Whatever discussions the Marines were having back at headquarters, Kouta and the others knew nothing about—and frankly, didn't need to.
Right now, they were all excitedly staring at a small island in the distance.
It had been four days since they'd left Conomi Island.
Aside from the brief encounter with the Mad Bull Pirates, the voyage had been painfully uneventful. For the past three days, the endless, unchanging sea had left them bored out of their minds, like salted fish that had lost all ambition.
So spotting land again at last was reason enough to get excited.
After all, after being at sea for so long, unless someone was born to enjoy solitude, most people yearned for noise, activity, and a touch of liveliness.
That was one reason why pirate crews loved throwing parties.
"According to the map, that island is called Proceus. A typical island with a Marine base stationed on it," Kuina said calmly, holding a map and eyeing the approaching shoreline.
She wasn't bothered by the monotony of the voyage. As long as Kouta was there, it didn't matter where she was.
"Marine base?" Ahua flinched reflexively.
They had officially become a pirate crew now, so it was only natural to feel a little wary around Marines.
Not because they feared fighting them.
It was more like the instinctual reaction of a thief bumping into a cop.
But then something seemed to dawn on him, and he quickly shook off the concern, puffing out his round belly and declaring confidently, "Who cares if there's a Marine base? We haven't even been given bounties yet, so what's there to be afraid of?"
"Yeah, exactly! It's not like the Marines can just come after us," Atou chimed in.
Kuina gave them a sidelong glance. "Just be careful anyway. It's been a few days already. The Marines have probably issued bounties by now."
"Not that Kouta or I care—but if any of you get caught, you'll be sitting in a cell for a long time."
"Hey, Kuina, do you have to look down on us like that?" Alo barked from behind, stepping forward indignantly.
She turned and fixed him with a look. "Got a problem with that?"
"N-No, not at all..." Alo quickly shook his head and waved his hands. "Just slipped up for a second."
"Damn it, I got too cocky," Ahua muttered, and both he and Atou took a few steps away from Alo, focusing intently on the road ahead as if none of this had anything to do with them.
Kouta turned his gaze from Proceus Island back to Kuina and smiled. "Even if there are bounties, it should only be on you and me. Ahua and the others shouldn't be involved, so don't worry about it."
The three of them weren't sure whether to feel happy or insulted by that.
It definitely felt like Kouta was mocking them again.
"Yeah... I know," Kuina said, smiling softly as she looked at him. Then she added with a teasing tone, "Those three? Even if they wanted a bounty, they couldn't earn one."
Ahua, Atou, and Alo were left fuming in silence, trembling with frustration.
When will they finally grow strong enough to stand on their own?
…
Soon, the Freedom docked at the port of Proceus Island.
They moored the ship between a few fishing boats, lowered the sails, dropped anchor, and disembarked.
"Ah... it feels so good to be on solid ground again!" Ahua exclaimed, bouncing in place on the dock with obvious delight.
"Huh... why is it so empty?" Alo muttered, cigarette dangling from his lips as he looked around.
It wasn't what they'd expected. They had assumed it would be a bustling island, but the place felt eerily quiet.
"Maybe everyone's in town," Kouta replied casually, glancing down the street ahead.
Just then, he cast a sideways glance toward a Marine watchtower on the right.
He stopped for a second, then continued on as if nothing had happened. "Kuina and I are heading to a tavern to ask around—and maybe find a drink that's actually worth tasting."
He shook the wine gourd in his hand. No sound.
Clearly, it was empty.
He'd already finished the good wine he'd gotten from the Baratie restaurant.
Though they hadn't been at sea long, his tolerance had suddenly improved a lot.
He wasn't quite a drunkard yet, but he was definitely something of a "light alcoholic."
The usual rum on board now tasted no better than beer to him, and he really couldn't stand the flavor.
So he had picked up a new hobby: finding and sampling local spirits at every island they landed on.
"Don't worry, Kouta, we've got stuff to do too. You two go ahead," Ahua said.
"Alright, we'll be off then."
As Kouta and Kuina disappeared into town, the remaining three also split up to look for their own supplies.
Ahua went to buy fresh ingredients, fruits, and refill their freshwater stores.
Atou went to find new repair tools and any useful items for their ship.
As for Alo...
Lately, he'd gotten into guns and wanted to check if the island had any better ones.
The firearm he was using now had been looted from the Krieg Pirates—a common model at best.
Just a few days ago, he'd grumbled to Kouta about not letting him keep one of Don Krieg's better weapons, which left him feeling like he had nothing decent to use.
One by one, the crew members wandered into the town, disappearing into the side streets.
And it was only then that the Marine soldier hiding in the watchtower on the right side of the port finally exhaled.
Kouta's gaze just now had nearly scared him to death.
Not everyone had the courage to stare down a pirate with a 70 million bounty.
That was, after all, the highest bounty he had ever seen in person.
When the Marines issue a bounty, the notices are immediately transmitted to all branch bases. They're then handed over to the World News Organization, which sends them out across the globe via news birds.
So the first place to receive Kouta and Kuina's bounty posters was the Marine bases.
Everywhere else would get them a few days later, depending on their location—and remote areas might take even longer.
This lookout had noticed the Freedom the moment it entered port. But because its pirate flag didn't have a skull on it, he hadn't reacted right away.
The flag looked vaguely familiar. He'd thought it was just some merchant ship he'd seen before.
So he'd brushed it off.
But when the crew disembarked and he caught sight of Kouta's unmistakable silver hair, his heart practically leapt out of his chest.
No way... could it be?
He quickly fished out the bounty notice issued by HQ just two days ago.
And sure enough, the mugshot on it was a perfect match for Kouta.
The sun might have been warm that day, but it couldn't thaw the chill that had crept into his bones.
He looked up again, just to be sure, and then immediately averted his gaze.
He didn't dare look even a second longer, afraid Kouta would notice.
It really is him.
He stared at the chilling "7" on the bounty flyer, followed by that long string of zeroes.
It felt like he was standing on a block of ice, a freezing current shooting from the soles of his feet straight to his head.
His entire body trembled.
He stood there in stunned silence for a moment before finally snapping out of it and bolting toward the Marine base.
This has nothing to do with us grunts!
Let someone higher-up deal with it!
Of course, he knew that no one in their little base on Proceus Island could actually deal with someone like that.
But that was a problem for the big shots.
He was just a lowly patrolman. What did this have to do with him?
"Mission accomplished," he muttered.
************************
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