The Evil Wolf Pirates

Later, Leiyin learned that the girl who had spoken so harshly to him was named Verdan. She was the daughter of the village chief on another island, fifteen years old at the time, and a genuine beauty. Although she was only fifteen, her delicate, doll-like features and graceful figure were exceptionally alluring, the kind that made men's blood surge. Later, she and Leiyin would go through some things together.

That was a story for later.

Leiyin learned about the wanted pirate from an old woman.

The old woman was over seventy. She looked kind and amiable, and was easy to approach, making Leiyin feel inexplicably close to her. Since arriving on the island, she was the only person who had not mocked him.

The old woman told Leiyin that there were three islands in the vicinity. Two of them were villages inhabited by civilians, while the other was occupied by a pirate crew.

The village they were currently in was called Town West Village, while the island village six nautical miles away was Town East Village.

A year ago, a pirate crew had invaded the area. The people from the two island villages had joined forces to resist them, led by Farmer and Miller.

Farmer was the chief of Town East Village, as well as Verdan's father.

Miller, who was nearly forty, was a retired Navy major. He knew some Martial Arts and was known as the "guardian" of the two villages, Town East and Town West.

The pirate crew was called the "Evil Wolf Pirates." Its two leaders were brothers. The younger brother, Andrin, was the vice-captain. He had a bounty of five million Beli, stood over two and a half meters tall, and possessed immense strength.

His elder brother Anderson, the captain, was even more formidable. He had a bounty of ten million Beli and was a Devil Fruit user.

A year ago, the "Evil Wolf Pirates" invaded the villages. Thanks to Chief Farmer's influence and Miller's strength, they led the villagers into battle. The fight was exceptionally fierce, and they had nearly fought the "Evil Wolf Pirates" to a draw.

Although the villages had suffered a certain amount of damage, neither side had been able to do anything to the other. At first, the two sides were locked in a stalemate, but later, as the "Evil Wolf Pirates" grew increasingly powerful, Anderson's actions also became more and more outrageous.

At the beginning, the two sides had reached a "nonaggression" agreement. But as Anderson's crew grew stronger, they actually began demanding protection money from the two villages, threatening to massacre them if they refused.

The villagers were peaceful civilians, after all. Even if they resisted as they had a year ago, the villages would suffer immense damage again. Moreover, if they fought again, the villagers would probably be in grave danger against Anderson's current strength.

Helpless, the villagers could only obediently pay Anderson protection money: ten thousand Beli per person each month.

Anyone who dared refuse to pay or resist would be executed without mercy.

As for Miller, the so-called "guardian," even he was powerless to do anything about it.

Even so, the villagers all said that it was precisely because Miller existed that Anderson did not dare act too arrogantly. Paying protection money was still better than having the villages wiped out. Thus, everyone relied heavily on Miller and respected him greatly.

After hearing the old woman out, Leiyin asked in confusion, "If Anderson and the others are acting so arrogantly, will the Navy really just sit by and do nothing?"

Based on what he had seen of this world, Leiyin estimated that Luffy would not set out to sea for several more years. Thus, a ten-million-Beli bounty should be very high in the East Blue at this time. After all, Buggy the Clown's bounty was only six million.

The old woman suddenly smiled. "They have connections with the Navy. Everyone knows it. It's just that no one dares say it out loud."

Leiyin understood immediately. This was much like Arlong's situation in Cocoyasi Village in the original story. At the time, Arlong had lorded it over more than twenty villages, extorting them heavily. He was even known as the strongest wanted criminal in the East Blue, with a bounty of twenty million Beli. Yet even for someone that brazen, the Navy had turned a blind eye.

Of course, that was a story for later.

Although the old woman had told him a great deal and the information was substantial, Leiyin understood it all perfectly.

That also explained why the villagers had glared coldly at him when he asked about wanted criminals after arriving on the island. Even an expert like Miller had been unable to do anything to those pirates. Where did this kid come from? Why doesn't he go home and take a good look at himself?

After learning about some of the island's circumstances, Leiyin thanked the old woman and left.

After spending so long at sea and fighting Sea Kings, his stomach had begun growling long ago.

But he did not even have half a Beli on him. What could he do?

Thus, a magnificent plan was born in his mind.

Eat and run.

With that, he found a restaurant that looked decent, walked in, and immediately ordered, "Boss, bring me an extra-large serving of egg fried rice!"

Several diners in the restaurant recognized him, because Leiyin had just asked them where he could find a wanted criminal.

As soon as the egg fried rice was served, Leiyin began wolfing it down.

As a result, Leiyin attracted the attention of many people as he sat there.

"That guy is the one who was asking everyone about wanted criminals earlier."

"How laughable. This guy really has no idea how high the sky is or how deep the earth."

A beautiful young girl was watching Leiyin. When she saw his disheveled manner of eating, her face filled with even greater disdain.

The girl was Verdan, the one who had spoken harshly to him earlier.

She looked at Leiyin and said to her father, Farmer, who was sitting opposite her, "Dad, this guy even asked me where he could find pirates earlier. I think there's probably something wrong with his head."

Hearing his daughter say this, Farmer could not help glancing at Leiyin, who was devouring food in front of the counter.

Leiyin looked rather delicate, with fair skin and a somewhat small build. At a glance, he resembled a scholar who could not even truss a chicken. With such a frail body, how could he possibly stand against pirates who lived by the blade every day?

When people encountered strangers they did not understand, they usually judged them by their appearance.

Watching Leiyin feast greedily in front of the counter only drew even more contemptuous looks from everyone.

"Honestly, not only is there something wrong with his head, but he has no manners either. Look at the way he eats."

Despite the ridicule and pointing from the crowd, Leiyin paid it no heed at all and continued eating his own meal.

Suddenly, there was a tremendous crash as someone smashed through the restaurant door, and a massive figure entered.

Everyone's attention shifted from Leiyin to the newcomer.

It was the vice-captain of the "Evil Wolf Pirates," Anderson's younger brother, Andrin!

He stood a full two and a half meters tall and was also very fat. When he stood up, he looked like a small mountain. His face was covered in rolls of flesh, and nose hairs extended more than half a foot from his nostrils. He carried a Kubikiribōchō, with two thin lackeys following behind him, and strode in with his head held high.