Free Web NovelChapter 2: Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
"Slash Wave!"
A golden sword slash tore across the ocean, splitting the water cleanly. A two-meter-long fish was cut perfectly in half. Even after being sliced, the fish head kept wriggling forward, unaware it was already dead.
Rorschach reached out with an open palm.
"Venom Snake."
The Float-Float Fruit activated. The rear half of the fish floated straight out of the sea and hovered in front of him.
"Ugh... I’m so sick of fish. Mouth’s about to taste like seawater at this point. Doesn’t anything ever pass by this damn route? A ship? An island? Anything?"
He sliced off a piece of raw sashimi, chewed it once, and made a face like he was eating cardboard.
"Bleh. Screw this. I’ll cook the rest later."
He spat the piece into the ocean and tossed the remaining fish carcass onto the deck.
"System, open my status panel."
Rorschach closed his eyes and connected with the system. A translucent blue screen immediately appeared in his mind.
[Host: Rorschach] [Strength: D] [Agility: D] [Spirit: C-] [Skills: Swordsmanship – C, Armament Haki – D, Observation Haki – D, Conqueror’s Haki – D-] [Devil Fruit: Float-Float Fruit – C] [Equipment: Karamatsu, Sakura Ju]
Looking at his stats, Rorschach couldn’t help but smile. The last few days of training hadn’t been wasted — his Observation Haki was already ahead of his Armament Haki in proficiency.
Out on the open sea, there wasn’t much he could do except train his mind and stretch his Observation Haki range. Every day he spread his senses across the ocean, hoping to detect ships.
But all he ever picked up were fish.
He couldn’t exactly float hundreds of meters in the air practicing sword swings like some weirdo.
Rorschach sat cross-legged on the deck, closed his eyes, and began his daily Observation Haki training.
Time slowly passed.
"Hm?" freewёbnoνel.com
His eyes snapped open.
Just now, a large group of life signatures had suddenly appeared in his Observation Haki range. He could even sense the distinct shapes of two ships and dozens of people.
In the far distance, two tiny black dots were visible on the horizon.
Rorschach’s face lit up with excitement. These were the first people he’d encountered since leaving the island — besides Shiki.
Perfect. He needed directions. If they could take him to Syrup Village, even better. He had no compass or proper sea charts, and even if he did, he wouldn’t know how to read them.
Without hesitation, he lifted his entire small boat into the air with the Float-Float Fruit and shot toward the two vessels at full speed.
...
"President Charlie! Pirates heading straight for us!"
A sailor ran onto the deck in panic.
Charlie’s face instantly turned pale.
"That’s impossible! This route is patrolled by the Navy. Pirates don’t usually sail here!"
"The lookout just spotted their ship coming right at us!" the sailor said, voice shaking.
Charlie quickly regained his composure and asked, "How far is the nearest naval base?"
"At least a full day’s sail from here."
Charlie’s expression darkened.
His cargo ship was fully loaded. There was no way they could outrun a pirate vessel. Dumping all the cargo might give them a chance... but that would mean losing everything he’d invested.
"Tell the crew to prepare, but don’t make any sudden moves. I’ll try talking to them first," Charlie ordered.
Meanwhile, on the pirate ship.
"Captain Sparrow! Target’s in sight!"
A pirate lackey burst into the captain’s cabin.
"I see them. Calm the hell down," replied a man wearing a captain’s hat, dirty dreadlocks, and heavy black eyeliner. He was lazily trimming his nails with a bored expression.
"Get everyone ready. We finish this quick. This is still a Navy patrol route — I don’t want any surprises."
After the subordinate left, Sparrow’s lips curled into a cruel, cunning smile.
"Heh... I sure hope that information from Kuro was real. Otherwise, those little tricks of his won’t save him." ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Soon, the pirate ship pulled alongside the merchant vessel. Dozens of pirates swarmed aboard, surrounding the terrified sailors.
Sparrow strolled forward casually, looking completely relaxed, as if he were taking a leisurely walk.
Charlie stepped out from the crowd with a forced smile, trying to look friendly.
"Esteemed Captain, we’re willing to pay one million berries as a safe passage fee. Please, be merciful."
Sparrow didn’t answer. He just kept playing with his nails, a playful smirk on his face.
Charlie’s heart sank.
One of the sailors suddenly recognized the pirate and whispered urgently, "President! That’s ’Deceiver’ Sparrow! Bounty of 13 million berries! He’s infamous for being cunning and extremely brutal!"
Charlie’s face drained of all color. His voice began to tremble.
"R-Respected Captain Sparrow... I’m willing to offer three million berries. Just please let us live."
Sparrow finally looked up, still toying with his nails.
"Three million berries won’t buy all your lives."
His casual tone sent chills down everyone’s spines.
"I’ll give you all the cargo! Just spare me and my crew!" Charlie pleaded, his voice desperate.
He had no choice. Money could be earned again. Lives could not.
Looking at the loyal sailors who had followed him for years — even the young rookie whose legs were visibly shaking — Charlie made the painful decision.
