Chapter 245: Wendy's Growth
"Where did you just go?" Eric asked curiously, looking at Kuina who caught up from behind.
"Girl talk." Kuina glanced sideways. "Want to know?"
"Forget it." Seeing Wendy and Carla safely rejoin the group, Eric continued walking.
"This is it." Looking up at the tall Bamboo Stick Bar, Eric smiled. "Rayleigh is here too. Looks like he didn't sell himself out."
"Sell himself out?"
"Ding ling!"
The bell on the door Kinggled.
"Welcome... Oh, it's little Eric ! It's been over a year."
"Shaki still looks so young, it's really enviable."
"Little Eric , you sure know how to speak. What would you like to eat? Today's on me."
"Haha, thanks, Shaki."
"Yo, Eric . I just saw your news the other day, didn't expect to see you so soon." Rayleigh waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over Kuina, Genos , and Wendy. "Is this your new crew?"
"That's right."
"Ah, hello. I'm Wendy," the polite Wendy greeted.
Kuina and Genos just nodded slightly.
"Oh, hello..." Rayleigh sized Wendy up, then looked at Eric . "Well, Eric , you don't mean…"
"What are you saying, Rayleigh? Wendy is my sister!" Eric cut in.
Wendy shyly lowered her head.
"Phew, that's good. Seeing the women on your ship getting younger and younger, it's a bit concerning…" Rayleigh said with a slight smile. "By the way, where are Scáthach , Esdeath, and Tokisaki Kurumi?"
"They went to the shopping district. Rayleigh, do you want to see them?"
"Haha, my old bones still want to live a few more years." Rayleigh squinted his eyes, the lenses of his glasses glinting. "The aura around you is completely different from the last time we met. Have you been through some life-or-death trials?"
"Are you the Commander Ikari too?"
"Yes, almost died at the hands of Gold Lion." Eric sat down beside Rayleigh. "The legendary great pirate truly lived up to his reputation."
"Even when facing death, he could laugh. Rayleigh, the pirates of your time were truly terrifying."
"Yeah, even in the Rocks Pirates, Gold Lion was among the most ambitious, hard to deal with," Shaki added from behind the bar. "Since he could leave laughing, he must have no regrets."
'Whether or not he had regrets, maybe he was just thinking about whether Eric would become the King of Harem or the King of the World in the end.'
"Ah, right, Shaki. I'd like to buy some information on the Beast Pirates."
Upon hearing Eric 's words, both Shaki and Rayleigh narrowed their eyes.
"So, your next target is Kaido?"
"That's the plan, but my current strength isn't enough to fight Kaido. The Dawn Pirates aren't as strong as the Beast Pirates. But, I need a goal to reach, to strive for!"
Rayleigh asked seriously, "Kaido is known as the strongest creature, do you have the confidence to defeat him?"
Hearing the title of "strongest creature," Genos looked up slightly, while Wendy gazed at Eric with concern.
"Of course!" Eric clenched his fist. "If I don't try, how will I have a chance of completing this?"
Rayleigh smiled, watching Eric . This younger generation was full of energy, vitality, and determination to reach their goals, which made him reflect on how old he really was.
"Heh, little Eric knows himself well." Shaki answered brightly, "But, my information may not be complete. I can only provide most of the information on the Beast Pirates. The rest, you'll have to collect yourself."
"Much appreciated."
"Also, little Eric , I have your latest wanted posters here." Shaki pulled out a few wanted posters from behind the bar and placed them on the table.
"Kuīlóng" Darren Eric , bounty 2.17 billion Berries.
"Magic Spear" Scáthach , bounty 1.05 billion Berries.
"Nightmare" Tokisaki Kurumi, bounty 770 million Berries.
'Major General Tsuru , do you also report to the authorities?' Eric complained in his mind, these were the same three people he had fought against before with Major General Tsuru .
...
After leaving Shaki's bar, full from food and drink, Wendy sighed, "They're all such good people."
"But they were pirates before."
"Huh?" Wendy was surprised.
"So don't be fooled by appearances, Wendy."
"That's right, just like Eric said, don't believe Eric 's sweet words. He must have some hidden agenda!" Carla quickly added.
"..." Eric twitched his eye.
"Next, I'm going to take you to the darkest place in this world."
"Where... where?"
"The human auction."
Hearing this name, the group filled with a sense of justice, their hearts filled with rage.
Even though a year and a half ago, the largest human auction on Island 1 was destroyed by Eric , causing a worldwide shock with the Celestial Dragon's massacre, and the extreme evil acts where many kings and nobles from allied countries were killed, the nobles who loved slavery still came to "shop" for their desired slaves.
With their appearances changed by the master's runes, Eric confidently led the group into the auction house's main gate.
After a brief wait, the auctioneer appeared, and the "goods" for sale were revealed.
Kuina and Genos , who had been fine earlier, now had terribly grim expressions.
One by one, the "goods" were brought to the stage. The nobles in the audience competed fiercely in their bids, showing them that humans could indeed be bought and sold!
The "goods" on stage included long-time slaves whose eyes were dull and whose spirits had died; others were newly captured women, crying and begging as they were harassed by the men in the audience.
Carla was tightly held by Wendy, even though Wendy was holding her too tightly, her body aching, she didn't make a sound.
Genos 's turbine on his shoulder began to spin, and the mechanical boost sound started. The energy patterns on his body lit up.
"Genos , most of these people are nobles from the allied countries," Eric asked seriously. "If you kill them, you'll be wanted by the World Government and become a fugitive. Are you ready for that?"
Genos looked at Eric with his emotionless mechanical eye but spoke with humanity in his voice, "I believe it's the right thing to do, Eric -sensei."
"Is that so..." Eric then turned to the others, "Kuina, Wendy, Carla , are you ready to be wanted too?"
"Mm!" Wendy nodded firmly, and even Carla , who often opposed Eric , didn't object.
Kuina remained silent, but she tightly gripped the hilt of her sword.
Eric stood up from his seat, "Good, let's cause a ruckus. Let's get the members of the Dawn Pirates back to the Fearless to gather."
"Hey!" A noble sitting behind Eric complained, "Don't disturb my bidding!"
"Sorry, as compensation, let me give you a ticket."
"Huh?"
"A one-way ticket to hell."
(END CHAPTER)
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