Bellé-mer notices the sudden shift in Sterling's expression. His face hardens, eyes narrowing toward the distant coastline.
"Sterling, what's wrong?" she asks.
Sterling slowly lowers his wooden sword, setting it aside. He walks over to where his flintlock pistol hangs on a peg, lifts it, and checks the chamber with practiced calm.
"Bellé-mer," he says, tone flat but serious, "we've got trouble coming to the island."
Bellé-mer's expression sharpens instantly. "Is it really bad?"
Sterling exhales through his nose. "It's really bad. When I was eight years old, I embarrassed a certain pirate… and now he might be back for revenge. Or not. I'm not sure."
Bellé-mer steps toward him. "Is he stronger than you?"
Sterling shrugs slightly. "I don't know. But his individual strength isn't the problem. It's the fact that he has one hundred and seventy pirates with him."
Bellé-mer's eyes nearly pop out of her skull.
"One hundred and seventy pirates!? Sterling, tell me you're joking!"
Sterling snaps the pistol shut while checking the mechanism. "I wish I was joking." He clicks his tongue. "Damn it… I really have no bullets left. Not that it would help much against over a hundred pirates anyway."
Bellé-mer throws her hands up. "You are way too calm about this, Sterling! This is a pirate fleet we're talking about, shouldn't you show at least a little panic!?"
Sterling looks at her, dead calm. "First of all, one hundred pirates don't count as a fleet. Secondly, what's the point of panicking? It's not like they're going to turn back just because I'm panicking. Right now, I need to think of a solution and so far, I have none."
Bellé-mer starts pacing circles around him. "Only me, you, and Yami count as elite fighters in the village. Even if everyone else helped, I don't think we could take down one hundred and seventy pirates!"
Sterling chuckles. "Yes, no shit, Sherlock."
Bellé-mer rounds on him with a glare. "This is NOT a joke, Sterling! This wouldn't even be a problem if you had just trained other villagers instead of trying to act cool by refusing everyone! The village would be much stronger by now!"
Sterling sighs and gives her a deadpan look. "No way. Too much work. Besides, who the hell brings 170 pirates to confront a seventeen-year-old at some unknown, small fish-port island? Is that not crazy?"
"Exactly! That's the attitude I hate so much!" Bellé-mer snaps.
"Shut up," Sterling retorts. Then he straightens. "Bellé-mer, please run and get my saber from home. I'm going to have to go all out here."
Bellé-mer instantly shakes her head. "No way. I'm not leaving you alone here!"
"Whether both of us stay here or just one of us doesn't make a difference," Sterling says, voice firm. "Just hurry and get my saber."
Bellé-mer hesitates, biting her lip, then finally nods. "Fine." She turns and sprints toward Sterling's home.
Sterling watches her run before looking back toward the distant silhouette of the approaching ship.
"…Why am I low-key excited?" he mutters under his breath.
---
Back at Sterling's house
Shanks and Benn sit comfortably on the living room sofas. The atmosphere is calm, peaceful, the complete opposite of the storm forming outside.
From the kitchen, Kushina and Noelle emerge. Kushina walks in front, carrying a tray with four cups of steaming tea. Noelle follows behind, carrying a tray stacked with cookies, milk, and sugar.
They place the trays carefully on the table. Kushina and Noelle settle on the sofa opposite Shanks and Benn.
"Noelle," Kushina says lightly, glancing at Noelle, "aren't you going to prepare the tea for Shanks-kun and Benn-kun?"
Noelle jolts. "Ah! Sorry, I forgot!" She quickly gets up and begins preparing their tea, adding sugar and milk with quick but careful movements. She hands Shanks, Benn, and Kushina their cups, then prepares her own.
Shanks takes a sip and smiles. "Thank you for your kindness and hospitality, Mrs. Kushina."
Benn nods. "Yeah. Thank you."
Kushina waves off the praise. "Don't sweat it. I don't get a lot of visitors here, so I'm happy to have people over."
Shanks chuckles and says, "Then we won't be kind."
He takes another sip of the tea and lets out a satisfied hum. "Mhh, this is good."
Noelle smiles proudly. "Of course, I made it."
Benn lifts his cup next. "Let me try it." He drinks, then nods in approval. "It really is good. Mrs. Kushina, what brand of tea is this?"
Kushina sits upright, smiling. "It's Koil. It's made in the East Blue. A merchant who usually sources fish here always brings it for me."
Benn smiles back. "I see, it did taste familiar."
Kushina leans forward slightly. "So you've had it before?"
Benn nods. "Yes, I've had Koil, but my favorite has to be Glin."
Kushina's eyes light up instantly. "Oh my god, me too! I haven't had it in a long time, but looong ago Sterling's father used to bring it back for me."
Benn chuckles. "It really is good. The flavor is just too immaculate."
Shanks and Noelle stare at Benn as if they're looking at an alien.
Shanks finally speaks. "Benn, since when are you so knowledgeable about tea?"
Noelle joins in. "Right? I didn't expect this at all."
Benn shrugs. "Well, I was a heavy tea drinker before I met you, Shanks. I only started drinking beer regularly because you forced me into it."
Shanks stares at him for a moment. "Benn Beckman… how much of you do I not know?"
Noelle shakes her head. "Benn-san, don't ever speak about tea in front of me ever again. It just feels weird."
Benn chuckles awkwardly. "Really?"
Kushina smiles warmly. "Benn-kun, don't mind these two uncultured beings. Me and you both know how amazing tea is."
She gestures toward the tray. "Why don't you try it with my hand-baked cookies?"
Shanks immediately perks up. "I've been waiting to try these since I saw them."
Kushina smiles. "Go ahead."
Shanks and Benn each take a cookie and bite into it. The moment they taste it, their eyes light up. Shanks gets to his feet instantly.
"These are the best cookies I've ever had in my entire life!"
Kushina waves a hand modestly. "There's no need to lie to me. They might be good, but they can't be the best you've ever had."
Benn shakes his head. "No, I understand what Shanks is saying. These are genuinely amazing."
Shanks looks at Noelle. "Noelle-chan, you have to try these."
Noelle is already reaching for the tray. "I've had Mrs. Kushina's cookies before, I know just how amazing they are."
She takes a bite and nods. "Yes, they still are amazing."
Kushina blushes. "Stop it, if you all compliment me any more I'll be forced to make more."
Shanks smiles. "Please do, I wouldn't mind more."
Kushina sighs playfully. "Okay, you said it, so I'll do it."
Her expression then shifts, turning serious. "Cookies and tea aside… you two boys came to talk to me about something, correct?"
Shanks looks at Benn, who gives him a small nod. Shanks then sits back down.
"Mrs. Kushina," he begins, "we are here to talk about your son Sterling."
Kushina looks between the two boys in curiosity. "Oh? And what is it you boys want with my boy?"
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