The harbor.
On a pirate ship flying a skull flag marked with two crossed axes, the crew of the Giant Axe Pirates were drinking and shooting the breeze.
A new recruit, freshly joined, grinned as he bragged to the pirates around him.
"Hehehe… being a pirate is the best."
"We just raided a village and made a killing. Even grabbed a few slaves too. Once we sell them to the slave dealers, that's another big payday. Then the boss can take us out to live it up for a few more days."
The moment the rookie finished, a pirate captain nearby laughed and teased him. "Kamu, you little punk, if it weren't for me, you'd have been caught by the Marines last time."
"Of course, of course! Thanks, Captain!"
While the pirates laughed and drank, several men who had fled from the tavern earlier stumbled back onto the ship in a panic.
"Boss Buck! Boss Buck!"
The pirates on deck looked over in confusion at the group that had come scrambling back.
Bang!
The cabin door exploded open with a violent kick.
A fat man with a face full of brutish flesh stepped out, about two meters tall, a double-bladed battle axe strapped across his back. His eyes were blazing with anger.
"Bastards, what are you yelling for?"
"Who the hell ruined my good mood? Don't you know I hate being disturbed when I'm drinking?"
As the captain stormed out, every pirate on deck turned to stare at the men who had just returned.
Under all those eyes, one of them trembled and forced the words out.
"Boss Buck… our Scarface Captain… he got taken out in the tavern. By a kid."
Buck's rage surged even higher.
"Your captain got killed, and you useless trash still came back?"
"Men. Kill these wastes and toss them into the sea to feed the fish."
"Mercy! Boss, please! We came back to report!"
The moment Buck gave the order, pirates drew machetes and surrounded them.
A few minutes later, their bodies were thrown overboard.
Only then did Buck bark out to the crew.
"Go find the one who killed Scarface."
"I'll make him understand what happens when you cross Giant Axe Buck."
"Yes!"
With the captain's command, the pirates scattered like a flock of startled birds, jumping off the ship and heading into town.
At the hotel, Roy had already returned to his room after the celebration, completely unaware that knocking down a small-time pirate had mobilized the entire Giant Axe Pirates.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared.
A pirate crew with a name that screamed "fodder" was still fodder. If they came, he'd wipe them out like swatting flies.
Right now, Roy was checking the intelligence he'd purchased from Shakky.
He skimmed through the manuals and notes, and in his mind, a rough plan had already formed for everyone's growth going forward.
Then he turned off the lamp and went to sleep.
The next morning, Roy woke from his dreams, checked his injuries, and opened the door to find Stella setting breakfast on the table.
"Morning, Stella."
His Observation Haki swept the room. Tesoro wasn't there, so Roy asked curiously, "That guy's already gone? Where'd Tesoro run off to so early?"
"Him?" Stella smiled. "He went out to train at dawn. Let's eat first."
Since the food was ready, Roy sat down without ceremony.
Bang!
"I'm back! Stella!"
Tesoro pushed the door open, and seeing the two of them already seated, he hurried over.
Roy glanced at the bruises on Tesoro's face that still hadn't faded. Over the last few days, that guy really had been pushing himself.
After they finished breakfast, Roy looked at the two of them.
"We'll rest here for a few days. My injuries should be fully healed in a bit."
"These days, we need to stock up for sailing. And more importantly, we need a ship that belongs to us."
"Tesoro, your training needs to stop for a…"
"But Boss!" Tesoro blurted out, cutting him off. "I want to get stronger faster. I can't keep dragging you down. That helpless feeling yesterday, facing pirates… I never want to feel that again."
Roy sighed. "Idiot. Can you let me finish first?"
He reached into his travel bag and pulled out a basic training manual he'd traded for from Shakky, then shoved it into Tesoro's hands.
"You've got good physical talent, but you don't have a system. Follow this to build your foundation."
"Once your body's tough enough, I'll teach you something stronger."
"Yes, Boss!"
Tesoro took the booklet like it was treasure, beaming.
Roy then pulled out a simple map of the first half of the Grand Line and a Log Pose.
"Stella, this is the Log Pose for our next island."
"I need you to confirm our route."
"Understood, Boss Roy."
Over the next few days, the three of them settled into a short period of recovery and preparation in town.
Tesoro poured almost all his time into training. Every day before sunrise, he headed to the back hills to work his body to the bone.
Stella handled supplies, food, and fresh water, while also confirming the route they'd take next.
Roy didn't slack off either.
Most of his time was spent in the room, meditating, getting used to the explosive growth in his spiritual power and the newly awakened Conqueror's Haki.
He discovered that if he wove his spiritual power into Observation Haki with finer control, he could sense emotions and simple thoughts, and even vaguely "see" the hazy outline of an opponent's next move.
At the same time, he kept developing the Thought-Thought Fruit.
Of course, peace never lasted long.
Once Roy's bounty poster made its way to this island, the hotel owner recognized them and quietly reported it to the nearby Marine base.
On the afternoon of the third day, Roy's injuries were completely healed. He and Tesoro, who had just finished training, appeared in the town's only weapon shop, intending to pick a proper blade for Roy.
That was when a group of pirates, grotesque-looking and aggressive, came storming down the street toward them.
"Boss, something's wrong," Tesoro muttered.
Roy was at the counter paying. His Observation Haki swept once, and his eyes sharpened.
He tossed the money onto the counter, grabbed the long blade he'd chosen, and led Tesoro out of the weapon shop.
The moment they stepped outside, the pirates blocked the entrance, surrounding them at the doorway.
At the front stood a burly man gripping a massive battle axe.
It was the captain of the Giant Axe Pirates, Giant Axe Buck.
Behind him were more than a dozen pirates with vicious faces.
"Captain, it's this kid!" the rookie Kamu yelled, pointing straight at Roy. "I checked it all. He's the one who took out Scarface!"
Buck looked Roy up and down.
No matter how he stared, he couldn't understand how Scarface, one of his stronger men, had been beaten by a kid who still had a baby face and looked like some noble brat playing at adventure.
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