young, inexperienced lad. His drunken eyes seemed to hold a hint of intention to guide the younger generation.
"I was born in the New World. I just set sail last month. What's wrong? Don't look at me just because I'm unknown now; I'll make a name for myself in the future..."
"Hahaha, it's good to be young. But do you never read the news?"
"I can't read."
As soon as these words were spoken, the tavern fell into momentary astonishment, followed by roaring laughter.
There were many illiterate pirates, but when they traveled in gangs, there was always someone in the group who could read. A rookie setting sail alone like this was quite rare.
"Kid, remember this well. There are many strong people on this sea, and quite a few can be called 'monsters.' This island is a nest of monsters, but in this gathering place of monsters, there are two people you absolutely cannot offend.
They are monsters among monsters. One is called Rocks, and the other... is Nereus."
"Are they very strong?"
Usually, these two names carried enough deterrent effect, but this young man clearly didn't know enough, asking a question that seemed utterly foolish in the eyes of the other pirates.
"You know Navy Admirals, right? The highest combat power of Navy Headquarters, they count as monsters too. But Rocks killed an Admiral. That was the first time I heard of a Navy Admiral being killed by a pirate.
As for Nereus, although he looks like an ordinary human, he is actually a Fish-Man. Yet he can fight Rocks on land without losing ground. Do you understand what that means?"
The Fish-Man race, as a special demi-human species in this world, possessed unique natural talents.
Because of their ability to breathe underwater, aquatic combat was the Fish-Man race's home turf.
A Fish-Man's combat power underwater was typically several times that on land.
For a member of such an aquatic combat race to display this kind of power on land... how strong he was underwater went without saying.
Seeing that the young man in front of him didn't seem to believe his words fully, the middle-aged pirate didn't say anything more. He simply waved to the person behind the bar and bought another barrel of rum.
Then he filled the young pirate's glass.
"Drink up. This one's on me. I've seen too many reckless youngsters like you. If you don't die in the future, remember to treat me back. If you die, then this is your farewell drink."
The young pirate sensed contempt in the other's tone and did not accept the drink.
Amidst the laughter of the other pirates, he puffed up his cheeks and ran out of the tavern, heading in the same direction Nereus had left. It seemed he wanted to see for himself what this monster among monsters, spoken of by these pirates, actually looked like.
...
Southeast coast of Hachinosu. A group of people was checking their weapons.
There were members who looked no different from humans, like Nereus, members with distinct racial features like Sebastian, and Merfolk members with human upper bodies and fish tails for lower bodies.
Unlike Fish-Men, Merfolk only gained the ability to split their tails into legs and walk on land after turning 30, and this was an ability exclusive to female Merfolk. Therefore, the Merfolk stayed in the shallow waters.
The two leaders were equally tall, and between them, they couldn't muster a single head of beautiful hair.
The Fish-Man on the left had blue-green skin, thick lips, a large nose, and held a harpoon. His name was Sunbell. In the original timeline, he was a member of the Roger Pirates, but now he had been poached by Nereus.
The Fish-Man on the right had a shiny bald head, sported two wisps of mustache, and was fingering a string of prayer beads.
His name was Babel. He was a member of the Rocks Pirates in the original timeline. Together with Sebastian and Big Pan, these four were Nereus's capable executives.
"What's taking Sebastian so long?"
Babel impatiently turned the prayer beads in his hand, complaining that Sebastian hadn't returned yet.
"Maybe Big Brother Nereus had something urgent over there," Sunbell replied in a very calm tone. Although Babel fingered prayer beads and called himself a monk, his temper was much more volatile than Sunbell's.
"That guy Rocks isn't here right now. Aside from him, is there anything on this island that can stump Big Brother?
Couldn't a phone call handle this kind of thing? Did he really need to make a special trip? I think that kid Sebastian ran off to suck up to Big Brother again..."
"Babel, teach me how to contact someone by phone when they don't have a phone on them."
Just as Babel was muttering, Sebastian appeared behind him, responding testily.
"Also, who are you calling 'kid'? I'm older than you; I just don't look as old as you, going bald at such a young age."
The theoretical lifespan of the Giant race was three hundred years, and Giant hybrids were also influenced by this, having a very long adolescence.
But compared to age, Babel seemed more concerned about hair.
"This is monk training! Training!! It's not baldness; it's a tonsure!! So what if you have some Giant blood? Does that make you proud?!"
"It's alright. At least I won't lose my hair."
Sebastian flipped the hair on his back. The flowing black hair caused several wrinkle lines and cross-popping vein symbols to appear on Babel's forehead. The term "hair loss" seemed to be attacking his very soul.
Once, Babel also had long hair like flames, but with the passage of time, those beautiful locks had abandoned him, bringing a mid-life crisis early.
Of course, to the outside world, Babel always insisted that he shaved his head himself for better cultivation.
"Stop arguing, you two. Captain is here."
Sunbell tapped their calves to alert them of Nereus's arrival. As to why he tapped their calves...
Sebastian was huge due to being a Fish-Giant, and Babel himself was robust, comparable to a small Giant.
This situation wasn't uncommon among Fish-Men; Fish-Men like Wadatsumi even approached the height of Ancient Giants.
Compared to these two, Sunbell, who was actually quite muscular himself, looked like a dwarf.
Hearing this, the two stopped arguing. Quarreling was commonplace for them, merely a unique form of entertainment.
They could still distinguish priorities when faced with serious business.
Amidst various addresses like "Captain," "Big Brother," and "Boss" from others, Nereus arrived before the crowd.