Duncan, the navigator of a New World pirate crew.
A few years ago, during a battle, his body had suffered irreversible damage.
Because of his injuries, his strength had also plummeted.
Although none of his crewmates ever said anything—on the contrary, they even went out of their way to cover for him during fights—
as a man, how could he not care?
Just recently, news spread from an island in the New World: the Blood Pirates were selling a miraculous drink said not only to heal injuries, but also to increase strength.
When Duncan heard this, it was like spring itself was beckoning to him.
With the captain's approval, the whole crew set out for that island. After paying a huge price, they finally managed to obtain one of those precious recovery elixirs.
Clutching the bottle tightly as though it were his last hope, Duncan planned to hurry back to his crew's base.
Smack!
Just as he was thinking how soon he'd be able to regain his manly vigor, he suddenly felt the bottle in his arms being snatched away.
Before he could react, the bottle was gone from his grasp, and a long arm quickly snapped back into place.
"Bastard!"
Looking ahead, Duncan saw a grinning boy in a straw hat, carefree and laughing. His rage spiked instantly. With a furious curse, he stomped the ground with a boom and shot toward the boy like a cannonball.
Even weakened as he was, Duncan had once roamed the New World. His strength may have declined, but he had still been a powerhouse.
But the instant he charged, the swordsman standing beside that carefree boy drew his blade with a smooth motion—
and unleashed a slicing wave of sword energy.
What—?!
Cold sweat broke out across Duncan's body. Mid-lunge, he rolled desperately to the side, narrowly dodging the strike that nearly shaved the skin off his face.
Kneeling on the ground, Duncan's heart sank in despair.
Damn it… these thieves are way too strong!
The island was in chaos now. Crews from all over had gathered, each vying for the recovery drink. Even so, there was a tacit agreement among them: no open fighting.
Who could have imagined that on this supposedly "peaceful" island, such a reckless brat would appear?
No—he wasn't just reckless. He was a walking disaster!
The straw-hatted boy lifted the bottle to his nose and sniffed. Immediately, a refreshing, irresistible aroma surged into his senses.
Unable to resist, he raised it to his lips and gulped down two big swigs.
Sweet. Fragrant. And an indescribably mysterious taste.
As the liquid slid down, his eyes lit up with stars, and he shouted in delight:
"Delicious! So good!!"
Without a thought, he tipped the bottle again to drink more.
"STOP!!!"
From a distance, Duncan felt his heart shatter. That bottle had cost him and his crew all their savings. And this brat—just stole it, and drank a third in one go!
"Ugh!!"
"What's with you? Don't be so stingy! It's just juice, right? You can just buy another one!"
The straw-hatted boy blinked, then broke into a wide grin, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Buy another one…?"
"Bastard, do you even hear yourself?!"
Duncan was trembling with fury.
Buy another one? As if that recovery drink was some cabbage sold on the roadside!
At that moment, Nami, who already knew Luffy was in the wrong, stepped forward with a sweet smile.
"Oji-san, sorry about this—Luffy took your juice. How much was it? We'll compensate you."
In her mind, no matter how expensive, surely 1,000 berries would cover it. Better to spend a bit of money than pick a fight with other pirate crews here.
"Compensate me?"
Duncan sized up the group in front of him—just a bunch of kids. He sneered inwardly.
A bunch of snot-nosed brats.
"Fine then. Everything I spent to obtain that recovery drink adds up to about 100 million berries."
"Pay me 100 million berries right now, and we'll call it even."
He knew they wouldn't have that much, but still stated the true price he had paid.
"What?!!"
"Why don't you just go rob someone!!"
Nami's expression twisted, revealing rows of sharp teeth like a demon.
To her, money wasn't just money.
Money was life itself.
1,000 berries, she could grit her teeth and part with. But 100 million? She'd rather die.
"Che. And here you are calling me the robber."
"Even 100 million is cheap—just look at what the others here are holding, then tell me I'm lying."
Duncan pointed toward the frenzied crowd outside the encampment.
The Straw Hats followed his gaze—and sure enough, every pirate in the mob clutched the same kind of item. Their faces froze in shock.
Then, all at once, their eyes turned toward Luffy—who had, at some point, drained the entire bottle and was now licking his lips in satisfaction.
"You idiot!!!"
"You just drank 100 million berries' worth! Spit it out right now!!"
Nami exploded, seizing Luffy by the neck and shaking him violently.
"Guhhh! N-Nami, I can't breathe!"
Luffy's eyes rolled as he dangled in her grip, tongue lolling.
The others rushed forward to pry her off, afraid she really would strangle him.
"You brats! If you don't give me an explanation today, I won't let this go!" Duncan roared furiously.
"Sumimasen~!"
Nami spun around with a sarcastic bow, then dragged Luffy over and snapped:
"This guy drank your stuff. You can take him instead—he's a pirate, worth a huge bounty."
"Eh—"
"I don't wanna! Don't trade me in for bounty money!!"
Luffy's face went pale with horror.
The rest of the crew, even Law who had joined them later, were all speechless at Nami's stunt.
Seriously? Who even thinks of that?
Only Zoro stood there in thought. Somehow, this scene felt strangely familiar…
"Damn it, what good is his bounty to me?!" Duncan roared, his patience at its end.
"Uh… hey, Oji-san, what if I just get you another one of those drinks?"
Realizing he'd really screwed up, Luffy spoke sincerely.
"Another one?"
"Fine. If you can bring me one, I'll forget this ever happened. But if you can't…"
Duncan's eyes hardened with killing intent. "Even if it costs me my life, I'll fight you to the bitter end."
"Don't worry. I keep my word."
Luffy flashed his trademark grin.
"Pirates don't lie to pirates!"
Then he turned to his crew—more precisely, to Nami, the one holding the purse strings.
Nami's face darkened instantly.
"Don't you dare expect me to spend 100 million on that junk. You're on your own."
Seeing her sharp-toothed demonic glare, Luffy flinched, then sighed and turned toward the encampment.
"Well then… guess I'll just have to rely on myself!"
And before anyone could stop him, his arm stretched out, grabbed a vine on the tent wall, and with a whoosh, he slingshotted himself into the chaos.
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