[Mad Hat Island, Year 1511]
Four years had passed since Bastien and Arthur first began their journey together. The time filled with struggles, training, and battles had shaped them into figures far different from their past selves.
Bastien, who once had chubby cheeks and looked naive, had transformed into a young teenager with a much more mature appearance. His body was more muscular, his height now on par with Lazhar's, and his emerald green eyes now radiated a maturity that was hard to conceal. The bright red hair he once proudly sported had darkened slightly, more fitting for his now tougher and more charismatic appearance.
On the other hand, Arthur remained as reckless as ever, though his physique had become notably more muscular. His face, while looking more mature, still carried his signature goofy grin that occasionally brought out laughter. His previously short and messy blonde hair had grown longer, and his dark yellow eyes now emitted a sense of maturity that, though present, was still not fully developed.
That night, they sat on the roof of Lazhar's weapon shop, enjoying the cool night air. The city of Mad Hat beneath them felt eerily quiet, but the peace was short-lived.
Arthur broke the silence, throwing his gaze downwards. "What will we do next, Bastien?"
Bastien glanced at him, a faint smile forming on his lips. "I don't know. I want to set sail at seventeen. So, we still have plenty of time. Maybe we'll keep training until we're better prepared for the real seas."
Arthur nodded, his eyes not leaving Bastien's. "So, we still have time. Time to get stronger. But it won't be easy, right?"
Bastien smiled wider, a hint of challenge in his expression. "Nothing is easy. But I believe we can do it. We have to be stronger than today."
Arthur chuckled softly, though there was resolve in his voice. "You always have a way of making me believe, huh? Well, alright then. We'll keep training. But don't forget, there are a lot of dangers out there waiting for us."
Bastien nodded. "I know. That's why we have to be ready for everything. Every battle will bring us closer to our goal."
Silence enveloped them once more, each of them lost in thoughts of what was to come. The city of Mad Hat below them felt like a fading memory, and the vast world awaiting them seemed more real with each passing moment.
However, the world out there was not merely waiting. Suddenly, footsteps were heard approaching from below. A man dressed in all black, carrying a bundle of letters, hurried towards the weapon shop.
He stopped in front of the shop door and called out loudly. "Mr. Gerald! A message for you!"
Bastien and Arthur exchanged glances, then slowly descended from the roof to see what was going on. They found Gerald waiting, and the man handed over a letter that seemed very important.
Gerald opened the letter quickly, reading it for a moment, then his face turned serious. "You need to listen to this," he said, then began explaining. "There are two new pirates coming to Mad Hat. Ruhk the Butcher Fang and Lesley the Serpent Smile. Both have bounties over 80 million beri. They are coming with the intent to attack this island and seize it."
Bastien and Arthur snorted in unison, their faces immediately taking on a serious expression.
"Their plan to take over this island... it's going to be a big problem," Gerald said in a heavy tone. "They've informed the leaders of other territories in Mad Hat. This isn't just a normal attack. They want to take control of the area, and they're bringing a large force."
Bastien stared at Gerald, his eyes now full of caution. "Are they coming with a large number of men?"
Gerald nodded. "Yes, they have a large warship and a sizable force. We need to prepare."
Arthur clenched his fist. "We can't just sit by. We need to be ready to face them."
Bastien looked at Arthur, then turned to Gerald. "We'll train harder. We need to be better prepared for them. But we also need to find a way to take them down before they have a chance to attack."
Gerald nodded, seemingly agreeing with their plan. "You're right. We need to prepare everything. And you, don't hesitate to call for reinforcements if necessary."
With this new information, Bastien and Arthur knew their journey was becoming even more challenging. The world was full of greater dangers, and this time, they would need to face them with even greater strength.
The night sky above them grew darker, but there was a sense of tension in the air. It was all starting from here, and they had to be ready for whatever came next.
Their biggest challenge had yet to come, and the world of Mad Hat was only a small part of the vast ocean that awaited them.