After spending most of the voyage locked away in my cabin with Nami, I had almost forgotten that the Vogue Merry had continued sailing.
When I finally came back up to the deck, a pleasant sea breeze greeted me as the salty air replaced the warmth of the cabin. My gaze immediately drifted toward the horizon, and I couldn't hide my surprise.
An island was already in sight, close enough that I could make out the buildings lining the harbor and, more importantly... the dozens of pirate ships anchored there.
Flags of every color fluttered above the masts. Some bore unfamiliar Jolly Rogers, while others belonged to crews whose names already appeared on wanted posters.
The place practically breathed piracy.
I then turned my attention to the rest of the crew.
Nami had already disappeared, whisked away without the slightest hesitation by Kuina into the cargo hold for one of their seemingly endless girls' conversations. Judging by the mischievous smile Kuina had been wearing as they headed below deck, I preferred not to imagine what they were talking about.
A little farther away, Sanji and Charles were chatting casually near the galley.
The cook was enthusiastically explaining something with broad gestures while Charles nodded every so often, clearly fascinated.
On the opposite side of the deck, Zoro was sprawled against the main mast, fast asleep.
At first glance, he looked utterly exhausted and had even lost a bit of weight.
It wasn't hard to guess that Kuina had put him through an especially brutal training regimen over the past few days, to the point where the poor swordsman was taking advantage of every spare minute to recover.
At the bow, Luffy and Merry were sitting beside the figurehead with a nautical chart spread out between them.
The two of them regularly compared the map with the horizon, exchanged a few comments, then made slight adjustments to the ship's course.
Watching them work together brought a smile to my face.
Not that long ago, Luffy would have simply sailed straight ahead and hoped to stumble across an island by pure luck.
I walked over to them.
"Luffy, do you know this island?"
The captain looked up with his usual grin.
"Oh, Jordan! Yeah. That's Rubeck. It's a pretty well-known pirate island in the North Blue."
He folded the chart with one hand while pointing toward the island.
"Swallow Island was closer, but it's also way too close to Minion."
His smile shifted into a slightly more serious expression.
"I don't feel like running into Flamingo and his whole gang again so soon. They're probably still around—or they have spies keeping an eye on the area. By coming here, we're putting enough distance between them and us."
I slowly nodded.
The reasoning was perfectly sound.
Luffy really was starting to think like a captain.
Then he gave me an amused look.
"That said..."
He raised a finger.
"Once we're ashore, don't turn back into Sora."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I want to enjoy the atmosphere."
He burst into laughter.
"If Sora shows up in a port full of pirates, everybody's either going to panic or pick a fight. I just want to look around, eat a good meal, and see what the island has to offer."
I let out a quiet chuckle.
"That sounds reasonable."
I folded my arms before adding with a smile,
"On the other hand, if anyone decides to come looking for trouble... I'll still beat them."
Luffy burst into laughter once again.
"Shishishi! Well, that's only normal!"
He immediately turned his attention back toward the harbor, which was drawing closer with every passing minute.
The docks bustled with constant activity as pirates came and went in every direction. Sailors loaded crates onto ships, taverns overflowed with music and laughter, while several captains appeared to be negotiating their next voyages. Unlike many other islands, no one seemed surprised by the presence of dozens of different pirate crews gathered in the same place.
Rubeck looked every bit like a true pirate haven... a place where reputations were made, where information spread at incredible speed, but also where the slightest provocation could turn a simple port call into a massive free-for-all.
It was exactly the kind of place Luffy loved.
Once the Vogue Merry was securely moored to the dock, everyone was quickly assigned a task.
I asked Charles to remain aboard with Merry and Zoro to keep watch over the ship.
Zoro was still sprawled against the main mast, fast asleep, apparently unable to fully recover from the relentless training Kuina had put him through over the past few days.
Charles accepted without complaint, much preferring to safeguard the ship than spend his time wandering from tavern to tavern, while Merry stayed at the helm, curiously watching the lively harbor.
As for Luffy, he didn't waste a single second.
The moment his feet touched the dock, he took a deep breath of the air, rich with the scents of grilled meat, smoked fish, and alcohol, before breaking into a huge grin.
"Come on, Nami! Let's go explore!"
Without waiting for an answer, he dashed into the streets of Rubeck.
Nami let out a small sigh as she watched him disappear between the first buildings before shaking her head and hurrying after him.
"At least wait for me, you idiot!"
Meanwhile, Sanji and Kuina already had a very specific destination in mind.
"Let's start with the market," the cook suggested.
"If this island is as famous as I think it is, they must have ingredients you can't find anywhere else in the North Blue."
Kuina nodded enthusiastically.
"And if we get to sample a few local specialties before stocking up our supplies, I certainly won't complain."
The two of them leisurely headed toward the marketplace, quickly leaving the noisy waterfront behind.
As for me...
I chose a more discreet approach.
A few minutes later, after changing into much plainer clothes and concealing anything that might draw attention, I naturally blended into the crowd.
Here, nobody paid any attention to one more pirate among hundreds, allowing me to move around without difficulty before pushing open the door of an old tavern overlooking the harbor.
The inside was loud.
Laughter erupted from every table. Several pirate crews were playing cards, while others were already emptying their mugs and making increasingly ridiculous wagers.
The scent of beer, rum, and tobacco filled the room, while a small group of musicians played a lively tune in one corner.
I simply ordered a drink before taking a seat at the bar.
Pirates always talked a little too much after a few drinks.
In less than an hour, I had already learned most of what there was to know about Rubeck.
The island was ruled by three powerful pirate crews that had found a balance as simple as it was effective.
None of them sought to completely dominate the other two. Instead, each protected a portion of the businesses and the local population while sharing in the profits generated by the harbor.
Their primary rule was known to everyone.
No battles between pirate crews were allowed within the town.
Duels, vendettas, and pirate wars had to be settled out at sea, far from the homes and merchants.
Any captain who broke that rule immediately became the common enemy of all three crews.
And the three captains would join forces to bring them down.
Judging by the conversations around me, that rule had already been enforced several times, and no one had ever survived the punishment.
The first two crews weren't particularly remarkable.
They simply had exceptionally powerful captains surrounded by large numbers of well-trained men. Their strength relied more on organization and influence than on extraordinary abilities.
The third crew, however...
Was far more original.
The Rum Runner Pirates.
Their name alone kept coming up in conversation.
Their captain, Scott "Bourbon" Prime, owed his nickname to a Devil Fruit that allowed him to produce and control bourbon at will. More than one pirate claimed to have seen him turn an entire street into a river of liquor before igniting it with nothing more than a single spark.
His first mate, Manhattan Vermillion, possessed an almost identical ability, except that he produced whiskey instead. More precise than his captain, he was famous for compressing his alcohol into deadly projectiles capable of piercing stone walls or slicing through a ship's mast from dozens of meters away.
The crew's sniper, Komu "Binkusu" Shochu, was equally well known. Thanks to his Devil Fruit, he could create shōchū, which he used as high-pressure ammunition. Some claimed he could hit a target more than a kilometer away with terrifying accuracy.
Finally came the two female officers known as the Pink Ladies.
Mary controlled wine, while Shirley manipulated rosé. Working together, they could quickly transform a battlefield into a swamp of alcohol, trapping their enemies before their crewmates moved in to deliver the finishing blow.
Listening more closely, I also learned that their reputation wasn't based solely on their strength.
They were considered indispensable business partners by a large number of taverns throughout the North Blue. Thanks to their Devil Fruits, they produced enormous quantities of high-quality alcohol, which they sold at prices that no ordinary brewer could hope to match.
That business had earned them the World Government's hatred.
Not only did they avoid paying taxes on spirits, but they also slashed the profits of licensed distillers by flooding the market with their own products.
In fact, a significant portion of their bounties stemmed from the fact that they had ruined several commercial monopolies and deprived the Government of an astronomical amount of tax revenue from alcohol sales.
I let out a faint smile as I finished my drink.
For an island officially ruled by pirates...
Rubeck was surprisingly peaceful.
And more importantly...
Since my arrival, I hadn't seen a single ghost wandering the streets.
No souls consumed by hatred.
No spirits unable to find peace.
Only a few departed souls quietly watching over their loved ones before peacefully moving on.
For someone like me, who could see those everyone else ignored...
It was probably the clearest proof that, despite their reputation as criminals, the three crews truly enforced their laws and protected the people of Rubeck.
An island ruled by pirates wasn't necessarily synonymous with chaos...
And this port seemed to be the perfect example of that.
After leaving the tavern, I continued wandering through the streets of Rubeck with no particular destination in mind, simply observing the daily life of this unusual pirate island.
The farther I walked, the more I realized that the three ruling crews displayed remarkable discipline.
The businesses operated as usual. The townspeople chatted casually with pirates. The taverns were overflowing with customers, yet not a single brawl escalated out of control. Even visiting pirate crews seemed to respect the island's laws.
From time to time, I spotted members of one of the three major factions stepping in before an argument could get out of hand.
Most of the time, a single stern look or a few quiet words were enough to calm the hotheads.
The reputation of Rubeck's rulers clearly did most of the work.
It wasn't until I ventured deeper into the commercial district that I finally noticed the detail that truly explained the island's stability.
Flying above several warehouses, distilleries, and taverns belonging to the Rum Runner Pirates were various flags that I recognized immediately.
The azure dragon of the Beasts Pirates.
Big Mom's Jolly Roger.
Whitebeard's flag.
Even Red-Haired Shanks' banner flew above some of the buildings.
They weren't flags of conquest.
They were symbols of partnership.
The Rum Runner Pirates were apparently supplying all Four Emperors with exceptional liquor, and in return, they enjoyed their protection.
No pirate in their right mind would dare attack a business openly displaying the backing of one of those four powers.
I let out a low whistle.
"I get it now..."
Everything finally made sense.
The World Government was undoubtedly aware of this island's existence.
Given the bounties on its leaders and their illegal activities, a military operation would have been perfectly justified.
And yet...
No large-scale expedition had ever been launched.
Why?
Because, in the end...
It all came down to money.
A few lost taxes.
A few weakened commercial monopolies.
Compared to the risk of provoking the four most powerful pirate crews in the world at the same time, the calculation was obvious.
Starting a war just to recover a bit of tax revenue would have been strategic nonsense—even for the World Government.
After spending another leisurely hour wandering through Rubeck's peaceful streets, I finally decided to head back toward the Vogue Merry.
As I approached the docks, raised voices immediately caught my attention.
I turned my head and spotted a small pirate crew gathered in front of our ship.
Charles stood calmly on deck with his arms crossed, while Merry watched the scene from behind him with a hint of concern.
Zoro, meanwhile, was still asleep against the main mast, completely oblivious to the commotion surrounding him.
At the foot of the gangplank, a pirate captain with a thick beard pointed his saber at Charles.
"Come on! Get down here and fight like a man!" he shouted.
"That ship is magnificent, and it'll look even better flying our flag!"
His crew burst into laughter.
"Yeah! And if you refuse, we'll just take it by force once you're outside the harbor!"
Charles merely sighed.
"I really wouldn't recommend continuing this..."
"What, are you scared?"
The captain laughed loudly.
"Then call your captain!"
I didn't answer.
I simply kept walking until I was standing directly behind him.
No one seemed to have noticed my presence.
I slowly wrapped one hand around his neck.
Before he could react...
I lifted him into the air with a single hand as though he weighed absolutely nothing.
"G... Huh?!"
His legs immediately began kicking helplessly in midair.
At that same moment, my body transformed.
Scales spread across my arms.
My muscles swelled dramatically.
My jaw elongated into a massive crocodilian snout lined with razor-sharp fangs.
In my hybrid crocodile form, I now towered over every pirate standing on the dock.
I slowly brought my face closer to his.
My reptilian eyes stared into his without the slightest hint of emotion.
"Would you mind repeating that...?"
My deep voice echoed across the entire harbor.
The pirate froze completely.
The color drained from his face.
Then it turned green.
A second later...
A rather unpleasant smell spread through the air.
The poor man had literally soiled himself.
Around him, his crewmates stumbled back several meters in a single movement.
Some of them even dropped their weapons the instant they recognized the creature standing before them.
I let the silence linger for a long moment before slowly releasing my grip.
The captain crashed heavily onto the dock, coughing several times as he struggled to catch his breath.
I looked down at him.
"You're lucky."
I gradually returned to my human appearance.
"I respect this island's rules."
I slowly gestured toward the harbor around us.
"Here... I don't fight."
Then my smile widened slightly.
"On the other hand..."
I pointed a finger toward the sea.
"If I run into you out on the open water..."
My expression instantly hardened.
"I'll sink your ship before you even have time to understand what's happening."
The captain swallowed hard.
He nodded so vigorously it looked as though his neck might snap.
"Y-Yes...! Understood...!"
"Then disappear."
He didn't hesitate for even a second.
"W-We're leaving! Move!"
His crew immediately followed him, abandoning any thought of targeting the Vogue Merry.
In less than a minute, the docks returned to their usual calm, as though nothing had happened.
Charles shook his head with a smile.
"You know... I was just starting to wonder how long it would take them to realize this ship wasn't for sale."
I let out a quiet chuckle.
"Apparently... they just needed a slightly more convincing demonstration," I said with a faint smile as I watched the little pirate crew all but run away. "But you did the right thing by not playing his game. I'd rather avoid causing trouble here. This island is far more interesting than it first appears."
Charles simply nodded.
"I figured you'd think that. That's why I just let them keep talking."
I then summarized everything I had learned during my walk.
The three major crews that maintained order on Rubeck.
Their rule forbidding battles within the town.
The Rum Runner Pirates and their alcohol-based Devil Fruits.
And the trade agreements that bound them to the Four Emperors.
When I mentioned seeing the flags of Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks flying above several businesses, Charles let out an impressed whistle.
"I get why nobody's trying to burn this island to the ground..."
I nodded.
"Exactly. Everyone benefits from the arrangement. The locals get to live in peace, pirates have a neutral harbor, the Emperors receive their shipments of premium liquor, and the Government would rather lose a bit of tax revenue than risk a diplomatic incident with all Four Emperors at once."
I then gave him a light pat on the shoulder.
"Go take a look around. You've earned yourself a break. I'll stay here with Merry."
"Sounds good. If anything happens, give me a shout."
I waved him off as he headed down the gangplank and disappeared into the lively streets of Rubeck.
At that moment, I noticed someone was missing.
"Huh... where's Zoro?"
Merry let out a soft laugh.
"As soon as Charles mentioned the taverns and you started talking about the Rum Runner Pirates, he woke up, heard the word 'alcohol'... and then left without saying a single word."
I remained silent for a few seconds before letting out an amused sigh.
"That doesn't surprise me in the slightest."
After all, if there was one person responsible for at least half of our crew's alcohol consumption...
It was definitely him.
I casually sat down on the edge of the deck with my legs dangling over the side, finally enjoying the peace and quiet surrounding the Vogue Merry.
Beside me, Merry sat cross-legged, her long white coat standing out against the ship's wooden deck.
The spiritual manifestations of her elemental powers played happily around her like a close-knit little family.
The tiny flaming bird fluttered above her head, leaving a trail of glowing orange sparks in its wake.
The blue water serpent slowly glided through the air as though it were swimming in an invisible river.
The little stone turtle rested peacefully atop a floating rock hovering just a few inches above the deck, calmly observing its surroundings with remarkable composure.
Finally, the young white tiger sat beside Merry's legs, its ears perked up as it watched the docks with surprising attentiveness despite its adorable appearance.
Merry laughed softly as she reached out toward them.
The four little creatures circled around her excitedly, occasionally rubbing against her coat before darting off to play with one another like real animals.
I smiled at the sight before slowly raising one hand.
Several small flames appeared above my palm.
They gave off almost no heat.
I simply made them dance through the air, shaping them into tiny glowing orbs that slowly orbited the Vogue Merry.
From the docks, they were perfectly visible, silently floating above the ship like living lanterns.
The message was unmistakable.
The ship was not unguarded.
Several pirates passing nearby glanced up at the flames, then over at me.
After recognizing my face and remembering what had happened to the overly bold captain just a few minutes earlier, they immediately looked away and continued on their way as if the Vogue Merry simply didn't exist.
I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile.
(Author's Note: That's it for today! Since I only received one suggestion for the pirate captains, there will only be one major pirate crew on Rubeck. Next time, be sure to participate more! ^^)