The island is small yet vibrant, bustling with an array of shops, food stalls, and wandering traders.
A genial and hospitable man led the way, with the duo trailing closely behind him as they navigated toward the restaurant.
The tantalizing aroma of various cuisines being prepared inside permeated the air, eliciting another synchronous growl from the duo's stomachs. They began to drool, their impatience to eat their fill mounting before they could continue exploring the town.
"Now, come inside," the old man said to them with a warm smile, adjusting his glasses with his middle finger.
The restaurant was magnificent; ambient lighting encompassed its entire structure, casting a pleasant and inviting glow. The furniture was elegantly arranged, and the waiters, dressed in distinctive uniforms, were visibly well-disciplined and committed to exceeding customer expectations—a standard upheld since the restaurant's establishment, leaving patrons consistently satisfied.
Well, what can I say? The chefs here are truly top-notch.
Gojo and Ryuken took the nearest available table and signaled to the closest waiter, who was attending to a couple at another table.
The waiter approached them promptly, offering a charming smile. "Welcome, gentlemen. What may I get for you?"
Such an innocent smile for this pervert to pull off!!
Ryuken observed that the waiter was deliberately maintaining a pleasant facade to avoid displeasing customers—though moments earlier, he had been flirtatiously engaging with other female patrons. When summoned by Gojo and Ryuken, however, his demeanor shifted noticeably.
"Well, I don't know what to pick," Ryuken admitted, staring at the menu filled with richly described, expensive dishes.
"Then why don't I serve you our special?" Offered the waiter.
"…Heh… sounds great!"
The waiter retreated into the kitchen to prepare the meal, intent on satisfying the customers' palates and upholding the restaurant's reputation for premium, top-tier cuisine.
"Old man, this place is really awesome," Gojo expressed gratefully.
"Just doing the best I can."
"Man, it would be crazy if the marines were to spot us here."
Gojo made a disgusted expression. "I really don't wanna think about them."
"Here is your food, gentlemen!" The waiter's voice interrupted their conversation as he carefully set the plates on the table. "Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, waiter! Anyway, I'm Gojo. Do you wanna join my cr—"
Ryuken immediately clamped a hand over Gojo's mouth, realizing exactly what his companion was about to recklessly reveal. "Don't mind him; thanks for the food," he said, forcing a smile while Gojo remained oblivious to the tension— unaware that such a slip could prompt the villagers to either eject them or summon the marines.
"Huh? Weirdos," the waiter muttered under his breath before turning away to attend to other customers.
Gojo broke free from Ryuken's grip, gasping for air. "What was that for, stupid Kenshin?"
Veins bulged on Ryuken's forehead upon hearing himself insulted as a "stupid swordsman" "What the hell did you say, bastard? You wanna go?!"
"Fine, bring it on, bastard!"
The two fools prepared to clash right there in the restaurant, drawing the attention of the other customers, who watched them briefly before bursting into laughter.
"Who the hell are they? Such best friends."
"Awwwn, I wish I could be young again and have a lovely, sweet relationship like these youngsters."
"Are they comedians?"
Hearing the comments from the surrounding customers, both became flustered and embarrassed, quietly taking their seats and grabbing their forks and spoons, ready to eat.
"Just who do these fools think they are? Did they think they'd get the ladies' attention with that?" The waiter whispered to himself, gritting his teeth. "But I don't wanna admit," he swallowed, "how the hell are these fools so handsome?"
The waiter—a figure approximately the same height as Ryuken, with black eyes and black hair—glared at the duo before turning to serve the other customers.
Itadakimasu!!
They dug into their food, savoring every single bite. Sipping their wine, they let out contented sighs as they ate to their heart's content.
"The food is great."
"You have my respect. Thanks for the meal."
The waiter looked at the innocent-seeming young men, and his eyes began to well up. "Don't say that, you bastards. I know the food tastes better than anything else." He wiped his eyes with his napkin before carrying the plates to the kitchen.
"So?"
"Yeah, let's get going."
Gojo stopped in his tracks, turning to face the old man who had brought them to the restaurant. "Thank you very much for what you did." He bowed politely, and Ryuken did the same.
"Don't mention it," the old man sobbed. "I'm glad I was able to help. Enjoy your day."
The duo exited the restaurant, their energy restored from the high-quality meal, and continued wandering through the bustling streets.
News Coo birds flew over the small island, distributing newspapers detailing current events from around the world. But what was the headline about?
A newspaper landed squarely on Ryuken's head. He slowly picked it up from the ground. "It's the newspaper. I wonder what's in it."
"Who knows? Probably no big deal."
Ryuken was tempted to toss the paper aside—but he wasn't like Gojo. If he were, he would have done so without a second thought; that airhead captain never bothered with the news.
He unfolded the newspaper as they walked slowly, his eyes scanning until they caught sight of a figure—no, two familiar young figures.
"What the fuck?!" He exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement, drawing irritated glares from the townsfolk around them.
"What is it, Ryu? Find anything interesting?"
His eyes remained wide, fixed on the newspaper. How did this happen so fast?
"We're wanted criminals. Wanted—dead or alive," he said.
Hearing that, Gojo stopped. His interest was piqued. "What did you just say?" His voice was calm but charged with excitement. "Don't tell me it's what I'm thinking."
"Yeah… We've been labeled pirates—wanted dead or alive."
Gojo erupted in amazement, though it lasted only a few seconds until their eyes fell upon the printed bounty amounts.
"Satoru Gojo—5,000,000 Beli bounty," Ryuken read aloud. "Ryuken, the Swordsman—3,500,000 Beli bounty."
"Five million? Well, now we're really wanted. Time to up our bounties, Ryu."
"Yeah. I guess other pirates will be hunting us, too."
"Let them," Gojo said, cracking his fist with a smirk. "Things are just getting exciting."
The news spread like wildfire across the world, yet the faces of Gojo and Ryuken were recognized only marginally—dismissed as mere pirates not worthy of significant attention, given their status as small fries with comparatively little bounties.
So, who would even bother spending time on these insignificant individuals playing at piracy? They'll likely be captured sooner or later, whether by marines or by pirates with higher bounties. At least, that's what some might say… but then again, one shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
"Anyways, it seems the people here haven't caught on to what's happening, so let's play nice."
"Yeah, we don't know how they'll react once they learn the truth—that we're pirates."
"Well, it seems we might not attract much attention since we're definitely the pirates with the lowest bounties here in the East Blue."
"We'll soon be the highest," Gojo corrected.
Lol…
They exchanged a few more words while continuing down the streets. The avenue buzzed with lively chatter, traders wandering everywhere—which was to be expected, since this was a place where people came specifically to bargain.
Without a doubt, pirates, corrupt marines, and all sorts of disreputable characters resided here in Traders Haven, and people were scammed every single day.
Naturally, being scammed or backstabbed was a common occurrence on this island. If you came here to bargain or trade, you had to be sharp—otherwise, you'd be easily tricked.
The duo wandered aimlessly through the crowd, no particular plan in mind, until a store with a name etched above the entrance caught both their attention.
JUNK 'N STUFF
People surged in and out of "Junk 'N Stuff," carrying strange and curious items, which immediately piqued their interest and curiosity.
"Let's check it out!"
"Sure!"
Stepping into the "Junk 'n' Stuff" shop felt like entering a pirate's daydream. Crabs scuttled within bamboo cages, their shells polished to a jewel-like gleam. Spoiled Log Poses glimmered faintly on crooked shelves, displayed alongside seashell necklaces, cracked compasses, and half-faded treasure maps. The warm glow of hanging lanterns cast everything in a soft light, transforming ordinary junk into sweet, sea-worn keepsakes.
"Welcome!"
The shopkeeper spoke as he exhaled cigarette smoke from both his mouth and nose.
So, this was also a place where bounty hunters and others gathered to trade?
Well, this shop might sell some good intel… lets find out!
"Ya wanna trade somethin', folks?" He blew another cloud of cigarette smoke into the air.
"Nah… you got any good stuff we can check out?"
'Locals, huh?' "Okay, follow me."
Gojo's eyes gleamered with excitement; he was utterly fascinated even before his gaze landed on a particular shiny piece of junk.
The walls were covered with wanted posters of pirates from across the East Blue. Gojo's eyes inadvertently glanced at his own. He gulped and subtly elbowed Ryuken at his side. Both wore identical expressions of forced nonchalance, pretending they hadn't seen anything—all to avoid causing trouble, especially now that they were wanted pirates with bounties on their heads.
Gojo began to haggle dramatically over a useless shiny compass, while Ryuken simply sighed, convinced that this shithead was about to waste money on yet another piece of crap.
But what if it wasn't just crap?
"Hey, old man. Do you have some oil I can use to polish my sword?"
The old man tilted his head, the cigarette still held between his fingers. "A swordsman, huh? I've got the best oil you could need for your sword."
"Really? Thanks."
The old man stared for a moment. "Can I see your sword?"
Ryuken hesitated, then replied, "Well, here it is," handing over his sword to the man, who put on his goggles and examined the unusual blade intently.
"Nice sword you've got there."
"T-Thanks."
The old man licked his lips. "That sword feels strange," he thought to himself.