Chapter 27
“Captain!” The dozen or so elite pirates behind her yell, lunging forward to save their leader.
“Stop! Don’t do anything stupid!” one of them, keeping his cool, throws out an arm to hold back the others.
The hotheads settle down, their eyes darting between me and their captain. One shoots me a nasty look. “Kid, you’d better let our captain go, or else—”
“Or else what?” I cut him off, picking at my ear with my pinky, acting bored. “If you want to save her, be my guest. Try it. I don’t care. But if you mess up…” I tap Whisper, my Shop-bought short gun, against the back of the pink-haired captain’s head, letting the threat sink in.
They freeze. At this distance, one wrong move and their captain’s done for. They know it.
The calmer pirate grits his teeth, forcing a civil tone. “Alright, how about this? You let our captain go, we leave immediately, and we act like this never happened. We go our separate ways. Deal?”
I scoff. “You serious? Step on someone’s foot in the street, and they’ll demand an apology or some cash for the trouble. You guys storm my ship and think you can just walk away? When did the world get so soft?”
“Damn it!” One pirate starts forward, ready to fight.
“Hold it!” The calm one blocks him again. He clenches his fist and glares at me. “So, what do you want?”
I shrug. “Easy. Toss all your weapons into the sea. Then surrender.”
Meanwhile, inside the cabin…
About ten minutes later, I call out, “Alright, it’s safe. Come on out.”
Nami and the two sailors, who’d been hiding inside, breathe a sigh of relief and step onto the deck. They’re met with quite a sight: over fifty pirates, including their captain, all tied up and slumped against the ship’s railing.
Yeah, they gave up fighting to save their captain’s life and let themselves be captured.
“Unbelievable…” Nami stares at me, eyes wide. “You took down an entire pirate crew by yourself?”
“Of course,” I say, smirking. “How do you think I got my reputation? You still don’t get how strong I am, do you, Miss Navigator?” I nod at her. “Go grab me a chair.”
For once, Nami’s surprisingly cooperative, fetching a chair without complaint.
I sit down, legs crossed, and look at the pink-haired captain. “So, what’s your crew called?”
She bites her lip, all high and mighty, and turns her head away, clearly not planning to answer.
“Tch, it’s just a name, not some top-secret intel. No need to act like you’re ready to die for it,” I say, rolling my eyes. I turn to the calm pirate tied up next to her, the one with some brains.
“We’re the Bonney Pirates,” he says, then adds, “You’re not from around here, are you?”
Grrrrr… A strange noise cuts in. I raise an eyebrow, glancing at the captain’s stomach, then back at the pirate. “Oh? What makes you say that?”
“Not to brag, but out here, the Bonney Pirates and our captain, Jewelry Bonney, are pretty well-known,” he says. “You look like you’ve been around the seas, but you don’t know us, so I figured you’re from another sea.”
Grrrrr… Her stomach growls again.
I chuckle. “Smart. Yeah, we’re not locals. We’re from the East Blue.”
The name “Bonney Pirates” rings a bell. Their pink-haired captain in the green hat is Jewelry Bonney—one of the eleven Supernovas of the Worst Generation, the “Big Eater” who later hits the Sabaody Archipelago. My transmigrator brain connects the dots instantly.
Grrrrr… Another growl.
“East Blue?” The pirate blinks. “Didn’t expect the ‘weakest sea’ to have someone as strong as you.” He’s got a point—Bonney’s no slouch, and I took her down like it was nothing. That says something about my strength.
Grrrrr… grrrr… Her stomach’s relentless.
I shrug. “Your ‘weakest sea’ ranking’s based on the pirates there. I’m no pirate—I’m a bounty hunter.”
Grrrr… Another growl.
“Alright, we’re done for this time,” the pirate sighs, his tone sincere. “We’re your prisoners. Just tell us what it’ll take to let us go.”
Grrrrr… Yet another growl.
I think for a moment. “Well, since we’re not from the same sea, and we’ve got our own business to handle, I don’t have time to mess with you guys. So, if you want me to let you go—”
Grrrrr… Her stomach cuts me off again.
“If you want me to let you go—”
Grrrr…
“Go—”
Grrrrrr…
“Okay, that’s enough!” I snap, turning to the tied-up Jewelry Bonney. “We’re talking about your lives here. Can you keep it together for one minute?”
Bonney glares back, a mix of anger and embarrassment, struggling against her ropes. “What do you expect me to do? My stomach won’t shut up when I’m hungry! It’s not like I can control it!” Her face flushes, and she mutters, “If it’s bugging you that much… just… give me some food, and it’ll stop…”
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