"I'm truly sorry. We really did approach you with a purpose."
Stansen lowered his head as he spoke.
"Near this area, there's a group of bounty hunters who've been stationed here for a long time. They specialize in hunting passing pirates—and stealing their pirate flags."
"If someone is lucky enough not to die, they destroy the ship's sails and leave them drifting at sea, waiting for death."
"So that's why you were drifting here?" Zoro asked coldly.
"Yes." Stansen nodded. "Because I acted humble enough, I was spared. Otherwise, all of us would've died already."
Those bounty hunters didn't even bother killing people with no bounties.
They despised them.
And more importantly—they wanted to use them as bait to lure other pirates.
But if it were discovered that their captain, Pazel, was still alive…
Then they would all be executed without hesitation.
After all—
Their captain carried a bounty of one hundred million Beli.
"Damn it…"
Kayil clenched his fists, humiliation written all over his face.
Begging just to stay alive—
to him, that was worse than death.
And worst of all…
Their pirate flag had been taken.
"Then the purpose you mentioned is…?" Robin asked calmly.
"We were bait," Stansen admitted. "Our job was to lure you close."
He took out a Den Den Mushi.
"Once you approached us, I contacted the bounty hunters."
"I think… they should be arriving soon."
A long silence followed.
"So…" Zoro's eyes darkened.
"We were your bargaining chip for survival."
"…How disgusting."
The atmosphere instantly turned hostile.
They had shared food.
Shared kindness.
And this was the return.
"You're bad people!" Merry said angrily.
She pulled out her tiny hammer, glaring at Stansen with wide eyes.
Though… the intimidation factor was questionable.
"How did you notice?" Robin asked, curious.
"Trusting strangers so easily isn't a good habit," Jin replied calmly.
"When you took the others away, I sent a Shadow Clone to your ship."
"That's when I found him contacting another group."
If he'd been even slightly less cautious, they might've actually succeeded.
"Heh. Looks like we've been targeted," Franky grinned fiercely.
A crew with a combined bounty exceeding one billion Beli—
any bounty hunter would drool over that.
Sanji's eyes turned cold beneath the smoke of his cigarette.
He liked it when people enjoyed his cooking.
But if those same people planned to harm his crew—
then they'd have to face his anger after eating their fill.
"Everyone!" Ail suddenly shouted.
"This isn't exactly how he said it!"
All eyes turned toward him.
But no one's expression softened.
Compared to an enemy's words, they trusted Jin far more.
"Please—let me explain. I beg you."
Ail lowered his head deeply, swallowing hard under the pressure of their gazes.
"Speak," Zoro said.
"Our intentions weren't the same as Stansen's," Ail said quickly.
"He wanted to trade you to the bounty hunters to survive."
"But we only wanted to steal your ship."
"…And then challenge those bounty hunters again."
"We never intended to hurt you. We only wanted the ship."
"And you expect us to believe that?" Usopp snapped.
"It's true!" Ail shouted through clenched teeth.
"Because those bastards stole our pirate flag!"
"Pirate flag?"
Luffy froze.
The anger on his face suddenly shifted—into pure disgust.
"They… stole someone else's pirate flag?"
To Luffy, that was the ultimate insult.
An unforgivable act.
"So please believe me," Ail said desperately.
"We never wanted to take your lives."
"Yeah!" Dobby added, pulling out the small bottle he'd hidden earlier.
"This is what we planned to use to knock you out."
"Anesthetic?"
"How do we know it really is?"
Without hesitation, Dobby uncorked it and drank it down.
His body trembled once—then he collapsed backward.
"Zzz…"
Snoring echoed almost immediately.
With that dosage, he wouldn't be waking up today.
That alone proved he hadn't been lying.
"…You're naïve," Zoro said, shaking his head.
"Did you really think that after knocking us out, you'd survive?"
"You underestimate bounty hunters."
A crew worth over a billion Beli—
there was no way they'd be spared.
Ail fell silent.
He truly hadn't thought that far.
His only goal had been to avoid harming these people and take the ship—
nothing more.
At that moment—
The Den Den Mushi in Stansen's hand suddenly rang.
All eyes turned toward it.
Jin glanced at him.
"It's Sarugo," Stansen said quickly.
"He married into the bounty hunter family."
"They're the ones who took our flag."
As the phone kept ringing, Jin's thoughts began to race.
Since they were already targeted…
Then the next step was simple.
How to profit from it.
A bounty hunter family meant one thing—
money.
Lots of it.
Jin's eyes lit up.
"Yo—"
Before he could finish—
Luffy suddenly walked up, snatched the Den Den Mushi, and answered it.
"Hey! Are you the bastard who likes stealing other people's pirate flags?!"
Jin: ???
Everyone else: !!!
Bro—
you just picked it up like that?!
On the other end, Sarugo froze.
He hadn't expected someone to speak so aggressively.
Did this kid… not fear death?
Wait—
That voice—
"Where's Stansen?" Sarugo asked darkly.
"That spiky-haired guy."
"Oh, he's right here."
"…So he betrayed us."
Sarugo sneered.
"That idiot thinks hiding behind you will save him?"
"I'll make sure he dies painfully."
This time, there would be no mercy.
He'd drag that traitor straight to hell—
along with this so-called Straw Hat crew.
"You're from the Straw Hat Pirates, aren't you?" Sarugo said.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy!" Luffy declared proudly.
"The man who's going to become Pirate King!"
Then he demanded—
"Why did you steal their pirate flag?!"
"Because my father likes—"
Sarugo suddenly realized what he was saying.
His expression twisted in rage.
"Damn brat! That's none of your business!"
"Straw Hat Pirates, huh?"
"You're already marked by the Achino family."
"Neither your flag—nor your lives—will escape our grasp!"
"And you too, Stansen. None of you are getting away!"
With a cold laugh, Sarugo slammed the call shut.
"Tch."
"Damn Stansen," Sarugo muttered.
"What should've been an easy job just got complicated."
If they'd succeeded with the drug, none of this would've been necessary.
A crew with over a billion in bounties was no joke.
"Sir, what do we do now?" a subordinate asked nervously.
"Prepare the Seagull Trap," Sarugo sneered.
"We'll force them into the Ice Channel first."
The open sea was too wide.
Fighting there was foolish.
Once they were driven into the frozen route—
the family would take over.
"Yes!"
"Go," Sarugo waved dismissively.
After they left, he picked up another Den Den Mushi.
This time, the call connected to a man's face.
"What is it?" Don Cambacino asked calmly.
"B-big bro…"
"I told you not to call me that."
Cambacino had never acknowledged this useless brother-in-law.
If not for his sister, he wouldn't even bother responding.
"Tsk—Cambacino, why are you bullying my man again?"
Don Arubellu's voice cut in as she took the Den Den Mushi.
"Darling, what's going on over there?"
"Ah~"
"Dear, I'm preparing to use the Seagull Trap to drive them into the Ice Channel."
"They're strong. I'll need family support."
"Ah~"
"Understood. Looks like we'll be meeting soon."
Cambacino snatched the Den Den Mushi back.
"Once they enter the Ice Channel, don't act recklessly."
"Wait for us."
"These pirates… aren't simple."
His gaze fell upon the wanted posters on the table—
finally stopping on Luffy's and Jin's.
Especially the ninja.
If the rumors were even half true…
Killing him would not be easy.
"Such high bounties…"
"There's a real chance."
"Understood," Sarugo replied.
"I'll wait."
The call ended.
Cambacino turned toward Don Achino.
"Father, we're going hunting."
"This time, we'll bring you a birthday gift worth over a billion Beli."
"Go," Achino grinned.
"I'm looking forward to that present."
Ten billion—
no.
Ten hundred million.
Either way—
an irresistibly sweet number.
"Yes, Father. We'll capture them soon."
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