The sun was dipping toward the horizon, staining the sky with streaks of orange. But the streets of Orange Town were anything but warm. Once a bustling market filled with merchants and laughter, it now lay in ruins.
Doors hung loose from their hinges. Food stalls were overturned, baskets of fruit rotting where they had fallen. The only sound was the crunch of broken wood and stone beneath their boots as Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Adam walked deeper into the hollow town.
Luffy tilted his head in wonder."Wow… where's all the food? No restaurants anywhere?"
Adam facepalmed. "Priorities, huh? We're literally walking through a disaster zone and you're looking for a menu."
Zoro's eyes were sharp, his hand resting on a sword hilt. "This place reeks of trouble. Buggy's handiwork, no doubt."
Nami crossed her arms, her expression grim. "Exactly. Buggy's known for this. He crushes towns until they give him everything. Those who resist… well, you can see the result."
Adam muttered darkly, "Great. So basically, we're in a live commercial for Beware of Clowns: The Horror Edition."
Then—suddenly—a loud, sharp bark split the silence.
They all turned. At the edge of the street, a small white dog stood in front of a half-ruined shop. Its fur was dirty, but its eyes blazed with determination. Teeth bared, it barked furiously, as if warning them not to take one step closer.
"Chouchou…" Nami whispered softly, recognition in her eyes.
The little dog growled louder, muscles tensed, refusing to budge from his post in front of the wrecked pet shop.
Luffy's face lit up. "Whoa! A dog! Hey, let's play!"
"Luffy, wait—!" Adam shouted.
Too late. The moment Luffy reached out, Chouchou lunged and sank his teeth into Luffy's hand.
"AAAAAAAAH! He bit me!" Luffy cried, flailing his arm wildly as the dog clung on for a few seconds before finally dropping back down.
Adam doubled over laughing. "Hahahaha! That's what you get for charging at a guard dog like it's a carnival prize!"
Nami sighed. "That's Chouchou. He's guarding the shop. It belonged to his owner… who passed away. But he never left. Even after Buggy attacked, he stayed."
Luffy blinked, surprised. "He's here… all by himself?"
"Yes," Nami said, her voice gentle but firm. "It's his treasure. He'll fight anyone who tries to take it."
Adam crouched slightly, meeting Chouchou's fierce eyes. "Honestly… I respect that. Probably the most loyal soul I've seen in this world so far."
The dog kept growling, but the tension in its body eased just a little, as if it sensed Adam's sincerity.
Before they could speak more, the sound of a cane striking cobblestones echoed. They turned to see an old man walking slowly down the street. His beard was long and white, his back bent with age, but his eyes burned with determination.
"You… who are you?" the man asked, his voice raspy but strong.
Nami stepped forward quickly, raising her hands. "We're not with Buggy. In fact… we're here to stop him."
The old man tightened his grip on his cane. "Stop him? Ha! No one has been able to stop that monster. He destroyed our town, took what he wanted, and left us broken. But I… I am the mayor of Orange Town. And I will not abandon my home."
Luffy grinned ear to ear. "That's awesome! You're really brave, old man!"
Adam blinked. "Wait—you're the mayor? Respectfully, sir, you look like you should be at home in a rocking chair, not marching into a circus warzone."
The mayor slammed his cane into the ground. "Even if I'm old, even if I fall, I must stand for my people. This is my home, and I won't let it be trampled."
The words silenced them all. Even Adam felt a tug of respect despite himself.
Zoro nodded. "He's right. A man should fight for what he believes in."
Nami bit her lip, hesitation flashing in her eyes. "But going against Buggy is suicide."
Luffy burst out laughing. "Suicide? Nah. It's an adventure!"
Adam groaned. "I swear, my blood pressure's gonna explode. Every single one of you is insane."
Before anyone could argue further, a boom thundered from the distance. Smoke curled into the sky from the direction of the harbor. Buggy's men were firing cannons again, laughing as explosions echoed across the coastline.
The mayor clenched his cane tighter. "I'm going to face them. If an old fool must die, then let it be standing."
Nami's eyes widened in horror. "No, that's insane! They'll crush you!"
Adam threw up his hands. "Listen to her! You can't fight a guy who turns himself into a human jigsaw puzzle! That's not even physics!"
But the mayor didn't stop. His steps were slow but steady, each one echoing like a drumbeat of stubborn resolve.
"I can't sit back while my town is burned," he said firmly.
Luffy's grin grew wider. "Then I'll go with you!"
Zoro adjusted his swords. "Count me in."
Nami buried her face in her hands. "Unbelievable… all of you are out of your minds…"
Adam stood there for a long moment, muttering to himself. "Nope. Not me. I'm the sane one here. I'm not walking into death by clown."
The group began to move. Adam sighed heavily, dragging his feet after them. "Why am I like this? Why can't I just walk away? I should be sipping fresh juice on a beach, not chasing an old man into a clown warzone. I need therapy."
Behind them, Chouchou barked loudly, standing proud in front of his shop as if cheering them on.
The group continued toward the harbor, the sound of Buggy's laughter growing louder with every step. Adam's stomach twisted tighter with dread, but beneath all the fear, a strange spark of excitement flickered in his chest.
For the first time, he realized—This wasn't just a story anymore.This was his adventure.
And it was only beginning.