This is a typical South China Sea-style tropical island, rich in various tropical fruits, and has a very good reputation. In a peaceful and stable town, people live and work in peace and contentment.
All this was due to the [Southern Sea Battle] five years ago. The Snake King and his huge forces who had ruled the South China Sea for more than 20 years were uprooted by the 'Vicious Chain' Victor. Since then, the number of pirates in the South China Sea has increased.
The numbers are decreasing day by day. Those who are capable have basically fled to the Grand Line, while those who are incompetent are being decapitated by more and more bounty hunters in exchange for bounties.
Especially in the past two years, [pirates] have basically disappeared in the more famous waters of the South China Sea or near the islands.
Every April when the hunter trials are approaching, the remaining pirates in the South China Sea will try their best to avoid appearing near large islands, wishing they could turn themselves into ostriches and bury their heads deeply.
Today is the second Sunday in April, the competition day of the 6th Hunter Qualification Trial.
There are many ships parked near the pier of Badelira Island. Among them is a small two-masted schooner. There is a spade printed on the side of the ship. The sails have been lowered, but there is a pirate flag floating on the top of the mast.
.
The pirate flag is painted with a skull that symbolizes pirates. On top of the skull's head is a hat that burns like a flame. There are two abstract strange faces on the brim of the hat, one sad and one smiling.
From time to time, some of the passers-by on the pier raised their heads to look at the pirate flag, then smiled, shook their heads and continued to go about their own business, as if they didn't care at all.
There is only one tavern on the island, called the Guitar Witch.
This is a two-story wooden tavern. The sign hanging outside the door is a bit old, with a cartoon-style pointed hat witch playing a guitar on it.
The tavern was not crowded, but there were almost no empty seats. Sitting at the round table closest to the bar were a few strangers who frequently attracted attention.
"I said, Boss Deus."
In front of the round table, a man covered in skull-style decorations and even wearing a skull mask took a swig of beer, wiped his mouth and looked at his companion: "Are you having an inspiration? Why do you come to the pub for a drink?"
Can you take out your notebook and take a close-up while drinking? We are still waiting for you to say a few words!"
The man called 'Deus' had short blue hair, wore a dark blue half-mask, and a dark green open-breasted windbreaker. Hearing his companion's words, he lay on the table and wrote furiously in his notebook, his head turned.
He said calmly: "What do you want me to say, captain? It's you, Skar, can you stop using skulls when marking important must-visit places on the map next time? I will think that there every time
It’s the most dangerous place!”
"Grrrrrrrrrrrr!"
A lynx wearing black shorts made a cute cry. It sat upright on a chair and looked left and right, looking like it was causing trouble.
"Look, Kodaz even dislikes the bickering between you two. It's really useless!"
A cheerful voice interrupted the quarrel between the two.
The blue-haired Deus and the skull-masked Skaar looked at the direction of the sound at the same time, and shouted at the same time: "Captain! This guy is obviously wrong! Also, Kodaz is obviously trying to make a fire, right?"
The captain is a young man who can barely be called a man. He has smooth black hair and wears an orange cowboy hat with two badges on the brim: "Smile" and "Sad". He wears a black jacket.
He is wearing a shirt, a necklace composed of thick red beads hanging around his neck, black shorts on his lower body, and a small dagger hanging on the left side of his belt. The freckles on his face are a bit conspicuous, and his handsome face has a look of indifference.
Hahahaha smile:
"Skar, don't be angry. Isn't our boss Deus always like this? And Deus, it's not just a day or two that Skaer marks important locations on the map with skeletons. It's time to get used to it. Who made Skaer this ship?
Where is the ship’s intelligence officer?”
When the captain made peace, Skarr and Deus looked at each other, and turned their heads with a 'cut' sound. Only Kodaz, the big lynx, saw that no one was fighting, and lowered his head in frustration.
"Speaking of which, Captain." Scar scratched the skull mask covering his face and asked doubtfully: "Why do you have to come to Batelila Island in the South China Sea? There doesn't seem to be anything interesting here, right?
"
Deuce had no idea to continue writing the article. He put down his pen and looked at the captain with one hand on his chin: "Yes, Ace, everyone knows that you like to travel around. But there doesn't seem to be any interesting souvenirs in Batellila Island, right?"
"
The young man named Ace's smile faded slightly, he scratched the chin of the lynx next to him and said, "Although I have no memory of anything, this... is the place where I was born."
"Huh??" Deus and Skarr looked at each other, full of surprise.
Ace didn't seem to want to talk too much about this matter. He looked around curiously: "This Batelila Island is really lively. I thought it was a very ordinary and peaceful island. And I found that the surrounding
Even if the residents find out that we are pirates, they will not feel scared or angry, but will appear very calm."
"That's what I'm telling you, Captain!"
Scar scratched his mask and lowered his voice and said: "Since five years ago, the South China Sea has been the territory of the 'Vicious Chain'. There are a large number of bounty hunters here, and the pirates regard the South China Sea as a forbidden land. There are even more people.
The South China Sea has been called the 'pirate graveyard'! Isn't it a bit rash for us to rush directly to the South China Sea?"
"Hehehe...even the Windless Belt has come over, what bounty hunter are you afraid of?"
Ace picked up the large beer glass with a smile, took a sip, wiped the corner of his mouth and said: "And there are not many bounty hunters interested in us? Okay, okay, I'm here! Hello boss, can you come for a while?
Any appetizers?"
Seeing the young pirate greeting him with a smile, the chubby bar owner didn't know whether to kick him out or give him a snack. In the end, the businessman's side prevailed, and a plate consisted of hash browns, sliced raw ham,
A snack platter consisting of pickled cucumber cubes, cheese cubes and coarse salted tomato sauce was served.
"Thank you, boss." Ace couldn't wait to twist a piece of hash brown, dipped it in some coarse salt and threw it into his mouth. After chewing it twice, his eyes lit up: "It's delicious! Feed you two, try it quickly. It's so delicious.
of!"
A few people started eating, and Ace came to the bar with a beer glass and asked with a smile: "Boss, is this Batellila Island always so lively?"
The bar owner looked at this young pirate with a sunny smile on his face, but when he scolded him, his tone changed: "... I'll give you a piece of advice, leave this island now, maybe you can still survive."
"Huh?" Not only Ace was stunned, but Deus and Skar, who were eavesdropping at the round table behind him, were also stunned.
Seeing Ace still looking stupid and dumbfounded, the boss became furious: "Are you stupid? You don't know what day it is today? It's the Hunter Qualification Trial!"
"Huh???" Before Deus could react, Skarl, an intelligence officer, stood up and shouted: "Is it true, boss? Is it really today? It can't be here, right?"
"What? What kind of trial?" The two of them were acting like a double act, and Ace was even more confused.
The boss touched his forehead helplessly: "Oh my God, where did you pirates come from? It's okay to rush out on the day of the hunter selection competition, but luckily you chose this island..."
At this time, Deus also thought of something, and his face suddenly turned pale: "Could it be..."
"Yes, this is the test location for the third round of hunter qualifying competition." There was even a hint of sympathy in the boss's eyes: "That's why we are surprised but not afraid when we see a pirate ship landing on the island. Do you understand now?"
"Ace, leave quickly!" Deus rushed up and grabbed Ace's arm, lowering his voice and growling: "This is the territory of the vicious chain! Quick, leave quickly!"
Ace smiled and gently broke away from Deus' hand: "Isn't this just right? Since he went to sea for a year, he has been wearing so many chains that his ears are almost calloused. Let me take a look at him this time.
What on earth are you capable of! This is a hurdle that cannot be bypassed on my [Road to Transcendence], Deus."
"Ace, you..." Deus looked at the confidence on Ace's face and suddenly didn't know what to say.
At this time, bursts of cheers came from outside the tavern, followed by the sound of huge airflow and the sound of birds flapping their wings.
The tavern owner sighed, looked at the three Aces and said slowly: "Even if you want to leave now, it's too late..."