After silence had settled on the deck of the pirate ship, Pablo stood in the middle of the chaos. Bodies lay scattered, blood had not yet dried, and shattered wood was strewn everywhere. The sll of gunpowder and blood filled the air.
"Begin searching the ship." Pablo ordered his n. "Everything. Don't leave a single corner."
His n spread out like ants. So went down to the holds below deck. So went into the captain's quarters. So searched the pockets of the dead.
Marco stood beside Pablo, watching. Shigo was still wiping the blood from his sword with a piece of cloth.
After about half an hour, the reports began to co in.
"We found money, sir." said one of the n, carrying a cloth bag. "About four million seven hundred thousand Beli."
Pablo looked at the bag. Not a huge amount. But it was good.
"Add it to our treasury."
Another man ca carrying a bottle. "Sir... there are several barrels of wine in the lower hold. Good quality."
Pablo smiled. A small smile that few had seen.
"Distribute the wine to the n. Each one takes his share. We celebrate tonight."
The n looked at each other. Their faces were tired, but smiles began to appear. They deserved this.
"Thank you, sir!" one of them shouted.
Pablo turned his back and walked to the edge of the ship. He stood looking at the dark water below. Then he raised his head to the ship they were standing on.
It was large. Much larger than "The Black Wind." Its black sails were torn, its hull was strong, and it was still seaworthy.
"It would be a sha to leave it here." he muttered.
He took out the Den Den Mushi from his pocket. It was small, black in color, its eyes half-closed.
He called Arthur.
The snail rang once. Twice. Three tis.
Then Arthur picked up. His voice was sleepy, but sharp as usual.
"Pablo? It's late... did sothing happen?"
"We were attacked by pirates. We won. We captured their ship."
Arthur paused for a second. Then he said: "Are you alright?"
"Yes. We will leave the ship here. I will send you the coordinates. I want you to send n to co and take it. It might be useful to us in the future."
"How many days will they need to get there?"
"Your ship is slower than ours. About a day and a half."
"I will send them imdiately. Send the location."
Pablo looked around. He saw large rocks protruding from the water at a distance. They ford a natural passage, a safe haven for ships.
"Between the rocks at the following coordinates..." he said the numbers. "A safe place. Easy to find."
"I will take care of it."
"Also... there is the body of the pirate captain. His na is Bolly. His bounty is 9 million Beli. Send soone with your n to exchange it at the Marine office in Naraka."
"Bolly? I've heard of him. He's one of the most wanted in the South Blue."
"Was." Pablo said. "Send the body with your n. Collect the bounty. Put it in our treasury."
"It will be done."
"And there is sothing else. Contact Ido. Tell him to contact the newspapers. I want the news of the fall of Bolly and his crew at the hands of the Pablo Family in every newspaper in the South Blue."
Arthur was silent for a mont. Then he understood.
"Reputation."
"Reputation is important. In our world, fear and respect are the real currency. If people know that the Pablo Family was the one that killed Bolly, it will be easier for us to expand."
"I will tell Ido. I will make sure the news reaches everywhere."
Pablo hung up. He turned his back to the defeated ship.
"Steer the ship toward those rocks." he ordered his n. "We will anchor it there."
His n worked quickly. They raised the anchor, adjusted the sails, and steered the large ship between the rocks.
The place was perfect. The rocks ford a natural barrier against the wind and waves. The ship was safe there. No one would find it.
Pablo stood on the edge of "The Black Wind" and looked at the defeated ship. It stood there, a silent witness to the victory.
"We are leaving now." he said to Marco. "Our n will co after a day and a half to take it."
"What about Bolly's body?"
"I left it on the deck of his ship. My n will find it."
Marco nodded. He did not add anything.
Pablo gave the order. The sailors raised the anchor. The sails swelled with the wind.
"The Black Wind" set off again across the open sea.
Behind it, the defeated ship remained alone among the rocks. Waiting. Standing. As a nto of the first victory.
---
At the Pablo Family headquarters, Arthur was still awake. He could not sleep after Pablo's call.
He went to Ido's room. He did not knock. He just opened it and entered.
Ido was sitting at his desk, reviewing financial papers. He looked at Arthur with questioning eyes.
"Pablo called. They were attacked by pirates. They won."
Ido's expression did not change. But his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Casualties?"
"I don't know. But he said they won. They captured a pirate ship."
"And what does he want from us?"
"Send n to take the ship. And collect the captain's body. His bounty is 9 million Beli."
Ido paused for a mont. Then he said: "Who is it?"
"Bolly."
Ido raised an eyebrow. He had heard the na before. One of the most wanted in the South Blue.
"I will send n imdiately."
"And there is sothing else." Arthur said. "Pablo wants the news to reach the newspapers. He wants everyone to know that the Pablo Family killed Bolly."
Ido understood imdiately.
"Reputation."
"Yes."
"I will contact the newspapers in Naraka. I will make sure the news reaches every island in the South Blue."
Arthur nodded. "Pablo trusts us."
"We will not disappoint him."
Ido took out his own Den Den Mushi. He began calling his contacts in the newspaper world. By the next morning, the news had spread.
"The Fall of the Pirate Bolly 'The Giant Sword' at the Hands of the Pablo Family on the High Seas!"
The headlines were large. Newspapers spread everywhere. People began to talk. So were afraid. So respected. And so began to dream of joining the strongest family in the South Blue.
---
It was the ninth day of the voyage.
From early morning, Pablo was standing at the bow of the ship. His eyes were fixed on the horizon.
He was waiting.
Then he saw it.
The Sorbet Kingdom.
It appeared on the horizon as a small speck at first. Then it grew. And grew. Until it beca clear.
The kingdom was dium in size. But it was not small either. From the sea, the scene looked beautiful.
A tropical island filled with palm trees and buildings following an architectural design similar to lollipop-shaped towers.
But Pablo knew the truth of this kingdom.
Poverty was extre, and the country suffered from racial segregation. King Bekori was trying to make all the southerners slaves to lower the value of the Heavenly Tribute he had to pay.
The value of the Heavenly Tribute paid to the World Governnt was calculated based on the number of citizens.
The Marines were almost absent. Pablo saw only two soldiers at the entrance to the port. Their equipnt was old, and they seed uninterested in their work.
In the original One Piece world, the Sorbet Kingdom was known for poverty and oppression. It was ruled by a corrupt royal family that did not care about its people. The poor died of hunger and disease, while the rich lived in palaces.
Kuma, the young priest, lived in a church in the southern part, treating the elderly using his ability.
Pablo knew all of this.
That was why he ca.
"This is Sorbet." said Marco, standing beside him.
"Yes."
"It looks beautiful."
"Beauty is a facade. What's inside is worse."
Marco did not ask what he ant. He knew that Pablo would explain later.
The ship approached the dock. Pablo gave the order to drop anchor. The sailors threw the ropes, tying them to the wooden posts.
Pablo stood on the edge of the ship. He looked at the kingdom before him.
He did not know what he would find there. But he knew that he would change many things.
He descended the wooden stairs to the dock. Marco followed him. Shigo followed. The rest dispersed: so would stay to guard the ship, so would accompany them, and so would go...
Pablo stood on Sorbet's soil for the first ti.
The weather was different. Colder than he expected. The sll of the sea and salt was mixed with the sll of old bread and smoke.
The people at the port looked at him. So looked afraid. So curious. And so did not care.
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