"You heard wrong, Captain Buggy!" The lookout was nearly strangled to the point of fainting, barely clinging to life. "I... I said it's a red tree..."
"Still dare to speak! What did the red nose ever do to you?!"
Buggy was utterly enraged, throwing a fierce punch. The lookout let out a scream, flew high into the air, and fell into the sea with a splash.
Only then did he clap his hands, turn around, and look towards the mountain.
At the top, the conspicuous white flag was fluttering in the morning mist with the design of two sharp swords piercing a seagull...
"The... Endgame?!"
Buggy's eyes widened, snot running down, and his limbs uncontrollably split apart, flying wildly in the air. "This inconspicuous ghost place is actually the territory of the World's No.1 Sword Master, that Shano?!"
"Turn around quickly! Turn around immediately!"
"Huh? Captain Buggy, but the treasure will be..." Moqi was confused and a little reluctant.
"That's why I say you're an idiot, Moqi! Is the treasure more important, or is my life more important? Such a big shot with a bounty exceeding two billion Belly, can we provoke them? The person might be on the island right now, if you want to die, go yourself!"
Buggy slapped Moqi across the face, then yelled at the helmsman, "Full retreat! Now! Immediately!"
Moqi covered his red, swollen cheek, wronged and tearful. I just came to the New World not long ago and don't know much about these big shots.
On the other side, the helmsman used all his strength, and the Biku Doppu retreated at full speed.
In a short time.
The sea returned to calm.
It wasn't until much later that a pirate struggled to poke his head out of the water, staring in disbelief at the Biku Doppu disappearing beyond the horizon.
Boss Buggy!
I haven't even boarded yet!
...
Five days later, at dawn.
The Endgame was anchored in front of an island.
It was said to be an island, but it didn't really qualify, because this piece of land was more like a huge artificially carved reef, only the size of a few football fields.
But though it's small, it has everything. The island has five large warehouses, each bearing signs that read "Wine," "Fresh Water," "Staples," "Cold Weapons," and "Miscellaneous."
As the head chef, Zeff was leading the crew, transporting supplies onto the Endgame from the front few warehouses.
On the wooden dock, a chubby old man with white hair was leaning against the railing, carefully counting the Belly in his hands.
He wore a refined black suit and gold-rimmed glasses, his belly round, looking like a pampered seal.
"Oh my, what generous guests..."
The chubby old man laughed heartily, stroking his beard, his eyes narrowed into slits. "Buying so much at once, it seems like they left the last island in a hurry and didn't have time to gather supplies."
Shano stood next to him, hands in pockets, eyes scanning the busy crew, and said casually:
"Kind of."
The fat old man's name was Henry, and both he and this small island seemed to have appeared out of thin air, standing alone in the vast, boundless sea, dealing with passing ships.
"Hey, old man."
Nami passed by carrying two oranges and couldn't help her curiosity. "Is it really just you on this island? Not even a guard? Aren't you afraid of pirates stealing all these supplies?"
"Pirates?"
Fat Henry continued to laugh, finished counting the last Belly slowly, and then raised his head to look at Nami, a gleam flashed in his squinted eyes.
"Young lady, take a guess. How has this island in the New World, for so many years, never had its supplies touched?"
Nami blinked, puzzled: "Isn't it because... so many islands around here are Whitebeard's territory?"
"Whitebeard?"
Fat Henry burst into laughter, his beer belly jiggling:
"That old guy doesn't have time to manage the order of such small places, and besides, do you think pirates in the New World are all goody-goody? Even in the territory of the Four Emperors, there are always some reckless fools who try their luck."
"The sole reason I've managed to run warehouses here safely is one."
He patted his round belly, "A dozen years ago, pirates in these seas called me the strongest Pirate Hunter, 'Flow Breaker' Henry."
"Flow Breaker?"
Nami tilted her head, completely unfamiliar with that name.
"It's because I'm naturally good at water combat! Ambushing under the sea, suddenly springing out to split the pirate ship in half, forcing them into maritime battles with me. Even pirates with bounties of four to five hundred million Belly fell into my hands."
Fat Henry glanced at Shano and said cheerfully:
"Of course, in the eyes of someone like Lord Shano, this is nothing, but it's still enough to deter those low-level pirates."
"As for the big shots I can't handle, like you, they're on a whole other level, only doing business nicely with me, not resorting to petty theft or outright robbery."
Shano silently looked up at the sky.
"So that's a really impressive figure..."
Nami listened in awe, grinning, "You don't look it at all. So, Uncle, why didn't you continue being a Pirate Hunter but ended up in business?"
"I'm old; risky livelihood is not sustainable in the long run."
Fat Henry's expression turned a bit wistful. "But mainly, it's because I accidentally ate a Devil Fruit back then."
"Devil Fruit?"