CHAPTER 27
A teenage boy wearing slim-framed glasses walked through the dusty street, two thugs trailing lazily behind him. Their eyes scanned the crowd like vultures circling a carcass.
"Hey," one thug snickered, nudging the other. "The old woman's got some change. What do you say, huh? Hehehehe…"
"I've been low on money for days," the second one muttered. "Might as well—"
BOOM!
A sudden burst of wind exploded around them, kicking up a cloud of dust.
When it settled… the young boy who had been standing ahead of them—was gone.whay they saw next was a fallen old woman and keptyn standing in front.
"Huh?" The two thugs blinked at each other, startled.
Then they grinned.
"Hehehehehe… much better," one said, cracking his knuckles.
"If he's acting stupid, the boss will be pleased. And it Makes the job easier."
"Let's go report."
"Hey! Prince, let's go! The boss is calling for us!" the second thug shouted toward the glasses-wearing boy—Keptyn.
"All right…" Keptyn replied, though suspicion flickered behind his eyes. His heart thumped nervously, sensing something off.
As he left the square, murmurs spread like wildfire.
"Didn't you hear? They said he hired pirates to chase his older brother away so he could inherit the throne."
"No, no—that's wrong. They said he sold his royal title to pirates for treasure."
"You're both wrong! They said he sold his own parents to pirates so he could be king!"
Rumors stacked on rumors, swelling into outrageous tales. Every whisper twisted the truth further.
---
In the bustling chaotic Market, weapons were displayed openly beside produce and farm item that were to be sold—axes, machetes, even crude firearms lined the stalls. Traders watched closely, suspicious of every new face.
Umi sighed heavily.
"Hey… you could've left the gun back on the ship," he muttered, glancing at Kris, who carried a rifle slung over his back like a trophy. "You've got the whole market staring at us."
"Let them look," Kris declared loudly, ensuring every nearby merchant heard him. "If anyone wants to fight, they should bring it on."
Umi dragged a palm down his face.
"Why did I join this crew of battle maniacs…"
"Come on, let's keep moving," Kris said, striding forward without concern.
---
Meanwhile…
Sophia and Brocky stepped into a grand clothing store, racks towering to the ceiling with fabrics and garments. A muscular man with a cigar hanging from his lips greeted them with an impatient grunt.
"What do you need? Be quick. We're the biggest store in town; we don't have all day."
BONK!
His head snapped forward as a fist slammed into it. Standing beside him was a short woman in an apron, wiping her knuckles with a towel.
"Is that how you treat customers?" she snapped. "No manners! No wonder Keptyn got your gene. Click-click." She marched toward Brocky and Sophia, annoyed.
The transformation in her face was instant—stern to bright and welcoming.
"Thank you for visiting the Caxy Clothing Store," she said with a polite bow. "We are proud to be the largest and finest clothing shop in the entire town."
"Thank you very much," Sophia replied, giving a side glance to the old man sulking in the corner. "We came to get clothes for our crew. These are their measurements and preferred styles. Only this big guy here still needs measuring."
"Nist!"
"Nist!"
"Nist!!!"
A small girl with oversized glasses sprinted toward them.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"My equipment."
The girl handed her a pair of measurement glasses and a tape rule.
"All right, big boy. Don't move unless you want crooked clothes."
The moment she finished speaking—she vanished. A blur shot around Brocky, circling him like a phantom storm. A faint afterimage followed her movements before she returned to her exact starting position.
"It is done," she announced calmly.
Sophia and Brocky stared, mouths wide in awe.
"Please return tomorrow, and everything will be ready. Will you be paying in full or depositing?" the short woman asked.
"We'll deposit," Sophia answered with a forced smile.
BOOOM!
The door swung open as a man with a scarf on his head burst in, breathless.
"Godfather! Keptyn caused trouble again—in the middle of the market!"
Before he finished the sentence, every worker except Nist disappeared from the room, sprinting full speed toward the market.
Sophia sighed. "So much for shopping peacefully."
"Hey Brocky," she said, adjusting herself comfortably on his shoulder. "Let's go buy some maps, navigation materials, and… anything else you want. I'll pay."
"Rahahahaha! In that case, I won't hold back!" Brocky roared, striding confidently into the market.