Chapter 20: Dreams and Friendship
"Hey, there's something under the gold," Jerry said, scooping a handful of coins from the strongbox. Mouse spotted it too and reached in to pull the object out.
"It's a piece of animal hide," said a crewmember named Giger, a skilled hunter Ace had invited to join the ship. He examined the material with a practiced eye.
Joseph took the hide, unrolled it, and scanned the dense script covering its surface.
"What's it say?" several crewmates asked in unison. Literacy wasn't universal among them, and they looked to Joseph for answers.
"It tells a story," Joseph began, his eyes tracing the text. "That island was called the Mist Fortress. Over two hundred years ago, it was a Marine military fortress commanded by a Colonel named Roddy. According to this, Colonel Roddy was a greedy and cruel man who plundered wealth from the local civilians. He ordered the author of this very scroll to bury the treasure deep beneath the base. The hide is a full account of Colonel Roddy's crimes, written just before he was arrested."
"So that's it," Mouse nodded. "No wonder there was a seastone cage down there. The place really was a Marine base."
"It's all two-hundred-year-old history now," Roy said. "But everyone remember the name—the Mist Fortress. There might still be more treasure there someday. If any of you run into trouble in the future, or want to leave something for the next generation, remember that place."
"Right," the crew murmured in agreement.
Pirates often struggled with managing their plunder. Even after a major score, there were few places to spend it all. It was common practice to stash a portion of their wealth in a hidden location, then create a series of connected treasure maps. The final location was a closely guarded secret, known only to a trusted few. This treasure would serve as a safety net—a reserve for hard times or a legacy for the future.
The crew's spirits were high. The box of gold coins was a fantastic haul. They were coins from two centuries past, of excellent purity, easily worth over a billion Beri.
"Alright, everyone!" Ace laughed, his voice booming across the deck. "It's time for a banquet!"
This time, no one objected. The victory and the treasure called for a celebration. Plans were already being made to find a resort island and enjoy their newfound wealth.
A pirate banquet was nothing without drinks. The crew raised their glasses and partied through the night on the deck. By dawn, everyone except Roy and Joseph was fast asleep where they had fallen.
The doctor and the swordsman worked together, pulling quilts from the cabin to cover their slumbering crewmates. Each grabbing a bottle of wine, they settled by the railing.
"Roy, your swordsmanship is incredible," Joseph said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I heard them call you a Great Swordsman."
Roy smiled faintly. "A Great Swordsman? I'm not on that level. I learned to use a flying slash three years ago. I've gotten stronger since, but the gap is still vast. A true Great Swordsman, using the same amount of strength I did last night, wouldn't have just cut the mountain. He would have split the entire island in two."
"Are they really that powerful?" Joseph asked, astonished.
"Yes. This sea is full of monsters. I've just started my journey. I left my teacher and opened my eyes to this ship almost immediately. To be honest… being a pirate feels pretty good." Roy raised his wine bottle.
Joseph raised his own, and the two bottles clinked together. "Yeah," Joseph agreed with a soft smile. "I used to hate pirates. I was a doctor in my hometown, and ever since I was a child, our town was constantly attacked by them. As soon as I was old enough, I trained myself and learned medicine from my parents. I fought off pirates more times than I can count. But Ace… he showed me a different kind of person. He showed me what it means to live for a dream."
"I have a dream, too," Roy said. "I will become the world's greatest swordsman. After that, I'll go to the final island, Laugh Tale, to see what treasure the Pirate King Roger left behind."
"And I want to master medical skills," Joseph replied, his voice firm. "I will become an excellent doctor, to keep my crewmates healthy and be their steadfast support."
"Then let's drink to our dreams."
Roy raised his bottle again. Joseph met it with his own, and the glass clinked a second time, a solid sound of promise.
"Hahaha!"
Their laughter carried over the water as they talked. Roy kept a watchful eye on the Log Pose in Jin's hand, taking the helm whenever their course drifted.
Three days at sea passed in the blink of an eye, and Roy felt a deep contentment. Humans are social creatures. Having friends, having partners you could trust with your life… perhaps that was more important than anything.
Roy's thoughts drifted to a time long, long ago, before he came to this world. A faint memory surfaced—perhaps he had been a soldier.
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