"Are these people really navy? They're simply a group of scum."
Shinobu fiercely kicked the unconscious Nezumi once to vent her anger, then turned around and asked with some doubt, "Jotaro-san, how did you know that they poisoned your chopsticks?"
"And even knew this kind of poison's reaction when it takes effect, could it be you've seen this kind of toxin before?"
As a poison master, even she couldn't identify the poison, Jotaro naturally couldn't identify it either.
He shook his head and said, "Very simple, I overheard their entire plan."
"The range of Star Platinum is ten meters, and this ship's two decks are only separated by less than ten centimeters of thick wooden planks, every move of theirs was under my surveillance."
This kind of wooden material is not only hard, but also has pretty good soundproofing effect.
Logically speaking, ordinary people on the lower level absolutely couldn't know what those on the upper level were doing.
Precisely because of this, after Nezumi had Jotaro and the others brought below, he only assigned two subordinates to guard them by the stairs and didn't bother with them anymore.
How could he have known Jotaro's real identity was a Stand User, possessing a Stand, such a miraculous thing he had never seen before.
Star Platinum's body not only could freely pass through these physical entities, but its perception could also be shared with Jotaro.
Just staying under the ship, everything happening above was completely and unreservedly known to him through Star Platinum.
His insight surpasses anyone's, so how could he easily trust others, let alone on this kind of dangerous journey?
The moment he learned of Nezumi's plan, Star Platinum's figure appeared in the kitchen.
While explaining, Jotaro tied up the poisoned navy together.
Next was the time to count the spoils of war.
Seeing Nezumi's room filled with piles of gold, silver, and jewels like a small mountain, Jotaro's brows slowly sank.
"Yare yare, looks like all this was plundered from the local people, the fat and blood of the people."
Withdrawing his gaze from the alluringly glowing jewels, he turned his attention to Nezumi's desk.
On it were some books, and also the map he currently needed the most.
Not knowing his own location, even having a map was useless, helplessly, he could only wait for these navy members to wake up.
"Don't… don't hit me! I'll talk, I'll talk!"
A person like Nezumi, who exploits his position to rob the people's wealth, naturally doesn't have a single tough bone in his body.
Under Jotaro's coercion and fists, he answered every question, revealing all he knew, holding nothing back.
"Heh heh, big boss, this is where we are located." He grinned flatteringly with a mouth missing two front teeth, pointing out the location for Jotaro.
"I see." Looking at the nearby island on the map, Jotaro spoke with deep meaning, "Looks like that claim of needing a week was also a lie you told me."
"Heh..." Nezumi's smile froze.
"Ora ora ora..."
The next second, a fist greeted his face.
Nezumi was beaten until stars danced before his eyes; in his daze, he felt himself being lifted with one hand by Jotaro.
Seeing the bottomless sea below, he screamed in panic, "Wait! You… what are you trying to do!"
"What am I doing? Of course, helping you get off my ship!"
Jotaro loosened his hand, directly throwing Nezumi overboard.
As a necessary item for sea travel, this ship made from special wood had already caught his eye.
To snatch wealth from this kind of bandit, he wouldn't feel the slightest guilt.
Watching his own ship gradually drift away, Captain Nezumi was furious beyond measure.
"Daring to go against the navy! I definitely won't let you off."
"Damn it!" Covering his bruised purple face, he said hatefully, "I will issue a bounty for him across the entire world! That beast!"
His subordinates gathered over from the water one by one.
"Captain, should we contact Arlong? That ferocious and cruel guy will definitely tear this man to pieces!"
Nezumi's expression turned dark, and he said nothing, looking toward the direction Jotaro had left, his lips slowly curved into a cruel smile.
"Even without Arlong, I'm afraid he won't live past a few days. The sea area he's sailing through is one even I dare not easily enter."
———
After sailing for three days and two nights, Jotaro finally saw land in this world.
Actually, he could've reached this island earlier, but some accidents happened along the way.
While he was napping, the winds on the sea suddenly shifted, causing his ship to drift off course.
Because of this reason, he hoped to find on the upcoming island someone skilled in meteorology and navigation.
Of course, he also needed a precise and complete world map.
The map from Nezumi's ship only covered one sea area of East Blue and was crudely marked.
The ship slowly sailed to the shore; the outline of the island gradually became clear.
"Look! It's the navy! The navy is here! We're saved!"
The island's residents had noticed the approaching ship early on and also saw the flag fluttering on the ship.
Children and young people who hadn't experienced much in life were extremely excited.
The adults, however, glanced once and then withdrew their gaze.
An old man with a head full of white hair and wearing black-framed glasses sighed.
Having experienced much hardship, he had long understood that relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself.
"Mayor..."
"Buggy and the others are still celebrating and haven't noticed them. Let's still inform these navy folks and have them leave quickly."
After the town was occupied by the Buggy Pirates, the navy had symbolically come a few times, but without exception, faced with a bounty of 15 million Berries, they could only return in failure.
Eventually, it developed to the point where they ignored this sea area entirely.
In his heart, he couldn't trust the navy at all.
"What! You're not navy?" The townspeople looked at each other, then widened their eyes and gripped their weapons tightly, "Could it be… you're pirates?"
"No, we're shipwreck survivors." Jotaro patiently explained.
"Nonsense! Shipwreck survivors? What's with this ship then?"
Jotaro's answer sounded like sheer fantasy.
Shipwreck survivors managing to sail a government-grade ship, such a thing they had never heard of.
"Stolen." Jotaro answered truthfully.
"And you still say you're not pirates?" The townspeople raised their weapons, watching Jotaro with full alertness.
"Let me explain instead." Shinobu smiled gently, stepping out from behind Jotaro. "The situation is like this..."
Listening to Shinobu's gentle explanation and looking at her charming face, the townspeople unconsciously loosened their grip on their weapons a little.
"That's how it is. We were forced to drive them off the ship." Jotaro added.
The next second, the townspeople snapped back to their senses, once again gripping their weapons and watching him vigilantly.
After Shinobu's explanation, they were still a bit undecided and could only look toward the mayor for help.
"No matter who you are, leave this place at once."
Mayor Butel slowly walked out from the crowd, hands behind his back, gazing into Jotaro's eyes.
"Why?" Shinobu asked in confusion.
"This is also for your own good. Once Buggy discovers other ships have docked, he will surely destroy them. If you don't leave now, soon you won't be able to leave at all."
"Buggy?" Shinobu looked at Jotaro, but the latter didn't seem to care about the matter.
"We will leave soon. But before that, I hope you can provide me with a world map. Of course, I will pay."
From all the signs after landing, Jotaro clearly knew these townspeople had encountered trouble.
But he didn't have the hobby of meddling in others' business.
Since the other party hoped they would leave as soon as possible, he was also too lazy to stir up further trouble.
But before that, he hoped to obtain a map from the locals, and hopefully find someone skilled in navigation.
"World map? What's that?"
The townspeople stared blankly at each other, full of confusion.
"We don't have what you're looking for." Butel waved his hand.
Jotaro had been observing their expressions, seeing that they didn't seem to be lying, he was secretly surprised. These people really seemed to have no concept of a world map.
"Do you have someone here who understands meteorology and navigation?" Jotaro tilted his head and asked helplessly, "I will pay handsomely."
"We don't have such a person. Even if we did, they wouldn't go to sea with you." Butel glared, "Alright, leave this place now!"
On the sea, there are hardly any good people, Jotaro, in his view, was definitely not a good one either.
"Yare yare..." Jotaro turned around and called Shinobu and Nezuko, "Let's go."
At the back of the crowd, a woman crumpled the bounty poster in her hand into a ball, a sly smile appearing on her face.
"Wait, you need a navigator? I happen to have someone in mind."
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