"So scary! That huge guy is beating someone up!"
On the deck of the Going Merry, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper huddled together nervously, watching the chaos unfold in the nearby town.
In the middle of the street, a hulking purple-haired man with a wrestler's mask grinned wildly as he hammered his fists into another pirate. The victim, though muscular, was clearly outmatched.
"Wehahaha! Come on, fight back! Hit me! Show me some guts!"
The brawler cackled while continuing his assault. When his opponent finally collapsed, unconscious and bleeding, the brute scoffed and tossed him aside like garbage.
"Pathetic. One punch and you're done? How boring."
The masked man pushed past the crowd and swaggered away. The onlookers simply dispersed, as if this kind of savagery was a daily occurrence. No one even checked if the fallen man was alive.
The trio on the Merry trembled.
"This town is too brutal…" Nami muttered.
They exchanged glances and reached the same conclusion—staying put was safer. Better to wait for Shirogai to return before asking about Sky Island.
But plans rarely go as expected.
"Huh? Those two look familiar…" Usopp's eyes widened.
From the docks, two very recognizable figures were strolling straight toward town.
"Luffy! Zoro!!!" Nami, Usopp, and Chopper shouted together, their voices carrying frustration and panic.
"How could you two just wander off on your own?!"
Luffy only grinned, waving cheerfully.
"Ahahaha! Do you guys wanna come too? Zoro and I are just exploring the island. We'll meet up with Shirogai here anyway!"
"No!!!" the trio shouted in unison.
"Too bad!" Luffy shrugged. "Then only Zoro and I get to have fun!" He tipped his straw hat forward and looked at the armed pirates lurking around the street. His grin widened. "Oi, Zoro, looks like the whole party's already here!"
Fearless as always, Luffy dove straight into the chaos with his usual eagerness for excitement.
Zoro smirked, recognizing the familiar lawless atmosphere. It reminded him of his early days as a bounty hunter in the East Blue.
"Yeah, Luffy. This town feels just right," he said, eyeing the pirates with a predator's grin. "So many pirates… so many walking bounty bags."
On the Merry, Nami's group froze in horror.
"Do you think they'll come back safely… without starting trouble?" Nami asked with a sinking feeling.
Chopper's tiny body shook. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Usopp sweated buckets. "With those two? In this kind of place? No chance!"
Nami groaned, already regretting her life choices. "Those idiots are guaranteed to cause trouble. I'd better go after them!"
The moment she leapt ashore, regret hit her. The pirates nearby instantly noticed her.
"Well, well, what a beauty."
"Look at that figure, damn…"
"Heh, must be some clueless traveler. Perfect prey."
Their lecherous gazes made her skin crawl.
"Why me…" she muttered, sprinting to catch up with Luffy and Zoro.
"Wait for me! I'm coming too!"
Both men stopped as Nami ran up. Luffy grinned.
"Eh? Nami, you're joining our adventure after all?"
Zoro, resting his hand on his sword hilt, shot a glance at the pirates eyeing her.
"Tch. You'd better stick close. This place is crawling with scum."
Nami's heart finally settled once she reached their side. She exhaled and scolded them furiously.
"I'm here to supervise you two! Our goal is to meet up with Shirogai and ask about Sky Island. Not to pick fights!"
Hearing that, the pirates backed off. They weren't stupid—messing with someone under the protection of men like Zoro and Luffy was a shortcut to an early grave.
Back on the Merry, Sanji watched from afar, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Only when Nami rejoined the pair did he straighten his suit.
"Since my Nami-san is safe, I'll head into town too. Maybe I'll find some rare ingredients."
But before he could leap down, Usopp and Chopper latched onto his legs like desperate barnacles.
"Sanji, don't leave us!" Usopp wailed, clinging to his left leg.
"What if the ship gets attacked?!" Chopper sobbed on his right.
Sanji sighed, exasperated. "Fine, fine. I'll stay, so let go already." Straightening his tie, he looked around. "Robin-chaaan, would you like some tea?"
The deck was empty. Robin had slipped away unnoticed.
"…Eh? Robin-chan?" Sanji blinked.
"Sanji, we want tea," Usopp and Chopper chorused.
"Make it yourselves!"
Their pitiful expressions finally broke him. "Alright, alright. I'll do it."
…
Meanwhile in town, violence was erupting at every corner. Pirates clashed in drunken brawls, weapons clanged, explosions echoed.
"Don't just stand there, swear to me right now!" Nami ordered, glaring at her two troublesome crewmates.
"Swear what?" Luffy asked, distracted by a nearby fire.
"That you won't fight or cause trouble here!" Nami yanked his ear.
"Ow, ow! Fine, fine! I swear I won't fight!" Luffy said.
Zoro smirked and gave his word as well. "I swear."
Nami exhaled in relief. "Good. Then keep your promise."
Both answered listlessly. "Yeah, yeah…"
…
At a tavern nearby, another storm was brewing.
"Ahhh, my hand!" screamed Roshio the Executioner, a pirate with a bounty of 42 million Berries. Bellamy the Hyena had pinned his hand to the table with a dagger, blood pouring from the wound.
"You cheated just now, didn't you?" Bellamy sneered, eyes gleaming.
Roshio howled in pain, unable to answer.
Bellamy leaned closer, laughing cruelly. Some of his frustration and envy toward Plunderer Shirogai eased as he watched Roshio writhe.
"This is the power of strength," he said mockingly. "You're all the same in the end."
His laughter rang through the tavern.
"Hahahahahaha!"