The small cruiser splashed into the dark ocean waves, its canvas sail snapping violently in the cold night breeze. Thick fog blanketed the horizon, swallowing the sea in a wall of milky white.
"Are we there yet?" Luffy asked, leaning over the gunwale beside Nami. Nami ignored him, her hands firmly gripping the oars as she pulled against the tide. As another wave sprayed cold salt water across her face, her eyes caught a faint glow cutting through the haze—a powerful beam of light sweeping rhythmically from left to right.
"We're close," she whispered. As their small boat glided into the dense fog bank, the brilliant beam pierced through the gloom, illuminating the mist until the entire sky glowed like dawn.
"Is it morning already?" Luffy blinked, sweeping his eyes across the bright white void.
"Of course not, you idiot! That's a lighthouse!" Nami shouted, steering the vessel deeper into the illuminated fog. Millions of floating water droplets reflected the glare, bathing the sea in an artificial daytime. Suddenly, a heavy, rhythmic creaking echoed through the haze, followed by the deep groan of grinding timber.
"G-GHOST SHIP!" Luffy gasped, his knees trembling violently. He whipped around toward the stern. "HEY, ZORO! HELP US! THERE'S A GHOST SHIP!"
"There's no such thing as a ghost ship, you idiot!" Zoro's voice echoes at the back. Before they could argue further, a massive, towering shadow loomed directly overhead. The sea parted with a heavy surge as the colossal wooden hull glided silently past their tiny cruiser, blotting out the sky.
"GYAAAAH! IT REALLY IS A GHOST SHIP!" Luffy shrieked, diving behind Nami and grabbing her shoulders. "ORANGE GIRL, SAVE ME!"
"GET OFF ME, YOU STINKY IDIOT!" Nami screamed, shoving his face away with both hands.
Out on the narrow deck, Zoro didn't even flinch. He continued his steady, rhythmic sword swings, the steel cutting through the illuminated mist. As the giant shadow passed over him, he paused for a brief second, glancing up at the faint silhouettes of crewmen moving along the high railings. A sharp smirk touched his lips before he returned to his training, the swoosh of his blade resuming without missing a beat.
Moments later, the cruiser broke through the thick wall of fog and back into the open, dark sea. Luffy's jaw dropped. A few miles ahead, a vibrant, sprawling harbor city burst into view. It wasn't an ordinary settlement—its massive docks were packed with dozens of ships of every shape and size, their masts forming a dense wooden forest over the water. The island rose steeply into a towering stone plateau, stacked high with rows of glowing houses and bustling workshops. Perched atop the island's highest peak sat a grand, isolated mansion overlooking the bay, while on the jagged cliffside, the colossal stone lighthouse continued its slow, vigilant sweep across the ocean.
"WOAH! AN ISLAND!" Luffy cheered, jumping up and down on the floorboards and clapping his hands in the air. Nami adjusted the tiller, her eyes scanning the massive shipyards with sharp calculation. "We have to dock here to restock before the next stretch," she said, her voice trailing off for a moment. Her hand tightened on the wooden wheel. "Because after this... lie the Aurora Islands."
Quickly shaking off her tension, she turned around, a brilliant, wide smile stretching across her face. "Alright, boys—let's pull in!"
The small boat glided smoothly into the crowded docks, threading the needle between the towering hulls of merchant galleons and pirate sloops resting on the dark tide. Though the midnight sky was pitch-black and dusted with glittering stars, the shipyard below was roaring with life. The ringing strike of hammers on iron, boisterous laughter from tavern doors, and the rhythmic hum of mechanical saws echoed across the water, carrying the fresh scent of sawdust floating through the cool night air like spores.
One by one, the three embark into the ground, passing through to the working men on the side. Many people also carried barrels and crates of food, and as the three passed through the stacked crates, Luffy stretched his finger and grabbed an apple. Nami quickly saw this as she slapped his hand, which was about to bite her.
"OW! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" as Luffy blows his palm. Nami quickly grabbed the apple and tapped a man who was unloading the creature onto a giant ship.
"Hey, mister! Your apple dropped!"
The man hauled himself around, a bead of sweat breaking from his hairline and rolling into his stubble. His forearms quivered as he gripped the splintered corners of a timber crate. He blinked, his gaze dragging down to the polished red fruit resting in Nami's palm.
"Huh? Mine?" A low grunt rattled in his chest. "I don't..."
"It bounced right off your shipment stack when you lifted the load!" Nami's voice smoothed into a gentle, melodic lilt. She glided forward, setting the fruit onto the flat top of his crate so his arms wouldn't have to adjust. Her hands hovered near his wrist for a fraction of a second before pulling back. "You're drenched in sweat, Mister! Are they forcing you to haul all these heavy boxes this late?"
The worker's shoulders dropped an inch. His neck relaxed out of its rigid strain.
"Ah... thanks, kid," he exhaled, dragging his forearm across his damp forehead. "No rest for the docks tonight. Word came down from the head office that we need to haul it to Kamago Island!"
Nami tilted her head, her smile remaining wide and guileless while her eyes flicked past his shoulder toward the docks. Isn't Kamago Island one hundred fifty-three miles away from Organ Island? Where is Orange Town? Maybe for relief?
"Kamago Island?" She brought a hand to her lips, letting out a small, hesitant gasp. "Isn't that island peaceful? What happened?"
"Ahh, don't you hear from the newspaper or from the Den Den Radio? Orange Town has turned into this circus freak!" As the man put the creature into a piece of wood connected to a rope, it was being pulled upward into the deck of the ship.
"They say that it was… what's that, Buggy the clown? Yeah, that man. The News also said that he was a pirate, and the Marines investigated the incident, but had not yet found him or his first hand! But they found the crew's third hand; they said he was buried in the concrete, already dead." The three jolted. Zoro's eyes widened as he began to look around, darting his eyes to people who passed by him and darting more from the people who looked at him.
Did they know we're there? Zoro taught. Meanwhile, Nami's composure changes. His composed leg began to tremble, but she tried to hide it and maintain her facade.
"They said that the people are evacuated from Kamago Island! They say they stole a ship and fought off pirates!" The man laughs, tapping his leg. "That shit won't happen here, I told ya! This island is full to the brim with police! Mayor Lakter also hates criminals!"`
Nami gave an earnest, admiring nod, her eyes wide with innocent wonder. "You know so much about how the harbor works, mister. Please be careful out there!"
"Will do, miss," he grunted, adjusting his grip on the crate and turning back toward the gangplank with his chest puffed out, whistling a tune under his breath. The moment his back fully turned, the sweet expression melted off Nami's face like wet paint. Her lips drew back into her normal stoic face. She tossed a heavy silver coin into the night air. It caught the amber light of a dock lantern, spun twice, and slapped back into her open palm—straight from the worker's open pouch.
"There's a police system here, also a city hall… probably affiliated with the Marines," Nami murmured, sliding the coin into her coat lining without looking down. "Not to mention the man's reek of alcohol, maybe a bar is nearby. If there's a bar, there's also a motel," as she passes towards the two, strolling into the wooden docks. "C'mon, let's go," as her head pointed to the high stairway ahead of them, which leads to a higher altitude of the island.
"Wow! Orange hair is smart!" Luffy laughs as he strolls beside her, his arm raised behind his back.
"I know something's up," Zoro whispered, his sharp glare remaining fixed on Nami as they left the docks behind. The trio climbed a steep stone staircase carved directly into the island's cliffside. Halfway up, they paused to look back over the wide, dark ocean; from this height, the massive galleons in the harbor below looked like tiny wooden toys bobbing on a sea of ink. Reaching the top of the stairs, a vibrant, bustling thoroughfare unfolding before them. Warm light bathed the cobblestones from gas-powered streetlamps, while the shops along the avenue were brightly lit by hanging lanterns swaying in the cool sea breeze.
Zoro exhaled a sharp breath through his nose, scanning the brightly lit shopfronts. The festive lanterns swaying in the sea breeze made his jaw tighten just a fraction.
"Look around," Zoro grunted toward Luffy. "No Tents. No clowns. If you see anyone holding a juggling prop, we walk the other way."
Luffy just grinned, his hands locked behind his head. "Aww, but circus food is great!"
"You almost got killed by a clown named Buggy. What's 'great' about that?" Zoro muttered back. As they walked down the main strip, Luffy suddenly froze. His eyes snapped shut, and his nose twitched, sniffing the air like a bloodhound. Tracing the mouthwatering aroma like an invisible thread, he veered off course, marching straight toward a noisy tavern with a swinging wooden sign that read The Quijano Knight.
Luffy shoved the heavy doors wide open, stumbled inside like a tavern regular, and slunk up to the bar counter. He dropped heavily onto a stool without a care in the world, slamming his fist onto the wood.
"HEY! GIVE ME MEAT!" The bartender stopped pouring a mug for a patron beside him, slowly turning to size up the loud rubber boy with a dry sigh. But before the man could answer, a thunderous roar of cheers and laughter echoed from the center of the room, completely stealing the tavern's attention. Perched atop a sturdy wooden table in the middle of the crowded room was a gangly, long-nosed teenager wrapped in a patched cloak, wildly gesturing with his hands. At the bottom of the wide table are three figures wearing cloaks from head to toe. They are standing like statues. A crowd of wide-eyed patrons stood huddled around him, entirely spellbound by his performance and clapping and hollering.
"—And there Nolan was!" the long-nosed boy bellowed, his voice dripping with theatrical drama as he clutched his chest. "Surrounded by an impenetrable wall of black fog! Out of the depths rose the Ghost Galleon of the Abyssal Trench! Not just a ship, but a living island turned into an incomprehensible vessel! Nolan drew his blade to strike, but then… the wide gate to the island groaned open! A giant beast holding two massive scissors lunged forth!"
Usopp's spine twitched as he puffed out his frame, hunching his shoulders to make himself look twice his size. Deepening his voice into a guttural growl, his face contorted into a beastly frown. He tapped his heel twice against the wooden tabletop—a subtle signal the crowd missed completely. Except for Luffy. On cue, one of the cloaked statues at the base of the table dramatically threw back its hood, revealing a young village boy wearing round glasses.
"Behold thee, I for the great Nolan!" the boy declared, pointing a noticeable prop sword straight up at Usopp.
"You dare challenge me, child?! PREPARE FOR MY WRATH!" Usopp stomped forward with heavy, dramatic strides.
The boy charged, thrusting the sword straight into Usopp's stomach. The flexible wooden blade buckled on impact, its painted metal finish cracking to reveal the cheap brown timber beneath. In a flash, Usopp cupped his hand over the bent tip, hiding it inside his fist while squeezing a hidden pouch.
"I-IMPOSSIBLE!" Usopp gasped, falling back onto the table in dramatic slow motion as a splash of bright red liquid dripped down onto the floorboards.
The tavern erupted. Patrons leapt to their feet, cheering wildly as a shower of gold and silver coins rained into a large wooden bowl set beside the remaining two cloaked statues.
Usopp bounced back up unharmed, slapping the kid on the back. Together, they took a grand, sweeping bow before jumping off the table. He scooped up the heavy bowl of coins, marching up to the counter while the applause still echoed behind them.
Usopp stacked a tall tower of gold coins onto the polished wood, sliding them toward the bartender. "Thanks for letting us use the floor, mister!"
"Business good tonight?" the bartender asked with a low chuckle, wiping down a glass with a clean rag.
"Always is!" Usopp grinned, turning on his heel to head for the door.
But before he could take a step, a booming voice cut straight through the noise behind him.
"WOAAAH! A GHOST SHIP!" Luffy gasped, abandoning his stool instantly. He zoomed over to the center of the room, squeezing right through the crowd until he was practically resting his chin on the edge of the table, staring up at the long-nosed storyteller as if he were looking at a god. "THAT IS SO COOL! Do also fight something like that! A clown and uhh… a large guy with an axe in his hand!"
Upon hearing that, Usopp's eyebrow twitched. "So… you're challenging me, huh?"
With a dramatic flourish, he whipped his patched cloak back, letting the fake blood drip off the hem onto the floorboards. On cue, his three small stooges scrambled in front of him, throwing off their hoods with practiced flair. Each kid drew a wooden prop weapon—a bent sword, a tiny shield, and a carved spear—and leveled it straight at Luffy. "We are the Knights of the Great Usopp!" the kids bellowed in unison, striking frozen battle poses. "Beg for mercy if you wish to survive!"
"Hmmm… Ussop?" Luffy scratches his head, looking at the air. "Aha! So you're Yasopp's son!"
Upon hearing the word, Usopp's face froze. He slowly approached Luffy, raising his hand and lowering it slightly in a silent gesture, prompting the three kids to drop their prop weapons in unison. "H-How do you know my dad?!"
"I met him when I was little on Shanks' ship! He always tells these crazy stories about pirate life! He also keeps talking about this Usopp guy whenever he sees me!" Usopp's eyes brimmed with tears, but he quickly wiped them away in a flash, trying to force a confident smirk back onto his face to hide his sudden burst of vulnerability.
"O-Of course he talks about me!" Usopp stammered, his voice cracking slightly before settling into a booming, boastful chest-puff. "I'm his pride and joy! The leader of this village's greatest defense force! Did he... did he tell you about how I defeated a sea king with my bare hands?!"
Luffy tilted his head, picking his nose absentmindedly. "Nope! He just said you were a little crybaby who looked like your mom, but that he missed you a ton every time he looked at the sea."
The three kids behind Usopp gasped, covering their mouths in shock. Usopp turned bright red, clutching his nose as if physically struck.
"H-HE DID NOT SAY THAT!" Usopp yelled, stomping his foot onto the floorboards, though his lower lip trembled. He cleared his throat, dramatically flinging his arm out toward the tavern entrance. "Listen here, straw-hat boy! If you really met my dad, then you know the blood of a great warrior runs in my veins! Walk with me to the shore, and I'll tell you the real stories—the ones he probably was too intimidated to share!"
Luffy's mouth stretched into a massive, toothy grin as he grabbed a meat bone off a nearby plate. "Shishishi! Sure! But you gotta pay for my meat first! Because I don't have any money!" Then, out of nowhere, the tavern doors crashed wide open as Nami barged inside, dripping with sweat and breathing heavily.
"HEY! WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GO?!" she roared, marching straight toward Luffy with heavy, furious stomps. The three kids gasped, their eyes widening at the terrifying aura radiating off her face.
"M-MONSTER!" one of them—a boy with lavender hair— squeaked. Nami snapped her head toward them, her eyes flashing like a sea beast ready to strike. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MONSTER?!"
The three boys released a collective, silent yelp, frantically scrambling to hide behind Usopp's patched cloak. Feeling the entire room fall dead silent, Nami paused and looked around, suddenly noticing every single patron in the tavern staring at them in stunned silence. She cleared her throat, leaning in close. "Let's take this outside," she muttered under her breath. Without another word, the group of six shuffled out the heavy doors and into the open air.
"Hey, Orange-girl, where's Zoro!"
"That's what I am going to ask you!" she turned around. "I thought you were following me!" walking directly in front of Luffy.
Meanwhile, multiple city blocks away from the group, Zoro wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets. His feet carried him through a winding maze of avenues and turnoffs, completely unaware that the crowds were steadily thinning until the lively chatter faded into eerie silence.
"Where the hell did they go?" he muttered, scowling. Before he could take another step, a blood-curdling scream pierced the midnight air. Zoro's neck snapped toward the sound. Straight ahead lay a long, suffocatingly dark alleyway that seemed to stretch into infinity. But what caught his eye wasn't the shadows below—it was above. High on the rooftops, a swift, shadowy figure leaped across the roof tiles like a specter riding the wind, vanishing into the night.
Driven by sharp instincts, the swordsman approached the alleyway. He glanced behind him one last time: normal townsfolk walked aimlessly under lantern light, children played near the cobblestones, and horses trotted past. Turning his back on the quiet street, he stepped into the gloom, his three scabbards scraping lightly against the narrow stone walls. He navigated the claustrophobic corridor until it opened into a wide, secluded courtyard. Halfway down the brick wall, a strange detail caught his eye: a single, razor-thin slash carved deep into the solid stone, its edges faint and discolored. He slowly taps the marked stone, as a faint heat reveals through his fingertips.
A swordsman? Zoro thought, his gaze narrowing as he inspected the mark. No normal blade cuts stone that cleanly. And the heat… He stepped further into the clearing, only to freeze.
Because in front of him, lying on the dirt, is a body—a man to be exact. He was wearing a brown suit. A leather briefcase lay popped open beside him, its legal papers and documents scattered across the ground like falling leaves during autumn.
"A murder?" Zoro murmured, his eyes remaining sharp and analytical. A mugging? Or is there a killer loose in this town? Realizing he had no business meddling in local trouble, Zoro turned on his heel to leave. Expecting the same stone floor and the claustrophobic walls to greet him again, but rather a dark barrel along with a steel snout is what greeted him.
A flintlock aimed straight at his skull. Holding the gun was a man in a dark brown law enforcement uniform, a brass badge gleaming on his chest under the moonlight. The officer's hands trembled violently, his small peaked cap casting a deep shadow over a pale, terrified face. "Do not move, criminal!"