The ship was secured neatly at the harbor, ropes tightened and sails lowered, as Shamrock and Zoey stepped onto solid ground once more.
The town was lively—merchants shouting prices, sailors laughing loudly, carts rolling over stone streets—and for a brief moment it felt like a place untouched by danger.
Zoey's eyes sparkled as she walked ahead, already tugging Shamrock by the sleeve.
"Look at this place! Smells like food everywhere," she said, grinning. "We should buy spices. Lots of them."
"That's what we're here for," Shamrock replied calmly. "Long journeys need good meals."
They spent hours moving through the market, buying dried meat, sacks of rice, herbs, oils, and every spice Zoey insisted would "make food legendary." Shamrock didn't argue—he knew food was fuel, and Zoey treated it like an art.
Then—
A sudden shout cut through the noise.
"Stop her!"
Shamrock's Observation flared instinctively.
A girl about their age burst through the crowd, breath ragged, clutching something tightly to her chest. Two grown men in black suits chased after her, faces sharp and angry, hands already reaching inside their coats.
Zoey stopped instantly.
"…She stole something."
Shamrock nodded.
"And they're not normal merchants."
"Then go," Zoey said, already smiling. "Save her."
Shamrock didn't hesitate.
In a blink, he was there—sword drawn but controlled, the flat of the blade striking first one man's neck, then the other's temple, both collapsing before they even understood what happened.
The girl skidded to a stop.
She turned slowly, eyes wide, staring at the two unconscious men—then at Shamrock, still holding his sword.
"…You did that?" she asked, disbelief thick in her voice. "You're my age."
"Yes," Shamrock answered simply.
Zoey jogged over, hands on her hips.
"Alright," she said cheerfully, "who are you, and why were those idiots chasing you?"
The girl hesitated, glancing at the fallen men, then lowered her voice.
"I stole from them."
Zoey tilted her head.
"What did you steal?"
The girl took a deep breath and opened her bag just enough to show a strange, patterned fruit.
"A Devil Fruit," she whispered. "The Castle-Castle Fruit."
Shamrock's eyes sharpened slightly.
"And those men?" he asked.
"They're from the Capone family," she said quickly. "One of the five mafia families of the West Blue. They were taking this fruit to their young master—Capone Bege."
Shamrock went still for a moment.
So this is before he eats it…
The girl continued, voice trembling.
"I wanted to sell it. My mother is sick—really sick. I needed the money."
Zoey's expression softened.
"…Then you did nothing wrong."
"But we have to leave!" the girl said urgently. "They'll send more men—lots more!"
Zoey waved her hand dismissively.
"It's fine. Shamrock's stronger than they are."
As if summoned by her words, footsteps echoed around them.
Men in black suits emerged from every alley—twenty of them at least, guns drawn, eyes cold.
The girl panicked.
"N-no… this many…"
One man stepped forward, clearly the leader.
"Hand over the fruit," he said flatly, "or we kill all of you."
Zoey stepped in front of Shamrock, sword sliding free of its sheath.
"No," she said lightly. "The fruit belongs to us now. Get lost."
The man's face twisted with rage.
"You little—"
"Come," Zoey interrupted, blade raised. "Try."
Guns lifted.
Zoey vanished.
A slash echoed as the first man fell, blood spraying from his shoulder. She moved again, cutting down the second before he could fire.
Shamrock joined her without a word.
They moved in perfect sync—Zoey breaking lines, Shamrock finishing strikes. Steel flashed, bodies fell, and within moments the street was silent except for groans.
One man remained.
Zoey grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
"Where's your boss?"
The man spat blood and stayed silent.
Zoey smiled darkly and pierced his arm.
He screamed.
"Next one won't be so clean," she said calmly. "Talk."
"S-swallow Island!" he cried. "The Capone family headquarters!"
Zoey released him and turned to Shamrock, eyes sharp.
"We should destroy them at the root."
Shamrock nodded.
"I couldn't agree more."
He turned to the girl.
"First, we help you."
She stared at them, stunned.
"…Why?"
"Because you're in danger," Zoey said, smiling again. "And because we can."
The girl swallowed hard.
"My name is Sarah."
Shamrock nodded.
"Take us to your house."
Sarah led them through narrow streets to a small, worn home. Inside, a woman lay weakly on a bed, breathing shallowly.
Zoey knelt beside her, whispering,
"We'll fix this."
Shamrock stood at the doorway, eyes calm but resolved.
Swallow Island waited.
And the Capone family had just made a fatal mistake.
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Thanks For Reading....