To The Sea

As Shogiri and I reached the village, we go straight to the docks, where a merchant ship is docked. Passing through a few workers loading the ship with a few boxes, we saw a man giving orders.

The man is wearing an unbuttoned red overcoat, with a white shirt underneath. His pants are also a shade of red, and he's using unusually long boots. On his face is a mustache that goes about 10 centimeters on both sides, with the end curving downwards. Subconsciously using my Kenbunshoku Haki, a semi-transparent screen appears in my view showing his status.

Name: Mitagi Otoya

Age: 39

Titles: Small Merchant

STR: 14

DEX: 10

VIT: 13

*NT: 15

WIS: 17

Otoya, noticing us walking in his direction, smiled and received us with open arms.

"Oh, if it isn't the cutest couple on the island!" Shogiri blushed. My expression was still unchanged. "How can be of help, knowing the 'training maniac' stopped his training just to come to see this old man?"

"Hehe." I make an embarrassed smile. "Actually, uncle Otoya, I wanted to talk to you."

"What is it, boy?"

"You are going to the Sorbet Kingdom if I remember correctly?"

He nodded. "That's right. I'm parting in four hours. Why? Do you want something from there?" he frowned. "It's probably going to take a while for me to get back. A few months, at least."

"No, no. Actually, I want to ask that you let me go with you. To Sorbet."

Surprised, he took a long look at me. We also noticed Shogiri flinching, but no one said anything.

"Hmm. What for, boy?"

"I want to become a Marine!"

Taken by surprise yet again, he laughed a bit. "Hahaha. So you are finally ready, huh. Actually, we, the old folks, were betting on how much time until you decided to become one."

'I know. I also know that the bet also involves whether I would become a marine or a pirate. It's not difficult to eavesdrop on civilians.'

Smiling, I asked. "So, you agree?" To which he nodded, to the chagrin of Shogiri. Not that I care for what she thought. I'm probably never going to see her again, and I say 'probably' because you never know the future.

"Good, I'm going back to get my things. I'll be sure to get here before the four hours is up."

"Alright, kiddo. Just try to be nice and say goodbye to the village's folk. These folks really cared about you during these years."

"Haha. No need to remind me, uncle. I was going to do that, anyway." I said while running back at speeds many times greater than that of an Olympic champion. Shogiri had no time to follow me.

A few hours later.

I am in the ship's deck alone, watching the island get farther and farther from my view. With my vision plus Haki, I can see the figures of some villagers watching us depart. I smiled.

'I'm finally out of this tiny pond. My only opponents during these two years were wild animals. And not even strong ones, just normal wild animals. And there's also another good thing about going out to join the Marines...'

My smile slowly turns into a cold one. My eyes sharpened. They became as dark as the bottom of the ocean and profoundness as deep as the sea. I raised my hand and swept my black hair backward, letting two strands, one small and other large, hanging at the front of my face.

'... I don't need to fake it anymore. At least to a degree. Uhu hu hu hu. I wonder at what level I stand right now in terms of strength. According to my calculations, I should be about the same level as an Ensign without using Haki. Not enough to reach Lieutenant Junior. Pretty weak, but for two years of training, it's not bad. Besides...'

I looked behind me, and with the corner of my eyes, I spotted the strongest man in this ship, at least according to Otoya. He sports short, pink hair with no other facial hair. He wears a sleeveless, tiger-striped fur vest and without a shirt underneath so you can see his muscular body. He also wears white pants and white shoes. He has two firearms strapped at the left side of his waist and a saber at the right side.

Name: Aigawa Goro

Age: 28

Titles: Bodyguard, Bounty hunter

STR: 54

DEX: 74

VIT: 51

INT: 17

WIS: 29

Yeah, nothing much. I don't even need a real sword to have the guy killed. My wooden one will do just fine. Although I want to challenge him to see if I can correct any shortcomings I may have against human targets. But it's not time yet. We still have about three weeks until we reach Sorbet, so I will continue training myself. Once he sees the intensity of my training, he will either voluntarily join me in a spar, or will not decline if I suggest one.

Thinking about training, I take the sword strapped at my waist and resume my daily training.

One and a half weeks later.

I wasn't wrong. To relieve boredom, the bodyguard Goro suggested that we do 'friendly' spars. Naturally, I accepted. I had to control my strength and speed to match his, or he would die. He was also confused about why my wooden sword won't break under his saber. That was thanks to Haki, obviously. But he doesn't need to know that.

"Huff, huff. You... You are good, boy. What kind of meals you had to be so strong at such age?" He asked while trying to catch his breath.

"What do you mean? I just train my body. Everyday. All-day." I answered with an expressionless face.

"You're crazy. At your age I was playing with other kids, not training my ass off."

'And that's why you are weak...'

"PIRATES!"

Both Goro and I run to the side of the ship, where a sailor was currently using a spyglass. Employing my Haki to the fullest, I was able to sense a ship with approximately 20 pirates approaching us. Finding the strongest aura, I invoked the system.

Name: Grimshaw 'Liar' Buckler

Age: 33

Titles: Captain of the Grimm Pirates

STR: 71

DEX: 65

VIT: 89

INT: 14

WIS: 37

'Grimm pirates? Never heard off. Also, these stats... he shouldn't have a high bounty. Probably no more than 2.000.000 Berries.'

They finally came closer enough to be able to see the Jolly Roger. It was a classic skull on a black background, with a pirate hat at the top with a white feather on the left side.

"The Grimm Pirates..." said Goro at my side.

"What can you tell me about these so-called 'Grimm Pirates'?" I asked, my vision not once left the pirate's ship. They are coming straight to us without opening cannon fire, which means they know that if they fire cannons, they might damage the goods.

"A nasty bunch, these are. The captain, Grimmshaw 'Liar' Buckler is said to be a cunning fella." He gripped his saber tightly. Such motion not escaping my eyes. "And strong too. Last time I saw, his bounty was 950.000 berries."

'Humm. Lower than I expected. But it will do.'

With that, a cold smile formed on my lips.

'Congratulations. You just became my entry ticket to become a marine.'

"Goro."

"Yes?"

"The captain is mine!" I said with a voice that allowed no further discussions. The bounty hunter looked at me weirdly.

"Ok. As long as I don't have to fight that madman, I'm okay with it."

"Good." I looked at the side, where Otoya is currently having a panic attack. "Otoya, go hide in the cabin. We are going to take care of this." The merchant nodded at us, then went into hiding.

Looking around, a lot of sailors also picked up sword and sabers. Although they look rather nervous when compared with me and Goro.

"Be prepared!" yelled Goro. Everyone gripped their weapons tightly.

"Goro, is there any penalty in delivering a corpse against a live one?"

"Yes, there's a 30% cut if you decide to cash in a corpse."

"I see."

'It's been a while since I tasted human blood with a blade... Come. Let me once again feel the thrill of a life and death struggle.'

"They are here." As soon as the words escaped my mouth, war cries could be heard from the pirates as ropes are being thrown towards our ship, bringing the two ships closer. Some sailors tried to cut the ropes, but it was a futile attempt as there were too many and they were already upon us.

"Come here, little child. Let me play..." Before the pirate who boarded the ship could finish talking, I attacked. My Haki-enhanced wooden sword hit his jugular at great speed, breaking his neck and sending his body off-ground. Before he flew off though, I hit his corpse with a kick. It propelled his body against another pirate, with both falling in the water.

At my left, there was another pirate who had just cut down a sailor and was ready to go to another.

'I need to finish this quick, or else the sailors will all die and we'll be left with no workers. But I cannot use Haoshoku Haki! I cannot let the Marine know that I have this Haki, at least not yet. I don't know what is the World's Government policy against this kind of Haki, seeing as most users are pirates.'

As I accelerated at full speed against the pirate, I noticed with the corner of my eyes that Goro was also trying to help the sailors.

Reaching at the side of the pirate, before he could realize I kicked the side of his knee, breaking it. Before he hit the ground, I grabbed the back of his head with my free hand, and with the other, I stabbed his eyes with my sword. Once I hit the brain, I twisted and pulled the sword, with blood and brain matter coming out.

Throwing the body aside, I go toward my next victim. During my onslaught, I found a pirate using a katana, which I took after quickly killing him. After my eighth kill, I heard a shout.

"Argh, men. Kill the boy and that bounty hunter! Now!"

Looking at my back, I saw the captain. His hair is organized in dreadlocks. He uses a typical pirate hat, with a long white feather at the side. Sporting a yellow overcoat with white details, white pants, and at his feet, black knee-high boots.

The remaining pirates, no more than ten, were locked in place and under a disadvantage. They heard the order but were too afraid to go after either of us.

"Argh, A'ight. I'm goin' do it myself." He draws an exaggeratedly large saber and goes in my direction.

Grinning, I ignored all other pirates and focused on the captain.

"Come'ere, will ya boy. Let this Cap'n kill ya back to yer mommy's bottom." He said. As he reached me, he cleaves down with his saber.

'Too slow.'

I skipped to the side, letting his saber hit the wooden floor. A board was broken.

'I can't kill him. I don't care about money, but it will let me live without being annoyed by trivialities. After all, problems that can be solved with money, are no longer problems.'

With those thoughts, I side-kicked him. He took the blow head-on at his ribs, his face flushed and he was thrown back. Before he could get up, I ran up to him and chopped off both his hands. He screamed.

"Arrggh. My hands! MY HANDS! He chopped off my hands!" tears and snot were coming off of him. His fearsome persona not doing any justice to him now.

'He might have good attributes, but he was horrible at fighting. Probably never picked up a good level at swordsmanship.'

While he was screaming, I took the opportunity to break both of his legs to not let him escape. Looking around, all pirates whom I got my eyes over dropped their weapons and raised their hands.

"Take the weapons and bind them with rope. If anyone tries to do anything funny, cut their arms and throw them in the ocean." I commanded and everyone gulped. "As for you... you are going to become my cash cow." I said to the still wailing pirate captain.

"Wait! Wait! Please! Help me! I... I have gold! I can pay you! Just... Just..." I lowered my body to be on the same level as him. I tapped two times at his right cheek lightly. Blood was on my face due to my previous onslaught. Even still, blood splashed at my chin from his stump.

"You got something wrong. I don't care about money. If it wasn't you, it would be another pirate or criminal. I only care about getting into the Marine. And you..." I said, caressing his cheek. "... you are my entrance ticket."

After that, cutting a piece of fabric from his shirt, I started treating his wound. I don't want him to die just yet.

"Please... help me..."

"Annoying." I slapped him, which made him lose consciousness.

"Alright, boys. Let's clean up this place. Throw all the bodies in the water. Take any supplies from the pirate ship and then set it on fire." I ordered. The sailors nodded. No one questioning my authority. Good.

Looking in the direction of the cabin, I could see the fear-stricken face of Otoya while looking at me. I smiled at him. He flinched and entered the cabin. Smiling coldly, I got up and started arranging the prisoners.

Another part of the plan was well done.