You read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon and I've also activated a (date-to-date) subscription model on my Patreon https:///darkshadow6395

  [The Logan] trembled with a deep hum, its hull vibrating as it surged down the desding waterway toward South Blue. The roar of rushing water filled the air as the ship ulled downward at an astonishing speed, far faster than its ast.

  The sound of the turbulent river roared in Rojen's ears as he g to the mast, letting out a hearty ugh.

  "Hahaha! No wonder he fell in love with sailing. This is pure exhiration!"

  In his past life, he had devoured tales of warriors roaming free, their swleaming as they wahe world, bound by nothing but their own sense of justiow, sailing across the vast o gave Rojen that same sense of unshackled adventure.

  Wine? He had it. A sword? That too.

  How could this not be thrilling?

  As [The Logan] pluoward South Blue, Rojen's ughter echoed across the deck.

  Half an hour ter, the ship roared and trembled violently before finally stabilizing.

  He has arrived in South Blue.

  A sharp light fshed in Rojen's eyes. He hadn't fotten— there was unfinished business waiting for him in these waters.

  "That reckless fool…"

  He shook his head, his gaze growing serious.

  This journey would be fraught with danger as if walking willingly into a den of beasts. But there was no avoiding it.

  A real man faced his trials head-on, no matter the cost.

  "What you couldn't aplish, I'll see through to the end."

  "As for others… they don't o be involved."

  A cold glint flickered in his eyes. There were many things he could tolerate, but not this. On this matter, he would not yield.

  The sails billowed as [The Logan] pressed onward into South Blue.

  Twenty miles away, battle cries pierced the air. A group of fierce pirates had surrounded a mert ship, their shouts filled with menace.

  The st of blood drifted across the waves, drawing predatory fish toward the se. Their eyes gleamed with hunger as they swarmed beh the ship, mouths watering in anticipation.

  "Madman! If you'd just handed over the treasure, you wouldn't be in this mess!"

  "Trying tain with me? Bargain with the sea instead!"

  "You're dead, and so is everyone on this ship!"

  A burly pirate captain, his massive frame draped in a ragged coat, raised his bde and hacked at a corpse beh him. The deck of the mert ship was already slick with blood.

  "Captain, that guy's already dead."

  A nearby pirate hesitated before speaking, his voice ced with unease.

  He swallowed hard, cursing inwardly. 'Damn, this is sick. The guy's been chopped to bits, and he's still going at it? What a lunatic!'

  "Dead, huh?"

  The captain rubbed his bald head, a twisted grin spreading across his face. With an eerie chuckle, he slung his machete over his shoulder and swaggered forward.

  As he moved, he barked out an order.

  "Brothers, kill them all! Take the treasure! Leave nothing behind— not even corpses! Toss them all into the sea! Let the fish feast!"

  His tone was disturbingly cheerful, but the cruelty in his words sent a chill through his crew.

  Soon, the st screams faded. Only the pirates' crude ughter remained.

  "Captain, it's done!"

  A wiry pirate scurried rinning obsequiously.

  "Good. Load the loot onto our ship. We set sail immediately."

  "And the bodies?"

  The captain chuckled again, eyes gleaming.

  "The meired."

  "Tired? Then leave 'em. Let the Marines up our mess."

  He waved a dismissive hand. As the treasure was transferred to their ship, the pirates departed, leaving the mert vessel a silent graveyard.

  Then, a small sound rang out.

  "Meow." A cat emerged from the shadows.

  It was a small creature, but its movements were swift and graceful. It tiptoed carefully around the bodies, avoiding the bloodstains with an almost eerie precision. Its bright eyes flickered with sadness and fear.

  It was as if it uood everything that had happened.

  "Meow."

  Timidly, the cat goward the departing pirate ship, its gaze filled with fusion.

  Perched at the bow of the mert ship, it stared at the vast, endless sea, utterly lost.

  It had o go.

  Then, its sharp eyes caught sight of another ship approag through the waves. A glimmer of hope sparked in its gaze.

  "Meow!"

  It called out desperately, but its voice was too soft to reach the ears of those aboard the approag vessel.

  Realizing that no matter how much it cried, no one would hear, the cat's tail drooped. It let out a faint, sorrowful sound.

  "Meow…"

  But the ship drew closer.

  Half an hour ter, the cat spotted a lone figure on the deck of the approag ship.

  Its eyes widened in surprise.

  'Why is he alone?'

  The ship wasn't small, yet there was no sign of any other crew. Just one man, standing at the helm, his expression calm but distant.

  Though he wore a cheerful smile, the cat sensed something else beh it—something deeper.

  At that moment, the man looked over.

  When he spotted the cat, he paused, then smiled warmly.

  "A cat?"

  With a single leap, he was on the mert ship.

  He wasn't particurly rge or imposing, but the ease of his movements spoke of quiet strength. One gnce was all it took for him to take in the age that had unfolded here.

  "Are you the only o?" His voice was gehough he already khe answer.

  He walked the length of the ship before pulling out a torch.

  The cat flinched, retreating to a er, watg him warily.

  The man ighe torch but hesitated before tossing it onto the ship. He gnced back at the cat.

  "These people deserve a proper farewell. I 't let their bodies rot here."

  "From now on, you'll e with me."

  With that, he cast the torto the deck, setting the ship abze.

  Without another word, he turned and strode back to his own vessel.

  The cat scowled in silent protest.

  'Who said I wao go with you?!'

  'You burned my ship without a sed thought! How heartless!'

  Yet, as the fmes ed the ship, leaving it no choice, the cat grits its teeth and leaped after him.

  ---

  '(End of Chapter)'