Chapter 3: Legends of the Great Sea
Listening to the continuous roar outside, Nicholas helplessly dug his ear with his little finger.
He guessed that many of the unlucky newcomers who had just joined would probably disappear under the 'greetings' of the top powerhouses of this sea.
"Yo, little Nicholas, long time no see. Let big sis see if you've grown up?"
Just as Nicholas was walking towards the castle's interior, a stunning beauty with a lady's cigarette dangling from her lips and a neat short haircut suddenly appeared before him.
"Sister Shakky, we're really not suitable for each other."
Nicholas said with a look of resignation at the woman before him.
Although this woman hadn't yet settled down with a certain someone who had washed his hands of his former life to become a coating craftsman, who knew if the two had already hooked up.
He didn't want to be on the radar of a certain 'Ray'.
After all, even in the seas of the New World, the Oro Jackson was one of the rare terrifying entities capable of tangling with the Rocks Pirates, and their captain wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.
Nicholas believed that if that straightforward captain found out his first mate's old flame had been snatched away, he would definitely come looking for trouble, sword in hand.
"Tch, I thought little brother Nicholas would have grown into a real man after his trip out. Turns out you're still so easily flustered, just like the shy kid you were two years ago."
The woman took a deep drag from her cigarette, slowly exhaled towards Nicholas's cheek, then stuffed the half-smoked cigarette into Nicholas's mouth, speaking with a hint of boredom.
All Nicholas could do in response was smile.
After all, this woman could be considered one of his few connections within the Rocks Pirates.
Holding the reins of all intelligence sources for the Rocks Pirates, she had helped Nicholas out several times.
Just then, the castle beneath their feet suddenly trembled.
"Have those idiots started fighting again?"
Scritch.
Shakky struck a match, lit a cigarette, and listened to the clamor and immense booms from outside, her brow furrowing involuntarily.
Evidently, for someone like her who relied on brains, those brutes were thoroughly unlikeable, leading Shakky to relentlessly mock the Rocks Pirates' 'corporate culture' as worthless.
"Yeah, Whitebeard and Golden Lion started fighting. It probably won't be decided anytime soon."
Nicholas said, listening to the rumbling outside.
Seemingly remembering something, he asked Shakky, "By the way, Sister Shakky, any news about the Alchemi I asked you to investigate last time?"
"Pufff"
Shakky blew a smoke ring, leaning back comfortably.
"Kid, you're so eager to ask about Alchemi. Don't tell me you also believe in that legend of immortality?"
"Hahaha~haha"
After hearing this, Nicholas didn't answer immediately but started laughing first.
"Since I've chosen this sea, whether it's treasure, secret treasures, hidden realms, the All Blue, or various legends, aren't these exactly what I pursue?"
"What an interesting kid you are."
Saying this, Shakky pulled a rolled-up map from her bosom and tossed it directly to Nicholas.
Then she headed towards the castle's interior.
"Little Nicholas, although there's no specific news on Alchemi, according to the intelligence I gathered, that island seems to have been swallowed by some enormous undersea creature. Only a small fragment of ruins remains there now. If you're interested, you can go take a look. Oh, right, come to my room tonight. Big sis has something to ask you."
As her voice gradually faded, Shakky's figure disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
"Heeheeheehee, sounds like we heard something incredible."
"I didn't expect that woman Shakky to have such unique tastes."
"Wow, little bro's glare is terrifying."
As the voices spoke, three figures appeared.
One, dressed in a kimono, could be described with lines from the ancient poem 'Shiren': hands like soft sprouts, skin like fine lard, neck like the tree grub, teeth like melon seeds, cicada head and moth eyebrows; her clever smile enchanting, her beautiful eyes longing – the description was hardly an exaggeration.
Beside her were a woman with short blonde hair, wearing a leopard-print coat and a red hat, and a middle-aged man also in a kimono.
Strangely, his hands remained hidden within his wide sleeves, as if he didn't want outsiders to see them.
"Three boring fools. Hope you live to see our next meeting. After all, the Captain's recent moves are getting bigger and bigger. Don't get yourselves killed carelessly."
After speaking, Nicholas led Vista and the person shrouded in a cloak behind him towards the second floor of the castle.
As for his other subordinates, they weren't qualified to go to the second floor.
Parting ways with the three he called boring, Nicholas arrived on the second floor of the castle, the location of the true core power of the entire Rocks Pirates.
"Ahahahaha, Nicholas, didn't expect you to be so late this time. This speed doesn't quite match your Fruit, does it?"
A man about two meters tall, with wild hair flaring behind him and an aura of untamable arrogance, sat on the central throne, chugging down a bottle of fine wine.
Beside him, several scantily clad beauties massaged him with their hands while gently licking up the spilled wine with their tongues.
"Ran into an interesting fellow on the way, got delayed for a bit."
Saying this, Nicholas walked towards a seat with the number seven printed on its back.
Vista and the cloaked figure silently took their places standing on either side behind Nicholas.
"Oh? What interesting fellow? Tell us about it?"
A man sitting next to Nicholas, dressed in captain's attire and drinking heartily from a bottle, asked curiously.
"Seems to be some Inspire-Inspire Fruit Ability User. Though his strength wasn't much, the boost he gave his subordinates was significant. Many fodder with bounties around one million could unleash several times their strength under the fruit's influence. And most importantly, under the fruit's effect, those people had no concept of fear. Captain John, this fruit would actually suit you quite well, considering you have quite a few pirate crews under you."
Nicholas said with some regret.
Within the Rocks Pirates, it wasn't just about individual strength.
If you commanded a grand fleet of over ten thousand men, you could also secure a decent position within the Rocks Pirates.
After all, even ten thousand fodder, once armed, were a decent batch of cannon fodder.
Of course, a pirate capable of commanding a ten-thousand-strong fleet wouldn't be too weak themselves, and Captain John was a prime example.
His pirates largely constituted a portion of the Rocks Pirates' lower-level combat power.
Hearing Nicholas's words, Captain John seemed to sober up considerably, even standing up from his chair in his haste.
"What!"
"Hey, hey, hey, I just said I crushed a minnow who dared to offend me. Is there a need to be so tense, Captain John? Or are you saying you want to fight me?"
Nicholas propped his feet up on the table in front of him, speaking nonchalantly.
"Hahahaha~"
"John, looks like your luck is pretty bad, huh."
Sitting nearby, a man about Vista's height with a long beard, and another person clad entirely in silver armor, resembling a wingless Winged Knight from Dark Souls 3, burst into laughter simultaneously.
However, their laughter wasn't directed at Nicholas, but at Captain John.
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter