[Note:
" * " : Indicates abilities that can be upgraded with practice, experience, or unique opportunities.]
> System inner voice ["speaking"] <
> Ash inner speech "speaking" <
{}
Ash tipped his hat as he settled into his seat, "Rafael D. Ashen," he said with an easy grin. "You can call me Ash."
Lucy leaned forward with her elbows on the table, "Monkey D. Lucy. Nice to meet you."
Kuina straightened slightly and gave a short nod, "Shimotsuki Kuina."
Nami gestured between them, smirking. "I ran into her on the way here. Her boat was half sunk. I helped her out, and she hitched a ride with me. Said she was looking for someone in Shells Town."
Kuina inclined her head. "I appreciate the help."
Ash nodded once, then his gaze drifted downward.
To the sword at her hip.
"Wado Ichimonji," he said calmly.
The table went still and looked at him in confusion while Kuina narrowed her eyes at him.
"One of the Twenty-One Great Grade swords," Ash continued, eyes still on the hilt. "So… you practice swordsmanship?"
Kuina's expression hardened instantly "…Is there a problem with that?"
Ash looked at her—and laughed softly, "No. I couldn't care less about that."
He leaned back in his chair, grin sharpening, "I was just wondering what the White Demon was doing alone… without the hunter."
Kuina froze with one eyebrow lifted slightly.
The silence shattered.
"W-WHAT?!" Coby shouted, half-rising from his seat. "T-the White Demon?!"
Kuina didn't even look at him. Her eyes stayed on Ash, "How do you know that name?" she asked evenly.
Ash shrugged. "Rumors travel fast in the East Blue. They say the hunters never moves alone. Where demon hunter goes, the White Demon follows."
Coby's jaw dropped while Kuina's eye twitched slightly as he called her white demon again.
"We already met thedemon hunter Zoro," Ash continued. "Then you show up here—alone, searching for someone, carrying a famous white blade that white demon carries."
Kuina says, "Even so people don't recognise us that easily."
He smiled faintly. "I did my own research on many things, so it wasn't that hard for me to connect the dots."
Ash had heard rumors about Zoro while bounty hunting with the girls, but he never expected him to have a partner—let alone Kuina, who was supposed to be dead.
Kuina studied him for a long moment.
Then she nodded once, "Impressive, You're sharp."
Her voice cooled but had a bite, "Now tell me where can I find my idiot partner?"
Selina spoke before Ash could. "That won't be easy."
Kuina's eyes snapped to her. "Why?"
Uta answered quietly. "Well, he's being held by the Marines. Punished."
Kuina jaw dropped hearing this. "What?"
Coby swallowed. "The Marines caught him… he must've broken the law."
"No!" a small voice cried behind them.
Everyone turned to see who it is and sees the little girl they resued from before.
The little girl stood near their table, fists clenched, "Zoro-Aniki isn't a bad person!"
Her mother hurried after her. "Rika, don't disturb the customers—"
"But, it's true!" Rika, the little girl protested. "He let himself get tied up for us! He took the punishment so we wouldn't!"
Rika clenched her small fists, tears streaking down her cheeks, "It's all that Helmeppo's fault," she said shakily. "Just because he's Captain Morgan's son, he acts like he owns this place."
She swallowed and continued, voice trembling, "A few days ago, he let his pet wolf was loose in town. It scared everyone by attacking everything on-site. When it tried to attack me… Zoro-Aniki killed it to save me."
Rika continued, "He even tried to scare Helmeppo off. But because of who his father is, he made a deal and he took the punishment meant for me and mother."
Kuina clicked her tongue quietly. "Tch. That idiot."
Her hands clenched tighter. "That's why I made the oni-giri… so he wouldn't starve because of us. But Helmeppo ruined it…"
Lucy placed a hand gently on Rika's shoulder. "Don't be sad, Rika. He actually ate it. Said it tasted good even said to thank you."
Rika looked up, eyes wide. "R-really? Oni-chan really ate it… even like that?"
Ash nodded once. "Every bite."
Coby lowered his head, conflicted. "M-maybe I was wrong… I suppose he must have a bad temper, but… he seems like a good person."
Kuina crossed her arms. "He gets that a lot. Zoro isn't good with people—but he's loyal to those he protects."
Rika wiped her eyes. "Yeah, it's all the Morgan's fault. They're the bad ones. If anyone disobeys them… they get executed. Even Marines. Every one in the town fear them because of that."
The table fell silent.
Selina spoke quietly, her voice hard. "Ash. This town seems to have filth that needs to be cleaned."
Everyone shared the same dark expression—Ash, Lucy, Uta, Nami, Ace. Even Shiruku and Anne, new as they were, felt it.
Coby stared down at his hands, shaken. His believes seem shaken.
Then—
"Move aside! Move aside!"
An arrogant voice rang through the restaurant.
Helmeppo barged into the restraurent with two Marines behind him, laughing loudly.
"Hey, you!" he barked at a trembling patron. "Did you just look at me? Wait till I tell my father this. I'll have you executed!"
He laughed as they covered in fear he caused. He shoved past civilians and dropped into a chair, planting his boots on the table.
Every pair of eyes in the Straw Hats' group followed him.
If looks could kill, Helmeppo would've been ash already.
Helmeppo slammed his palm on the table, "Hey, lady. Bring me booze."
Rika's mother flinched but moved quickly, pouring a drink with shaking hands. Helmeppo watched, amused, then chuckled as he lifted the glass.
"I've been bored lately," he said lazily. "So, I decided I'll execute Zoro in a couple of days."
He grinned wide. "You people should look forward to it."
Every chair scraped back at once.
Lucy spoke first, voice sharp. "Didn't you say you'd give him a month?"
Helmeppo turned, squinting at her. "Who are you supposed to be?" He scoffed. "Of course I lied. Only an idiot would believe that."
That was it.
Six fists moved in the same instant. Lucy, Ash, Ace, Nami, Uta, Selina punched him in sync. Surprisingly Kuina joined them too.
The impact was explosive.
Helmeppo was launched clean through the restaurant wall, crashing out into the street in a cloud of splintered wood and dust. They hadn't used even fraction of their strength—but it was more than enough.
The two Marines scrambled to him, hauling him upright.
"You—! You idiots!" Helmeppo shrieked. "Do you know who my father is?! I'll tell him! He'll execute all of you!"
Lucy stepped forward, unimpressed. "Hey, weird face. Shut up. Your voice is irritating."
Helmeppo went pale as all six of them looked at him.
"Guys—stop!" Coby rushed forward, panicked. "Are you trying to make enemies of the Navy?!"
Selina glanced at him coolly. "We're pirates, Coby. We're already their enemies for being pirates. Besides, what's one more name on the list?"
Ash crouched down in front of Helmeppo, resting his elbows on his knees. His smile didn't reach his eyes.
"It seems you've convinced yourself no one would ever fight back," Ash said quietly. "That... no one could touch you… or your father."
He grabbed Helmeppo by the collar and yanked him up.
"Well, that ends today."
Ash paused and looked back at the two Marines, who were frozen in fear.
"Bring me your captain," he said evenly. "Tell him I have his son."
"We'll be waiting—at the base where he tied Zoro."
The Marines bolted.
Kuina watched them, eyes narrowed. "Wait, you guys are pirates?"
Ash smirked, tossing her words back at her. "Why, is there a problem with us being pirates?"
Kuina let out a short chuckle, shaking her head. "No."
Ash nodded once and dragged Helmeppo toward the Marine base.
Lucy and the others fell in behind him as Ash dragged Helmeppo out into the street, his boots scraping through dirt and mud as he struggled to get free from Ash's grip.
Coby and Kuina too followed them.
All around them, townspeople stared and stunned looking at this spectacle silently. And for the first time in a long while, many of their eyes were filled with hope.
At the Marine Base
The terrace of the base rang with strained grunts and shouted orders.
Several Marine soldiers struggled beneath the weight of a massive stone statue, sweat pouring down as they tried to hoist it upright.
"Careful!" a booming voice thundered. "If I see even a scratch on that statue, it'll be the same as carving it into my own body!"
Captain Axe-Hand Morgan loomed over them like a living monument to fear.
He was enormous over nine feet tall, muscles packed tight beneath his ornate Marine coat, the word JUSTICE emblazoned across its back. His tanned skin, his blond hair cropped short, his steel jaw etched with the word Möwe.
Where his right hand should have been, a massive steel axe jutted from his forearm—bolted through bone and flesh, the handle protruding where his elbow once was.
Morgan sneered looking at the statue as the marines are trying to lift it, "…It's smaller than I ordered you to make. I'm great so shouldn't by statue also be just as great as me."
A Marine flinched. "Y-Yes, Captain! We… we made it with the tax we collected. But the people's wallet also have limit."
Morgan turned slowly, "That's not the limit of money," he said calmly, "It's the limit of fear."
The Marine froze.
"Perhaps, that fear has grown… insufficient." Morgan continued, voice darkening, "Maybe, I should execute a few of them and remind them what it means disobeying me."
Before anyone could answer—
"CAPTAIN!"
Two Marines came running onto the terrace, stumbling over themselves as they skidded to halt.
Morgan's gaze snapped to them. "Speak."
One of them swallowed hard. "C-Captain… Helmeppo-sama has been captured."
The terrace went silent.
Morgan's fist tightened. A vein pulsed along his temple, "What happened?"
The Marines hurriedly explained what had occurred in town.
Morgan's expression twisted. "What were you useless morons doing?" he snarled. "Weren't you assigned to protect him?"
The Marine nodded frantically. "Y-Yes, sir!"
"Then why," Morgan asked quietly making them freeze, "are you still alive? You should have died protecting my son with your worthless lives."
"Bu..But, they… they were too strong—!"
The answer never finished.
Morgan drew his pistol and fired twice without warning.
Both Marines collapsed, blood blooming from their shoulders as they fell unconscious. The remaining soldiers stood frozen, terror locking their bodies in place.
Morgan lowered the gun, unimpressed.
Then another Marine shouted pointing down, "Captain Morgan! Look!"
Morgan stepped to the edge of the terrace and looked down.
Ash stood in the center of the ground, gripping Helmeppo by the collar like discarded trash. Helmeppo's face was swollen, bruised and unconscious.
Lucy stood beside Ash, arms crossed.
Behind them—Ace, Selina, Nami, and Uta stood ready.
Coby hid behind them, trembling.
And then—
With a clean, effortless slash, Kuina's blade cut through the ropes that held Zoro.
Zoro rubbed his hands finally free.
Morgan's eye widened.
Ash and Lucy tilted their head upward meeting Morgan's gaze.
Ash gave him a smirk; he lifted the unconscious Helmeppo—and slapped him across the face.
Helmeppo jolted awake with a scream.
Morgan's vision went red.
A Few Minutes Earlier
The whole crew stood in front of the bound swordsman.
Zoro stirred sensing presence, he slowly lifted his head opening his eyes. His mouth opened to speak—
Bonk.
A sharp smack landed square on his head.
He couldn't even clutch it in pain, with his arms still bound. His teeth bared instinctively, shark-like.
"How dare—!" he snapped—
Then he froze.
"…Kuina? What are you doing here?", The anger drained from his face instantly.
Kuina stood right in front of him, with her arms crossed.
"What do you mean what am I doing here, idiot?" she snapped. "I told you to wait at the motel. When I came back, you were gone."
She leaned forward, giving him a sharp glare, "I searched the whole island. Then I hear you slept on some ship and vanished. I had to chase you island to island just to find you here—like this—and you dare ask what I'm doing here?"
Zoro broke into a sweat.
"I was on my way," he muttered. "But the motel was gone. I got tired, so I slept. Who knew it was a merchant ship? I woke up in the middle of the ocean. It's not my fault the motel disappeared."
Bonk.
Kuina smacked him again then yanked his ear, "Idiot. Don't blame others for your sense of direction."
Nami and Uta giggled while Lucy laughed outright.
Zoro snarled, baring his teeth again. "Don't laugh, you idiots!"
Kuina sighed heavily. "I leave you alone for five minutes and you do this."
Her gaze flicked to the unconscious Helmeppo hanging limply from Ash's grip.
"And how could you believe even one word from that moron?" she snapped, pointing at him.
Zoro frowned, opening his mouth to answer—but Kuina cut him off.
Kuina continued coldly, "He never planned to keep his bargain. You were going to be executed in a couple of days—for his entertainment."
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "…Bastard."
Kuina shook her head, stepping closer. "Enough. I'm getting you out of here." Using Wado she cut through the ropes that held him.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
To be continued...
Thanks for reading this chapter!
I'd love to hear your thoughts — not just on the plot, but the journey itself. Is the pacing feeling right to you so far? Too fast, too slow, or just, right? Are there any moments, themes, or dynamics you feel are missing or could be explored more — like deeper character bonds, world-building, emotional scenes, or even new twists? Anything.
Also, is there anything you'd love to see added that could make the story even more exciting or satisfying? Whether it's a kind of power, a dramatic reveal, or just a character moment — your feedback really helps shape this story into something better.
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