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As the crewmates gathered around the crater, Aero scanned their worn but standing figures. They bore scratches and bruises but no one was critically injured.
That alone was enough to make him proud.
His training had worked.
Like carefully cultivated crops, his "recruits" had grown tall and strong. His efforts weren't wasted.
"You've all done well," Aero said as he walked up to one of the upright men and patted his shoulder. "From this moment on I'm your Captain."
"Yes, Captain!" they all responded in unison, voices firm.
"Sun's about to rise. You're dismissed for now head back on your own." With that, Aero's body faded into the wind, leaving behind only a gentle breeze.
The newly dubbed pirates blinked at one another, then chuckled and departed together, making their way back toward town.
But Aero wasn't done yet.
Instead of leaving the forest, he followed the trail of wind lingering on the serpent he had tagged during their earlier battle using his Devil Fruit's [Listening] technique.
Soon, he found it.
The great gray snake was mid-meal when he arrived. But as soon as it sensed his presence, it paused and then, bizarrely, pushed the half-eaten beast toward him, almost like an offering.
Aero stared at the saliva-covered corpse. "…Gross."
The thing looked half-rotten and absolutely drenched in snake spit.
He couldn't help but mutter, "Did it steal someone else's kill?"
The serpent seemed to hear him and looked his way almost sheepishly.
Was that… embarrassment?
Aero lowered a few massive piranhas he'd caught earlier fat, muscular things he'd spent ages pulling from the ocean. As a Devil Fruit user, fishing was a nightmare.
He'd used [Wind Bombs] to blast the water, catching whatever flew up. Out of dozens of fish, only a few were large enough to keep.
As he laid the fish down near the dead beast, the serpent coiled around them, eyeing both the food and Aero with confusion.
After a moment's hesitation, it snapped up a fish and swallowed it whole.
Seeing no retaliation from Aero, it dove in again.
But just as it opened its mouth, the food rose into the air levitated by the wind.
The snake's eyes narrowed. It hissed, frustrated.
Then it saw Aero pointing at a nearby tree bearing fruit.
Understanding dawned.
It slithered over, bit into the base of the tree, and shockingly ripped the whole thing out of the ground.
Dragging the uprooted tree, it returned to Aero and set it down beside him, clearly proud of itself.
Aero, amused, released the food.
The serpent happily began devouring everything in sight.
Then, as it looked up to share the meal… Aero had vanished, his body turning to wind and disappearing without a trace.
The snake blinked, looked around, then shrugged and kept eating. It hadn't been that full in weeks.
With forest prey dwindling, it had been hibernating more often just to conserve energy. Tonight, it had finally awakened to hunt only to end up fighting a human that was, somehow, stronger than it.
Still, that human had offered food. And not just once.
Maybe this wasn't a bad deal.
As the sun's first rays glinted across the sea, the snake gave one final glance around and slithered off into the forest to sleep again.
---
Back at the casino, Aero tossed off his black robe and dropped onto the bed.
He didn't get to rest long.
Dylan, now back in his signature black suit, entered without knocking.
Aero sat up instantly. "What's going on?"
"Captain," Dylan said seriously. "Bugsy's men caught wind of someone digging into the naval battleship incident from a month ago."
Aero's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"No idea. Bugsy's guys tried following them but got knocked out cold. All five of them. Didn't even get a look at who did it."
"Did they bring them back here?"
"Yeah. Someone found them unconscious in an alley and dragged them in. No one saw a thing. Whoever we're dealing with they're good."
Aero rose from the bed and stepped to the window, throwing it open. "Then we handle it before we set sail. I'm not leaving loose ends behind."
"We can't afford to take the entire crew with us," Dylan added. "If we do, the ones left here are sitting ducks."
"I've already recalled the weighted training suits," Aero said. "We'll leave behind the few hundred-kilo sets. The heavier ones will need your help to bring in."
"Once they've worn those for daily life and training, their strength will increase," Dylan said from behind him. "And we can't let small island problems distract us. Our eyes are on the sea."
"Speaking of which…" Aero turned around. "There's a massive serpent on the east side of the island. Tell Bugsy to try approaching it with food. It's too dangerous to kill, but maybe it can be tamed."
"You want the snake to protect the island?"
"Eventually. Think of it as the final line of defense. Between the beasts and the serpent, the eastern side is secure. If the Navy ever comes hunting, the people here can hide there."
"And the land?"
"Buy it," Aero ordered. "Bugsy can use the casino funds. We name the price. Don't underpay, though. The old king doesn't care much about ruling, but we're still guests. No need to burn bridges."
"Understood."
Aero walked back to the window and slowly shut it.
"We will return," he said. "One way or another this place is still home."
"I'll handle it," Dylan nodded. "I'll make sure Bugsy hurries the ship purchase too. And I'll deal with that rat snooping around town."
With that, Dylan left, closing the door behind him.
The wind blew softly through the shutters.
The storm was coming.
And they were almost ready to sail into it.
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