The merchant ship was ready to depart, its crew rushing back aboard with their belongings.
These were veteran sailors, men who had braved the seas for decades. They had sharp instincts, and during their time ashore they'd already sensed the weight of watchful eyes on them.
Someone had marked their ship. That was why they had to leave early, give their pursuers no time to act.
The vessel pulled from the harbor, sails swelling as it cut toward the next island. For a moment, all seemed calm. Then, minutes later, another ship quietly slipped from port, following in their wake.
Out on the high seas, the merchant ship pushed at full speed, trying to shake off whatever shadow stalked them.
Yet the old captain, hands resting on the worn wood of the helm, couldn't shake a grim premonition.
Something bad was closing in.
"Bad news, Captain! Pirate ship behind us!" the lookout cried, voice sharp with tension. He'd been scanning the horizon constantly, knowing full well danger was near.
Now he saw it, a dark silhouette, growing larger by the second.
The captain's weathered face didn't twitch. He had expected this. Panic was the quickest way to sink a ship. He had to set the tone. "Stay calm. Look again. What ship? Which crew?"
The lookout steadied himself, lifted the scope, and checked once more with care. His face tightened. "Three-masted ship, Captain. Pirate flag with a flaming wolf skull!"
The old captain's expression grew heavy. A three-masted ship—the fastest type on the sea. It wouldn't be long before they closed the gap. "Prepare for battle," he ordered in a low voice.
Two sailors already had stacks of wanted posters spread out before them, flipping fast. They had trained for this moment; every merchant ship in the New World carried records of the pirates that prowled these waters.
"Boss Teach, aren't we going out to take a look?" Mobius asked from inside their cabin, hearing the commotion outside.
Teach leaned back, lips splitting into his familiar grin. "Zehahahaha… not yet. Just focus on yourself, Mobius. Your strength is enough for small fry, but you've got a long way to go."
Mobius clenched his jaw and went back to his training, arms whipping again and again against the steel bars. His strikes were irregular, hitting from every angle, building his control.
"Captain, found them!" one of the sailors shouted. He held up a poster. "The Fire Wolf Pirates! Their captain, Hog... bounty 110 million!"
On the other side of the sea, aboard the pirate vessel, Hog stood proudly at the bow, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "As long as I get my hands on that thing, I'll rise above this backwater and become a great pirate. As for the rest of you…" His eyes glinted coldly. "You'll serve your final purpose."
His crew laughed and boasted behind him, completely unaware their captain had already written them off.
Hog had been waiting on that small island for days, chasing the rumor of a prize aboard this very merchant ship. When it finally appeared, he thought the heavens themselves were helping him.
He hadn't told a soul about the treasure, not his crew, not anyone.
To him, their lives were expendable.
Back in the cabin, Teach chuckled. "Zehahahaha… so that's what this is about. Interesting." He extended his Observation Haki, scanning through the ship.
At first, he had only skimmed. Now he focused deeper, until he found it.
In the cargo manager's quarters, a large suitcase sat by the window, stuffed with clothes. But inside was a second, hidden compartment. Nestled within… a Devil Fruit. Its skin was uneven, patterned with strange whorls, unmistakably one of the cursed fruits of the sea.
Teach's grin widened. "A Devil Fruit, huh? Lucky me. Barely a dozen days since leaving Pops, and one falls right into my lap."
The suitcase belonged to Ivan, the merchant guild's cargo manager.
He paced in his cabin, face pale, muttering under his breath. "Damn it, why here? Why now?" He stared at the suitcase by the window, forcing himself to leave it in plain sight. Hiding it too well would only draw suspicion.
This wasn't just any fruit.
It had been auctioned off by the Kite Merchant Guild on behalf of the Kite Kingdom's royals. Ivan's role was simple; escort it safely back.
For him, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Deliver the fruit, and he'd rise from nameless manager to high-ranking guild official, maybe even into the royal family's good graces.
Fail… and he was already dead.
That was why the suitcase rested by the window. If all else failed, he would eat the fruit himself and leap into the sea, burying its power forever. Survival was not an option.
Teach watched his every move through the veil of his Haki, amusement bubbling in his chest. Since his fight with the Ant King, his Observation Haki had shifted, sharper, keener.
Now, he could sense emotions, sometimes even hints of thought. He saw clearly that both Hog and Ivan were ready to sacrifice everyone aboard for the same goal.
"Zehahahaha… what a pair."
Outside, the old captain's voice rang through the corridor. "Ivan, Ivan!"
The cargo manager smoothed his expression and stepped out with a show of worry. "Old Captain, can't we avoid them?"
"No," the captain said, voice low. "They're closing in fast. A fight is coming."
Ivan pressed his lips into a tight line, then let out a heavy sigh. "Then we must protect the cargo. I'll release three cannons from storage, along with ammunition and firearms. They should help."
The captain blinked, surprised, then grinned with relief. "Ivan… thank you." He rushed back to his men, shouting orders. Soon the deck erupted with activity, sailors dragging heavy cannons into position, preparing for the inevitable clash.
Meanwhile, on the Fire Wolf ship, one of Hog's men called out, "Captain, should we open fire with cannons first?"
Hog's head whipped around. His hand lashed out, cracking across the pirate's face with such force that the man spun through the air and splashed into the sea. "Sink the ship, and we sink our prize, idiot!"
The other pirates flinched, then forced nervous laughter. "As expected of the boss, so clever!"
The gap between the two ships closed quickly, fifty meters, then less.
The Fire Wolf Pirates held their fire.
On the merchant ship, the captain's lips curved into a grim smile. "They're holding back. Good. That means they don't want to risk damaging us. All the better." He raised his hand high. "Everyone ready! Aim… light… fire!"