Setting Sail, Different Followers

"Where did you arrange the deal with that man in white?"

Lin Nuo stared at Hans.

Hans swallowed. "The deal was set at our hideout."

"On a small reef island northeast of White Shell Town, less than half an hour away by boat."

"He said that once we caught enough people, he'd naturally show up to collect the goods and give us the fruit."

After hearing this, Lin Nuo understood.

This elusive, one-way method of contact really did resemble the style of Cipher Pol agents.

He turned toward Moria, who was still taut as a drawn bow in the skiff.

"What you want is that Shadow-Shadow Fruit, isn't it?" Lin Nuo asked bluntly.

Moria swallowed but neither admitted nor denied it.

He merely tightened his grip on the harpoon until his knuckles turned white.

"If you join us, not only can I help you obtain that fruit, I can also teach you how to truly wield its power."

"Instead of wasting your time like a headless fly under the command of scum like these."

Lin Nuo's voice carried over the sea wind, salty and bitter.

Moria raised his head, his eyes filled with gloom.

"Help me..."

"You just want me because I can kill and work. You want another thug."

"The fruit? That sounds nice, but I don't believe you'd be willing to give it to me after getting your hands on it."

In this world, every gift came with a price tag.

He would never believe in benefits offered for no reason.

Lin Nuo did not get angry. Instead, he nodded, having expected him to say that.

His gaze passed over Moria and settled on the vast sea beyond.

"What interests me is your future."

"A fruit I can't eat, one that can only serve as bait or a trade item, is meaningless to me."

"But in the hands of someone who can truly unleash its power, it will become a piece capable of changing the situation."

He paused, then said something that shook Moria to his core. "True power has never been something you can fully possess through charity or plunder."

"It requires a vessel worthy of it. Do you think you currently have the capacity to contain all the potential of that fruit?"

Moria's lips moved, but he could not answer right away.

Lin Nuo did not press him further.

He released the flaming whip, shoved Hans aside, and turned to leave the skiff.

"My name is Lin Nuo. My ship, the White Shell, is leaving today."

"The choice is yours."

With that, he leaped back onto the dock without another word.

Just then, Alice came running over with Teach in tow.

She pointed at the distant horizon, her tone urgent. "Lin Nuo, look over there. Is that a Marine ship?"

Lin Nuo narrowed his eyes and looked.

On the distant horizon, several blurry dots were growing larger.

On the outline of the foremost dot,

he could faintly make out blue and white colors, along with a flag bearing the seagull-and-scales emblem.

"What?"

"The reinforcements the mayor requested only arrived now?"

Thoughts raced through Lin Nuo's mind. He had no desire to come face-to-face with the Marines, especially while Alice and Teach were with him.

"Alice, hold on tight. We're leaving immediately."

Lin Nuo spoke in a low voice as wings unfurled behind his back.

He slung Alice over one shoulder, tucked Teach under his other arm, and shot straight toward the White Shell at the other end of the dock.

"Mr. Lin Nuo?"

The mayor, who was carrying fresh water, was startled to see the group descend from the sky.

"Mayor, there's no time to wait until everything is ready. We have urgent business and must set sail immediately."

Lin Nuo landed and spoke rapidly.

Seeing the grave look on his face, the mayor decisively waved for the busy guards to stop.

"You lot, secure everything that's already been loaded aboard. Leave the rest that hasn't been loaded for now."

He hurried over to Lin Nuo. "Mr. Lin, the basic supplies have already been placed in the storage compartment on the left side of the lower hold."

"I had people give the ship a simple inspection. The main sail and auxiliary sails are in good condition, and the rudder is responsive."

He pointed to the stairs leading to the captain's cabin. "There are many old items in the cabins below."

"Use whatever you need. Don't stand on ceremony."

Finally, the old mayor gripped Lin Nuo's hand firmly.

"Be careful. The weather in West Blue has been changing without warning lately, and the winds and waves have been fierce."

Feeling the old man's goodwill, Lin Nuo's heart warmed. He smiled. "Don't worry, Mayor."

"Even if we really run into a storm and the ship goes down, I can still fly everyone away. We won't drown."

"Remember to tie Hans and his group up tight later. Don't let them cause any more trouble," Lin Nuo instructed the guards.

"No problem," the guards replied loudly.

Lin Nuo then leaned close to the mayor and whispered a few words.

The mayor listened, glanced in the direction of the skiff, and nodded in understanding.

"Take care. May you have fair winds all the way."

"Until we meet again, Mayor."

After the mayor left the ship with the guards, Lin Nuo was just about to untie the mooring ropes.

Two crisp, anxious cries suddenly rang out from the shore.

"Wait, I haven't gotten on the ship yet!"

"I haven't gotten on the ship yet!"

Bepo and Rosin, the two little ones, were charging toward the dock.

Hearing them, Lin Nuo merely glanced at them before walking straight toward the cabin entrance and disappearing through the door.

The sight instantly chilled Rosin's burning enthusiasm.