"What!" the members of the Blue Dawn Adventurers exclaimed, seated in the lounge of their ship.
"Your rival is the great grandson of the pirate king," William shouted.
"Lower your voice, idiot," Luca snapped.
"I had no idea," Aila said.
"Most people don't because his surname was removed from the data books. People that knew his surname and clan were told by the Earthians to be quiet about it."
"So why are you telling us?" Hana asked, sipping out of his juice.
"To warn you guys to be careful around the Cross Heart Adventurers. The God Clan live to cause havoc and the fact that the great grandson of the pirate king is now out at sea is a problem."
"It's pretty fascinating how one clan can just appear from nowhere dominate," Vernon said. "Begs the question, what exactly is the God Clan?"
Luca clicked his tongue. "Well whatever they are, I'll make sure to burn them to the ground."
.....
"Do you think we followed some kind of monster," Luna whispered as the four of them formed a circle.
"I think we did," Octavius said eating a gummy bear. "But I feel we should have been weary with the G in his name."
Shinzo chuckled. "Our captain just got more interesting."
"I agree," Alek said, joining into the circle.
Aline frowned. "What are you-"
"I didn't think the pirate king had any family," Aiya said also joining the circle. "People always told stories about how he was to evil to bring life into the world."
Paolo put his head in. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Nothing," the adventurers chorused, pulling away from each other.
"Captain, why don't we go get some food," Luna suggested. "Since we're done with this."
He hummed. "Alright." Paolo turned to Alek. "I didn't get your name."
He smiled at Paolo. "Alek."
"Well it was nice meeting you."
"Same to you."
The navy officer waved the adventurers off, laughing heartily once again. "I knew it, there is a connection. This is an event that has ordained by the gods themselves." He turned to Aiya, grabbing her shoulder. "Be ready Aiya, we're going to be present on the day history begins."
...
Luna recounted the story with the vice-admiral and the pirates, the crew strolling up their ship. Aline looked up from her grocery bags, staring at two big ships that squeezed the dreamboat like a sandwich. One of them had a jolly roger with two hooks beside the skull and the other had a hat with FB on it.
"These ships weren't here this morning," Aline commented. "Do you think it belongs to pirates?"
"Probably," Paolo answered. "But it doesn't matter since our job doesn't start till tomorrow."
Aline nodded, looking away from the suspicious looking ships. "So what do you all want for dinner?"
.....
The next day had arrived the celebrations underway. The adventurers had been nicely split up in groups of two for parole and scattered around the island. Octavius and Aila walked down the streets, Aila casting glances at the cute person beneath her.
Octavius didn't notice her glances, staring hungrily at the sweet stands. She realized where his eyes rested and spoke up. "Do you want some?"
He turned her, a blush cascading his cheeks. "Yes please."
She internally cooed, grabbing his arm and leading him to one of the stalls. As he searched for sweets, she decided to engage him in conversation. "How old are you?"
"Nineteen," he said, handing the store clerk money before giving her a look. "Don't mock my height."
She laughed. "Don't worry, I won't. I happen to like cute things."
He puffed up his cheeks. "I'm not cute."
She laughed again and this time Octavius joined. The two got along quick, discussing as they continued their parole. Octavius got more invested once he realized she made toys.
"I'm from the Rooh Clan, so I need a vessel for my animation magic," she said. "My parents own a toy shop so I've always been in love with making toys. My dream is to open my own animated toy shop. I became an adventurer to grow my animation skills since it's limited."
Octavius smiled. "I want to become a great engineer, so I guess we're not too different."
She smiled back. "Us creators should stick together even though we're somehow enemies."
"Just so you know, Paolo is becoming the greatest adventurer."
She scoffed. "My captain will do it before he does."
The two too caught up in their banter, bumped into a hard body. They pulled back immediately, the buff chest of a man in their face. The man wore a red fedora and an open jacket, a golden hook where his right hand was supposed to be.
He looked down at the two tiny people in front of him, his eyes glinting with mirth. He reached to ruffle Octavius' hair, smiling. "What a cute kid."
Octavius frowned, the two words he hated so much spilling from this man's lips. He decided not to pick a fight, so bowed politely. Beside him, Aila stood stiff staring at the person in front of her.
"Aila are you okay?"
"It's him."
He lifted a brow. "Who?"
"Captain Mateo of the Hook Pirates, the third strongest Manu Pirate."
Octavius turned to the pirate, a proud smirk on his lips at his fame. "Is that so, then we'll have to take him in."
Mateo laughed, the words sounding like nonsense in his ears. "You won't be taking me anywhere shorty."
It all happened so fast, Aila's eyes widening alongside people on the street. Octavius picked him up by the arm and flipped him on his back. The pirate let out a strangled cry, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.
Octavius' eyes gleamed blue, slamming his foot into the unconscious pirates stomach. "I said, we'll be taking you in."
.....
Luca and Paolo walked down the street, Luca doing everything in his power to avoid conversation with him. But Paolo resisted his effort, pressing for a conversation.
"Since Angelo is your brother, does that mean you are a resident of this island?" Paolo asked.
"None of your business."
"I'll take that as a yes. You're so lucky you get to see your brother. I haven't seen mine in years. He left to join the navy three years ago."
"My other brother too," Luca mumbled.
Paolo grinned. "I guess we're the same in that aspect."
Luca clicked his tongue. "Don't compare us, I'm nothing like you."
They soon spotted a crowd in front of the execution site, staring at the top of the stand. The two exchanged looks before pushing through the crowd to the front. At the top of the platform stood a person in a cloak.
As if pulled by some sort of force, the two boys recognized each other. The cloaked boy waved his hand rapidly. "Hey it's you, we meet again."
Paolo laughed, waving back. "It seems so, what are you doing up there?"
"I was trying to get a feel for the former pirate king."
Luca rolled his eyes. "Well get down from there. That's the property of the Earthians and not a playground."
"I didn't know there was a rule against that."
A man in a black suit, smoking a cigarette walked through the crowd of people who moved out of the way for him. He pointed to the cloaked boy with the comb in his hand.
"Elias, I have been searching for you everywhere."
The boy tilted his head. "Who are you?"
The man's jaw ticked, his eyes burning into the boy on the stand. "How can you forget my face so soon you stupid kid. I am the smartest man to ever walk the earth and one of the most famous people in Manu and I have come for your head."
"Cut the rubbish and tell me who you are."
Luca and Paolo both raised their hands. "We would also like to know."
He snapped his fingers, not liking the fact that he was unknown. In an instant, men popped out from the crowd and had guns pointed. At the same time, swords of all shapes and sizes hovered over the boy on the platform, ready to fall anytime.
The man stretched his arms. "Bow before me, the strongest pirate in Manu, Arata."
The boy on the platform snapped his fingers. "Now I remember you, you're that guy that I took his map."
"Why you…"
He snickered. "If you came for it, I can't give it."
Luca frowned, staring at the pirates that had surrounded them. He leaned into Paolo. "Let's go for the head."
Paolo shook his head. "We have to keep the citizens safe at all costs. The main guy is preoccupied with that guy, so we should use this chance to the underlings. For now, we watch what happens. I doubt they'll attack unless someone moves, so we should keep still."
Luca knew Paolo was making sense, but the thought of agreeing with him sickened him, so he just looked away. Arata turned to the people, stretching his arms.
"Today people of Analus, you will witness an execution at my hands thereby making it the greatest one you'll ever see." A sudden breeze blew, pulling off the hood of the boy on the platform. Everyone gasped, immediately recognizing the person that stood on top, his gray hair falling out to his should. "This is the execution of Elias G. Fritz."