The New World — somewhere across its vast seas.
A grand celebration was underway on a certain island, where the Red-Haired Pirates were throwing a banquet to welcome an interesting new recruit.
"Eat! Eat! Enjoy yourselves to the fullest!"
Fat and jolly, Lucky Roux laughed heartily, a piece of meat in one hand while the other busily cooked up more food.
"Hahaha! Relax, rookies! The Red-Haired Pirates aren't as uptight as the others."
Yasopp guzzled down wine beside his rifle and shouted to the nervous newcomers.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Of course, those who had just joined couldn't simply relax after a few words. After all—this was the crew of one of the Four Emperors of the New World!
"Captain, you've gathered another bunch of interesting but not-so-strong members." Benn Beckman shook his head, glancing toward Shanks, who was laughing cheerfully nearby.
"What's the harm, Beckman?"
The man with fiery red hair and three scars over his left eye grinned boldly as he wrapped an arm around his first mate's shoulder. "A banquet exists for one reason—fun!"
"Fine, fine. Go have your fun. I've long given up arguing with you."
Beckman sighed. After countless debates with his captain, he knew there was no winning. As long as Shanks didn't falter when it truly mattered—that was enough.
"Hahaha! Come on, Beckman, join us too!"
Shanks tugged him along—but after taking only two steps, he suddenly froze.
A burning sensation pulsed from his pocket. He reached inside.
A small piece of paper bearing the name "Buggy" was ablaze—burning away rapidly into ash.
"A Vivre Card…?"
Beckman's eyes narrowed.
The Vivre Card was one of the world's mysterious creations—paper crafted using a person's fingernails or hair through a special technique, allowing it to point toward that individual's location.
But more importantly, it also reflected the owner's life force.
When they were injured, the card would begin to burn—its intensity mirroring the severity.
And when it turned completely to ash… that meant death.
"Buggy…"
Shanks clenched his fist. Without warning, a surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him.
The newly joined pirates collapsed instantly, unconscious from the overwhelming pressure. Even the veteran officers staggered, struggling to withstand the blast of pure willpower unlike any they'd ever felt from their captain.
They stared in disbelief.
What happened?Why was their usually composed captain losing control—burning with unbridled fury?
"Calm down, Shanks! There's no enemy here!"
Beckman barked, grabbing Shanks by the shoulders, nearly punching him to snap him out of it.
His voice seemed to reach through the haze.
Shanks slowly drew in a deep breath, suppressing his Haki. Around them lay fainted rookies and trembling officers, too shaken to stand.
"…I'm sorry, everyone. I didn't mean to cause trouble."
His deep voice was calm, but the storm of rage behind it could not be hidden. "Just now, one of my friends died. I don't know how—but his Vivre Card burned away completely."
He lowered his head, shadows crossing his face. "You all know my rule. I never let anyone who harms my friends walk away alive."
His tone grew colder, his hand resting on the hilt of Gryphon. "So, forgive me. I'm going to find out what happened—and avenge him."
"Huh? Captain, we're your crew! Wherever you go, we follow!"
Yasopp dropped his chicken leg, grabbing his rifle as he stood. "If it's revenge, we go together! I wanna see who's got the guts to mess with the Red-Haired Pirates!"
"Exactly, boss!"
Doc Hongo chimed in at once. "What kind of captain goes off to fight alone? We're coming with you."
"Yeah, boss!"
"Trying to sneak off without us? That's not fair!"
Even Lucky Roux, still tending his grill, nodded firmly—and the rest of the officers echoed their agreement.
Only Beckman frowned deeply. Something about this didn't add up.
If this were somewhere in the New World, Shanks would have already ordered them to set sail.
"…Sorry, everyone. This time, I have to go alone."
His words were resolute. And before anyone could stop him—boom!—he vanished from sight, leaving only his voice lingering in the air.
"I'll be back as soon as it's done."
"Captain!"
The Red-Haired Pirates' officers shouted in disbelief—but Shanks was already far gone.
"What's going on, Beckman?!"
The navigator, Bonk Punch, turned immediately to the first mate.
"Quiet. Let me think."
Beckman's face was grim as he stared toward the horizon. "Does the captain… have any friends in the Four Seas? Someone named Buggy?"
"Buggy?"
Lucky Roux hesitated, thinking back. "When we visited Windmill Village, I remember the captain mentioning an old friend from the East Blue—named Buggy, I think."
"Then that explains it."
Beckman closed his eyes, rubbing his temple in frustration.
"Hey, Beckman, what did you figure out?"
"Yeah, you're the smartest among us. You always say we're idiots—so maybe explain it this time?"
"Why would the captain act alone?"
"Quiet."
Beckman opened his eyes, his voice steady. "You all know the captain's nature. If a friend dies, he'll seek revenge—no one can stop him. But the real question is why he went alone."
He looked around at their tense faces.
"The answer is simple. That friend of his—Buggy—died in the East Blue. And the one who killed him… is there too."
"To avenge him, the captain has to return to the East Blue. But—"
Beckman's tone sharpened as his gaze swept the group. "We can't follow. Back then, when we were just rising in fame, we could pass through the Calm Belt to the East Blue. On the way back, we'd simply rejoin the Grand Line—no problem."
"But now? Things are different. The captain is a Yonko. We are a Yonko's crew."
"I get it," Yasopp muttered grimly. "The Marines would surround us the moment we set sail."
He glanced at the others—still looking lost—and sighed. "Beckman, just say it straight. These guys never think past their plates."
"Hey, don't say that, Yasopp! I'm plenty smart!"
"The fact that you said that instead of thinking about the situation proves you're not."
"What?! You wanna fight, Yasopp?!"
"Enough!" Beckman slammed his hand down, silencing them instantly. His authority as first mate cut through the noise.
They weren't truly angry with Yasopp—just uneasy. None of them liked that their captain had left them behind.
But deep down, they all knew—Shanks had his reasons.
(End of Chapter)