Chapter 22: The Musket Pirates
Ace clearly had little concept of money management, especially when he was in high spirits. For pirates, money was meant to be spent, though their opportunities were limited to stops on land. The Grand Line wasn't known for its merchant ships, and even if it were, the Spade Pirates weren't interested in that kind of plunder.
As the drinks kept coming, the bartender brought out food: cherry meat pies, grilled skewers, roasted peanuts, and more. Though the Spade Pirates numbered only a dozen, each had the appetite of a king, especially for ale, which they guzzled straight from the barrel.
"Boss," Roy said, sitting at the bar next to Joseph. "Why did everyone on the island hide when we came ashore?"
"Because you're pirates," the old man replied simply.
"Hahaha! Right, of course. Pirates." Roy laughed. Joseph smiled too, though his was tinged with a familiar bitterness. He'd seen this reaction before.
"You all came with money," the bartender observed, noting the purses hanging from each of their belts, just like the one Ace had tossed him. "It's the first time I've seen pirates like you."
"We might be pirates, but we're pirates with dreams," Ace declared from his stool, taking a large gulp from his mug. "We're not interested in robbing regular folks."
"I don't know why, but I see something different in you. Maybe I'm just getting old," the boss said with a faint smile.
"Boss, we need to buy supplies in town," Joseph interjected. "Could you talk to the locals for us? Assure them we're here to pay."
The bartender shook his head. "No. Nothing on this island can be sold to you. You couldn't buy a crumb here, even with all the gold in the world."
"Why is that?" Roy asked, curious.
"Because this island belongs to another pirate crew. They control several islands in these waters. Everything here is considered theirs. They come by every so often to collect their 'taxes.' If the townsfolk don't provide enough, the whole town disappears." The old man didn't look up from the glass he was wiping.
"A pirate crew that does that? Pirates should be about freedom," Ace scoffed.
"Then the solution is simple," Roy said with a grin. "If we deal with that crew, the townsfolk will have a reason to sell to us, right?"
"Theoretically, yes. But you're not the first pirates with that idea. Others have had even bigger ambitions—to defeat them and take control of this territory for themselves."
"When are they due?" Ace asked, his expression turning serious.
"Tomorrow."
Ace lowered his head, a slow smile spreading across his face. He picked up his mug, turned to the crew, and raised it high. "Listen up! Eat and drink your fill tonight! We have a fight tomorrow, so let's not make this a long one. Everyone get to bed early."
"A fight? Alright! Let's crush them!" Taft roared, slamming his fist against the wall.
"Let's get 'em!" the crew shouted, raising their glasses in unison.
"Being young has its charms," the bartender mused.
"Sounds like you speak from experience," Roy replied.
"Live long enough, and you've been everything." The old man let out a dry, humorous laugh.
That night, they all drank themselves into a stupor. None of them returned to the ship, instead collapsing right where they sat in the tavern. Roy even passed out proudly on the bar counter. The bartender thoughtfully draped a quilt over each of them.
The next morning, they were still dead to the world. Meanwhile, at the island's port, a fleet of three pirate ships arrived. It was a large crew, numbering at least several hundred men between them.
"Captain! There's a ship docked at Sandeburg's shore. It's a pirate vessel," the lookout reported to the tall man behind him.
This was the Musket Pirates. Their captain: Lavis Vincent, with a bounty of 86 million Beri.
"Did you identify the crew?" Vincent asked, his voice a low rumble.
"Positive, sir. We're checking the bounties now." The pirate produced a thick stack of posters, flipping through them and comparing them to the flag he'd seen. "Found it, Captain Vincent! It's the ship of the Spade Pirates. Their captain, Portgas D. Ace, has a bounty of 80 million Beri. The nickname is 'Fire Fist.' They only have about a dozen crew members."
"A small-time crew, daring to trespass on my turf," Vincent mused, a dark smile playing on his lips. "But an 80 million Beri bounty... not bad for a rookie. If he's willing to swear allegiance to me, I might let him live. If not..."
"Shall we make a move, Captain?" The pirates beside Vincent grinned, hefting their weapons.
"First, we extend an invitation. See if they're willing to submit. If they refuse... wipe them out."
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Cookies to the people who give me Stones.