One Day Later
Under a bright sun and calm seas, the luxurious cruise liner Paradise Emperor glides leisurely across the water. On the deck, well-dressed nobles and elites gather in small groups, chatting and leaning against the railings, taking in the endless seascape. A gentle breeze sweeps by, and they close their eyes, faces relaxed with contentment.
Since Pirate King Roger’s death, pleasure cruises like this are rare in these pirate-infested waters. But the Paradise Emperor is an exception—or rather, its owner is. Badsey, the East Blue’s notorious “Wicked Merchant,” runs this ship. He’s a businessman on the surface, but his hands are dirty with extortion, slave trading, robbery, and double-dealing. That’s how he earned his lovely nickname. With connections in both legitimate and underworld circles, Badsey keeps this ship sailing smoothly, untouched by trouble. Only the East Blue’s richest and most powerful nobles can board. Regular folks? They don’t stand a chance.
——————
Inside the ship’s casino, I’m at a long gambling table, my arm around a stunning woman in a black gown. My flaxen hair is slightly tousled, and my noble attire carries a hint of roguish charm, drawing eyes from the crowd. With a casual grin, I push a massive pile of chips to the center of the table.
“Same as before. All in.”
My move sparks gasps across the casino. Everyone’s focused on their own games, but their eyes keep drifting to my table. It’s stealing the show.
“Hey, don’t zone out! Your bet!” a heavyset guy at another table snaps at his opponent.
The other player ignores him, staring my way. “How many times has that noble guy gone all in?”
The fat man scratches his head. “Uh… five, I think? Lost every time, too. Tsk, kid’s got deep pockets, though. All in again? He’s probably gonna lose.”
“Still, it’s one hell of a spectacle,” his friend says, swallowing hard. He stretches his neck toward my table, now surrounded by onlookers. “Wanna go watch?”
“Hell yeah!”
They toss their cards and join the crowd.
Across from me, a sharply dressed middle-aged man flips his cards, glancing my way. “Your turn, Mr. Roy.” Roy’s my alias on this ship. The name John Morgan’s too well-known in the East Blue. Even if few have seen my face, it could raise suspicions. Better to play it safe and keep things quiet.
I don’t flip my cards. Instead, I lean toward the woman beside me, my tone teasing. “Miss Emma, would you do the honors?”
Emma blushes. To her, I’m a charming, free-spending noble, even if I’ve been losing all night. She reaches out, delicately turning over my cards… and her face falls, disappointment clear.
“Sorry, Your Excellency,” the man across says, his lips twitching with barely hidden glee. “You lose again.” His composure screams refinement.
I shrug, unbothered, and snap my fingers. A casino staffer, hovering nearby, pushes through the crowd to my side, grinning eagerly.
“Anything you need, Mr. Roy?”
I nudge a case of Berries at my feet. “Same deal. Cash it out for chips.”
“Y-Yes, sir!” The staffer grabs the case, hurrying off. He’s back in no time, piling a fresh stack of chips on my table. “Enjoy, Mr. Roy!”
The crowd gasps again, stunned by my reckless spending. Honestly, Berries are useless to me right now. The Hunter’s Shop doesn’t take them yet, and I’ve got enough wealth to live like a king for lifetimes. The extra cash? It’s just for kicks. Money’s meant to be spent, right?
It’s a bounty hunter thing. Most of us are lone wolves, living job to job, no ties. We earn, we burn. The only difference is, I earn a hell of a lot more.
“Deal,” I say, waving at the dealer in the center of the table.
Then, a commotion stirs outside. Voices rise, excited. “The banquet’s starting! Let’s go!”
My eyes flicker. I look at the man across from me. “Sorry, gotta run.” I pat Emma’s arm. “Miss Emma will play this hand for you.”
“Oh… Mr. Roy, you’re too generous,” the man says, caught off guard. He figured I’d fold and leave, not hand over my chips.
Emma’s eyes light up. She knows once I’m gone, she can forfeit, cash out the chips, and walk away with a fortune. No small sum, either.
With eyes on me, I stride out of the casino. Unnoticed in the crowd, a girl in a white dress with short orange hair watches me go, her big eyes glinting with cunning. She slips out the casino door, trailing me quietly.