"How is everyone? Are you all okay?" Jerry asked with concern as he and Cavendish returned to the ship.
"We're perfectly fine, naturally," Cavendish replied with his characteristic arrogance. "Once I make my move, enemies fall to their knees in submission!"
Under his crewmates' speechless gazes, Cavendish strutted toward Farul, who had returned with Skull, eager to share his combat achievements with his beloved horse.
"We had no real problems on our end," Deuce reported to Jerry about their return journey. "Apart from some royal soldiers who tried to intercept us for unknown reasons, we didn't encounter any serious obstacles. However, when we got back to the ship, we found several petty thieves attempting to board, so we threw them all overboard."
"That's good to hear. On my way back, I ran into..." Jerry began, then noticed Carrot's eager expression and switched topics with a warm smile. "Actually, Carrot, I met someone from the Mink Tribe on the island!"
Jerry began stroking the rabbit mink's head affectionately while describing his encounter with Lindbergh. Carrot's eyes lit up with excitement at hearing about meeting a fellow mink in foreign waters.
After Jerry finished his story, Deuce urged them to depart quickly. They understood the general situation on the island—primarily a conflict between oppressed citizens and their tyrannical ruler, with the Revolutionary Army and World Government secretly involved behind the scenes.
As pirates accustomed to peaceful travel who were currently under close World Government surveillance, both Deuce and Skull agreed that the wisest strategy was leaving this troubled location as quickly as possible.
Given these circumstances, the Black Star Pirates wasted no time setting sail again, departing amid the rumbling sounds of distant cannon fire echoing across the island.
At noon that day, after enjoying a hearty meal, everyone gathered in the dining room around their navigation charts for their regular planning discussion.
Deuce pointed to their projected course line, then turned toward Jerry. "Our next stop is the Sorbet Kingdom. Are you still planning to help Kuma deliver that letter and gift to his daughter?"
Jerry propped his chin on one hand thoughtfully. "Yes, though it's clear there are CP organization members stationed there for surveillance purposes. I need to decide whether I should deliver everything secretly."
Jerry had mentioned to his friends that Kuma had some kind of arrangement with the World Government. While he wasn't certain about the specific details—and hadn't elaborated—he knew that in exchange for something, Bonney was currently under the care of CP organization personnel.
"Obviously, I think it would be best if we aren't discovered..." Deuce paused, then shook his head with self-deprecating humor. "But just because we're traveling through South Blue so openly, even if the World Government can't predict our exact destinations, they're definitely maintaining heightened vigilance."
"Mr. Deuce, even if you don't want to admit it, the situation is exactly as you've described," Brook agreed, recalling their previous landing experience.
"Then why are we still overthinking this?" Skull interjected, placing his hands on his hips with a mischievous expression. "We'll just do this and that... how about it? Oh, hahaha!"
"Actually, you fake skeleton can be quite useful sometimes!" Carina laughed, slapping Skull on the back hard enough to make him cough continuously while his laughter reached skyward.
While Ace occasionally applied his strategic thinking abilities, he was usually content letting others handle the planning when they were capable. Besides, most people probably couldn't execute the unconventional strategies he might devise anyway.
Carrot rarely contributed to discussions like this, preferring to play with Kotatsu during meeting times.
Cavendish was absorbed in his own activities—either meditating to strengthen his willpower or lost in narcissistic fantasies—and remained completely silent.
"If there are no objections, then we'll proceed with this approach," Jerry concluded, looking around the table. Seeing no disagreements, he made the final decision.
Sorbet Kingdom - Inside the Church
"Ugh! Why does it have to taste so awful again?!" Little Bonney swallowed the "medicine" in her mouth with obvious difficulty, sticking out her tongue in disgust.
The older woman dressed in nurse's attire slowly withdrew her hand and spoke gently: "Haha, bitter medicine works better! Just drink it for one more year and you'll be completely recovered."
The nurse was actually Alpha, a CP organization operative. While maintaining her professional smile, she cursed internally: Little brat! Do you think I enjoy serving you? Besides, these are specially formulated medications—of course they taste terrible!
"But Dr. Vegapunk told me that if I keep taking it for just a few more months, I'll be fully healed," Little Bonney protested, keeping careful track of her treatment timeline.
After all, in just a few months it would be her ninth birthday, and by then the sapphire-colored marks on her face would have almost completely faded, leaving only barely noticeable traces.
Damn Vegapunk! What exactly did you tell her? Alpha mentally gritted her teeth and cursed the brilliant scientist, while continuing to maintain her fake professional smile.
"Haha, but when your father entrusted you to our care, he said it would take more than a year. Maybe Dr. Vegapunk told you the wrong timeframe?" Alpha suggested with forced sweetness.
Little Bonney puffed out her cheeks and tilted her head to look at the nurse suspiciously. "Really?"
"Absolutely!" Alpha nodded emphatically while roaring internally: Damn kid! Who would willingly stay here with you for so long?! If it weren't for the fact that your stupid father's transformation process takes forever...!
Without paying Bonney any further attention, Alpha turned and walked toward the church exit.
"Well... my ninth birthday is coming up soon. Why haven't any letters from Dad arrived yet?" Little Bonney suddenly seemed to remember something important, her lips forming a dejected pout as she murmured softly to herself.
Haha, you're still hoping to receive letters? I'll tear up every single one that arrives! Alpha thought with malicious satisfaction as she reached the church door, feeling considerably happier about her day.
"I heard pirates have landed at the port!" voices carried from the street outside.
"Yes! They're supposedly very cruel pirates. After killing people, two of them even hung skeletons all over their bodies and strutted through the streets!"
"Hiss... that sounds terrifying..."
Shortly after Alpha stepped outside the church, she overheard numerous conversations from passersby discussing the new arrivals.
She listened calmly to the various rumors spreading through the streets while thinking to herself: Pirates? Skeletons? Could this be the pirate crew mentioned in our recent intelligence reports? Excellent—I'll observe them secretly. Maybe I can earn some recognition for this.
Alpha's mind became increasingly active as she considered the possibilities. If she could capture these criminals or provide crucial intelligence, perhaps her superiors would consider transferring her to a better assignment.
She was growing tired of being stationed here, monitoring Bonney day after day with no end in sight.
The more Alpha considered it, the more feasible her plan seemed. After all, this group had reportedly attacked powerful Celestial Dragons. If she could claim credit for their capture, promotion and salary increases should definitely follow.
With renewed motivation surging through her, Alpha unconsciously quickened her pace toward the town's main streets.
"Nothing? Still nothing? Not yet?"
Beside the church entrance, Little Bonney stood on a small stool with her eyes wide open, frantically searching through the mailbox embedded in the wall with both hands.
After thoroughly examining every item in the mailbox, Little Bonney sat dejectedly on her makeshift stepstool, tears welling up in her eyes as she pouted and spoke in a dejected voice:
"Hmm... nothing again, Dad. Didn't you promise you would write to me?"
The young girl's voice carried across the empty courtyard, filled with the innocent hope of a child waiting for a father who was trying desperately to reach her, unaware that her letters were being intercepted by the very people pretending to care for her welfare.
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