Free Web NovelChapter 1299: Chapter 10: Forcibly Saving the Benefactor
Two hours later, in a calm and tranquil sea.
The sea breeze blew gently as Su Xiao sat on a rectangular block of solid ice, crafted by A Mu. If it releases the ice energy within, it can easily create an ice-sealed field. It sounds great, but in reality, it can’t be used in battle because A Mu releases ice energy too slowly, taking at least half a minute.
This floating platform on the sea is 10 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 3 meters thick. With foam filler inside the ice layer, it floats steadily on the sea, requiring A Mu to release ice energy occasionally to prevent the ice from melting.
Soaking wet, Su Xiao stood on the ice layer. He decided to take off his shirt, enjoying the warm sea breeze.
The ice layer drifted slowly with the sea breeze. Bubu Wang and A Mu were also on the ice, along with a strong figure lying there — Pika, who was half-conscious.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang barked, directing A Mu to give first aid to Pika. Pika had just swallowed too much water, and with his constitution, expelling the seawater from his lungs would suffice.
A Mu reversed its grip on the war hammer, the thick hammerhead slamming straight into Pika’s abdomen.
With a thud, Pika’s body convulsed, but he didn’t cough out any seawater.
"Woof!"
Bubu Wang signaled A Mu to stop quickly, fearing A Mu might end up killing Pika by accident, which would be hilarious.
After a discussion between the dog and the ox, they finally decided to adopt the ’anti-gravity drainage method.’ Don’t think it’s some high-tech trick; it involves A Mu lifting Pika by his feet and shaking him...
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Still unconscious, Pika awoke, spraying a large amount of seawater from his mouth and nose.
A Mu dropped Pika, who landed with a thud on the hard ice, nearly passing out again. A Mu simply had no concept of ’gentleness.’
"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."
After a bout of racking coughs, Pika regained consciousness. His eyes scanned the surroundings; although he didn’t know his location, he remained calm.
"You’re awake."
Sitting at the edge of the ice, Su Xiao spoke, holding a cigarette between his fingers.
"It’s you?"
Pika’s breath was uneven, but instinctively, he grasped the hilt of the knife at his waist. His thin, high-pitched voice was unmistakably distinctive.
Pika stood more than three meters tall, his body rippling with muscle, but his voice was as high-pitched as a child’s. The contrast between his body and voice was so great it was almost comical, though it was natural and not worth mocking.
Su Xiao glanced at Pika’s hand on the knife and smiled: "Is this how you repay your savior?"
Upon hearing Su Xiao’s words, Pika had no response, but Bubu Wang’s dog face turned awkward. Previously, all of Pika’s subordinates were finished by Su Xiao, and now Su Xiao forcibly became Pika’s savior.
Su Xiao certainly had luck on his side; he gained a massive amount of Pirate Reputation from his first battle and killed Speiro, now ’saving’ Pika.
Su Xiao was curious about what kind of status Doflamingo might promise him when they finally meet.
It’s worth mentioning that Su Xiao is like a hot potato to Doflamingo. Being wanted by the World Government and now enemies with Big Mom.
As for Doflamingo turning Su Xiao away, that would be a joke. Speiro’s head is a pledge, plus the lifesaving grace. As a sea overlord, Doflamingo must realize what refusing Su Xiao would mean.
"So what," Pika’s face regained some color as he looked directly at Su Xiao and continued, "I’m a pirate."
"Even pirates need to know gratitude."
Su Xiao exhaled a puff of blue smoke. According to his original plan, using his 30 points in Charm Attributes and his identity as a savior, he hoped to establish a ’Friendly Relationship’ with Pika, and ideally, gain his personal favor.
Yet, Su Xiao was surprised to find that his 30 Charm Attributes seemingly had no effect; Pika not only wasn’t grateful for his ’lifesaving grace,’ but judging by the way Pika glanced around, he seemed ready to... escape?
Given Pika’s current state and the environment, Su Xiao could dispatch Pika in a minute. Perhaps Pika knew this too.
In Pika’s perception, Su Xiao was entirely unlike any other pirate. Even those pirates who burn, loot, and commit all sorts of evil on the sea weren’t as overwhelmingly murderous as Su Xiao.
"You seem to hold a grudge against me?"
Su Xiao’s expression was relaxed as he tried to suppress his aura of blood.
"..."
Pika said nothing; rather than indulging in a verbal spat, he valued his life more.
"Don’t worry, I’m here to join Doflamingo, not to oppose you."
Su Xiao took some compressed food from his storage space and tossed it to Pika. Pika hesitated for a moment, then tore open the package and began to eat aggressively.
He wasn’t worried about being poisoned by Su Xiao; if Su Xiao intended to poison him, he would have done so while Pika was unconscious. Besides, he urgently needed to recover his strength.
"You must be Bai Ye, wanted by the World Government."
"Correct."
Su Xiao didn’t know yet he was wanted by the World Government, but he could easily guess. Given his actions at Enies Lobby, it would be strange if the World Government hadn’t issued a bounty for him.
"Your involvement in the recent sea battle was for this type of purpose?"
"Of course."
"Then... how did you end up on my ship?"
"Shipwrecked, then rescued by your people."
"..."
Pika was visibly speechless; he sensed countless loopholes in Su Xiao’s explanation, but it wasn’t the right time to expose him.
Su Xiao had no intention of convincing Pika. As an adult in his forties, Pika had his judgments and ideas.
Rather than fabricate a web of lies easily unraveled, it was better to brush him off. The Donquixote Family had its own intelligence sources, and they could investigate everything Su Xiao had done in the Pirate World.
"Is our destination Dressrosa?"
Pika stood up; he needed to return to Dressrosa as soon as possible since the conflict between the Donquixote Family and Big Mom Pirates was far from over.
"If we’re lucky, our course is heading for Dressrosa."
"Lucky...?"
Pika stared at Su Xiao, dumbfounded.
"Are you saying we’re adrift at sea?"
"Of course, why do you think I saved you?"
Pika fell silent once more, seemingly realizing the main reason Su Xiao ’saved’ him: Su Xiao had no idea how to navigate to Dressrosa Island.
Dressrosa Island was the main storyline event in this plot. Even though the event was labeled a sea battle, to reap large rewards, Dressrosa was the place to be.
Pika glanced at the ice beneath him: "Is this how you usually navigate?"
"Previously, whenever I wanted to go somewhere, informing the Navy sufficed. Most of the time, Vice Admirals or Special Agents escorted me, and sometimes even Kizaru."
"Kizaru..."
Pika was obviously at a loss for words. Su Xiao wasn’t lying. While producing alchemy bombs for the World Government, he had been escorted by a gorgeous Major, Vice Admirals, CP9 Special Agents, and even Kizaru. Tina, a promising officer in the Navy, was often assigned as his ’Intimate Little Secretary.’
"So, we’re lost at sea?"
Pika furrowed his brows, glancing at the vast sea around them. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but water.
"You don’t know the direction to Dressrosa?"
Su Xiao flicked away his cigarette butt, sensing trouble.
The two locked gazes, confirming that neither of them had any clue about navigating the sea route.
