Storm

If Rogge had been able to see the whole picture, he would have realized that their ship was actually following behind the warships. Smoker had decided to lead ten warships to the next island and wait for them there.

Even though he knew his chances were slim, Smoker still wanted to give it a try.

News of the robbery on Earthfire Island reached Marine Headquarters. More than two billion Beli was no small sum; even the Celestial Dragons would covet that fortune. Worse, the money was revenue belonging to three World Government Member States. Their kings had already called the Five Elders and lodged complaints directly with the World Government.

"They've entered the Grand Line. Colonel Hina was defeated too. Now that Smoker brat is pursuing them," Sengoku said, looking over the report.

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Colonel Hina sent over what she has on the Asura Pirates. Their captain is Marshall Rogge, their navigator is Ham, their cook is Jelly, and they have a shipwright from the Fish-Man Tribe named Cook. There's also Simon, the Golden Hunter, a well-known bounty hunter from the North Blue. Those are the five we know of so far." The naval officer stood at attention before Sengoku and saluted.

"Tell Smoker to keep an eye on them. If they mean to keep going, they'll have to follow the route. There's a good chance he'll run into them," Sengoku said.

"Yes, sir." The officer withdrew.

"Marshall Rogge has the Chop-Chop Fruit. The navigator, Ham, ate the Kangaroo Fruit, and that cook, Jelly, ate the Vine-Vine Fruit. So that's how it is. Three Devil Fruit Users, a member of the Fish-Man Tribe, and a famous sniper from the North Blue. That's quite a force." Sengoku glanced over the report and handed it to the sheep at his feet.

"Fire Fist Ace, Marshall Rogge... These two might be worth considering." Sengoku took out their wanted posters, muttered to himself, then put them in a drawer.

Back at sea, Rogge and the others ran into a storm—the worst weather they had faced since entering the Grand Line. Rain poured down like a waterfall. They secured the ship as it pitched through the tempest, but the waves were too high to fight. All they could do was let the ship drift and make sure it did not break apart.

Humans were so fragile before the forces of nature. Their ship was sturdy, and they were no weaklings, but there was little they could do against weather this terrifying. Even their considerable sailing skills were no help.

Even someone as powerful as Shiki had been defeated by a storm, let alone them. Fortunately, Ham's skill and Cook's steady hand at the helm kept the Hell under control.

"We... we made it. Is this what the weather on the Grand Line is like?"

The sky cleared, and at last they saw the sun. Yet just three minutes earlier, wind and rain had been lashing the sea, with waves several meters high that had nearly sent them to the bottom.

Ares had never seen weather like it. He had spent his childhood studying, learned medicine, and been treated like a treasure—only to be locked away for twenty years. This was the first time in his life he had faced anything so fierce. He had thought he was going to die.

"Whew, we made it through. You never know what the weather will do here. It's got one hell of a temper." Jelly released the vines in his hands. He had used them to hold the ship together; without them, the Hell would probably have suffered damage.

"It changed in an instant, then cleared up just as fast. What awful weather." Simon had spent some time on the Grand Line, but even he had never encountered a storm that struck so suddenly. It had nearly killed him. Looking back, it felt like a nightmare.

Rogge, however, burst out laughing. "Brothers, now that's sailing! That's what the sea is supposed to be like, isn't it? Being bored to death every day isn't what we came out here for. Hahaha! I'd take a storm like that every few days."

"Idiot!"

"Madman!"

"Moron!"

"Dumbass!"

"You're sick!"

"Billy!"

Rogge looked at Jerry. "What's that supposed to mean? Is Billy an insult too?"

"You're just like Billy. Stupid," Jerry said. Even a simple wild man like him did not want to go through that weather again, yet his idiot captain wanted more of it. That made him just like Billy: a fool.

"Forget it. None of you understand." Rogge took off his soaked clothes without a care for the others watching, hung them up, then found a chair and stretched out in the sun.

"Tch." Jelly glanced at Rogge and pursed his lips. It really was a little bigger than his.

"Rogge! Captain! I see an island!" Ham called half a day later.

"We're there?" Rogge sprang up, put on his now-dry clothes, and stood atop the skull at the bow.

Sure enough, the outline of an island had appeared in the distance. They had spotted a third island after only a day. No wonder the Log Pose needed only a few hours to store a bearing; the distance really was that short.

But they had weathered a storm during that single day. This stretch of sea was clearly no easy passage, and its weather could turn crazy without warning.

"See any Marines?" Jelly asked as the others came up, having heard Ham's shout.

"No." Rogge lowered his telescope and shook his head.

"Maybe the Marines have given up," Simon said.

"That'd be boring. I still want to see how I stack up against Smoker," Rogge said with a grin.

Jerry came over, dragging Billy along by the teeth clamped onto his backside. "So this is the world beyond our island? The sunshine feels great. Becoming a pirate was a good idea."

"Right? Pirates are free. But remember, Jerry, we're pirates—pirates who do whatever we please. If I tell you to kill someone, you kill them. Got it?" Rogge grinned.

Ham and the others watched. They knew Rogge was about to teach the kid all the wrong lessons, but they had no objection. He was right: they were pirates. Whoever heard of pirates going around doing good deeds? Those people might as well call themselves adventurers, like Montblanc Noland.

"I understand. Your orders come first, Captain." Jerry's gaze was firm as he nodded.

"Heh, that's the spirit. Come on, boys, let's keep doing bad things," Rogge said with a laugh.

Everyone laughed. Having a ridiculous captain was not so bad. At least things were never boring.

"Let's make landfall! I can smell freedom in the air. Of course, our freedom comes at a price," Rogge called out.

"Just be careful you don't fall into the sea," Ham said with a laugh, looking at the excited Rogge atop the skull.

"When are we going to find an island with people on it? We're rich now," Jelly said, more concerned with that.

"I think we'd better get ready for a fight first," Simon said, spreading his hands.