After several days at sea aboard the merchant ship, Leo gradually became familiar with the sailors. After work, they would tell him stories of the sea. Occasionally, he would encounter the captain during meals. The captain was always accompanied by a bodyguard dressed in samurai attire. Leo guessed that this must be the swordsman who had unleashed the massive flying blade.
The samurai bodyguard had narrow eyes and a perpetual smile on his face. He gave off a calm, gentle aura, hardly the sharp edge one would expect from a swordsman. Yet Leo was certain he was a great swordsman—not deceived by appearances. Anyone with squinty eyes was usually not someone to be trifled with.
Leo guessed he was a samurai from Wano Country. Remembering the One Piece manga he had read, he recalled that masters of swordsmanship were renowned figures at sea. He never expected to encounter a Wano samurai of such incredible skill by chance.
The rest of the journey was uneventful; no pirates appeared. During this time, Leo did not slack off in his training. Every night, he pretended to sit absentmindedly on the deck. The crew assumed he was homesick and left him alone.
On the empty sea, several water spheres, five meters in diameter, hovered above the surface, flipping and spinning in the air. Leo used these as exercise tools to train his body. This not only strengthened his physique but also honed his ability to control water even when off the ocean.
Fighting pirates had seemed easy before, but that relied on being in the ocean. Now, having left the sea, replicating those feats was nearly impossible. To compensate for his weaknesses in naval combat, Leo planned to develop new abilities for use at sea, adapting to this style of fighting.
One night, while sitting alone on the deck, he heard footsteps behind him. "Clack, clack, clack"—the sound of wooden sandals on the deck.
"Hello, little one. I'm Kozaburo. Are you missing home too?"
Leo turned toward the voice. Upon hearing the samurai introduce himself as Kozaburo, he realized that these so-called "sword masters" were not obscure figures. In the original story, this man was likely a mysterious figure, a swordsman whose reputation surpassed his actual appearances—a master in the minds of many.
"Yes, sir. If possible, I'd like to return home soon," Leo replied innocently, blinking his large eyes.
"Hehe… I miss home too," Kozaburo said softly.
"Sir, did you also experience a shipwreck? Where is your hometown?"
Kozaburo did not answer, merely smiling silently beside Leo.
Seeing him remain silent, Leo also fell quiet. There was no way to continue a conversation with this taciturn man. Do all swordsmen like to look cool? He slouched slightly, letting the sea breeze ruffle his clothes. Just as Leo was inwardly complaining about Kozaburo, the samurai spoke.
"You weren't shipwrecked because of pirates, were you, little one? I saw you that day, holding a wooden barrel, drifting at sea for a long time while chasing that ship."
"Sir, what do you mean?" Leo was shocked. What was he trying to reveal? If he wanted to expose me, why didn't he warn the crew earlier?
"Haha, don't be afraid. I'm not here to reopen wounds. Everyone has their troubles, and you're still a child. I heard you want to go to the Shampoo Paradise, right? My journey passes through there as well. Would you like to come with me?"
Huh? That's right—Kozaburo Frostmoon's destination was in the East Blue. What should I do? Should I accept his invitation?
"Sir, why are you helping me? Just because I'm a child?" Leo asked, still wary of Kozaburo.
"You don't need to be on guard. This is for my convenience. This ship's final destination is Dressrosa. From there, I will transfer to another ship to reach the first half of the Grand Line. You have time to think before disembarking."
"Alright, I will carefully consider your offer, sir. One more question: I've heard that to reach the first half of the Grand Line, we must pass under the Red Soil Continent and through Fish-Man Island. Is there really a Fish-Man Kingdom under the sea?"
"Oh? You know Fish-Man Island? You're no fool," Kozaburo said slyly.
Ah, maybe I overreacted. Does he know about the special nature of Fish-Man Island? Leo had no choice but to use his childlike charm, scratching his head and grinning. "I heard stories from my parents. They told me about Fish-Man Island."
Kozaburo let the topic drop. "The route to Fish-Man Island is smuggling. After reaching Dressrosa, you can consider taking a merchant or government ship, then use the Red Soil Continent elevators to reach the first half of the Grand Line."
Understood. The Fish-Man Island in the anime left a deep impression on me. Leo had always assumed pirates alone took that route. And the elevators on Red Soil? I always thought only the World Government could use them. Preconceptions can really be misleading.
During the following journey, Leo became more open and stopped practicing swordsmanship. After his conversation with Kozaburo, he remained unsure whether to travel with this minor canon swordsman.
Life at sea had become comfortably routine, though today the convoy was forced to stop at a small winter island. Snow covered the island year-round, and its purpose was to resupply.
"Baltimore Island is ahead. Prepare to disembark."
Hearing the island's name, Leo felt it was familiar. Moments of thought sparked realization—this was Vegapunk's birthplace. He was determined to visit, and perhaps even meet the scientist who had led the world in technology for five centuries.
It was Leo's first voyage. His body still trembled upon setting foot on land, a lingering effect of seasickness that would take two or three days to adjust. His first priority: staying warm. Baltimore Island was perpetually snowy, and Leo had brought no winter clothes.
Fortunately, the port had a store selling warm coats, though pricey. After some bargaining, Leo purchased a long, thick coat. It felt incredibly warm once worn.
"Brother sailor, when do we sail again? I want to explore the island."
"Don't worry. The captain said we'll stay in Baltimore tonight. After so many days at sea, rest well. You can return to the ship or stay in a hotel. Be back before noon tomorrow."
With greetings exchanged, Leo headed into the town. His first goal: find a restaurant to break the monotony of seafood. He was nearly sick of it.
He chose the largest restaurant in town, preferring crowded places. Stepping inside, a wave of warmth greeted him. Baltimore resembled his old homeland in northeast China: icy outside, summer-like warmth indoors.
On this frozen island, green vegetables were a luxury. Aside from roasted meat, potatoes were the staple for all dishes.
Leo devoured golden, crispy fries, creamy mashed potatoes, and a generous portion of roasted meat, tears of joy streaming as he ate. The owner, seeing his delight, handed him a cup of warm milk.
"Sir, your food is amazing," Leo said, savoring every bite.
"Little one, if you enjoy it, eat as much as you like. This is all we have. Hope you don't mind."
The people of Baltimore Island were warm-hearted. The cold nurtured their passionate hospitality.
"Sir, is there anything special about Baltimore Island? I just arrived and want to explore."
"Haha, this is the future Baltimore Kingdom. The island holds many scientific wonders and mechanical innovations."
"Sir, do you know Vegapunk? I've heard he's a great scientist, and I admire him. Where can I find him?"
The owner's expression betrayed delight. He, too, admired Vegapunk.
"Dr. Vegapunk is a local celebrity. Everyone reveres him. The warmth here? That's thanks to his heating system."
"From childhood, he dreamed of turning this frozen island into a springlike haven, inventing countless human-benefiting technologies. You can visit his lab near the forest edge in town—but never venture into the forest behind it. Dangerous modified animals roam there."
A surprise! Vegapunk's lab was accessible to outsiders. Leo's interest soared. Following directions and asking locals, he found a massive steel building. Exposed gears, flashing electronic indicators, and protruding pipes gave it a hardcore, steampunk aesthetic.
As Leo marveled, a strange little dog approached. Its hind legs were prosthetic, and a clockwork device sat on its back.
Leo's eyes lit up. A mechanically modified creature! No boy could resist such a wonder.
After bidding farewell to the dog, Leo grew even more excited. He pushed open the lab door, revealing a steam-powered apparatus. Before he could examine it, alarms blared.
Soon, two young guards with guns rushed out. Seeing only a boy, they visibly relaxed. Leo had been mistaken for a trespassing visitor.
"Little one, who brought you here? Where are your parents?" they asked, politely deactivating the alarms.
"Hello, brothers. I just arrived on Baltimore Island. I greatly admire Dr. Vegapunk, so I wanted to visit his lab. I came alone. The restaurant owner guided me here."
"I see! Then I'll show you around. Security is strict—strangers cannot wander freely."
After exploring, they reached Vegapunk's workshop. It seemed long unused. Tools hung everywhere, many unfamiliar to Leo. Thick stacks of blueprints cluttered the tables. With permission, Leo selected a few and studied them carefully.
Seeing his interest, the guard said, "These are Dr. Vegapunk's early designs. You may look, but please return them. We preserve this workshop to honor his contributions, hoping he'll one day return."
Leo barely heard him, fully absorbed in the blueprints. A path to growth and strength crystallized in his mind.
That evening, Leo returned to the merchant ship, found Kozaburo, declined his invitation to travel together, and bid farewell to the sailors who had cared for him.
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All the fanfiction is 30-chapter ahead but this "One Piece: Shadows of the Throne" is 30 chapters ahead there