The sea calmed as the coastline changed—Foosha's gentle green giving way to a harsher, more disciplined shoreline. Stone walls rose in the distance, topped with Marine flags that snapped in the wind like warnings.
Shells Town.
Luffy leaned over the railing of the stolen sloop, squinting at the approaching harbor. "Oi, Shiro! That place looks super boring!"
Shiro rested his elbows on the side, scanning the town with half-closed eyes. "Boring towns are usually the dangerous ones. When everyone's too quiet, it means someone's forcing them to be."
Luffy tilted his head, genuinely confused. "Huh? Why would they do that?"
Shiro's mouth curved slightly. "Because fear is easier to control than respect."
Luffy frowned, his expression unusually serious for a moment. Then he grinned again, pounding his fist into his palm. "Then we just have to punch whoever's scaring them!"
Shiro sighed, though his smile didn't fade. "That's your solution to everything."
"Because it works!" Luffy declared, arms spread wide like he'd discovered the secret to life.
Shiro couldn't argue with that logic—mostly because arguing with Luffy was like arguing with a stone.
As they approached the dock, Shiro's awareness expanded outward—soft, deliberate, controlled. The town's layout filled his mind like an invisible map: narrow streets, stiff-backed Marines patrolling in pairs, civilians who walked with their heads down and their smiles forced.
And in the center of it all, like a blade driven into the ground, was a presence that didn't fit the fear-soaked atmosphere.
Sharp. Steady. Angry, Wild but disciplined.
Shiro's grin widened just a fraction. "Found him."
"Found who?" Luffy asked, already bouncing on his toes with excitement.
"The swordsman." Shiro's tone turned playful. "The one you're going to recruit. Try not to scare him off with whatever… this is."
He gestured vaguely at Luffy's entire existence.
Luffy puffed his cheeks indignantly. "I'm charming!"
Shiro glanced at Luffy's finger, which was currently exploring his nose with complete confidence. "You're something, alright."
They docked with zero subtlety—Luffy jumping off first and nearly tripping over his own sandals, then standing proudly like he'd just conquered a kingdom with arms on his waist. Shiro hopped down after him, hands in pockets, posture relaxed but eyes constantly scanning.
The first thing Luffy did was walk straight up to a random villager and ask, at maximum volume, "HEY! WHERE'S THE FOOD IN THIS TOWN?!"
The villager flinched like the question was a crime, eyes darting nervously toward a nearby Marine patrol. "Th-the restaurant is that way, but please, lower your voice—"
Luffy leaned in closer, trying to whisper. "WHERE'S THE FOOD?!"
It was still shouting.
Shiro grabbed Luffy's collar and gently pulled him back. "Luffy. Volume."
Luffy looked confused. "I was whispering!"
Shiro sighed deeply. "That's the problem."
They wandered deeper into town. It looked clean—almost too clean, like someone had scrubbed away the personality along with the dirt. The people looked tired, their smiles vanishing the moment a Marine turned a corner.
Near a small stall, a little girl stood clutching a cloth bundle to her chest. Her eyes were fixed on the massive Marine base gates in the distance, and she looked like she was building up courage brick by brick.
Luffy noticed immediately, his instincts for interesting things flawless. "Hey! Whatcha got there?"
The girl jumped, startled. "R-rice balls…"
Luffy's eyes lit up like stars. "I LOVE RICE BALLS! Can I have one?!"
The girl shook her head quickly. "No! They're not for you! They're for someone important!"
Shiro stepped forward, his tone gentle but curious. "Someone important? In a town like this?"
The girl hesitated, then nodded. "He's tied up in the Marine yard. Everyone says he's a demon, but he's not! He protected me once when some bad men tried to hurt me! I wanted to thank him, but…"
Her voice trailed off, small and scared.
Luffy's grin faded into something simpler and heavier. "Then he's not a bad guy. Bad guys don't protect people."
The girl looked up at him, surprised by the certainty in his voice.
Shiro crouched down to her level, his smile reassuring. "What's this demon's name?"
"Roronoa Zoro," she whispered, like saying it too loud would summon Marines.
Shiro nodded slowly, committing the name to memory even though he'd already known it. "Alright. We'll check on him."
The girl's eyes widened. "You will? But the Marines—"
Luffy puffed his chest out proudly. "Don't worry! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates! A few Marines won't stop me!"
The girl stared, then smiled—a real smile, small but genuine. "Thank you."
Shiro stood, glancing at Luffy. "Let's go meet this demon, then."
The Marine base was massive, dominating the town like a fortress. The courtyard was visible from the street—a wide, open space where a man was tied to a wooden cross-frame under the harsh sun.
Shiro's awareness painted the scene in detail before they even arrived: fifteen Marines stationed around the yard, rifles ready. A man with green hair tied to the post, shirt open, skin sunburned, head lowered—but his posture still radiating danger like a blade waiting to be drawn.
And somewhere inside the base, moving quickly through the halls with practiced silence—
Another presence.
Female. Light on her feet. Intent focused on something specific.
Shiro's eyes narrowed with interest. "There's someone inside stealing something."
Luffy blinked. "Huh? How do you know?"
Shiro tapped the side of his head. "I can feel people moving. It's part of my power."
Luffy's jaw dropped. "THAT'S SO COOL! Can you feel me?!"
Shiro deadpanned. "Unfortunately, yes. All the time."
Luffy laughed like that was the best compliment he'd ever received.
They walked straight up to the yard. A Marine immediately stepped forward, hand on his rifle. "Hey! Civilians aren't allowed near the prisoner!"
Luffy stopped, tilted his head, and said with complete honesty, "I'm not a civilian."
The Marine blinked. "Then what are you?"
"A pirate!" Luffy declared, grinning like he'd just won a prize.
The Marine's face went pale. "P-PIRATE?! EVERYONE, RAISE YOUR WEAPONS!"
Rifles snapped up, aimed directly at Luffy and Shiro.
Luffy didn't even flinch. He just walked forward like the guns weren't there.
Shiro stayed a step behind, hands still in his pockets, utterly calm. His awareness tightened subtly—not enough to act yet, just enough to track every finger on every trigger.
The man tied to the post—Zoro—lifted his head slightly. His eyes were sharp, scarred, and calculating. He looked at Luffy first, then at Shiro, sizing them up in a single glance.
He didn't look impressed.
He looked measuring.
Luffy stopped right in front of him, grinning widely. "Hey! You're Roronoa Zoro, right?!"
Zoro's voice was rough from thirst, but steady as iron. "If you're here to laugh, get lost."
Luffy frowned, genuinely confused. "Why would I laugh?"
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "Because that's what everyone does. I'm the 'demon' pirate hunter tied up like a dog."
Luffy shook his head hard. "You're not a demon. You protected someone. That makes you a good guy."
Zoro blinked, caught off guard by the simple certainty.
Luffy's grin returned, even bigger. "So I'm inviting you!"
Zoro stared. "Inviting me?"
"To join my crew!" Luffy declared, arms spread wide like the offer was the most obvious thing in the world.
Zoro's mouth opened, then closed. He looked at Luffy like the boy had offered him the moon. "You're insane."
Luffy laughed. "I get that a lot!"
Shiro stepped forward, his tone smooth and confident. "The captain's serious. Also, you're going to die here if you stay tied up for three more days."
Zoro's eyes flicked to Shiro. "And you care?"
Shiro shrugged casually. "Not about you specifically. But I care about having the strongest swordsman on our ship. That's valuable."
Zoro's eyes narrowed, a flicker of interest sparking. "Strongest?"
Luffy nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You're gonna be the strongest swordsman in the world, right?! That's perfect for my crew!"
Zoro stared at Luffy for a long moment, then looked back at Shiro. "You talk big."
Shiro's grin widened, confident and almost cocky. "It's alright. I'm the strongest. Talking big is allowed when you can back it up."
Zoro's mouth twitched—barely—almost a smile. Almost. "You're either the real deal or the dumbest guy I've ever met."
Shiro's eyes glinted. "Why not both?"
Before Zoro could respond, heavy footsteps echoed from the base stairs.
A blond man in a fancy suit descended, flanked by Marines who looked more afraid of him than any pirate. His hair was styled in a ridiculous blonde arc that looked like a poorly shaped vegetable.
Helmeppo.
He stared at Luffy and Shiro like they were trash that learned to walk. "What's this? More peasants trying to play hero?"
Luffy pointed at him immediately, eyes wide with innocent honesty. "Your hair looks like a half-eaten cabbage."
Shiro's lips twitched.
Helmeppo's face turned bright red. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Luffy tilted his head. "I said your hair looks like a cabbage. Is that bad?"
Shiro leaned toward Luffy, voice low. "Try not to start fights before we even know what we're fighting for."
Luffy whispered back, still at maximum volume. "But it's true! Look at it!"
Shiro glanced at Helmeppo's hair. "Okay, fair point. Carry on."
Helmeppo's face twisted with rage. "Do you KNOW who I am?! I'm the son of Captain Morgan! I can have you executed with a snap of my fingers!"
Luffy blinked. "Who's Captain Morgan?"
Helmeppo's jaw dropped. "WHO'S—?! He's the most powerful Marine in East Blue! He's a hero! He's—"
"Sounds boring," Luffy interrupted, picking his nose.
Helmeppo's eye twitched violently. He snapped his fingers at the nearest Marine. "SHOOT THEM! BOTH OF THEM!"
The Marine raised his rifle, hands trembling.
Shiro's eyes half-lidded, his tone calm and almost bored. "You don't want to do that."
The Marine's breath caught. He didn't know why, but his arms suddenly felt too heavy to move. Cold sweat ran down his back.
Helmeppo's voice cracked. "I SAID SHOOT!"
The Marine tried to lift the rifle again—and it suddenly twisted sideways as if yanked by invisible hands. It spun out of his grip and clattered to the ground, spinning like a toy.
Everyone froze.
Helmeppo stared at the rifle, then at Shiro. "What… what did you do?!"
Shiro finally raised two fingers lazily. "Telekinesis. It's easier than explaining every time someone points a gun at me."
Zoro's eyes sharpened. He'd heard of Devil Fruit users, but this felt different. Controlled. Precise.
Helmeppo pulled out his own pistol with shaking hands and aimed it at Luffy. "I-I'll shoot the captain, then! You can't stop me from this close!"
Luffy didn't even look concerned. "Go ahead."
Helmeppo hesitated, thrown by the complete lack of fear.
Zoro's body tensed. He couldn't move, but his instincts screamed at him to do something—
Shiro sighed. "Luffy, don't encourage him."
Helmeppo fired.
The gunshot cracked through the yard.
Luffy's head tilted to the side—just slightly, just enough—and the bullet whizzed past his ear, missing by a hair.
Helmeppo's eyes bulged. "H-how—?!"
Luffy grinned. "I saw it coming."
Shiro nodded approvingly. "Good. Your Observation Haki's improving."
Zoro's mind raced. Observation Haki? What's that?
Helmeppo stumbled backward, voice cracking. "Y-you're monsters!"
Luffy stretched his arms behind him, grinning wildly. "Gomu Gomu no—"
Shiro raised a hand. "Wait."
Luffy paused mid-stretch. "Why?"
Shiro nodded toward the Marines, whose rifles were now all pointed in random directions—some toward the ground, some at each other. "Because if we start a fight here, the town gets caught in the crossfire. And we're not monsters."
Luffy blinked, then lowered his arms. "Oh. Okay."
Zoro watched that exchange closely. The white-haired one—Shiro—wasn't just strong. He was thinking. And the rubber boy listened to him instantly when it mattered.
That was dangerous.
Or maybe… reliable.
Shiro walked toward Helmeppo, still calm, hands in his pockets. "Here's what's going to happen. You're going to take me to where Zoro's swords are being kept. Then you're going to let me take them. And then you're going to go hide somewhere quiet while we handle your father."
Helmeppo's voice came out as a squeak. "M-my father will kill you!"
Shiro smiled, tilting his head. "Maybe. But you'll be dead long before that happens if you don't move."
The air around Shiro tightened—just enough pressure to make Helmeppo's knees wobble.
Helmeppo's face went white. "F-fine! Fine! I'll take you!"
Shiro glanced back at Luffy. "Captain, keep Zoro company. I'll be back in five minutes."
Luffy gave a thumbs-up. "Okay! Don't take too long! I'm getting hungry!"
Zoro stared as Shiro walked away with Helmeppo practically stumbling over himself to obey.
Then Zoro looked at Luffy. "Your crewmate's terrifying."
Luffy laughed. "Yeah! He says he's the strongest!"
Zoro's mouth twitched. "Does he say that a lot?"
"All the time!" Luffy said cheerfully. "But he's usually right, so it's fine!"
Zoro huffed, almost amused despite himself.
Inside the Base, Shiro followed Helmeppo through the base halls, his awareness painting the layout in perfect detail. Marines rushed past, oblivious. Helmeppo led him down a staircase into the storage wing.
"I-it's this way," Helmeppo stammered, pointing at a locked room. "His swords are in there."
Shiro glanced at the lock, then at Helmeppo. "Open it."
Helmeppo fumbled with the keys, hands shaking so badly he dropped them twice.
The door finally swung open—and Shiro's awareness caught movement inside.
A woman. Orange hair. Moving fast toward a different shelf where a rolled map sat.
Shiro stepped into the room. "You know, if you're stealing something, you should probably lock the door after you."
The woman froze.
Then she spun around, revealing sharp eyes, a confident smirk, and a staff held defensively. "Who are you?"
Shiro smiled. "Just a guy picking up some swords. You?"
"Just a girl picking up a map," she said smoothly, eyeing him carefully.
Shiro's eyes flicked to the Grand Line map in her hand. "Bold choice. That's valuable."
She smirked. "Which is why I'm taking it."
Shiro walked past her casually, heading toward the three swords mounted on the wall. "Fair. I won't stop you."
She blinked, surprised. "You won't?"
Shiro picked up the swords carefully, inspecting them. "You're not my enemy. You're just smart. I respect that."
She studied him for a long moment, then relaxed slightly. "You're not a Marine."
"Pirate," Shiro said easily, slinging the swords over his shoulder.
Her eyes narrowed. "Great. Another brute."
Shiro glanced back at her, grinning. "Actually, I'm the smart one. The captain's the brute."
She huffed, amused despite herself. "That's a first."
Shiro walked toward the door. "If you're smart, you'll leave through the east window. Less Marines that way."
She stared at his back as he left. "Why are you helping me?"
Shiro paused at the doorway, glancing back with a knowing smile. "Because you're going to join us eventually anyway."
And then he was gone.
The woman—Nami—stood there for a moment, utterly baffled.
Then she shook her head, grabbed the map, and left through the east window.
When Shiro returned to the yard, Luffy was chatting with Zoro like they'd been friends for years.
"—and then I ate the Gomu Gomu Fruit, so now I'm rubber man!" Luffy was explaining, stretching his cheek out absurdly far.
Zoro stared. "You're what?"
Luffy let go, and his face snapped back like elastic. "Rubber man! Watch!"
He stretched his arm across the yard, waving at Marines who flinched.
Zoro's expression was somewhere between disbelief and reluctant fascination. "That's… disgusting."
Luffy grinned. "I know! It's great!"
Shiro walked up, holding the three swords. "Found them."
Zoro's eyes locked onto his swords immediately. "You… you actually got them."
Shiro tossed them over casually. Zoro caught them mid-air despite still being tied, holding them like treasures.
"Cut him down," Shiro said to Luffy.
Luffy nodded and pulled out a small knife he'd "borrowed" from a Marine earlier. He sliced through the ropes with surprising care.
Zoro dropped to his knees, then stood—stiff, hungry, but alive.
He strapped his swords into place with reverence, then looked at Luffy and Shiro. "I'll join. But if you get in my way of becoming the strongest swordsman, I'll kill you."
Luffy laughed like Zoro had told a great joke. "Okay! But you can't kill me because I'm gonna be Pirate King!"
Zoro smirked. "We'll see."
Shiro nodded approvingly. "Perfect."
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Perfect?"
Shiro shrugged. "You're honest. I like that."
Before Zoro could respond, the ground shook.
Heavy footsteps descended from the base like a war drum.
A massive figure appeared at the top of the stairs—a man with a metal jaw, a captain's coat, and an axe for a right hand that gleamed in the sunlight.
Captain Morgan.
His voice boomed across the yard like thunder. "WHO DARED TO FREE THE PRISONER?!"
Luffy stepped forward, fearless and grinning. "ME! I'M MONKEY D. LUFFY, AND I'M TAKING ZORO WITH ME!"
Morgan's face twisted with rage. "YOU INSOLENT BRAT! I'LL CRUSH YOU AND HANG YOUR BODY AS A WARNING!"
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Try it!"
Morgan roared and charged, axe swinging down with enough force to split stone.
Luffy's eyes flickered—sensing the attack just before it landed—and he moved.
"Gomu Gomu no—" Luffy's arm stretched back, winding around a pillar— "Rocket!"
He launched forward like a cannonball, fist slamming into Morgan's chest.
Morgan staggered but didn't fall. He swung again, faster.
Luffy dodged, his body bending in ways that shouldn't be possible. "Gomu Gomu no—Bazooka!"
Both arms stretched back, then slammed forward together.
Morgan blocked with his axe, sparks flying.
Zoro joined the fight immediately, his swords flashing. Marines charged, and Zoro moved through them like water—precise, non-lethal when possible, devastating when necessary.
Shiro didn't fight Morgan.
He controlled the battlefield.
Every time a Marine fired toward the town, Shiro's invisible barriers redirected bullets into walls or dirt. Every time a civilian got too close, a gentle telekinetic push moved them to safety.
Helmeppo tried to sneak away—Shiro pinned his ankle to the floor with focused pressure, and the boy faceplanted, sobbing.
A woman appeared at the edge of the yard—Nami, watching with wide eyes as Luffy's body stretched impossibly.
"He's… rubber?!" she whispered, stunned.
Shiro noticed her, grinned, and gave a small wave.
She blinked, then vanished into the crowd.
Morgan roared, swinging his axe in a wide arc. "I AM THE LAW IN THIS TOWN! I AM JUSTICE!"
Luffy dodged, grinning wildly. "You're just a bully!"
He wound his arm back again, spinning it like a propeller. "Gomu Gomu no—Whip!"
His leg stretched out in a massive arc, slamming into Marines and sending them flying harmlessly into walls.
Morgan swung down one final time, putting everything into it.
Luffy planted his feet, eyes sharp, sensing the attack's trajectory perfectly.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
He drew his fist back, rubber stretching impossibly far.
"PISTOL!"
The punch snapped forward like a cannon blast.
It connected with Morgan's jaw—the metal one—and the impact echoed across the yard like a bell.
Morgan's eyes rolled back.
He fell.
The entire yard went silent.
Then the Marines, trembling, looked around like they'd just woken from a nightmare.
Some started shouting in joy.
Some stared in disbelief.
And a few, quietly, lowered their rifles—not toward the pirates, but away from the town, sighing in relief.
Luffy dusted off his hands like he'd just finished a chore. "Alright! That's done! Let's go eat!"
Zoro stared at the unconscious Morgan, then at Luffy, then shook his head. "You're insane."
Luffy laughed. "You said that already!"
Shiro walked up, calm as ever. "Good work, Captain. Clean punch."
Luffy puffed his chest out proudly. "I know!"
Nami appeared from the crowd, map tucked under her arm, eyeing all three of them carefully.
Luffy noticed her immediately. "Hey! Who're you?!"
Nami smiled, her tone professional. "Just a thief. But I saw your fight. You're not like other pirates."
Luffy tilted his head. "What's that mean?"
Nami's smile turned calculating. "It means I might tag along for a bit. If you're heading somewhere useful."
Shiro smirked. "Told you."
Nami blinked. "Told me what?"
"That you'd join us," Shiro said smoothly.
Nami's eye twitched. "I didn't agree to—"
Luffy grinned. "Great! Welcome to the crew!"
Nami sighed. "I said temporarily."
Luffy laughed. "Sure! Temporarily forever!"
Zoro muttered, "This crew is a disaster."
Shiro patted his shoulder. "Welcome aboard anyway."