"Don't worry, everyone. I'm an expert in stealing, eavesdropping, and communications. Two weeks ago, I leaked information about this island to the outside world. Someone should already know by now."
On God Valley, Ginny was encouraging the others. These slaves had gathered here and formed an escape group, which also included a shark Fish-Man.
He had just used his sharp teeth to bite through Ivankov's shackles. Hearing Ginny's words, a question suddenly arose in his mind.
"Um… will Lord Nereus receive your message?"
"Nereus? Who's that? Is he someone popular?"
Ginny had become a slave at the age of four and was very unfamiliar with the name. Just as the shark Fish-Man was about to explain who that was, another older slave beside them took over the conversation.
"Nereus, huh? That's a big shot."
The pirate had just picked up a newspaper he found on the island, gathered some dry leaves, and rolled himself a cigarette. Only after finishing did he realize he had no way to light it.
In the end, he leaned against a dead tree, holding the homemade cigarette in his mouth, savoring the taste.
"I was captured and turned into a slave three years ago. Before that, I'd already heard of him. The captain of the Fish-Man Pirates, a member of Rocks Grand Fleet, a monster from the deep sea.
Back when I was still free… his bounty was already an astronomical figure. I think it was over three billion Berries."
"Heh, Blue… that really is a big shot. Do you know him?"
Hearing the pirate's summary, Ivankov looked toward the shark Fish-Man, seemingly surprised that there was someone with such a 'connection' among the slaves.
"How could there be a Fish-Man who doesn't know Lord Nereus? Anyone born on Fish-Man Island these past years grew up hearing his stories! Though Lord Nereus probably doesn't know who I am…"
"Then what good is that? Just because he gets the message, does that mean he'll definitely come save you?"
"Not necessarily. Other pirates are hard to say, but if it's Nereus… he might really come.
That guy's been attacking World Government slave ships nonstop since his debut. It's said that many slaves gained their freedom because of him.
Among those who regained their freedom were musicians. I heard they even composed a song for him. I've heard it on a ship before, it went something like this…"
[Put away the chains and shackles, shed no more tears till dawn
Hear the tide's call resounding, moonlight lights the road home
Let tears turn into waves of spray!
Till that dawn rises once again, all shall be set free!
Yo-ho-ho-ho~ Yo-ho-ho-ho~
Sing this song! The waves that lead us home!]
The pirate didn't seem very good at singing, and in the end he sang it to the tune of "Binks' Sake." As the most widely known song among pirates, it was the music pirates were most familiar with.
"He sounds like a really good person. Then we should pray that he got the message too. If so, maybe a few more of us will survive."
"A good person? But I heard he's killed countless Marines. Almost every fleet sent to suppress him was completely wiped out, with very few survivors…"
Although the World Government wasn't strict in controlling propaganda, and all kinds of unfavorable news often leaked out, the World Government was still the largest ruling authority on the seas, and most newspapers still treated it as the main subject of promotion.
Under such circumstances, the reputation of those with bounties circulating outside was, at best, mixed, and more often purely infamous.
In many people's ears, the name Nereus was synonymous with a devil who killed without blinking. But to Ivankov, it sounded like something else entirely.
"I take back what I said earlier. If he killed that many Marines, then he must be a great hero! Hee-hah! But for now, that's none of our business. We should think about how to save ourselves."
The Celestial Dragons treated him as a slave, and the Marines helped escort slaves for the Celestial Dragons. In Ivankov's eyes, it didn't matter how many such Marines died.
Still, he didn't place his hopes on that. Turning away, he began plotting again how to seize a Devil Fruit.
Meanwhile, in the waters near God Valley, more and more pirate ships were gradually revealing themselves.
Sebastian and the others had already followed Nereus's orders and hidden their ship on another island some distance away, with the personnel standing by there.
Nereus and Barbell themselves had boarded a Rocks Pirates' ship and were approaching God Valley.
"Shakuyaku can't be shared evenly!"
"Which idiot even brought that up? Of course, we'll let Shakuyaku choose for herself! She'll definitely pick the one who plunders the most treasures!"
"No, it should be the one who saved her!"
The people on the ship were still in the throes of s*xual frustration. Even Barbell had joined in; he was also interested in Shakuyaku and wanted to get close to her.
But at that moment, a pirate ship was gradually approaching the Rocks Pirates' vessel.
The entire ship had a streamlined design, much slimmer than most pirate ships, and it wasn't slow either. Standing at the bow was a person about two meters tall.
He was dressed in a neat white suit and wore a monocle. His appearance made him look more like someone from CP0 than a pirate.
"Excuse me! May I ask if Mr. Nereus is on this ship? My name is Valentine. I am currently the captain of the Valentine Pirates, with a bounty of 437 million Berries!"
"Hey! Hey! Nereus! Looks like someone's looking for you!"
Whitebeard, leaning near the railing, called out to the side, drawing the attention of the other members of the Rocks Pirates as well.
Nereus naturally heard the shout and looked over in that direction too.
"So Mr. Nereus really is involved in this affair. I heard of your reputation long ago. After you became a pirate and went out to sea, I saw your name in the newspapers again and again.
I've been following in your footsteps all this time, and today I finally have the chance to meet you in person! As long as I kill you here, I can completely surpass you and make my name known across the seas with your head!"
Silence. A deathly hush fell over Rocks's ship. Even the terrifying s*xual frustration caused by Shakuyaku was dispelled by Valentine's words. Only the howling sea wind and the crashing of waves continued unabated.
The next moment, thunderous laughter erupted from Rocks's ship. Golden Lion laughed so hard that his cigar fell to the deck without him noticing. Buckin doubled over with laughter, looking as if her stomach hurt.
Streusen laughed so hard he rolled around on the ground, as though he'd just heard the greatest joke in the world.
"Everyone, why are you mocking me so? If that's the case, after I take Mr. Nereus's head, won't you feel embarrassed?"
The mockery from the Rocks Pirates didn't make Valentine feel humiliated. Instead, he thought them ignorant and continued to question them with impeccable courtesy.
At that moment, even Nereus found himself intrigued by him…