Since the sun was still high, Luffy had to be careful. He stuck to the shadows, moving behind buildings, hopping over fences, never once making a sound as he searched the village. Eventually, he caught sight of them heading down a side path toward the shore.
He kept his distance, trailing them quietly, bare feet barely crunching against the gravel. They chatted casually, unaware of their tail. When they reached the beach, he crouched low behind a thick patch of bushes, watching as they approached their ship.
It was larger than he expected for a crew that small—battered but well-maintained, with rusted cannons and red-painted sails. The symbol on the mast was rough, a snarling hyena over two jagged sabers. As the crew boarded, Luffy noticed something fluttering to the side near the path.
The captain, Kesari, had tossed a paper aside.
Curious, Luffy crept over and picked it up.
[ WANTED ]
DEAD OR ALIVE
KESARI MILLER
Ɓ 4,000,000
'Damn. Four mill. That's decent,' he thought, whistling low under his breath.
Suddenly, the wooden ladder slapped down again against the ship's edge.
He darted behind a stone wall just in time.
More pirates began descending—one after another. The ship must've held more men than they'd shown earlier. Luffy counted quickly. At least fifty... maybe more. All armed. All grinning.
Kesari stood at the front, arms crossed, speaking loudly enough for the crew to hear.
"All right, men—turns out they were right. This village has zero marine presence," he said with a twisted grin. "So I figured, why not make our own Arlong Park?"
His crew erupted with laughter.
"Yes, Captain Miller!" they roared in response.
"Good. When the sun sets, we strike. And remember—don't kill anyone," Kesari added, voice lowering slightly. "Keep it clean. We want them afraid, not dead. Until then… walk around, get a feel for the place. One hour before sunset, meet back here."
Another wave of laughter followed before the men split up, scattering in pairs through the village.
Villagers watched them nervously. Some quickly closed up their shops, others locked their doors. But a few—too bold or too used to threats—just continued about their business, refusing to show fear.
The mayor tried approaching one of the groups, asking calmly what they wanted.
They smiled politely and said they'd be leaving at sunset.
He didn't ask again.
—
Back at his house, Luffy sat by the window, elbows resting on the sill as he watched the sky darken.
'So this is it... my first real pirate fight,' he thought.
His eyes narrowed, jaw tightening slightly.
'I gotta make sure nobody gets hurt. I'll meet them at the docks. No delays, no games.'
He stood up, grabbed his straw hat, and stepped outside just as the last orange rays of sun spilled over the trees.
...
At the docks, the pirates gathered in a tight formation, their boots clanking against the old wood. Some leaned against barrels, others checked the edges of their swords or cocked the hammers of their pistols. Lanterns hung loosely from their ship, swinging gently with the sea breeze. A low chatter passed between them—half excitement, half bloodlust.
Kesari stood at the front, arms folded and coat swaying slightly in the breeze. His long, curved saber hung from his waist, glinting in the dying light.
"I hope you got a good view of the layout, men," he said, voice steady and laced with amusement. "Let's wait for sunset."
They waited in silence, their silhouettes backlit by the golden sky as the sun dipped low over the ocean. Inch by inch, the light faded—until finally, shadows swallowed the village. One by one, they lit their lanterns, the flames dancing in the dusk, casting wild shadows across their faces.
Kesari struck a match, lit a torch, and held it high. The flames reflected in his eyes as he grinned.
"Go get 'em, boys."
A wild roar echoed out as the pirates surged forward, charging off the dock like a wave breaking loose. Blades drawn, pistols raised, footsteps pounding over the wooden boards as they scattered into formation.
But just as they began to move, a lone figure stood on the hill above, framed by the darkened sky.
Luffy.
He stared down at them, arms relaxed but fists clenched at his sides. His expression was calm—almost too calm.
The pirates slowed as they spotted him.
"Hey... ain't that the kid from the tavern?" one of them asked, pointing.
The group paused mid-run, staring at the figure blocking their path.
One of the tavern pirates stepped forward, smirking as he began walking up the hill.
"Move aside, kid. This ain't got nothin' to do with you—"
CRACK—WHIP!
Luffy's arm stretched like a shot, launching forward in a straight, clean line. His fist slammed into the pirate's face with a thunderous snap. The man's head jerked back mid-step, his body lifted clean off the ground, and he flew through the air—sailing over the dock before crashing into the sea with a massive splash.
SNAP
His arm retracted in an instant, slapping back into place as Luffy calmly dropped his hand again. His body didn't move an inch.
All forty-eight pirates froze in place.
Eyes wide. Mouths half-open. Some still holding weapons mid-draw.
Their captain's second-in-command—knocked out cold, gone in a blink.
Luffy looked down at them all, his silhouette lit only by moonlight and torch-glow, lips curling into a faint, dangerous smirk.
'Here I come,' he thought.
TO BE CONTINUED