Chapter 17 - Abandoned Ship

After sailing a few weeks back to Enies Lobby and visiting his mother in Marijoa. Finally, Spandam left for the Cipher Pol branch headquarters in East Blue. Since there were no ships with Sea Stone lining, Spandam had to go through the Red Line and get off at the small port, Red Port-East Blue.

After arriving at Red Port-East Blue, Spandam boarded the ship that had been prepared there and started the sea voyage again. Sometimes the cruise is not as interesting as what the One Piece story shows. Most of the time is only filled by a calm empty ocean and spend weeks to months in a peaceful atmosphere.

Although the peace is actually more liked by Spandam. But, it is undeniable that there will be boredom when passing the same day over and over again. Well, Spandam would still prefer a tedious cruise over a life-threatening one if he could.

-

On the ship, East Blue sea.

On the main deck.

Spandam was sitting relaxed on a ship with cloudy skies and a sea breeze. Meanwhile, other agents are busy with their respective duties. He just sat and read the daily report while drinking a cup of coffee made by his new maid, Stella.

Stella who was standing by his side didn't look like her a month ago. Even though her body didn't fully recover, she forced herself to start working because she felt it was too much trouble for Spandam.

That's why Spandam agreed to it. Actually, he didn't have a problem with that either, as long as she didn't push herself.

Roy who was previously on the front deck of the ship came to Spandam while carrying a paper "...Spandam-san. This is today's newspaper. You might be interested in this news."

"Oh thank you, Roy." Spandam put down the unfinished Cipher Pol report and chose to read the daily newspaper. It was because Spandam would rather read the newspaper than some unimportant information or a stupid request from a random king in East Blue.

Opened the newspaper and Spandam's eyes widened at the headline of the day. "Hooh... Whitebeard came to Fishman Island and claimed it as his territory..." Spandam muttered. 'Come to think of it, he did do it in the story. But, I didn't know it happened this fast...'

"Quite a bold move huh." (Spandam)

"That's true, moreover its location under Marijoa and between the marine headquarters and the G1 base makes it look like Whitebeard is openly challenging the marines." (Roy)

"But, I think... the marines won't respond, considering the losses suffered by the marines in recent years. So this can't be called a reckless move. It's the marines who can't be careless, or a big war will occur..." Spandam said while contemplating the current marine condition. Recalling the destruction of half of Marineford two years ago due to Shiki alone. What if Whitebeard went to war with the marines and Shiki took part in it? It's not an impossible possibility.

"He's the strongest human in the world after all... but what's his real motive for claiming Fishman Island...?" Roy asked curiously.

"Who knows... Maybe he just wants to protect Fishman Island...?" Spandam replied in a half-joking tone.

"A pirate like him...? Haha, no way." (Roy)

"You never know... After all, it's the only unofficial route that pirates can take and just by claiming it, no pirate would dare to cause trouble there... No one wants to have trouble with the strongest humans in the world. world." Spandam said as he flipped through the newspaper pages looking for other good news. "Unless someone's overly confident or . . . dumb." he continued.

"...that's right." Roy nodded in agreement with Spandam's argument.

"Well, it's not like he won't get any benefits or anything..." Even pirates would take a fee from a city or island that used their flag. Like Kaido and Big Mom, it was no different with the World Government and Whitebeard did too. Although Spandam was sure the fee would be channeled to the island Whitebeard came from, if he remembered correctly.

After finding no other interesting news, Spandam folded the newspaper and placed it on the table. He asked Roy "How long until we reach the island?"

"About eight hours, sir." (Roy)

"I see..." (Spandam)

"Would you like to rest on the next island? You've been sailing non-stop lately..." (Roy)

"Good idea . . . but maybe just a few days, just a little longer and we'll reach the branch." (Spandam)

"Yes, sir." (Roy)

"Spandam-san! There's a ship ahead!" An agent on duty at the watchtower shouted from the top of the tower.

"Hmm...?" Spandam raised his eyebrows in curiosity and stood on the deck of the ship. He asked Roy for one eye binocular and used it to see the ship the agent was referring to. He saw a two-mast ship approaching his ship, the ship looked messy like it had just been through a battlefield. With the ship's hull damaged and the sails are torn apart, Spandam even wondered how the ship didn't sink. "Abandoned ship...? What happened there?"

"I don't know... maybe a merchant ship that was attacked by pirates or from being caught in a storm. Want me to check it out?" (Roy)

"That's terrible, are there any survivors...?" (Stella)

"Normally there is no... but, This is a trade route. So there shouldn't be many pirates who dare because here are always secured by the marines on a regular basis." (Roy)

"Check the ship. Find the cause and look for survivors. If it's a pirate, report it to the marine branch in charge. Because it will cut off supply lines between islands." Spandam ordered Roy to inspect the ship ahead. Because this is not a rare problem and is one of the problems that Spandam often faces in East Blue.

Pirates often cut off trade routes and attacked merchant ships or supply ships. This will have an impact on the surrounding countries, which will reduce state income. Of course, it will reduce the income of the World Government from these affiliated countries.

Pirates are a marine business. Although it is not a priority for Cipher Pol agents, but if it involves a country. Cipher Pol still has to intervene to act to solve it.

"All right sir." Roy nodded and walked to the front deck to order the ship to approach the abandoned ship.

"I hope there are survivors." Stella who had a kind heart, prayed for the people on the ship.

"It would be good if it happened..." Spandam replied as he sat back in his chair. 'My job would be easier if someone provided information...'

"Keep going and check the ship ahead!" (Roy)

""Yes, Sir!""

-

After a few minutes of sailing, the abandoned ship was increasingly visible. Even the seated Spandam could see the appearance of the ship.

Standing up from his seat, Spandam walked to the side of the boat to get a better look. Because the Galleon ship that Spandam was on was taller than the two-masted Nau.

"Oh my, that's so horrible..." (Stella)

The appearance of the Nau-type ship looks very horrible. Torn sails, perforated hull, badly damaged deck. In addition, Spandam can see the marks of cannon fire and burn marks all over the ship's hull. Spandam could even clearly see some of the corpses lying on the deck of the ship.

Spandam was now sure it was not the work of the storm, but the work of pirates. The hole in the hull said it all. If this is the result of man-made, not a natural disaster.

Several agents started linking the Nau ship with the Galleon and started jumping on the Nau on Roy's orders.

While waiting for the investigation led by Roy, Spandam returned to his seat and read the report he had not finished reading.

It didn't take long for Roy to finish with his little investigation of the abandoned ship. Roy and the other agents who had finished investigating the ship walked back to the Galleon. Interestingly, they came back with one extra person.

Roy who was walking towards Spandam was followed by a tall man with a muscular build. But his appearance was *Boro Boro* very messy. His face was haggard, his clothes were torn and his whole body was covered in blood.

"Stella called Kaysen here." Spandam didn't know how serious his wound was, but he decided to be on guard and called Kaysen to check on his condition. After all, he is a valuable informant. Spandam couldn't let him die before giving him the information.

"Y-Yes master." (Stella)

When he arrived in front of Spandam, Roy explained his findings on the Nau ship.

"Spandam-san, as expected, that ship was a merchant ship that was attacked by pirates. Of the dozens of people on board, only he survived the hijacking." said Roy, pointing to the man standing behind him.

"I see..." Spandam nodded and looked at the haggard-looking man. The man's body trembled when it became the focus of Spandam's gaze. Maybe because of the trauma from the massacre by the pirates. It was a common thing in this world, especially for ordinary citizens like him.

Spandam felt that there was something strange about this person, but he couldn't be sure and decided not to think about it now. He had to find out what happened first and who would dare to attack the commerce routes guarded by the marines. "So... sir...?"

"Ah- Genthus sir."

"Alright, Mr. Genthus . . . can you tell me specifically about what happened to your group?" When Spandam asked that, as if his memory had been triggered, Genthus' face looked frightened as if he had seen a ghost and *Gusha gusha* he started to mess up his hair.

He pulled his hair and said haltingly "H-He's a monster!"

"Monster...?" (Spandam)

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