"Dragon, there," a booming voice rasped from beneath a hooded cloak, head massive and grotesque. The giant craned forward, peering through the mist. "Another dragon-headed warship. Yours looks like a corpse compared to it. Whoever commands that one has taste."
The man beside him did not answer immediately. His black cloak swept across his shoulders, hood low over his brow. The sea breeze teased strands of dark hair across a stern, weather-worn face.
"A ship that size," Dragon said at last, his tone low, steady, "yet with no cannon emplacements, no visible armament at all… Either its captain is a fool. Or very dangerous."
The giant head laughed, voice like a rolling drum. "Hyah-hah-hah! East Blue, the so-called sea of peace. But everyone knows better, don't they? This ocean births more monsters than any other. Sometimes it hides them. Sometimes it spits them out. I'd like to see what sort of beast commands such a ship. Maybe a genius. Maybe a freak." His bulging eyes fixed on Dragon, exaggerated features grinning. "Wouldn't that be fun?"
"Perhaps," Dragon admitted, gaze sharpening on the silhouette approaching through the haze. "And perhaps… an ally."
The two ships drew nearer, their dragon prows snarling at one another across the waves. Wood groaned as the Eternal Life eased to a stop, twenty meters out, facing the ugly carved beast-head that fronted Dragon's vessel.
Jin stood at the rail, eyes half-lidded, smirk tugging his lips. "Well now. This could be interesting."
Behind him, Makino gripped the railing tight, knuckles white. "You're not going over there, are you? It's dangerous."
Beside her, Tina and Kuina had already drawn weapons. Tina's pistol gleamed in the sun, Kuina's crimson blade whispering against its scabbard. Their eyes burned with one clear message: say the word, and we'll fight.
Jin turned, cloak rippling, grin widening. "Dangerous? Makino, have you ever seen me walk away from danger without first robbing it blind? Tell me. When have you seen me lose?"
The three women froze, glanced at one another. Then, almost comically, all shook their heads at once. "Never."
"Exactly." His voice softened as he rested a hand briefly on Makino's shoulder. "This isn't a fight. Not yet. They're not marines. Not pirates either. I'll take a look. I'll be back before you can pour the next drink. Trust me."
Her lips trembled. She wanted to argue. But his eyes—amused, unshaken, certain—disarmed her as always. With a reluctant nod, she whispered, "Be careful."
Then he moved. One leap carried him into the sky. Cloak snapping like wings, he strode across empty air toward the opposing ship.
Dragon's eyes rose at once. "He's coming."
A sharp thud echoed across the wooden deck as Jin landed in the center, crouched, then straightened with lazy grace. Around him, cloaked figures shifted, hands twitching toward blades and pistols. Tension thickened.
"Well, well," Jin drawled, gaze sweeping the gathered crowd before locking onto the hooded man at their center. "Quite the entourage. Dragon, is it? Seems you've collected more shadows than a graveyard."
The mob bristled. One stepped forward, the massive-headed freak, eyes bulging with manic light. His steps thudded like a drum.
But Dragon lifted one hand. Instantly, his men froze. "Hold." His eyes met Jin's, sharp and measuring. "You know my name. Yet we've never met. How?"
Jin shrugged, smirk unchanging. "Relax. I don't stalk men in cloaks for fun. I didn't follow you. I didn't even plan this. Call it coincidence. As for your identity…" His eyes slid briefly toward the massive-headed figure. "It isn't just you. Your friend here—'Miracle Man,' Emporio Ivankov. Hard to mistake that mug."
The big-headed man's jaw dropped. "Hyahhh?! Dragon, he knows me! He recognized me! Is it the head? It's the head, isn't it?! I stand out too much, don't I?!" He flailed, eyes wide, voice high-pitched in mock panic.
Jin only chuckled. "Relax, big guy. The world's wide, and people talk. You're memorable. That's all."
Dragon ignored Ivankov's dramatics. His lips curved slightly, humorless. "So. You know who we are. And yet you came alone."
"Alone," Jin echoed. His hand rested casually on the hilt at his waist. "Which should tell you I'm not here to pick a fight. If I were, this deck would already be red. No… I'm here because I thought it might be amusing to meet the man trying to steal the world."
A ripple of unease passed through Dragon's crew. His eyes narrowed, then softened again, voice calm as stone. "Steal the world, you say. Others call it saving."
"Semantics," Jin replied easily. "Call it what you want. What matters is you've chosen your road. And I can tell from your eyes—you won't stop, even if it kills you."
Dragon's lips thinned, but he did not deny it.
For a moment, the two men simply regarded each other, silence pressing heavy between them.
Then Jin tilted his head. "Tell me something, then. You travel the East Blue, hunting recruits, testing strength. Tell me where I can find a beast worthy of my blade."
That broke the stillness. Murmurs rose among the cloaked figures. Dragon's brow furrowed faintly.
"A beast?" he repeated.
Jin nodded. "The stronger, the better."
At Dragon's side, Ivankov gaped. "Dragon! You're not seriously going to—wait, you are, aren't you?! Don't tell me you mean that one!"
Dragon's voice was low, deliberate. "North of Loguetown, twelve hundred nautical miles. There lies an island called Serpent's Nest. At its heart, a black pool. Within it dwells a creature called the Reverse-Scale Horned Serpent."
Jin's smirk froze for a heartbeat. Then widened. "The what now?"
"The King of the East Blue," Dragon said simply.
A murmur spread through his crew. Ivankov flapped his arms, expression comically horrified. "Hyahh! The East Blue's apex predator! That serpent isn't just a beast—it's a calamity! They say its scales repel cannon fire. Its horn can pierce battleships. Entire pirate crews vanish trying to claim its head!"
Jin chuckled under his breath, violet eyes gleaming. East Blue's King, huh? Never heard of you in the tales I remember. Which means you're mine.
He straightened, cloak snapping, gaze never leaving Dragon's. "Appreciate the tip. That's exactly what I was looking for."
Dragon studied him in silence, then gave the barest nod. "Then perhaps our paths will cross again."
"Perhaps." Jin turned, already walking toward the edge of the deck. He paused only once, glancing back over his shoulder. "And Dragon? For what it's worth… I don't think you'll fail."
Then he stepped into the air and strode back across the gap toward his own ship.
On the Eternal Life, Makino exhaled hard the moment his boots touched wood. Tina sheathed her pistol reluctantly, Kuina lowering her blade only after one last sharp glance at the retreating revolutionary ship.
"Well?" Tina asked, eyes narrowing.
Jin smirked. "We've got ourselves a hunt. A beast worth killing. And maybe, just maybe, a future ally."
Makino stepped closer, worry still shadowing her eyes, but softened by relief. She touched his sleeve gently. "Just don't make me wait like that again."
Jin looked down at her hand, then at her eyes, and let the silence linger.
"Don't worry," he said at last, voice low. "If I don't come back, it'll be because the sea itself swallowed me."
Her grip on his arm tightened briefly. And though nothing more was said, everyone on deck felt the tension coil tighter. The hunt for the King of the East Blue had begun.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/N :
Access 25 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/GodFic