"Shoujou, look at that ship ahead… that's a warship, isn't it?!"
"It really is a Marine vessel! Hurry hide!"
As the warship drew closer along the coastline of Jaya, its imposing silhouette became unmistakable. The man known as Mont Blanc Cricket finally confirmed his worst suspicion. His voice tensed as he grabbed the shoulders of the two towering figures beside him.
Coincidences in this world could be strange to the point of absurdity. Somehow, these two men Masira and Shoujou had come to admire the tale of his ancestor and, without hesitation, declared him their boss. At first, Cricket had been wary, suspecting hidden motives, fearing they sought the legendary secret tied to his lineage. Yet after months together, he had come to accept the truth: they were simple men, loyal to a fault.
"Marines? What's there to fear about Marines?" Masira scoffed confidently, still engrossed in the worn picture book they endlessly reread.
"You idiots you both have bounties!" Cricket snapped, smacking them on the head to bring them back to reality.
The two finally jolted awake.
"Ah! Right hide, hide!"
"Boss, don't forget the picture book!"
Despite the urgency, they scrambled clumsily into a nearby bush. Unfortunately, their massive frames made concealment nearly impossible. They could only clutch a few branches in a laughable attempt at camouflage.
"Forget the book for once!" Cricket hissed in frustration.
Meanwhile, aboard the approaching Marine warship, Saint Roselith Seraphina descendant of the Celestial Dragon Roselith lineage had already sensed their presence.
Even without sight, her Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) mapped their nervous movements clearly. At first, she had ignored them, but the moment she caught mention of bounties, her stance shifted.
"Bring the ship closer."
"Yes, Rear Admiral!"
Before the vessel had even fully anchored, her figure vanished from the deck.
"Boss… do you think they've found us?"
"No way we're perfectly hidden!"
"…Then why did they stop right in front of our base?"
Cricket's expression darkened.
Their "castle" their hideout contained years of research, maps, and diving equipment. It wasn't just a shelter. It was his life's work.
"…If they're here for that… then we fight."
"What fight?"
A calm, almost indifferent voice sounded behind them.
"Of course, a war between pirates and the Marines !"
Cricket froze mid-sentence.
Too late.
Before he could react, Seraphina's kick struck his face with surgical precision. He dropped instantly.
"Boss!!"
Masira and Shoujou roared, charging blindly at her.
They never even saw her clearly only a blur of white.
Thud! Thud!
Two clean strikes. Both collapsed.
Seraphina adjusted her gloves, her composure unshaken.
"Liva. Check their records."
"Yes, Rear Admiral."
The officer quickly flipped through the bounty registry.
"Report: the man known as Mont Blanc Cricket has no official bounty. However, Masira and Shoujou are confirmed pirates each valued at approximately ten million berries."
"Then detain them."
"Wait don't!"
Cricket forced himself upright, desperation clear in his voice.
"They've never harmed anyone!"
"Proof?" Seraphina's tone was cold, cutting through his plea.
"…My word should be enough!"
"Your word?" Her voice sharpened slightly.
A subtle wave of intent spread not killing intent, but pressure. At the same time, her Voice of All Things brushed against his emotions, searching for deception.
There was none.
"…Wait!" Cricket shouted, panic rising. "I know where the gold is! The legendary treasure of Mont Blanc Noland the City of Gold! There's more gold than you can imagine!"
Seraphina paused.
"Gold?" she repeated softly.
She wasn't interested in wealth but the conviction in his voice was undeniable.
"Where?"
"I… don't know exactly," Cricket admitted, gritting his teeth. "But it exists. Whether buried underground or lost beneath the sea… it's real!"
This wasn't greed.
This was obsession.
"I came here to prove it," he continued, voice trembling with determination. "To prove my ancestor didn't lie!"
For a moment, silence lingered.
Seraphina turned slightly.
"Liva. Are you familiar with this 'City of Gold'?"
He blinked in surprise.
"You've never heard of it? It's a well-known legend from the North Blue the tale of Noland's lost golden city."
Cricket immediately seized the chance.
"The book on our table read it! That's everything!"
His voice steadied.
Because to him, the gold itself was secondary.
What mattered… was the truth.
Seraphina stood quietly, her expression unreadable.
Gold did not interest her.
But truth?
That… might be worth something.
And perhaps
So were these men.