Waves Rise Suddenly

There was a saying: "Plans can never keep up with changes."

When Long Yi saw the latest newspaper after waking up, he knew he could no longer continue learning Observation Haki from Fujitora.

News of Belik reignited the flames in his heart. The desire for revenge urged him every moment to set off as soon as possible and settle the score.

That morning, Fujitora waited outside the inn as usual, but suddenly sensed something unusual about Long Yi.

Long Yi seemed especially burdened today, and even his breathing was unsteady. More importantly, he carried a travel bag in his hand, looking as though he was about to leave.

Fujitora's relaxed expression changed slightly as he asked in a low voice.

"Long Yi, where are you going?"

Seeing Fujitora, Long Yi stopped walking, hesitated for a second, then answered.

"Uncle Issho, thank you for taking care of me these past days, but something suddenly came up. I have to leave."

Long Yi gripped the newspaper tightly, trying his best to appear calm, but the slight tremble in his voice still betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

"Tell me why."

Fujitora's tone was low. During the time they had spent together, he had already come to regard Long Yi as a friend despite their difference in age.

The emotions in Long Yi's voice could not escape his senses. This youth, sometimes decisive and ruthless, sometimes wildly unpredictable, had long since earned a place in his heart.

Hearing Fujitora's question, Long Yi suddenly fell silent. He had wanted to make up some excuse and brush it aside, but the instant he opened his mouth, he met Fujitora's clouded eyes.

There was no light in those eyes, yet they brought Long Yi endless pressure. Under the gaze of a strong man, he could not bring himself to utter any perfunctory lies.

"I... I found my enemy. I'm going to take revenge."

Forcing a casual smile, Long Yi tossed down the newspaper in his hand and revealed the truth.

He had thought the North Blue was so vast that finding Belik would take at least a year or two. Yet he had never expected that pirate to be so unable to stay quiet, causing such a huge uproar and allowing Long Yi to find his trail so easily.

"I see."

Fujitora responded softly, then fell silent. He had no right to stop a man from cutting away the obsession in his heart.

Long Yi nodded lightly and solemnly bowed to Fujitora. Though they had no formal master-disciple relationship, he would never forget Fujitora's kindness in teaching him Observation Haki.

"If fate allows it, we'll meet again, Uncle Issho."

Long Yi looked deeply at Fujitora, then turned to leave.

"Wait. Do you need my help?"

After some thought, Fujitora still decided to offer his goodwill before Long Yi left. It might hurt Long Yi's pride, but he could not remain indifferent while his friend faced trouble.

"If Uncle Issho stepped in, any pirate would be wiped out in an instant. But... forget it. This is my own matter. I have to settle it myself!"

Long Yi smiled faintly, said nothing more, and waved goodbye to Fujitora.

Carrying his luggage and the greatsword on his back, his figure gradually disappeared from Fujitora's senses.

Fujitora stood at the inn entrance, staring in the direction Long Yi had gone. He did not move for a long time, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Only when the innkeeper noticed something strange at the entrance and came out to investigate did he return to normal.

Bending down to pick up the newspaper Long Yi had thrown on the ground, Fujitora carefully smoothed out its wrinkles with his rough palms and spoke softly to the innkeeper beside him.

"Please, read the contents of this for me."

Taking the crumpled newspaper, the innkeeper was intimidated by Fujitora's presence and did not dare refuse. After clearing his throat, he began to haltingly read the words printed on it.

"One week ago, the Belik Pirates, led by the pirate 'One-Eyed Belik,' successively annexed the Iron Hook Pirates and the Mad Blade Pirates. The 'Belik' fleet has been established, and the bounty on pirate 'One-Eyed Belik' has risen to five million..."

Recalling the front-page report, Long Yi's expression was as dark as water.

The news of the Belik Pirates stirred up the urgency in his heart.

After swallowing two pirate crews, Belik and his pirates had become a massive force. Even within the North Blue, they were not to be underestimated.

Leaving aside the underlings, "One-Eyed Belik" alone possessed combat power equal to that of a Marine lieutenant. To the current Long Yi, he was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.

Without some unexpected turn of events, Long Yi could not possibly defeat them now. Rushing recklessly into revenge would be like striking a stone with an egg.

Yet in the end, he could not control his emotions. The blaze from two years ago ignited within him once more, and every cell in his body burned fiercely.

Before his mind could fully think things through, his body had already begun to move.

It was the instinct buried deepest within Long Yi's body, the obsession the body's original owner had never been able to dispel.

"Heh, I'll definitely die."

Long Yi laughed at himself, but his steps grew faster and faster. In the end, he broke into a wild run through the streets of Ulabia City.

But before Long Yi could run out of Ulabia City, a flying black shape forced him to stop as he passed a tavern entrance.

It was a drunkard who had no money to pay for his drinks. After being severely beaten by the tavern thugs, he was thrown outside and happened to land directly in Long Yi's path.

Long Yi had no desire to concern himself with someone like that. But just as he was about to leave, he suddenly caught sight of the drunkard's right hand.

It was not a normal human hand, but a somewhat rusty iron hook!

"Iron Hook?!"

Like lightning flashing through his mind, Long Yi froze, briefly losing focus.

But he quickly came back to himself and carefully examined the drunkard's face.

Recalling the wanted posters he had seen before, he was shocked to discover that this hopelessly drunk man was the pirate wanted by the Marines: "Iron Hook" Bayas.

Yet the Bayas in Long Yi's memories was far fiercer than he was now. The unrestrained gaze and sharp iron hook on that wanted poster showed that he had been a true brute.

But if the signature iron hook had not exposed Bayas's identity, Long Yi might not have recognized the leader of the Iron Hook Pirates, now covered in despair and sporting a face full of messy beard.

"Damn pirate!"

Cursing inwardly, Long Yi drew the katana at his waist without hesitation. Relying on his immense brute strength, he forcibly dragged the reeking Bayas into an alley with no one around, pressed the blade against his throat, and demanded harshly.

"Bayas! Iron Hook Bayas! Wake up!"

After a barrage of shouted questions, Bayas ignored Long Yi completely and continued hugging his already empty bottle as he slept soundly.

"Hey, wake up!"

A vicious glint flashed through Long Yi's eyes. He grabbed Bayas's filthy collar and shook him violently.

After Long Yi's efforts, Bayas finally slowly woke and saw Long Yi glaring coldly at him.

"Heh, brat, are you tired of living?"

Though Bayas had awakened, his mind was still unclear. Under the effects of alcohol, he had not even felt the chill of the blade at his throat.

"I don't have patience right now. Answer my questions truthfully, or die!"

The urgency of revenge stripped away the last trace of Long Yi's patience. To get the information he wanted, he did not mind using some inhumane methods on the trash before him.

"Hm?"

Only when Bayas heard the coldness in Long Yi's words did he realize his current situation. After a moment of instinctive panic, he suddenly stopped resisting. Instead, he smiled bitterly and spoke to Long Yi.

"You're a bounty hunter, right? I never thought even a kid like you had entered the trade. Looks like I really am old..."

Nothing was sadder than a dead heart. After the Iron Hook Pirates were defeated by the Belik Pirates, Bayas had lost all his former arrogance and ambition.

"Do whatever you want. Turn me in for the bounty. It'll be a considerable sum."

With a chuckle, Bayas raised his head and looked straight into Long Yi's face with dull, lifeless eyes, completely giving up resistance.

"I'm telling you, I don't care about that money! What I want is news about Belik! I want news about that damned Belik!"

Long Yi grew more and more agitated, a blazing fire burning in his chest. By the end, he was practically roaring his words into Bayas's face.

"Belik..."

Facing the out-of-control Long Yi, Bayas remained calm. He did not even bother wiping the spit from his face. At this point, nothing could stir his heart again.

"Yes, Belik! Do you know where he is? Tell me everything you know, now!"

Long Yi applied a little force with his hand. The sharp blade lightly cut Bayas's neck, and thin streams of blood flowed out.

Bayas swallowed and looked at Long Yi, who seemed nearly mad, before slowly speaking.

"I... I don't know where he is."

"You don't know?!"

Hearing that answer, Long Yi began to lose control. Bloodshot eyes filled his gaze as he stared at the former pirate captain before him like a beast ready to devour someone.

"That's right, I really don't know. No matter how you force me, I don't know. Since then, I've lost everything—my ship, my men, my treasure map..."

Hearing this, Long Yi's expression changed. The ferocity left his face as he pressed Bayas again.

"Say that again. Your what?"

Bayas did not know why Long Yi reacted that way, but for his own safety, he repeated what he had just said.

"My ship, my men, my treasure map..."

"Quick, where does your treasure map point to?!"

Long Yi's breathing quickened uncontrollably, and his heart pounded wildly.

He had a feeling that he and "One-Eyed Belik" would meet again very soon.