Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

The Battle in the Jungle: Baroque Works' ambush

As Ryomen scouted the landscape from atop his pterodactyl, his sharp eyes caught sight of two giants locked in battle. Curious, he leaned forward, ready to descend and investigate. But before he could, Vivi's startled voice stopped him.

“What is it?” Ryomen asked, his gaze shifting to her in concern.

“Down there!” Vivi pointed toward the jungle below, eyes wide. “That’s Mr. 3 and Ms. Golden Week!” Her voice trembled with fear.

“What!?” Ryomen exclaimed, eyes narrowing. “They found us?” Without hesitation, he veered the pterodactyl toward the pair below.
…

Deep in the jungle, a man with candle-shaped hair marked with the number three led a young girl with pigtails toward a giant's cave.

“So…what are we doing?” The girl asked, her tone flat, as if uninterested.

“We’re going to spike the rum that the giant brought with him! How many times do I have to tell you!?” Mr. 3 snapped, clearly irritated.

“Oh. And then what?” She continued in the same nonchalant tone.

“Then, we’re going to kill those idiotic pirates and show them why they should’ve feared us.” Mr. 3 said with a twisted grin.

The girl suddenly pointed skyward. “Are you talking about those pirates?”

“Huh?” Mr. 3 followed her gaze, spotting a pterodactyl approaching. “They came straight to us, huh? Fighting them from the air will be difficult…” He mumbled, trying to strategize.

“Just tell them to come down.” Ms. Golden Week suggested as though it were the most obvious solution.

“Like that would work! Even pirates aren’t that stupid!” Mr. 3 dismissed her with a wave.

“Hey! Come down so we can fight!” Ms. Golden Week suddenly shouted at the approaching pterodactyl.

Mr. 3 gawked at her in disbelief. “Don’t you understand!? That won’t—”
…

On the pterodactyl, Ryomen and Vivi exchanged glances.

“I think they’ve spotted us.” Vivi muttered, her tone wary.

“Yeah.” Ryomen replied absently, already calculating their next move.

Then, they heard the shout from below. “Hey! Come down so we can fight!”

Vivi blinked. “Huh? Do they really think we’re that stupid?” She mumbled incredulously.

Ryomen, however, surprised her by calling back, “Alright! Wait a second!” He then began lowering the pterodactyl toward the ground.

Vivi's jaw dropped. ‘I don’t remember him being this much of an idiot. Is staying on that ship really that contagious?’ She thought, her growing concern for her mental stability surfacing.

Meanwhile, Ryomen’s thoughts were elsewhere. ‘There’s a child down there…maybe I could resolve this in a more peaceful way.’
…

Ms. Golden Week watched as the pterodactyl descended. “See? It worked.” She said, her tone as plain as ever.

Mr. 3 stared in disbelief, mouth agape. “Is this really the pirate crew worth a hundred million berries? How did those two morons even lose?” He grumbled, thinking of the previous agents’ failure.

Ryomen and Vivi dismounted the pterodactyl, Ryomen stepping forward protectively. “You can leave this to me, Vivi.” Se said with concern.

“No!” Vivi shook her head, her expression determined. “I don’t want to always rely on others. I have to fight my own battles.”