In the West Blue, Skull Bay is the most notorious pirate den. The island itself is formed from countless shipwrecks and bones. The master of this terrifying place is a powerful pirate known as "Duke (Bones)." He is the absolute ruler, and no one dares to challenge his authority.
At this moment, Duke sat on his throne, leisurely reading the newspaper. When he came across a report about Andy, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.
"At just 15 years old, he's a wanted man, and the Marines have already raised his bounty to a staggering 30 million Berries," he murmured with a slight smile. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, this little fellow has astonishing potential!"
Just then, a curvaceous, enchanting woman standing beside him gracefully stepped forward. Her movements were elegant, exuding an irresistible charm. Her voice, like a hot spring breeze, was seductive and full of emotion.
"I'll go eliminate him right away," she said softly.
Duke shook his head, a cunning glint in his eyes. "No, no, no. Wouldn't it be better if a young man with such potential joined us willingly? With our guidance, his strength will grow even more." He turned to face her.
"So, Luna, I want you to go meet him. Tell him that if he swears allegiance to me, he'll have my protection and enjoy endless wealth and power. The only condition is that he must become my adopted son and be loyal to me from now on."
Luna's brows furrowed slightly. "But what if he refuses your offer?" she asked.
A ferocious smile spread across Duke face. He extended his dry, bony fingers, tracing in the air as if sketching a gruesome scene. "Refuse? Hmph. Then I can't be blamed for being ruthless.
In that case, you'll eliminate him and bring me his bones. He can become a part of Skull Bay. Hehehehe..." His laughter grew more deranged, echoing in the desolate hall and sending shivers down Luna's spine.
Without another word, the enchanting woman calmly turned and left the great hall. She went to the port and boarded a fast ship, heading for the Darereka Islands.
The New 'Red Hawk'
At the same time, on a secluded small island within the Darereka Islands, Andy was relaxing on a lounge chair, flipping through a newspaper. Suddenly, a headline caught his eye: "Red Hawk!"
"Red Hawk?" he said aloud. "What a ridiculous name. And am I really that cruel and murderous? This is slander!"
Andy understood that since the Marines had labeled him a pirate, most people would see him as a villain. But he didn't care. His only goal was to become the strongest, and what others thought of him was irrelevant. However, the hypocrisy of the Marines was truly disgusting.
"System," he thought, "if I put a bounty on a Marine and eliminate them, can I get bounty points?"
[Ding~]
[No. But if someone else puts a bounty on a Marine, they can, as long as they have the ability to pay. The bounty must also match the Marine's strength or overall power.]
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, no loopholes to exploit, as expected." Andy shook his head with a hint of regret. He stood up and stretched. "Next, I need to find a way to leave the Darereka Islands."
He put the chair into his system space, then disguised his appearance. After a quick check with his Observation Haki, he headed toward the market.
At a bustling sea chart shop, Andy paid around 20,000 Berries for a detailed map. The chart was a bit hard to understand, so he paid more to have the owner explain it. He decided his next destination would be a large island called 'Reverse Mountain.'
This island had several countries, and a country called Fish-Man was rumored to have a very powerful sword smith. Andy wanted to go there because his broken Tang Hengdao needed to be replaced.
Legend had it that the smith's ancestors had forged a Supreme Grade Great Sword—the Molten Blade—for a prominent figure in the World Government. He wanted to try his luck and see if this smith could forge him a powerful blade.
"Guest, are you planning to leave for Jinyan Mountain today?" the shop owner asked as Andy was about to leave.
Andy turned, confused. "Yeah, is there a problem?"
"We've received a report that a strong storm is brewing on the route to Jinyan Mountain today," the owner said kindly. "It's best if you wait a day before you depart."
"A storm, huh... Thank you, boss. I'll think about it." Andy nodded calmly and left the shop.
"That guest was generous, but he looks familiar," the owner muttered to himself.
"Why do you care?" his wife said, smacking him on the head. "As long as he pays, who cares who he is?"
"Hehehe, you're right, wife," the owner said, rubbing his head and chuckling.
Andy decided it was better to wait. A storm at sea was no laughing matter.
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