Chapter 45: Gecko Pirates

Early the next morning.

Under a cloudless and clear sky that stretched for thousands of miles, there lay an endless expanse of azure sea. White seagulls soared freely in the sky, occasionally casting curious glances downward.

Drifting along the sea was a simple white single-person boat. Adrian, who had quietly left the small town, lay on the deck with his hands behind his head, gazing at the vast clear sky. He hummed a tune he had picked up somewhere.

"I wonder if Homuncular Hina will be sad and cry because I left without saying goodbye. But well, I can't help it; I'm completely indifferent to little girls… It's much more fun with beautiful big sisters in every sense…

"Speaking of which, I finally understand why most pirate crews have characters like 'musicians' on board. The life of drifting alone at sea is just too boring. Maybe I should look for a secondary profession related to a more enjoyable lifestyle? A musician, painter, or something. But how do I start? I can't just go and study for two or three years, right…

"Hmm?"

At that moment, Adrian abruptly sat up and looked towards the distant sea.

Vaguely, a small black dot appeared on the horizon of the sea.

Mini Ghost · Swift Scout.

Adrian released a mini ghost reconnaissance unit, using it as eyes to investigate the situation in the distance.

After a short while, the distant scene was transmitted back to his mind by the mini ghost.

It was a giant three-masted sailing ship, its size unknown compared to Adrian's small boat. On the sails was the most conspicuous flag, depicting a skull resembling a moon, surrounded by scattered blood-red bats.

"The flag seems somewhat familiar, as if I've seen it when I first came to the West Blue… I remember now, it's the flag of the 'Gecko Pirates'!"

Adrian's eyes changed, and he became slightly excited.

"Let me take a look at Moria's current bounty… Hmm, it's a bounty of 57 million Berries! I remember when Moria first arrived in the West Blue, his bounty was only a little over 10 million. In just three or four short months, it has almost increased by 6 times. What a terrifying rate of increase…"

"Gecko Moria, seems like a decent opponent…"

...

On the deck, a muscular man with a head full of red hair raised a brass telescope, looking towards a lone small boat on the distant sea. He muttered to himself, "Tsk tsk, such an extremely crude little boat, can't even compare to our 'Cruel Moonlight.' Is it a lost fisherman's boat? Did everyone on board get swept away by the waves and die? Hahaha..."

"Why are you muttering to yourself here, Red-Haired Jack?"

A strong and pale arm rested on the shoulder of 'Red-Haired Jack.' The owner of the arm was an extremely tall man, estimated to be at least 6 meters, perhaps even close to 7 meters.

The man had dark purple hair that stood on end, with small devil horn-like protrusions on either side of his forehead. There were intersecting stitched lines on his forehead and between his eyebrows, giving him a fiercely menacing appearance.

Rather uniquely, he wore a leather collar around his neck, perhaps just a personal preference…

This man is the rising star among the West Blue pirates, Gecko Moria of the Gecko Pirates.

"Moria, it's just a small boat."

"Give it to me!"

Moria snatched the telescope from Jack's hand, casually observed it for a moment, then threw it back to him in boredom, disappointedly saying, "That's it? A small boat like that can catch your interest? Why don't you just tell the gunners to blow it up?"

"That makes sense..."

"Geez, I don't think that would be reasonable or acceptable, after all, that little ship is a rare piece of my handiwork!"

Moria suddenly looked up at the top of the mast of his own ship, at the same time reached for his long sword.

The other pirates also reacted, looking up, only to see a handsome young man with black hair standing lightly on top of the mast, with a tall and thin body, a faint smile on his fair cheeks, full of unique and unrestrained temperament.

"Kid! Get your ass off the mast!"

'Red-Haired Jack' gripped his sword in his left hand and roared out towards Adrian on the mast, "This is moonlight-"

"I hear your name is 'Red-Haired Jack'?"

Adrian's eyes flickered as he realized that he always encountered pirates with rather strange names lately.

First there was 'Beast Kado'.

Now there was 'Red-Haired Jack'. 　

It sounded almost as if the Four Emperors were in tears… 

Just then, Adrian exerted force with his left foot, shifting to the right, avoiding a cluster of shadows attacking from below.

"Hey hey, Gecko Moria, don't you have any pride as a pirate? Ambushing is not a good habit."

"Hehehe..." Moria emitted a sinister, unique laughter. Squinting his eyes, he raised his sword, pointing it at Adrian on the mast, "Daring to be so arrogant on someone else's turf, kid, tell me your name!"

Watching the robust and muscular Moria, Adrian felt a very uncomfortable feeling. From start to finish, he felt that the chubby version of Moria without a chin was cuter…

Adrian condescendingly said, "My name? When I do bounty hunting I am known as 'Momoya', but there are many people who like to call me 'White Ghost'."

A person's name, like a tree's shadow.

Once the title of "White Ghost" was revealed, it immediately caused a stir.

After three months of spreading and proliferation, the title of 'White Ghost' was already well-known throughout the West Blue region. At least among the members of the Gecko Pirates who made a living on the sea every day, there wasn't a single one who didn't know!

'Red-Haired Jack' tightened his fists, and his face instantly darkened. He stared intently at Adrian on the mast and solemnly said, "Moria, this is not an opponent that can be easily dealt with! Don't be careless."

Moria laughed without a care in the world, "What White Ghost or Black Ghost, I'll turn him into a 'Dead Ghost'! It just so happens that my zombie army is still missing a leader!"

"Don't underestimate me too much, Gecko Moria," Adrian crossed his arms and said word by word, "Coincidentally, I plan to use you as a stepping stone for my advancement!"

[You have triggered a B-level random mission 'Gecko Pirate Crew'!]

[Mission Details: In the vast outer seas of the West Blue, apart from the well-known traditional mafia, the roaming [Cruel Moonlight] ship is also one of the untouchable taboos! Now, a newcomer has come to challenge this taboo.

Will the legendary King of Zombies continue his fame, or will the White Ghost be able to continue the legend?]

[Mission Tip: Leave no room for error!]

[Mission Requirements: Defeat/Kill Gecko Moria, Destroy the Gecko Pirate Crew]

[Mission Rewards: Randomly draw two skills or specialties from the enemy]