Originally, Shano planned to leave Shimotsuki Village after breakfast and head to the final destination of his wool-gathering journey, the Goa Kingdom.
However, everyone was reluctant to let him go and managed to keep him for another night.
The atmosphere was relaxed and leisurely as a big group gathered in the hall before bedtime, sitting on the tatami, enjoying night talks.
During the night, little Zoro and Sanji sneaked some rice wine again and got a good thrashing from Zeff, adding a bit more cheerfulness to the air.
Shano was slightly tipsy, so he chatted a lot with everyone.
Through the conversation, they learned about Cocoyashi Village, his two adorable sisters, and the beautiful orange garden back home with its succulent, sweet, and juicy citrus fruits.
Shano also pondered.
Just in case, should he ask Zeff or Koushirou to stay a few months in Cocoyashi Village after spring arrives next year?
That way, dealing with the Ah Long Pirates wouldn't be a problem at all.
But after a bit of thought, he ultimately kept it to himself.
He hasn't got the straw hat yet, but his points have already exceeded ten thousand.
In this situation, with a year of hard training, if he still can't handle the Ah Long Pirates, what's the difference between him and a dolt?
Might as well stop plotting an adventure across the sea and directly end it all with the Masamune Sword.
...
The next day.
Kuina, Zeff, Sanji, Zoro... a group gathered to bid a reluctant farewell to Shano at the pier, including Junichi, who had disappeared since early yesterday morning.
It was the moment Shano found out.
That kid seemed possessed and practiced like mad since returning to Shimotsuki Village.
Training tirelessly from five in the morning until midnight, even skipping lunch, a level of intensity far scarier than Zoro.
This brought a slight sense of admiration from Shano.
In his view.
Junichi's swordsmanship talent was not on par with Zoro's, and far from being as good as Kuina's.
But talent is never the sole factor that determines one's potential.
If one puts forth effort and sweat far exceeding others, the outcome often never disappoints.
After all, going from helpless to a new generation Navy Hero only takes two years.
"Why do you keep staring at me, boss?"
Junichi, busy helping Zoro load supplies onto the ship, sensed Shano's gaze and looked up at him with puzzled eyes.
"Just a bit worried about you," Shano joked half-seriously, "I'm really afraid that in a few months, you'll set sail by yourself, and I might have to figure out how to collect your body."
Did he notice that determination?
Junichi pressed his lips together.
Suddenly he looked up and laughed, "What's that? This joke isn't funny. Boss, don't worry, I'm not the kind of simpleton who acts impulsively without assurance."
"What are you guys talking about? Riddles? It's giving me a headache."
Zoro glanced around, thoroughly confused.
"It's not that you're finding it headache-inducing, you genuinely have a headache."
Shano glared at the Green Algae Head irritably.
Having been thrashed by Zeff last night, and a morning spar with Kuina this morning leaving him bruised and red all over, his head remained swollen.
Now he's here with the sea breeze, and his head isn't aching, would be weird.
He turned to Junichi.
"Anyway, as long as you keep your wits about you, don't forget you're never alone. No matter where you go, you have so many pals to fight alongside."
After the earnest advice, Shano waved goodbye to the people lining the shore and finally pressed a button, setting the ship on course.
This little ship with hidden high-tech propulsion was temporarily borrowed.
Traveling from Shimotsuki Village to the nearest large island only takes two days, and Zeff planned to go there to shop for ingredients tomorrow.
Thus, once arriving, he only needs to dock the ship at the pier and forget about it.
He can comfortably catch the passenger ship at the town to proceed to Goa Kingdom.
Zeff will naturally bring this ship back to Shimotsuki Village.
...…
Six days later.
Goa Kingdom, deep within the Korbo Mountain Range.
In the dense forest, Shano swiftly climbed to the top of a towering giant tree, gazing at the vast wilderness surrounding him.
After being dazed for a while, he rubbed his temples tiredly.
"This time, it's truly a blunder..."
He had successfully entered the Goa Kingdom territory the morning before last.
Yet, over fifty hours have passed, and he is still stuck wandering in this mountain range.
It's not that Zoro's sense of direction rubbed off on him.
It's that the Korbo Mountain Range is far more expansive than he anticipated...
Growing up in Cocoyashi Village, the surrounding area was quite small, he was fully adapted to this land's compact nature.
Coming here to Goa Kingdom, he finally re-experienced not being able to see the sea horizon from above...
"If only Luffy were still in Windmill Village." Shano sighed.
Last year around this time, Luffy was still in Windmill Village.
Then the whole mess with Shanks happened, and Garp promptly moved him to Korbo Mountain, handing him over to Mountain Bandit Dadan.
That's how Ace, Sabo, bumped into the Sapphire Pirates, and formed the ASL Brotherhood afterward...
All things considered.
Sabo should have been taken by Dragon to the Revolutionary Army Headquarters several months ago, leaving only Luffy and Ace, the two brothers, in the mountain.
Shano thought his fortune post-departure had already been spent on encounters with the King of the Near Sea and Zeff.
Relying solely on himself to find these two brats in this endless mountain range was indeed challenging.
But it shouldn't be impossible to find them after scouring for over fifty hours, right?
Those troublemakers can't sit still, left half in the wild, constantly causing havoc, they should leave some tracks to be found.
"Sigh."
Having gone several nights without good sleep, body sore, Shano leaned against the high tree trunk, pulling out a few pieces of bread from his backpack to munch on.
He had filled up his stomach in the small town outside the mountain before entering, but even so, he had nearly consumed all the dry food on him.
If no one was found today, he might have to hunt mountain beasts to roast and eat, lacking any seasonings, the taste surely wouldn't be pleasant.
After eating the bread as a makeshift meal, Shano retrieved a straw hat from his backpack and spun it with his finger in the wind.
——Appearing plain and ordinary, slightly weathered, the straw brim woven from wheat was somewhat loose, and the bright red ribbon faded to a dull dark maroon.
Close to the nose, you can still smell a greasy hair oil scent.
He bought this from a farmer in the small town outside the mountain, spending two hundred Berries, waiting to swap it with Luffy's straw hat once he got it.
In fact, the town had many shops, similar straw hats were easily available.
The reason for buying this second-hand with a peculiar smell was simply because those sold in shops were too new.
Luffy may be a scatterbrained dolt, but a beloved straw hat suddenly becoming brand new and spotless would surely be noticeable at first glance.
This move right here, this move is called attention to detail determining success.
Shano also considered bumping into Luffy again soon, maybe even scoring a batch of points.
So, this original straw hat swap has best not be exposed prematurely.