One Piece: Failure’s Road to the Pirate King

"Attack! Attack!"

Before Marika could respond, the remaining soldiers shouted loudly, raising their spears as they closed in.

Sage glanced over, "So noisy."

Whoosh! Suddenly, a shadow dashed out from the crowd.

Whoosh! In the storm, Akin's dual crutches spun in a circle, the iron balls creating a gust of wind that even knocked the torrential rain away, preventing any water from splashing in.

His body bent slightly as he dove forward, resembling a cheetah pouncing on a 'herd' of sheep.

Bang!!

With a powerful strike of the crutches, the soldier hit by the iron ball, along with his spear and armor, shattered instantly, his body flying backward and crashing into the remaining soldiers, sending them all tumbling to the ground.

Even so, Akin showed no mercy, rushing to the fallen soldiers, swinging his crutches, and smashing the iron ball down, driving their heads into the sand, before charging again to attack other soldiers.

Dozens of soldiers, facing a single Pirate, couldn't even retaliate; they could only watch helplessly as he swept through them like a storm. Soon, all these soldiers were down, their armor smashed to pieces. Even those who had lost the ability to resist were struck in the chest or head by Akin's iron ball.

Bang! It wasn't until he struck the last soldier in the chest, burying half of his body in the sand pit, that Akin slowly stood up, surveying the scene—there was no one left standing.

The blood on his face was washed clean by the rain. He flicked his crutch and tucked it behind his waist. His expressionless face, set against the backdrop of the fallen soldiers and the gloomy sky, resembled a specter of death.

The civilians watching shrank back, their pupils constricting in fear.

'The Demon Man' Akin.

A name misappropriated, but a title well-earned, a figure who had made a name for himself on the seas, and when it came to battle, he certainly showed no mercy.

Especially since the people here were not his benefactors; he had no qualms whatsoever.

"Your speed has improved quite a bit; the training over the past few days has been effective," Sage nodded. "In a little while, you should be able to master 'Soru.' Well done."

"Yes, Captain Sage! I will double my efforts and live up to your expectations!"

The 'demon' feared by many now bowed his head in submission to Sage, showing great respect.

"Now, let's continue with my proposal."

Sage said, "Your cooking skills are excellent. I need a cook on my ship, and you would be a great fit. Come aboard with me."

He was well aware of the Bridge Kingdom, the massive bridge built in the East Sea, where the inhabitants were slaves and criminals from various places. Once they arrived there, it was almost like being dead.

It would be a shame for a cook of such caliber to die.

Marika glanced at the fallen soldiers and then at the head lying on the beach, pursing her lips. "You're not an ordinary Pirate, are you?"

One of the subordinates proudly exclaimed, "Our captain is the overlord of the East Sea! Norton Sage, with a bounty of seventy million Belly!"

"Seventy million?"

Marika's eyes widened slightly. "Although I haven't been following the news lately, that price is exceedingly high in the East Sea. You mentioned wanting to rob the king; you wouldn't be doing it this way, would you?"

Facing the obvious presence of the king's guard and striking them down without hesitation or concern for the consequences, it was indeed possible that such a bounty was warranted.

"That kind of thing doesn't matter. What matters is that I've set my sights on you. I love robbing kings, and since you are a king yourself and have no spoils, you are the spoils. Come aboard with me."

Sage waved his hand. "In return, I will provide your people with 'protection.' Join me on the ship, and you won't have to suffer here anymore."

Although these people appeared malnourished and lacked combat ability, with most being elderly, weak, or women and children, Sage didn't care about that.

Pirates are inherently free; they can do whatever they want. A cook who can turn the mundane into the extraordinary, along with a couple of hundred 'burdens,' is entirely feasible.

Moreover, even if they lacked physical prowess, they could train. No one starts as a strong person; everyone grows step by step.

Even if they are older and lack the capacity to grow, there exists a miraculous power in the sea known as the Devil Fruit, which can allow people to grow rapidly.

It has nothing to do with strength; the most important thing is willpower.

Whatever one does, unless it is truly impossible, and they fail, they must have the determination and will to delve deeply into it.

Being a Pirate is no different.

On the sea, if one lacks the resolve to put their head on the line, they won't live long.

Sage could see that this group of people actually lacked that will.

People like him, who have done all kinds of work but failed at everything, clearly down on their luck, yet still refuse to give up on their dreams—no matter how big or small—are truly rare.

This has nothing to do with strength; even if Sage were an ordinary person, he wouldn't give up on that dream and would find ways to fight against the world.

But these people were different; they weren't fighting; they were merely enduring. These civilians lived on the beach, resiliently rebuilding their homes after the tide, trapped in a place, surviving strongly. It seemed impressive, but without Marika, their true nature would likely be revealed immediately.

Although they had just met, he could tell that this group was barely holding together because of Marika's presence.

However, for the sake of this talented cook, Sage could make an exception and offer them protection. If they truly couldn't adapt to the Pirate life, they could disembark and go to another town.

"No, we can't."

Before Marika could speak, a fisherman raised his hand, seemingly gathering his courage. "We can't become Pirates, Captain. We are very grateful for your offer to take us aboard, but we have families. If we don't go to the Bridge Kingdom, our families will suffer."

"Exactly."

Marika sighed. "We cannot choose freely; the cost is something the common people cannot bear. Those living here are just ordinary people who cannot pay taxes."

The Shallow Sand Kingdom is not a member state; it has no human rights in the eyes of the World Government.

But this kingdom did not come into being naturally; it was formed later.

In this land, the Shallow Sand Kingdom was originally a large beach, once belonging to the 'Forest Kingdom' behind it. These people were once part of the Forest Kingdom.

The Shallow Sand Kingdom is a territory rented out by the Forest Kingdom. This country expels those who cannot pay taxes to the Shallow Sand Kingdom, thus automatically changing their nationality and becoming part of a non-member state, losing their human rights on the sea.

Without human rights, they can do whatever they want.

The resources of the Forest Kingdom are not abundant; the only thing in excess is population. To cope with the heavenly gold, they select people from the Shallow Sand Kingdom to sell to the Bridge Kingdom for money.

But even so, no one is willing to go to sea because they are just individuals who cannot pay taxes, and their families remain in the Forest Kingdom.

If they run away, their property will be confiscated, and their families will be sent to the Bridge Kingdom in their place.

Moreover, because they are leaving a non-member state, they will be treated as slaves by others on the sea and cannot go to sea.

And that's not all; even upon reaching the Shallow Sand Kingdom, they have no right to tools.

This place is still rented out by the Forest Kingdom, which requires rent. Every year, they come to collect money, and if they can't pay, the people of the Shallow Sand Kingdom will be burdened with debt and openly treated as slaves without any excuses needed.

Marika has come from this environment.

She doesn't owe any debts; she simply cannot stand by and watch.