I've Already Killed Fifty-Six Guys Like You

East Blue, Foosha Village.

As soon as Red-Haired Shanks' ship docked, Lucky Roux jumped off.

"Miss Makino! Do you still have the barbecue from last time?!"

Yasopp followed behind, laughing and scolding, "Can't you think of anything else besides eating?"

At the tavern entrance, Makino greeted them with a smile, "Shanks, you're here again."

"Haha! Same old rule, put the drinks on the tab first!"

"The last one hasn't been settled yet."

"Let's memorize them together!"

Benn Beckman followed behind, a cigarette dangling from his lips, completely losing his appetite for making sarcastic remarks.

Shanks!!

A small figure rushed over from the other end of the street and plunged into Shanks' arms.

"Haha! Luffy, you're still so energetic!"

"Certainly!"

Luffy, who was just returning to Foosha Village to find Makino, Luffy around and asked, "Huh? Where's Uta?"

She stayed in Elegia to study singing.

"What?!"

"She's aiming to be a big singer!"

"Damn it! They didn't even wait for me!"

Luffy clenched his fists angrily.

"Next time we meet, I'll definitely show her who's the best!"

"Haha! Then you'd better keep it up."

Inside the tavern, the Red Hair Pirates was having a lively time drinking.

Bang!

The door was suddenly kicked open.

"Boss! Bring me the wine!"

The bandit Higuma swaggered in with his gang, his boots thumping loudly on the floor.

Makino looked a little embarrassed. "Sorry, we just sold out of wine."

Sold out?!

Higuma glanced at the pirates drinking happily beside him, and his face immediately darkened.

Shanks smiled and picked up a bottle of wine, handing it to him. "Don't be angry, I have another one."

Snap!

The bottle was smashed over his head by Higuma's arm, the liquor mixed with glass shards dripping down his red hair.

"You mere pirates dare to invite me for a drink?!"

Higuma grinned, drew his longsword, and brandished it.

"I've already killed fifty-six pieces of trash like you!"

Shanks ignored him and simply wiped the alcohol off his face.

Seeing that he dared not retaliate, Higuma laughed even more wildly.

What? Scared?

He was about to reach out and grab Luffy next to him.

Shanks looked up.

"Don't touch him."

Buzz--

Higuma's legs went weak, and his hand holding the knife began to tremble uncontrollably.

What happened?!

This guy was just laughing a moment ago, how did he suddenly become so scary?!

"You... you just wait!"

Higuma gritted his teeth and tried to hold on, but his legs were already backing away.

He suddenly waved his hand. "Let's go!"

A group of bandits scurried out of the tavern in disgrace.

"Haha! That guy runs really fast!"

Shanks! What was that just now?!

"What? What?"

"He got so scared he started trembling just from the sight of you!"

Shanks laughed heartily.

"Want to know? You'll understand when you become a powerful pirate!"

"Damn it! They're trying to fool me with that again!"

Luffy angrily climbed onto the chair.

Suddenly, I noticed an open metal box next to me, inside which was a strangely shaped fruit.

"Huh? What's this?"

Luffy picked it up and took a bite.

"Vomit--!"

"It tastes awful!!"

His entire face was scrunched up.

What lousy fruit!

But since he'd already taken a bite, Luffy wasn't willing to just throw it away.

Click!

Another big bite.

"Ugh! How can this taste so awful!"

Just then, Raki Lu came out of the kitchen carrying a piece of roast meat.

"Boss, where's our fruit?"

Shanks is drinking with Benn Beckman.

"On the table."

On the table?

Lucky Roux looked down at the empty box, then at Luffy.

"... Boss."

"Um?"

It seems Luffy ate it.

"What?!"

Shanks turned his head sharply and saw Luffy stuffing the last piece of fruit into his mouth.

"Luffy!!"

Shanks lunged forward and grabbed him by the collar.

What did you eat?!

"Fruit!"

"Spit it out!"

"We've finished eating!"

"That's Devil Fruit!!"

Devil Fruit?

Luffy blinked.

"Is it the one that turns you into a landlubber if you eat it?"

"That's right! And he'll never be able to swim again!"

"..."

Luffy's face turned pale instantly.

"No!!"

Shanks grabbed his arm, preparing to examine him closely.

Swish!

Luffy's arm was suddenly stretched out!

"..."

The two stared at the ridiculously long arm.

The next second.

"Ahhh!!"

The tavern erupted into chaos.

Raki Lu laughed so hard he almost spat out his meat, while Yasopp slapped the table and laughed uncontrollably.

"Haha! Luffy, you've really turned into a rubber man!"

"What's so funny!"

Luffy's face turned red with anger.

"I won't be able to swim anymore, and you're still laughing!!"

He broke free from Shanks's grasp and stormed out of the tavern in a huff.

Hey! Luffy!

Shanks was about to chase after him when Benn Beckman called him back.

"Captain, what should we do with this fruit?"

"... They've already eaten them, what else can we do?"

Shanks rubbed his forehead, looking troubled.

"Forget it, let that kid calm down first."

Outside the tavern, Higuma leaned against the wall, panting heavily, his face extremely pale.

"Boss, that guy just now..."

"Shut up!"

Higuma slapped his subordinate across the face.

He, a mountain bandit king with a bounty of eight million, was scared away by a single glance from a pirate!

If word gets out, how will he ever be able to face people in the East Blue again?

His gaze shifted, and he suddenly remembered the little devil in the red-haired man's arms.

"Walk!"

With Higuma walked towards the other end of the village.

"Keep an eye on that brat."

"Boss, what do you want...?"

"Wait until he's alone!"

Higuma touched the knife at his waist.

"I refuse to believe that Red-Hair will follow him around all day long!"

East Blue, outside Foosha Village.

Luffy had just run out of the tavern when he was caught red-handed by Higuma, who was hiding by the roadside.

"Let me go! You bastard!"

Luffy was being grabbed by the collar by Higuma, his face turning red.

"You brat! Weren't you yelling a bit earlier?!"

"You like that Red-Hair, don't you? I'll show you today that bandits aren't to be trifled with!"

Shanks isn't afraid of you!

"Still dare to talk back?!"

Higuma was about to swing his knife.

"You damned bandit!"

A voice suddenly came from the street corner.

Higuma froze.

Shanks stood there, his face devoid of any smile.

Benn Beckman, Yasopp, and Raki Lu followed closely behind.

"You dare to mess with my friend? You've got some nerve."

"Red... red hair?!"

Higuma's expression changed drastically.

"Stop them!"

A dozen or so bandits drew their swords and charged forward.

But the next second...

Bang! Bang!

Yasopp two shots, and the bandit at the front fell to the ground.

With meat still in his mouth, Raki Loo raised his hand and fired another shot.

Benn Beckman was even more decisive, smashing one down with the butt of his rifle and then taking down two more with a swift motion.

The remaining bandits didn't even have a chance to fight back before the crew rushed up and wiped them out.

"Monster... monster!"

Higuma was terrified.

He shielded Luffy in front of him, the blade pressed against his neck.

"Don't come any closer!"

Shanks paused.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Higuma pulled out a smoke grenade and smashed it hard on the ground.

Bang!

White smoke instantly filled the air.

When everyone rushed out of the smoke, Higuma had already dragged Luffy to the beach.

"Captain, he's boarded!"

Shanks stared at the sea, his face darkening. "Chase them!"

"Ha! A bunch of idiots!"

Higuma rowed the small boat with all his might, looking back at the increasingly distant shore, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Wait till I'm far away, then let's see how you catch me!"

Even with Luffy tied to the ship's deck, he stubbornly insisted, "Shanks will definitely beat you to a pulp!"

"Shut up!"

Higuma kicked him into the sea.

"Then you just wait for him to come and save you!"

Thump!

Luffy into the water, instantly lost all strength, and his body sank straight down.

"Help... help me..."

Higuma was about to row away.

Boom--

Suddenly, the sea surface bulged, and a gaping maw burst out of the water!

"Wh... what?!"

Before Higuma could even scream, he and his boat were swallowed whole.

The enormous sea monster rolled its eyes and fixed its gaze on Luffy, who was struggling in the water.

"Help--!"

Just as the giant mouth was about to close.

Whoosh!

A red figure plunged into the sea.

Shanks scooped Luffy out of the water.

But just then, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my left arm.

He glanced down at it.

The light-colored lines hidden beneath the skin had reappeared.

The Lord of the Coast has pounced upon us.

Shanks didn't have time to think. He Luffy tightly in his right arm and used his left arm to block the giant mouth.

Click!

Blood instantly stained the seawater red.

The left arm, along with the strange markings, disappeared into the giant mouth.

Shanks' eyes turned cold.

"Roll!!"

Boom!

Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted!

The Lord of the Coast trembled with fear and turned to flee into the deep sea.

Luffy was trembling all over and choked on several mouthfuls of water.

"Shanks... Shanks..."

He looked up and suddenly noticed that Shanks' left sleeve was empty, hanging limply in the water.

Your hand...

Tears welled up instantly.

Shanks glanced down and then smiled.

He stretched out his only remaining right hand and rubbed the little devil's wet head.

"Don't cry."

Your arm...

"It doesn't matter."

Shanks hugged him tighter, his voice very soft.

"I'm glad you're alright."

"Whoa--!"

Luffy nestled in his arms and cried even harder.

A few days later, at the Port Foosha Village.

The Red Hair Pirates are preparing to set sail once again.

Shanks! I've made up my mind!

Luffy clenched his fist, tilted his head back, and shouted.

"From now on, I'm going to set sail on my own! I'll become a pirate even more powerful than you!"

"Ha! You think you can take that?"

Don't look down on me!

Shanks looked at him and smiled.

Then, he took off his straw Straw Hat and gently placed it on Luffy's head.

"Okay."

"Give me back this hat when you become a truly great pirate."

Luffy was stunned.

He reached out to steady the brim of his hat, and his eyes immediately welled up with tears again.

"It's a promise!"

Shanks turned and boarded the ship, waving his only remaining right hand.

"Don't keep me waiting too long!"

"I will definitely become the Pirate King!!"

The boy's shouts followed the sea breeze and carried far away.

Several days later.

Warships dock at Marineford Port.

Ron, with Law and Vergo, finally returned to headquarters.

"I'm finally back!"

Luo jumped off the warship and stretched out a big yawn.

"Master! Now we don't have to catch pirates every day, right?"

Ron glanced at him. "Whether we catch pirates or not is another matter, training can't stop."

"Ah?!"

Luo's face immediately fell.

Vergo stood to the side and sighed silently.

Brub brub bru--

The Den Den Mushi in my pocket suddenly rang.

Ron answered casually, "Hello?"

"Ron!!"

The deafeningly loud voice almost knocked the Den Den Mushi over.

"Old man Garp? What's wrong?"

"I'm so angry I could die!"

Ron was taken aback. "Who upset you again?"

"Who else could it be?! That Red-Hair Shanks!!"

Shanks?

"I just arrived in Foosha Village and heard that that Shanks is here again!"

"And she completely corrupted that brat Luffy!!"

"Ah?"

"Luffy keeps saying he wants to be a pirate, and nothing I do can stop him!!"

Ron couldn't help but laugh, "Haha, isn't that pretty energetic?"

"What a load of rubbish!"

Garp was furious.

"That bastard even Luffy eat a broken Devil Fruit!"

Ron's smile froze.

What fruit?

"The Gum-Gum Fruit! After eating it, your whole body will feel as soft as a piece of chewing gum!"

"..."

Garp continued to curse, his temper growing increasingly fierce.

"And there's more!"

"Um?"

"That Red-Hair bastard actually let a little fish bite off his left arm just to save Luffy!"

"Now I'm too embarrassed to even lay a hand on him!!"

Ron held the Den Den Mushi for a long time without moving it.

He looked down at the Den Den Mushi, then looked up at the sky.

"Ah???"