Chapter 4: The Sea's Specialty: Reckless Rookies
Within Nereus's sphere of influence, he held absolute authority. His style of handling things was one factor, but the most crucial aspect was that Nereus himself possessed absolute martial power.
During the process of gathering this crew, it wasn't just persuasive words that made them join. According to the traditions of the Fish-man race—or more accurately, Fish-Man District—such matters ultimately came down to fists.
Everyone here knew exactly how hard Nereus could hit.
If they continued bickering now, Nereus would demonstrate what it meant to be "peaceful by nature, but violent by necessity."
It is a universally acknowledged truth that as long as the peacemaker can beat up everyone involved in the fight, the dispute will end perfectly.
"Babel, go take those Sea Beasts out. Let me see the results of your training."
"Don't worry, Big Bro. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."
Babel waved his hand and led two others carrying conch shells toward the nearby bay. Meanwhile, Nereus took the telescope Sunbell handed him and looked out at the distant sea.
"Specific identity?"
"Tribal Treasure Hunting Group. Captain Tribal Bruchi. Bounty: 100 million Berries."
As the currency circulating across the seas, the Berry was in a state of gradual inflation, a change that would become even more drastic after the start of the Great Pirate Era.
To judge the specific value, one could look at the price of newspapers. In a sense, the World Economy News Paper served as a special "universal equivalent."
In the storyline years when Luffy received his first bounty, a newspaper cost 100 Berries. Right now, it was only 50 Berries. Thus, a bounty of 100 million was worth significantly more than it would be in the future.
"Treasure Hunting Group?"
"They're bounty hunters. Three months ago, we liberated a batch of slaves. The slave ship belonged to this group. It seems that because of us, they failed to 'deliver the goods' on time, offended the World Government contacts, and ended up with bounties on their heads."
Sunbell read out the intelligence he had gathered. Although there was no concrete evidence of what this group was here for, they certainly weren't coming for a friendly visit. Treating them as enemies was the correct call.
In fact, that was exactly the case. After being bountied, these people didn't dare seek revenge against the World Government, so they turned their sights on Nereus, whom they considered the "culprit."
After all, in the eyes of most people, no matter how strong a pirate force was, it couldn't compare to the World Government, the colossus that had ruled the world for centuries.
"I've seen plenty of people who don't value their lives, but it's rare to see someone in such a rush to die."
After thinking for a moment, Nereus recalled that operation. He hadn't personally taken action back then; a squad of his subordinates had completed the mission. The opponent's strength wasn't anything special.
However, Nereus wasn't surprised that they dared to come for revenge. After all, the sea was full of audacious fools. You could say they were a specialty of these waters.
"Big Bro, no need for you to lift a finger. I'll handle it. For trash like this... five minutes is enough."
Seeing Nereus rolling his wrists as if preparing to fight, Sebastian stepped forward first. Nereus simply nodded, agreeing to let him handle it.
Situations like this weren't uncommon. Slave traders seeking revenge, Marines under the World Government, other pirates trying to make a name for themselves—similar enemies appeared in the vicinity frequently.
Not every enemy was worth Nereus's personal attention. At this very moment, Sebastian had already transformed into a white line cutting across the sea surface, charging toward the incoming enemy ship.
Meanwhile, at the nearby deep-water harbor, accompanied by the sounding of horns from the conch in Babel's hand, three massive shadows beneath the surface began to move slowly...
At the same time, on the ship of the Tribal Treasure Hunting Group.
A man with a face covered in scars, thin but tall, stared with eyes full of rage toward Hachinosu.
He was Tribal Bruchi. Though titled the leader of a "Treasure Hunting Group," in reality, he dealt exclusively in the slave trade.
Because he served the World Government and possessed some strength himself, his life had been quite comfortable until recently—when he ran into Nereus's subordinates.
"Full speed ahead! That bastard is on that island. If we kill them and recover all the merchandise, we'll have a chance to clear our bounties!"
"B-But Captain, that's the 'Beehive'... Hachinosu... Maybe we should just go back..."
Some of the men behind him seemed afraid. Even though they had already arrived near Hachinosu, they were still trembling with hesitation.
It was no secret that Hachinosu was now a gathering place for pirates, teeming with big-name pirates recognizable anywhere.
The reason they still followed Tribal Bruchi was that the World Government's bounty was issued against the entire group. Staying with Bruchi meant relying on his strength to fend off Marines and bounty hunters.
If they left, they would likely be captured quickly by other slave traders to fill the empty spots.
As slave traders themselves, they knew exactly what kind of treatment slaves received.
That was why, even after Bruchi made such a crazy decision, they still followed him. But that didn't stop them from trying to persuade him.
If Bruchi chose to take them somewhere to hide—perhaps changing their names and lying low in a remote corner of the Four Blues—they might be able to live like the Mountain Bandits, dominating a small area.
"Shut up! I don't want to live a life of hiding like a rat! Those pirates just gather on that island; never mind helping each other, they'd be lucky not to stab each other in the back!
Last time was only because I wasn't there. Otherwise, how could those guys have succeeded so easily? Mermaid slaves are the highest-priced merchandise, and this time, I'll make sure to use them!"
To this day, Tribal Bruchi still believed that Nereus's men only managed to rescue the slaves because he hadn't personally been escorting the ship that day.
This kind of blind confidence in one's own strength was common on the seas, unchanged whether in the present or the future.
High bounties couldn't dispel the delusions of such people. After all, bounties weren't based solely on strength; heinous acts or actions that disgusted the World Government would also increase the amount.
Many felt that the famous pirates were just people who had set sail a bit earlier, and that they themselves had long since surpassed them but simply hadn't had the chance to show it yet.
This "specialty product" was commonly known as a "Reckless Rookie" (or Greenhorn), frequently appearing among newcomers to the sea.
In the original timeline, the Supernovas challenging the Yonko was a direct manifestation of this. Believing themselves invincible, they lacked understanding of true power and were usually swiftly dealt a painful blow by reality.
BOOM!
Tribal wanted to issue more orders, but the ship suddenly shuddered violently. The continuously shaking deck even threw two men overboard.
"What's happening?!"
Tribal grabbed a stable part of the ship to steady himself. His men, stumbling and falling from the violent tremors, had no time to answer him. However, the ship beneath his feet provided the answer with cold, hard facts.
The deck creaked and groaned, and the hull emitted a deafening cracking sound.
The sturdy keel was snapped in half from the middle. The ship split into two like a giant tree eaten away by termites, torn apart by monstrous strength in an instant.
Wood chips flew from the fracture, and seawater rushed madly into the cabin. The massive vessel began to tilt and slowly sink, with crew members sliding helplessly into the sea.
The remaining men clung to fixtures on the deck, temporarily avoiding the fall, but it was futile.
Although the sheer size of the ship prevented it from sinking instantly, its total submersion was merely a question of time.
"You guys really are arrogant enough. Do you not even know our combat style? It's been a long time since I've met anyone with absolutely no defenses against underwater attacks."
Sebastian leaped out of the water. His massive size further accelerated the ship's sinking. If the ship hadn't been large enough to begin with, it wouldn't have withstood Sebastian's thrashing at all.
Standing on the slowly sinking hull, Sebastian looked at the enemies before him with eyes full of mockery.
"Two minutes left. But for you lot... that's plenty."
Checking the time, Sebastian put away his pocket watch and looked coldly at Tribal Bruchi.