The next day, the sun shimmered over the open sea as the Hunter Pirates continued their journey, the events of Sorbet Kingdom still heavy on their minds. The air was calm, but the tension aboard the ship was palpable, each member lost in their own thoughts.
Ronin was sprawled out in a hammock tied between two masts, snoring away without a care in the world. His body moved only when the occasional breeze rocked the ship, completely at ease as though the chaos from the day before hadn't happened. His peaceful snores filled the otherwise quiet deck.
Koby sat at a small workbench, deep in concentration as he tinkered with a device he had been working on for years—a sleek, metallic tracker that was supposed to help them locate Devil Fruits. His hands moved with precision, adjusting screws and fiddling with circuits, but his mind was elsewhere. The defeat they had faced still lingered heavily, and while the device helped distract him, there was an underlying frustration he couldn't shake. The clink of metal and the hum of electrical components provided a steady rhythm to his work, but his brow furrowed with each passing second.
He didn't know if the device worked or not because it never went off during their time on Greed island or when they went to Sorbet Kingdom.
Te, sitting near the bow of the ship, was completely still. He was meditating, but this time it wasn't on physical strength or stamina—he was focusing on his Nen.. He could feel his Nen growing stronger, more refined. His eyes were closed, but his senses were heightened. The flow of aura in his body was almost tangible, like a stream he was learning to direct with greater control. He was trying to reach deeper into his abilities, to grasp new techniques that had previously eluded him. The stillness of his posture masked the intense concentration within.
Lila sat at the steps leading to the upper deck, engrossed in a book. Her fingers flipped through the pages absentmindedly, her focus divided between the story and the weight of what had happened in Sorbet Kingdom. The novel was her escape from the reality of their situation, but every few moments, her gaze flicked out to sea, her thoughts drifting back to the battle and the consequences they now faced. She sighed quietly, turning another page, though she wasn't sure how much of the book she was actually absorbing.
As the ship rocked gently with the waves, the quiet was suddenly broken when a shadow passed over them. Lila looked up from her book, squinting as a familiar silhouette moved across the sky.
"Hey," she said, her voice cutting through the silence. "Is that a News Coo?"
Koby, still focused on his device, barely acknowledged her at first. "What?" he muttered, adjusting a wire.
"The bird," Lila said, pointing. "It's coming toward us."
Koby glanced up, spotting the seagull-like bird swooping toward the ship. It carried a small satchel, and strapped to its foot was the daily newspaper. The News Coo circled once before landing neatly on the ship's railing.
"Well, let's see what the world's got to say about us today," Koby said, standing up and walking over to the bird. He unhooked the newspaper and a few letters from its foot, and the bird squawked before taking off, flapping away into the sky.
Koby unfolded the paper and scanned the front page. "Well, that's... interesting," he mused, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.
Te, snapping out of his meditation, opened his eyes and looked over. "What is it?" he asked, sensing something was off.
Koby kept reading, his expression hardening. "Seems the government spun an interesting story on what happened at Sorbet."
Te and Lila exchanged glances before Koby continued. "They're calling it the 'Sorbet Incident.' According to this, half the island was wiped out... by revolutionaries. Apparently, they 'came back to finish the job a decade after usurping the former king, Bekori.'"
Lila's eyes narrowed. "Why would the government lie about what really happened?"
Te crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat as he thought it over. "I can think of a few reasons. First, they can't exactly admit that two rookie pirates got into a conflict with one of the Five Elders, especially not when the guy turned into some kind of demon. Second, it would cause way more panic if the public thought pirates like us could wipe out half an island on a whim. And lastly, the Revolutionaries are a much bigger thorn in the World Government's side than we are."
Koby nodded. "Te's right. As far as they're concerned, we're small fry, not worth stirring up public fear over. And they probably think we don't even know who we were fighting."
"So, what should we do next?" Lila asked, her eyes lingering on the ominous news headline.
"First off, we skip the next island," Koby replied, folding the newspaper with a sharp crease. "It's a trap waiting to happen. The only people who really know what went down at Sorbet are probably admirals, or worse. And you can bet they'll be waiting for us there."
Lila groaned, running a hand through her hair. "I signed up for adventure, not fearing for my life at the start of my journey."
Koby was about to respond when Te suddenly jolted upright in his seat, his eyes wide with realization. "WAIT!" he blurted out, looking almost frantic.
"What is it?" Koby asked, caught off guard by his brother's sudden outburst.
"D-Did I get a bounty?" Te asked, his voice cracking with excitement, his eyes almost watering as he leaned forward, eager to hear the answer.
Koby raised an eyebrow and began flipping through the pages, scanning the bounty section. "Hmm... let's see… oh, here it is... WHAT THE HELL?!"
Te's heart skipped a beat. "How much is it?!"
Koby stared at the number, then looked up at his brother. "Ten."
Te's chest swelled with pride. "Hmm, 10 billion berries seems excessive, but it makes sense they recognize my potential early."
Koby's voice was flat, cutting through Te's fantasy. "No. It's 10 million."
The silence was deafening for a moment as Te's expression crumbled. "10... million?!" he repeated in shock. "That's it?! Are you kidding me?! After all that?! They should have given me at least 500 million! Do they not realize who I am?!"
Koby shook his head, trying not to laugh at Te's overreaction. "Apparently, they don't. Guess you'll have to prove yourself a little more before they start throwing billions at you."
Te slumped back, muttering under his breath. "Unbelievable... 10 million… what a joke."
Lila, watching the whole exchange, chuckled and looked out over the sea. "Hey, at least you got something, Te. It's better than nothing."
"Yeah, yeah," Te grumbled. "But still... 10 million. Pathetic."
"Pft, seems mine's not much better," Koby said, shaking his head. "They gave me 10 million as well. They're calling us the 'Hunter Twins.'"
Te's eyes widened slightly. "Wait... how do they know our pirate name already? Did you tell Saturn?"
Lila chimed in, curious. "Yeah, how could they know?"
Te scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "No... but we might have told half the town while we were drunk."
Lila blinked, then sighed. "Seriously? You guys couldn't keep it to yourselves for one night?"
Koby flipped back to the section with their descriptions and continued reading aloud. "According to this, we 'raided a few islands alongside the Kid Pirates and killed civilians.'"
Lila frowned, crossing her arms. "The government just keeps on lying, don't they?"
Te snorted in disbelief. "Guess it's easier to make us look like villains than admit they got outclassed by some rookies."
Koby nodded. "Yeah, it's all damage control. They can't have the world knowing the truth, not when their reputation's on the line. So they spin whatever story suits them."
"Should I wake up Ronin and tell him?" Lila asked, glancing toward the sleeping figure sprawled on the deck.
Koby shook his head. "Nah, let him sleep. We'll let him know when he wakes up. No need to stir things up too early."
Te was still smirking about the bounty when Koby turned to him. "Te, I need your help in the lab. Can you come help real quick?"
Te's expression shifted, becoming more focused. "Sure, what's going on?"
Koby gestured toward the ship's interior. "I've been working on that genetic modifying machine, but I'm hitting a wall. I need some materials, and I figure you're the best one to help me source them."
Te nodded, already intrigued. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
The two brothers made their way inside, leaving Lila behind with a quiet chuckle. "Those two never stop, do they?" she muttered, flipping open her book again as she kept an eye on the horizon.