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As the pirate ship drew closer to the Pigeon, Aero stood at the bow and called out with a grin, "Looks like we've got customers! Get ready, boys!"
"Captain! Let me handle this one!" Eddie Cahill said eagerly, rubbing his hands together. "I've got to prove I'm just as good as Dylan!"
Aero shot him a side glance, noting Eddie's fired-up expression but chose to ignore him, turning back toward the approaching ship with a deliberately indifferent look.
The two ships closed the distance fast so fast, in fact, that they collided with a loud crack.
Dozens of pirates from the opposing ship stood ready, weapons drawn, grinning at the smaller crew of the Pigeon.
Then, a short, one-eyed pirate wearing a captain's hat stepped forward and roared, "Board 'em! Take their treasure! Leave no one standing!"
"AYE!" came the loud chorus of his crew.
But before they could leap over…
The Hurricane Pirates had already launched themselves onto their ship.
Despite being slightly larger than the Pigeon, the enemy vessel was crowded with 30 or 40 pirates. It didn't matter.
Aero was already seated on the top mast of the enemy ship, casually lounging with no intent to join the battle.
Meanwhile, Eddie launched himself skyward with a rapid moon-step, blasting air with each kick. As he landed, his outstretched arm fired shots into the deck. Several pirates collapsed instantly, bullet wounds smoking.
The fight didn't last long.
As more of their crew fell, the enemy captain began to panic.
"What the hell?! When did East Blue get pirates this strong?! That flag they looked like rookies!"
One of his crewmen suddenly pulled out three wanted posters, scanned them quickly, then looked up at the young man seated calmly above the mast.
The pirate paled. "Captain… that's Aero Aegis! Leader of the Hurricane Pirates! The guy with the 35-million berry bounty!"
"Aero?! The one who took down Arlong?!"
The realization struck him like thunder. He remembered the newspaper headline from just this morning.
Arlong the one no East Blue pirate dared challenge had been defeated by this very man.
"Damn those newspaper editors! Why didn't they print the Hurricane flag with the story?!" the captain cursed. He immediately threw down his sword, dropped to his knees, and yelled, "PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! I SURRENDER!"
The few crewmen still standing followed their captain's lead. They threw down their weapons and knelt without hesitation.
Eddie landed lightly in front of the enemy captain, a cheeky grin on his face.
"So... do you know who we are?"
"Yes! Yes! You're the Hurricane Pirates famous across the East Blue!" the captain cried, nodding desperately.
"Oh? If you knew who we were, why'd you come after us?" Eddie teased, twirling the captain's hat in his hand.
"W-We didn't recognize your flag! Honest mistake! Just a misunderstanding!" the man said, forcing a smile while sweating buckets.
"Our captain says you can go. But we're taking all your treasure." Eddie tossed the hat back to him and returned to the Pigeon.
"Y-Yes! Of course! We'll bring it right over!" the captain barked orders at his men, who scrambled to collect everything they had.
Aero disappeared from the mast and reappeared on the Pigeon.
Eddie shrugged and said, "Well, I guess now every pirate in East Blue will recognize our flag. Looks like I carried out your orders perfectly, Captain."
Aero smirked. "Nothing wrong with taking a little profit from fellow pirates now and then. But… if he gave up that easily, I doubt he had anything good."
Eddie blinked. Then stormed over to the crates they'd just received.
He popped open the top one and froze.
It was full of food. Not treasure. Not gold. Not even rum. Just rations.
Aero chuckled as Eddie stared at the box in disbelief.
Feeling utterly insulted, Eddie stomped toward the bow, scanning the horizon.
But it was too late. The enemy ship was already gone fading into the distance like a ghost.
All Eddie could do now was curse at the sea.
Aero shook his head with a sigh.
Then he remembered Dylan was still below deck, training.
Despite all the commotion, Dylan hadn't even come up to look.
Was it ignorance? Or unshakable trust?
Since seeing his bounty, Dylan had thrown himself into relentless training. He was still struggling with [Rankyaku], the technique he'd chosen from the Six Powers.
Unlike Soru or Geppo, Rankyaku required a very specific kind of motion and environment and Dylan didn't have that yet.
In this dangerous world, a single mistake could mean death. The weak were at the mercy of others. Only the strong could shape their fate.
Dylan was striving toward that strength.
Eddie, however, was still too relaxed.
As for the rest of the ten core crew members they had long since failed to grasp the Six Powers.
Aero had stopped expecting anything from them. Talent, after all, mattered more than effort alone.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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