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Chapter 22: The Mountain Bandits
Early the next morning, Garp hauled a sleepy, confused Luffy out of bed. With Satoru in tow, they headed not toward the sea, but inland, toward the mountains that loomed behind Windmill Village. Satoru had trained on these slopes with Luffy before, but they'd always avoided one particular range. The villagers had strict warnings: "Bandits live there. Stay away."
Now, Satoru knew exactly where they were going. The Dadan Family. Less a gang of vicious outlaws and more a ragtag collection of misfits living as a family. According to his memories, they weren't truly evil. They were, more than anything, under Garp's thumb.
"What is this place?" Luffy mumbled, rubbing his eyes as they ascended the winding mountain path.
"This," Garp announced, "is where you're going to live from now on."
Satoru understood Garp's logic. By placing Luffy here, he'd be forced into close quarters with Ace. Two lonely boys, isolated in the mountains, might just become the brothers Garp hoped they'd be.
"Whaaaat? Really?!" Luffy's drowsiness vanished, replaced by sparkling eyes. To him, living in the mountains sounded like a grand new adventure.
Soon, they reached the summit. A cluster of haphazard, ramshackle buildings sat nestled among the trees, built with no apparent plan or care.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Garp hammered on the largest door with enough force to shake the entire structure.
"WHO'S THERE?! YOU LOOKING TO DIE?! THIS IS BANDIT TERRITORY!" a rough, irritated voice roared from inside.
The door was yanked open, revealing a large, muscular woman with wild orange curls. Her scowl was fearsome. It was Dadan.
Then she saw Garp.
Her furious expression melted into one of nervous, fawning deference.
"L-Lieutenant General Garp! What a... surprise! What brings you up our way?"
"How's Ace?" Garp asked, cutting straight to the point.
"Oh! Ace is great! Very lively! We're taking good care of him, I promise!" Dadan said, wringing her hands.
"Good." Garp grunted in approval. Then, he shoved Luffy forward. "Now, Dadan. You're going to raise this one, too."
Dadan's face fell. One feral grandson of Garp was enough. A second might actually kill her. Her eyes swept over Luffy with clear disgust.
"Lieutenant General... whose kid is this?"
"He's my actual grandson. You raise him well. If I hear he's suffered even a little under your roof, you'll be spending the rest of your days in a cell. Understood?"
Garp's threat was blunt, but Satoru knew it was mostly for show. Garp trusted Dadan's essential decency—that's why Ace was here in the first place.
With that, Garp pushed past the stunned woman and strode into the main house. The other bandits inside scurried for cover like roaches when the light turns on.
"Hello! I'm Monkey D. Luffy!" Luffy announced cheerfully, extending a hand to Dadan as if they were at a party. "The man who's gonna be King of the Pirates!"
"Pirate... King?" Dadan repeated, her brain struggling to catch up. Garp's own grandson... wanting to be the Pirate King? What kind of family drama was this?
"Don't mind him," Garp called from inside, his voice echoing. "I'll beat that nonsense out of his head."
Dadan's bewildered gaze then landed on Satoru. Her look said, And you? Your turn.
"Hello. My name is Monkey D. Satoru. You can call me Satoru."
"Another Monkey D.?" Dadan muttered, squinting. "You're... also the Vice Admiral's grandson?"
Her tone was skeptical. Satoru, with his pale hair, delicate features, and calm demeanor, looked nothing like the rough-and-tumble stock of the Monkey family. Unless his mother's genes were overwhelmingly dominant.
"You misunderstand," Satoru clarified. "I'm not his blood grandson. He rescued me from pirates."
"Ah! That explains it," Dadan said, her expression softening into one of relief. "I was wondering how the old sea dog could have a grandson who looks like... well, like you."
She leaned in a little, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Listen, kid. A pretty face like yours? You gotta be careful. There are nasty people out there who'd snatch someone like you up in a heartbeat. Could ruin your whole life."
Her concern was genuine, a flash of unexpected kindness from the gruff bandit chief.
"Thank you for the warning," Satoru replied politely. "But I'll be leaving for Marineford with Vice Admiral Garp soon. I doubt any traffickers would be bold enough to target me there."
"Oh." Dadan's shoulders slumped slightly. A flicker of disappointment crossed her face. Compared to the loud, rubbery chaos that was Luffy, this calm, polite boy seemed like a dream to look after. If she could have chosen, she'd have swapped in a heartbeat—she'd keep Satoru and send Luffy off to Navy Headquarters. Life would be so much quieter.
(End of Chapter)
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