The sea slid quietly beneath them as the cloud drifted forward, low and steady.
Luffy sat relaxed on his plush cloud-chair, one leg crossed over the other, a glass of whiskey balanced loosely in his hand. The wind tugged lightly at his coat while the horizon slowly swallowed the sky ahead.
Zoro lay sprawled on another section of the cloud, arms crossed behind his head, eyes half-closed. Nami sat near the edge, legs tucked beneath her, watching the sea with sharp, calculating eyes.
Buggy's bounty had already been cashed.
The money had been split cleanly.
Eight million beli to Zoro, earned blade-to-blade against Cabaji.
Eight million to Nami, for taking down Mohji and neutralizing the lion.
Fifteen million to Luffy, for Buggy himself.
Half of Buggy's stolen treasure had gone straight back to Orange Town.
The other half now sat safely stored — and closely monitored.
They were ten kilometers from Gecko Island's northern coast, moving at a calm, controlled pace.
Zoro broke the silence.
"Remind me again why we're coming here."
Luffy didn't look away from the sky.
"For a sniper."
Nami blinked.
"…That's it?"
Luffy sighed, taking a small sip of whiskey.
"Hopefully a sniper."
Zoro opened one eye. "Hopefully?"
"I don't know if he wants to leave," Luffy said. "And I don't know if he even wants to be a pirate."
Nami leaned back, unimpressed.
"So we're detouring for a 'maybe'?"
Luffy nodded once.
"A sniper like his father would be worth it."
That caught Nami's attention.
"His father?"
Luffy's gaze softened slightly.
"A damn good man."
He took another sip, then added casually, "And we need a ship."
Nami frowned, placing a hand against the surface of the cloud.
"Why?" she asked. "This thing is perfect."
Luffy finally turned to her, expression flat.
"Because you're not the one burning energy to keep it stable."
Nami immediately looked away.
They descended soon after, boots crunching softly against sand as they stepped onto Gecko Island's shore.
Luffy stopped.
His posture shifted.
"Four," he said quietly.
Zoro's hand slid to his sword.
Nami's fingers twitched near her collapsible staff.
"They're watching us."
The air shifted.
Something small whistled toward them.
Luffy moved first.
He shoved Zoro and Nami aside as the projectile passed straight through his torso, harmlessly dispersing as he reformed.
From above, a voice rang out.
"I am Usopp!"
A teenage boy stood atop a rocky slope, arms crossed, chin lifted proudly.
"Leader of the undefeated pirate nation that rules this island!"
"You stand before a living legend!"
"I am the great Captain Usopp!"
Zoro stared.
Nami blinked.
Luffy smiled.
Usopp was thin and tan, with messy black hair tied beneath a green bandanna. His nose was long — comically so — and his overalls hung loosely over a bare chest. A yellow satchel rested at his side.
"Eight million elite pirates stand ready to crush you!" Usopp declared.
Flags shot up from the bushes.
Luffy tilted his head.
"…Did you mean three children?"
Usopp's knees locked.
Sweat poured down his face.
From the bushes, three kids screamed and bolted downhill.
"HEY— WAIT!" Usopp shouted after them.
Luffy laughed.
"You've got spirit," he said. "I'll give you that."
Nami picked something up from the sand.
"A slingshot?" she said dryly. "Seriously?"
Usopp bristled, yanking out a green slingshot and snapping it into firing position.
"Mock me again and I'll shut you up permanently!"
Luffy adjusted his straw hat, shadow falling across his eyes.
"You pointed a weapon," he said calmly.
"Are you prepared to use it?"
Usopp swallowed.
"Guns aren't for threats," Luffy continued. "They're for action."
Luffy drew his own pistol.
"…I am."
Usopp shook — but didn't lower his slingshot.
The shot came fast.
A flash of light.
Usopp's ammunition shattered mid-air.
Silence.
Usopp dropped to his knees, staring.
"…Amazing."
Luffy holstered his gun.
"Your father taught me that."
Usopp froze.
"…You knew my dad?"
Luffy nodded.
"Let's eat," he said. "I'll tell you."
---
The restaurant, Meshi, was quiet.
As food arrived, Luffy spoke — of sailing, of laughter, of a sniper who never missed and never ran.
Usopp listened with wide eyes, pride and longing battling fear in his chest.
When the plates emptied, Usopp stood suddenly.
"I've decided!"
Everyone looked up.
"I'll go to sea one day," he declared. "And become a brave warrior!"
Luffy grinned.
"Perfect timing," he said. "I'm recruiting a sniper."
Usopp froze.
"…I need time."
"That's fine," Luffy replied easily.
Before Usopp left, Luffy added, "Know anywhere we can buy a ship?"
Usopp pointed uphill.
"Kaya's mansion."
Nami's eyes gleamed.
They stood.
And together, they headed for the hill.