The sun dipped low toward the horizon, painting the vast sea in shades of golden crimson and deep violet. Off the coast of the Goa Kingdom in the East Blue, the peaceful Foosha Village looked like a secluded paradise. The villagers had just finished their long day of labor, and thin trails of smoke curled lazily from the chimneys of their small, cozy homes. However, this tranquility was shattered when a tiny black speck appeared on the distant horizon, growing larger with every passing second.
The speck rapidly transformed into a massive, three-masted sailboat that exuded a wild and ominous Ki. The ship's figurehead was carved into the shape of a hideous red dragon, its wooden jaws frozen in a silent roar. The black sails were completely blank, bearing no symbols, but the rugged design and the rows of heavy cannons along the sides made its purpose clear. To any witness, the imposing figures standing on the deck confirmed the truth—this was a pirate ship.
"Pi—Pirates! It's a pirate ship!" a fisherman screamed from the dock, his voice cracking with terror.
Panic swept through the small village like a sudden plague. The frantic ringing of bells echoed through the streets as women and children rushed to their homes, slamming doors and barricading windows. The men grabbed whatever they could find—fishing spears, pitchforks, and a few rusted old muskets—and gathered around the Village Chief. Their faces were pale, and their hands trembled as they watched the behemoth approach. In the East Blue, known as the Weakest Sea, a vessel of this size possessed enough presence to plunge an entire community into despair.
"We're finished... it's a massive crew," one man whispered, his eyes wide.
"They look so fierce," another added, gripping his spear tighter. "Where are the Marines? Isn't there a base nearby?"
A heavy atmosphere of hopelessness hung in the air. However, the Red Force did not crash into the dock. Instead, the pirates dropped anchor a safe distance from the shore. Within minutes, several small boats were lowered into the water, carrying a dozen men toward the bank.
The villagers felt their hearts leap into their throats. They studied the men in the boats—some were burly with scarred, menacing faces; others wore strange hats and had sharp, calculating eyes. Some held long muskets with playful, mocking smiles on their lips. In the lead sat a red-haired man who, despite his relaxed grin, felt incredibly dangerous to the onlookers. They were undoubtedly a group of seasoned, vicious pirates.
Yet, as the small boats drew closer, the villagers noticed a black-haired youth standing among the pirates who looked completely out of place. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and his expression was lazy, as if he found the entire world boring. But when his ruby-red pupils swept over the crowd, everyone who met his gaze felt a sudden, bone-chilling cold. It felt as though their very Souls were being weighed by a prehistoric beast.
"That guy... he feels terrifying," a villager muttered, his voice shaking.
Red-Haired Shanks was the first to leap from the boat and step onto the wooden dock. He looked at the terrified villagers, who stood ready for a fight they couldn't possibly win. His cynical smile softened. He raised his sole remaining arm to show he wasn't holding a weapon and spoke in a loud, clear voice.
"Hey, everyone, don't be nervous! We're just passing through and need to resupply our fresh water and food. We won't cause any trouble!"
His voice was booming and carried a strange, reassuring sincerity. Despite his words, the villagers didn't lower their guard. They gripped their weapons even tighter, eyes darting between the pirates.
Just then, the black-haired youth—Takuro—walked slowly onto the dock. He didn't even look at the nervous crowd. Instead, he wrinkled his nose and sniffed the air, looking unimpressed.
"Tch, this place... the energy is pitifully sparse," he muttered. His scarlet eyes scanned the villagers like they were insignificant ants.
The people he looked at felt a chill shoot from their feet to the tops of their heads. The pressure was so intense that some nearly collapsed. To the villagers, this boy was a far more dangerous presence than the rest of the pirates combined.
Seeing the reaction, Shanks gave a helpless smile and whispered to his companion, "Hey, Takuro, tone it down a bit. Don't scare the poor people."
Takuro pouted and looked away, but he suppressed his Ki, and the invisible weight pressing down on the village seemed to lighten.
Shanks turned back to the crowd and pulled a bulging leather bag from his coat. He tossed it directly to the elderly Village Chief, who caught it with trembling hands.
"Old Sir, that's payment for the food and water. I've included double the market price. We only want to pack our supplies and head back out to sea. I promise we won't bother any of you."
The Village Chief opened the bag, gasping when he saw it was filled to the brim with glittering Berries. The surrounding villagers were stunned. They had never encountered "reasonable" pirates before. Not only were these men refraining from robbery, but they were actually paying extra?
As the villagers stood in confused silence, a high-pitched, childish voice suddenly broke the tension.
"Wow! What a cool ship! Are you guys real pirates?!"
A small boy had ducked through the crowd and run right to the front. His eyes were wide with wonder as he stared at the Red Force and the pirate crew. He showed absolutely no fear; he was only filled with excitement.
"Luffy! Get back here right now!" someone shouted in a panic.
Shanks looked down at the audacious little brat. He paused for a second, then burst into a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! Hey kid, aren't you scared of us?"
"Nope!" Luffy replied, puffing out his chest. "You guys look really strong! Are you stronger than my grandpa?"
The boy's innocent question did what no amount of money could—it broke the tension. A few villagers laughed nervously. They looked at Luffy's pure excitement and then at the pirates who hadn't made a single aggressive move. Slowly, the villagers began to relax their grip on their spears.
Shanks crouched down so he was eye-level with the boy. He reached out and gently adjusted Luffy's Straw Hat with a grin. "Oh? Is your grandpa that tough? Well, we aren't here to fight today. We're just Adventurers looking for freedom and a bit of Treasure Trove!"
"Freedom! A Treasure Trove!" Luffy's eyes sparkled like diamonds.
Takuro watched the interaction from the sidelines, looking bored. His stomach growled, and his attention shifted to a faint, delicious scent drifting through the air. He spotted a tavern nearby with a sign that read "PARTYS BAR" and began walking toward it without saying a word.
The villagers watched him go, their hearts racing again, but no one was brave enough to stand in his way.
Shanks noticed the movement and waved to the crowd. "It looks like my friend is hungry. Don't worry, he's just going to grab a bite, and we'll pay for everything." He gestured for his crew to wait by the boats and followed Takuro.
Inside the bar, a young woman named Makino was peering nervously through a crack in the window. When the door swung open and Takuro stepped inside, she jumped back in fright.
Takuro glanced around the quiet tavern. His eyes immediately locked onto the barrels and the food stored behind the counter. "Food and drink. Bring out the best stuff you have," he said shortly. He sat down at a table, completely ignoring how nervous Makino was.
Shanks stepped in right behind him and gave the barmaid a warm, apologetic smile. "I'm sorry if he startled you. My friend here is a bit impatient when he's hungry. If you could bring us some food and a round of beer, we'd appreciate it." He reached into his pocket and placed several gold coins on the wooden counter. "This should cover it."
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