Chapter 43

When the Blackstar Crew returned to the SunnyTown, they came across a scene that made them all sigh.

Hundreds of Pirates, who used to be manacing adults, were currently little children bawling and running around, screaming in fear.

And then there was a young lady, who was standing tall at the docks with her hands on her waist, tapping her left foot on the ground. She was keeping her eyes on a few adult men in boats, who were transporting loot from all the Pirate Ships to the Black Pearl.

"So that's why she excused herself away." Bepo realised that Bonney wanted to have some fun without letting them join in, and he could only sigh at her antics.

As they walked over to Bonney, a sudden deathly silence dawned in the vicinity.

Everyone was looking at the decapitated head of Soldier Boy that Bepo was holding in his hand, which only added to their fear of this bloodthirsty crew.

The Pirates here all acknowledged Hector's strength, and he was dead now, with an ugly expression frozen on his pale and cold face. If that was not a testament to Blackstar Crew's strength, then nothing else could convince them to not mess with this Rookie Crew.

Under Sin's command, his crew helped ransack all the ships in a little over an hour, and then Bonney freed a few Pirates from each crew with her Power, allowing them to run away into the sea.

However, in the heat of the moment, asserting her dominance, Bonney kicked the famous Pirate Captain, Boka the Rock, into the sea. And then she dared the old man's crew to jump into the water to save their Captain, who was sinking like a rock. But being fearful for their lives, and looking at her sinister smile, no one stepped forward.

Even if someone did step forward to take the risk, they would have never found Boka, as Hachi, who was hiding underwater, had already grabbed him and taken him aboard the Black Pearl.

Bonney had made the move under Sin's signal, and Augur, who had caught on the signal had asked Hachi to go and retrieve the target.

"You better get out of this town before I decide to make you taste the sea water." The Pinkette irritatedly said, and even the fools acted wisely as they ran aboard their ships.

In just another half an hour, no trace of Pirates was left in the Town. Well, except for the Blackstar Crew, whom the Townsmen were warily looking at right now.

Ignoring the crowd of people, they gathered around the large man, whom Sin had recruited earlier today.

Bart had been helping Bonney keep a watch on the people who were transporting the treasure and the loot, and given how he was obediently standing behind her, it meant that she had already tested him for how good of a punching bag he was.

"Your old crew?" Sin smiled and asked as he looked into Bart's eyes.

"I made them leave with the Ship a few hours ago. They will carry on their journey under their new Captain and a new name." Bart told him.

"Did you check the Black Pearl?" He asked, and seeing Bart nod, he brightly smiled. "Gorgeous, isn't she?"

"Aye, Captain." The large man honestly nodded his head.

"Girls, this is our new crewmate, Jean Bart." He introduced Bart to Kuina, Hancock, and Robin. "And Bart, this is my sister, my First Mate, Second-in-command of the Black Pearl, Robin. This is my beautiful Hancock, my Second Mate, she's the third-in-command in command of Black Pearl. And this young lady is Kuina, and she's very talented with her sword."

"Hi!" It was only Kuina who waved at the large man, looking curiously at him, and Robin and Hancock only smiled and nodded in greeting.

Bart respectfully nodded as well but did not speak.

"And I am Bepo!" The Bear-Mink smirked as he stepped forward and drew his free hand to Bart. "I am the Helmsman and the current Navigator of the Black Pearl."

"Jean Bart." The large man did not smile but offered his large hand, shaking it with the Bear-Mink.

"Alright, everyone!"

The Blackstar Crew and everyone looked at the handsome young man, who was now facing the people of the Town.

"This is the head of a Pirate named Hector, famously known as Soldier Boy." He smiled as he pointed at the head Bepo was holding in his hand. "Now, some of you are going to get very rich. I have been told that he has a bounty of 125,000,000 Berries." He smiled when some people stared at the head of Soldier Boy. "It could be yours if you can promise me and my Crew the best lunch in town."

No one said anything after they heard his words. Even if 125,000,000 Berries were a lucrative sum, they felt that their lives were more precious.

What if these bloodthirsty Pirates went back on their words? What if they killed them if they did not find the food to their liking? Everyone was very fearful of them right now.

"No one?" He dangerously narrowed his eyes, and people flinched as he glanced at them.

"I will do it!" Suddenly, a thin and tall man, with blonde hair and an amiable smile stepped forward. "My name is Stefanos, and I own a restaurant in the town."

"Is that so?" Sin smiled at him.

He could tell at a glance that the man was not an ordinary person. He was fairly strong too, even stronger than Bepo, but before him, he was no threat.

"I assure you that you will enjoy my food," Stefanos promised.

"I hope you keep your promise." He playfully smiled at the blonde man and then nodded to Bepo, who unceremoniously tossed Soldier Boy's head towards Stefanos.

The way the blonde man expertly caught the head made Robin, Hancock, and Bonney narrow their eyes.

"Please." Stefanos bowed to them and then gestured to them to follow him to his restaurant.

Sin turned to look in the direction of the Black Pearl, and sent a bolt of lightning up into the sky, signalling Augur, Hachi, and the two little girls to join them for lunch.

The crackling thunder startled the Townsmen, who fearfully, yet fascinatedly stared at Sin.

They had heard rumours that he could control lightning, and it seemed to be true.

Getting his signal, the rest of the crew reached the docks within a few minutes, and then Bonney happily held Nojiko and Nami's hands as they followed Sin.

Stefanos expectantly looked at Sin and the girls as they tasted the food he served them at his restaurant, and smiled when Nami and Nojiko complimented him over it.

The place was quite shabby, but the food was undoubtedly very good.

However, it only took half an hour for Stefanos' smile to disappear as the food never seemed enough for Bonney.

Bart and Hachi ate their fill too, but Bonney just kept going and going, devouring everything within seconds it was served on the table and made the blonde restaurant owner and chef sweat and run as she shouted for more servings.

The poor blonde man started crying after a couple of hours. His pantry was already dry, and so were the pantries of the nearby restaurant.

He was now truly regretting his decision to invite them to his restaurant.

Finally, mustering up the courage, he served the last dish, and then apologetically informed them that he had run out of rations.

"Hmph!" Bonney seemed displeased at his words, but Sin did not let her voice her displeasure.

"It's fine. You kept your promise, and you have earned your life." He darkly said, which froze Stefanos for a moment before he managed to compose himself and bowed to them again.

"It was my pleasure."

Sin chuckled at his words and then stood up with the rest of his crew, walking out of the restaurant.

Outside, Bart, Augur, and Hachi were waiting for them. Since Bart was too large, he could not enter the restaurant, thus his food was served outside where Stefanos set a table for him, and both Augur and Hachi stayed to keep him company.

Everyone in the town was relieved when the crew boarded their ship, and now the people only prayed that this haunting black ship would just sail away from their land.

"Where to, Captain?" Bepo asked when everyone was gathered on the deck, and Sin turned to look at his sister.

"There's an Autumn Island after Arabasta, called Rumsdale. It is sparsely inhabited by people, and only has one small town on it." The younger Black smiled at her brother. "The loot you brought when you dropped off Cancer and Yukimaru had an Eternal Pose of Rumsdale in it."

"To Rumsdale then." He smiled. "We will hit the Holiday Island in the mid of November, almost two months from today." He told them. "And we will stay at Rumsdale for a few weeks to get in some serious training."

All of them nodded their heads.

"Set sail!"

"Aye, Captain!"

Everyone dispersed except for Bart, who stood in his place, waiting for Sin's instructions for him.

"If you find yourself desiring freedom from me, defeat me in a battle and I will let you go." He smiled at the large man. "Or you can forever stay with us."

Bart's eyes widened at his words, and he confidently nodded his head.

Sin could see that the man wanted to become stronger to challenge him again in the future. It was not something he minded. He was quite elated to see that Bart wanted to get stronger.

And if he could earn his freedom in this way, Sin would gladly let him go."

"You will serve on the Crew as a Guardian. Guarding the Black Pearl is your responsibility."

"Aye, Captain." Bart nodded his head and then excused himself when Hancock called him over to help with the sails.

"Sin."

"Yes, Bonney?" He turned to look at the Pinkette who approached him.

"The restaurant owner." She meaningfully said.

"Yes, he was not an ordinary person." He nodded his head and then turned to look in the direction of the Island that was getting farther and farther away. "The people of Vira are getting restless. The citizens are losing faith in the Royal Family."

He had been utilising his Observation Haki the entire day, and he had picked up on a lot of things that gave him an idea of the current situation of the country.

Bonney understood his words, and her mind soon caught on a thought, precisely a name. The name of a certain organisation.

"He could be one of them. Or maybe he's an agent of the Government." He chuckled and glanced at her. "It is also possible that he is not affiliated with anyone." He shrugged. "It does not matter to us who he is."

"Mhmm..." She nodded her head and then turned herself into a little girl before jumping into his arms and hugging him tightly. "I want to feel the clouds."

"Yes, Princess." He chuckled and then shot up into the sky with a bolt of lightning, fulfilling her desire.