Chapter 12

At this moment, Veya was already caught in a dilemma.

To retreat meant risking starving to death in the vast sea.

To advance meant encountering pirates, and no one could be sure what would happen then.

But one thing was certain: the chances of perishing would be higher.

Moreover, as a woman, who knows what might happen when faced with these hungry and restless men who wandered the seas day and night.

"How about... we go back and try fishing? Maybe we can catch some fish soon," a thought arose in her mind.

The idea of retreating grew stronger.

Veya glanced at the pirate ship ahead and then at the boundless sea behind her, still hesitating between advancing and retreating.

And it was behind her, in the midst of her dilemma, that she saw several figures emerge from the silver-white pirate ship's deck.

They stood at the ship's edge, gazing at Veya on the small boat not far away.

"A girl?" Carnes looked at the woman's appearance, feeling slightly surprised.

He briefly recalled in his mind.

In the world of pirates, there seemed to be no powerful women who enjoyed sailing alone on small boats.

When Carnes heard the crew's report about someone appearing alone on a small boat earlier, he thought it might be Mihawk.

After all, besides this swordsman known as the world's greatest, Hawk-Eye Mihawk, Carnes couldn't think of anyone else who would sail alone on the Grand Line.

In Carnes' line of sight.

Veya stopped rowing for a while and then began paddling towards Carnes' direction.

"Do we need to get rid of her?" Demiurge asked Carnes for instructions.

For him, Veya's presence was undoubtedly an annoying disturbance, like a pesky insect.

Demiurge was more than willing to take care of such bothersome bugs on Carnes' behalf.

However, upon seeing Veya still approaching their ship, Carnes merely shook his head gently and calmly said, "Let's see what she wants to do."

Demiurge remained silent upon hearing this.

Not long after, under the gaze of Carnes and his crew, Veya successfully reached a spot not far from the Eternal Cloak.

Setting down the oars, Veya stood up on her boat and shouted at Carnes and his crew.

"Um, can you give me something to eat? I haven't eaten anything for days!"

As she spoke, Veya's face displayed a flattering smile.

Hearing Veya's request, Carnes couldn't help but find it amusing.

Was this girl out of her mind?

She actually came under the pirate ship and asked pirates for food?

Amused, Carnes leaned on the ship's railing and looked down at Veya, asking, "Do you know what the flag above represents?"

Veya felt embarrassed and scratched her head but nodded to indicate that she knew.

Carnes asked, "Then why are you asking us for food? Aren't you afraid we might kill you?"

Once again, a flattering smile appeared on Veya's face.

"Why would I be? Even though you are pirates, I know you must be good people."

Carnes glanced at one of the average crew members nearby and calmly said, "Cut her."

As soon as he said that, the crew member didn't waste any words or hesitate, immediately drawing his long sword from his waist.

"Clang~"

The blade unsheathed, imbued with Haki in an instant.

Down below, Veya, who witnessed this scene, was still somewhat perplexed.

Because she didn't hear Carnes' previous words of "Cut her."

She didn't understand why the person drew their sword, nor did she understand its purpose.

But soon enough, she understood. They were going to cut her!

Even though they were far away, even though the sword couldn't physically reach her, it could still cut her!

"Swish!"

"Boom!"

As the crew member swung his sword down.

Space exploded, and a visible blade aura swiftly cleaved towards Veya.

"Swish!"

Faced with this sudden turn of events, Veya was filled with shock.

Without time to think, she immediately leaped into the sea.

"Splash!"

And at the moment she plunged into the sea, the blade aura fiercely struck the wooden boat.

"Crash!"

The already small-sized boat, under the force of the crew member's strike, shattered with a resounding sound.

Countless fragments of the boat scattered in all directions.

Even the sea surface was stirred up, creating a wave several meters high!

"Thud!"

"Whoosh~"

The splashed seawater rained down on the sea's surface like droplets.

The sea gradually returned to calm afterward.

Veya surfaced from the water, looking disheveled.

When the crew member who swung the sword saw Veya reemerge, he raised his blade again.

But just as he was about to strike, Carnes lifted his right hand, stopping his next move.

Because if he swung that blade, it would truly take Veya's life.

The previous strike was calculated by Carnes, both as a warning to Veya and to test her strength.

However, now it seemed that Veya's performance left Carnes somewhat disappointed.

Carnes looked at Veya, his eyes narrowing with a faint smile, and asked again.

"Now, are we... still good people?"

Veya trembled all over, her eyes shaking intensely like an earthquake.

She stared at Carnes and his group, remaining silent.

But her gaze was filled with fear.

"These people... are they devils?!"

"That guy just now... he really wanted to kill me, right?!"

"Why? I only wanted some food, they could have just refused!"

"Are pirates... all this cruel?!"