At the port of Frans Island, on a vast sandy beach, more than a hundred outlaws were waiting for Bront's merchant ship to arrive. Meanwhile, Bront was quietly conversing with a Marine officer.
It was hard to believe that a group of criminals stood in plain sight while the Marine officer turned a blind eye. After obtaining what he wanted, the officer sneered and left. "Another bunch of ignorant fools rushing to their deaths. Saves us Marines the trouble of hunting them down."
"If anything comes up, contact me through the Den Den Mushi," Rosen instructed Robin. He had already given all necessary warnings.
"That's the Shichibukai who wiped out over a thousand pirates single-handedly last night? He doesn't seem that impressive," muttered one of the criminals, most of whom had just arrived on Frans Island from other islands.
Encounters like this happened every day.
"See that guy over there? You recognize him, right?" An older pirate pointed at a middle-aged man in the crowd who looked nervous and terrified.
"Balin! I'd recognize that bastard even if he turned to ash! He's the one who broke my leg last time I came to Frans Island, causing me to miss my chance to strike it rich on Lantis Island… Wait, why does he look so scared now?"
"He took part in the ambush on Shichibukai Crocodile last night. He was far away from the main fight, which is the only reason he survived. But his courage seems to have been scared out of him. Didn't you notice? He stood as far from Crocodile as possible," the older pirate explained, his eyes filled with admiration for Crocodile.
One man, standing against thousands of criminals, yet still holding their lives in his hands—too powerful! It was awe-inspiring. If only he took underlings.
"Gulp…" The younger pirate swallowed nervously. If someone as ruthless as Balin was this terrified, just how dangerous was last night's battle?
"Bront, is this all there is? Weren't there supposed to be more prospectors?" Rosen asked, somewhat surprised.
He had spotted a massive ship approaching from the sea. The vessel was large enough to hold a thousand people with ease, yet this trip was carrying so few? It didn't seem profitable.
"Haha, well, a lot of people couldn't make it at the last minute," Bront replied awkwardly.
In truth, he felt like cursing. Originally, there had been a large group ready to go, but after last night's massacre, most were either dead or too injured to come. The ones here now were those he had personally convinced.
After all, transporting these people wasn't free. Bront took a hefty cut from any treasure they found and even tried to buy their remaining loot whenever possible. He believed valuable goods only reached their full potential in his hands.
Though he wasn't happy about the situation, he had no complaints against Rosen. Firstly, Rosen had brought him a fortune. Secondly, Rosen was simply too powerful.
Bront wouldn't dare scheme against him. Even a horde of criminals was no match for him, and the men Bront had under him—while decent—were nothing compared to the ones who had accepted a private job last night. None of them had returned.
Rosen quickly grasped the situation but didn't comment.
"Once you're on board, there will be personnel to explain all necessary precautions. I hope everyone returns with great rewards," Bront announced to the group.
"Let's go." Rosen noticed Pittas hesitating near the boarding area and gave him a reminder.
"Oh… Alright…" Pittas took a deep breath, steeling himself with the resolve of a warrior heading into battle.
One by one, the passengers boarded, and the ship soon set sail again.
"The first thing you need to know is that Lantis Island has areas with unstable electromagnetic storms. Most of the time, Den Den Mushi won't work there. Once you're on the island, you'll be on your own. I know some of you have made arrangements, but don't expect outside help. The ship will return in five days to pick you up," the ship's captain announced, surveying the deck.
When his gaze landed on Rosen, however, he looked somewhat uneasy. He had been tempted last night but was glad he hadn't acted impulsively. It was best to stick to his role as a transport captain.
"The Den Den Mushi won't work? No one told me that," a pirate muttered. Den Den Mushi were crucial for calling for help and transmitting information.
If they lost communication on Lantis Island, reporting discoveries or calling for backup would be difficult. Some people started worrying, but others, already aware of this issue, remained indifferent. "Even if the Den Den Mushi worked, do you really think anyone would come to Lantis Island to save you? Hah! If you're scared, don't come."
"That's the first warning. The second is more of a piece of advice: There are many strange humanoid creatures on the island, some of which are infectious. Be especially wary of those with plant-like features. If you're wounded by them and don't soak yourself in seawater immediately, you'll become one of them."
Hearing this, even Rosen frowned. Were the creatures on the island some kind of zombies? No, that didn't seem right. From what he had seen at the Sora Maple Inn, "mutants" was a more fitting description.
Still, he made a mental note of the warning.
The others looked tense but were relieved there was at least a way to prevent infection. That made things a little better.
"The third and most important warning: If you see a living person, do not try to communicate. Do not hesitate. Stay as far away as possible," the captain said, his voice tinged with fear.
"We're here to strike gold, not fight with the natives," a burly man laughed, though he inwardly dismissed the warning. He couldn't understand why humans would be something to fear. A bunch of cowards.
Saide chuckled, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the man standing at the ship's bow—Rosen, the Shichibukai. The bounty on him was massive, but he didn't seem easy to mess with.
They had only just arrived at Frans Island, but last night's events were well-known. Too many people had died. Even those considering taking action would have to think twice.
"This feels like we're on a tour to hell," Pittas muttered bitterly. He recalled how, seven or eight years ago, when people sailed to Lantis, they talked about:
The mesmerizing hues of the Thousand-Color Garden's flowers.
New exploration activities added to the Natural Maze City.
The latest gourmet dishes from the Grand Food Capital.
And the dream of discovering golden iron motherlodes, striking it rich overnight.
Now? The only thing being repeated was: Be careful. Be careful. And be even more careful.
"What was Lantis Island like before?" Rosen asked, intrigued by Pittas' reaction.
"Beautiful, prosperous, just, and fair. If I weren't poor, I'd have wanted to spend my whole life there," Pittas replied, his face filled with nostalgia.
"Tell me more…"
The ship sailed on. The journey to Lantis Island wasn't long—around ten minutes.
As they entered the island's sacred waters, everything changed. Rosen noticed wreckage from pirate and merchant ships drifting on the sea's surface, but strangely, there were almost no corpses.
"These are ships that tried to enter Lantis Island without permission. They were sunk. The Marines have special exploration methods on every island, allowing them to detect incoming and outgoing vessels—even submarines. But their surveillance isn't constant. Of course, their high-powered telescopes can also spot unusual activity on the water," the captain explained when he noticed the crew's confusion.
"There's a Marine fleet coming our way! Damn it! Get ready for battle! That bastard Bront didn't sell us out to the Marines, did he?!" A pirate with sharp eyesight suddenly shouted in alarm. He had spotted a full lineup of Marine ships approaching from the sacred waters' edge.
Judging by their formation, it was a textbook attack maneuver.
(End of Chapter)
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