Inside the captain's quarters, Junichi found spare ammunition, nautical charts, several recording pointers, a few Den Den Mushi, account books, and journals.
As he flipped through the account books and journals, Junichi discovered that this Red Hound Pirates operated in fixed areas within the Grand Line. Their primary business, he learned with disgust, was capturing slaves to sell to the Celestial Dragons.
Of course, a low-level pirate crew like this wasn't qualified to deal with the Celestial Dragons directly. Their buyers were just merchant guilds that served the Celestial Dragons—specifically, only a regional manager or even just a team leader under the manager.
Even so, thanks to the generous spending of the guild, the Red Hound Pirates were living quite well. They worked four times a year, and each time they got to live freely for two or three months.
"This fits my stereotypical impression of low-level pirates." He nodded slowly and closed the books, treating it all like a bit of educational reading.
Since arriving in the One Piece world, he had no intention of becoming a pirate himself.
He planned to join the Marines and grow stronger steadily by relying on their internal training system.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot about the Rejection Rate," he said, mentally summoning his system panel.
---
[Rejection Rate: 5.23% / 100%]
[Note: If Rejection Rate reaches 100%, you will be forcibly returned to your original world.]
[Note 2: Influencing the course of the era and obtaining world resources will significantly increase Rejection Rate. Please be aware.]
---
"So... it's increased by around five percent?" Junichi nodded slightly and closed the panel, not surprised by the result.
That 5% increase was likely due to saving Hancock. By rescuing her, he had altered her four years of slavery. It was a change that would definitely have long-lasting effects on the future.
Of course, he wasn't too concerned about those effects.
He just felt that spending 5% of Rejection Rate to establish a connection with her was a pretty profitable trade.
"Under normal circumstances, I'd never get close to canon characters." Junichi smiled to himself and murmured, "But now, this is a great opportunity. One that lets me connect with Amazon Lily and Rayleigh through Hancock."
While Rayleigh might not be as powerful as Kaido, the latter's teaching methods weren't something just anyone could survive.
So, the first was the safer bet.
"If I can get close to him, receive some training from him for a while, and then join the Marines…" He began reworking his plans.
So, his next goal was to use Hancock as a way to reach Shakky and Rayleigh.
"She should be waking up right about now."
He pulled out the captain's pocket watch, glanced at the time, and walked toward the cabin.
He hadn't used any lethal poison, after all.
---
"Mm…" Hancock slowly came to, her eyes opening.
Whoosh!
Her body tensed instantly, all her hairs standing on end as her awareness returned.
A strange boy had appeared in the cell, he was... smiling at her?
"Boa Hancock?"
"Who are you?"
She grew even more wary, eyes locked tightly on the boy. Thoughts raced through her head.
The pirates guarding her were gone, so… did that mean the Red Hound Pirates lost?
Was this boy the victor? What did he want?
"Haha, no need to worry. I'm not interested in slave trading or anything like that," the boy said casually, unconcerned by her guarded stance.
But she remained on high alert. That kind of wariness wouldn't be dispelled by just a few words.
"Here, take this."
He tossed something over.
Hancock didn't catch it.
Plop—
It rolled on the ground with a grunt of pain, and a pair of eyes peeked out, glaring at the boy.
"A Den Den Mushi?" Only then did Hancock realize what he had thrown.
"This ship's current course is near the Sabaody Archipelago," the boy said. "If you have someone to contact there, go ahead and call them."
With that, he stood up and left. Leaving her with some private time to make contact.
"..."
Hancock's expression turned into a mix of doubt and surprise. He actually gave her a Den Den Mushi to contact the outside!?
Could it be… this person really doesn't mean her any harm?
She bit her lip lightly, and only after his figure disappeared from sight did she suddenly snatch the Den Den Mushi from the floor.
In the pirate world, there were many types of Den Den Mushi. The most common are one-on-one communicators. But there are also dial-type ones.
"Sabaody Archipelago, huh…" She frowned in thought, then placed her fingers on the dial.
She remembered a number she could call.
That number connected to the former Empress of Amazon Lily, who resided long-term there.
Purururu... purururu...
As she pressed the number, the Den Den Mushi began to connect.
---
Inside Shakky's Rip-off Bar, over a dozen female warriors knelt on the floor with slumped shoulders, enduring their punishment in silence.
Pururu! Pururu!
Suddenly, a Den Den Mushi on the counter sprang to life, eyes wide open, letting out the distinctive sound of an incoming call.
"Uh…"
The kneeling warriors glanced at each other, unsure of what to do. They had been ordered to stay put and weren't allowed to move. But the Den Den Mushi was ringing.
While they hesitated, the Den Den Mushi suddenly went quiet, its eyes gently closing.
"Phew…" The warriors breathed a sigh of relief, since the caller had hung up, they didn't have to make a decision anymore.
But in the next second, the Den Den Mushi began ringing again.
Purururu! Purururu! Purururu!
It rang persistently, as if it wouldn't stop until someone picked up.
They hesitated for a long while. Eventually, the captain among them stood up and stepped toward the Den Den Mushi.
"I'll answer for Shakky. It might be something urgent."
Saying this, she picked up the receiver. The next moment, the Den Den Mushi transformed to mimic a small Hancock's appearance, and her voice came through:
"Is this Shakky?"
Eh!?
All the warriors widened their eyes, staring at the Den Den Mushi in astonishment.
---
At the same time, on the rooftop of the bar, Shakky sat with a thin robe draped over her shoulders, smoking anxiously, unable to sleep.
"Don't worry too much. We'll find a way," Rayleigh consoled her from the side. "The gods of Amazon Lily will protect their people."
"Gods…" Shakky pulled a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth. At this point, all they could do was pray to some vague, distant deity. They had no idea when Hancock and the others disappeared, or who the culprit even was.
They couldn't find a single lead. Maybe, they were already dead.
Thud thud thud!
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from below.
Shakky frowned and turned around.
"Shakky!" Several female warriors rushed up one after another.
"What's going on!?" Shakky's expression turned cold as she glared at them. "Didn't I order you all to stay kneeling? Why are you coming up here?"
"It's not that, the Den Den Mushi—" One of the warriors panted from running.
"What about it!" Shakky interrupted impatiently, her expression turning colder. "You think I'm in the mood to deal with work matters right now!? I haven't heard anything from Hancock and the others—I can't even sleep! Get back down there!"
She raised her hand, ready to drive them away. If there was real news, it would come to her personal Den Den Mushi.
"No, Shakky…"
The captain took a deep breath, steadied herself, then pulled a Den Den Mushi from her coat and raised it high, shouting, "It's a call from Hancock!!"