Chapter 18:First Hunt

The early morning sun cast long shadows across the forest surrounding their home on Sabaody Archipelago as Jason packed his belongings, preparing for his first real adventure as a bounty hunter. His mind raced with excitement and anticipation. He had trained for this moment, and now it was time to test his strength and skill against the real dangers of the pirate world.

As he packed his gear—his swords, a pouch of beli, and a few other essentials—Shakky approached him, a small smile on her face. She held a rolled-up piece of parchment in her hand. "Jason," she called out, "if you're going after bounties, you'll need to know who's worth hunting."

Jason looked up and saw the list in her hand. He knew what it was immediately. "Is that the bounty list for the pirates around Sabaody?"

Shakky nodded and handed it to him. "This list contains the names and bounties of all the notable pirate crews currently near the archipelago. Take a good look and choose wisely. Some of these pirates are more dangerous than others."

Jason unrolled the parchment and scanned the names. The list was filled with pirates who had gained some level of notoriety, their bounties ranging from modest sums to massive rewards. His eyes settled on one particular name:

Ape King Pirates

Captain: Kong "The Ape King"

Bounty: 150,000,000 Beli

Devil Fruit: Gorilla-Gorilla no Mi (Zoan Type)

First Mate: Boulder

Bounty: 80,000,000 Beli

Crew Members:

Stonefist

Bounty: 50,000,000 Beli

Ironhide

Bounty: 45,000,000 Beli

Treecrusher

Bounty: 30,000,000 Beli

Jason's eyes lit up when he saw the bounty of Kong, the captain of the Ape King Pirates. A massive 150,000,000 beli reward for the head of a pirate who possessed a Zoan Devil Fruit that allowed him to transform into a powerful gorilla. He could feel the adrenaline beginning to build within him.

"This one," Jason said, pointing to Kong's name. "The Ape King Pirates. They're my first target."

Shakky raised an eyebrow but smiled approvingly. "A solid choice. But don't underestimate them, Jason. Kong is strong, and Zoan users can be tricky to deal with. His crew is no joke either."

Jason nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I won't. I'm ready."

Shakky smiled softly. "Just be careful, Jason." Her voice carried the weight of a mother's concern, despite her confidence in his abilities. She reached out and pulled him into a quick hug. "Come back safe."

"I will, Mom. Don't worry," Jason replied, returning the hug before stepping back.

Rayleigh appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, watching the exchange with a smirk. "You'll be fine out there, kid. Just remember what you've learned, and you'll come back in one piece."

Jason grinned. "Thanks, Dad. I'll bring back a big pile of beli, just wait and see."

With his parents' encouragement behind him, Jason slung his pack over his shoulder and headed out, waving to them as he left their home. He could feel their eyes on him as he walked away, but there was no turning back now. This was his first step into the world of bounty hunting, and it would be the first of many.

As he made his way through the forest, Jason unrolled the bounty list again, focusing on the details of the Ape King Pirates. They had been causing trouble near the Sabaody Archipelago for some time, preying on smaller ships and weaker pirates. According to the list, they were currently anchored off one of the smaller islands near Sabaody, a perfect target for Jason to cut his teeth on.

Suddenly, a familiar ding sounded in his mind, and a transparent system screen appeared before him:

System Mission: Take Down the Ape King Pirates

Objective: Defeat the Ape King Pirates and capture or eliminate their captain, Kong.Reward: 5,000 System Points.

Bonus: Additional system points for defeating the First Mate and notable crew members.

Time Limit: None.

Jason smiled to himself. The Treasure Hunting System had been an invaluable tool, offering him not only treasure maps but also missions that would guide him toward strengthening himself and gathering wealth. This was just the type of mission he needed to start his journey.

"5,000 points, huh?" Jason muttered to himself as he closed the system screen. "That's a good start."

The road ahead was clear: track down the Ape King Pirates, take them out, and claim the rewards—both the bounty and the system points. With newfound determination, Jason continued toward the docks where he would find a ship to take him closer to his target.

As he walked, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for. His bounty hunting career was about to begin, and if all went according to plan, he'd make a name for himself as a hunter of pirates, one step closer to his ultimate dream of forming a crew