Chapter 2: The Pirate Hunter Joins the Crew
The next day at noon, Luffy and Sol lay sprawled on top of the Marine base wall, peering down at the distant figure tied to a cross. Luffy pulled his straw hat low, squinting at the green-haired swordsman bound there. "Green hair, black bandana… But where are his swords? Isn't he supposed to be a three-sword style guy?"
Sol smacked the back of Luffy's head. "Idiot! He's tied up like a Jesus cosplay—the Marines obviously confiscated his blades ages ago!"
The day before, while stuffing their faces at the tavern, they'd overheard the locals whispering drunkenly: "Heard that 'Pirate Hunter' hasn't had water in nine days…" "Young Master Helmeppo's serious this time…"
Luffy had paused mid-bite of roast meat, ears perked up. Sol swirled his drink, listening thoughtfully.
Turns out, after arriving in Shells Town, Zoro had saved a girl named Rika from being bullied by Helmeppo—Captain "Axe-Hand" Morgan's spoiled son—and killed Helmeppo's pet wolf in the process. He was arrested, tied up in the base's execution ground, denied food and water. Helmeppo had originally promised to free him if he survived a full month without anything, but word was he was reneging and planning to execute Zoro in three days.
Luffy slammed the table so hard the plates jumped. "Decided! He's joining our crew!"
Under the blazing sun, Zoro lifted his head slightly, cracked lips moving. "…Another idiot here to mock a dying man?"
Luffy grinned wide. "Hey, Three-Sword Style! Come be my crewmate!"
Zoro fell silent at the blunt invitation. Then a ladder appeared beside him. Rika ran up with a small box of rice balls, reaching out to offer one to Zoro.
"Hey, hey, what's this touching drama scene?" Helmeppo appeared with a squad of Marines, snatching the rice ball and taking a dramatic bite before spitting it out. "Ptooey! Way too sweet!" He sneered, smashing the onigiri into the dirt and grinding it under his shiny boot. "Trash like you only deserves garbage!"
The trembling soldiers picked up the crying Rika. Under Helmeppo's cold glare, they reluctantly tossed her over the wall—
She screamed as she fell, but Sol caught her steadily and set her down. "Go home, kid. We've got the rest."
Before leaving, Helmeppo leaned close to Zoro's ear, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear: "Make sure you enjoy that full month, huh?" He emphasized the words mockingly, then laughed and strutted off.
Luffy and Sol jumped down from the wall, landing in front of Zoro. Zoro raised his tired eyes, voice hoarse but firm: "Hey, Straw Hat… Pick up that rice ball for me."
"Huh? But it's all sandy and smashed—" Luffy pinched the ruined onigiri, wrinkling his nose.
"Shut up!" Zoro lunged forward, nearly toppling the cross. "Just shove it in my mouth!"
Luffy blinked, then grinned. "Can't say no to that!" He stuffed the dirty rice ball straight into Zoro's mouth.
Zoro chewed fiercely, sand crunching between his teeth, but a satisfied look crossed his face. "…Tell that little girl this is the best rice ball in the world." He closed his eyes, savoring it.
"Got it! Leave it to me!" Luffy thumped his chest excitedly, then dashed behind the cross. "I'll get you down right now—"
"Wait! What are you—?! Ow ow ow—!" Zoro thrashed violently, veins bulging on his forehead. "You bastard, you're tightening the ropes! Trying to kill me?!"
Luffy had been yanking the ropes with brute force, only embedding them deeper into Zoro's arms. Zoro gritted his teeth. "…Just find a sword and cut them, damn it!"
Luffy let go with a sheepish laugh. "Oops. What now, Sol?"
Sol facepalmed. "Great, sacrificing a crewmate on day two of sailing." He stepped forward, flames igniting in his hand as he burned through the ropes cleanly. Zoro's eyes widened slightly. "What kind of power is that? Flames from your hands—Devil Fruit user?"
Sol met Zoro's gaze directly. "Listen, you've been played. That bratty young master never planned to honor the deal—in three days, they execute you."
He jerked a thumb toward the base. "Either rot here waiting to die, or… come sail with us as a pirate."
Zoro was quiet for a moment, then let out a dry laugh. "So you two came all this way just to recruit me?" His sharp eyes flicked between them. "Who's the captain?"
Luffy pressed his hat down, flashing his signature bright grin. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy—the man who's gonna become King of the Pirates!"
Sol tucked a hand in his pocket, cracking his neck. "Atrias Sol Dragnir. Vice-captain."
Zoro glanced at the grinning idiot Luffy, then at Sol's mature, short pinkish-red hair. "How come you're only vice-captain?"
Luffy shoved his face right up to Zoro's. "Got a problem with that, Zoro?"
"Hah… Nah." Zoro twisted his wrists, now raw and bleeding from the ropes. "So with me, it's just three people? Pretty pathetic pirate crew."
Luffy laughed it off. "Who cares! We'll get more crewmates!"
Zoro closed his eyes. Visions of Kuina flashed through his mind—the unfulfilled promise. When he opened them again, his gaze was razor-sharp. "…You're right. I still have a dream I have to chase. Dying pathetically here is worse than going out to sea as a pirate with you guys!"
Luffy suddenly beamed. "Hold on!" He rocketed off like a cannonball, rubber arms stretching to grab a distant building and vanishing in a blur.
Zoro stared. "Hey! Where the hell are you—?"
Less than thirty seconds later, Luffy came charging back, arms full of three samurai swords. "Ta-da~! There were three swords here, but I didn't know which was yours, so I grabbed 'em all! Hehe!"
Zoro stared at his beloved blades, lost for words. "…You didn't just…"
Before Luffy could answer, a massive group of Marines stormed up behind them. Leading was "Axe-Hand" Morgan, furious at the sight of the three. "How dare you break into a Marine base and smash my statue! Unforgivable!"
"Open fire! Wipe them out!" Morgan barked. The soldiers raised their guns in unison.
Bang bang bang—!
Muzzles flashed. Zoro instinctively reached for his swords. "Watch out—!"
But Luffy leaped in front, blocking them both. Bullets thudded into his body, only to bounce off like rubber and ricochet back into the Marine ranks. Soldiers screamed and toppled, clutching wounds.
"M-Monster! Bullets don't work on him!"
Morgan roared in rage. "Scatter! If guns are useless, charge with swords and cut them down!"