After more than three months of sailing, Eli Winters and his crew had explored every remaining island in the North Blue. Most of these islands were poor and isolated, so the rewards Eli obtained through his system weren't particularly impressive. Still, he wasn't the type to complain something was better than nothing.
Now, the Silver Dragon was cutting across the waves toward the East Blue.
Eli lay back comfortably on a deck chair, sunlight spilling across his face as the sea breeze carried the scent of salt and adventure. A tray of delicate desserts and iced drinks rested beside him. In his hands was a small notebook filled with intricate sketches ship blueprints of the highest caliber. The longer he looked, the wider his smile became.
It was a reward he'd received from the Kingdom of Germa a design for the ultimate dream ship, something every sailor longed for. Unfortunately, no shipwright in the Four Seas had the skill to build it yet. Still, Eli enjoyed studying it whenever he had the chance. Every curve, every mechanism, every sail placement was flawless. It was perfection on paper.
His quiet enjoyment was soon interrupted by Big Pan's booming laughter.
"Ha! Felina, admit defeat already! This fish weighs over two hundred pounds!"
Felina crossed her arms and huffed. "Hmph! Don't get too full of yourself yet. The time isn't up I might still pull up something bigger!"
"You two can stop arguing," Reiju said calmly from nearby. "Just now, Fiona caught a small Sea King octopus. Chiyo said it's over three thousand pounds."
"What?! No way! She must've cheated! Did she use her Devil Fruit ability again?" Felina demanded, glaring at her sister.
"Nope," Chiyo replied, stepping out from the galley with a warm smile and a tray in her hands. "Fiona used a normal fishing rod."
Big Pan's eyes widened as the smell reached him. "Chiyo, is that takoyaki?"
"Of course," she said cheerfully. "Thanks to Fiona's catch, I made a feast of octopus dishes. Everyone can eat as much as they like!"
Big Pan's fishing rod was forgotten in an instant. Drooling, he bolted toward the kitchen like a cannonball.
Felina laughed helplessly and called out toward the helm. "Dott, Simon! Come down and eat!"
Dott's voice came from the control room. "On our way!"
But Simon didn't respond. Eli, halfway through enjoying a plate Chiyo had brought him, frowned slightly. He was about to call out when Simon's voice finally echoed down from the lookout.
"Captain! There's trouble on the island ahead!"
Eli's expression darkened. Trouble? They were almost in East Blue territory Garp's jurisdiction. Pirates shouldn't be running wild here.
He set aside his plate, rose to his feet, and strode to the bow. Through his sharpened vision, he could see smoke rising from a coastal village. A group of pirates was attacking helpless civilians.
A cold, murderous fury welled up inside him. Pirates creatures that preyed on the weak were the one thing he could never forgive.
"Simon, alert the others. I'll go first."
And before anyone could blink, Eli vanished.
When he reappeared, it was in the middle of the chaos his kick caving in the skull of a pirate mid-slaughter.
The remaining pirates froze in horror. One of them, wearing a single eyepatch, shouted, "This guy's strong! He took out the captain in one hit! Call for backup now!"
A few of them broke off to run for help, while the rest surrounded Eli, weapons raised.
Something about them was off. They weren't the usual ragtag scum of the seas. Their movements were organized disciplined. Almost military.
But Eli didn't waste time wondering. His disgust for murderers like these left no room for hesitation.
Before the fleeing pirates had made it far, their bodies suddenly fell lifeless to the ground.
The others panicked, trying to run, but Eli's cold voice followed them. "Spatial Blade Storm."
A storm of shimmering slashes erupted, each one flashing with deadly precision. The air filled with the whistle of blades and the screams of men. In moments, limbs were severed, torsos split, and the ground ran slick with blood.
When silence fell, only the crimson-stained earth remained. Eli didn't even flinch. His Observation Haki expanded across the island, mapping every heartbeat, every movement. A flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes, and his figure blurred once more vanishing into thin air.
When the wind cleared, all that remained of the pirates were mutilated corpses, their bodies twisted beyond recognition. The stench of blood hung thick in the air.
At the island's harbor, another group of pirates was busy hauling crates of stolen goods from terrified villagers.
"Move faster, you dogs!" barked a shirtless man with a scar across his chest. "The Marines will be here any minute!"
The others laughed as they obeyed, their tone strangely familiar rather than fearful at the mention of Marines.
Eli appeared silently above them, eyes cold and sharp. Below him, villagers knelt together, trembling, surrounded by corpses of those who'd tried to resist.
Without a word, Eli unleashed his power. Heads fell one by one, rolling across the sand. He refrained from using Spatial Blade Storm again it was too gruesome, and the villagers didn't need to witness that kind of horror.
Still, the scene was terrifying enough.
When the last body hit the ground, only the scarred captain remained alive. He fell to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. "P-please! Spare me, sir! I was just following orders!"
Eli's voice was icy. "Orders? Did those villagers you butchered get a chance to beg for mercy?"
"I swear, I didn't want to! I I was acting under command!" the man stammered desperately.
"Oh? And whose command was that?"
"It was Colonel Madrew of the East Blue's 16th Branch! He ordered us to do this!"
Eli narrowed his eyes. "Why would a Marine officer do that?"
The man gulped, his voice trembling. "Madrew lets us raid freely in his territory. We give him seventy percent of the loot, and in return, he pretends to chase us afterward. Then he goes to the villagers, saying he 'protected' them and demands huge protection fees."
Eli's fists clenched. "Despicable filth…"
"I told you everything, right? You'll let me go now?" the pirate asked, trembling.
Eli's lips curled in disgust. "Go beg for mercy in hell."
A single motion and the pirate's head fell to the dirt.
Nearby, an old man approached hesitantly, clothes torn and voice trembling. "S-son, you should leave while you can. The Marines will be here soon. They'll kill anyone who interferes."
Eli smiled faintly. "Don't worry, old man. They can't do anything to me."
The old man's eyes dimmed with sorrow. "You don't understand. Ever since that Colonel Madrew arrived three years ago, these pirates come every year. They raid us, then leave and soon after, the Marines arrive. They pretend to chase them off, then rob us blind. Half of what we earn goes to the pirates, and the other half to the Marines. Every island around here suffers the same fate."
Eli's eyes flashed with cold light. His fury burned like wildfire. "I see. Don't worry, old man. I'll take care of this so-called Marine myself."
The elder paled. "Be careful, son. They have guns, cannons "
Eli chuckled softly. "Relax. I'm stronger than you think. Gather your people, tend to the dead, and return the stolen goods. Leave the rest to me."
The old man hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Just… be careful."
A short while later, the Silver Dragon arrived at the island.
Big Pan jumped down to the shore, his expression grim. "Captain, what's going on?"
Eli quickly explained the situation. Rage flared in every face.
"Those bastards! Marines or not, they're scum!" Felina spat.
Eli nodded. "Don't worry. They'll be here soon. Let's make sure they get a proper welcome."
Reiju hesitated. "Captain, aren't you afraid of angering the Navy?"
Felina answered before Eli could. "Why should we be afraid? Pirate or Marine evil is evil. We'll destroy them all."
Big Pan grinned, cracking his knuckles. "That's right! With the Captain here, we fear no one!"
Reiju smiled faintly. She'd seen what Eli could do she knew they'd be fine.
Since everyone was still hungry from the interrupted meal, they decided to make the most of the wait. They dragged the small Sea King octopus from the ship and set up a bonfire on the beach.
As the smell of sizzling meat and sea salt filled the air, laughter returned to the crew bright, unbothered, and ready.
The Marines were coming.
And this time, justice would not be theirs. Eli Winters would show them what true judgment meant.
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