111. Pirates

Leo was working as usual when he got a visitor.

Dane wearing his ironed uniform had a bright smile on his face as he walked upto Leo.

"You are a beast, that much weight would kill any normal person."

Leo was carrying a heavy bundle three times his size. However he didn't show any change with such a heavy load on his shoulder.

He ignored Dane's comment and asked dryly, "Are you that free to come down here to try and poach me?"

Dane rolled his eyes, "You make it sound like I am some kind of human trafficker! Anyway I gave up on trying to recruit you."

Leo raised an eyebrow, "Then why are you here."

Dane threw his hands in the air, "I had nothing else to do so I decided to take a stroll."

Leo smirked, "So you were free."

As they were speaking a ship's shadow could be seen over the horizon. Both of them spotted it and strained their eyes to get a better view.

Leo had excellent eyesight so he could make out what kind of flag they were flying.

Pirates!

Dane got serious. He immediately went to gather his men. Though this was a small town and pirates were rarely seen it still happened nevertheless.

By the time he got back the ship was already nearing the dock.

Men wearing headbands and swords on their waist stood excitedly on the ship. As the ship slowed down they jumped off and landed on the dock.

The workers and peddlers were nervous as they watched the ship dock. They didn't dare make a squeak lest they drew attention from these pirates.

Dane and his men readied their swords and aimed their guns.

A man wearing a trench coat walked down from the ship. He had a cold expression on his face.

Dane felt his heart tremble when he saw the man. He recognised him.

His name was Bloody Bill. This guy was someone who had returned alive from the Grandline. He was not an average pirate!

This man had a bounty of 10 million bellies!

Sweat trickled down Dane's sideburns. His men were also aware of their opponents might.

Dane steeled his heart and stepped forward and shouted, "Bloody Bill, your kind is not welcome here, get the hell out!"

As soon as his words died down a round of laughter erupted. Bloody Bill's men didn't even put Dane and his men in their eyes.

Glancing at Dane Bloody Bill said, "Bring everything of value here in 1 hour or... die!"

Dane's face went pale. He glared at Bloody Bill and spat out, "You should know what would happen if you start a massacre here."

Bloody Bill didn't take his words to heart and said, "You have 59 minutes."

Dane was caught in a dilemma. He couldn't do what Bill said, he was a navy officer and Bill was a pirate.

There is only outcome when a navy and pirate meet, battle.

Just as he was wracking his brains on what to do Leo who was forgotten suddenly asked, "Dane, what's his bounty?"

Dane was stunned when he heard Leo, he hurriedly replied, "Leo, this guy is on a completely different level from those pirates you defeated before."

Leo ignored him and asked, "The bounty."

Dane hesitated and said, "10 million bellies."

Leo's eyes sparkled. He patted Dane's shoulder and said, "I will take care of this."

Dane wanted to say something when Leo suddenly disappeared. He flashed before Bloody Bill and kicked his gut.

Like a canon ball Bloody Bill was blasted through the air. He crashed into his ship and left a deep hole.

His men who were laughing with arrogance suddenly went silent. They were shocked for a moment before they realised what happened.

"Captain!"

"Bastard, guys let's get this fucker!"

Bloody Bill's men charged at Leo.

A few seconds later all of them laid on the ground unconscious.

Leo dusted his hand and walked back to Dane, "Don't forget about by reward."

Everything happened very fast. Dane and his men were stunned. The workers near the dock were also shocked.

A second later a commotion broke out.

"Holy shit! That was a man with a 10 million bounty!"

"He defeated a 10 million bounty! Damn! What kind of brute strength does he have to make him fly like that?"

Dane woke up from his shock and immediately yelled out, "Quickly tie them up!"

His men got to work. They took care of Billy's men and went inside the ship to find Bloody Bill.

They drew a cold breath when they found him.

Billy laid there like a corpse, his right arm was broken and twisted in an unnatural angle. Blood trickled down his face, he looked like a bloodied ghost.

They pulled him out of the rubble and found that he had atleast four broken ribs.

Dane was startled when he heard the report. He immediately sent out a message about Billy's capture and requested for the reward to be sent forward.

Leo hummed a tune as he went back home.

10 million bellies. I can buy that earring Shinobu eyed for a while.

A while after he got home Dane visited with a suitcase and handed him the bounty.

"That was fast."

Dane replied, "There is a major trading city on an island nearby. It doesn't take much time gather the money, only transfer's a hassle."

Leo nodded and invited him in.

Chatting for a while Leo asked, "Why is your men so weak?"

After he said that he found he said it wrong and immediately corrected, "I didn't mean it like that."

Dane shook his head, "It's alright. What you said isn't wrong. Our forces in East, West, North and South blue are weak."

Leo asked, "Why?"

Dane downed a glass of beer and said, "Grandline. That is the real battlefield. The four seas are just playgrounds compared to that place."

He grabbed the beer bottle and downed another mouthful and continued, "Pirates wreck havoc there. It's a place filled with treasures and blood. And the men in those seas are far far stronger than the one you defeated today."

"Grandline is a cradle for powerhouses. Only the strong could survive there, and navy doesn't have enough resources or man power to take care of the four seas."

"That's why those pirates who fail to gain a foothold there come back here. Surviving a day there is enough to rein rule over here."