"Technically speaking, the Gus is a privately chartered merchant vessel. Apart from cargo, no one else should have been able to purchase passage.
Your tickets were… an accident. They were indeed overpriced, but allowing you to board at all was already a favor."
Captain Saren frowned slightly, beginning to understand the cause of the "price discrepancy."
His boatswain and navigator must have wanted to earn a little extra money on the side, but as captain, there was only so much he could interfere with two of his most important crew members.He could only choose to cover it up for now, though his tone toward Ren and Zoro carried a trace of displeasure and warning.
"If you insist on staying, I can only refund your money — after deducting the cost of those coconuts — and give you a small boat to leave on. That's my final offer."
To Saren, that was already exceedingly generous. After all, the nobleman who had lodged the complaint had said,"Get those two pests off the ship. The smell of the sea on them makes me sick."
And judging by the servants' whispers, the younger of the two seemed to be carrying a great deal of trouble with him.Saren didn't mind showing a bit of mercy — letting the unfortunate escape misfortune, while letting his men make a little profit.But if that mercy could jeopardize his own position and future? Then he'd abandon it without hesitation. That was the kind of choice an adult had to make.
"All right, Zoro. Let's just leave it at that. We'll be going, Captain Saren."
Ren shook his head, unwilling to cause conflict on another man's deck.
"I'm glad we can come to an understanding, Mr. Ren."Saren nodded, his stern face softening slightly. "I may have offended you earlier. To make up for that, all meals for you two will be free for the rest of the voyage. As long as nothing happens, I'm sure we'll reach the next island pleasantly."
Then his gaze lingered on Ren."By the way, Mr. Ren — you might want to take a look at yesterday's newspaper. There's one in your cabin. I think you'll find it… helpful."
With that, he turned and left.
'Newspaper? What does he mean by that?'Ren raised an eyebrow — but before he could move, he noticed Zoro's hand subtly resting on a sword hilt.
At some point, a man in a suit had approached, flanked by another man in a trench coat carrying a sword.
"Hey. I'm Sir Becks, noble of the Goa Kingdom."
Sir Becks puffed out his chest and looked down at Zoro. "You're that pirate hunter, right? Perfect. Fight my bodyguard — I want to see if he's really worth the two hundred thousand Beli I pay him every month.Span, repeat what you just said about this man."
"…"
The swordsman named Span was still studying Zoro's appearance — his outfit, his three swords, his calm stance.He looked every bit the pirate hunter. For a moment, Span even thought he might be genuine.
But under his employer's sharp stare, Span straightened and smirked arrogantly."Just a pirate hunter. If he can beat me in one round, I'll admit defeat."
In truth, he was convinced the man in front of him was a fake.A friend of his had once described a real pirate hunter: ten feet tall, eight feet wide, monstrously muscular — a man who could crush pirates with raw strength alone, even wielding three swords at once.
"This is a meaningless fight. I refuse."
Zoro's voice was calm and cold as he sheathed his swords without hesitation.
Ren gave Span a look of disbelief — how thickheaded did someone have to be to underestimate that Zoro?
"What? Hey! I'm ordering you to fight — as a noble!"Sir Becks' face twisted in fury, his eyes bulging like brass bells.
'What now? That inbred idiot Becks is stirring trouble again?!'
Captain Saren, who hadn't gone far, sighed the moment he heard the commotion.Turning around, he saw none other than Sir Becks — patron of the very ship they were on — harassing someone again.That made it the seventh time since they'd set sail.
But because of Becks' father's influence, Saren could only grit his teeth and head over, his face dark as thunder.If anything unpleasant happened, he'd have no choice but to ask the two passengers to disembark.
"So… does a Goa noble's order still carry authority after leaving his kingdom's waters?"
Ren rubbed his chin, then casually countered, "We're already outside the Goa Kingdom's jurisdiction, Sir Becks."
But Becks merely shot him a dismissive glance — his eyes lingered on Ren's clothing for a second before turning away with open contempt.
He said nothing, but somehow said everything.Silence spoke louder than words.
Ren: "???"
"If you can defeat Span, I might reluctantly consider making you my bodyguard," Becks sneered, his tone dripping with arrogance.
"Not interested. Leave that honor to your swordsman."
Zoro's eyes swept briefly over Span before he turned away, utterly disinterested — leaving only a lean, quiet back in their view.
"Ungrateful fool! Turning down the chance to serve a noble!"Becks shouted, his face red with fury.
Span didn't respond immediately. He was too shaken — that single glance from Zoro had chilled him to the bone.It was the same sensation as being stalked by a shark in the sea… or hunted by a tiger on land.
Sensing danger, Span moved quickly to de-escalate. He grabbed his employer's arm and spoke in a lowered, coaxing voice.
"My lord, I think he's just a fake. Real pirate hunters are giants — enormous, terrifying men with monstrous strength.That one's too thin. No wonder he refused to fight."
In truth, Span hated having to say it — but this noble, the product of his father and his aunt's "love," had a dangerously volatile temper.All he could do was play along and pray that Zoro hadn't heard them.
Unfortunately, Zoro had.
He simply ignored it, his attention drawn instead to the returning Captain Saren, who was demanding an explanation for the ruckus.
"I see… a fake, huh."Becks instantly lost interest and waved a hand dismissively. "Then there's no point in wasting time. You — yes, you!"
He jabbed a finger at Ren, his hand sweeping to the side in irritation."Get out of my sight, commoner. You're ruining my view of the sea."
Then, with a snort, he turned back toward the distant island — lush green hills and clear waters filling his gaze.
"…"
Ren's expression darkened. So now this idiot was picking him as a target.
"You should thank Sir Becks," Span warned, one hand on his sword hilt, eyes narrowing at Ren. "He's the reason you're still aboard this ship after causing trouble with a Fish-Man."
'Fish-Man? What does he mean by that?'Ren frowned slightly, about to ask—
When suddenly, Becks' expression twisted wildly — joy, confusion, shock, then sheer terror flashing across his face like a spinning lantern.
Instinctively, Ren turned to look in the same direction.
The sky was blue. Seagulls wheeled above a distant island. Green hills rolled down to the glittering shore.And then… he saw it.
A pirate flag — stark black, bold, and fluttering violently in the wind.
(End of Chapter)