Loguetown.
A town of contradictions.
Since Admiral Zephyr's incident, the number of pirates on the seas had increased dramatically.
Even in the East Blue, known as the weakest sea, the number of pirates was growing day by day. As the last stop before entering the Grand Line, Loguetown welcomed many pirates.
Despite this, due to its advantageous geographical location, Loguetown did not decline because of the pirate rampage. Instead, it became even more prosperous than before.
On a certain beach.
Sivedia stepped onto the soft, damp sand, so excited that he knelt and kissed the ground mixed with gravel.
Before setting foot on the beach, it had all felt like a dream.
Being chased by pirates, being taken to the legendary stronghold of the great pirate Golden Lion Shiki... Everything felt unreal.
He had actually made it back alive!
Meanwhile, Reddy stared at the beach, lost in thought.
"Reddy-sama!"
Bill had initially called Reddy "Kami," which Reddy disliked. It took a lot of effort to make Bill change his address.
Reddy snapped out of his thoughts and smiled self-deprecatingly.
Loguetown's status was too special. Using the Float-Float Fruit ability to take this island away would probably drive the World Government mad.
Right now, he wasn't even confident of defeating Golden Lion Shiki outright. After leaving the Floating Islands, he had to hide for several months to avoid risks, let alone face the even stronger and more powerful World Government.
"Time to pay back the money you owe me."
Reddy's voice snapped Sivedia out of his post-survival euphoria.
Sivedia immediately remembered the massive debt of 100 million Berries he owed and forced a smile. "Of course, but I need a little time."
"Fine."
Reddy shrugged and walked away with Bill.
Sivedia froze. For a moment, he thought about running away from the debt.
But then he remembered that Reddy had escaped Golden Lion Shiki's stronghold unscathed. He shuddered and dismissed the thought entirely.
...
A manor outside the Marine base.
Ark adjusted his black wide-brimmed hat, directing the other children as they set the dining table.
Over a dozen girls, aged six to ten, carried baskets of clean dishes and carefully arranged them on the table.
"Make way, hurry up, it's burning me!"
Four boys around fourteen or fifteen years old rushed over, carrying two steaming pots. Ark gave each of them a flick on the forehead.
"If you spill any, I'll beat you up!"
Ark had high authority within the group. The four boys grinned sheepishly, enduring the pain as they slowed down.
Nearby, several girls around thirteen or fourteen carried baskets of bread, chatting and laughing as they walked out.
"Time to eat!"
Ark tapped a ladle against one of the pots.
Led by Mia, over twenty children, around three or four years old, ran out of the house, giggling.
Under Ark and the older girls' arrangements, dozens of children sat down in an orderly manner.
Then came the distribution of bread and soup.
Dinner wasn't lavish, but every child was content. Even the youngest ones waited patiently without immediately digging in.
"Ark!"
Yakovich walked into the manor carrying a paper bag. Seeing the children waiting properly for their meal, his stern face softened slightly.
There were many orphans in Loguetown who had suffered at the hands of pirates, but few groups were as well-organized as Ark's.
Over the past year, he had witnessed Ark's growth.
Ark took care of the other orphans and took in even more, most of them under six years old.
Older children were more likely to be targeted by thief gangs and underworld groups.
Even with more members, the group didn't face any trouble.
Quite the opposite.
Under Ark's leadership, all the orphans worked together to repair the dilapidated manor. They planted flowers in the corners of the courtyard and even started a vegetable garden in the backyard.
"Mr. Yakovich, care to join us?"
Ark walked over, pretending to be mature as he invited Yakovich.
Yakovich chuckled and handed the paper bag to Ark. "These are sausages from Old Jack's shop."
The children gasped in excitement.
Old Jack was Loguetown's sausage shop owner. His secret-recipe sausages were fragrant and famous throughout the town.
However, sausages were expensive, and Ark had never been willing to buy them.
"I can take care of everyone."
Ark proudly pushed the bag back, adjusting his black wide-brimmed hat confidently. "That's my promise with Dr. Reddy."
Yakovich laughed loudly, placed the bag on the long dining table, and turned to leave. "Don't go into town these days. Damn pirates are everywhere now."
"Mr. Yakovich, kill those damn pirates!" Ark clenched his fists, his eyes filled with deep hatred.
The other children also cheered Yakovich on, their faces full of resentment.
Even the three- or four-year-olds were no exception.
Every child here was a victim. None of them held any goodwill toward pirates.
Pirates were free people?
Yeah, right!
They wished every pirate would die a hundred times over!
Yakovich didn't look back, merely waving to signal that he would definitely send those pirates to hell before leaving the manor.
"Alright, let's eat!"
Ark watched Yakovich leave, then turned and announced loudly, "Eat well. When we grow up, we'll take revenge ourselves!"
"Yeah!"
The children nodded seriously.
The older girls then distributed the sausages Yakovich had brought.
Soon, the sound of slurping filled the courtyard.
Every child ate like a little pig, taking bites of bread and soup before carefully nibbling on a small piece of sausage, their faces brimming with happiness.
...
In the night sky.
A carpet hovered above the manor.
Bill looked down at the scene below, then turned to Reddy hesitantly. "Reddy-sama, these children..."
After Reddy's insistence, he had finally stopped calling him "Kami."
"These children are all orphans."
Reddy gazed down at the lively dinner scene, smiling.
Ark had done much better than he had expected.
Originally, he thought that even with 2.5 million Berries and the protection of Marine Captain Yakovich, Ark would struggle to survive in Loguetown.
After all, it wasn't just pirates who harmed civilians.
Gangs!
Street thugs!
The Marines had no choice but to prioritize catching pirates, leaving little room to deal with criminal organizations like gangs.
And with pirates running rampant now, Yakovich might not have time to look after Ark and the others.
Yet Ark had taken care of these children well, even increasing their numbers compared to a year ago.
Bill fell silent.
At this moment, he thought of his own deceased son.
After a long pause, Bill spoke. "Reddy-sama, why not take them with you?"
Reddy glanced at him and replied calmly, "People who only rely on others for hope aren't worth saving... Do you know why I brought you here?"
Bill shook his head.
Reddy smiled. "Three years. I promise that if you protect these children for three years, I'll make you a true powerhouse."
"Reddy-sama..."
Bill wanted to say he could wait, that Reddy didn't need to make such a promise, but Reddy raised a hand to stop him.
Instead, Reddy smiled and said, "We have guests."
Bill was startled and looked around, only now noticing the faint smoke that had begun to surround them.
The next second!
A white-haired man with two cigars in his mouth materialized in the air.
"Who are you people?"