Chapter 12:The Calm Before the Storm

Birds chirped in the early morning air, their song carrying across the stillness of Sabaody Archipelago. The peaceful sounds were deceptive, masking the tension that lingered beneath the surface. Men were still running around the island, searching for the slaves who had vanished from under the noses of their captors. The Marines, bounty hunters, and slavers scoured every corner, but it had been a week now, and the trail had gone cold.

In a small bar tucked away from the chaos, Rayleigh and Shakky sat with the three girls they had recently rescued. The bar was quiet, the only sound coming from Shakky as she poured tea and the distant noises of the search parties that had slowly begun to disperse. The frenzy of the hunt had faded with time, but they all knew the danger still lurked nearby.

Rayleigh stood before the girls—Hancock, Marigold, and Sandersonia—his posture relaxed but his tone serious. "You've been through a lot, but things are far from over. The Marines aren't going to give up searching for you easily."

The girls nodded solemnly. They had endured horrors no child should ever face, and the idea of being hunted by Marines only added to their fear. Hancock, the eldest, sat with her sisters on either side, her gaze hardening as Rayleigh spoke.

"We have a plan," Rayleigh continued. "You'll stay here for the next year. Shakky and I will keep you hidden, and during that time, I'll train you. You'll learn to fight, to survive. When the time is right, we'll send word to the Kuja Pirates, and they'll come to pick you up from a nearby island."

Shakky, who had been silently listening, chimed in. "We've been watching the island. The Marines are still on alert, but things are calming down. We'll wait until the heat dies down, and then you can return home."

Hancock clenched her fists, her eyes filled with determination. "I won't let them take us again. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my sisters."

Rayleigh smiled slightly, impressed by her resolve. "That's the spirit. But you'll need more than determination. You'll need strength. And that's what we're going to give you."

Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged glances. They were young, frightened, but they trusted Rayleigh and Shakky. In the short time they'd been with the couple, they had felt safer than they ever had before. They nodded in agreement with Hancock, their faces set with quiet determination.

As the conversation settled, a shadow darted across the window. A bird swooped in, dropping a newspaper onto the counter before flapping its wings and disappearing into the sky. Shakky picked up the paper and scanned it, her expression darkening as her eyes ran over the headlines.

Rayleigh looked over at her. "What's in the news?"

Shakky didn't say anything at first, just laid the paper flat on the bar for everyone to see. The headline was bold and unmistakable:

"Slaves Escape Sabaody Archipelago!"

Sub-caption: If any information is found about the suspects, contact the nearest Marine branch immediately.

The article detailed the discovery of the empty cages and the burning slave ship. It was clear that their escape hadn't gone unnoticed. The World Government was still actively searching for the missing girls, and anyone with information was being encouraged to report them.

Hancock's eyes widened as she read the article. Her heart pounded in her chest as fear gripped her once again. "They're still looking for us," she whispered, her voice tight with anxiety.

Rayleigh remained calm, but his expression was serious. "Of course they are. You three were valuable slaves. The people who bought you aren't going to just let you go."

Jason, who had been standing quietly in the corner, pushed off the wall and approached the counter. He picked up the newspaper, his eyes scanning the page before falling on the date printed in the corner. His mind started calculating, piecing together the timeline.

It hit him like a freight train. The date. The events. The future he knew was coming. 22 years until Luffy sets sail. The clock had started ticking, and Jason knew now how much time he had to prepare. The great pirate era, the rise of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, everything was still ahead of him, but the future was closer than he had imagined.

Jason handed the paper back to Shakky, keeping his thoughts focused. "They're not going to give up easily. The Marines will keep looking, but we have time. They won't expect you to stay here on Sabaody."

Rayleigh nodded. "Exactly. We stay cautious, we stay hidden, and we train. By the time they come looking again, you three will be ready to handle whatever comes your way."

Shakky folded the paper, her face softening slightly as she looked at the girls. "We'll keep you safe. Just trust us."

The girls, still shaken by the news, nodded in agreement. They had no other choice but to trust Rayleigh and Shakky, but that didn't make their fear any less real. Hancock, though, felt something stir within her. A fire. The beginnings of something that would one day make her one of the most powerful women in the world.

That night, after everyone had gone to bed, Jason lay awake, staring at the ceiling of his small room. His mind was racing. The timeline was starting to come together, and he knew now how much time he had before the world would erupt into chaos. But there was something else gnawing at the back of his mind. The Dragon Dragon no Mi, Model: Elemental Dragon God—the Devil Fruit he had wished for—was out there, somewhere. He could feel it, like an itch in the back of his mind that wouldn't go away.

He knew that acquiring that power was key to everything. With that fruit, he would be unstoppable. But he couldn't afford to be reckless. The time would come, but for now, he had to remain patient. His plans were still in motion, and there was much more he needed to do before he could seize his destiny.

For now, the focus was on training. Not just himself, but the others. Hancock, Marigold, and Sandersonia would need to grow strong if they were to survive in this dangerous world. And with Rayleigh as their teacher, Jason knew they were in good hands.

But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were moving faster than expected. The clock was ticking, and Jason had no intention of letting the future catch him off guard.