Captain Thad's face darkened as his anger flared. "This is impossible! As the captain of the most influential sea area, how could I, Captain Thad, hand over my prized pirate ship to you?" His voice was firm, his resolve unwavering.
Ten minutes later, Akira stepped onto a brand-new pirate ship, accompanied by Hancock and the others.
"This ship is huge! And it has everything we could possibly need!" Hancock exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Ellie, however, scoffed as she glanced at the bound and defeated pirate crew left behind on the dock. With a smirk, she turned and boarded the ship.
"Sir Akira, where are we headed now?" she asked.
Akira paused, scanning the horizon before answering calmly. "Given the current situation, the best course is toward Alabasta."
Ahead, the vast ocean stretched endlessly. The crew kept their eyes peeled, aware that the world of pirates was filled with the unknown—hidden dangers and uncharted wonders alike.
As their ship glided forward, Hancock suddenly pointed to the water ahead. "Hey! There's someone over there!" she called out.
Ellie narrowed her eyes toward the figure struggling in the waves. "Hmph, probably just another fool. Lord Akira, there's no need to bother with them."
Despite her dismissive attitude, Akira was intrigued. Something about this situation felt different. "Let's go take a look," he decided, swiftly adjusting the ship's course.
As they neared, the struggling figure became clearer—a man wearing a straw hat. Without hesitation, he grinned and leaped onto their deck.
"Hey, thanks for the save!" he said cheerfully.
Akira's eyes widened in recognition. "Fire Fist Ace?"
Ellie scowled. "You idiot! Who told you to jump on our ship? We're not some charity for lost pirates!"
Ace scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry about that. My ship was doing just fine until some sea monster decided to have it for lunch. Now, I'm all that's left."
Ellie huffed in irritation but said nothing more.
Ace suddenly turned to her, his expression curious. "You're a Celestial Dragon, aren't you?"
At his words, Ellie stiffened. For a fleeting moment, her usual composed demeanor wavered. "Mind your own business, idiot!" she snapped.
Ace only laughed, unfazed by her outburst. Meanwhile, Akira processed the encounter. It wasn't entirely unexpected to run into Ace near Alabasta.
"Are you heading there too?" Ace asked. "If so, how about we travel together? I promise, I can handle any sea monsters that get in our way!"
Akira considered the offer and nodded. Having Ace aboard would make their journey safer.
"Don't worry," Ace added with a confident grin. "If any nasty beasts show up, I'll just turn them into roasted fish!"
Despite her earlier annoyance, Hancock found herself warming up to Ace's enthusiasm, while Ellie simply rolled her eyes.
The journey continued, the ship cutting through the waves under a vast, crimson sky. Akira and Ace stood near the cabin, gazing out at the horizon.
"It's been a while since I've been here," Ace mused, leaning against the railing. "Feels kind of nostalgic."
Akira remained silent, studying him.
"I haven't seen my old man in ages," Ace said after a moment, his voice carrying a hint of longing. Then, as if sensing Akira's reserved nature, he turned to him with a smirk. "You're a pretty quiet guy, huh? But I know who you are. If I'm not mistaken, you're that pirate with the 100-million-Beli bounty."
Akira wasn't surprised. This was expected.
"You're right," he admitted.
Ace grinned. "Did you know my old man thinks you're one of the boldest pirates out there? Never thought I'd run into you like this. Feels like fate! I think we'd make great friends."
Akira hesitated, momentarily caught off guard by Ace's enthusiasm. But something about his sincerity made it hard to refuse. Slowly, he extended his hand.
Before their hands could meet—
"BOOM!"
A violent whirlpool erupted beneath the ship. The vessel rocked dangerously, nearly knocking them off balance.
"Damn, that's a sudden current!" Ace shouted, dashing to the cabin to take control of the ship's direction.
Before he could react, an enormous wave rose from the depths, surging toward them with unstoppable force.
"Hold on!" Akira yelled.
"BANG!"
The wave crashed over them with immense power, swallowing the ship whole. Darkness engulfed them.
When they awoke, they found themselves lying on a beach, the salty breeze carrying the scent of the sea.
They had survived—but where had they ended up?
"Damn it! Who is that, and why did they show up here out of nowhere?"
"There's never been anyone like this in Alabasta before. I should capture them and take them to the king."
When Akira regained consciousness, he found himself surrounded by a large group of armed soldiers, their weapons gleaming under the sun.
"So, you're finally awake." One of the soldiers sneered. "Give up any resistance and surrender. You're completely surrounded."
Akira quickly assessed the situation. More troops had gathered around, forming a tight perimeter.
His eyes landed on Ace, who was bound tightly. Despite the predicament, Ace wore a helpless yet amused expression, as if he had resigned himself to the situation.
"We're not criminals," Akira said calmly. "We ended up here by accident."
"Silence!" the army captain barked. He showed no interest in Akira's explanation, gripping his spear tightly with an intense glare.
At that moment, Hancock and Ellie began to stir. Their eyes widened as they took in their surroundings, realizing they were encircled by armed soldiers.
... patreon Seasay