Three days later.
The Kur Sea.
A small ship rocked gently atop the waves. "Small" was relative; it still had two decks one for supplies and fresh water, the other for living quarters, with two cabins that could comfortably house three or four crew members.
"Looks like a storm is coming."
Rowan stood on deck, eyes scanning the sky. His Navigation Mastery, unlocked in the life-affiliated talent tree, was truly exceptional. Not quite at the level of a naturally gifted navigator like Nami, blessed by Protagonist Halo, but extremely close.
Without this skill, surviving a solo voyage in these treacherous waters would have been impossible.
With his current strength, surviving a storm at sea in a small ship was nearly suicidal.
"Robin, lower the sails and man the oars. Let's get out of here."
"Understood."
Robin's gaze lingered on the sky for a moment, worry flashing briefly. Then, at Rowan's command, she brought her hands together. The Flower-Flower Fruit bloomed into dozens of arms along the mast, carefully lowering the sails.
Simultaneously, the six oars stowed along the ship's sides sprouted extra arms, which gripped the handles and rowed with incredible speed and precision.
The Devil Fruit's versatility was absurd. One person could perform the work of an entire crew.
Rowan smiled faintly. Bringing Robin aboard had been the perfect decision. She was not just useful she was indispensable. Without her, even ordinary odd-job workers would have been barely sufficient.
Splash!
With Robin's coordinated effort, the wind filled the sails while the oars cut through the water, sending the little ship skimming across the Kur Sea.
Rowan did not idle either. One hand on the helm, he studied the heavens, using Navigation Mastery to anticipate weather shifts and avoid the storm's dangerous center.
"We've sailed deep into the Kur Sea to dodge the storm," he said. "There are seven small islands and two medium ones nearby. The closest is about two hours away."
He checked the chart and compass to confirm their position.
According to Robin's intelligence, the Floro Pirate Crew had been sighted here six days ago. Pirates rarely lingered long in one place especially when the Marines mounted encirclements.
"The Floro Pirate Crew resupplied at Dier Island," Robin said, analyzing their habits. "They'll probably raid one of these islands before departing."
"Then we'll head for the nearest one,"
Rowan decided.
Up to now, he had relied on Robin's intel, sailing straight to his targets. Luck had been on his side: eight voyages, five encounters.
"Captain," Robin said, "you're worth forty million Berries now. If your identity is exposed, it could cause a serious stir."
"No need for concern," Rowan replied coolly. "There's only a small Marine branch nearby, no full base. By the time they react, we'll be long gone."
Robin, though calm, still retained the instincts of a fugitive. Her bounty of seventy-nine million Berries dwarfed the combat strength of most opponents; she could not face a twenty-million-Berry pirate unprepared.
Hearing Rowan's assessment, Robin started, then realized it was unnecessary;
this was the same man who had charged alone into a Marine base, killed the branch commodore, and walked away unscathed.
It felt strange and freeing not to hide.
Soon, they reached the nearest island no trace of the Floro Pirate Crew. They sailed on to the second.
This island harbored a bustling underworld network. Rowan and Robin, seasoned in such dealings, quickly gathered the information they needed.
"Half a day ago, the Floro Pirate Crew raided Moker Island," Robin reported.
"After that, the Marine branch will likely dispatch warships. Judging by the sea lanes, they won't take this route or this one…"
Rowan analyzed the possibilities and charted a pursuit course.
The challenge of hunting pirates was compounded by the chaos of the Great Pirate Era. Countless pirates roamed the seas, their strength uneven, making pursuit extremely difficult.
Even a small miscalculation could cost lives. Two possible routes only one would be correct.
On deck, Rowan swept the horizon with a spyglass. Robin studied the charts beside him, cross-referencing local sea lanes.
"A seventy-percent probability beats a thirty-percent one," Rowan said. "We're likely on the right track."
After a moment, he froze, adjusting his bearing and passing the spyglass to Robin.
She scanned the waters, then lowered the glass.
"We need to close the distance to be sure."
"Mm," Rowan nodded, turning the helm toward the target.
As the distance decreased, the silhouette of the ship became distinct. Through the lens, they saw the hull, the sails and clearly, the flag.
A skull with one eye covered: the mark of the Floro Pirate Crew.
"Prey, at last." Rowan muttered.
Hunting pirates granted Talent System proficiency scaled by bounty. Rowan had studied the pattern carefully.
The first kill within a bounty bracket gave a significant chunk of proficiency. The second kill yielded half that. The third, half again.
Two or three pirates around twenty million Berries were enough to maximize the benefit. Beyond that, the returns were negligible.
Moreover, the first kill in a new bounty tier always granted a free talent point.
Subsequent kills offered only a chance.
"If this kill grants a point, my hypothesis is correct," Rowan murmured.
Months earlier, he had chained four or five pirates worth seven or eight million Berries.
Returns halved each time, prompting him to target ten-million-plus bounties, then higher.
To grow stronger, he had to keep hunting.
Twenty million, thirty, fifty, a hundred, two hundred… and eventually the Four Emperors