"Absolutely! I swear, absolutely not!"
Higuma immediately pressed one hand to his chest and raised the other high.
"I swear! I'll keep my word — I'll do exactly as I promised!"
"Good, then it's settled."
Nao smiled at Luffy.
"Tomorrow, remember to come by the tavern and help Miss Makino count the money properly."
"Got it, Uncle!" Luffy nodded hard, then suddenly realized something. "Eh? What about you, Uncle?"
"I'm leaving tonight. I don't have time to stay and wait around," Nao shrugged. "Smoker and the others too — they have posts to report to."
"Ehhh—"
Luffy drew out the sound, his face full of reluctance. "You're leaving so soon? Can't you stay in Windmill Village just a few more days?"
"Can't be helped — duty calls."
Nao chuckled and ruffled Luffy's hair again, offering a few words of comfort before turning toward Higuma, who stood there with his head lowered, lost in thought.
"Still not leaving?" Nao said lightly. "What, waiting for us to invite you to dinner?"
Higuma jumped, hurriedly nodding again and again. He quickly gathered his subordinates and, showering them with thanks, left in a fluster.
Just as he stepped over the threshold, he narrowed his eyes slightly — a cold smile flickered within them.
...
That night, at the entrance of Windmill Village.
Nao and his group turned back for one last look.
On the hillside stood a small figure — still waving, unwilling to part.
"This kid's got a good heart," Smoker said quietly. "After being trained by Vice Admiral Garp, his strength's already far above others his age. But he's too naive, too innocent…"
"He's just a kid," Hina said cheerfully, not too bothered. She habitually pulled out a cigarette, lit it — and then quickly pinched it out underfoot, sneaking a guilty glance toward Nao.
"Let's go."
Nao didn't notice her small gesture. He took one last look at Windmill Village before turning back.
"Set sail. Move the warship to a hidden cove and anchor there. Then proceed as planned."
"Yes, Mr. White Dragon!"
...
The next day.
Having spent the previous few days training in the forest, Luffy slept like a rock — not waking until nearly noon.
"Ooohhh—so comfy—"
He stretched lazily, completely satisfied. Remembering what Nao told him yesterday, he didn't bother to wash up — just opened the fridge to grab something quick for breakfast before heading out.
Huh?
Why's the milk carton empty?
"Eh? That's weird…" He shook the carton, frowning. "I could've sworn it was full yesterday…"
Oh well.
Unable to figure it out, he gave up thinking about it. Maybe he'd drunk it in his sleep or something.
Toast hanging from his mouth, he kicked open the door and sprinted toward the tavern.
A few minutes later.
Pushing open the swing door, Luffy entered. The tavern had just seen off a group of customers and was now quiet. Makino was polishing glasses behind the counter.
Seeing him come in, she looked up with a smile.
"Up so early today, Luffy?"
As she spoke, she warmed a cup of milk and placed it before him.
"Thanks, Makino!"
Luffy grinned, taking the milk and chomping on his toast.
"It's boring just sitting at home anyway. Oh, right, Makino — you recognized Uncle Nao right away yesterday. You must know him really well, huh?"
"Of course."
Makino covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"I'm one of his loyal fans, you know? Actually, Luffy — once you go out to sea, you'll find that among women my age, at least half are huge admirers of him."
"Whoa, seriously?!" Luffy's eyes sparkled like stars. "As expected of Uncle Nao — so amazing! He was so busy yesterday, just said he had to leave, and poof, gone already. I didn't even get to ask him half the stuff I wanted! Sister Makino, tell me all about his adventures!"
This silly kid…
They'd only known each other half a day, and he was already a devoted little fanboy.
Makino shook her head with a laugh. Since her hands were finally free, she sat down at the bar and began, smiling, to tell the story from the very beginning.
"The story, hmm… it all begins back when Mr. Nao was still stationed at the 16th Branch of the East Blue Marine…"
Makino began, and before they knew it, half an hour had passed.
Luffy listened with rapt attention, completely absorbed, while Makino spoke with growing enthusiasm. Just as she reached the part about "The Warlord William secretly committing evil, and an unknown young marine stepping up to deliver justice in his stead"—
BANG!
A loud crash shattered the calm as the tavern's slatted door was violently kicked open.
"Sorry to interrupt."
A familiar voice rang out.
Startled, both Luffy and Makino looked up—and saw a mass of dark figures crowding the doorway. At their head was Higuma, grinning as he swaggered inside.
"Just happened to be passing by, thought we'd drop in for a drink."
Higuma glanced around at the tables and chairs, clicking his tongue.
"Not bad, not bad. You fixed everything overnight. Efficient! I like this atmosphere. No noisy Marines around—nice and quiet, just the way I like it!"
He casually pulled out a chair at a round table, sat down in an overbearing manner, crossed one leg over the other, and glanced toward the bar.
"What are you standing there for? We're your guests, aren't we?"
He grinned, slamming a hand down on the table.
"Well? Bring us some alcohol!"
"Yeah, hurry it up!"
"Only the best stuff!"
The other bandits chimed in rowdily.
Makino pressed her lips together, about to speak—but Luffy was already on his feet, slamming his hands on the table in anger.
"Hey! You jerks! What's with that attitude?! You come in here demanding drinks, but today's supposed to be the day you pay back what you owe! You're still short almost eight million Berries—did you bring the money or not?!"
"Eight million Berries?"
Higuma's lips curled into a smirk.
"Of course I brought it. What—gonna come over here and take it yourself?"
"So rude…" Luffy muttered, pouting as he hopped down from the bar.
"Fine, whatever. Since you guys got beat up so bad yesterday, I'll let it slide this time…"
He walked over to the round table, glanced around, and frowned in confusion.
"But wait—you're all empty-handed. So where's the money?"
"Why, right here…" Higuma said with a grin, tapping a finger against his temple.
"Eh?"
Luffy blinked, puzzled. Before he could react, Higuma suddenly raised a boot—
WHAM!
A savage kick sent Luffy flying five or six meters, crashing through several tables before slamming into the floor near the bar.
Makino gasped, dropping her cloth and rushing to help him up.
"How naive can you get, brat?"
Higuma was already standing over him, towering high, his eyes cold and cruel.
"You actually thought I came back to pay you? Those Marines are long gone. Without your protectors, you think you have the right to talk about money with me, Higuma?!"
"B-but…" Luffy's face was swollen like a pig's head. He forced the words out, slurred and trembling:
"But you… you promised yesterday… A real man should keep his word…"
"That's why you're an idiot, kid!"
Higuma threw his head back in laughter, then drove another kick deep into Luffy's stomach.
"Enough talk! Now—where's that money I gave you yesterday? Bring it all out! And while you're at it, it's only noon—there's still plenty of booze in this tavern, isn't there? Bring all of it to me!"
"N-no, it's fine!"
Makino quickly spread her arms wide in front of Luffy to shield him, nodding frantically.
"The money's all still here, and there's plenty of wine left too! I'll go get it right now, just please—don't hurt Luffy anymore, he's only seven years o—"
"Enough chatter!" Higuma glared at her, barking, "Quit yapping and move!"
Makino didn't dare hesitate any longer. She hurried behind the bar to fetch the money. But just as she grabbed the coin pouch, an angry shout burst out behind her—
"Don't give it to them, Makino!"
Makino turned her head sharply—and froze. Luffy was already standing, fists clenched, eyes blazing with fury as he glared at Higuma.
Her face instantly went pale. "Luffy! Don't—!"
But it was too late.
With a furious roar, Luffy lunged forward and drove his fist straight at Higuma's gut.
"People who break their promises…"
"...are the worst!!"
——
THUD!
The front door of the village chief's house was kicked open. The old chief, in the middle of a card game, turned with a frown.
"Can't you see I'm busy? What's the matter, Louise?"
"It's bad, Chief!"
Aunt Louise, carrying a basket of leeks and clearly just back from the market, looked flustered.
"I just passed the crossroads and saw a group of bandits surrounding Luffy—they look like they're trying to kill him! It's dangerous!"
"What?!"
The village chief went pale with shock. He hurriedly put on his glasses and rushed out the door with the woman carrying the leeks.
Behind him, the other old men and women at the card table—who had been quietly cheating while he wasn't looking—froze in place. They dropped their cards and scrambled after him.
——
Two minutes later.
Panting heavily, the elderly villagers reached the central square—only to see the bandits gathered there, laughing as they kicked Luffy around like a ball.
"Kid's tougher than he looks," one of the bandit lieutenants said, clicking his tongue as Higuma ground his boot into Luffy's back.
"An ordinary brat would be half-dead after taking a kick from you, boss. He looks scrawny as hell, but he's surprisingly sturdy."
"He is a bit special," Higuma chuckled, rubbing his chin.
"I was gonna just kill him and be done with it, but now I think I'll keep him alive. Sell him to some noble as a slave. A kid who can take this much beating? Could fetch a damn high price."
"Yeah, let's do that."
He lifted the boot off Luffy's face and waved a hand. "Take him."
The surrounding bandits grinned and reached for their ropes to tie Luffy up—but before they could, a hoarse, furious voice rang out from afar:
"LET THAT CHILD GO!!!"
"Huh?"
All the bandits turned their heads. Higuma frowned in irritation.
Standing at the edge of the square was the village chief, trembling violently under the gaze of dozens of fierce faces. His knees nearly gave out—but when he saw Luffy's bruised, swollen face, he gritted his teeth and shouted with all his strength:
"I don't know what Luffy did to make you angry—but he's just a child! Let him go!"
"I heard you say you plan to sell him for money! If that's the case, then we'll pay a ransom! Name your price—just release him!"
"Ransom?"
Higuma blinked, then glanced at his men—and suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hey, hey, what kind of stupid joke is that, old man?"
He stopped laughing abruptly and jabbed a finger down at Luffy.
"This brat's worth millions of Berries, at least! You think a poor old geezer like you could afford that?"
"I…"
The village chief's heart sank. Millions of Berries—that was a fortune beyond imagining. Even after saving for decades, he had at most a few hundred thousand.
But still—
"…No problem!"
The village chief gritted his teeth.
"I'll go back right now and sell everything I own! Then I'll borrow from the neighbors too—together, we'll raise enough!"
"Oh?"
Higuma raised an eyebrow. Well, well—he hadn't expected such a quiet, remote village to have so much "potential."
He exchanged a knowing look with a few of his lieutenants; greedy smiles spread across their faces.
"Alright then," Higuma said with a grin, "since you're being so sincere, I'll reluctantly agree."
He leaned back lazily.
"But ransom money alone isn't enough."
"This brat really pissed me off. I'm still not over it."
He raised his right hand and pointed around at the crowd of villagers who had rushed over.
"So—you, and all of you, are going to kneel right here and kowtow ten times to apologize for him. Loudly. Got it?"
"Th-this…"
The village chief glanced at the others. After only a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
"Of course, we'll do it."
They were old, yes—but to save Luffy, what did a little humiliation matter?
"Don't do it, Grandpa Village Chief!"
Luffy turned his swollen face, shouting hoarsely,
"These guys—they're all—"
Before he could finish, Higuma's boot came down, smashing his face back into the dirt.
"Didn't I tell you to shut up, brat?"
Higuma looked up again, raising an eyebrow at the village chief.
"Well? What are you waiting for?"
Under his foot, Luffy struggled desperately, but it was no use.
From the corner of his teary, dust-blurred vision, he saw the old village chief and all the familiar elders—those who had always doted on him—step forward under Higuma's gaze, ready to kneel.
In that instant, Luffy's eyes went bloodshot. His fists clenched tight, and a burning wave of regret and rage flooded his chest.
It's my fault.
It's all my fault!
If only I hadn't begged Uncle Nao to let them go yesterday…
If only I hadn't tried to act tough and attack these bandits today…
If only…
Things wouldn't have turned out like this!
Damn it… Damn it… Damn it…
Damn it!!!
"—That's enough."
A calm voice suddenly rang out.
In the next instant, through the blur of tears and dust, Luffy saw—
a strong hand reach out and stop the village chief, who had already started to kneel.
Following that hand upward, he froze.
A familiar face. One that should have already left.
"U… Uncle Nao?"
Luffy stared in disbelief, his eyes wide.
"I'm not dreaming, right?! You—you're all back?!"
Of course, it was Nao.
Behind him, Marines in white uniforms moved swiftly, helping the other villagers to their feet. Then, in perfect coordination, they spread out—closing off every escape route around the square.
"You're not dreaming, Luffy."
Nao met the boy's eyes. In them, he saw joy, guilt, and remorse all tangled together.
He shook his head gently and spoke in a low, calm voice:
"Do you remember? You kept pressing me in the tavern yesterday, asking what the third thing was, besides responsibility and reason..."
"Now... do you understand?"
...
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