The storm had been a monster of legendary proportions, the kind of tempest that sailors whispered about in taverns—if they survived to tell the tale. Thunder had roared like the voices of angry gods while lightning split the sky into jagged fragments of electric blue. Waves the size of mountains had risen from the churning ocean, each one threatening to swallow their ship whole before crashing down with the force of falling buildings.
The Spade Pirates had fought against nature's fury with everything they had. Jerry had lowered himself into the raging sea on heavy chains, using his water manipulation abilities to try steering them away from the worst of the turbulence. Deuce had shouted navigation orders that were barely audible over the howling wind. Ace had used his fire powers to create signal flares, desperately trying to maintain communication between crew members as the storm tossed them around like toys.
But in the end, human effort meant nothing against the raw power of the New World's weather. The storm had seized their ship like a wild horse grabbing its bit, carrying them far from their intended course toward destinations unknown. One by one, crew members had either passed out from the violent motion or collapsed from exhaustion after the winds finally calmed.
Now, under a peaceful blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds, it was hard to believe they'd survived such a nightmare.
The sound of voices gradually pulled Jerry back to consciousness. His head felt like someone had been using it as a taiko drum, and every muscle in his body ached from hours of fighting against the storm's fury. But he was alive, and from the sound of activity around him, so was the rest of his crew.
"Look at all this food!" someone was shouting nearby. "There's enough here to feed the whole village!"
"Don't push! Everyone will get their share!" another voice called out, this one carrying the authority of someone used to managing groups of people.
Jerry kept his eyes closed and his breathing steady, using his other senses to assess the situation. They were definitely on land—he could feel solid ground beneath the ship and hear the sound of waves lapping against a beach rather than the open ocean. The voices around him spoke Japanese, but with an accent and dialect he didn't immediately recognize.
More importantly, he could sense that most of the speakers were weak—not warriors or fighters, but ordinary people. Probably villagers or farmers based on their conversations about food distribution and their obvious hunger.
Someone was moving around the deck above him, and Jerry felt something soft and furry brush across his face. His nose tickled, and before he could stop himself, he sneezed loudly and sat up, inadvertently snapping the ropes that had been used to tie him down.
"Ah!" a small voice squeaked in surprise.
Jerry opened his eyes to find himself face-to-face with a little girl who couldn't have been more than four years old. She wore a traditional green kimono and had large, expressive eyes that were currently wide with fear. Beside her sat a small white dog that looked like a baby komainu, its tail still wagging from where it had apparently tickled Jerry's face.
"Surrender! I surrender!" the little girl cried out, throwing her tiny hands up in the air. "Please don't hurt anyone! We were just hungry!"
Jerry's heart melted immediately. This tiny person was trying to protect her village from what she thought were dangerous pirates, despite being obviously terrified herself.
"Hey, hey, don't be scared," Jerry said softly, raising his own hands in a peaceful gesture. "I'm not going to hurt you or anyone else. What's your name?"
Before the girl could answer, the rest of the Spade Pirates began stirring. They'd actually been awake for several minutes, Jerry realized, but had been waiting to see how the situation developed. The sound of his voice gave them the all-clear to reveal themselves.
Ropes snapped as the crew members freed themselves and stood up, causing immediate panic among the villagers who had been going through their food stores.
"Pirates!" someone screamed. "They're awake!"
"Please don't hurt us!" an elderly man pleaded. "We were just so hungry—we haven't eaten properly in weeks!"
Jerry looked around, taking in the scene properly for the first time. Their ship had been driven onto a sandy beach, and dozens of villagers were scattered across the deck and nearby shore. All of them looked painfully thin, their clothes worn and patched. These people were clearly suffering from some kind of famine.
"Are you all hungry?" Ace called out, his voice carrying easily over the panicked chatter. Jerry smiled as he watched his captain quickly assess the situation and come to the same conclusion he had. "Then let's help you move all the food out so we can eat together!"
The villagers stared at him in shock, clearly not expecting such a response from a crew of pirates.
"You heard the captain," Jerry said, turning to the little girl with a gentle smile. "Just wait right here for a minute while we get everything organized, okay?"
"O-okay," she stammered, clearly confused but no longer terrified.
What followed was controlled chaos as the Spade Pirates sprang into action. They hauled their entire food supply onto the beach—several days' worth of provisions that they'd restocked after their encounter with the Red Hair Pirates. Sacks of rice, barrels of water, preserved meats, dried fruits, and everything else that had survived the storm.
The villagers watched in amazement as pirates—supposedly the scourge of the seas—worked tirelessly to prepare a feast for complete strangers.
"Alright everyone!" Ace announced once everything was ready, clapping his hands together with his characteristic enthusiasm. "Let's have a party!"
The Spade Pirates cheered in response, then immediately began approaching the bewildered villagers with wide smiles and invitations to join the impromptu banquet.
It didn't take long for the atmosphere to completely transform. The villagers' initial fear gave way to gratitude and then to genuine joy as they realized these pirates truly meant them no harm. Soon the beach was filled with laughter and conversation as two very different groups shared a meal together.
"Come on, little sister," Jerry said, crouching down to the girl's eye level. "You should go eat something. You look way too skinny."
Kotatsu had wandered over as well, purring softly and rubbing against the girl's legs in a friendly manner.
"Tama! Come here quickly!" someone called from the crowd. "This child looks half-starved—come get some food!"
"Ah! Stop making noise!" the girl—apparently named Tama—shouted at her growling stomach, then looked up at Jerry with embarrassment. "Thank you very much, big brother! I'll go eat right away!"
She scurried off on her short legs, the little komainu following close behind.
Jerry watched her go with a mixture of amusement and concern. The child was clearly malnourished, and if the rest of the villagers looked similar, this region was dealing with serious problems.
As the feast continued, Jerry noticed how quickly the food was disappearing. These people ate with the desperate efficiency of those who never knew when their next meal might come. The Spade Pirates had recently restocked their supplies, so they had plenty to share, but seeing such hunger was sobering.
"Excuse me," Jerry said, approaching an elderly man who seemed to command respect among the villagers. "Are you the village chief here? I'd like to ask you some questions if you don't mind."
"Ah, hello there!" the old man replied, bowing politely despite having his hands full of food. "I'm Hitetsu, and yes, I speak for this village. Please forgive our behavior—we've been dealing with famine for so long that we... well, we acted desperately when we saw your ship."
"No need to apologize," Jerry assured him. "We have more food than we need right now. But I am curious about something. Could you tell me about this country and the situation here?"
The village chief's expression grew more serious. "Of course, young man. It's the least we can do after your incredible generosity. We're in Wano Country—specifically the Kuri region. Though I suspect things here are quite different from what you might expect."
"Wano Country," Jerry repeated thoughtfully.
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