"What else could it be? The world's greatest swordsman, of course!"
"Hey!" Teresa retorted with a giggle. "Do you think I would say that?"
At this moment, Fulvio wore a smile on his face: "The future? It's uncertain right now, but I think I will definitely leave the North Blue and head to the Grand Line, to the Sabaody Archipelago, to Fish-Man Island, and finally to the New World in the second half.
"A man should be passionate about challenging beauties from different seas and different customs!
"So, for my dream, and to avoid being beaten to death in the future, I want to become stronger, whether through swordsmanship or a Devil Fruit.
"As long as there's a possibility of making me stronger, I will pursue it with all my might."
"Eww~ Your dream is so disgusting!" Teresa looked at her brother with disdain. "You actually want to become stronger for such shameless things? Your 'Splendid Wave' sword will definitely cry!
"As a swordsman, your Sword Heart is way too impure!"
Fulvio smiled, not minding at all: "Swordsmanship is the technique of using blades to slash out everything of oneself.
"And the sword is wielded to protect one's own thoughts. As long as my knowledge and action are one, then my sword is pure."
"Besides, Sis, don't you also want to eat a Devil Fruit?"
Listening to the siblings' words, the corner of Merlin's mouth rose: "Ful sees it clearly. Swordsmanship isn't some flashy thing; swordsmanship is a means to implement one's own will."
Fulvio's eyes lit up, and he immediately raised his bottle to clink it. Merlin responded with a smile. Clang! A crisp sound rang out.
"A kindred spirit! Merlin. It's definitely not accidental that we can hang out together!
"This is a fateful encounter!"
"Eww~ So gross!" Teresa looked at her brother with a chill. "Don't talk about fate at the drop of a hat! We swordsmen don't believe in fate!"
However, speaking of this, Teresa sighed helplessly: "Sure enough. You will definitely become a pirate in the future.
"Then there's no helping it. It seems I can only become a Marine."
Merlin's gaze became subtle. Seeing Merlin's look, Teresa giggled along: "Surprised?
"Actually, no need to be surprised!
"You've likely heard a bit about my Dad's past. His swordsmanship was learned from a Marine.
"Therefore, Dad told us since we were young."
At this time, Fulvio chuckled and took over the conversation: "So that the family inheritance won't be cut off in the future.
"If one of us unfortunately becomes a pirate in the future, then the other must join the Marines.
"Because only in this way will the family not be implicated."
"That's how it is." Teresa said with a smile: "Ful is dissolute by nature. One look and you know he doesn't like being bound by Marine rules.
"And me? I don't really care. I've met Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Great Staff Officer of Marine Headquarters, before. She commands the female soldiers of Marine Headquarters and thinks highly of me too.
"I've also thought about it. If I become a Marine in the future, I'll go to her.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru comes to the North Blue from time to time, and our family occasionally provides supplies for her ship.
"I've also thought that if I eat the Devil Fruit this time, I'll go find her.
"After all, joining her command earlier means more say in the future, right?"
Is this the wisdom of survival?
Merlin thought so. At this time, Fulvio looked at his sister, somewhat helpless: "I didn't say I would definitely become a pirate, did I? I'm a famous bounty hunter now. Why can't I enter the Grand Line as a bounty hunter?"
Teresa said grumpily: "Who are you kidding? The year the Great Pirate Era began, you said it yourself: Roger is really handsome. If I can't be the Bounty Hunter King in the future, then I'll be the Pirate King.
"And bounty hunters are just a group of profit-seeking hyenas, not free at all. Haven't you seen it?
"Many famous bounty hunters, often after getting big names, either save enough money to form their own pirate crews or use their reputation as a stepping stone to join stronger pirate crews as cadres.
"What about you?"
And at this time, changing the subject, Teresa looked at Merlin, curiosity appearing in her eyes: "We've already stated our future plans. What about you, Merlin?
"Where is your future?
"And coming from Flevance.
"You probably wouldn't choose to become a Marine, right?
"After all, Platinum Lead Syndrome, publicly certified by the World Government, is actually not some terrible infectious disease."
Teresa knew Merlin didn't care about such things, so she had no scruples about mentioning Flevance.
The expression in Merlin's eyes was inscrutable. "Future?"
At this time, Fulvio suddenly smiled: "Want to be a pirate? We brothers form a pirate crew. You be the captain, I'll be your first mate?"
Surprise appeared in Teresa's eyes, then some understanding. knowing Merlin thoroughly, if the two of them hung out together, she could also be at ease. After all, this way, Ful wouldn't need to fear being stabbed in the back.
"Someone said similar things to me before. But...
"For the current me, I have no plans to become a pirate captain yet. I'm currently too tender and have no time to manage a pirate crew.
"I want to observe and adapt to the mainstream groups of this era first."
Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Fulvio's eyes.
"In other words, Merlin, you don't hate being a pirate?"
"Pirate? It's just a title. Even if I really became a pirate, I would still be me. I won't stop being me just because my identity changes."
"Well said! Even if we are pirates, we won't become those lowlife pirates." Fulvio agreed.
"For dreams, whether pirate, Marine, or something else.
"We are always ourselves.
"Come, a toast to ourselves!"
Saying this, the bottle clinked over again.
Clang!
Clinked bottles, drank it all in one go.
Merlin looked at the blurry sea surface in the distance and casually threw the bottle out.
Splash! A soft sound.
A crisp sound of entering water came from a hundred meters away.
After the three chatted for a while longer, Merlin began to swing his sword on the deck to cultivate.
The siblings watched helplessly, but then joined in as well.
Not afraid of brothers becoming strong, but afraid of brothers becoming strong right in front of their eyes—that described them exactly.
Isn't it just hustling (competing intensely)!
Who's afraid of whom!
Time passed day by day.
Because there was enough time, Merlin and the other two spent half a month on the ship in a row. Occasionally encountering islands, they would go down to replenish supplies.
Chatting, sparring, fishing, watching the siblings swimming in the sea in swimsuits.
According to them, they didn't know if they could still go into the water in the future, so they had to make up for it all at once.
They also called Merlin to go into the sea together, but Merlin refused.
Regarding this, they even mocked Merlin for not knowing how to swim at such an age.
Teresa even bluntly said she would teach Merlin to swim, but was still refused on the grounds that the sea was dangerous.
Although the siblings were helpless, they couldn't force Merlin into the sea.
On September 14th.
Afternoon.
Gazing from afar on the sea, an island shaped like a round rock appeared.
The island wasn't big, only a few kilometers in diameter. All it had was various chaotic buildings that looked dense just by looking at them.
Wooden, stone.
Pointed roofs, domed roofs, flat roofs.
And on the coastline around the island, various ship planks were piled up to build simple docking berths.
Ships of all kinds were docked at the berths, and this place...
Looked like an isolated island prison.
At this moment, looking through a telescope, Merlin could see thick black smoke rising from several buildings in the outer area of the island.
Chaos was the synonym for this place.
Black Pearl Town had arrived.
Before long, the ship docked at a remote berth on the west coast of the island.
Wearing a pair of sunglasses, with Night Earl strapped to his waist and his dagger tied to the outside of his right leg, Merlin came ashore. At this time, Teresa, leaning on the railing on the ship's deck, shouted with a smile: "Ful, you two go play up there this time. I'll watch the ship."
"Okay. If anything happens, contact us promptly with the Den Den Mushi."
Fulvio waved his hand. At this time, looking at Merlin beside him, he smiled: "Let's go. I'll take you inside to have some fun. There are quite a few interesting places here in Black Pearl Town!"
Seeing this.
Merlin looked around curiously, then nodded: "Alright then, I'll follow you to stroll around first."
The streets in the town extended in all directions. The main streets of the round-shaped town formed a "米" (asterisk/star) shape, and between the buildings here, small alleys were numerous.
And located at the center of the "米" streets was the venue for the town's auction to be held in half a month.
At this moment, the two were on the main street on the left side of the "米".
People came and went on the street. The shouting of various vendors rose and fell, but most of these vendors had knives and guns placed openly on their bodies.
From time to time, bursts of gunshots could be heard spreading over the entire town.
"Here, it's best not to randomly eat unrecognizable meat products from the roadside in the outer perimeter, because you definitely don't want to know what material these meats are made of."
"Also, never reveal wealth in the outer perimeter. Various gangs are spread throughout the outer perimeter. With the slightest carelessness, you'll be ambushed and attacked by those bastards here."
"Here, within one kilometer starting from the town center belongs to the Safe Zone. The security there is actually okay. Those who can open shops there are not simple characters. There are rules and regulations there, and under normal circumstances, outsiders coming here won't choose to start a fight there actively."
"If you want to play, then go to the Safe Zone in the central position."
Listening to Fulvio introducing some rules here, like if there was a conflict in the Safe Zone, one could go to a Black Pearl Deathmatch Arena there.
Merlin observed everything here with interest. Half an hour later, the two arrived at the boundary between the inner and outer perimeters from the main street.
The distinction between the Safe Zone and the outer perimeter here was the street surface. The outer perimeter was dirty and messy gravel roads, while the street surface of the inner Safe Zone was paved with clean, large bluestones.
The difference between inside and outside was clear at a glance.
Before long.
Under Fulvio's lead, they arrived at a bar building in a remote alley in the Safe Zone.
The main body of this bar was built underground. After walking down a stone staircase leading to the underground bar from the ground, a large bar of several hundred square meters appeared before their eyes.
Under the dim entrance environment, a wisp of black flame ignited in his eyes, looking at the sign board leaning against the entrance in front of him.
"Crypt Rare Spider? This bar name is quite hellish!"
The light inside the bar was dim. Under the yellow and green neon lights, it appeared even more hellish.
Before long, the two sat at a seat against the wall. Soon, drinks, melon seeds, and fruits were placed on the table in front of them.