An Encounter Between a Sword and a Shovel

It did not take long. Perhaps Alvida's pirate ship had been in the shallows, because Luffy and the other two soon arrived at the Marine base.

Well, it was fortunate that Koby was a navigator. Otherwise, with just Luffy and Aaron, even in shallow waters, they would probably have drifted at sea for ages before seeing land... or perhaps never seen it at all.

"Ah! It feels so good to have my feet on solid ground!" Upon reaching the town outside the Marine base, Luffy stretched lazily and comfortably.

Aaron, who had been gazing into the distance as if reading fortunes, looked over. "Luffy, I'm going to see if they sell bug-catching nets." With that, he leaped off the boat first and dashed into town in a flash.

"Bug-catching net, bug-catching net, bug-catching net, bug-catching net, bug-catching net..." Aaron muttered continuously, but his eyes remained fixed straight ahead.

Perhaps he thought a bug-catching net would appear on its own.

Suddenly, a green bandana appeared in his field of vision. The moment Aaron saw it, his eyes bulged, bloodshot veins spreading through them. He clenched his teeth as though the bandana bore some deep grudge against him, then roared, "Bug-catching net!" and charged at it with flailing arms.

Like a stray dog that had slipped its leash.

Bang!

Aaron crashed into a wall, his entire face sinking into a hole in it.

Thud!

After remaining frozen for three seconds, he fell to the ground. The area around his face had turned red, but Aaron paid it no mind. He did not even rub it. Instead, he peered through the hole, staring blankly at the green bandana.

After a while, he looked up at the wall, then compared it to his own height. He jumped hard twice, only to sadly discover that even reaching halfway up the wall was a struggle.

Aaron climbed back up and stared through the hole at the bandana. Suddenly, as though inspiration had struck, he rubbed his legs forcefully against the ground, swaying his cheeks left and right as his body began to wobble slightly.

Something miraculous happened!

With those spasmodic-looking shakes, Aaron's feet gradually lifted off the ground.

His head slowly stretched into the hole. It was as though his skull did not exist, his entire face being forced into a square by the opening. That was not all. The muscles in his neck seemed disconnected, wriggling forward like the legs of a centipede.

Soon, his entire neck had slipped through the hole. His shoulders pulled inward to fit through the opening, his waist twisting, and before long, both hands had emerged on the other side.

Aaron braced both hands against the wall and pulled himself out with all his might!

Thud! He made it inside the wall.

Aaron got to his feet and dusted himself off. Looking at the green bandana not far away, stars shone in his eyes. He skipped toward it, occasionally spinning seven hundred and twenty degrees in midair, his hands spiraling together while his mouth opened and closed in an exaggerated rhythm. "Bug~catching~net~~" And just like that, he arrived beside the bandana.

"Hey! This isn't a place for some ghost like you. Get lost!" Just as Aaron reached out for the bandana, it suddenly spoke, startling him.

"Ahh!! A bandana monster!!" Aaron screamed while covering his face, turning to run away.

"Hey! Look properly, ghost! I'm a person! What bandana monster? Did you only see my bandana?"

Only then did Aaron stop screaming. He looked around and realized this was a training ground, scorching hot beneath the blazing sun. Looking down, he finally noticed a fierce-looking man wearing a bandana, tightly bound to a cross.

"Hello, Mr. Bandana." Aaron studied him, then curved his lips into a shallow-dimpled smile and greeted the man.

"I said I'm a person, you idiot! Are you seriously only focused on my bandana?" the man snapped irritably.

Why does this ghost seem like he's missing a screw? Zoro thought.

Yes, everyone who met Aaron for the first time said that.

Except Luffy.

"My name is Aaron, Aaron Copperfield. What's your name, Mr. Bandana?" Aaron bowed politely and asked curiously.

"I said I'm a person!" Zoro rolled his eyes unconsciously. "My name is Zoro. Roronoa Zoro."

"Zoro... That name sounds familiar..." Aaron tilted his head and thought for a long while before suddenly slapping his palm. "You're that pirate hunter?!"

"So what if I am?" Zoro replied weakly.

"Great! Luffy has been going on and on about asking you to join us as a companion! So, how about it? Want to come?" Aaron asked with his palms spread.

"Huh? Aaron! How did you get here?" Luffy's voice suddenly came from behind Aaron. Aaron turned and saw Luffy and Koby leaning over the wall. "I came to find a bug-catching net!" Aaron shouted, pointing at Zoro's green bandana.

At that moment, Aaron saw a ladder suddenly appear beside Luffy. Then a girl climbed up it and ran over to Zoro.

The girl caught her breath twice, then opened the package she had been clutching tightly. Aaron leaned over to look and found that it contained two rice balls.

"Big brother, you must be very hungry! I made these myself. It's my first time making them, but here!" The girl stretched out her hand, trying hard to offer the rice balls to Zoro.

"I'm not hungry. Get lost already! This isn't a place for brats like you!" He then shouted at Luffy and the others, "You get lost too! You're an eyesore!"

"Roronoa Zoro, how are you doing?" At that moment, a strangely affected voice drew everyone's attention.

Aaron looked over and saw a young man dressed ostentatiously, with an unfortunate-looking double chin. He had a huge cigar in his mouth and two Marine soldiers following behind him.

The man walked over to Zoro's side. A lecherous air seeped from his narrowed eyes as he gave a creepy chuckle. "So? Is it nice under the sun?"

"Yeah, thanks to you, I've had a great sunbath," Zoro replied with a cold laugh.

"Hmph, you can only act tough now. You'll be dead soon enough. Hahahahaha!"

"Then watch me live through it. I absolutely won't die. There are still ten days left."

"Talk after you survive those ten days. Hahahaha!" The sleazy young man laughed loudly, then noticed the rice balls in the girl's hands. "Did you make these rice balls for me?" Saying that, he grabbed one and took a bite.

"Pah! This is way too sweet! Did you put sugar in it? You need salt, salt, got it?" He immediately tossed the rice ball aside.

"But... I thought sugar would taste better," the girl said timidly.

"This disgusting thing isn't fit to be eaten!" Saying that, he snatched the other rice ball and threw it viciously onto the ground, stomping on it hard. Then he ordered the soldiers behind him, "Go. Throw these two brats outside the wall."

"Huh? But... but they're only children," one soldier said awkwardly.

"I said, throw them outside the wall!" The young man leaned close to the soldier's face and threatened him.

"Ah... yes!" The soldier broke out in a cold sweat and immediately obeyed.

"Let go of me! Let go!" The girl struggled desperately, but she was too weak. The soldier quickly threw her over the wall, though whether deliberately or not, he threw her toward Luffy.

When Aaron saw the other soldier about to grab him, he hurriedly pulled out a shovel from his clothes and pointed it at the soldier with trembling hands. "Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I won't be nice to you!"

"..." The soldier looked speechlessly at Aaron. Ignoring his threat, he walked toward him step by step.

"Ah!" Aaron shut his eyes and screamed, but his hand moved as swiftly as the wind.

Whoosh!

The sudden sound of air being sliced caught Zoro's attention. He raised his head, his eyes sharpening as he stared at Aaron.

In front of Aaron, the soldier's clothes had been slashed apart, strips of fabric giving his outfit an unexpected touch of fashion.

"I'll leave on my own!" Aaron said nervously. Seeing that none of the three reacted, he hurriedly ran out through the gate.

Leaving the three of them stunned.

Zoro, meanwhile, watched Aaron's skinny figure and unconsciously showed a carnivorous smile. "Interesting..."

Well, I do not feel like writing the scene where Luffy talks Zoro into joining, so we'll skip it here.

Inside a cramped room of a restaurant, Koby danced around Aaron, who had picked up a glass of juice, looking exactly like a big baboon begging for a reward. "I never expected you to be so amazing too, Aaron! With that one shovel strike, you easily shredded that soldier's clothes! That was incredible!"

Aaron picked up the juice, put it down, picked it up again, and put it down again. In the end, he reluctantly set it on the table and looked at Koby with difficulty. "Koby, the way you're acting is making it impossible for me to drink in peace."

Yes, imagine trying to eat while a monkey danced ecstatically in front of you, occasionally wiggling its red butt.

You probably would not be able to eat either.

You would be lucky not to laugh yourself stupid.

That was exactly how Aaron felt right then.

"But, but! You really are that amazing, right? You were so strong with just a shovel. How did you train to become like this?!"

"It's simple. Just make a hundred hamburgers every day."

"...What does that have to do with anything?"

Well, putting aside the conversation between Koby and Aaron.

When the girl heard that Luffy and Zoro had eaten all the rice balls, she revealed a delighted expression. "Really? They ate all of them?"

Luffy grinned. "Yeah, not a single bite was left. That guy ate them all."

Luffy then asked the girl, "Hey! Why was that guy Zoro tied up?"

So the girl told them about Zoro's tragic experience. Well, there was no need to go into it again here.

Clang!

The crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks falling suddenly came from the main hall. Luffy poked his head out and saw Helmeppo, the spoiled brat who had tied Zoro up.

Helmeppo had his legs propped up on a table as he laughed arrogantly. "We're here to eat. That's fine, right?"

"In a few days, Zoro will be executed. You should all come watch. Ahahahaha."

Thump! Luffy rushed out and punched him squarely in the face.

Helmeppo was sent flying into the wall. His face turned bright red as he clutched his cheek. "You dare hit me! My dad is Colonel Morgan!"

"So what!" Luffy stared Helmeppo straight in the eye.

"I'll make my dad execute you!"

"Go ahead and try!" Luffy said, about to rush over and beat him again.

"Mr. Luffy, don't be impulsive!" Koby tightly held Luffy from behind.

Seeing that things were going badly, Helmeppo scrambled out the door. Even as he ran, he turned back to threaten them. "Just you wait! I'll make my dad execute you!"

"Ah! What are we going to do now? The Marines are going to execute us!" Hearing Helmeppo's threat, Koby's face went pale with fright.

"Ah, don't worry, Koby. Luffy is really strong, so he isn't afraid of some colonel or whatever. Want me to make you a hamburger to calm your nerves? Hmm, that's a great idea! I'll make one right away!" Aaron walked out from the inner room, patted Koby's shoulder reassuringly, then immediately muttered to himself as he headed into the kitchen. "Sorry, may I use your kitchen?"

"I've decided!" Luffy suddenly announced loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

"I'm going to make Zoro my companion!"

"The hamburgers are ready!" Aaron suddenly shouted from the kitchen.

An enticing aroma suddenly wafted from the kitchen. Everyone sniffed deeply, sighing in bliss.

Aaron came out of the kitchen carrying a huge platter of hamburgers. Seeing everyone looking at him, he blushed and said, "Hahahahaha~ Is anyone hungry?"

"...Before that, we need to fill our stomachs first!" Luffy added.

"...Mr. Luffy." Koby held his forehead. Looking at Luffy, he did not know what to say, but when he saw everyone already gathered beside the pile of hamburgers, stuffing them into their mouths and nodding in praise from time to time, he hurriedly shouted, "Wait! Save some for me!" Then he strode over.

Seeing everyone like that, Aaron's smile widened. He pressed his lips together, showing a broad, toothless smile.

Then he suddenly remembered something. He went back into the kitchen, picked up his shovel, rolled up his sleeves, walked to the stove, and began frying meat patties as he muttered:

"I should make a few for Zoro too. He must be starving by now, right?"