At a small restaurant in Shells Town, Luffy leaned back in satisfaction, his mouth still full of food. "Boss lady! Your cooking is amazing!"
Sandy rolled his eyes. "Of course it's amazing—it's free."
The woman behind the counter laughed warmly. "You saved my daughter. This meal is on the house."
As they ate, Luffy suddenly asked, "So, that Pirate Hunter Zoro... why was he captured by the Marines? Did he forget to pay for his meal or something?"
Everyone's faces went dark.
The little girl puffed her cheeks angrily. "That's not true! Big Brother Zoro didn't do anything wrong!"
Her mother stepped in and explained, "Over twenty days ago, the Marine captain of this town, Colonel Monka, came here with his son, Helmeppo, and their pet wolf. Out of nowhere, the beast attacked my daughter.
Zoro happened to be dining nearby. He couldn't stand by and watch, so he struck the beast down. But Helmeppo got furious, claiming Zoro dared to defy his father's authority. He ordered Zoro arrested and said he'd execute us too.
Later, he promised that if Zoro endured one month tied up without food, he'd let him go. Zoro agreed—just to protect us."
Nami, who had come in for a meal herself, frowned. "That's ridiculous. And he actually agreed to those terms?"
The little girl's eyes teared up. "Yes... Big Brother Zoro's been tied up for so many days already."
The boss lady sighed, hugging her daughter. "It's all our fault... if it weren't for—"
Sandy, already stealing a piece of meat from Nami's bowl, interrupted, "It's not your fault. It's that bastard—what's his name again?"
Before anyone could answer, a cocky voice echoed from the door.
"Well, well. Speaking of which... that Pirate Hunter hasn't starved to death yet, huh?"
The room fell silent instantly.
A young man with slicked-back blond hair strutted in wearing a white suit. His smirk screamed arrogance, and his presence made everyone's stomach churn.
It was Helmeppo, Colonel Monka's spoiled son.
A Marine behind him said, "Young Master Helmeppo, that Pirate Hunter's been starving for more than twenty days, but he's still hanging in there."
Helmeppo chuckled. "Heh. In that case, let's just execute him tomorrow."
The air went cold.
Before anyone could react, Luffy slammed his fist right into Helmeppo's face. "What the hell do you think a promise means, huh?!"
Helmeppo clutched his cheek, screaming, "You dare hit me?! I'll tell my father! He'll execute all of you!"
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Go ahead, bring it on! Who's afraid of you?"
Helmeppo pointed furiously. "You just wait! Tomorrow, all of you are dead!"
As soon as he stormed off, the boss lady's expression turned grim. "Please... leave this town before it's too late. Monka controls everything here."
Sandy smiled faintly. "Don't worry, boss lady. I'll head to the base and beat that bastard until he learns some manners. He won't dare touch you again."
Luffy nodded. "Yeah! I'll punch that stupid son and dad and make Zoro our crewmate!"
Marine Base — Later That Day
Luffy approached the bound swordsman with a grin. "You're amazing, you know that? Haven't eaten for days and still standing strong. If it were me, I'd be dead already, hahaha!"
Zoro replied coldly, "I'm not like you. I have something I must accomplish. I can't fall here—not yet."
Luffy smiled. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who'll become the Pirate King! The guy next to me is Sandy—my nakama. You should join us too!"
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Pirate King? Do you even understand what those three words mean?"
Luffy shrugged. "Of course! The Pirate King is... well, the Pirate King! Anyway, I'll untie you, and then you'll be my crewmate."
Zoro's voice turned sharp. "Pirates are nothing but scum. I'm not becoming one of you."
Luffy asked simply, "Aren't you a bad guy in other people's eyes too?"
Zoro glared. "I don't care what others think. As long as my conscience is clear."
Luffy laughed. "Then it's decided. You're my nakama!"
Zoro's vein popped. "Don't just decide that on your own, dammit!"
Just then, Sandy strolled over, smirking. "By the way, that dumbass Helmeppo said you're getting executed tomorrow."
Zoro's eyes widened. "What did you say?!"
Sandy poked him in the forehead playfully. "You deaf? I said that idiot's gonna execute you tomorrow, ba~ka."
Zoro gritted his teeth. "You bastard!"
Luffy nodded seriously. "I heard it too. So, here's the deal—if you resist, you'll be branded an enemy of the Marines. If you don't resist, you'll die.
So, tell me, Zoro—want to stay here and die, or come with us and live as a Pirate?"
Zoro stared in disbelief. "Are you a devil?"
After a long pause, he lowered his head, his voice resolute. "Fine. If that's how it is, then I have no choice. Even if I become a Pirate, I'll make my name echo throughout the world.
But remember this—my dream is to become the World's Greatest Swordsman. If you ever stand in the way of that dream, you'll have to commit seppuku and apologize to me."
Luffy grinned. "World's Greatest Swordsman, huh? Sounds fitting for the Pirate King's right-hand man!"
Zoro snorted. "You've got guts saying that. But my swords were taken by that fool Helmeppo. They're in the building behind the base."
Luffy stretched his arms. "I'll go get them!"
"You're going the wrong way," Zoro said flatly.
Ignoring him, Luffy launched himself forward, grabbed the fence, and slingshotted into the air—landing right on top of the Marine building.
Zoro blinked. "What... the hell is he?"
Sandy grinned. "He ate a Devil Fruit. He's a rubber man. There are tons of ability users like him on the Grand Line. You surprised? Or just ignorant?"
Everyone nearby facepalmed.
Zoro clenched his jaw. "You bastard... one day, I'll cut you down!"
Sandy crossed his arms and smirked. "Then come on. I'm right here. Come and cut me down."
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Zoro growled, "You bastard..."
Sandy leaned closer. "Come on, come on! If you're my nakama, then come and cut me already."
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Koby's face twitched. "Mr. Sandy, since Mr. Zoro's your nakama now... shouldn't you, uh, untie him first?"
Sandy feigned a horrified expression. "Untie him? And what, let him actually cut me? You want me to die, Koby?!"
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Sandy sighed. "Damn. No triple combo? What a waste of good inspiration."
Before he could sulk, a group of Marines burst through the doors of the base, weapons raised.
Sandy cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Well, looks like it's showtime."