Strongest Possessor of One Piece

Rojen felt a swirl of uncertainty, his emotions a tangled mix of relief and confusion. Sefiya's understanding had given him a moment to breathe, but he still felt adrift. Where would he go once he left? The sea stretched out before him, vast and full of possibilities, yet it felt like there was nowhere he could truly belong.

Fred nudged him. "Come on, hurry! There's a reserved escape boat on board. You need to take it and leave."

Rojen pressed his lips together, allowing Fred to pull him away from the place that felt so heavy with unspoken words.

In that moment, Rojen couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that life often brought. Sefiya's choice not to confront him, not to demand an explanation, spoke volumes. He understood all too well what that silence meant.

No matter how close they had been, a chasm had opened between them. It was thin, almost imperceptible, but it was there, a reminder that their bond might never be the same.

Sefiya hadn't chosen to meet him face-to-face, to ask for the truth. She hadn't given him the chance to explain. And that was because she was wise. She understood that they could never truly be together. The presence of Fred signaled the end of their relationship.

A criminal with a bounty of 110 Million— regardless of his destructive potential, his danger was clear. Someone like him couldn't coexist with ordinary people. Sefiya was a businesswoman, and while she might have been willing to sacrifice for love, she chose to step back when it mattered most.

Rojen couldn't articulate his feelings at that moment. He simply sighed, his expression a complex mix of emotions, and followed Fred in silence.

As they made their way to the deck, the sudden sound of terrified screams shattered the stillness.

Sharp whistles pierced the air.

"Xiū Xiū Xiū."

Fred and Rojen looked up just in time to see three black cannonballs soaring overhead, crashing into the opposite side of the ship with a thunderous thud.

"Boom!"

A massive explosion of seawater erupted, and the ship creaked, violently rocking beneath them.

"Captain!!"

"Pirates! My God, it's pirates!!"

"Why are there pirates here?! What should we do?"

The crew was thrown into chaos, unable to comprehend how a pirate crew had appeared in these waters.

Fred, his black-and-white hair drenched from the splashing water, was flustered but didn't care about his disheveled appearance. He rushed forward, peering out toward the sea and Rojen quickly followed suit.

In the distance, a ship sliced through the waves, the shouts of its crew carried across the water.

The sails flapped in the wind, and a fearsome skull was displayed atop the mast.

Sefiya, who had been in her office, rushed out upon hearing the commotion. Her expression changed as she spotted the pirate ship in the distance.

"Captain, that's the Sordes Pirates. Their bounty is 15 Million. They're the most vicious group in this region."

"It is rumored that they left for the Grand Line a year ago. Why are they back?"

A middle-aged man with a sword at his waist, standing behind Sefiya, spoke in a grave tone.

"Whatever happens, we can't just sit here. Gather the fighters and prepare to fight."

Sefiya glanced at the horizon with urgency in her voice.

The middle-aged man nodded and turned to call the ship's fighting crew. As a merchant fleet, they always had some personnel on hand to protect the ship and its passengers.

"Rojen, it looks like you won't be leaving just yet," Fred said, shaking his head as he stared out to sea.

"Mhm." Rojen nodded in agreement.

With the arrival of the pirates, he knew that escape was no longer an option.

Three minutes later, another round of cannon fire rained down, landing heavily around the ship and sending up plumes of seawater.

These were intimidating shots, not meant to damage the ship, but to force it to surrender. Still, the crew scrambled and ducked their heads in fear.

On the Sordes Pirate ship, a middle-aged man with a long scar across his face, wearing a captain's hat, glared at the merchant vessel.

"Give me one more round of bombardment. Aim for the stern this time!"

As soon as he spoke, doubt flickered across the face of the man beside him.

"Captain, if we target their stern, the ship will be finished."

"Before it sinks, we'll steal their treasure and kill everyone. Do you really lack the confidence to do that?" Sordes spoke in an emotionless voice without even looking back.

The man hesitated for a moment but then, without further delay, waved his hand and shouted, "Fire!"

"Boom!"

The deafening roar of the cannon echoed, and in an instant, the rear of the merchant ship was struck with ferocity. The vessel began to tremble violently, throwing many people to the ground. Those at the back were caught in the blast, reduced to a gruesome scene of blood and chaos.

The stench of blood quickly permeated the air, and the crew's faces turned ashen at the sight.

"The rear is on fire! The keel is cracked! This ship is going to sink!" An elderly man cried out, his voice trembling with fear.

His words only heightened the panic among the crew.

"Fred, do you know these pirates?" Rojen suddenly asked, his heart racing.

"Yeah, they're the Sordes Pirates. Captain Sordes has a bounty of 15 Million. I heard they entered the Grand Line last year, so why are they back now?" Fred replied, confusion evident in his tone.

"15 Million?"

Rojen felt a slight sense of relief. With that bounty, if he tapped into his ghost possession, he might still stand a chance.

But then he recalled how the crew had treated him, and his desire to help quickly faded.

He wasn't foolish enough to risk himself for just anyone, especially when they intended to harm him.

For now, he had no choice but to wait and see how the situation unfolded.

The two of them moved along the deck, witnessing more than a dozen men with rifles organizing the panicking crowd. Sefiya, her expression serious, was urgently discussing plans with another crew member.

Gradually, the panic subsided, and the group of burly men, armed and resolute, took their positions at the front, their expressions grim as they prepared for the impending confrontation.

At this point, the Sordes Pirates' ship was only about 200 to 300 meters away.

"Draw your blades and swords, load your guns, and unleash all the frustration you've held back from your time in the Grand Line!"

"This battle…"

"I don't need—"

"Any live witness!"

(End Of Chapter)

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