Chapter 3 Training! The Lament of a Loser!
"Hurry up and get the stuff onto the boat."
Under the azure sky, on the coast, Wieger stood on the deck, shouting loudly as two small boats shuttled between the island and the Bloodaxe.
Old John stood at the helm, his eyes slightly narrowed, a look of reminiscence on his face.
"Raise the sails!"
"set sail!"
After five days of repairs, the Bloodaxe, damaged in a battle, sailed into the ocean.
Inside the kitchen, Lister directed Charles and Coleman to arrange various ingredients, including smoked meats hunted by old John and plants and fruits gathered by Lister.
"Head Chef, it's all set." Coleman wiped his sweat, stood next to Charles, and gave him a fawning smile.
"There are two bottles of rum left over from last night in that box." Lister knew what pirates liked.
Charles and Coleman stayed in the kitchen drinking, while Lister went up to the deck.
The sky was clear and cloudless, and a warm breeze carried the scent of the sea.
After Wiegand returned to the captain's cabin, the pirates relaxed, some lying down, some sitting, loudly discussing what they would do after landing, mostly about women.
"Head chef, what are you going to do after we land?" a pirate asked.
"How about coming to the red-light district with us? I'll introduce you to a woman, I guarantee you'll like her."
"Sig, are you going to introduce your lover to the head chef?"
The pirates burst into laughter.
The pirate named Sig didn't take it seriously and said loudly, "If our head chef likes it, I think Politaya will definitely not refuse."
"That must be because Politaia thinks you're too short," Lister told him.
"Hahaha!" The pirates burst into laughter.
Higuma's face flushed red. He stood up, loosened his belt, put his hands on his hips, and said arrogantly to the pirates, "Look, look! Only the great Higuma can conquer Politaya!"
"Hey, Sig, put away your ugly little thing, don't corrupt our head chef." The boatswain tied the sails and shouted with a laugh.
"Short?"
Sieg reluctantly pulled up his trousers; he dared not talk back to the boatswain. He looked at Lister with ill intent and said, "Head Chef, I heard you've been learning martial arts from Uncle John lately. How about we have a match?"
"Sig, don't bully our head chef."
"Exactly! If we defeat the head chef, who will cook delicious food for us?"
The bored pirates, always eager for a good show, made sarcastic and mocking noises.
Lister realized that good food could not earn the respect of pirates; on the high seas, only fists commanded awe.
Lister glared at Sieg: "Fine, Sieg, let's fight then."
The shouting pirates, including Sigurd, were stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Lister to actually make a move. But then, the deck became even more lively.
"Sig, the head chef challenges you!"
"Head Chef, beat Sig down, and we'll bet you'll win..."
"Come on, place your bets!" The boatswain grinned as he pulled out a wooden bucket and urged the pirates to place their bets.
The commotion on deck startled Wieger, who came out of the captain's cabin, watched for a while, then went to old John, who was at the helm, and asked, "Who do you think will win?"
Old John glanced at the deck and said without hesitation, "Sig!"
Wiegel wasn't surprised. Watching the two begin to fight, he remarked, "They're so young and impetuous! We should recruit some young new crew members."
"Then we'll have to change to a different boat," Old John replied.
The Bloodaxe was not large, just a single-masted sailing ship, and could not accommodate too many crew members.
A cheer erupted from below as Sieg threw Lister to the ground, securing the victory.
Lister rubbed his shoulder, stood up, spat in frustration, and said to Sieg, who was pacing back and forth with his hands raised, "Sieg, I'll beat you next time!"
Sieg laughed heartily: "Head Chef, I'll win again next time!"
The boatswain came up to Lister, put his arm around his neck, and said, "Boy, you made me lose ten thousand Berries!"
Lister, quick-witted, grinned and said, "Hansen, teach me how to beat Sieg, and next time you'll win 100,000 Berries!"
Hansen thought for a moment, patted his thin body, and said, "You should eat more!"
Two days later, the Bloodaxe docked at the port of Shells.
The pirates, having received permission, quickly disappeared from the dock; of course, they weren't there to plunder, but to spend money.
They would give away the loot from their previous robbery to bars, casinos, and to those glamorous women until they were penniless, before returning to the ship, hoping for the next robbery.
"Lister, are you really not coming off the ship with us?" Charles asked.
Given Lister's obedience and docility, Captain Wiegand allowed the newcomer Lister to disembark, but only with Charles and Coleman.
Lister declined Wiegel's offer.
"You all go ahead, someone has to stay on the ship, doesn't he?"
Liszt was not interested in debauchery.
Coleman and Charles stopped trying to persuade them and disembarked, arm in arm.
"Uncle John, Lister, the Blood Axe is now in your hands." Wieger had changed into a sharp black suit, making him look less like a pirate captain and more like a successful businessman.
Hansen and Sieg followed behind him. After arriving at the dock, they exchanged a few words with the men in naval uniforms who were waiting there, and then quickly left.
Lister withdrew his gaze, lost in thought.
"Uncle John, that trick you taught me last time, see if it was right..."
On the deck, Lister began his training.
The Bloodaxe was docked for nearly half a month, during which time Wiegand returned and brought men to remove the stolen goods from the ship.
With only food prepared for Old John and himself, Lister had more time to train. Perhaps it was because people in this world were naturally strong, but Lister's progress was remarkable, and his thin body gradually became more robust.
Leaning against the mast, observing Lister, who was sweating profusely and training intently, Old John suddenly picked up his scimitar, took a step forward, and like a tiger unleashed from its cage, slashed down with his scimitar.
A strong gust of wind swept by, making Lister's hair stand on end. He dodged to the side, but Old John's blade was as fast as lightning, cutting a wound on his right arm, from which blood gushed out, staining his linen coat red.
Old John landed on his right foot, supporting his body with it. He twisted his waist and spun around, his left leg whipping out like a whip, striking Lister in the chest. The immense force sent Lister flying five or six meters, crashing onto the deck.
Old John licked the blood off his scimitar, walked over to Lister, and stepped on his back. Lister, who was struggling to get up, fell down again.
"Too weak!"
Lister braced himself against the deck with both hands, but old John's foot was like a mountain, and no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't get up.
"Too weak. With this kind of training, you won't even have a place in the East Blue, let alone the Grand Line. Give up and just be a good cook, what's wrong with that?"
Lister gritted his teeth, making a grinding sound.
"Give up? I won't give up."
Old John kicked Lister in the ribs, sending him flying. Lister crashed into the cabin door and landed, spitting out blood.
"The wailing of a loser is the most boring thing."
Lister struggled to sit up, spitting out blood, and looked at old John with a smile.
"Yeah, that's why I want to become stronger. I'm still young, I still have a chance. What about you, old man?"
"court death!"
Old John's eyes narrowed, a fierce aura rose within him, and he dropped his scimitar.
End of this chapter...