Chapter 120: Spoon-jie's Past
An hour after Luo Han and his group disembarked, Hank and several others arrived at Battleship Island.
Inside a dimly lit dock, only a few rays of sunlight filtered through, faintly illuminating several figures. Among them, one silhouette stood out — graceful, clearly a woman.
"Understood, Captain." Click. The Den Den Mushi call ended as Hank put it away.
Lifting his head, his expression darkened as he stared at the woman standing casually before him. His voice was low and angry:
"Spoon, what the hell is going on with you? You let that brat Luo Han run wild — because of him, several island nations have aligned with the World Government!"
Spoon-jie smiled faintly, unbothered, and replied calmly:
"What could I do? I'm helpless too. You've seen it — that kid's power is far beyond anything I can control."
She added, "And let's be real — do you still think we're the ones in charge of anything anymore? Can you control Golden Lion?"
Hank fell silent. He knew she was right. Ever since the Navy launched its full-scale offensive, Golden Lion, Ochoku (Wang Zhi), and the others had grown increasingly defiant, often half-hearted in battle. Their respect for command was vanishing.
"But during that last fight, you immediately got ready to attack us, Spoon!" Hank said, raising his voice. He remembered Luo Han flying up — and Spoon immediately preparing for battle. They were still technically on Golden Lion's side! How was she supposed to explain that?
Spoon-jie suddenly flashed a mischievous smile. "How was I supposed to know you were on that ship?"
…
The air turned thick with tension. A weight hung silently over the room. Hank and the others gritted their teeth. Didn't know? They might've believed it from anyone else — but not Spoon, whose Observation Haki covered wide ranges with terrifying clarity. Not only had she faced them head-on on deck — she'd met their eyes.
"You'd better not forget who saved your life, Spoon!" Hank growled, his voice echoing through the dock. Outside, the manager standing guard shivered at the outburst.
Inside, Spoon-jie's expression paled slightly. Her face reflected pain and inner conflict, but she said nothing.
"What now? Finally remembering who you really are?"
"If it hadn't been for us, you and that girl Aishi would've died long ago! And now you bring her around like some kind of mascot?" Hank snapped.
"Don't forget — you were the one who left Aishi on Hachinosu Island. Don't make it sound like we forced you. We always treated you like a comrade. That brat Luo Han is not the same!"
…
A soft chuckle escaped Spoon-jie. After a pause, she looked up — calm and composed.
"You're right," she said quietly. "Back then, the Rocks Pirates saved me and Aishi . But are you seriously going to tell me it wasn't because you were interested in my Observation Haki?"
"If I hadn't mentioned that I awakened wide-range perception, would you even have glanced at us?"
Hank's expression twitched. He remembered the moment clearly:
A nation destroyed by pirates. Amidst the ruins, a 16-year-old girl pressed against a shattered wall, shielding an 8-year-old child with her arms.
The Rocks Pirates had happened to pass through. They saw it — and walked right past.
In such a brutal world, no one expected a girl like that to survive. Saving her would've likely doomed her faster.
But then…
"Wait! I know you came in through the right side of the rear mountain. Please, help us!"
Spoon had cried out with the last of her strength — and collapsed under the rubble.
Rocks, hearing that, had stopped. His eyes gleamed. He turned back and ordered her rescue — along with the girl she protected.
That kind of sensory range — over ten kilometers — was something only specialized Observation Haki could perceive.
From that moment, Spoon became part of the Rocks Pirates.
Recalling all this, Hank didn't feel they owed her anything. "Even so," he said seriously, "we still saved you. We killed the pirates who destroyed your country. We avenged you. We didn't wrong you, Spoon. That's not a reason to betray the Rocks Pirates!"
Sigh… Spoon-jie stepped to the side, extending her hand. A beam of sunset light landed on her still-youthful skin.
"I haven't betrayed the Rocks Pirates," she said softly. "Luo Han and Cole are like little brothers to me. I just wanted to help them."
"And besides — you all know I never liked being a pirate. I've done more than enough for the Rocks crew. My Observation Haki has even saved us all more than once."
"Aishi didn't come with me because I forced her. I left her on Hachinosu Island because she was too young. She's grown up now. What she chooses to do is her own decision. She asked to sail with me — so I said yes."
She sighed again, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Hank, have you ever thought about it? You're a man. You can keep fighting on this sea until you die of old age."
"But I'm a woman. I don't want to spend my life in my fifties or sixties battling teenagers. That's not the future I want."
"I want to open a small bar on a quiet island… cook some good food… and maybe find someone I love… and grow old with him."
She was lost in her own vision now, not noticing the complicated expressions on Hank and the others' faces.
Then — step, step, step — Hank began walking away.
Just before exiting, he paused.
"Spoon. We never forced anyone in our crew to stay. If there's something you want — just say it. I've already told the captain about you. He only said one thing: 'Ignore it.' You know what that means."
Bang!
The door shut behind him.
And with it… Spoon-jie's time with the Rocks Pirates ended.
She stood still for nearly an hour, her eyes damp with emotion.
"Thank you for everything, Captain Rocks," she whispered.
Then she wiped her eyes, straightened up, and left through the back of the dock. The setting sun cast a crimson glow across her figure — as if welcoming her rebirth.
She walked with the calm grace of someone shedding the past, glowing like a fallen goddess returning to the heavens. Passersby turned to watch her, mesmerized.
As she gazed at the crowd, a complex mix of freedom and loneliness stirred in her chest.
She didn't know what came next. She felt a little lost.
Then a familiar voice echoed in her ear. She smiled, looking up toward the sliced-off mountain peak, and quickened her steps.
Moments later, she was walking up the mountain path, carrying several bottles of red wine and glasses.
(END CHAPTER)
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