Also, his son had unusual skill in navigation. It was unlikely he learned it from generations of fishermen.
The only explanation was that Uncle Sam had sailed the seas. He was either a Marine or a pirate!
The seawater churned violently, waves rippling outwards.
Uncle Sam and Kurta were grim. facing the pirates nearby, The sea beneath them was also a threat.
They prepared for death, gripping their oars tightly, looking ready to fight to the end.
The other fishermen saw the situation and gathered on Arthur's boat.
They often dealt with pirates and weren't the type to surrender. They had pirate blood in their veins. They were no strangers to fighting, like wolves, ready to take a chunk out of their enemy even if they died.
Eight or nine men gathered together, frowning at the enemy's flag.
"It's the Black Bear Pirates. Their captain, 'Black Bear' LaBeouf, has a bounty of 80 million. He's a Zoan-type Black Bear fruit user. Be careful, this pirate crew is known for its cruelty."
They took up their weapons, ready to make a futile struggle.
Those who haven't stared death in the face fear it. Even an ant clings to life. Fighting back was a normal reaction.
Arthur had retreated after they boarded, standing alone behind the mast, holding a wooden box.
Wood floats. It could help someone survive at sea. If things went south, he would jump into the current.
He wasn't afraid to fight, but Black Bear LaBeouf was infamous for his cruelty, and he was incredibly strong.
He and his crew slaughtered every village and island they came across, no matter whose territory it was.
The World Government considered him a major threat, hence the 80 million Beli bounty.
The World Economy News Paper—was known for big news. Their trained news coos were everywhere, with connections to both the World Government and the pirates—News spread quickly.
Arthur read the newspapers often, keeping up with the world's events. He knew about Black Bear LaBeouf.
He estimated his own strength, figuring he was worth around 30 to 50 million Beli. But he relied purely on his physique. He was no match for a Zoan fruit user.
Zoan users were known for their strong bodies. Fighting head-on was suicide.
So—Arthur had a backup plan. If he couldn't win, he would jump into the sea, using the box to float and taking his chances with the current.
If he missed this chance, he'd have to wait three years for when the Roger Pirates would return to the Grand Line or over twenty years for Luffy's journey.
Arthur didn't want to wait that long—Twenty years was too long. His precious fruit would be long gone by then.
The Black Bear Pirates' ship, sailed through the waves, its pirates grinning savagely, looking like they were about to slaughter lambs.
The ship's figurehead was a giant black bear head with a thick cannon barrel protruding from its mouth, aimed at the fishing boat.
Waves parted with a light sound as the pirate ship and the fishing boat finally met. Ropes and chains were thrown over with great force.
The pirates used the ropes to board, as steady as if they were on land, rushing over eagerly.
"Take everything! Whoever gets the loot keeps it!" At the bow, a giant of a man, easily five meters tall, with a thick, bushy beard, gave the order.
Uncle Sam's face was grim—Arthur had never seen the old cheat look .
He roared, "Get ready to fight!"
Kurta was only three meters tall, but his arms were thicker than an average man's waist. His weapon was a heavy anchor.
"Arthur! What are you doing? Get over here and fight! Are you just going to wait for death?" Uncle Sam was furious. Arthur was just standing there, behind the mast, watching them. He didn't look scared at all.
"Heh, Uncle Sam—you're in trouble yourself. Why are you worried about me?" Arthur said calmly, with no intention of helping.
They didn't need to pretend anymore. What was the point of keeping up the act?
"What did you say? You little bastard! I should have killed you five years ago!" Kurta swung his anchor, smashing two pirates to death. He was enraged.
"Ungrateful outsider! If we make it back alive, I'll skin you alive."
"Talk big when you're still alive—!" Arthur shrugged, unconcerned. They might not even see each other after today. He himself might not even survive.
But he didn't regret his actions. Everyone had to do something crazy in their life, to announce to the world that they were here.
If he could, he wanted to do even crazier things. But first, he had to reach Sky Island.
"Hey, there's a kid hiding here!" A pirate found Arthur. Without a word, he swung his sword at Arthur's head.
The sharp blade gleamed, with a faint hint of sword aura.
"I wanted to stay out of it, but it seems I can't." Arthur sighed, his gaze still cold. He sidestepped, avoiding the heavy slash that could cut through steel. The blow struck the mast behind him.
The thick mast was split in two, crashing down with a loud "boom."
Arthur dodged the falling mast again and appeared before the pirate, his fist drawn back to his waist. Then, he punched.
The pirate couldn't react. The powerful punch shattered his jaw. He screamed, flying off the fishing boat and landing in the sea.
Arthur wasn't sure how to use the—Marines Six Styles. He only vaguely remembered something from the original story about Shave requiring one to stomp the ground more than ten times in 0.36 seconds, the reaction force creating explosive speed.
The burst trajectory of Shave could not be seen by the average person.
He remembered this, so when he trained his body, he tried to follow this method.
At first, his feet couldn't take it, and he was often injured. But as his body grew stronger, the situation improved.