The ropes around Luffy hadn't been untied, but his strength had mostly returned.
"Kid."
Higuma walked up to Luffy and crouched down in front of him.
"You know Red-Haired Shanks?"
Luffy lifted his head and looked at him.
"I do."
"What's your relationship?"
"He's my friend."
Luffy answered calmly.
Higuma's heart sank.
Friend…
Anyone Red-Haired Shanks considered a friend was no ordinary person.
"He's here for you now."
Higuma stared into Luffy's eyes.
"If I take you hostage, do you think he'll let us go?"
Luffy was silent for a few seconds.
Then he smiled.
"You can try."
The smile was pure. Completely free of fear.
A chill crept up Higuma's spine.
Was this kid really not afraid at all?
Or… did he believe Shanks would definitely save him?
"Boss! They've reached the foot of the mountain!"
Another subordinate rushed in with the report.
Higuma gritted his teeth.
"All of you, grab your weapons and get to the gate!"
He yanked Luffy up and drew his blade, pressing it against Luffy's neck.
"You'd better pray Shanks actually cares about you."
"Otherwise, I don't mind taking you down with me."
Luffy didn't struggle.
He simply closed his eyes and focused.
The seed of Observation Haki was sprouting.
It was faint, but he could vaguely sense several powerful presences approaching quickly.
One of them felt especially familiar.
Shanks.
He really came back.
—
At the entrance of the hideout.
Shanks stood at the front, the entire Red-Haired Pirates behind him.
Beckman had a cigarette between his lips. Yasopp casually wiped down his rifle. Lucky Roux was still chewing on a drumstick.
They all looked relaxed.
But their eyes were cold.
"This place?" Shanks asked mildly, looking up at the hideout.
"Yeah. Villagers pointed us here," Beckman replied.
Shanks nodded and walked toward the gate.
The gate was tall and thick, made of solid wood.
But to Shanks, it might as well have been paper.
He didn't even draw his sword.
He simply raised his right hand and gave it a light push.
Boom—!
The entire gate exploded inward.
Wood splinters flew. Dust filled the air.
The bandits behind it were blasted off their feet, tumbling across the ground in disarray.
Shanks stepped into the hideout.
His footsteps were light.
Yet every step felt like it stomped directly on the bandits' hearts.
"R-Red Hair…"
One bandit trembled, barely able to hold his blade.
Shanks didn't even glance at him.
He walked straight ahead.
His gaze swept across the hideout—
And finally landed on Higuma in the center.
And on Luffy, held hostage in his grasp.
Their eyes met.
Luffy's eyes lit up.
"Shanks!"
When Shanks saw the blade pressed against Luffy's neck, his expression turned completely cold.
"Let him go."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it carried unquestionable authority.
Higuma swallowed hard. His grip on the sword trembled slightly.
He could feel Shanks' gaze like knives against his skin.
So this was the pressure of a pirate with a bounty over a hundred million…
Terrifying.
"D-Don't come any closer!"
Higuma took a step back, the blade pressing tighter against Luffy's throat.
"One more step and I'll kill him!"
Shanks stopped walking.
Behind him, Beckman and the others had already spread out, surrounding the entire hideout.
Yasopp raised his rifle, the barrel aimed directly at Higuma.
Lucky Roux tossed aside his drumstick and wiped his hands.
The tension in the air reached its breaking point.