The pirate ship had docked at Red Leaf Island's harbor, its black flag marked with the symbol of a skull flanked by two iron arms—a clear emblem of the Iron Arm Pirates.
Their captain was Cook, known far and wide as Iron Arm Cook, hailing from the South Blue, the strongest of the Four Seas. His bounty was an impressive 20 million Berries.
Don't underestimate 20 million Berries. The Great Pirate Era had just begun, and most of the people sailing into the seas were green rookies. At this point in the Grand Line's first half, Iron Arm Cook already counted as a major power.
For context, in the weakest of the Four Seas—the East Blue—the average pirate bounty barely reached three million Berries, roughly equivalent to 30,000 Chobas. Even in his own South Blue, Cook's 20 million Berries made him a formidable figure among new pirates.
Before even landing, Cook had already instructed his crew to prepare wine, food, and women for their arrival. Hearing this, the Iron Arm Pirates erupted into cheers.
Why did people flock to the seas now? Beyond Roger's "advertisement" of the One Piece, it was all about wealth and fame. On any island, pirates could loot huge sums of treasure with minimal effort, wreak havoc, and live in total impunity. For lazy men and petty criminals, it was paradise.
Of course, to live carefreely on the seas, one needed a strong pirate crew and a captain capable of covering their backs. And to most of the Iron Arm Pirates, their captain fit that description perfectly.
Since leaving South Blue, their crew had grown steadily, evading the Navy multiple times and carving out a fearsome reputation. Their captain, after all, had once punched a Navy frigate to the bottom of the sea, earning the moniker Iron Arm and his massive bounty.
The moment the ship neared shore, Cook heard the island's warning bell ringing. A sneer tugged at his lips.
"Men, the island has announced our arrival! Let's show them how the Iron Arm Pirates do business!"
At the captain's command, the crew's bloodlust ignited. Weapons drawn, they charged toward the town from the harbor.
But just as the first few footsoldiers surged forward, a fleeting shadow crossed their vision. In the next instant, they saw themselves running… while simultaneously feeling a slash at their backs.
Three high-quality heads exploded into the air in a spray of blood.
Even as the frontliners died, they never understood how they had witnessed their own deaths.
"The welcoming bell… or should I say… the funeral bell?"
Long, waist-length black hair flowing in the wind, Wood emerged from the opposite side of the Iron Arm Pirates. One hand gripped his sheath, the other the long sword dripping blood, a silent testament to the fact that although he appeared young, he was not someone to be trifled with.
The three pirates, killed in an instant, cooled the excitement of their comrades instantly.
The Iron Arm Pirates had raided countless islands since leaving South Blue. Some resistance they'd faced, but only minor opposition—ordinary islanders, no match for hardened pirates.
But this Wood… with a single strike, he had dispatched three men before they could even understand what had happened.
Clearly, this wasn't an ordinary adversary. Even as lowly pirates, the remaining crew could think. Realizing the gap in power, they stopped rushing in blindly.
"Interesting… a small island hiding a fighter like you. But the world beyond is vast. Don't think your little strength gives you license to talk big. You'd better not underestimate Iron Arm Cook!"
Wood's one-blade triple kill had shaken the lower-tier pirates, but Cook, as the captain, was unimpressed. Three thugs? If he wanted, Cook could punch ten of them into the sea at once.
"Iron Arm Cook? Never heard of you. If your name were something like 'Iron Arm Atom,' maybe I'd give you some credit. But paired with that plain, average face… you're just an extra."
Cook barely understood the insult. Normally, when his name appeared in the South Blue, most people would say: "So you're the pirate with a 20-million-Berry bounty!"
But Wood wasn't playing by the usual rules. Atom or not, Cook was a feared pirate in the South Blue. And here he was, being dismissed by some greenhorn kid. How could he tolerate that?
Cook had initially considered sending one of his lieutenants down to test Wood. But the boy's sharp tongue was too much.
In just a few words, Cook's patience snapped. Clashing the metal armguards on his forearms with a metallic clang, he leapt toward Wood.
Wood couldn't help but reflect on human heights in the pirate world. Ordinary humans could easily reach over two meters tall. Wood himself had grown to 1.9 meters, impressive in his old world. But now, standing before him, Cook was at least 2.5 meters tall.
Leaping through the air, Cook's iron-armored fist cut through the wind, crashing toward Wood's position.
Boom!
The sheer force of his punch, amplified by the iron gauntlet, smashed a basketball-sized crater in the sand where Wood had been standing. The punch had passed slightly above its mark, lacking proper impact, which irritated Cook.
Before he could vent his frustration, Wood, having dodged the attack, slashed through the swirling sand with a single sword strike, aiming straight for Cook's neck.