The setting sun painted the sea gold. Rhett stood on the deck and stretched.
Speaking of this ship, he had called Tesoro on the Den Den Mushi and asked him to send it over. Of course, if they were going out, they needed a proper ship. The ship also came with some zombies. The zombies looked pretty normal, almost like regular people. They just didn't talk.
The three little ones were sitting around the mast, counting the loot they had taken from the Marines and pirates. Ace tossed the berries up and down, making them clink. Sabo carefully wiped down a new knife he had gotten. Ann played with an ornate compass.
"Uncle Rhett!" Ace suddenly jumped up. "When are we going to run into the next group of pirates?"
Rhett: "Soon, soon. Finish your training for today first."
It wasn't surprising that the three little ones were so eager. When Rhett was around, he didn't lift a finger in fights. Rhett could understand. Kids always wanted their parents to know that they had grown up and become impressive on their own.
He narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. "Speak of the devil."
On the horizon, a three-masted sailing ship flying a skull and crossbones was cutting through the waves.
Rhett and the three little ones all looked at Rouge. Their eyes were full of expectation. Rouge shook her head and spoke helplessly.
"Everyone, listen up—" Rouge deliberately dragged out the words. "Take everything they've got!"
"Yes, ma'am! Captain Rouge!" Four voices answered in unison.
The three little ones immediately shifted into combat mode. Ace quickly loaded his flintlock. Sabo checked the straps on his scabbard. Ann silently unstrapped her heavy sword from her back.
Rouge ran to the kitchen with her face in her hands. After a moment, she poked her head back out. "Kids, how long will this take?"
"Dinner in twenty minutes!" Ace gave a confident thumbs-up.
When the two ships were a hundred meters apart, a taunting voice came from the other vessel. "Listen up, merchant ship ahead! We're the 'Iron Barrel' Pirates! Hand over your—"
"So noisy!"
Ace raised his gun and fired.
"BAM!"
The pirate captain's megaphone exploded into splinters. The captain froze for a moment, then exploded with rage. "You little brat, you're asking for—"
But before he could finish, Sabo's grappling hook shot out with a "whoosh" and sank its claws into the enemy ship's railing. Using the rope, he launched himself into the air. His blond hair flew in the wind. The moment his silver-white blade left its scabbard—
"Ann!" Sabo called out.
"THUD—!"
Ann's heavy sword slammed into the side of the enemy ship, splitting it open. Wood splinters burst everywhere.
Her small body was a stark contrast to that massive sword. But her movements were smooth and practiced. Using the recoil, she leaped aboard and swung her blade. Three pirates who had just charged forward were sent flying before they could even scream, landing in the water with splashes.
"Damn brats!" The pirates roared and charged.
Ace grinned, slung his flintlock over his back, grabbed a rope with both hands, pushed off with his feet, and swung himself toward the enemy ship's main mast. "BANG!" Halfway through the air, he drew his gun with one hand and shot the hat off a pirate who was about to sneak up on Sabo. The man fell flat on his rear in terror.
"Thanks!" Sabo didn't look back. His blade deflected two curved sabers with a precise flick. He twisted his wrist. "CLANG!" Sparks flew as the blades scraped against each other. He spun and slammed the flat of his blade against a pirate's wrist. The man screamed and dropped his weapon.
Ann's heavy sword was like a steel wall. Each swing came with a heavy, whistling sound. A pirate twice her size charged at her with a snarl. She sidestepped.
"CRACK!" The man's ribs snapped. He dropped to his knees and started dry heaving.
"M-Monsters!" The pirates started to panic.
"Stop fighting! We surrender! Please, young heroes, we won't do it again!"
"My pants! My pants!"
Rhett couldn't help but laugh. Blood mist curled around his fingertips, ready to step in if needed. But it didn't look like that was going to be necessary.
Those unlucky pirates probably never imagined in their wildest dreams that three kids who barely reached their stomachs would beat them so badly it would make them question their entire existence.
The pirates knelt on the deck, bruised and battered. Some clutched their ribs. Some held up their pants. Others curled into balls with their heads down.
Their captain — a burly man covered in scars and a tattoo of a barrel on his chest — was kowtowing furiously, slamming his forehead against the deck. "Please, spare us! We were wrong! We're so sorry!"
Ace crouched in front of him and asked with a grin, "What were you wrong about?"
"W-We were wrong to rob people!" The captain's face crumpled. "We'll turn over a new leaf, we swear!"
"Oh?" Sabo raised an eyebrow. He tapped the man's shoulder with his silver-white blade. "Then what about the things you stole before?"
"We'll give it back! We'll give it all back!" The captain immediately turned and shouted at his men. "Hurry! Bring out all the treasure!"
The pirates scrambled toward the cabins. Soon, they dragged out several large chests and threw them open. The chests were overflowing with gold and silver coins, jewelry, and antiques.
Ann tilted her head. She planted her heavy sword on the deck. "What else?"
"Wh-What else?!" The captain was dumbfounded.
"The wine hidden in the hold. I saw it when I was clearing the lower decks," Ann said, her face expressionless.
"..."
The pirates all froze. Their eyes darted around nervously. But when they realized she was talking about wine, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Rhett finally burst out laughing.
Rhett grinned and patted the three little ones on the head.
"You did great. I'm very proud of all of you. But listen — next time, check the pirate flag first."
The three little ones immediately abandoned the pirates and ran to the railing.
"It's a pirate flag, so what? There's a skull, and underneath it's... uh... a toilet brush?"
"That's a scepter!" Sabo's noble upbringing kicked in before he could stop himself. "Wait, I've seen this symbol before!" He turned around and started digging through his bag.
He pulled out a small notebook.
"East African slave trader syndicate!" Sabo announced.
Rhett's blood mist surged outward, enveloping the entire pirate ship and cutting it off completely from the surrounding sea. He didn't want the screaming to disturb Rouge while she was cooking.
"So, kids," Rhett said. "Leave no one alive."
The three little ones' expressions changed instantly.
"W-Wait!" The slave trader captain shrieked and started backing away. "We can make a deal! I know a lot of—"
"BANG!"
Ace's bullet shattered the man's kneecap.
Outside Rhett's blood mist barrier, the sea was calm. Inside the barrier, it had become a living hell. For the slave traders, anyway.
Ann looked at Rhett. "Uncle, where are the slaves?"
"Third deck, behind a hidden door. There's no one there." Rhett grinned at her. "But their money is worth a lot. I'll take you to the Marine base to cash it in."
"If you become pirates someday, cashing in bounties won't be this easy."
Rhett hadn't gone with them to the Marine base the last few times. The Marines had gotten sloppy. And now, here they were, not far from home, and they had already run into several groups of slave traders. "Rhett" was going to conduct an inspection of the seas on orders from the Mist Lord.
But really, it was mainly just to make an appearance. He was going to disappear for a long time. The Navy not being able to find him for that long? They'd probably lose their minds with worry.