Chapter 14: Unwelcome Visitors
The Red-Haired Pirates were gone.
Windmill Village settled back into its familiar, gentle rhythm. But for many villagers, the peace felt different now—a little quieter, a little less colorful. They'd grown accustomed to the laughter and songs that had spilled from Makino's bar, to the larger-than-life presence of the pirates who had, against all odds, become friends. The one person who seemed completely unaffected was Satoru.
It wasn't that he felt nothing for the Red-Hair crew. He just knew, with absolute certainty, that their paths would cross again—on the Grand Line, or in some corner of the New World. Goodbyes weren't permanent in this world.
So, Satoru continued his routine. Every day, dawn till dusk, he trained. A few days after the departure, a dejected Luffy started trailing behind him again, his usual bounce replaced by a determined scowl.
"I gotta get stronger," Luffy declared, punching his own palm. "Strong enough to be a great pirate!"
Shanks's influence was complete. The very word "Marine" had been scrubbed from Luffy's vocabulary, replaced by dreams of a Jolly Roger and boundless seas.
Day by day, Satoru felt his power incrementally growing. Yet, he felt no satisfaction. The ultimate technique—Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void—remained out of reach. Once he mastered that, he was sure he could stand undefeated against anyone, immune to any direct assault. (Poison, of course, was always a separate, annoying issue.)
Huh? Another ship?
Satoru, pausing mid-exercise on the beach, focused his Six Eyes on the horizon. A black dot was growing against the blue. His expression hardened immediately.
The flag it flew was not the familiar crossed-scarred skull of the Red-Hairs. This was a new pirate ship, and it was heading straight for their island. Their peaceful bubble had been spotted.
This was bad news. Garp's name scared off many, but it could also act as a beacon for the worst kind of fool—the kind who thought burning the Hero's hometown would grant instant, glorious infamy. They cared only for the headline, not the brutal consequences.
Satoru didn't know which type these newcomers were. But even if they were the latter, he felt no fear, only a cold focus. His current strength was far beyond that of common East Blue thugs. While he hadn't mastered his highest-tier techniques, he could now unleash a Black Flash at will. If the crew lacked a true powerhouse, he could handle them himself. And if he couldn't… well, the mountain bandits in the hills around Windmill Village owed their continued existence to Garp's tacit protection. They wouldn't dare let the village be harmed.
Soon, the ship landed. Satoru, observing from the shadow of the trees, knew a fight was coming the moment he saw the crew swagger down the gangplank. They carried themselves with a cruel, swaggering arrogance, eyes already assessing the village like vultures circling a carcass.
"Captain," one pirate snickered, his voice rough. "Didn't expect to find such a pretty little village out here in the sticks."
"Hahaha!" the captain roared, a large, brutish man with a scar running through a milky eye. "It won't be pretty for long. Soon, it'll be painted red!"
Satoru's senses tingled. A thick, coppery scent of old blood clung to the man. He'd taken many lives.
Seeing the predatory gleam in their eyes, Satoru decided not to hide. He stepped out from the trees onto the path, blocking their way into the village.
"Oi, Captain! Look! A kid!" a pirate shouted, not with concern, but with a grotesque excitement.
"He's a pretty one," the captain mused, licking his cracked lips. His gaze wasn't just murderous—it was greedy. "Fetch a fine price, he would. The Celestial Dragons love exotic-looking brats."
It clicked. These weren't just pirates; they were slavers. The worst kind of scum.
"Kid," a burly pirate sauntered forward, cracking his knuckles. "Didn't your mommy teach you to run and hide when pirates come?"
Satoru didn't move. His voice was unnervingly calm. "This island is the hometown of the Marine Hero. Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp. Are you certain you want to proceed?"
The name landed like a physical blow. The pirates' arrogant smirks faltered. Some exchanged nervous glances, their eyes darting back to their captain. Garp's reputation was a cold bucket of seawater on their ambitions.
"Captain…" one of them whispered, fear creeping into his voice. "Maybe we should find another island. If that monster finds out we touched his home…"
They finally understood why this village seemed so untouched, so idyllic. It lived under the shadow of a giant.
For a moment, there was only the sound of the wind and the distant gulls.
Then, the captain threw his head back and laughed—a harsh, grating sound full of madness. "HAHAHA! The hometown of the Marine Hero Garp?!"
He looked straight at Satoru, a terrifying, manic grin splitting his face. "Boy… thank you. Thank you for giving me such wonderful news!"
He took a step forward, his intent clear. "To repay you, I'll make sure you get sold to the highest bidder in the Holy Land. A little trophy from Garp's own yard. I'm sure the Celestial Dragons will adore you."
There was no hesitation left. This man was the worst type—a glory-seeking madman who saw Garp's name not as a deterrent, but as the ultimate prize.
"Listen up, you dogs!" the captain bellowed to his crew, his voice raw with ambition. "This is our ticket to fame! Our one chance to make the whole world remember our names! Don't you dare back down now! SEIZE IT!"
(End of Chapter)
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