As long as he found the right moment, escape wasn't impossible.
"Right now, the most important thing is recovering stamina."
Luffy closed his eyes and steadied his breathing.
He needed to regain his strength as quickly as possible—
And then find a way out.
Outside the woodshed, Higuma was drinking with his men in celebration.
"Boss, we really struck gold this time!" one of them said flatteringly.
"That kid's definitely not ordinary."
"No kidding. Ordinary people don't eat Devil Fruits," another added.
Higuma took a swig of liquor and grinned smugly.
"That brat's got potential."
"He's still green, but with proper training, he'll become our hideout's trump card."
"When that happens, who in the entire East Blue would dare mess with us?"
"Boss is wise!"
His men showered him with praise.
Higuma soaked it in, already fantasizing about a glorious future.
But at that moment, a bandit rushed in, panic written all over his face.
"Boss! Bad news!"
"What is it?" Higuma frowned.
"There's… there's a ship outside!"
"A ship? What ship?"
"A pirate ship!"
The man's face was pale.
"It's flying a skull flag—with red hair on it!"
The cup slipped from Higuma's hand.
It shattered on the floor, liquor splashing everywhere.
"Red Hair… Shanks?"
His voice trembled.
He grabbed the messenger by the collar.
"Say that again."
"It's the Red-Haired Pirates! They've docked!"
The entire hideout erupted into chaos.
"Red-Haired Shanks? Didn't he leave?"
"Why is he back?"
"Is it because of that kid?"
"We're doomed! That's a pirate with a bounty over a hundred million!"
Some bandits were already shaking in fear.
Higuma let go of the man and stumbled back into his chair.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
Red-Haired Shanks…
Why would that man come back?
Was it really for that brat?
His mind raced through everything that had happened at the bar.
The look in Luffy's eyes when he mentioned Shanks…
Shanks' attitude toward this village…
And the rumor that Shanks once lost an arm saving a kid…
"Damn it!"
Higuma slammed the table and stood up.
"That brat is connected to Shanks!"
It all made sense now.
Why could a village kid be so strong?
Why did he dare to act so fearlessly?
He had the Red-Haired Pirates backing him.
"Boss, what do we do?" one of the men asked shakily.
"There are dozens of them. All elites. We can't win!"
"Shut up!"
Higuma roared.
He forced himself to calm down and think.
Fighting head-on was suicide.
Shanks' bounty alone proved he was far beyond a mere mountain bandit.
Run?
Where? They were deep in the mountains. If the pirates had landed, the exits were probably already blocked.
And with that kid, they couldn't move fast.
Higuma's eyes flickered.
Then he had an idea.
"Bring the brat here."
Soon, Luffy was dragged in by two bandits.