Chapter 22: If You Plan to Make an Enemy of the World, Please Take Us With You!
Grand Line, in the sea south of Master Port.
On a nameless, deserted island, a small fishing village was being built.
Surprisingly, there were very few able-bodied adults among the villagers. Most were elderly, injured, or disabled in some way.
As the only young laborer in the new village...
Alan was walking through the small forest outside the village, a hatchet in hand. Behind him, three Slice-Clones followed closely.
His face was still a little pale, but his eyes shone with the hope of a new life.
He had already built basic shelters for his grandfather and the other villagers. The small boats they had escaped on could serve as fishing vessels. Although the village lacked manpower, their years of experience as fishermen were enough to ensure their survival.
People like them in this world always possessed such powerful vitality. Even with just a sliver of light, they could survive with tenacity.
"Looks like you guys are doing okay."
Just as he was looking for suitable timber, a sudden voice made his heart jump.
"Who!?"
He gripped the hatchet tight, his clones instantly turning toward the sound.
But in the next moment, the alarm in his eyes turned to joy.
Sitting on a large rock not far away, legs crossed, was a man in a long robe wearing a rooster mask.
Alan could never forget that mask.
"Lord Yuji! You... you're here!?" he cried out in surprise.
"What kind of question is that? Didn't you give me the coordinates to this island?" Yuji chuckled.
"Though I have to hand it to you, finding this place was impressive. This little rock isn't on any of the nearby charts."
"Yeah. Only our village knew about it... Our old island was just north of here. When we went out for deep-sea fishing, we'd sometimes rest here," Alan said softly.
It was true.
An island like this—too small to develop, no resources, no supplies, completely worthless—wouldn't even be recorded by a country like the Nice-Mayer Kingdom. Pirates and Marines had no interest in it, and no normal ship would ever stop here.
Only people like them, fishermen with nothing, would know of its existence.
"I see..." Yuji nodded.
He looked at Alan. "You did a good job with the task I gave you. Helped me out a lot."
He had noticed Alan's pale face.
The reason wasn't hard to guess. To fulfill Yuji's request, Alan had sacrificed a Slice-Clone, letting it die in the explosion of the Nice-Mayer merchant ship.
Plus, he had another clone currently sitting in Impel Down.
Although it wasn't the full pain, when a clone died or suffered, the main body felt it.
"No, my contribution was insignificant," Alan shook his head.
His eyes were shining bright. "But you, Lord Yuji... what you did was truly incredible!"
"Hm?" Yuji paused. "You know what I did?"
"Yes!" Alan nodded vigorously. "On the way here with Grandpa and the others, I left a clone on two different islands we passed."
He scratched his head. "I originally did it just to have an early warning system in case anyone came after us. But by chance... I heard about what you did..."
His expression was one of pure excitement.
After everything he'd been through, he hated the Nice-Mayer Kingdom, the Marines, and the World Government to his core.
Learning that Yuji had robbed the Nice-Mayer Kingdom's Celestial Tribute filled him with joy.
And after seeing the front-page news, he realized he had underestimated Yuji.
He wasn't just a "strong fighter." He was a top-tier powerhouse capable of easily defeating a Marine Commodore. Alan had seen the photos in the paper—the four destroyed bases and the Araheet Forest, its landscape completely altered—and been left speechless.
"I see." Yuji nodded.
Under the mask, Roy was impressed again. This kid, Alan... he's smart and cautious.
"By the way, my lord... why did you come here?" Alan asked curiously.
"Nothing much. Just wanted to check on you guys, and..."
Yuji pointed at the ground near his feet.
Only then did Alan notice several large bundles sitting in the shadow of the rock. Because their color blended in with the stone, and he had been so surprised, he hadn't seen them.
"Food, water, tools, medical supplies, and some survival essentials."
Yuji chuckled. "I figured you could use them."
Alan was stunned. Then, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"Thank you, Lord Yuji... I... I don't know how to thank you."
Yuji waved his hand dismissively. Even big, childish pirates like Big Mom knew there was "honor among thieves." Roy was the same.
Besides, after the last incident, he felt he understood Alan's character. He was trustworthy.
But just then...
"Um... Lord Yuji..."
Alan stammered, looking hesitant.
Then, he gritted his teeth. "My lord... can... can you stay here for a while?"
"...Hm?" Yuji looked at him, puzzled.
Alan let it all out in a rush. "If possible... I... I want to join the Zodiac too!"
"I know I'm not qualified yet because I'm weak... so I want to get stronger!"
"I'll do anything to get stronger!"
In his eyes, there was a determination and resolve that shouldn't belong to someone his age.
Yuji looked into his eyes and understood. "Because of your sister?"
He hadn't forgotten 'Koli,' the girl bought by a Celestial Dragon.
"Yes!" Alan nodded firmly, clenching his fists.
"I've already asked Uncle Mandy to take care of Grandpa. He's a good man... I have to go to the Sabaody Archipelago and find out where Koli is."
"But... I'm too weak."
His nails dug into his palms.
Even with a Devil Fruit, he was too weak. He knew that with his current strength, saving his sister was impossible.
So he wanted to become strong, at any cost.
"I thought so."
Yuji wasn't surprised.
Under the mask, Roy thought it over.
It actually worked out.
Alan was trustworthy, and as a Slice-Slice Fruit user, he had potential.
Roy, being a Marine himself, knew that the hunt for 'Yuji' was currently at a fever pitch.
Even without Alan's request, he had planned to have Yuji lay low for a while. Although it was just a clone, losing it meant losing the fruit ability invested in it.
This island was perfect for hiding.
And most importantly...
"The Human Auction House at Sabaody... sounds like a place with a lot of money."
Thinking this, Roy made his decision.
"I can stay here and train you."
"As for joining the organization... if you become strong enough, I can put in an application for you."
"But..."
He looked at Alan, his tone serious and measuring.
"Are you sure? I'm a wanted criminal. Siding with me means making an enemy of the world."
Hearing this, Alan smiled.
"About that... I actually already asked everyone."
He gripped his hatchet tighter.
He couldn't forget that night they left Master Port. The sound of the slaves weeping on the small boats.
He couldn't forget the stories the villagers told of the inhuman abuse they suffered as slaves.
The pain of losing family, limbs broken, the smell of blood, the cries of the girls...
They couldn't forget any of it. They wouldn't forget.
"We are just ordinary people. On our own, we don't have the power to change anything, or to take revenge."
He looked at Yuji.
"But Lord Yuji... everyone is willing to believe in you. If you plan to make an enemy of the world... please, take us with you!"