Several days later, the Going Merry and Binmock's merchant vessel reached a bustling island.
According to Binmock, its location near several shipping lanes made it unimportant enough to avoid powerful pirates, so merchants treated it as an ideal meeting ground. A grand trade fair had gradually taken shape.
More than goods, merchants traded connections—an equally vital resource.
Hiroto cared nothing for that, he simply handed the ship's treasure to Binmock, sent the appraisers Nami and Carina ashore, and had Zoro escort them. He himself remained immersed in training.
Investing in Zoro had returned two-hundred-fold, leaving him brimming with 'capital'. If he could digest it all, he sensed he might grasp another fundamental skill of a sword master.
The very emblem of a swordmaster—Flying Slash.
Nearby, Koushirou watched Hiroto train and nodded in approval.
More gifted than Zoro yet so diligent—fine material indeed.
His character sat well with Koushirou. Had circumstances allowed, he would have taken another disciple.
...
Meanwhile, in the island's back-alley.
A pirate disguised as a retainer slipped in, weaving through twists until he reached a hidden room. Ignoring the pair of iron crutches on the table, he sat before his superior.
"Well?" A sallow man with heavy dark rings under his eyes, asked.
"Captain Gin, I found out. They'll hold a major exchange in three days." The pirate bowed.
"The island's organizers and many merchants will attend."
Gin nodded coldly. "Good. Then we inform Fleet Admiral Krieg. When the fleet arrives, we wipe out these merchants and the island together."
The henchman hesitated. "Captain Gin, why not take hostages? These merchants are loaded, and there's plenty of loot on the island."
Gin's eyes narrowed, hand moving to a crutch. "You question Fleet Admiral Krieg?"
"No, no! Just puzzled, I never meant to doubt the admiral." The pirate went white and dropped to his knees, nearly in tears.
The one glaring at him was the admiral's most loyal officer, the core of the fleet, the Man-Demon with a 15-million-berries bounty—Gin.
Another scout entered just then. He froze inside the doorway, bounty poster in hand.
The interruption cooled the killing intent in Gin's eyes.
"Doubt Fleet Admiral Krieg again and you won't get to apologise, dead men can't anger me."
"Yes, sir." The pirate stammered.
Gin swept his icy gaze over the rest. "Put useless thoughts aside. Fleet Admiral Krieg wants this island bathed in blood. No surrender, no deal. By crushing these merchants utterly, the admiral gains control of the sea-lanes' guilds."
"Our affiliated merchants will inherit their trade, covering the fleet's expansion costs for the year. Cross me on this and I'll smash your skulls."
"Yes, Captain." The crew chorused.
Gin turned to the latecomer. "What's that in your hand?"
The pirate hurried forward and laid it on the table. "A bounty poster, boss. We might need to watch this one. I saw this man on a ship in the harbour."
Gin leaned over and his face tightened. "Head-Chopping Swordsman Hiroto, 40 million berries? When did East Blue ever produce a bounty this high?"
"I asked around. He surfaced a month and a half ago. Started at 7 million, jumped to 37, then 40. And, boss… he's on this island right now."
"…"
Gin stared at the face on the poster, uneasy at the bounty's rapid leaps.
'What could anyone do to spike a price that fast? Murder a kingdom's heir?'
Puzzled but outwardly calm, Gin muttered, "Why panic? It's just a high bounty. I'll report it to the admiral."
He pulled out a den den mushi and dialled Krieg.
Purururu…
Click.
"Gin, is that you?"
"Captain, there's been an unexpected complication in the plan."
Gin reported succinctly, "Head-Chopping Swordsman Hiroto, who has a bounty of 40 million berries, has appeared here."
Static crackled on the other end of the line, Krieg seemed to be rummaging through something. Soon, he found the corresponding bounty poster.
After sizing up the face that was much younger than his own and the high bounty amount, Krieg made a judgment fitting his perception, "He probably killed the heir of some kingdom or something. Hmph, just another reckless fool who doesn't know his place. Having a bounty so much higher than mine is annoying."
"Captain, then we..."
"In three days, I will lead a fleet of twenty-three ships equipped with heavy cannons. Concentrated fire will baptize the entire island within half an hour. If that guy named Hiroto is still alive by then, I'll show him what true despair looks like."
As Krieg spoke, his gaze fell upon the corner of the Captain's cabin, where the glittering golden armor and golden spear sat.
His powerful weapons, forged at great expense and unique to him—it seemed like a good idea to use a high-bounty fellow to draw first blood during their debut battle.
He was the man who would become the Pirate King, this was only the beginning of his legendary life.
Of course, it was even more likely that the opponent would simply be blown to bits under the artillery fire. Individual prowess ultimately has its limits in the face of cannons. Being able to resist simply means there aren't enough cannons.
If one isn't enough, use ten. If ten aren't enough, use a hundred. No living creature can survive the indiscriminate bombardment of cannonballs.
Krieg was firmly convinced of this, which was why he had built his fleet regardless of the cost.
Once he destroyed that island and gained control over this sea area, and after propping up his own merchants, he was confident he could assemble a massive fleet of fifty sturdy ships, then set out for the Grand Line to sweep away the so-called Four Emperors and Warlords.
"Understood, Admiral."
Gin said a few more words and then hung up the phone.
He looked at the bounty poster on the table again, and for some reason, he felt a sense of unease in his heart.
However, when he thought about it carefully, he couldn't find anything wrong.
An opponent with a 40 million berries bounty was certainly no ordinary person. But they held the advantage of the first move, and Krieg even intended to cover the area with firepower for half an hour.
No matter how you looked at it, victory was assured.
It couldn't be possible that Hiroto isn't even afraid of cannonballs, right?
Gin shook his head with a chuckle, then looked at his fearful subordinates. "Alright, none of you need to worry anymore. We won't be confronting Hiroto head-on. Even if he manages to survive the artillery fire, Admiral Krieg will take action to deal with him."
Upon hearing this, the pirates immediately thought of Krieg's power. They had once witnessed him easily swing a weapon weighing a ton. He looked like a monster no matter how you saw it.
Although Hiroto's bounty was higher than Krieg's, it might just be because he did something big. In terms of raw strength, he definitely couldn't compare to Krieg.
The group of pirates immediately responded, "Yes."