East Sea, Shimotsuki Village.
This is an isolated village cut off from the world, the News Bird always seems to arrive a bit late.
Perfectly timed for the night of New Year's Eve.
The old year fades into the past, Chronology of One Piece 1517 comes to a quiet end.
In the night, lanterns hang at the entrance of Isshin Dojo, and decorations like pine and shimenawa adorn each side of the entrance. Koushirou personally leads his disciples in cleaning the premises to drive away bad luck.
These are all customs brought from Wano Country by their ancestors and have continued at Isshin Dojo to this day.
In the kitchen, Belle-Mere is helping prepare the noodle dish called "New Year Soba," a smile playing on her lips as she hums a tune.
——Clearly, she has just received good news, and she's in great spirits.
As for a certain Green Algae Head and Curly Eyebrow...
The two of them are standing with folded arms atop the village's water tower, gazing at the distant sea in the growing snowfall.
Under each of their arms is a copy of the newspaper they've already read.
"After tonight, we'll be sixteen," Sanji sighed.
"Yeah, same here."
"Nojiko and the others set out to sea at this age."
"Yeah, Kuina too."
"Brother Shano's bounty is already several floors high."
"Yeah, Kuina too."
"Green Algae Head, why do you only know that one line?"
"Because I'm getting impatient!" Zoro finally couldn't hold it in any longer and shouted angrily, "Last year around this time we were almost equals, but now I've fallen so far behind, I can't even see that guy's backside!"
"That's a creepy way to put it."
"?" Zoro's face was full of question marks; what does a backside have to do with being creepy?
"Never mind, play later... Anyway, setting out to sea! I can't wait either!"
Sanji laughed heartily, raising his arms, "Tomorrow, if the snow stops, we'll set off for the New World! I hereby declare, the Chef Adventurer Group is officially established! Hey, my Deputy Captain, ready?"
"Huh? Why are you the captain and I'm the deputy captain? And! Why call it the Chef Adventurer Group? You idiot at naming!"
"Then what do you want to name it?"
"Sword, Blade... Two Sword Adventurer Group?"
Even worse! Sanji rolled his eyes, "Anyway, I won't be your subordinate; let's just go our separate ways!"
"Suited to me!" Zoro sneered, "When my Two Sword Adventurer Group is renowned along the Grand Line, don't cry and beg to join!"
"Find the Grand Line first, then talk." Sanji sneered.
The two glared at each other fiercely on the water tower, locked in rivalry.
The cold wind whistled by, and the snow fell even heavier...
————
Some are still bickering at home, while others have already embarked on their journey.
Inverted Mountain.
A bright yellow submarine gradually surfaced, climbing up the current to the top of the Red Earth Continent.
Looking out, the paths of the Four Seas are all visible, and the direction to go is naturally...
Law adjusted his leopard-print hat, with a slow grin.
The Grand Line!
"Captain, are we really going to find Mr. Shano?" came Bebo's anxious voice from behind.
"Yeah..."
Law chuckled softly, "For joining him or anything of the sort, that's temporary. For Shano, I definitely want to meet him, and thank him personally."
Actually, there's another man I need to thank.
But recently, in the newspaper I purchased, I happened to see that he joined the Endgame, becoming one of the three main officers.
Both benefactors together; makes things simpler this way.
"Whimper..."
Suddenly, a faint sobbing sound came from behind.
Law frowned and turned around, only to see Bebo squatting in a corner, her furry paws covering her face, her shoulders shaking, tears dripping down.
"Bebo?" Law asked somewhat bewilderedly, "Why are you crying?"
"Whimper... Captain..."
Bebo looked up with teary eyes, "I-I just read the newspaper, Mr. Shano is a good person, but his sister, she-specially eats pets, she's eaten several already!"
Too terrifying, wah!
Law: "?"
"But it doesn't matter!"
Bebo said heroically, clenching her fists:
"For the captain's dream! I'm willing to sacrifice myself! As long as it helps the captain cross the Grand Line and smoothly meet Mr. Shano, I'm willing to be eaten by her!"
Law took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but couldn't help twitching the corner of his mouth.
He rubbed his brow headache-inducingly, "Bebo."
"Hmm?"
Bebo looked at him in confusion.
"First, you're from the Fur Race, you're our partner, not a pet, certainly not food."
"Second, you idiot, move your brain, think properly!"
"When has the World Government ever been trustworthy? This bunch would use any despicable means to smear Shano, how could something like this be true!"
"Really?"
Bebo lowered her head, pinching her round belly, "But I look really delicious... I was planning to lose weight, become all skin and bones, so she wouldn't find me appetizing."
"I said there's no such thing! Don't even think about slimming down my naptime pillow!"
Law finally couldn't stand it anymore, and with a swift chop to Bebo's head, he commanded, "Get yourself together! Stop fretting, focus on our voyage, we're about to enter the Grand Line!"
The submarine finally plunged down the summit, racing towards the Grand Line, Law standing at its bow, with the banner of the Red Heart Pirates streaming in the fierce wind.
He gazed at the unpredictable sea ahead, his eyes deep.
"Shano,"
Law murmured, "Let me see for myself, what kind of person can take down Doflamingo and make the World Government so afraid..."