Chapter 83: Byojack’s Concerns

The sky hung heavy and gray.

Snowflakes danced wildly, blanketing the world in thick frosting. Everything the eye could see was pale and washed out.

Five pirate ships flew Jolly Rogers as they cruised just off the coast of the island. Their decks were packed with grinning, savage-looking pirates.

"Captain World!! Once this deal goes through, we'll finally restock our weapons, right?"

"Hahahahaha! Of course! That punk Doflamingo wouldn't dare defy the captain!"

"I heard the Donquixote Family controls the entire underground arms smuggling network in North Blue… I bet the goods they bring this time will be top-shelf."

"Shahahaha! When we're done, the Marines, the World Government—they'll all be reduced to ashes under the firepower of the World Pirates!"

"..."

The pirates of the World Pirates turned their eyes toward Byrnndi World, standing at the bow with arms crossed. In their gazes burned fanatical admiration for his towering, broad-shouldered figure.

That was their captain.

The legendary pirate known as the "World Destroyer"!

A man who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Whitebeard and Roger—someone who made even the World Government and Marine Headquarters tremble in fear!

"Barorororo! Damn right! I'm Byrnndi World—anything that stands in my way will be crushed!"

Byrnndi World laughed heartily, then turned to his brother Byojack, perched on his shoulder.

"Right, brother?"

Byojack, pale and sickly with an IV dangling from his arm, looked at his overbearing, carefree younger brother. A trace of worry flickered in his eyes, but he forced a smile and nodded.

"Yes, brother."

Byrnndi World burst out laughing again, snow piling up on the horns of his metal helmet.

He squinted over the deck, taking in the ambitious faces of his crew. The grin on his face only grew more arrogant, more defiant.

He didn't know why exactly, but the Marines and World Government had doubled his bounty from 200 million to 400 million Berry. Still, Sengoku's move had been a massive favor.

Out at sea, a rising bounty meant increased Marine pressure—but it also boosted notoriety.

The higher the bounty, the more infamous you became. And that meant more pirates, hungry for a name, would come flocking to your flag.

In just the last half month, within the North Blue alone, the number of pirates under his command had skyrocketed from a few hundred to several thousand.

His fleet had grown from one ship to five.

And this was just the North Blue!

If he returned to the Grand Line—or even the New World—countless more would join him. The World Pirates would rise to become one of the strongest pirate crews on the seas!

Byrnndi World had long envied the kind of flying pirate fleet commanded by Shiki the Golden Lion.

"What a glorious age this is…"

He sneered as he muttered to himself.

Then he glanced toward a distant island and gave the order to his crew.

"Prepare to land."

Through the whirling snow, the outline of the island came into view—pure white, like a ghost town, faintly visible beneath the overcast sky.

That uninhabited island was the agreed meeting point for the trade.

"Yes, Captain World!"

The pirates responded excitedly, itching to move.

Ever since joining the World Pirates, they'd been starved for arms. This deal was something they'd been eagerly awaiting.

The sailors got to work, spinning the rudder, hauling the ropes, and adjusting the sails.

Guided by the wind, the five ships altered course and left sweeping trails across the sea as they approached the island.

"Wait…"

Just as the pirate ships neared the shore, Byojack suddenly spoke.

Perched on Byrnndi World's shoulder, his gray brows furrowed deeply as he studied the narrow, pocket-shaped coastline ahead.

The five ships were squeezing tightly into the harbor—so packed it looked cramped and dangerous.

A biting wind whipped across his face, making him shudder uncontrollably.

The cold made him cough violently, face flushing red from the strain.

"Cough… cough… World, just to be safe, I don't think we should dock all the ships at once."

"The coastline's too narrow. If the Marines show up now, we wouldn't even have a chance to run."

"Oh?"

Byrnndi World gave his brother a look, clearly dismissive of the concern.

Ever since his bounty had been raised, Byojack had been in a constant state of worry—careful to a fault.

Unless absolutely necessary, they never docked. Every ship was thoroughly searched, all Den Den Mushi and communication devices confiscated.

It had gotten to the point where Byrnndi World couldn't help wondering if his brother's illness was making him overly cautious.

This was North Blue, not the Grand Line.

Even if that bastard Sengoku showed up, he had nothing to fear.

Still, thinking of how his brother had taken care of him when they were young—and seeing how much weaker he'd gotten—Byrnndi World didn't argue. He kept smiling.

"If it's your suggestion, then…"

He pointed to one of the ships.

"You lot—don't dock. Patrol the island's coastline and wait for my signal."

He pulled a Den Den Mushi from his coat and tossed it to a pirate on that ship.

The pirates aboard that vessel immediately let out disappointed groans. Their faces fell.

Pirates weren't known for discipline.

They didn't go to sea chasing dreams or freedom—there was no "One Piece" yet, no era of great pirates.

They became pirates for plunder, wealth, fame, and power.

Even within the same crew, fights over spoils—sometimes to the death—weren't uncommon.

Byrnndi World himself often stood by and watched, laughing. To him, the weak had no right to follow him.

Now that a fresh cache of arms was inbound, it was first come, first served.

Their ship wasn't landing. The other four were. Which meant those four would divvy up the Donquixote Family's weapons first—and they'd be lucky to get leftovers.

And if anything was left, it'd be the worst of the lot.

Still, Byrnndi World's authority was absolute. No one dared speak up. They could only curse their bad luck under their breath.

(40 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake