After getting a lead on the Black Bear Pirates on Rike Island, Eust and his crew had an unusually smooth pursuit, either due to Eust’s luck or the pirates’ misfortune.
Seven days after leaving Rike Island, they finally caught up to the Black Bear Pirates on an island called Field Island. The unmistakable pirate ship with its distinctive flag confirmed it.
Tracking the Black Bear Pirates had taken over ten days, and Eust was relieved to finally reach a conclusion.
Originally, Eust hadn’t been particularly eager to eliminate the Black Bear Pirates, thinking it would just be something to handle along the way. However, as time went on, he felt he had to defeat them to justify the effort spent tracking them.
Eust felt confident in his abilities. After training with the Storm Swordmaster Shano, he believed he could easily overpower a crew like the Black Bear Pirates.
Moreover, Eust’s strength had grown significantly during the pursuit, especially with Lilith’s addition to the team. Taking turns at the helm with Lila, Eust fully utilized Sunny’s mission fruit to enhance his power.
Eust estimated he could now handle pirates with bounties of 2,000,000 Berries without much trouble. With Captain Bill Bravan of the Black Bear Pirates only worth 1,000,000 Berries, Eust felt assured of an easy victory, barring any surprises.
And even if something unexpected happened, Sunny was his ace in the hole. If Sunny couldn’t handle Captain Bravan, Eust doubted anyone could.
Excited to see the Black Bear Pirates’ ship, Eust and Lila quickly devised a plan. Lila would stay on the Lilith ship, safe with its mobility, while Eust and Sunny would handle the pirates. Eust would lead the attack, with Sunny providing backup.
Eust and Sunny were dropped off at the shore, while the Lilith ship, with Lila aboard, returned to the sea. Eust had “trained” Lilith well. Lilith now understood the speed advantage she had in the water compared to land.
Anyone trying to board the Lilith ship would be outpaced as she sailed into the deep sea, leaving them behind.
Eust observed the Black Bear Pirates’ ship, noting it was small, likely carrying only twenty to thirty people, which matched his information. A few pirates guarded the ship while the rest had gone ashore, making it easier for Eust to strike.
Eust planned to board the pirate ship, gather information from the guards, and then deliver a “gift” of annihilation to the Black Bear Pirates.
The plan went smoothly. As soon as Eust boarded the ship, he spotted two pirates drinking.
Noticing Eust, a scar-faced pirate sneered, “Hey kid, what are you doing on the Black Bear Pirates’ ship? Got some guts, huh?”
“I’m pirate hunter Eust. I’ve come to take the lives of everyone in the Black Bear Pirates. Call out all your crewmates to meet their doom.”
Eust thought he exuded an impressive aura, but the two pirates burst into laughter.
“Hey everyone, come see this kid pretending to be a pirate hunter. Who’s ever heard of a pirate hunter named Eust? How old are you, kid?” they mocked.
Eust, though seventeen, looked youthful, and the pirates mistook him for a child, which infuriated him.
Three more pirates emerged from below deck, similarly dressed, clearly members of the Black Bear Pirates.
“Tom, what’s with this ignorant brat? Just kill him already,” one of them said.
“Yeah, Tom and Jerry, what’s the big deal? Haven’t you killed anyone before?” another taunted.
Eust wasted no time. Seeing the guards appear, he decided to deal with them quickly. He targeted the three newcomers first, leaving Tom and Jerry for questioning later.
With swift moves, Eust approached the three pirates and dispatched them with three quick slashes.
Tom and Jerry, now terrified, realized Eust’s prowess. “Are you Tom? And you, Jerry?” Eust demanded.
“Yes, I’m Tom,” the plump pirate answered.
“I’m Jerry,” the skinny one replied immediately, both scared after seeing Eust’s skills.
“Are there any other pirates on the ship?” Eust asked.
“No, just us five,” they answered in unison.
“Great, now tell me, Tom, how many crew members does the Black Bear Pirates have?”
“Including Captain Black Bear, we have 26 crew members. There are 23 left now. Our captain is really strong, so you should leave while you can,” Tom advised.
“Smart move, using your captain’s name,” Eust remarked.
“I’m just trying to save my life. Seeing your skills, I know Jerry and I are no match for you, so we’re willing to answer your questions,” Tom explained.
“That’s right. We only recently joined the crew and haven’t done any harm yet. Please spare us. The Black Bear Pirates’ ship, Black Bear, is indeed formidable,” Jerry added.
Eust believed they were telling the truth. They seemed genuinely scared and cooperative. Feeling slightly merciful, he decided to spare them.
“Tom and Jerry, remember this: I’m letting you go today. If I hear of you doing evil, you know the consequences.”
“We understand. Thank you, pirate hunter,” they replied in unison.
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