It was clear that without help, the shipwreck survivor would die.
The sea never lacked Sea Kings.
She was lucky enough not to have encountered one yet. Instead, she had somehow survived until Kai's sailboat arrived.
When Kai saw the survivor, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"A shipwreck survivor?"
"For some reason…"
"This feels a little off."
He controlled the sailboat and guided it closer.
As the boat passed nearby, Kai saw that the survivor was a young woman.
Her face could not be seen clearly.
Her wet hair clung messily to her cheeks, covering most of her features. Only the vague outline of her face could be made out.
At first glance, she seemed to be quite beautiful.
"Sir, please save me!"
The woman looked up at Kai, her voice trembling.
"Our ship was caught in a disaster. It broke apart, and everyone else died. Please save me. I can pay you. I can give you plenty of berries. Please…"
Her eyes were full of pleading.
She looked like a drowning person grabbing the last straw that could keep her alive.
On the open sea, if no ship passed by, death was certain.
Even if she could endure hunger and exhaustion, the creatures beneath the waves would not ignore her forever.
Now that she had seen Kai, she naturally saw hope.
Kai glanced at her.
Then he looked away.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
In that brief moment, he had already noticed several things.
From the beginning, he had released his Observation Haki and scanned her body.
And what he found was interesting.
Though she looked like a helpless shipwreck survivor, her vitality was far stronger than that of an ordinary person.
In fact, even on the Grand Line, she could not be considered weak.
That alone explained a great deal.
A young and beautiful woman.
A convenient survivor.
A pitiful expression.
A fragile appearance that invited sympathy.
And yet, she possessed strength comparable to pirates worth tens of millions of berries.
Was the truth not obvious?
Kai was only five years old.
Even if he wore a Marine coat of justice, his age should have reduced the intimidation factor. If this woman were truly just a survivor with some strength, her first reaction would not have been to beg.
She would have seized the sailboat by force.
That would have been the normal response for someone who had enough power to survive on this sea.
After all, anyone capable of roaming the Grand Line was not simple.
Especially not a young woman with decent strength.
Instead, she had chosen to appear weak.
To plead.
To act harmless.
Kai naturally did not believe there was no problem.
Still, he was curious.
What was her goal?
What purpose did she have?
Why go through this much trouble?
The timing was too convenient.
The shipwreck too fresh.
The survivor too perfect.
Kai's smile deepened.
No matter what scheme waited behind her, he was not afraid.
With absolute confidence in his own strength, he did not fear any trap on this sea.
"No matter what kind of scheme it is…"
"To me, it's interesting."
"At least it can help pass the time."
"I hope it doesn't disappoint me."
Half a moment later, the woman successfully boarded the sailboat.
Only when she stepped onto the deck did she realize something.
There was no crew.
No guards.
No sailors.
Only Kai.
For a brief instant, surprise flashed through her eyes, but she quickly hid it.
After a short conversation, Kai learned her name.
Lilith.
She was in her early twenties.
Once she cleaned herself up and adjusted her soaked clothes, her true appearance became clear.
Young.
Beautiful.
Graceful.
She looked almost like a noble princess who had fallen into misfortune.
A woman like her could easily stir a man's protective instincts.
Unfortunately, she was facing Kai.
Her beauty meant nothing to him.
"Sir, thank you for saving me."
"If not for you, I would have died in this sea today."
Lilith looked at him with grateful, helpless eyes.
"Could I trouble you to send me to the waters ahead? There is an island called the Beck Archipelago."
"When we arrive, I will repay you properly."
"You can ask for anything. I will do my best to satisfy your request. I promise your kindness will not be wasted."
"The Beck Archipelago…"
Kai's eyes narrowed.
The name made his scattered thoughts gradually become clear.
He did not know every detail of the Grand Line's geography, but he had read enough Marine files to recognize certain places.
Near the waters leading to Alabasta, there was a force known as the Beck Pirate Alliance.
A rather arrogant pirate organization.
Its scale was large.
Its numbers were said to exceed five thousand.
It was not a single pirate crew, but an alliance formed by more than a dozen pirate groups.
And the headquarters of that pirate alliance was located in the Beck Archipelago.
Kai looked at Lilith with amusement.
So that was it.
He finally understood why he had not encountered any pirate ships during the past three days of sailing toward Alabasta.
This sea had already been claimed by a pirate alliance.
No wonder other pirate crews did not dare appear here casually.
"Things are getting more interesting."
Kai looked at Lilith with a meaningful smile.
After a while, he spoke calmly.
"Sending you there is fine."
"I believe in helping people to the end."
"But let me make one thing clear."
"Once I bring you to the Beck Archipelago, I'll be charging a price for the escort."
"What do you think?"
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