Inside the Achino family's mansion, Achino himself was sitting face-to-face with Zoro, drinking together in a steamy room that felt almost like a sauna.
"Didn't expect to find booze here of all places. Thanks for that," Zoro said.
After wandering in completely by accident, he'd somehow stumbled into this room. The moment Achino saw him, he'd casually invited him over for a drink.
Honestly… not bad luck at all.
"Hahaha, don't worry about it," Achino laughed.
"We were having a banquet, but my family all went out. Having someone to drink with is nice."
Achino treated Zoro like a guest, not attacking him despite knowing he was a pirate.
"A banquet and everyone still left?" Zoro raised a brow.
"Did something happen?"
"More or less."
"Need help?" Zoro grinned.
"I'm pretty strong, you know."
Since the man had kindly offered him alcohol, Zoro didn't mind helping out if needed.
Achino, hidden behind his sunglasses, gave him a strange look.
Help…?
Help with what—slashing the Straw Hat Pirates?
If he said that out loud, Zoro would absolutely cut him down on the spot.
Better to keep drinking calmly for now.
Seeing Achino stay silent, Zoro frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing serious. My family can handle it," Achino said, shaking his head.
"Drink."
"Alright."
Since the host said so, Zoro didn't push it.
"I just don't know where my companions went," Zoro muttered irritably.
"They really don't give me a break."
Achino: ...
"You lost them?" Achino asked.
"Yeah. I looked away for a moment and they all got lost."
Zoro sighed deeply, wearing a you're-all-hopeless expression.
Achino nearly broke.
Lost…?
You're the one who wandered alone into the enemy's headquarters!
This situation felt incredibly backwards.
This guy's definitely directionally challenged, Achino thought.
Just then, a soldier burst into the room holding a Den Den Mushi.
"Lord Achino, bad news!!"
"Can't you see I'm entertaining a guest?" Achino snapped, his body temperature subtly rising.
"Say it quickly, Sairnel. You'd better have a good reason."
"It's Lord Sarugo calling!"
He lifted the Den Den Mushi.
"Dad! It's me!"
"Sarugo?" Achino frowned.
He rarely received calls from him—usually his daughters contacted him.
"Dad, it's bad! Big brother Kanbachino and the others were defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"What?!"
"And… Arubelu and Lilu are missing. I think they're in the Straw Hats' hands!"
"What did you say?!"
Achino shot to his feet, rage blazing in his eyes.
"Those bastards dared to touch my children?!"
His body temperature surged, steam thickening in the room.
"I won't forgive them!"
"So that's what you meant earlier…"
Zoro set down his cup and stood up, expression sharpening.
"Thanks for the drink—but I can't let you harm my companions."
"Who's that?" Sarugo asked from the Den Den Mushi.
"That's Pirate Hunter Zoro," Sairnel answered.
"…What?!"
Sarugo froze.
Wasn't that guy supposed to be with the Straw Hat crew?
Why was he inside their house?!
Then—
That meant the Straw Hats' target was their home?!
"Dad! They might arrive any moment!"
"Hmph. I can already see them."
Achino glanced out the window. Two pirate ships were approaching fast across the ice sea.
"Tch. If you want to touch my crew—then you'll have to get past me first!"
Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji, ready to cut this oversized balloon down.
Sairnel's eyes widened.
He dashed aside and slammed his palm on a red button.
Click.
The floor beneath Zoro suddenly opened.
"AH—?!"
Zoro dropped straight down.
"Are you kidding me?! Who puts traps in their own house?!"
"Good job, Sairnel," Achino said calmly.
"I'll deal with him later."
Right now, saving his children came first.
"Lord Achino, what should we do?"
"Send out the ferocious penguins. Clear the trash."
"…Dad, I don't think they can anymore."
Sarugo's voice trembled.
He looked at the sea surface—where countless penguin bodies floated lifelessly.
"They're… all dead."
"What?! Dead?!"
Achino stared in disbelief.
Those monsters dominated the underwater battlefield.
They were the backbone of his family's hunting method.
And now… all gone?
"…I see," Achino said after a pause.
"Come back immediately."
"Yes, Dad."
After hanging up, Achino turned cold.
"Sairnel—mobilize all soldiers. We're going to kill them ourselves."
"Understood!"
As Sairnel ran off, Achino stared toward the approaching Sunny.
"Touch my children… and I'll make you regret it."
"So this is Achino House?" Usopp said, staring.
"What a weird-looking building."
Building something like this in the middle of an ice field—what kind of taste was that?
"Your family's aesthetics are… unique," Jin remarked casually.
"My father likes it," Arubelu replied helplessly.
"Hahaha! I think it's cool!" Luffy laughed.
"Can you untie me now?" Arubelu asked.
"Nope," Nami said flatly.
"The fight's not over."
Arubelu sighed and stayed quiet.
"Hey—someone's coming out!" Usopp shouted.
"Whoa… is that a fat balloon?!" Luffy gawked.
"That's my dad," Arubelu said.
"So that's him…" Luffy muttered.
"Ah, you've arrived, Straw Hat."
Achino smiled coldly.
"My children certainly received your… hospitality."
He glanced at Arubelu and Lilu, confirming they were unharmed, and finally relaxed a little.
"They attacked us first," Luffy said.
"Fat balloon—why do you steal pirate flags?"
"Because I like them!"
Achino spread his arms dramatically.
"Those flags symbolize pirate spirit. They're my favorite collectibles!"
"The pride of bounty hunters~!"
"Hahahaha!"
"And when pirates lose their flags…"
"They often collapse completely. Isn't that fun?"
His mocking gaze shifted toward the Phoenix Pirates.
"Just like them."
The Phoenix crew clenched their fists in rage.
"Bastard…"
"Captain…"
Even if Pazel didn't move, they wouldn't forgive this.
"I really hate people like you," Luffy said quietly, pulling his hat down.
"I'm going to punch you flying."
"Try it!"
"Gomu Gomu no—Pistol!"
Luffy's fist shot forward—
—but the moment it neared Achino's body, Luffy yelped.
"Hot! Hot!!"
"Hot?" Sanji frowned.
"Devil Fruit," Jin said, Sharingan spinning.
"His body heated up instantly."
"Correct!" Achino laughed.
"I ate the Heat-Heat Fruit!"
"Anything I grab… melts!"
He demonstrated by touching a parasol—
which liquefied in seconds.
Jin: ...
Why do these people explain their abilities themselves every time…
"I can do this too!"
Achino slid across the ice, heating his soles and riding steam like propulsion.
He glided smoothly, even striking poses.
Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"That looks fun!"
Next thing everyone knew—
Luffy ran up an ice slope and started sliding too.
The two zipped back and forth like kids racing.
Eventually they stopped, staring at each other with mutual admiration.
"I need to rethink this fruit's power!" Luffy said seriously.
"Not bad for a 420 million bounty pirate," Achino grinned.
Nami snapped.
"ARE YOU ALL CHILDREN OR WHAT?!"
"It looks fun!" Merry said excitedly.
"Chopper, wanna try too?!"
Nami: ...
Yep. Definitely children.
"Hmph. Playtime's over," Achino said, heat surging violently.
"I'll take your heads myself."
Soldiers poured out from the mansion.
"Straw Hat! Leave them to us!" Pazel shouted.
Luffy glanced back, then smiled.
"Got it."
"Captain!" Gino cried.
"I'm sorry for worrying you," Pazel said firmly.
"Let's fight together again."
"YES!"
"Those losers won't interfere," Achino sneered.
"Sairnel—deal with them."
"Yes!"
Then Achino turned back to Luffy.
"You're missing one crewmate, aren't you?"
"…Zoro."
"That's right."
Achino grinned savagely.
"He's in my dungeon."
"If you want to save him—fight with everything you've got."
"I'll enjoy it."
Heat exploded outward, warping the air and melting the ice beneath him.
"I'll beat you," Luffy said simply.
Merry swallowed. "Your dad looks really strong…"
"He is," Lilu nodded softly.
She wanted to say be careful—
but stopped.
One was her friend.
The other… her father.
"Luffy," Jin stepped forward.
"Want to try some ninjutsu?"
"Really?!" Luffy's eyes lit up.
"You won't control it yourself," Jin smiled.
"But you can experience it."
"Please!! Jin!!"
The battle was about to truly begin.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442