"There's never a shortage of people who aren't afraid to die on these seas..."
"Not afraid to die? I think they just have a death wish... hic..."
Nereus and the others left the pub one after another. Their conversation just now had not been quiet, and everyone in the pub had heard it. They knew exactly why Nereus was leaving.
Although no one knew who was provoking them, in the eyes of these people, those provokers had already been sentenced to death.
"Are you so sure? To make it to the New World, those people can't be weak."
Amidst the chorus of agreement, a discordant voice suddenly spoke up, drawing the attention of several tables of drinkers nearby.
"Kid, you're a pirate... no, how long have you been in the New World?"
The middle-aged pirate who first spoke looked at the one who contradicted him. He looked like a youngster, and in his intoxicated gaze there was a hint of giving advice to a junior.
"I was born in the New World. Just set out to sea last month, so what? I may be unknown now, but I'll make a name for myself one day..."
"Hahaha, youth is great, but do you never read the news?"
"I can't read."
At these words, everyone in the pub was first stunned, then erupted in laughter.
There are plenty of illiterate pirates, but when they travel in groups, there's always someone who can read. A newbie sailing alone like this is quite rare.
"Kid, remember this. There are a lot of strong people on these seas, some you could even call 'monsters'. This island is a nest of monsters. But in this place where monsters gather, there are two people you absolutely cannot offend.
They're monsters among monsters. One is named Rocks, and the other... is Nereus."
"Are they really that strong?"
Usually, just hearing those two names was enough to deter anyone, but this young man was clearly clueless and asked a question that other pirates found utterly stupid.
"You know about Marine Admirals, right? The strongest people in Marine Headquarters; they count as monsters, too. But Rocks killed an Admiral. That was the first time I ever heard of a Marine Admiral being killed by a pirate.
As for Nereus, though he looks like an ordinary human, he's actually a Fish-Man. But he can fight toe to toe with Rocks on land. Do you know what that means?"
Fish-Men, as a unique demi-human race in this world, have natural gifts.
Because they can breathe underwater, sea battles are their real domain.
A Fish-Man's combat power underwater is usually several times that on land.
And if a member of a water-battle race can show that kind of strength even on land, it goes without saying how powerful he must be in the water.
Seeing that the young man in front of him didn't really believe him, the middle-aged pirate didn't say much more, just beckoned to the bartender for another barrel of rum.
Then he filled the young pirate's cup to the brim.
"Drink. This one's on me. I've seen too many brash kids like you. If you survive, remember to come buy me a drink next time. If you die, then let this be your farewell drink."
The young pirate heard the contempt in his tone and didn't take the drink.
With laughter echoing behind him, he stormed out of the pub in a huff, heading the same way Nereus had gone, as if wanting to see for himself what the so-called monster among monsters was really like.
On the southeast coast of Hachinosu, a group of people were inspecting their weapons.
Among them were members who looked no different from humans, like Nereus, others with pronounced racial features like Sebastian, and also Mermaid, whose upper body was human, but lower half a fish's tail.
Unlike Fish-Men, Merfolk only gain the ability to split their tail into two legs and walk on land after the age of 30, and only female Merfolk have this ability. That's why Mermaids stay near the shallows.
The two at the head of the group were both large men, yet together they couldn't muster a strand of hair between them.
On the left, the Fish-Man's body was blue-green, with thick lips and a big nose, holding a trident in his hand. His name was Sunbell, once a member of the Roger Pirates in the original timeline, but now recruited by Nereus.
On the right was a Fish-Man with a shiny bald head, sporting two mustaches, currently fingering a string of prayer beads.
His name was Barbell, formerly a member of the Rocks Pirates in the original timeline. Along with Sebastian and Big Pan, these four served as Nereus's trusted officers.
"Why is Sebastian taking so long?"
Barbell impatiently turned the prayer beads in his hand, complaining about Sebastian's tardiness.
"Maybe Boss Nereus has some urgent matter to attend to over there."
Sunbell chimed in calmly. Although Barbell was turning the prayer beads and claimed to be a monk, his temper was far more volatile than Sunbell's.
"That Rocks isn't even here now. Besides him, what could possibly stump the boss on this island?
Why not just make a phone call for something like this? Why go out of the way to go in person? I bet that Sebastian just ran off to fawn on the boss again..."
"Barbell, why don't you teach me how to contact someone by phone when he didn't even bring his phone with him?"
Just as Barbell was grumbling, Sebastian appeared behind him, responding to his words with a disgruntled tone.
"And who are you calling 'kid'? I'm actually older than you, just don't look as old, and at least I didn't go bald when I was young."
Giants are supposed to have a theoretical lifespan of three hundred years, and Giant hybrids are affected by this as well, so their adolescence lasts a long time.
But compared to age, Barbell seemed much more concerned about hair.
"This is a monk's training! Training!! It's not baldness, it's tonsure!! And you, so what if you have some Giant blood? Are you really that proud of it?"
"Not bad. At least I'm not losing my hair."
Sebastian tossed his hair back, the flowing black locks making several creases pop out on Barbell's forehead, as if the very word "balding" was attacking his heart.
Barbell had once possessed a head of hair as fiery as flames, but with the passage of time, those beautiful locks had abandoned him, and his midlife crisis had come early.
Of course, outwardly Barbell always insisted he'd shaved his head himself for better spiritual training.
"Cut it out, you two. The captain's coming."
Sunbell patted both of them on the lower leg to remind them of Nereus's arrival. As for why he had to pat their legs...
Sebastian, due to his Giant-Fish-Man heritage, was exceptionally tall, and Barbell was naturally brawny, practically a little giant himself.
This wasn't uncommon among Fish-Men; some, like Wadatsumi, even reached heights comparable to ancient Giants.
But compared to these two, Sunbell, who was usually considered burly, now looked like a dwarf.
Hearing this, the two stopped arguing. Quarreling was so commonplace for them it had become a unique form of entertainment.
But when it came to serious matters, they knew when to stop.
As others greeted him with cries of "Captain," "Boss," or "Leader," Nereus arrived in front of the group.