The rainy night on the sea is drizzling, and a remote small island is damp and cold, dotted with starry flickers of eerie green candlelight, while a graceful silhouette looms indistinctly.
The howling sea breeze sweeps up raindrops, pattering against the umbrella, creating a peculiar melody.
Slowly.
A huge dark figure rides the waves, braces the wind and rain, and approaches the small island.
It's a giant wooden ship!
More accurately, it is a pirate ship, with a black flag bearing a crimson skull fluttering fiercely in the wind atop its towering mast.
A beam of bright orange light shines down from the ship, illuminating the elegant silhouette clearly, revealing even the lace mesh of the umbrella.
Soon, the pirate ship docks, and the wooden gangplank is lowered.
With vividly red lips forming an arc, wearing several centimeters high heels, accompanied by the steady rhythm of "tap tap," the woman walks up the gangplank to the deck.
On the deck filled with various ropes, supplies, and even cannonballs, tall, robust figures stand with eyes filled with undisguised desire, shifting as her body moves.
Gulp—
The swallowing of throats, not a solitary act.
"Captain Henry, long time no see." The woman slowly lifts her black umbrella, revealing a delicate face underneath.
Her mature enticing blue eyes sweep across the men before her, finally landing on the slender man sitting lazily on the steps.
This man is "Bloody Henry," known for his ruthlessness, captain of the "Star of Blood."
Henry's narrow eyes lift slightly, showing no desire like the surrounding men but rather a hint of apprehension towards the woman in front.
"Black Spring, we meet again."
"Captain Henry, your arrival is at odds with our agreed time and place." Black Spring fiddles with her hanging black silk strands, speaking slowly with a hint of questioning.
"I sent someone to deliver the message to you, didn't you receive it?" Henry raises his eyebrows.
"If you're referring to 'Giant Clamp' Pates, then sorry, he's been dealt with."
Upon hearing this, Henry frowns, then relaxes with a smile, "Well, sorry about that, unexpected situations happen, no one wants them."
Though he says apologetic words, his tone lacks any sincerity.
In response, Black Spring isn't upset, but chuckles lightly, "So, Captain Henry, what does this mean now? Taking the loot all for yourself?"
Henry slowly stands, his lean frame contrasting sharply with the rugged bodies of the surrounding men.
Yet the surrounding men respectfully make way, allowing Henry to approach Black Spring.
With black eyes tinged with a faint blush, he stares straight into Black Spring's blue eyes, "Your slow response is your own problem; I agreed to cooperate with you only because your conditions were good. Now, it seems what's on the ship might be worth more."
Black Spring's eyes flicker, smiling sweetly.
"In that case, I'll await your good news, Captain Henry."
With that, Black Spring turns directly in front of everyone, swaying her hips to the low railing at the edge of the deck, then sits down.
"Mind if I sit here and watch how you do it?"
Henry's face remains expressionless, staring deeply at Black Spring for a few moments before waving his hand.
"Set off, boys!"
"Oh!!!"
Cheers erupt.
The pirate ship leaves the small island, sailing towards a clear direction.
Meanwhile, Henry calls over a trusted confidant.
"Boss." The man bows respectfully.
"Go inform those brothers over there to get ready," Henry says, his eyes sweeping past Black Spring standing not far away, watching the rain-soaked sea, then adds, "Have someone keep an eye on that woman."
"Understood, boss!"
...
...
On the other side.
On the Saint Anus.
Natsuhiko, having packed up his things first, sits on the window in the corridor, watching the drizzle outside, then glances at the calm scene inside the ship.
Though Natsuhiko thinks the pirates aren't likely to take over the Saint Anus, he decides it best to leave temporarily to avoid trouble.
He already had Abra deliver the warning letter to the door of the captain's cabin.
When they can see it and whether they'll believe it isn't something that concerns him.
Natsuhiko has done what he can; some things are simply inexplicable, better left unsaid.
Even exposing Gerwin as a pirate would still find it difficult to gain the captain's trust.
At the same time, he also left a letter by Meiyu's door, doing what he could.
"Natsuka, are you really not coming with me?"
Gerwin exits the room, seeing Natsuhiko already sitting on the window.
"Forget it."
Natsuhiko waves his hand.
He doesn't want to escape one danger only to walk into another.
Despite Kerwin's insistence they are "different" pirates, considered "good people" among pirates.
But they're still pirates.
Saying that, Natsuhiko leaps into the night from the window.
It's the fourth floor, plus the ship's height, directly hitting the sea wouldn't differ much from jumping from a building.
As he exits the window, the two Pokeballs at his waist open.
Abra envelops him with psychic power immediately, greatly reducing his fall speed.
Meanwhile, the red light from another Pokeball hits the sea, a Sharpedo's not-so-wide back surfaces.
Thud.
Natsuhiko stands steadily on Sharpedo's back, gently patting its fin covered with psychic power, breaking the water surface instantly as Sharpedo swiftly disappears into the night.
Gerwin reaches the window, curling his lips.
"Acting like our captain is some sort of monster."
Natsuhiko's trail is already gone, and Gerwin hesitates no more, summoning Pokémon.
With Jigglypuff's inflated body in his arms, he sways from the window, touching the water as Azumarill emerges.
Thanks to Jigglypuff's buoyancy and Azumarill's propulsion, he quickly disappears alongside the Saint Anus.
...
...
In the captain's cabin.
"Lieutenant Colonel Cole, someone left a letter at the door." A middle-aged man in a sailor's uniform, holding a letter, hands it to the captain.
Captain Cole, other than the whitening mustache above his lips, judging by his robust physique, you'd never guess he's in his fifties; beneath the captain's hat are eyes full of wisdom.
Due to his previous role as a lieutenant colonel in the Navy, even now as captain of the Saint Anus, he likes being called "Lieutenant Colonel."
"What does it say?"
The sailor unfolds the letter, glances, then with a frown says, "The letter warns us there might be a pirate attack in the coming days."
"Oh?" Cole retracts his telescope, not panicking but smiling as he asks again, "Who delivered it?"
"Don't know, surveillance didn't catch anyone, it appeared out of thin air."
Cole's face shows interest.
"Seems it's not just us on alert, some passengers have noticed too."
The sailor nods.
Apparently, they're not very surprised by the potential pirate attack.
"But if we're reduced to needing passengers to alert us, it's too much of a failure; at least we should reassure them." Cole continues.
"Understood." The sailor responds with a laugh.