ONE PIECE: THE CHILD OF GOD - CHAPTER 7 (Patreon)

Finally, after a week of e research, about how to move within this world, by reading a bunch of books I had happened to steal from the local library in Foosha Village about the subject, a deed I wasn’t particularly proud of, I decided it was time for me to leave Dawn Island, and see what was outside this place with my very own eyes.

Needless to say, I was excited, never before I had ventured into the unknown, so I was static for the most.

Also, I was quite confident I already had good enough understanding about how to move around, of course, not by myself, how to sail and stuff takes years of experience, but within the travel system in this world, which for now was more than enough for me, I would look into a ship of my own later when I learned how to sail, perhaps a small one.

“You’re leaving, huh?” Dadan inquired as she entered my room.

“Yes,” I nodded looking at her with a content smile, I hadn’t told her yet I was planning to leave, but the books and their contents within my room were a dead giveaway, so it wasn’t hard to figure it out, besides, I never said I would stay here forever, so she had her suspicions for a while now.

“Is there anything I can do to make you stay?” Dadan asked in a helpless fashion, a soft chuckle escaping her throat.

I looked at her and smiled before shaking my head in a relaxed manner, “No, while my stay here has been wonderful, I have things I want to see, and places I want to explore,” that thought excited me, the idea of seeing the world as a whole was breathtaking, something I probably inherited from Adam considering my past self wasn't that adventurous, but who cares?

Dadan sighed, brushing one of her hands through her thick curly hair, “I guess this was too good to be true,” she laughed, letting out a sigh of defeat, “Oh well, good luck out there brat,”

I nodded, “Thanks,” 

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The very next day, I was ready to leave, so I said my goodbyes to those who had helped me so far, including baby Ace who had been my ticket to a free room till this day, before I walked to the port nearby the capital of Goa, the walk itself took me forty minutes, but it was okay, I was in no rush, after all, I really wanted to take every step of this journey in, it was relaxing so to speak.

Once I was finally at the port, I took a seat on the ground and waited for a ship of any kind to arrive, I had no money, of course, but I was confident I could work the travel expense out with the captain, be it a marine or a pirate, I could work around the ship until their next top, maybe moving stuff around, who knows?

So, with nothing else to do, I grabbed one of the books I had brought with me out of the satchel bag Dadan had given me before leaving and started reading to pass the time, until eventually, after two hours in, of waiting for a ship of any kind, a cargo ship arrived, a commercial one, a big one at that.

I smiled at the sight, putting the book back in my bag as I stood up and walked towards the ship, looking around, trying to find someone that looked important.

“Excuse sir,” I said, approaching one of the men walking out of the ship with crates of merchandise, using a pallet jack to move the crate.

The man looked at me, as I gave him a scrutinizing look, detailing him from head to toe in a second, the man in question was around forty years old or something, his beard was thick, and his body was that of someone that both worked out and drank beer every day, he didn’t appear to have any scars whatsoever, meaning he wasn’t a fighter most likely.

“Brat move along,” The man barked after a moment in a hostile manner, glaring at me as he did so.

“I want to travel with you guys, and I can offer my services in exchange for lodging and food for the duration of the travel,” I said, not all fazed by his hostility.

The man looked at me, frowning ever so slightly before he started laughing, “Good joke brat, now move along,” 

I smiled, approaching the crate he was moving with the pallet jack, lifting said crate with shocking ease.

“W-w-what?!” The man seeing this took a step back in a bewildered state, staring at me in a whole new light.

As for me, I was glad my bet had paid off, after all, before trying to lift the crate, I had no idea if I was able or not to do so, but like everything so far, a part inside of me pushed me to do it with confidence.

“As you can see, I am quite strong and can put this strength to good use to help you guys out,” I smiled in a relaxed manner, putting the crate down.

“I-I… I will talk with the captain,” The man muttered, all his bravado out of the window.

“I would appreciate that thanks,” I nodded, as the man walked back to the ship, leaving the crate and the pallet jack alone.

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Two minutes later or so, the captain of the ship finally arrived to talk with me, with the man I had just talked to by his side, the captain in question was a tall man, easily eight-foot-tall, with a long red beard that didn’t match his white hair, on his face, the captain had a few scars, comically enough, he had a smoking pipe on his mouth, which made me associate his entire look with Popeye, heck even his arms looked like that of Popeye.

On earth, those arms would be considered tumors, but I suppose the One Piece world has a broad definition of normal.

“I heard you were strong lad, abnormally so,” The captain started, breaking the ice.

I looked at him and nodded, “I am,” 

“Show me, lad,” The captain ordered, so I complied and lifted the crate with one hand.

“Well, I'll be fish food! ye mighty strong,” The captain laughed, slapping his legs as he did so, “I was skeptical lad, but squiffy over here was right,” he added, pointing at the man I had talked to, who looked to be embarrassed.

“So, can I travel with you?” I asked.

“Of course! Lad, that’s not even up to debate!” The Captain laughed, “God knows I need strong people, not the band of ladies I have on board, by the seas, I’ll even pay ya if you work hard,”

“Deal,” I smiled.

“Welcome aboard lad!” The captain grinned.