"Let's see who has the nerve!" Summer sank down slightly, the terrifying force cracking the ground beneath his feet like a spiderweb. Then, he bolted forward like a flash of lightning, vanishing in an instant.
"Boom!"
The next moment, Summer was sprinting across the vast sea, moving at such an extreme speed that he broke the sound barrier, leaving a long wake behind him on the water's surface. He quickly caught up to the pirate ship, leaped high into the air, and landed heavily on the deck.
"Well, little girl, you've got quite some nerve, haven't you? Daring to rob a pirate's loot?"
Seeing the terrified little girl who had fallen backward onto the deck, Summer gave a sinister, intimidating smirk as his gaze swept over her.
"I didn't! I just saw no one was on the ship and thought it was an abandoned pirate vessel!"
"Is that so? Would you believe a lie like that?"
As Summer spoke, his right hand flared with brilliant flames, the terrifying heat scorching the cheeks of the purple-haired girl. She looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, yet her figure was already remarkably curvy—did people in the pirate world really mature this early?
Of course, Summer was merely appreciating the view; she was far too young for now, and besides, women would only slow down his punching speed.
"Boss! Boss! Did you catch the thief?"
At that moment, Aigin and Fei Tuan also steered Smiling over and called out anxiously.
"Look, right here!"
"Oho, what a cute little miss! She'll definitely cry for a long time after taking one punch, heh heh heh!" Fei Tuan peered over with his tiny eyes, flashing a wretched smile.
Seeing that this black-and-white bear not only could speak but was also viciously intimidating her, Carina was terrified. She never expected the man before her to be a monster who could literally run across the ocean. Her foolproof methods had completely failed, and she had been caught red-handed.
"Don't, don't kill me! I can sing! I can dance, I can sing and dance for you! I'll give you all my treasures!"
Carina looked pitifully up at Summer and Tuantuan, her captivating, fox-like eyes capable of melting anyone's heart with instant pity.
"Your capital crimes are spared, but you can't escape punishment. From now on, you'll stay on the ship and work off your debt! Three million Beli in total treasure, pay off the debt in five years and you're free to go!"
Summer declared. As for where this debt came from, naturally it was the treasure of the Black Cat Pirates. Summer thought to himself that he truly was a business genius, hahaha!
With a calculation like this, even a capitalist would be moved to tears.
"Hello, Captain! My name is Carina, please take good care of me from now on!" Relieved that her life had been spared, Carina took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and spoke. A flash of cunning crossed her bright, lively eyes—the moment an opportunity arose, she would definitely run away with all the treasure. She wasn't foolish enough to let herself be trapped here.
Carina? It seemed his guess was right! The very same thief who, just like Nami, specialized in stealing from treasure hunters.
Summer naturally noticed the look in Carina's eyes, but he paid it no mind. Running away? That was simply impossible.
Once you're on my ship, you're my person!
"Fei Tuan, Aigin, burn it down! We're moving on!"
With that command, Summer flashed back onto Smiling. Thick smoke billowed across the sea as the pirate ship sank beneath the waves, and the Black Cat Pirates ceased to exist.
"Smiling, start navigation. Destination: Loguetown!"
"Beep. Navigation started. Total distance: *** nautical miles. Estimated time: three days, eight hours, and fifteen minutes. Autopilot engaged. Radar active, scanning weather and magnetic fields in the surrounding waters..."
The series of operations left Carina completely dumbfounded. Has this ship turned into a spirit? It can actually talk, and it can navigate automatically?! Simply astonishing.
"Hey, you there, why are you standing around like a dummy? Didn't you say you could sing? Hurry up and sing a song for your Lord Tuantuan."
While Carina was dazed, Fei Tuan crossed his legs, cracked open some melon seeds, and gave the order full of vigor.
"Fine!"
Carina's face darkened, but the moment she turned around, her pretty face was plastered with a wide smile. She then unleashed her beautiful singing voice, while in her heart she was already tearing Fei Tuan apart a thousand times over.
"You fat bastard, you'd better never fall into my hands, or I'll make you pay!"
Fei Tuan had no idea that because of this single incident, Carina would remember him for the rest of her life, making his future days on the ship considerably more difficult.
Of course, all of that was a story for another day.
With Carina joining their ranks, the atmosphere aboard Smiling became much more lively. Over the next two days, Carina realized that Summer wasn't a cruel tyrant, and she gradually began to let her true nature show—though she didn't overstep her bounds too much. However, for Fei Tuan, the disaster had only just begun.
"Thud! Move aside, little black-and-white fatty. I'm going to bring Captain Summer his breakfast, and you're blocking the door!"
Early in the morning, Carina kicked Fei Tuan right in his plump, bouncy backside and said it 'viciously', before tossing her head back proudly and walking up to Summer with a radiant smile, meticulously arranging his food.
"Yaya, Boss, there's a rebellion! A mere maid actually dares to attack the great Vice-Captain! °ˉ??ˉ?°"
Fei Tuan waddled over to Summer looking utterly pathetic, nursing his grievances. In just two days, the ferocious "tough bear persona" that Fei Tuan had so painstakingly crafted had been completely seen through by Carina. As a pure, simple panda, he was simply no match for Carina, who had grown up surviving in this cruel world.
The tables had completely turned. Once Carina figured out Summer's calm and easygoing personality, she appointed herself as Summer's personal maid. Now, she faintly held the upper hand over Fei Tuan, constantly finding any excuse to bully him whenever she got the chance.
A gentleman takes his revenge ten years later, but a clever young lady takes hers immediately.
"All right, cut it out! Finish your breakfast quickly and let's start today's training!"
Summer rubbed his temples in resignation. These two were simply too noisy. They brought vitality to Smiling, but they also brought endless chaos. Just look at Aigin—so quiet and peaceful.
"Got it! Hmph!" *2
Fei Tuan and Carina glared at each other, then whipped their heads away and trotted to Summer's sides. Tai Chi, their daily mandatory lesson.
...
On this day, a shocking piece of news spread from Water 7.
Iceburg merged the seven shipbuilding companies of Water 7 into the Galley-La Company, while simultaneously beginning recruitment to build the largest shipyard in the world.
CP9's Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and Blueno received orders from the World Government and began using their connections to infiltrate Water 7, going undercover in Galley-La and the city to secretly search for the blueprints of the Ancient Weapon, Pluton, attempting to take control of this weapon capable of destroying the world.
Dr. Hiluluk's illness worsened in the Drum Kingdom, and in his final days, he completed his research before ultimately blowing himself up in the square before the Drum Castle. Dalton let Chopper go despite the latter fighting for his life, but for betraying King Wapol, Dalton was locked away for a long time. Dr. Kureha took in Chopper—who had eaten the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: "Common Folk Form"—and began teaching him medicine.
In the New World, the Red Hair Pirates rose powerfully, cutting through all obstacles. Countless pirate crews fell before them as their influence and territory expanded rapidly. With their terrifying strength, the various commanders pushed the reputation of the Red Hair Pirates to unimaginable heights, faintly showing ambitions to reach the very pinnacle of the seas. The World Government began referring to them as the Iron Arm Pirates, and the bounties on each of their crew members were terrifyingly high.