The Golden Flying Dragon slowly docked at the pier of Hachinosu Island.
A gangplank was lowered from the deck, and Ian and Yamato walked down side by side.
Jack and Black Maria followed behind Ian. Black Maria gazed out at the bustling island. "There are so many people on the island. Where are we supposed to find the people Mr. Kaido asked us to find?"
"We'll just ask someone."
Ian stepped onto the soil of Hachinosu Island and looked around.
It had to be said that the Beasts Pirates really were a famous unicorn enterprise in the New World. Their arrival had drawn all the pirates from the surrounding small and medium-sized enterprises over to watch the spectacle.
The docks were packed so tightly that not even water could pass through.
Fortunately, none of the little nobodies eager to make a name for themselves jumped out this time. That probably had something to do with Boss Wang Zhi hating people who caused trouble on his turf.
Upon seeing Ian and the others, the pirates began to chatter among themselves.
"Kids?"
"They're all kids?"
"Are they really from the Beasts Pirates? I've never seen any of them. Could they be impostors?"
"Have you lost your mind? What kind of lunatic would dare impersonate the Beasts Pirates on Boss Wang Zhi's turf?"
Ian paid no attention to the pirates' discussion. He merely recalled what Teacher Kai had said, as repeated by Babanuki.
After the Rocks Pirates fell apart, Teacher Kai's old friend, like Teacher Kai and the others, had formed his own pirate crew.
But his strength was clearly a little lacking compared to Whitebeard, Teacher Kai, and Charlotte Linlin, so he had been unable to expand his territory and build up his own foundation.
He had made Hachinosu Island his base. Ochoku did not reject outside pirates, after all. As long as they paid their protection money on time, they could survive here.
This was the old friend Teacher Kai had mentioned, the one who had settled down and built a life here.
Ian found that rather subtle.
In a sense, he really had settled down and built a life.
Not long ago, however, this old friend of Teacher Kai's had encountered a powerful enemy while sailing. He was the only one who had barely escaped, but his injuries were too severe for him to live much longer. That was why he had called Teacher Kai.
He had a pair of young children, and there would be no one to care for them after his death.
Having lived on Hachinosu Island for decades, he figured that asking any elderly islander would probably reveal the whereabouts of the brother and sister.
But before Ian could find someone to ask, the pirates gathered ahead parted to make a path, accompanied by cries of surprise.
A tall, thin man walked out through the passage.
Ian studied him.
He stood more than three meters tall. Among so many pirates, that was not especially remarkable. What stood out was his exceptionally gaunt body, thin as a bamboo pole, as though a gust of wind might blow him away.
His face was equally long and narrow. It had gone beyond horse-faced and could only be described as stick-insect-like.
The man, who looked to be under forty, looked Ian and the others up and down without saying a word.
"Hey, what are you trying to do?"
Yamato had already stepped forward, speaking aggressively. "Do you want to fight us too?"
I don't think so.
Ian remained expressionless.
On Hachinosu Island, the only people who could command such respect from the pirates were members of the Wang Zhi Pirates. Ian could think of no other possibility.
And the Wang Zhi Pirates just happened to be the people least likely to attack them directly on this island.
Sure enough, the cold-faced man spoke indifferently. "Boss Wang Zhi told me to bring you a warning. He doesn't care what you do, but remember this: don't run wild on this island."
After saying that, the man turned and left without looking back, not hesitating in the slightest.
Oh, cool man.
But Ochoku's attitude meant Teacher Kai had already contacted him in advance?
Otherwise, there was no reason for Ochoku to know about them at all, right?
Ian was almost touched. Teacher Kai, you're so gentle these days.
"What the hell! That guy was so arrogant!"
Yamato huffed angrily. "He didn't take me seriously at all!"
"Enough."
Ian grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. "Let's find someone and ask for directions first."
Who was the arrogant one here?
Wasn't that attitude perfectly normal?
Uninvited guests had come to his home, and he had only sent someone to give them a verbal warning. Ian even thought Ochoku was being a little too soft.
Anyway.
"Can anyone answer a question for me?"
Ian looked around at the pirates and called out loudly.
Ulti ran frantically through the alley.
She was only seven years old. This should have been an age when she was carefree and spoiled in her parents' arms, but Ulti wore a tattered dress, her body covered in grime. Carrying a wooden club studded with nails, she raced through the crumbling alleyways.
The girl in the strange mask was breathing hard from running at full speed for so long, but she did not slow down for even a moment.
Page One! Your sister is coming to save you!!
The little girl darted around a corner, and what appeared before her made her eyes split with rage.
A small boy, who looked only five or six, was surrounded by several youths in their early teens. One of them had grabbed the boy by the head and was grinding his face against the wall. The rough surface had scraped his face raw, and blood stained the wall red.
"Run, brat! Why aren't you running anymore?"
"Page One!!!"
Ulti felt like she was about to explode.
Before this, the little girl had never imagined that her life would undergo such earth-shaking changes.
When her father had still been alive, she had been carefree every day and had never worried about anything.
Her father often had to sail out to sea, but whenever he returned, he spent all his time playing with her and her brother.
So even though her mother had left early, Ulti had never lacked love.
Back then, she had spent every day running wild around the island with her brother.
But ever since her father died not long ago, everything had changed completely.
Pirates who had held grudges against her father came knocking one after another, using every possible method to seize all the property he had left behind. Ulti and her brother could only end up on the streets.
And those pirates' revenge was not over yet.
Lord Ochoku did not allow anyone to cause trouble on the island, so they sent their own children to constantly bully the brother and sister.
Today, after just one moment of carelessness, her brother Page One had been snatched away by those bastards. Ulti had chased after them in a panic.
"You bastards! Go die!"
They actually dared to bully Page One!
Ulti's fury soared to the heavens.
She had promised her father, who had been on the verge of death, that she would protect Page One!
The little girl sprinted forward, leaped into the air, and brought her homemade spiked club down on one of the boys' heads before any of them could react.
"Argh!"
With a scream, the unlucky boy's skull was smashed apart. She was only seven years old, yet she had struck with such force.
The boy collapsed with a scream. It was clear that he was barely breathing.
"Y-you—you killed him!!"
The other youths cried out in shock.
They knew this girl was strong, but this was too ridiculous! They were not ordinary boys—they were pirate trainees!
Was the difference really this huge once she had a weapon?
"You're going to die too!"
Ulti's eyes had gone completely red. She could think of nothing but the fact that these bastards who had hurt Page One had to die!
She swung her spiked club wildly and without any technique, beating the youths until they screamed and fled with their heads covered. Two more dropped to the ground on the spot.
"Just you wait!"
The youths fled in disarray.
"Quick, Page One! We have to run!"
Ulti did not chase after them. Instead, she hurriedly carried her brother onto her back, turned around, and ran.
She was still too young to know what she should do next. She only knew that she needed to run now.
"Big sis—"
The little boy, bruised and swollen, his face covered in blood, murmured weakly.
"Page One! Your sister will definitely protect you!"
Ulti shouted.
But the instant she rushed out of the alley, a huge foot came flying at her, kicking Ulti to the ground.
"You little brat! What did you do?!"
Several pirates surrounded Ulti and her brother, their faces twisted with fury.
The youths who had fled earlier stood behind them.
These children had not been picked up from just anywhere. They were their own children.
And now, one of their children had been killed by this brat!
"I'll kill you!!"
They cast Lord Ochoku's rules to the back of their minds. The enraged pirates no longer cared about anything.
And Ulti's first reaction was—
"Run! Page One! Run!"
The little girl screamed, flipping herself over and lunging at the pirates.
"Big sis—"
The little boy named Page One blankly raised his blood-smeared face and watched weakly as his sister was knocked to the ground by the pirates again in an instant.
Even with such extraordinary talent, she was still far too far behind elite pirates who had survived in the New World.
The pirates drew their swords and pulled out their guns, preparing to kill the brother and sister.
"Page One—"
Ulti lay on the ground, desperately reaching out to grab her brother, but a pirate planted his foot on her back, leaving her unable to move.
And the pirate's gun was already aimed at the back of her head.
The next moment, he would pull the trigger.
"Adults bullying children isn't very nice, is it?"
Before you continue