A few days later, the Holy Light Pirates arrived at Windmill Village, Grimm's destination — a tiny, unremarkable town right on the edge of the East Blue.
"Village Head!"
Upp Stap, the village head who was out for a walk, heard someone call his name.
He turned around and saw two villagers sprinting toward him, shouting: "Pirates! The pirates are here!"
Windmill Village was a modest place, rarely troubled by raiders — and more importantly, it was the hometown of the Marine hero Garp.
Any pirate with even a little sense would never dare cause trouble here.
"This is serious, Village Head! There are over a thousand of them — and something swimming in the sea is two hundred meters long! We're terrified!"
At their words, the other villagers in the street stared in shock. Stap frowned, waved his cane, and called out:
"Everyone, get inside your homes right now! Leave everything else — we'll send word to the Marines!"
The people hurried indoors, though many peered out from behind their curtains to see what was happening.
"Captain, this dump has nothing worth taking — barely even any villagers. Can't we just pick a real target? Wandering around like this is driving me crazy!"
Planck's voice carried far, and the hidden villagers gasped. There were so many of them, and every single one looked fierce and dangerous.
Grimm walked straight to a small tavern — he had stayed here for a while before when he came looking for Luffy, and no one recognized him now; his fox‑themed coat hid his face well enough that even familiar faces would miss him.
Besides, seeing such a huge crew all at once was enough to rattle anyone.
The tavern was too small to hold them all, so only a handful of senior officers followed him inside.
The rest waited outside, radiating a clear "keep away" aura.
A slender woman with a yellow headscarf and neat green hair was wiping plates.
She looked up as they entered and gave a polite, professional smile.
Grimm sat at the bar. "Something to drink first, then I need to ask you about something."
"Beer, coming right up," said Makino — then she paused, her eyes widening.
"It's… you?"
She did not stop moving, pouring his drink quickly.
Grimm took a sip and smiled. "Years later, and your beer still tastes the best."
"Thank you," Makino replied softly.
"Captain, can you stop chattering? What are we actually after? Is there any gold, or is Dragon just…"
"Planck — quiet!" Grimm snapped, silencing the man behind him. "I'm about to ask."
Makino noticed how respectfully Planck and the others stood back, and wondered.
She had seen Grimm stay here for two weeks some years before, but paid little attention to the wider world and never learned who he really was.
"May I ask who you're looking for?" she asked gently.
"I know everyone in Windmill Village — I can help." She hoped a helpful answer would keep the village safe.
"Is that so? Perfect!" Grimm grinned.
"His name is Monkey D. Luffy — though I once called him 'Wang Luffy' by mistake."
Clatter! Makino dropped the plate she was holding.
"I waited here two whole weeks for him two years ago," Grimm went on.
"He couldn't still be gone, could he?"
"Ah… may I ask — why do you need to find him?" Makino forced a smile, ignoring the broken plate.
"I asked where he is — not why," Grimm said, teasing but firm, meeting her gaze.
Planck's hand moved to his sword, drawing it just three inches from its sheath — a clear threat — but Grimm shot him a sharp look, and he sheathed it again.
"We have time," Grimm said. "Search the village."
Mattheus stepped out and called to the thousand men waiting outside:
"Captain wants Monkey D. Luffy — a young boy. Search every house carefully!"
Pirates who had been slouching or sitting on the ground jumped to attention, eyes hardening as they spread out through the village.
CRASH! One kicked open a door and confronted a middle‑aged woman. "Where is Monkey D. Luffy?"
The woman flinched, thinking of the rambunctious boy who often ran wild — then shook her head. "I… I don't know anyone by that name!"
BANG! A bullet shattered a vase just behind her. "Care to try that again?"
Tears welled in her eyes, but she stood her ground. "I really don't know!"
BANG! BANG! BANG! Three more shots rang out — but none hit her.
When she looked up, the two pirates were already walking away.
"Was… was that just to scare me?"
It was. Grimm had given a strict order: never kill anyone who does not hold a weapon.
That was the rule of the Holy Light Pirates.
Door after door was kicked open as the crew pressed on, asking the same question — every time, threats, but no harm done.
"I said — where is Monkey D. Luffy?" a bespectacled pirate demanded of a young man.
The man fell to his knees, shaking. "I don't know! Truly, I don't!"
"Ugh — we'll have to kill someone if you won't talk!" Frustration was mounting, but the order held: no killing unarmed civilians.
"Do you really not know, or are you lying?"
"I swear I don't! Why would I hide a child from you?"
"If he's nobody special, why would so many people protect him?"
As they argued, one pirate decided to make an example.
He dragged the young man out into the main square and turned to the gathered villagers.
"Listen closely — if you don't tell us where he is, this is what happens!"
He drew his blade and held it over the man's neck — only a show, meant to frighten them into speaking.
But it worked.
"Stop! Please, stop!"
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