Chapter 8: This Is Fate
"Look at me, beautiful lady! I'm an old sailor with ten years of experience. I can take you anywhere in the East Blue!"
Before he could finish bragging, someone else chimed in:
"Come on, last time you sailed, you almost led a fleet into a death vortex."
"Yeah, and the time before that, you took people straight into a Sea King's lair!"
The tavern erupted in chaos.
Two men who had been drinking and laughing moments ago were now throwing punches.
Everyone's attention was on Alvida.
Cheng Lang was pushed aside.
He shook his head, helpless.
He glanced around.
Several people looked away when he met their eyes.
Am I that scary?
Then he spotted the guys Alvida had beaten earlier.
Ah. Word had spread.
He didn't care.
After all, that dock scene had been loud enough to echo across town.
After scanning the room, Cheng Lang lost interest.
Alvida, surrounded by chaos, also lost interest.
None of these people were reliable.
Some led crews into disaster.
Others got pirates arrested by the Navy.
She'd thought this place had talent.
But in just a few minutes, everyone showed their true colors.
The more she listened, the more her head hurt.
So she walked straight to Cheng Lang, grabbed his arm, and pulled him out.
"?"
Outside the tavern, Cheng Lang blinked.
"What's wrong?"
"None of them are trustworthy. I gave them a chance, and guess what? Their damn resumes were all fake!"
She was fuming.
Cheng Lang chuckled.
If she were truly reliable, her old crew wouldn't have ditched her.
Trying to find trustworthy people in an untrustworthy place…
Not the best strategy.
Just then, a timid voice called out behind them.
"Um… I heard you're recruiting sailors."
They turned around.
A thin figure stood there, hair covering her eyes, voice barely audible.
Alvida rolled her eyes.
"You know how to sail? You look like you'd blow away in the wind."
"I… I can. I've read a lot of sailing books. Please… give me a chance."
Alvida waved her hand, ready to dismiss her.
But Cheng Lang looked at the girl curiously.
"You heard us in the tavern. You know what kind of people go there, right?"
"I do."
Still timid.
Alvida sighed.
"Tell me what you can offer."
"Can you bring a navigator?"
"…"
Alvida was losing patience.
Cheng Lang felt like he was watching a college student nervously applying for their first job.
It was painfully sincere.
"What's your name?"
"Kuya Mi."
"Alright, you're hired," Cheng Lang said.
Alvida rolled her eyes—but didn't object.
Kuya Mi was surprised.
She'd assumed the beautiful older woman was the leader.
Now she felt even more unsure.
But Alvida didn't care.
She'd agreed to follow Cheng Lang—so she let him decide.
As she put her arm around Mi, Alvida felt her trembling.
And noticed something else.
"…You're a woman?"
"Y-yeah… sorry."
---
The girl stammered her apology.
Alvida frowned.
"You're so timid. Why'd you even come out here? Should've stayed home."
Kuya Mi lowered her head and mumbled something.
Too quiet to hear.
"What was that?"
"My… my friend hasn't come back from sea yet. He sent a letter saying he's safe, but I want to find him."
She raised her voice slightly.
"The merchant won't hire me, and I can't follow a ship. So… I came here to try my luck. I saw a beautiful lady recruiting sailors, and I thought maybe…"
Alvida wasn't interested at first.
But when Mi mentioned "beautiful lady," it hit the right nerve.
"Well, you've got potential. I'm not super famous, but maybe I know the person you're looking for."
Kuya Mi lit up.
"His name is Coby. Pink hair, kind heart. He taught me how to sail."
"…"
"Coby may be weak, but he's smart. He learns things just by reading once. He's amazing."
She smiled.
Totally unaware that Alvida's face had darkened.
Cheng Lang, walking ahead, couldn't hold it in.
He burst out laughing.
"Hahaha… this is fate."
He had to admit—fate seemed real in the One Piece world.
What were the odds of meeting Coby's childhood friend?
This character didn't exist in the original story.
But now she did.
And she had a strong connection to the future Navy hero.
Suddenly, Cheng Lang felt like he wasn't just visiting One Piece—he was part of it.
Part of the wave that was about to rise.
Maybe fate had given him a role to play.
For the first time, Cheng Lang felt the reality of this world.
One Piece wasn't just about Luffy.
It was about everyone.
"What's so funny?" Kuya Mi asked, confused.
Alvida, annoyed, slapped Cheng Lang on the back.
He calmed down—but still chuckled.
"Nothing. Just marveling at how fate weaves everything together."
"?"
Mi looked up at Alvida.
She sighed and shook her head.
"I know the Coby you're talking about."
Mi's eyes lit up.
"Really? Where is he? Can you take me to him?"
"I don't know where he is now. Probably joined the Navy."
"Navy? I knew it! He always loved marine heroes.
When we were kids, he said he wanted to be one.
But later… he stopped saying it. I don't know why."
Cheng Lang fell silent.
In the original story, Coby told Luffy his dream—after three years of being oppressed by Alvida, he wanted to join the Navy and catch evil pirates.
The One Piece world Cheng Lang now lived in had changed.
But that was normal.
After all, One Piece two years ago and One Piece now were completely different worlds.
Even the Gum-Gum Fruit had become the Nika Fruit.
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