Just as Robin had finished putting a blanket over Rob and little Uta, the calm was shattered by a series of loud explosions in the distance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Startled, Robin quickly rushed to the starboard railing, holding a telescope to investigate the source of the noise.
Through the lens, she spotted a medium-sized sailing ship fleeing at top speed, with a pirate ship in hot pursuit, its cannons relentlessly bombarding the vessel.
"A sea chase?" Robin muttered, immediately understanding the situation.
The noise woke Rob, who gently picked up the still-sleeping Uta and walked over to Robin's side. He handed Uta to Robin, stretched, and said, "Perfect timing... our supplies are running low. This pirate ship can replenish what we've used up. Let's steer the ship over and take care of these pirates!"
Robin nodded with a smile, "Yes, Oni-chan!" She quickly carried little Uta to the helm, placing her in a small cradle beside it. Robin then began to steer the ship towards the pirate vessel.
With a swift motion, Rob positioned himself at the bow of the small sailboat, his shirt open, hands in his pockets, and a confident smile on his face, exuding an air of invincibility.
Both the sailors on the fleeing ship and the pirates chasing them noticed the small sailboat approaching.
On the medium-sized sailing ship, a group of sailors looked on in disbelief.
"Hey, what's that ship doing? Pirates are coming, and they're not running away? Aren't they afraid of death? A single shell could obliterate that tiny boat!"
A captain, clad in a typical captain's uniform and cap, leaned on the railing and shouted at the small sailboat, "Hey! You idiots, get out of here!"
But despite the captain and crew's warnings, the small sailboat continued its course towards the pirate ship, soon passing the medium-sized ship.
As the two ships crossed paths, the sailors and captain got a clear view of Rob, Robin, and the sleeping Uta on the small sailboat.
"Um?" The captain looked surprised. "Children? No, why do I feel like I recognize that boy standing at the bow? I think I've seen him somewhere..."
The crew exchanged puzzled glances until one sailor's eyes widened in recognition. "Hey, isn't that the legendary blacksmith who was in the news? The one who defeated the Seven Warlords of the Sea in Alabasta—the genius master—Rob?"
The realization spread among the sailors, their faces lighting up with excitement.
"It's him! No wonder he looks familiar!"
"Is his target the pirate ship? Is there any danger?"
"Idiot! He defeated the Seven Warlords of the Sea without a scratch. How could dealing with some small-time pirates be dangerous for him?"
The crew erupted in heartless jokes and laughter, confident in Rob's abilities.
The captain of the sailboat turned dark, his voice stern. "Is now the time to say that?"
After roaring, he issued an order, "Immediately turn the rudder and head towards those damned pirates. All crew, prepare to fight! They enjoyed chasing us, but now the tables have turned! With that lord here, the end of the pirates is nigh!"
Hearing the captain's words, the crew's eyes lit up with determination. Excited, they shouted, "Oh!"
Quickly, the medium-sized sailing ship, which had been fleeing, turned around and charged toward the pirate ship from the side, coordinating with the small sailboat attacking from the front.
This unexpected maneuver confused the pirates, and even Rob on the small sailboat was momentarily puzzled. However, a smile soon spread across his face. "The captain of this ship is quite interesting! The way is wide!"
Although Rob's primary goal was to hunt the pirate group and replenish his ship's supplies, he also indirectly saved the crew of the medium-sized ship. Their decision to turn and fight alongside him indicated they were not ungrateful, making them worth saving. This show of gratitude and bravery earned his respect, and he wouldn't mind helping them with future troubles. He even considered prioritizing such people if he ever needed to manage forces.
"Oni-chan!" Robin called out while controlling the rudder. "This pirate group is called the 'Hyena Pirates.' They're a gang of slave traders with connections in the underground world and even do business with the Celestial Dragons!"
Rob froze for a moment, then nodded in understanding. His eyes gleamed coldly as he gazed at the pirate ship. "I got it! The human traffickers pirates? These guys—death is right!"
With that, he unsheathed Shinto from his waist and casually performed a saber flourish. A huge slashing sword aura pierced the air, exploding all the cannonballs fired by the pirate ship at the small sailboat. The qi then sliced through the bow relief and cut down the mast.
Boom!
The mast crashed down, causing chaos on the deck. Some pirates were killed on the spot, others injured, but most were unscathed, albeit covered in debris.
The pirates quickly tore off the canvas covering them and emerged, only to see Rob descending from the sky, landing directly on their ship.
Without a word, Rob commenced a one-sided massacre on the pirate ship.
For pirate groups that committed countless crimes, Rob had no mercy. While he usually robbed treasure and supplies from ordinary pirate crews and let them live, he made no such exception for those involved in human trafficking or underground dark forces. He would kill them all.
After all, before crossing into this world, Rob himself had been a trafficked child.
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