What to Do When You Encounter Robbers at Sea

Wisps of thin cirrus clouds streaked across the azure sky, making its blue seem even purer and more intoxicating.

The blazing sun hung in the sky as several white seagulls chased one another, as though the sunlight had addled their brains and made them gradually fly crookedly.

A small sailboat stood out on the endless blue sea.

The sailboat was tiny, barely large enough for two or three people. Perhaps it would have been more fitting to call it a skiff with a sail.

"Finally left that place full of hypocrisy and evil..."

Wright lay sideways against the edge of the little sailboat with his hands behind his head, trying to empty his mind and avoid thinking about everything he had experienced over the past few years. After all, he had gone through quite some trouble to steal a boat and escape from there. He wondered if those idiots would miss him...

In any case, he never wanted anything to do with that place again. Absolutely not.

Wright was not very old, appearing to be only around ten. He wore a finely tailored trench coat and a gentleman's hat, his blond hair tied into a ponytail. Though his features were still youthful, he was already remarkably handsome. He did not have much luggage, only a small bundle, but the long sword beside him was over one and a half meters long, looking more like cargo than a weapon he carried with him.

Hidden in the sail's shadow, with the gentle sea breeze and rhythmic sound of the waves, it truly was perfect weather for a nap.

"...Hm?" Wright, who had just begun to feel sleepy, twitched his ears. "That sounds like shouting... Is there a ship?"

Yawning, Wright rolled over and sat up, unable to hide his excitement. "I've been drifting for days since escaping the Goa Kingdom. This map doesn't have a single landmark, and I'm nearly out of food and water. A ship showing up now is practically heaven-sent!"

It definitely isn't because my navigation skills are unreliable. How could Lord Light possibly set sail without confidence? It's all this map's fault...

Chuckling to himself, Wright shaded his eyes and watched the approaching silhouette of the ship...

"Hm... Something doesn't seem right..."

"Is that... a pirate ship? It's my first time seeing a real pirate ship. It's so shabby!"

"Wow, that Pirate Flag is hideous. How could they have the nerve to fly it?"

The approaching pirate ship looked as though it had been bombarded by cannon fire. Its hull was covered in patches, and some places seemed to bear marks left by blades.

Of its three masts, only one main sail stood alone, and it had a huge patch on it. The two fore-and-aft sails had been torn into strips beyond saving.

The pirate flag bearing the crew's emblem... a black skull on a white background, surrounded by clumps of... hair? Disgusting!

As Wright stood there with his arms folded, muttering to himself, the "shabby and ugly" pirate ship spotted the lone little sailboat as well.

"Heyhahahaha! Boys, look what we've found! A little boat!"

"Huh? There's only one person? And he's just a little runt!"

"Yo! Look at that pretty face and those clothes... Could he be some young noble?!"

"A noble? We've struck it rich! Grab the little brat and ransom him! Then we'll have money for a new ship!"

Watching the pirates aboard the ever-approaching ship grow inexplicably excited, Wright tugged at the corner of his mouth and adjusted his gentleman's hat. "Just as I thought, a bunch of third-rate trash. Don't you know there are three kinds of people you shouldn't provoke out in the world?"

"Er, this isn't a martial arts story. There isn't any rule about not provoking monks, women, or children... Huh? Are there even monks in the pirate world?"

Just as the pirates were preparing to throw grappling hooks, Wright grabbed the bundle beneath him and his long sword. He crouched deeply and leaped, landing atop the pirate ship's bow in the blink of an eye.

"!!!"

The pirates were dumbfounded. Their vision blurred, and the person on the small boat was gone. The lone sailboat rocked violently, as though mocking them for being a bunch of weaklings.

Wright jumped down from the bow, placed his bundle at his feet, and drew his long sword. Dragging the blade with both hands, he smiled faintly. Becoming a "noble" over the past few years had brought him no other benefits, but it had completely erased his fear and discomfort toward killing.

"Nobles, pirates... Hmph..."

"Both are... evil..."

"Holy... Storm!"

A golden whirlwind exploded amid the crowd, hazy golden light splashing outward like mist. At the center of the vortex, a small figure spun with his long sword in a sweeping slash.

The pirates gathered at the bow had yet to react when this fat sheep delivered right to their door actually took the initiative and drew his blade at them! The pirates screamed as they were sent flying. The lucky ones landed on the deck, while many more fell directly into the sea.

"Monster!!"

The pirates screamed and wailed as they desperately staggered back to flee, only to discover in despair that faint golden-red flames were burning on their wounds, bringing with them unbearable pain.

Soon, the pirates discovered something even more despairing: the strange flames could not be extinguished. They blew on them, slapped at them, rolled around, splashed water on themselves, and even jumped into the sea, but the flames continued to burn their wounds at an unhurried pace.

"Help!"

"He's a Devil Fruit user! This kid's a Devil Fruit user!"

"Captain! Go get the Captain!"

"Waaah! I'm going to die! Help~!"

Looking at the pirates he had defeated with a single move, Wright shrugged. "Pirates? You saw an innocent child like me and your first thought was kidnapping? Truly vicious. The Straw Hat Pirates are basically an adventure crew by comparison!"

"When people see a child of unknown origin, shouldn't they try to send him home? They might even help him get revenge!"

"Which one of you just said you wanted to capture me for ransom?"

"You bastards, I worked so hard just to escape! Do you think I wanted to become a noble?! If it weren't for transmigra... Damn!"

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out, and a blossom of blood burst from Wright's abdomen. The pain made him cry out as the bullet forced him back two steps, dropping him to one knee.

"Gagagaga! So what if he's a Devil Fruit user?! Didn't I still take him down with one shot?! Boys! Get him! Kill the little bastard! I'm gonna use his head as a wine cup!"

Near the cabin, a hideous, fat man with Black Chest Hair held a musket and laughed wildly with his hands on his hips as he watched Wright bleed without stop.

The Pirate Captain's name... wasn't important. For now, Black Chest Hair would do...

The moment Wright saw Black Chest Hair, he could not help thinking of that hideous pirate flag. What a sin against nature!

"Heh, I almost capsized. The sea truly is cruel... That was a timely lesson!"

Though Wright had screamed after being shot, he showed no sign of panic. He even had the leisure to let his thoughts wander and sum up the experience.

Golden light gathered over Wright's left hand as he covered his abdomen. The horrifying wound on his stomach healed in an instant without leaving even a scar. Even the bullet inside his body was squeezed out by the newly healed muscle.

"Judgment!"

Wright rushed before Black Chest Hair at high speed, and a dense layer of golden light burst from his long sword.

Slash!

The poor fat man had thought his opponent was dead and was still laughing wildly...

"Splurt!"

Before Black Chest Hair's laughter could fade, the golden light had cleaved him into two halves. Strangely, the severed surfaces appeared to have been scorched by intense heat, and not a drop of blood sprayed out.

"Gah...!"

The pirates around them, who had been cut down, had not even had time to cheer for their captain's devastating blow against the enemy when they saw their captain sliced in half by an opponent who seemed completely unharmed. They felt a breath catch in their throats, and several of them actually fainted on the spot.

This is my first time writing. I'd appreciate any advice, thank you!