"Hurry up, let's make our way to the roof and put an end to those damn marines," several pirates rushed past Isaac, who was concealed inside a room. He could have easily killed all of them, but sometimes you don't need to bother with things you could easily avoid.
Isaac continued to explore the ship, finding it deserted as all the pirates had gone above deck to engage in battle with the marines. The sounds of clashing swords and gunfire echoed through the air, signifying the intensity of the fight.
"Now, let's see what treasures these pirates have stashed away," Isaac thought to himself as he searched through various rooms. His expectations were met, as he knew that the most valuable spoils would likely be located in the captain's room or in a nearby designated room.
As Isaac made his way through half of the ship, he finally reached the captain's quarters. Opening the door, he was greeted by a sight of a meticulously organized room.
The walls adorned with paintings and various artifacts showcased the captain's artistic taste. Taking a moment to appreciate the surroundings, Isaac's curiosity led him to a nearby door adjacent to the captain's office.
"Ah, what do we have here?" Isaac muttered to himself as he swung the door open, his expression quickly shifting to one of astonishment.
The glimmer of gold and stacks of shimmering coins before him triggered a greedy desire within him, causing his mouth to water.
"What's the deal? Can it be that a weak pirate like this has all this treasure?" Isaac couldn't believe his eyes as he surveyed the room filled with stacks of belly coins, banknotes, and piles of gold coins and jewels.
In this world, the official currency is called belly, and it is divided into various denominations. There are belly coins available in denominations of 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000. Banknotes, on the other hand, range from 1000 to 100,000 belly.
The gold pieces present in the room were either ancient relics from long-lost civilizations hidden beneath the seas or heavenly gold, a type of gold coin minted by the World Government that holds great value and influences the monetary system, much like in the real world. Governments typically store their wealth in the form of gold rather than banknotes.
"Oh, what a splendid treasure trove we have stumbled upon! If only I could lay claim to it all, my financial worries would vanish into thin air. Alas, I am confined to selecting only a few precious items to avoid arousing suspicion from the captain.
Hmm, should I entertain the idea of pilfering the entire ship and making a daring escape from the clutches of the navy? Ah, no, no, this is not the opportune moment for such audacious escapades.
I mustn't allow the vice of greed to seize control of my senses. Once I have attained sufficient strength, this paltry sum of money will hold no sway over me, and obtaining it will become a mere trifle."
After organizing his thoughts, Isaac proceeded to gather his loot. His focus was primarily on acquiring exquisite pieces of jewelry such as emeralds, rubies, and pearls.
These precious gems held immense value, surpassing that of the beri currency by a considerable margin, given their rarity and exclusivity.
As Isaac amassed a substantial collection of several hundred gems, he meticulously stowed them away in the numerous pockets of his weight belt.
Every available space on his attire was utilized to accommodate these valuable treasures. He persisted in his pursuit until he discerned the fading sounds of the ongoing battle, indicating a gradual cessation of the conflict.
"Is the battle over?" Isaac pondered upon this possibility as he swiftly grabbed a small bag and filled it with whatever he could seize. Although the bag was somewhat conspicuous, he knew he could easily conceal it among his belongings.
Once he completed his task, he carefully returned everything to its original place and swiftly made his way towards the deck, leaping onto the rear side of the navy ship.
Upon his return, he stealthily slipped into his room, hiding his meager haul. Climbing to the surface, the sight that awaited him stirred a bitter sensation in Isaac's throat.
Despite the Navy's victory, which was practically assured, there lay dozens of lifeless and injured bodies amongst their ranks, with approximately 80% of them being trainees—some of whom Isaac had developed amicable relations with.
"In the world of One Piece, survival favors the strong while the weak perish. With a sprawling population, death becomes an inevitable part of this World."
"Captain Joffrey, whats the meaning of this ?" A man emerged from the ship's hull, visibly seething with anger. The veins on his face appeared ready to burst at any moment.
"What do you mean, Lieutenant Joyce? We were assaulted by pirates! What do you expect us to do? And where were you during the entire skirmish?" Joffrey retorted, his expression filled with fury.
"Even in the face of pirate attacks, our directive remains unchanged. This voyage was meant for training purposes, with the majority of our crew consisting of trainees. Therefore, the orders were crystal clear.
Engaging the pirates was strictly prohibited. Our protocol dictates altering our course and promptly reporting their location to headquarters.
But look what happened due to your recklessness—we've lost 20 trainees and 4 marines." Joyce, a middle-aged man sporting a pointed mustache, projected an air of refinement with his well-groomed hair and elegant black uniform.
His primary responsibility was to oversee the apprentices, ensuring they carried out their assigned tasks to the best of their abilities. At the conclusion of the journey, he would determine who would be promoted and who would not.
Despite holding the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, he possessed the authority to oppose the captain in situations where the trainees' safety was at stake.
"Lieutenant Joyce, we had intended to change course, but the pirates initiated the attack, leaving us with no choice but to engage. And as the captain mentioned, where were you during the battle?" A high-ranking officer interjected, lending support to the captain's account.
The officer's statement caused the trainees' expressions to shift. It became evident that they were being misled. When the pirate ship appeared, the navy vessel took the initiative to intercept, instigating the conflict.
While pirates may be known for their aggression, they wouldn't recklessly provoke a confrontation with the navy.
"Hmm, something doesn't add up. First, there's the unexpected pirate ship laden with gold, and now this discrepancy. Wait a minute, where is the vice captain?" Isaac fell into deep contemplation as he realized the vice captain's absence.
The vice captain, a Lieutenant by rank, was typically found at the captain's side. Prompted by his observation, Isaac began scouring the deck and counting heads, only to discover that several marines were missing.
"Could it be?" Isaac's face twisted into a sarcastic smile as he considered the unfolding situation. Taking advantage of the commotion, he discreetly slipped out of sight and returned to the pirate ship.
Overhearing whispers near the pirate captain's room, Isaac learned of a plan to sneak away with the stolen treasures without alerting the apprentices and the ship's security.
"Just as I suspected. This whole affair was orchestrated from the start. They had their eyes set on these pirate spoils, conveniently hidden aboard a seemingly inconspicuous vessel.
With its abundance of gold and jewels, it would raise few suspicions and avoid too many inquiries. I imagine they'll leave behind a meager portion and claim it as the extent of what was found." Isaac couldn't help but feel a hint of amusement at the situation.
In his mind, he acknowledged that if he were in the captain's position, he might have made the same choice. After all, seizing such valuable spoils and keeping them hidden would secure a significant personal gain.
...
[ after a week ]
In the midst of the crimson-hued forest, Isaac lay on his back, his body drenched in sweat from rigorous training. Exhausted, he closed his eyes and entered a state of meditation and relaxation.
After a brief respite, he let out a sigh and opened his eyes, his mind still consumed by thoughts of the recent mission.
"It's been a week since the pirate incident, and it appears that the captain received a mere two-month suspension. Frankly, that punishment hardly seems sufficient considering the amount of loot he plundered.
As for myself, I managed to secure a significant haul, acquiring around 4 million belly worth of precious gems. I can only fathom the total value of his ill-gotten gains, which likely exceeds 100 million belly or more," Isaac pondered.
The reason behind his considerable monetary gain, despite acquiring only a few items, was the selection of rare gems. He strategically pilfered the majority of these exquisite jewels, leaving behind only a handful.
"He has become my indirect enemy, that despicable bastard. If I hadn't been strong, I could have lost my life. It's clear that he had some intention to indirectly cause harm to me. What infuriates me the most is that he manipulated me and could have minimized the casualties with his own strength.
He had the power to eliminate all the pirates, yet he chose to passively observe and left the apprentices and soldiers to fight in his place. According to Lieutenant Joyce's account, he conveniently claimed to be asleep during the attack, leading me to suspect that he may have been drugged to prevent any interference.
If I ever get the chance, I will not hesitate to take his life for using me," Isaac seethed with anger. The thought of being used as a mere pawn to serve someone else's agenda was repugnant to him.
In the end, he discovered that the pirate ship belonged to the infamous Scarlet Chameleon, a renowned pirate fleet in the Southern Blue. The captain had a bounty of 100 million belly on his head, and he commanded a fleet of 15 pirate ships under his banner.
It appeared that they were transporting the spoils collected by the fleet to their main base, but Joffrey had cunningly devised a plan to steal it all.
Securing this vital information proved to be an arduous task as Captain Joffrey's ruthless followers meticulously exterminated every pirate, leaving no trace behind. However, Isaac's cunning mind recalled his earlier act of tossing some of the pirates into the dark depths of the water.
With unwavering determination, he swiftly plunged into the depths, capturing one unfortunate survivor. In a chilling display of interrogation, Isaac extracted the knowledge he sought before extinguishing the pirate's life, leaving behind no lingering clue to his own awareness.
...
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