Eust and Sunny prepared all the necessary items for their journey, bid a bittersweet farewell to Shells Town, and embarked on a new adventure.
This time, their destination was Kiss Island, the hometown of Shook and Beta.
There were several reasons for this choice. Firstly, Kiss Island was relatively close to Shells Town, requiring only two to three days of sailing on a small boat. Secondly, Kiss Island was known for its delicious cheese, which Sunny wanted to taste, and Eust was also interested. Thirdly, Eust had made friends with Shook and Beta, who had invited him to visit, and having a local guide would be beneficial.
Eust ensured that he and Sunny would be comfortable during their voyage by purchasing a small boat with a decent cabin. This would protect them from rain and wind and provide a good place to rest at night.
Using the nautical charts and compass he had bought, Eust set course for Kiss Island.
The curved sail was a valuable asset, allowing the boat to sail both with and against the wind. Even when tacking, Eust could navigate efficiently, reducing the time spent at sea.
During the day, Eust focused on sailing, only stopping to eat. He avoided fishing at sea to prevent attracting dangerous sea beasts that could attack the boat.
Being without a boat at sea was incredibly dangerous, as humans have limited stamina. In the Grand Line, unless one is a Fish-Man, or Mermaid, or possesses special abilities or immense strength (like Aokiji or Rayleigh), survival at sea would largely depend on luck.
Eust was cautious to avoid encounters with sea beasts, even in the relatively calm East Blue. Just recently, the Titan had been sunk by an unknown sea beast, a fate Eust wanted to avoid.
Fortunately, Eust’s journey was uneventful, and after two days of sailing, he safely arrived at Kiss Island.
From a distance, Eust observed that Kiss Island was quite large. He speculated that the island’s lack of fame was due to navigation and resource issues, as an island of this size should have been more well-known.
Upon docking, Eust was stopped by militia guards at the pier. This level of security was stricter than that of Shells Town.
Eust mentioned Shook and Beta to avoid trouble, which lowered the guards’ suspicion. One guard went to fetch Shook while the other stayed to “monitor” Eust.
Curious about the heightened security, Eust asked the remaining guard what was happening, but the guard only replied that Shook would explain.
Soon, the guard returned with Shook, who vouched for Eust, lifting the monitoring.
Shook invited Eust to his home, where he met Beta and a young girl.
Shook introduced everyone, revealing that the girl was his cousin, Millie. Eust was introduced as a friend of Shook and Beta.
Before Eust could ask any questions, Shook explained the situation with the militia at the dock.
The previous day, Kiss Island had been attacked by a small group of pirates. The villagers had repelled the attack, but some pirates had retreated to a nearby deserted island, indicating they might attempt another raid.
This threat worried the islanders, prompting them to set up a militia at the dock to sound the alarm if pirates approached again and to question any strangers to prevent pirate spies from infiltrating.
Eust questioned how guarding the dock alone could prevent pirate attacks or spies from entering the island.
Millie quickly explained the unique geography of Kiss Island.
Millie: “Kiss Island appears ordinary, but the accessible parts are concentrated at the dock. The rest of the island is surrounded by cliffs, making it difficult for ordinary people to climb.”
“I suspect this pirate group is a defeated crew with only a dozen members. They were repelled by the villagers, indicating limited strength. They can’t climb the cliffs and can only attack via the dock. Knowing the island’s terrain, we’ve concentrated our defenses there.”
“That makes sense. How do you plan to deal with these pirates? If needed, I’m willing to help. I despise pirates and don’t mind dealing with them,” Eust offered.
Shook: “I advocate for a proactive attack to eliminate the pirates, but many villagers support the village chief’s defensive approach, hoping the pirates will leave once their supplies run out.”
“The chief is worried about casualties and wants to avoid conflict. But Beta and I, despite our limited time at sea, know pirates are ruthless. Once they’ve targeted Kiss Island, they won’t give up easily. There’s no guarantee they’ll leave when their supplies run out. They might attack before then.”
Millie and Beta nodded in agreement with Shook.
Eust agreed with Shook: “Pirates are indeed brutal. Once they’ve set their sights on Kiss Island, they’ll likely attack. They might have been caught off guard yesterday, but if they regroup and launch a night raid, it could be problematic, leading to casualties or defeat.”
Shook sighed: “Exactly. We were just discussing how to handle this. We lack the manpower to face the pirates directly. When I heard you arrived, I brought you here.”
Eust saw the key issue: “Shook, you mentioned some villagers support your approach. How capable are they in combat?”
“Yes, several villagers support taking the initiative. They have decent combat skills. In these times, basic self-defense is essential. They fought bravely yesterday but are still outmatched by the pirates. Even if we launch a surprise attack, we’d suffer heavy losses and might not succeed.”
“That’s okay. With me, we’ll have a better chance. If we launch a surprise attack with you, Beta, and the other villagers, we can minimize casualties and likely succeed.”
Millie interjected: “Eust, are you really strong? Are you just boasting?”
“Millie, don’t interrupt the adults,” Shook chided her.
Millie protested: “I’m grown up now, not a child!”
“It’s okay, Shook. From your descriptions, I understand the pirates’ strength. They aren’t formidable if the villagers could repel them. Their individual strength is likely weaker than yours and Beta’s.”
“Indeed, only Beta and I are stronger than the pirates. The other villagers are slightly weaker,” Shook admitted.
“Then I can handle five pirates simultaneously without being overpowered and can defeat them. In a surprise attack, we can eliminate them easily. With me, Shook, Beta, and a few villagers, we can ensure no casualties. But it’s up to you to decide. This is your island.”
Eust stated his strength and views, leaving the decision to Shook and the villagers.
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