The next afternoon the port of Shells Town was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Everyone had come to see the departure.
"Big Brother"
Rika clung to her mother, eyes full of reluctance as she watched Zoro standing by the ship. She knew he had to sail; she had no right to stop him. So at least for the last time—
"This is a rice ball Rika made herself," her mother said, bowing politely. "She put sugar in it—very sweet. For you, big brother."
Rika handed the neatly wrapped rice ball to Zoro. "We are forever grateful for what you did for my mother and me," she added, voice trembling.
Zoro didn't say anything. He opened the rice ball and shoved the whole thing into his mouth. Stuffed and carefree, he managed between chews: "It's good. Very good."
Then he turned and walked away without looking back.
"Mr. Luffy—"
Koby, with pink hair and tears in his eyes, wiped his face and faced the grinning Luffy. "I've officially joined the Marines. I'm so grateful for your help."
If he hadn't found Luffy on the sea, he might still be trembling aboard this pirate ship. If he hadn't seen Luffy's willingness to risk his life for a dream, he might never have found his own courage. But from today—
"From today on, we're enemies, Luffy." Koby's eyes shone with resolve. "I'll train hard and one day I'll lock up every pirate on this sea—including your crew! The Marines are justice!"
Luffy just smiled. "I won't be caught before I become Pirate King!"
"See you on the sea, Luffy!"
Brian, the Marine lieutenant, met Bai Ye in plain clothes. Gratitude and conflict warred in his eyes. Bai Ye had saved Shells Town—and had done Morgan's branch a favor—but Brian's duty as a Marine told him Bai Ye should be arrested, not thanked.
"I have something you'll need," Brian said after a pause, somewhat reluctantly. He handed Bai Ye a den den mushi and, finally, a navigational chart — a map of the Grand Line.
Bai Ye accepted them without fuss. He slipped the den den mushi into his pocket and tucked the map into the inner landscape. The Codex's inner realm didn't allow living beings but Bai Ye could store objects there.
"These are the rewards for saving the town," Brian said lightly. "Until you raise a pirate flag, the 153rd branch won't treat you as pirates. If you need us, call. But once you raise your flag, we won't hide your identity anymore."
"Understood," Bai Ye replied. "It's temporary. You'll see our bounties one day—my captain cares about that a lot." At that moment Luffy shouted from the deck: "Hey Bai Ye, we're leaving!"
Bai Ye bowed slightly to Brian. "Then we'll meet again soon—hopefully not as enemies."
Brian watched the trio board and then melted back into the crowd.
"Yo-shi!" Luffy slapped his hands together. "Let's set sail!"
"Idiot," Zoro grunted, arms crossed. He looked at the ship beneath their feet. "Take a good look at the boat."
"Huh?" Luffy scanned around. The Alvida-flagged vessel looked unchanged. Zoro rolled his eyes. "How are the three of us supposed to sail this giant thing? Either we get a small boat or hire sailors."
"We're pirates—who'll volunteer?" Zoro muttered, analyzing. "We could hire, but who would sign up for us?"
"Then we'll take a small boat!" Luffy beamed. He hadn't thought of hiring—traveling with friends was the point. Like Shanks.
"No need to replace the ship," Bai Ye said. He had, in his hand, a neat stack of yellow paper dolls covered in indecipherable patterns.
Luffy rushed over, eyes glittering. "Ooh! Amazing! Incredible!!"
Zoro squinted suspiciously. To him it was just paper. But Bai Ye's things were never ordinary.
Bai Ye grinned and stopped teasing. These paper figures were something he had learned from the Daoist Codex—
Daoist Secret Technique: Paper-Cut Soldiers.
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