Taking a Day Off

When Slak stammered out that name, his voice shook.

The Cipher Pol agents in black suits around him froze. Their pupils contracted, their bodies trembled, and they swallowed hard. Fear made it difficult even to hold their guns.

The people of Baterilla Island gazed up at the boy riding a Fire Dragon through the sky. They felt as though they had seen a god and wanted to fall to their knees in prayer.

Amin, too, stared at the red-haired boy riding a Fire Dragon that should have existed only in fantasy. The sight shook her so deeply that she could not look away.

Then something Fiss said beside her brought her back to her senses.

"Looks like we won't have to do anything!"

"Huh?!"

Amin snapped out of it and noticed how frightened the World Government agents looked.

She knew the boy before them was powerful, and that he was a pirate. But to make even these arrogant men so afraid...

"Is he really that strong?"

As if he had heard her, Slak shouted, sounding almost hysterical.

"Why... why has a monster like him shown up in the South Blue? Isn't he in the New World?"

"Sir... what do we do now? We can't possibly take on a monster like that!"

One of his men spoke in a low voice beside him.

Slak flew into a rage.

"Idiot! If you're asking me, who am I supposed to ask?"

Then Slak noticed the two people in front of him. Something occurred to him, and he shouted angrily.

"Damn it! Were you two the ones who lured that monster here?"

Fiss and Amin both froze at the accusation. Fiss shook his head.

"We don't know him!"

Curiosity and a hint of mockery colored Amin's question.

"Who is he, anyway? How did he