"Pirates!" Rocks shouted, his eyes wide as he pointed toward the Jolly Roger fluttering on the distant sailboat.
"I don't need you to tell me that," Silas replied dryly, casting a sideways glance at the boy. He thought to himself, You see their flag, but have you completely forgotten about mine? His own tattered Jolly Roger was still flying proudly from the mast.
"Come with me, Rocks," Silas commanded. Since he had already decided to take the boy under his wing, there was no point in treating him like an outsider. "Do you know how to steer a ship? Can you read an Eternal Pose? You are taking the helm."
Silas led Rocks to the ship's wheel and tossed him a small glass orb that housed a perpetually fixed needle. On the chaotic seas of this world, a special compass known as a Log Pose was essential for navigation. What Silas had given him was a rare variant, its needle permanently locked onto a single, unchanging destination.
"The needle is pointing to a small island. We are going to deal with these enemies there."
Rocks looked confused. "Why don't we just deal with them here at sea? With your strength, Captain, it shouldn't be difficult, right?"
"Are you an idiot?" Silas rolled his eyes. "There are only two of us on this ship right now. If I go over there to fight them, what happens if they get the same idea and send people over here? What exactly would you do?"
This was not the East Blue or any of the other calm seas where new pirates began their journeys. This was the New World, the most chaotic and dangerous ocean in the entire world. Any pirate who managed to survive here had a few dirty tricks up their sleeve. If Silas got tied up in a fight, the future ruler of the seas would likely have his grand career cut short before it even began.
Besides, even if he could obliterate their ship with a single Hakoku, the distance was simply too great. The farther the range of the attack, the more stamina it consumed. It would only be effective if the enemy was foolish enough to charge directly at them.
Just then, the system panel materialized before his eyes.
Misfortunes never come singly. Right after encountering a ruler of the seas, you've run into a washed-up pirate crew that loves to crush the dreams of newcomers.
The Blood Skull Pirates are remnants of an old era long since abandoned by the new one.
Rest assured, the captain of the Blood Skull Pirates is just an old geezer getting on in years. With your strength, you have nothing to fear.
Defeat them, conquer them!
Although Silas was already well aware that his system was a moron, he still could not stop his eye from twitching at the information on the panel.
Blood Skull Farrell had a bounty of 160 million Belly. In this era, a single Belly held the purchasing power of seven or eight from the future, which meant Farrell's bounty was effectively over a billion. In the current pirate world, that was more than enough to be called a great pirate.
And if I remember correctly, Silas mused, the captain of the Blood Skull Pirates isn't even fifty years old. In the world of pirates, that's considered the absolute prime of one's life. You call that an 'old geezer getting on in years'? Then what does that make me? A corpse?
As for why the Blood Skull Pirates were here, the reason was obvious. He had been sold out. Silas was not surprised by this fact, because in the world of pirates, betrayal was a daily occurrence.
"A pity you chose the wrong time," he muttered to himself.
In the distance, aboard the ship of the Blood Skull Pirates, a man in a brilliant red coat was roaring with laughter.
"Hahaha, White Wolf Silas, I've finally found you!" Blood Skull Farrell could not help but laugh as he looked at the ship faintly visible through his spyglass. He turned to a nervous man beside him. "You there, you did well. Once I kill your old captain and get his hidden treasure, the treasure is mine, and you can have that broken-down ship!"
White Wolf Silas. The name was a living legend. When Farrell had first set sail, he had already heard of Silas's reputation as a big shot that even the Marines could not handle. What a shame to see a hero in his twilight years. No matter how powerful a pirate was, they could not withstand the inevitable ravages of time.
And now, look at him. He had disbanded his pirate crew and was sailing alone to find a place to die. How could things be so simple? After plundering the seas for decades, each crew member only got ten million Belly? It was no wonder someone was dissatisfied enough to seek him out and leak Silas's whereabouts.
"Full speed ahead!" Farrell shouted. "Cannoneers, prepare! Give me two volleys of cannon fire to start!"
At Farrell's command, the young man who had betrayed Silas grew anxious. "Captain Farrell, this isn't what we agreed on!" he said, rushing forward. "Didn't we agree that Captain Silas's treasure would be yours, and the ship would be mine? If it takes a few rounds of cannon fire, what if it sinks?"
"Hm? You have a problem with my orders?" Farrell's eyes narrowed at the young man's words. An oppressive aura, one the young man had only ever felt from his old captain, washed over him and turned his face pale.
The young man shook his head frantically. "No, that's not it."
"Good!" Farrell snorted coldly. "You said the old man can't use his Haki anymore, but who knows if that's true? What if we get too close and he still has some fight left in him, and he hurts my crewmen? As a captain, I must ensure the safety of my crew!" Farrell declared with righteous indignation.
In truth, he could not care less if his crew lived or died. But a man's reputation precedes him. When Silas was making his name on the seas, Farrell was still just a child. Who knew what trump cards the old geezer still had? It was better to keep their distance and fire a few rounds to wear down the old man's stamina. Silas was a Devil Fruit user, which meant that if his ship sank, he would be rendered helpless and could only wait for death.
Farrell's plan was perfectly calculated, but he had no idea he was playing right into Silas's hands.
"It seems they won't be attacking us head-on so easily," Silas commented, effortlessly slicing apart the cannonballs that flew from the distance. He watched the Blood Skull Pirates' ship, which had been tailing them for a while at a fixed distance, refusing to get any closer. He then feigned an out-of-breath appearance. "But we're almost there."
In the distance, a small island was faintly visible. Even if the Blood Skull Pirates' ship suddenly accelerated, they could reach the island before the enemy could board them.
"Captain, are you alright?" Seeing Silas panting, Rocks could not help but ask. Although he did not want to be a crewman for anyone, he did not exactly dislike Silas, especially since the old pirate had promised to teach him that powerful technique that could split the sea. Only now did Rocks remember that Silas was just an old man, and no matter how strong an old man was, his stamina could not compare to when he was young.
"Oh? So you do know how to care about people, kid?" Silas looked at Rocks and nodded with satisfaction. "Since you know your captain is tired, how about you do me a favor?"
"What favor?"
"Look after my old partner for me!"
"Huh?"
The moment he finished speaking, Rocks watched in shock as Silas leaped off the ship. Using Moonwalk, Silas kicked off the air itself, rushing towards the distant island at a speed several times faster than the ship and leaving Rocks all alone at the helm.
Rocks was stunned.
Another volley of cannon fire rained down. This time, with no Silas to block them, the old ship was instantly riddled with holes. Onboard, Rocks was sent scrambling, covering his head as cannonballs exploded all around him.
From far away, Silas could still hear Rocks's furious cursing carried on the wind.
"You damn old geezer, I'll #$@%&...!"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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