"That was a miscalculation, a real miscalculation. Those things are tough to deal with. That giant Sea King just now really startled me—we almost got swallowed whole, ship and all." Rosen powered the broken ship with a sandstorm, fleeing far from the area with Hathaway.
He hadn't expected so many Sea Kings and sea beasts hidden in these waters. All they had done was wave a torch over the sea at night. Not only did they catch giant squid, they also attracted numerous Sea Kings.
Especially one enormous Sea King. When Rosen punched it, he could barely make it budge. With his current strength, he could flatten a small mountain with ease.
Yet that Sea King, hundreds of times larger than their wreck, merely swayed slightly, unharmed.
It hadn't even been a full-power punch, but Rosen finally understood why, although the Four Seas could technically enter the Grand Line through the Calm Belt, almost no one dared. Windless waters were only part of the reason. The true danger lay in those colossal Sea Kings.
If even one was this terrifying, an ordinary Vice Admiral leading a warship would likely perish if they confronted such an island-sized monster head-on.
And the Calm Belt was their nest. If those creatures were roused and swarmed together, even an Admiral might escape alone—but escaping with a ship and crew would be another matter.
Rosen had no intention of fighting them head-on. Battling such monsters brought no benefit. That giant Sea King was far larger and fiercer than Little Oars ever was.
"Why run? We could've killed it together," Hathaway said, puzzled.
"It's a waste of time. We have enough meat for now."
"We won't end up like those ships, trapped here until we die, will we?"
"No." Rosen was confident. This was most likely the Florian Triangle. He just didn't know which direction they were facing. Judging from the old wrecks, this sea had a notorious reputation. Later sailors probably avoided it, which explained the abundance of ancient wrecks.
If this truly was the Florian Triangle, it was dangerous but time itself wasn't distorted. Rosen believed that with enough exploration, they would find a way out.
But thinking so was one thing. Reality was another.
One day, two days, three days… Rosen estimated a week had passed.
They constantly altered the currents, steering the wreck in search of an exit. At times, they fought powerful Sea Kings. These waters were strange—Sea Kings were unusually abundant. They fought mainly to vary their diet.
Through battle after battle, they grew more in sync. Together, they even killed two giant Sea Kings—terrifying creatures that required great effort to defeat.
The meat, however, was delicious. Their relationship gradually warmed. They no longer addressed each other so stiffly, and their conversations became more relaxed.
After two weeks, Rosen began to grow anxious. He didn't want to be trapped here forever. Outside, Nico Robin and the others had likely escaped and gone into hiding, but Marine Headquarters wouldn't let things go so easily.
Better safe than sorry.
But anxiety solved nothing. They had tried many methods. Hathaway even dove beneath the sea within the range of their Observation Haki to see if anything changed below.
They had also captured Sea Kings to pull the ship, hoping the creatures might possess some instinctive sense of direction. But the Sea Kings merely swam within the mist, never leaving these waters.
After trying several "mounts," they realized it was useless. Rosen even gathered many wrecks together, awakened his ability, turned them to sand, and created a colossal sand tornado that spiraled skyward, trying to break through the mist.
But above was endless fog as well.
On a stormy night, thunder roared like the end of the world. The wreck rocked violently, as if it would be torn apart at any moment. Rosen and Hathaway sat side by side.
It looked like romance. In reality—
"The bed and pillow you made out of sand are too hard. Can't you make them softer? Leaning against the wall is more comfortable," Hathaway said helplessly.
"Solid sand is like that. If I turn it into quicksand, I'm afraid you'd suffocate in your sleep…" Rosen stared at the cracked ceiling. He was craving a smoke. If only he had a cloud fruit ability.
He could've made soft cloud beds like those in the sky islands. Unfortunately, he was a sand user.
"This wretched place doesn't even have a living soul. Once the rain stops, let's burn the other wrecks and see if the flames draw anyone's attention." Though they couldn't find a way out, Hathaway felt this journey strangely warm and fulfilling.
"Good idea. But we'll wait for the rain to pass."
"Mm."
"If you accomplish what you want to do, what will you do afterward?" Hathaway suddenly asked.
"Take everyone on adventures. Explore the world. Find islands we like and stay for a while, then move on to the next. One day, when we're old, settle on the island we love most and spend our final years there. Though… who knows if we'll live that long." It had been Rosen's dream since arriving in this world.
But once he understood that when the nest falls, no egg remains intact, he knew it was only a beautiful wish. Unless one day he replaced the World Government and changed the world—until no one hunted him, until true stability arrived and slaughter and darkness ended—such a life would remain distant.
"And you?" Rosen asked in return.
"Me? I don't know. I haven't thought that far ahead." Hathaway shook her head.
"When that time comes, if you don't have anything particular you want to do, come with me."
"What about Robin?"
Rosen suddenly realized this might be a fatal question. Still, he answered cleverly, "We're part of the same pirate crew. As long as we don't disband, we'll stay together."
"Mm, that's fine… By the way, come here. Let me kiss you. Those ugly men in the past all wanted to do this to me. Now I have the same impulse toward you…" Hathaway looked at him calmly.
Rosen felt his heart struggling to keep up. Hathaway was far too domineering. This wasn't affection—it sounded like an order.
Would he refuse? Perhaps once.
But alone together for so long, their closeness growing by the day, and with Hathaway's stunning beauty, no man could easily resist her invitation.
He thought of Nico Robin. He didn't act—but he didn't refuse either. He couldn't quite sort out his feelings.
"Worried about Sister Robin? I know she's done the same to you before. I just want to know what it feels like. You're probably the most restrained pirate captain I've ever seen. Honestly, I don't always understand your restraint. If you like something, just do it. In this world, no one knows if they have a tomorrow. No one plans that far ahead. I don't. Sister Robin doesn't. No one does. But you… you do."
Her words struck Rosen like lightning.
In this world, there were few rules, few restraints. Not everyone even had a tomorrow—not even him.
No one spoke of responsibility for someone's future. They possessed so little. Beyond the present, there was nothing.
It was the cruelty of the world, and the tragedy of many. Turbulent times stripped people of hope. Aspirations and responsibilities were born of stability—but stability was a luxury in this era.
If they didn't cherish the present, many would be left with nothing.
Love felt fragile, even insignificant, because survival came first. Life and death were the true stakes.
Decades ago, one man gave this era a hope to those who had none—a hope of fame, wealth, everything the world offered. That hope drove countless people into frenzy.
But it also blurred moral lines. Justice and evil grew indistinct. Emotion weakened, while power, fame, and wealth became paramount. Everything else seemed secondary.
"You're such a hassle," Hathaway said, and attacked him again, her alluring lips pressing against his.
This time, Rosen was no longer passive. After a moment of surrender, he responded, embracing her, feeling the warmth and smoothness of her body.
Yet at the final line, the last thread of reason held him back.
It all felt too fast.
But could he truly stop?
I'll take this sweetness first. Help yourselves.
(End of Chapter)