"All these years have passed, yet in reality, he hasn't changed much from when he was first brought back."
With that, Roside led Rojen towards the small-scale port he had mentioned.
A few minutes later, the two arrived at the port behind them.
Though it was called a port, it was essentially just one side of an island. Due to the island's shape, the coast near the sea formed a small bay. At that moment, the ship was quietly docked in the bay.
Rojen, from a distance, carefully observed the ship, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
From the outside, Roside hadn't misled him. The ship's canvas and outline were intact, showing no signs of long disuse. On the contrary, it appeared neat and clean, as if it had never been used before. Its structure was unique, with the front and back of the ship curving inward.
At the front of the ship, there was a grand sculpture of a dragon leaping through the air.
"This dragon was added by my father. The ship is also named 'The Flying Dragon Logan'," Roside said slowly, then took out a whistle and blew it sharply.
"Whooo!"
The sharp sound of the whistle echoed, and in the distance, 'The Logan' quivered before cutting through the water, sending ripples as it made its way towards them.
"It's coming! Let's go aboard!"
Rojen nodded. As 'The Logan' drew closer, he noticed that the ship wasn't very large, only about twenty meters in length. However, it had a heavy draft, making it look solid and stable as it floated on the water. Once aboard, there was hardly any noticeable shaking.
"'The Logan' is made from silk cedar harvested from the Four Seas. Silk cedar grows deep in the sea and is inherently strong. Being constantly submerged in seawater only makes it tougher," Roside briefly explained.
As they nodded along, Rojen followed Roside around, tapping on a few places that seemed prone to damage. Each spot emitted a firm sound, which made Rojen nod in approval.
He wasn't completely ignorant about ships. His elder brother Roger was a very knowledgeable person, well-versed in world history and various fields of study. This had influenced Rojen as well, and aside from martial arts, he found himself excelling in other areas, often surpassing Roger.
Half an hour later, the two settled on a price. The ship was eventually bought for 200,000 Belly, but since Rojen didn't have cash on hand, they exchanged it for treasures of equal value.
Both were satisfied with the deal, and Roside cheerfully invited Rojen to dinner, which Rojen gladly accepted.
By the afternoon, as the sun was setting over the sea, Rojen left the place. After purchasing some necessities and enough food for five people for six months, he boarded 'The Logan'.
Looking at the ship in front of him with a sense of nostalgia, Rojen smiled.
Though the ship wasn't large, it could very well become his home in the future. As someone with a bounty on his head from the Marines, he could never stay in one place for too long. From now on, he would have to live a life of constant wandering.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Rojen steered 'The Logan' slowly away from the island.
Two days before his departure, the Sordes Pirate's ship had also arrived at a small-scale island.
The remaining twenty or so pirates were starving and nearly out of their minds. They stormed into a restaurant on the island, threatening the owner to provide them with enough food.
"Bring out your food, or I'll kill all of you!"
They shouted at the people in front of them, their fierce aura instantly terrifying the staff and the owner.
Soon, the food arrived quickly, and they devoured it hungrily.
After they were full and satisfied, the pirates let out a long sigh of relief, and a look of contentment appeared on their faces.
"Ah, that was so good!"
"That bastard, making us go three whole days without food, almost starving us to death!"
"Next time we see him, we'll definitely kill him!"
The pirates grumbled, yet there was still a lingering fear in their eyes, hidden deep within. They were just venting their frustrations with their complaints. If they actually had to go after that guy, they probably wouldn't want to do it even a hundred times over.
Just as they were finishing their complaints, a young man who had been sitting quietly during their meal suddenly spoke up.
"Where is the bastard you're talking about?"
"Huh!?"
The pirates snapped to attention, quickly turning their heads to look at the young man.
The man was draped in a pitch-black robe that concealed his figure and face. His voice was deep and serious, carrying a mysterious aura.
"Who are you, kid?"
They shouted, glaring at him.
How dare he ask about that infamous killer? Didn't he know that people who spread such rumors would be killed?
"Who am I?"
The young man, still cloaked in black, suddenly chuckled. He didn't answer the pirates' question but instead murmured to himself.
"Not with you guys, huh? Seems like he's a cautious one. This kid, he's not like the others, he must be quite a smart guy."
Then, he slowly stood up. As he rose, the pirates realized that he was over two meters tall, with a sturdy and imposing physique.
He then removed the hood of his cloak, revealing a face covered with intricate runes.
"I am the Marines Headquarters Rear Admiral, Dragon! A pleasure to meet you!"
His polite words caused the pirates to change color instantly. The long knives they had just grabbed fell to the ground with a loud clatter.
A moment later, the Marines, who had been lying in wait outside, rushed in, their long spears pointing directly at the pirates.
In fact, on that day, Dragon had narrowly missed Rojen. When he arrived at the location of the merchant ship and saw it sunk, he immediately realized what had happened.
Recalling the scenes from earlier, his gaze quickly locked onto the Sordes Pirates.
For the Marines, identifying a pirate ship and deciding to eliminate it was a challenge for officers ranked below East Blue. But for Rear Admiral Dragon, it was a simple task. In just five hours, Dragon had already figured out the movements of the Sordes Pirate ship and had followed them closely.
After a brief inquiry, Dragon's eyes flashed, and he smiled.
"So, that guy is on that island, huh? It's pretty close."
"Yes, sir, Marine!" the pirates said, fawning over him.
"Rear Admiral Dragon, should we head to the island immediately and capture him?" Captain Oakwood respectfully asked.
"Heh heh."
Dragon chuckled softly, a glint of wisdom in his eyes.
"No need. That guy has probably already run off, disappeared without a trace."
"I really underestimated you, Rojen."
(End Of Chapter)
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