Let's See Which of Us Is Faster

The pirates howled as they charged Amina at the village entrance.

The villagers of Melbourne Island hid behind doors and windows, peering through the cracks with their hearts in their throats.

Charlos glanced at the captain of the Red Crocodile Pirates beside him and frowned.

"Tell your men to stop."

The Red Crocodile captain looked baffled, his eyes still fixed on Amina. "Why? Trust me, a kid with wings will fetch a fantastic price!"

Charlos's voice hardened. "I told you to stop. Didn't you hear me?"

"No way! This is a rare opportunity. We could get a fortune for her! I'd lose out big if I just let her go!"

The captain was still babbling when Charlos vanished from before his eyes.

The Red Crocodile captain instinctively looked up. The next instant, his vision went dark, and he slammed onto the beach.

"Huh? Why am I on the ground?"

Charlos stood over him, one foot pressing hard against his chest.

"Do as you're told, or I'll crush your head."

The pirates froze at the sight, their charge grinding to a halt.

The pirate who wasn't too bright shouted, "Captain! I told you we should've gotten rid of him sooner!"

Amina folded her black wings and walked over.

"Charlos, you're okay?"

Charlos looked at her. "How did you end up on this island?"

Amina scratched her head and grinned. "A strong wind came up at sea and blew the ship away."

Charlos let out a long sigh. "If I'd known that would happen, I never would've jumped into the sea to catch fish."

Amina blinked at him. "Charlos, where's the fish?"

"It was a Sea King that big. I couldn't drag it all the way here. We were miles apart."

Amina sighed softly. "All right, all right. How'd you get mixed up with these pirates?"

Charlos sighed. "Their ship happened to pass through those waters. I couldn't stay in the sea forever."

Amina laughed. "Haha, fair enough."

Pinned to the ground, the Red Crocodile captain cautiously reached out, his voice thick with pleading.

"Uh... you can let me go now, right? I really didn't know she was your friend!"

Charlos smiled faintly and lifted his foot from the captain's chest.

"Sure."

The Red Crocodile captain sprang up and shouted in a panic, "Men! Get aboard! Hurry, let's go! Go, go, go!"

The pirates scrambled onto their ship as though granted a pardon, frantically preparing to flee.

But the moment the ship pulled away from shore, a dark figure shot through the air.

Amina spread her enormous black wings, her entire body coated in thick black Armament Haki. She moved so fast she left only an afterimage.

"Cannonball incoming!"

The Red Crocodile captain whipped around, stunned. "What?!"

Before he finished speaking, Amina slammed into the pirate ship.

Boom!

The sturdy planks shattered, leaving a huge hole in the hull. Seawater poured into the hold.

Shocked and furious, the Red Crocodile captain screamed, "Didn't you say you'd let us go?!"

Charlos folded his arms. "I said I'd let you go. I can't control her. That's not my call."

Hovering in midair, Amina blinked and gave a mischievous giggle. "Hee-hee. He said he'd let you go. I didn't."

Charlos beckoned to Amina. "Come here."

Amina folded her wings and drifted down, tucking her black feathers behind her back.

Charlos reached over and began patting around Amina's clothes.

Amina paused. "What are you looking for?"

"A gold coin. Seeing if you have one."

Amina didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You could've just asked! I'll give you one. Stop feeling around."

She pulled a gold coin from an inner pocket and handed it to Charlos.

Charlos flipped the coin into the air. It spun several times before he slapped it onto the back of his hand with a smack.

"Take a guess. Heads or tails?

If it's heads, we'll leave it at that.

If it's tails, I'll send every last one of you into the sea to feed the fish."

Clinging to the damaged railing, the Red Crocodile captain shouted desperately, "Hey! I gave you a ride! I practically saved your life! You can't repay me like this!"

Charlos chuckled. "That's why you get a chance. This coin decides whether you live or die."

Amina chimed in with a soft laugh. "That's right."

Just then, Amira came out of the village with Nico Robin and Rukia. Rukia called out from a distance.

"Charlos! Charlos! Come try Auntie Adona's cherry pie! It's delicious. Have a bite!"

At that, Charlos immediately took his eyes off the coin and turned toward them.

Charlos turned toward the shout. Amira hurried over, holding a piece of sweet-smelling cherry pie, and offered it to him.

He took it and bit off a large mouthful. Soft, sweet pastry filled his mouth, but he'd eaten so quickly that it stuck in his throat.

"It's a bit dry... got any water?"

No sooner had he spoken than the Melbourne villagers, who had been hiding indoors, gathered around him with eager smiles.

"Yes, yes! We have the freshest Cherry Wine right here! Try some, young hero!"

The aroma of wine mingled with the sweet scent of pastry across the beach.

Aboard their sinking wreck, the pirates gulped.

One pirate leaned toward the captain and whispered, "Captain, that's Cherry Wine! Should we go take it?"

The Red Crocodile captain glared at him, furious and panicked. "Take what? Idiot! Get off the ship! It's about to sink!"

The pirates hurriedly jumped from the sinking ship. They watched it take on water and list, their faces twisted with pain.

"Ah... our pirate ship!"

But before they could mourn it, a crowd of Melbourne villagers surrounded them.

The villagers held farm tools, wooden clubs, and sickles. Eyes blazing, they blocked every way out.

"You pirates have harassed and robbed us over and over! We're not letting you go today!"

The Red Crocodile captain stared in disbelief. "Huh? What are you talking about?!"

His face hardened. He pulled out a musket and aimed it at the villagers.

"Want a taste of lead?"

The pirate who wasn't too bright immediately piped up. "Captain! We've got guns! Shoot that dangerous little brat first, and we won't have to worry about her again!"

Amina heard every word.

Her ear twitched. A sharp black feather formed at her fingertip, and she flicked it away.

The feather shot through the air too fast to see.

The Red Crocodile captain thought his subordinate made an excellent point and was about to give the order.

But when he turned, he found the foolish pirate standing rigid.

A black feather had pierced his throat, and blood gushed from the wound.

The Red Crocodile captain swung his gun toward Amina and roared, "Hey! Are you pretending I'm not here?"

Before he finished, a cold flash of steel swept past.

With a crack, the musket in his hand snapped in two.

Amira had somehow landed on his shoulder, her blade Lanque resting against his neck.

"Think before you speak."

That single move silenced everyone. The remaining pirates still held their guns, but not one dared raise a barrel.

Amina swept her gaze across them. "Want to find out which is faster—your bullets or us?"