The boys returned back to the mountain at a very late evening, bringing along the stuff that Luffy was supposed to buy that morning along with the grains that Dadan wanted. They didn't get nagged by her, and they managed to enjoy a sumptuous dinner as usual while telling the others of Luffy's supposed friendship with a pirate crew, causing Dadan to nervously wonder if Garp would nag at her for letting his dear grandson being friendly with a pirate crew.
'A pirate crew? Of all people, this brat has to cozy up to pirates! Garp's gonna kill me!' She thought as she broke into a cold sweat.
In the end, she still gave them a half-ass lecture of how they should not get too close with the pirates. Even though she knew that she could not actually prevent them from doing whatever they pleased, at least she tried.
The next morning, Luffy announced his desire to see his new friends again.
"You just met them yesterday, Luffy," Ace said, frowning as he carefully folded his blanket. "You cannot simply be that friendly with people you just met, especially pirates. If the old man finds out, he might throw you into the ocean or have his stupid monkeys chase after you again. You know how much he dislikes pirates, do you not?"
"But they are good pirates!" Luffy protested, puffing out his chest as if that alone settled the matter.
"And how would you even know that?" Ace asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"They are funny!" Luffy said enthusiastically, a grin spreading across his face. "And they told me all sorts of amazing stories about the Grand Line!"
At the mention of the Grand Line, Ace froze for a moment, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "The Grand Line? Are you saying they have been there?"
"Yep!" Luffy nodded vigorously, his excitement barely contained.
"Is that not where Naru plans to go next year?" Sabo chimed in, already done folding his own blanket and sitting cross-legged on the floor. "I heard it is where the strongest people in the world are. Those pirates must be very strong if they came from there, right?"
Ace thought back to the people he met yesterday. He did not pay much attention to them, but he did notice the drunk redhead and some of the people that sat closer to him. Like that blonde man, the fat man, and a serious-looking long-haired man.
'They did not appear particularly strong,' he thought dismissively. Yet a part of him hesitated. If there was one lesson Naru had drilled into him, it was that appearances could be deceptive.
"Fine," Ace said finally, his voice reluctant yet firm. "But Sabo and I are coming with you."
"Yay!" Luffy shouted, throwing his fists in the air in celebration.
Of course, planning to descend the mountain did not mean they could leave immediately. After informing Dadan of their intentions, they spent the morning helping with chores. From cleaning up after breakfast to gathering firewood, they worked diligently. Dadan, gruff as ever, handed them a small pouch of coins before waving them off with her usual scowl.
"Don't come crying to me if you get into trouble," she barked, though there was a trace of concern hidden beneath her gruffness. "And you'd better be back before sunset, or you'll regret it!"
"Yes, ma'am!" the trio chorused before bolting out the door, leaving only the fading echoes of Dadan's muttering about brats and Garp's impossible family behind them.
Just like the previous day, the bar was already filled with the same pirates. Today, it was even louder.
Luffy eagerly led his brothers inside. When he spotted Shanks and a couple of his companions at the round table, he raised his hand as high as possible and waved enthusiastically.
"Shanks! We are here!"
The red-haired pirate captain turned, a broad grin spreading across his face. "Oh? Look who has decided to visit us again!"
"Aren't they brave? We didn't have children being happy to see us before." Yasopp said, though he was not actually complaining. Despite having just met Luffy and his brothers yesterday, he felt a genuine fondness for them, especially Luffy, who reminded him so much of the son he had left behind.
Luffy bounded to the empty seat beside Shanks as if it were his rightful place. Ace followed at a slower pace, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if expecting trouble. Sabo brought up the rear, greeting the pirates with a polite nod before sliding into the seat beside his brothers.
"Fancy seeing you again, Luffy," Lucky Roux greeted, his cheerful demeanor matching the ever-present grin on his face. "What brings you here today?"
"I want to hear more of your adventures!" Luffy declared, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I heard you are from the Grand Line," Ace said, deciding to speak up.
Shanks looked at Ace. He ignored the same vague feeling he felt yesterday, and replied, "Well, you could say that."
Ace immediately fired several questions at once. "What is it like? The Grand Line. Is it as dangerous as people say? Are the pirates there stronger than the ones here? How do you get there? How do you survive?"
Shanks raised an eyebrow, a chuckle rumbling in his throat.
"Woah there, kid. Slow down. That's a lot of questions." He leaned back in his chair, his fingers brushing the rim of his mug. "Why the sudden interest? Planning to head there someday?"
Before Ace could respond, Luffy chimed in with his usual bluntness. "Our big sister is going there next year!"
Shanks tilted his head, intrigued. "Big sister, huh? Sounds interesting. What's she like?"
"She's strong!" Luffy said proudly, puffing out his chest. "As strong as Grandpa!"
Shanks and his crew exchanged amused glances. Yasopp let out a low whistle. "That is a bold claim. Strong as your Grandpa, huh? If that is true, your sister must be extraordinary."
At first, Ace remained emotionally distant, not as easily charmed as Luffy or Sabo. Yet as the conversation flowed, he found himself gradually drawn in. Shanks and his crew were nothing like the stereotypical image of ruthless pirates. Their stories of adventure, wild storms, fierce battles, and even moments of camaraderie were told with such infectious energy that it was impossible not to become captivated.
Hours passed without them realizing it, and the sun was already nearing the horizon when Makino gently reminded them it was time to return. Ace, recalling Dadan's warning, quickly gathered his brothers.
"Come on, let us go. We can hear more next time."
"Bye, everyone! We will see you again soon!" Luffy shouted, waving.
As the trio exited, Shanks turned toward Makino, curiosity finally getting the better of him. "Miss Bartender," he said, his tone casual but probing, "those children, Luffy and his brothers, they are not from the village, are they?"
Makino hesitated, reluctant to reveal much, but considering Shanks' demeanor and the apparent bond the children had with him, she spoke.
"Luffy and his siblings grow up in the mountains. Their relatives take care of them."
"Relatives, huh?" Shanks mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "And this big sister of theirs, Naru, was it? Has she truly been sailing alone since she was ten?"
Cupping her cheek with one hand, Makino answered, "Naru-Chan? I am not certain it was exactly last year, but it is true that she has been leaving the island frequently these days."
What Makino said aligned with what the other villagers knew. The girl never tried to hide her departures or returns. Each time she came back, the villagers would ask about her well-being and the experiences she had, and she always responded with cheerful stories of her adventures.
Moreover, Garp himself often boasted about how remarkable his granddaughter was. Just as with the Dadan Family, the villagers had been subtly convinced by the old marine that Naru was the most capable child on Dawn Island.
He had explained that he had trained her at the mountain, which accounted for the occasional sounds of explosions the villagers sometimes heard. These details only reinforced the perception of her extraordinary abilities in the villagers' minds.
After Makino disappeared into the kitchen, Shanks turned to his crew.
"Ben," he said, glancing at his first mate, "what do you think?"
Beckman exhaled a plume of smoke, eyes thoughtful. "I don't think those children are as ordinary as they appear to be."
Yasopp added, "Do you think they are related to Garp?"
"I have never heard of Garp having a family of his own," Shanks replied. "But if they truly are his grandchildren, do you think they will report us to the marines?"
"That is a possibility we cannot ignore, captain," Beckman said, grinning but showing no worry that some children might be snitching on them.
Shanks shared a similar carefree attitude, letting out a laugh. "Then we should be ready to leave quickly if that happens!"
Bwahahaha!
Shanks chuckled softly, yet his mind wandered. His eyes lingered on the door through which the trio had exited. For a moment, his expression grew distant.
Ace.
There was something about the boy that intrigued him. He had not been able to place it yesterday, but today, after observing him more closely, the feeling was clearer.
As Shanks glanced at the setting sun through the doorway, a figure appeared briefly in his line of sight. It was fleeting, almost ghostlike, showing only a broad back and the unmistakable red coat. His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened in surprise.
Yet as quickly as it appeared, the figure vanished, leaving only the fading light behind.
Shanks blinked, then let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he took a swig of his beer.
.
.
.
Well, contrary to the possibility that the children might report the pirates to the marines, Luffy and his brothers, who had already formed some sort of friendship with the Red Hair Pirates, did not even consider calling their grandfather to inform him about this minor matter.
After observing the pirates for several days and confirming that they were the 'non-troublesome' type who only stopped by the island to restock their supplies, repair their ship, and indulge in drinking every day, Ace gradually let down his guard. He, much like Luffy, began to look forward to seeing the pirates and listening to their extraordinary adventures. As for Sabo, he simply followed wherever the other two went, quietly keeping pace and sharing in their excitement.
Since that time, the brothers had been visiting the bar quite often, making the most of every opportunity to hear the tales of the Red Hair Pirates.
From what Shanks and his crew observed, the three brothers were inseparable, moving together as a single unit, their bonds unshakable and clear to anyone who looked closely.
"We will be leaving the island tomorrow," Shanks suddenly announced after several days spent in Foosha Village, his voice carrying a mixture of authority and casual cheer.
Luffy's eyes immediately brightened, and he leapt to his feet, full of excitement. "Shanks, take me with you! I want to set sail too!"
Ace and Sabo shared a similar desire to follow the crew, yet unlike the still-childish Luffy, they managed to temper their eagerness, restraining themselves for the time being. Ace, in particular, had not forgotten the bet they had made with their big sister, Naru. He nudged Luffy gently, reminding him of the consequences.
Luffy's face fell, the usual spark of enthusiasm fading as he recalled the terms of the bet. The light in his eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by a fleeting expression of disappointment.
Observing the crestfallen face of the usually cheerful boy, Shanks became curious about the nature of the bet the children had made with their sister. He turned to Sabo and asked for clarification.
"Oh, that bet?" Sabo explained calmly, though a small smile played on his lips. "Last year, Naru promised them that if they could defeat her before she departs for the Grand Line next year, then she would allow them to embark on their own adventures just like her. However, if they fail, they must remain on this island until they reach their seventeenth birthday before they can leave."
Luffy's jaw tightened slightly, but his spirits remained resilient. Seeing this, Shanks could not help but chuckle heartily. "Bwahahaha! No need to worry, Luffy. We don't plan to leave the East Blue anytime soon, so we will likely return to the island now and then, just to keep you on your toes and make sure you are not getting into too much trouble."
"Promise?"
"I promise you!"