The sea breeze gently brushed against the flag of the Beasts Pirates as Kaidou's towering figure stood on the deck, his bell-like eyes fixed on the distant horizon. After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Kaidou fell into deep contemplation, his thick fingers unconsciously tapping the ship's railing, producing dull thuds.
"King," Kaidou suddenly spoke, his voice rumbling like thunder across the deck, "care to take a walk on the island with me?"
King, perched atop the mast, gave a slight nod upon hearing this, his black wings shimmering with a metallic sheen in the sunlight. He leaped down gracefully, the air currents from his wings stirring up fallen leaves. "Mm," he replied succinctly, landing steadily beside Kaidou.
The two set foot on the island one after another, their heavy footsteps startling birds along the path. The once-fearful island had now regained its vitality, with vendors cautiously opening their shops, eyeing these uninvited guests with a mix of greed and fear.
The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat and the scent of cheap rum, as several drunken pirates haggled with merchants. Kaidou casually scanned the streets, his gaze lingering briefly on the cowering civilians before moving on. To him, these ant-like beings were hardly worth his attention.
"Hey! Are you Kaidou? That great pirate with an 850 million Berry bounty!"
A sudden voice came from a crossroads. Kaidou turned to see a blond young man standing with a sword in hand. The youth appeared to be in his early twenties, the standard rapier trembling slightly in his grasp—whether from nerves or excitement was unclear. He wore a faded white shirt and trousers stained with mud, but his eyes burned with ambitious fire.
"Wororororo!" Kaidou let out his signature laugh, shaking the roadside signs with its force. "That's right, it's me!"
"My name is Nur Morris," the young man straightened his posture, his voice slightly hoarse from excitement. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time! Let me join your pirate crew!"
Kaidou narrowed his eyes, sizing up this reckless youth. He noticed that while Morris held his sword with proper form, the strength in his wrist was clearly lacking—a sign of inexperience in real combat. "You want to board my ship?" he asked gruffly, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Yes!" Morris tightened his grip on the sword hilt, his knuckles turning white. "I'm tired of living in obscurity on this small island! With you, my name will resound across the entire sea!"
The surrounding merchants backed away, some of the more timid ones retreating into their shops. But Kaidou suddenly burst into laughter, the sound causing the ground to tremble slightly. It had been a long time since he'd encountered such an audacious brat, reminding him of his younger self.
"Kid," Kaidou stopped laughing, his bell-like eyes fixed directly on Morris, "being a pirate isn't some game for you to gain fame. Out on these seas, everyone is ready to meet their maker at any moment."
"So what?" Morris stood his ground unflinchingly. "I only want one thing—for the name Nur Morris to be known throughout the world!"
Kaidou fell silent for a moment, then turned to look at King beside him. The latter remained expressionless, but a flicker of interest flashed in his eyes. King had never held much fondness for such reckless newcomers who didn't know their limits, yet this time he surprisingly showed no disgust.
"Wororororo! Fine!" Kaidou suddenly made the decision, "I'll give you a chance. If you can last ten minutes against King, you can join the crew!" He turned to King, "Take him to the shore for a test."
King gave a slight nod, his black wings fluttering gently. "Follow me," he said curtly before turning and walking toward the coast, not even glancing back at Morris.
The young man gritted his teeth, cast one last look at Kaidou, and quickly followed the dark figure. His silhouette appeared particularly frail against the setting sun, yet it carried a stubborn determination. Kaidou noticed Morris seemed to walk with a slight limp in his right leg, possibly from an old injury that hadn't fully healed.
Kaidou stood in place, watching the two figures recede into the distance. The sea breeze tousled his long hair, and his bell-like eyes showed a thoughtful glint. On these vast seas, countless people chased their dreams every day, but how many would ultimately survive?
When King found Kaidou again, the latter was already devouring meat in a tavern.
The tavern owner stood trembling nearby, terrified of angering this notorious pirate. Dozens of empty liquor bottles sat before Kaidou, evidence of his considerable drinking.
"King, how did that guy fare?" Kaidou asked casually, tearing off a large chunk of roasted meat and stuffing it into his mouth.
"He's receiving treatment from the ship's doctor. Slightly stronger than the average pirate, but not at Executive level," King reported truthfully, accepting a glass the owner handed him. He noticed Kaidou's gaze seemed distant, as if lost in thought.
"Doesn't matter," Kaidou drained his glass in one gulp, "We're returning to the New World tomorrow. We'll be spending a long time in war ahead. Whoever survives the coming battles has the potential to grow stronger."
"Brother Kaidou, are we departing tomorrow?" King asked, his eyes sweeping over the darkening sky outside the tavern.
"Correct." Kaidou nodded, pouring the last drink down his throat. "War is coming. We need to be prepared." His voice was low and powerful, his eyes gleaming with dangerous light.
Outside the tavern, the sunset had completely sunk below the horizon. In the distance, the flag of the Beasts Pirates flapped sharply in the twilight, as if foretelling the coming storm of blood.
······
Morning sunlight bathed the harbor, casting a golden glow over the docked ships. Members of the Kaidou Pirates gradually returned from various parts of town. After a day's rest, the crew gathered spiritedly on the main ship's deck. Kaidou's towering figure stood at the edge of the pier, his sharp gaze sweeping over each subordinate.
"Is everyone present?" Kaidou's deep voice echoed in the sea breeze.
"Reporting, Brother Kaidou," King stepped forward quickly, bowing respectfully, "All 312 crew members are accounted for."
Kaidou nodded slightly, showing satisfaction. "Good. Prepare to set sail." With that, he strode onto the massive pirate ship first. The vessel swayed slightly with his steps, as if welcoming its master's return.
Queen wobbled his plump body closer. "Boss Kaidou, which island are we heading to this time?"
"Not going to any island," Kaidou replied decisively, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "We're heading straight through the Calm Belt."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of excitement flashed in Bullet's eyes. "Captain, are we returning to the New World?"
"Boss Kaidou, the previous plan has suddenly changed. Is there some emergency?" Queen also inquired.
"Correct," Kaidou surveyed the crew, his voice steady and powerful. "Originally, I planned to let you train longer in the outer seas, but the situation in the New World is changing too rapidly. A great opportunity has emerged, and we need to return to the New World immediately to join the battle." His eyes swept over King, Queen, Bullet, Urouge, Moria, Sebastian, and Gavin, finally resting on the seven-year-old Enel. "Are all of you ready?"
The sea breeze grew stronger, the sails flapping noisily as if responding to the captain's question. The crew answered in unison, their voices echoing over the harbor. The massive anchor slowly rose, heralding the beginning of a new journey.
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