Chapter 57: 57. The Coincidental Human Trafficker

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- "Listen up, little ones! Bring that ship over here to me! Kill all the men! Keep the women and sell them at the Sabaody Archipelago just ahead!" The Grand Line is known not only for its unpredictable, violent weather but also for the pirates that roam freely, coming from all four seas. On this route, no merchant or civilian vessel dares to sail without a powerful banner backing them. Without such protection, they become prime targets, as piracy is the order of the day here. The shouting came from a pirate battleship, its skull flag flapping eerily. Upon spotting a large ship ahead with neither a commerce emblem nor a pirate flag, the captain's eyes glinted with greed. The vessel was bigger than his own, and even without knowing the contents, the ship itself promised a hefty profit. Having endured countless hardships, these pirates were closing in on the Sabaody Archipelago—the finish line of the Grand Line's first half. Their resources were dwindling just before the New World, and this unmarked ship was the perfect solution. Responding to their captain's command, the pirate ship surged forward, eager for plunder. Little did they know, they were the fifth such pirate crew to make this attempt. If the previous crews had succeeded, there wouldn't have been a "fifth time." The sky-blue currents of the sea crackled with energy before erupting into streaks of lightning that arced upward. A powerful aura swept over the sea, and the seasoned pirate captain immediately sensed danger as the air above the ship shifted ominously. In a flash, a towering thunderbolt tens of meters high crashed down from the sky, striking the pirate ship. The thunder's judgment was merciless, the ship reduced to splinters under the scorching power of the lightning. A blast of searing hot air radiated outward, sending shockwaves across the sea and filling the air with static. This devastating attack had come from Yamato, who had recently consumed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. As for the ship floating thousands of meters above, guarded by Koshiro and Hogback, Alex chose to navigate it traditionally on the sea, leaving the pirates to serve as training fodder for his crew. For his subordinates, Alex saw these pirates as perfect practice. Among those honing their skills were Perona, Black Maria, and Yamato, with Laffitte occasionally joining the fray. Others like Kuina and Zoro were still too young, and Robin preferred her studies to fighting. Recently, she had been delving into management and secretarial skills, deepening her knowledge for the future. Watching Yamato's attack, Perona, though she'd seen it several times before, still felt a chill. "Yamato's really getting the hang of her Rumble-Rumble fruit powers," she murmured. Laffitte, equally impressed, nodded. "No matter how often you see it, the sheer power of lightning always takes your breath away." Yamato grinned, lowering her hand still crackling with electricity. "It's all thanks to Alex's training." Though new to the intricacies of lightning, Yamato had, under Alex's guidance, learned to harness thunder in creative ways—much like Enel's "electrotherapy" and the haki-enhancing radio waves he once used. Electricity was a powerful force, and Yamato knew she'd only scratched the surface of its potential. Under Alex's continued training, it was certain she could surpass Enel's mastery and tap into an even more advanced level of thunder's might. Upon returning to Wanokuni, Alex planned to recruit a team of scientists to help Yamato expand her knowledge of electricity. Although he possessed a decent understanding himself, he wasn't exactly a master of physics. Terms like "electric field" and "electromagnetic force" were familiar, but he lacked the depth of expertise needed for further exploration. Fortunately, scientists in the Pirate World were advanced in their fields, and Alex was confident they could offer Yamato the guidance she needed. Meanwhile, Yamato, who was busy teasing Nami with Maria and the others, had no idea Alex was planning a series of rigorous lessons for her. Suddenly, as if noticing something, Yamato called out to Alex, "Alex, there's another ship off to our right. It doesn't look like a pirate ship or a merchant vessel." Thanks to her developing Observation Haki and the ability to amplify it through radio waves, Yamato had extended her perception range to roughly ten miles, forming a sensory field around the ship. Within this radius, she could detect any movement. A fast-moving ship had just crossed into her range. "Hmm... near the Sabaody Archipelago, not a pirate or merchant ship," Laffitte mused. "It could be a human trafficker's vessel." At the mention of traffickers, Alex's thoughts turned to a particular story he'd heard—the tale of three young sisters who had fallen into slavery. Perhaps, it was more than just a coincidence. He looked over to Laffitte. "Let's steer the ship over and investigate. If it is a trafficker's vessel, I'd like to see who's fallen victim to their schemes this time." "Understood," Laffitte replied, immediately adjusting the rudder and setting their course toward the direction Yamato had indicated. Though their target vessel picked up speed, it was no match for the propulsion Yamato's lightning-powered system provided. Before long, a smaller passenger ship came into view ahead. Aboard the traffickers' ship, the crew quickly noticed Alex's vessel bearing down on them. "Boss, a massive ship just appeared behind us. It's heading our way!" one of the crew members called out. A hulking, burly man stepped forward. "Can you tell what kind of ship it is?" The lookout, peering through a telescope, began describing the scene. "There are two men on board and... five... six children, plus a lot of women! And they all look... uh, well, they're all in great shape! Some of the kids even have rare features—like horns on their heads!" Growing increasingly excited, the young man turned back to the burly leader. "And there's no flag! One of the men looks like he's some kind of steward, and the other's unarmed—probably a nobleman traveling with his family." The word "noble" made the trafficker's leader pause. A ship of that size could indeed belong to a powerful noble, and attacking one could be risky. Though human traffickers by trade, even they knew better than to pick a fight with someone whose connections might spell disaster. Sensing his boss's hesitation, the young lookout pressed on, his greed clearly stirred by the sight of so many potential captives. "Boss, we're almost at the Sabaody Archipelago! Remember, we heard that a Celestial Dragon might be attending this auction. If we capture them, we could fetch a fortune selling these rare types! And after, we can disappear into Sabaody's chaotic zones. If anyone comes after us, they'll hesitate because of the Celestial Dragon's presence!" The logic was tempting. Combined with their current prize—warrior women from Amazon Lily, whose strength and rarity were nearly as valuable as mermaids—the opportunity was too good to pass up. As the ships drew closer, the trafficker leader steeled himself, signaling his men to prepare for a raid. But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted as his eyes widened in disbelief. One of the "stewards" on the approaching ship—a man holding a cane—suddenly leapt into the air, and, while still in mid-flight, unfolded massive white wings, soaring toward them in an obvious preemptive strike. And if that wasn't intimidating enough, brilliant white lightning crackled behind him, illuminating the sky in a fierce, dazzling display.