Chapter 8

Continued The Crescent Cove Alliance 2

Next day Kael's mind was already drifting toward the East Blue. Though the sea was calm, his thoughts churned with anticipation. Every step taken so far had been toward one goal: bringing down the World Government. But to do so, he needed not just strength, but intelligence, resources, and power. Hunting down the high-bounty pirates was the next step in his strategy to unlock those crucial resources—especially the Zetsu models, which would be the backbone of his covert operations.

Kael turned to Lyra and Draven as they made their way below deck to prepare for the next phase of their mission. With their guidance, Kael was confident that Crescent Cove would become the cornerstone of the rebellion. Their trust in him had already forged a bond of loyalty—now it was time to make that loyalty count.

The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Lyra reappeared on the deck, a scroll in her hand. She had already been hard at work.

"Found something," she said, her eyes bright with excitement.

Kael raised an eyebrow, his attention sharp. "What is it?"

She handed him the scroll, which contained a list of notable high-bounty pirates and their hiding location in grand line

Pirate Captain Gale "Stormfang": Bounty 210,000,000 Berries. Known for leading the Stormfang Crew and terrorizing merchant ships along the Grand Line.

- Pirate Duo Axel and Brim: Combined Bounty 180,000,000 Berries. Partners specializing in island raids and known for their devil fruit abilities.

- Pirate Captain Cynthia "Ironheart": Bounty 120,000,000 Berries. A fierce swordswoman with an all-woman crew, last seen near the Thundering Isles.

Kael's lips curved into a determined smile. "Perfect. i will set course for the nearby water to hunt them, as he was checking their whereabouts.

"Lyra, Draven," Kael's voice was steady but commanding. Both of them looked up at him, sensing the shift in the air.

"I'm going after them alone," Kael said, his gaze steady as he met their eyes.

Draven's brow furrowed in concern, but it was Lyra who spoke first. "Alone?" Her voice held a note of disbelief. "Kael, this is dangerous. You're not going to risk everything for some glory, are you? We can go together—"

Kael shook his head, cutting her off gently. "This isn't about glory, Lyra. This is about strategy. We've been planning this for months. We need to move without attracting attention. If we go in as a group, they'll have time to react, and we'll be walking into a trap before we even know it. I need to move fast, quietly. If I take them down alone, we have the element of surprise."

Draven stood silently, his lips pressing into a thin line. He didn't like it, but Kael was right. They had to play their cards carefully.

Lyra's expression softened, but there was still a flicker of worry in her eyes. "And us?" she asked. "What will we do while you're off hunting them?"

Kael stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You two are invaluable to me. Lyra, you'll continue gathering intelligence on the islands and contacts. Your network is vast, and we need to know what's happening on the ground, especially with the World Government's movements.

Draven," Kael turned to the swordsman, "stay out of sight. Keep track of any potential threats, and if things go sideways, we'll need you to back me up. But for now, your role is to be invisible. Let's not give them a reason to suspect we're anything more than a passing ship."

Draven didn't like it, but he knew Kael's mind was made up. "Fine. But if you're caught—"

"I won't be caught." Kael's voice was a quiet, unwavering confidence. "Trust me. This is what we need right now. It's my plan, and I'm going to see it through."

Lyra let out a long sigh, clearly torn. But after a moment, she nodded. "Alright. Just... be careful, Kael. These pirates might be your next target, but they're still dangerous. Don't underestimate them."

"I won't," Kael promised.

There was a pause before Draven spoke, his voice low and gruff. "And if something goes wrong?"

Kael met his gaze, and for a moment, the unspoken bond between them seemed to hang in the air. "If something goes wrong, I'll make sure you're the first to know. But I don't plan on failing."

With that, Kael turned to leave, his mind already shifting back to the mission at hand. His heart beat with anticipation, a steady rhythm that matched the pulse of the ocean. He was ready.

Back on deck, Kael called for the crew to prepare for a stealthy departure. The ship would drop anchor in the nearby waters, and he would be taking a smaller boat to shore—where the real hunt would begin.

The moon was still high in the sky, casting its cold, silver light over the expanse of the ocean. Kael stood at the edge of the deck for a moment, his eyes scanning the horizon. Soon, he would be facing pirates whose names had made their way into the annals of criminal legend. He would need every ounce of skill, patience, and strategy to bring them down.

The crew worked quickly, preparing the ship for a quick getaway should the need arise. But as Kael made his way toward the small boat that would carry him toward his first target, he couldn't help but feel a sense of clarity. This was the path he had chosen. Alone, but not isolated. His allies were still close, their loyalty unbroken, even if their roles had changed.

He cast one last glance at the ship, at Draven and Lyra working together below deck, and then stepped into the boat. The ropes were untied, and the vessel began to drift quietly toward the shore.

The hunt was on.