Thank you so much to all, We've reached 14 members on my P@treon, and to celebrate, I'll be mass releasing 10 chapters! I hope you enjoy them!
--------------------
To the east of the cruise ship, a group of slaves was sailing further and further away on a small boat. When the cruise ship was no longer in sight, the previously silent slaves began to come alive.
Faced with a madman who dared to kill a Celestial Dragon, they had been too scared to even speak. Whatever he told them to do, they did without question.
"Who was that guy? He actually dared to kill a Celestial Dragon!"
"Sanders. That man's name is Sanders. I overheard those people in white suits talking about him," replied one of the slaves who had been on the deck.
"He's terrifying. He didn't seem afraid of the Celestial Dragons at all!"
"Doesn't he fear the pursuit of a Marine Admiral?!"
"Who cares? It's good enough that we escaped. I never want to be a slave again. I just want to go home! Damn that slave-hunting ship. I don't even know if my family is still alive."
"Do you remember where your home is?"
"North Blue."
"Well, you probably won't be able to get back. This is the Grand Line. Returning home would be almost impossible for us. The seas are full of vicious pirates, and we might be hunted down by the Marines or the World Government."
"..."
After hearing this, the formerly relieved slaves fell silent once more. Many realized that they might never return to their homeland.
As the thought of being pursued sank in, fear and confusion spread across their faces. The sound of quiet sobbing could be heard as many began wiping their tears. Despair washed over the entire boat.
Seeing this, the burly man among them quickly stood up to comfort everyone.
"Stop overthinking it. Being alive is already a blessing for us. It's far better than being a slave."
His words lightened the mood a little. Yes, anything was better than being a slave.
As they thought about their experiences as slaves, many began to shiver, their eyes filled with fear.
"We'll find an island to settle on first, then decide what to do after that," the burly man continued. "Just like Sanders said, don't reveal that you were slaves. If anyone asks, tell them we're survivors from a shipwreck."
The burly man had naturally become the group's leader. His imposing stature provided a sense of security, and it was his decision that the group hadn't taken any of the treasures.
"Better safe than sorry," he had reasoned. "What if we took too much and Sanders decided to kill us?"
Not knowing how much they could safely take, they had decided to take none at all. Instead, they grabbed supplies that would help them survive at sea. If they found an island, they could trade the supplies and the boat itself for money. That would be enough to sustain them for a while.
Whether they could find work and make a living afterward would depend on their own luck.
Just then, one of the slaves shouted, "Is someone riding a bicycle on the sea ahead?"
"What kind of joke is that? No one rides a bicycle on the sea. You must be talking about the sea train."
"No, it's really someone on a bicycle!"
Everyone looked ahead, and sure enough, they saw a figure riding a bicycle across the sea as if it were solid ground.
"How is that possible? Is it a Devil Fruit user?"
"Should we avoid them? But the wind is pushing us in that direction."
The burly man glanced at the icy surface beneath the cyclist and, realizing something, his face turned pale with cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
Seeing that there was no way to avoid crossing paths, he quickly instructed everyone, "Don't forget, if we get questioned, we're survivors from a shipwreck."
"Women, hide in the cabin."
Everyone obeyed, retreating into the cabin. The group had no treasure aboard, just some basic supplies. The only thing anyone might covet would be the beautiful female slaves.
Soon, they encountered the man on the bicycle. He stopped in front of their boat.
"Sorry to bother you, but did you see any signs of a battle up ahead?"
"N-No, we didn't see anything. We're just a shipwrecked merchant vessel," the burly man nervously responded, stepping forward to speak.
He stared at the ice beneath the man's feet, feeling like a cornered prey facing a predator.
Aokiji briefly glanced at the trembling man and then shifted his gaze to the marks on their necks.
There were distinct indentations from collars.
He looked around at the other passengers. Their necks were noticeably lighter in color.
Escaped slaves? Aokiji thought to himself.
Judging by their appearance, the battle must be over.
The burly man instinctively covered his neck, realizing how obvious the slave marks were. Seeing the same marks on everyone else, his pupils widened in terror, and he began shaking even more. In a matter of seconds, his back was drenched in sweat.
"You didn't see anything? Thanks for your answer," Aokiji said lazily, his tone indifferent as if he were still half-asleep. He even yawned.
"If you're a shipwrecked vessel, head in that direction, and you'll find an island." Aokiji pointed in the direction he had come from.
Then, without a second thought, he rode off on his bicycle.
As Aokiji disappeared from sight, the burly man collapsed onto the deck, gasping for breath.
He grabbed the slave steering the boat and yelled urgently, "Move! Go, go now!"
"You knew who that guy was? Freezing the sea like that must mean he's a Devil Fruit user."
"Never mind that! Hurry up!"
"And cover your necks with your collars!"
The burly man had recognized Aokiji. Before becoming a slave, he had been a small-time pirate, familiar with the legends surrounding the Marine Admirals. A man who could freeze the sea and was headed toward the Celestial Dragon's ship could only be one of the three Admirals—Aokiji, the Ice-Ice Fruit user!
The boat sped forward, its occupants frantically rowing.
In his heart, the burly man silently prayed for Sanders, hoping he could escape the Admiral's pursuit. After all, he owed Sanders a great deal for freeing them from hell.
Meanwhile, Aokiji continued riding his bicycle, feeling the sea breeze.
Following the boat's direction, he slowly approached the cruise ship.
Now that the battle was over and the slaves had fled, Aokiji took his time, knowing there was little point in rushing.
Whether he arrived early or late, all that was left was to clean up the aftermath and report back to Marine Headquarters.
Riding leisurely, Aokiji soon spotted the massive cruise ship in the distance.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
He had spotted a head hanging from the mast, swaying in the breeze, its eyes wide open in death.
--------------
T/N:
Access 30 chapters in advance on my Patreon: p@treon.com/OneFic