Opportunity Interception Was Never as Simple as Reaching Out

"Twenty-three hours and fifty-eight minutes. What are the mission failure conditions?"

Su Hang closed the wooden door to the back kitchen.

He stared at the countdown in his vision, fingers gripping the edge of the stove.

[Nika Fruit forms a new karmic affiliation. Interception failed.]

[Nika Fruit leaves the boundaries of Windmill Village. Interception failed.]

[Host dies. Interception failed.]

"What if I steal the box and hide it somewhere?"

[The fruit's ownership has not changed. Does not meet the Opportunity Interception Determination.]

"What if I make Luffy eat it early?"

[The original recipient completes the destined cycle. Mission terminates immediately.]

"What if someone else eats it?"

[The host has not obtained the opportunity. Nika Core cannot be generated.]

Su Hang rubbed the knuckle of his index finger and asked quietly.

"Do I have to eat it myself?"

[The host must personally seize the target and alter the key karma. Any action performed by another cannot pass the determination.]

"What perfect timing."

"Who are you talking to?"

Luffy poked his head around the door, half a piece of roasted meat still stuffed in his mouth.

Su Hang dismissed the light screen and grabbed the fish basket by the wall, stuffing it into Luffy's arms.

"I'm talking to someone who only knows how to make demands and takes no responsibility for keeping me alive."

"Is someone else here?"

"No. Go find Makino and tell her the kitchen needs fish."

"Why should I go?"

"Because you just stole her roasted meat."

Luffy looked down at the meat in his hand, then turned and ran outside.

"Shanks gave this to me!"

"Shanks also said he wouldn't feed a bottomless pit."

"He's lying!"

Makino pushed the door open and took the empty fish basket.

"Su Hang, are you heading out?"

"To buy fish. And get familiar with the roads while I'm at it."

"Your shoulder injury still hasn't been properly treated. Don't go too far."

"The wound isn't deep. I'll change the dressing when I'm back."

"I'll go too!"

Luffy immediately raised his hand, only for Makino to press down on his Straw Hat.

"You stay and wipe the tables. Don't touch Shanks's wooden box again."

"I only wanted to take one look."

"You've said that five times today."

Su Hang walked to the door, then turned back and beckoned Luffy over.

"If you want to know where they'll move the box, follow me."

"They're moving it?"

Luffy picked up the fish basket and chased out of the tavern, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Is Shanks moving the Devil Fruit onto the ship tonight?"

Across the street, a straw hat tilted slightly.

Benns, standing beside the fish stall, withdrew his right hand and tucked his charcoal pencil into his sleeve.

Su Hang did not look at him and merely took the fish basket.

"Shout a little louder. The whole street might hear you."

"Are they moving it or not?"

"They're refilling the ship's fresh water, and the port has started hauling in the mooring ropes again. What do you think?"

"But I haven't seen the fruit yet!"

Luffy spun around to run back, but Su Hang grabbed him by the collar.

"What's the rush? The box won't move until tonight."

"How do you know?"

"Just a guess."

"What if you guessed wrong?"

"If you go pester Shanks, do you think he'll get annoyed?"

"No! He can't beat me!"

Luffy waved his fist and ran back to the tavern.

Benns tossed down two Beli and carried his fish basket toward the alley north of the port.

Su Hang followed from three stalls away.

As he passed the fish stall, he pressed a sheet of paper covered in fish scales beneath a wooden board.

There was only one line on it.

Red-Hair will move the Devil Fruit tonight.

Benns passed two wooden houses and pushed open the side door of an abandoned warehouse.

Su Hang stopped outside the wall and, through a crack between broken boards, saw a gray-shelled Den Den Mushi.

Benns wound the spring on the Den Den Mushi's back.

Its eyes opened halfway, and a static-filled voice came from its mouth.

"Benns calling the East Blue patrol ship. Red-Haired Pirates target located."

The Den Den Mushi fell silent for a moment before forcing out a deep reply.

"Confirm the type of target."

"Suspected Devil Fruit lost by the World Government. Wooden box with copper-wrapped corners and battle marks on the latch."

"Does Red-Hair know your identity?"

"Not sure. He looked out the window, but he didn't come after me."

"Continue surveillance. Do not make contact. The patrol ship will arrive before dawn."

Benns gripped the receiver.

"We can't wait until dawn. They'll move the box tonight."

"Source of the intelligence?"

"A newly arrived outsider at the tavern, and that Straw Hat brat from the village. Both mentioned the ship's supplies."

"Have you checked the outsider's identity?"

"No. He looks like he survived a shipwreck and has no weapons on him."

"Then shut up and keep watching."

The Den Den Mushi closed its mouth, but Benns did not hang up.

"Once Red-Hair puts to sea, we won't be able to catch him."

"This is an order."

"If the target is lost, you know better than I do whose shoulders the responsibility will fall on."

There was no answer for a long time. The Den Den Mushi simply fell asleep.

Benns cursed and pulled a wooden token from the bottom of his fish basket.

Crossed short blades were carved into its face.

He pushed open the warehouse's rear window and handed the token to a skinny man waiting at the alley entrance.

"Take this up the mountain. Tell Higuma that Red-Hair has a box of goods worth over a hundred million Beli, and they're leaving tonight."

"Why would Higuma believe you?"

"Give him this copper clasp. He'll recognize something from a government ship."

"How do we split it after we get the goods?"

"The box is mine. All the liquor and money in the tavern go to the mountain bandits."

"Red-Hair isn't easy to mess with."

"He won't dare kill people in front of the villagers. Higuma just needs to block the front entrance. I'll handle the rest."

The footsteps faded away.

Su Hang retreated along the wall to the fish market and picked up the two fish he had just bought.

When he returned to the tavern, Luffy was sprawled beside the wooden box.

Lucky Roux had used an iron chain to lock the box to a table leg.

"You lied to me. Shanks said they weren't leaving tonight!"

"Did you see the fruit, then?"

"No. They even added another chain."

"At least now we know the box won't be going back to the ship tonight."

Luffy followed Su Hang into the back kitchen.

"Did you make me shout that on purpose?"

"What did you shout?"

"That the Devil Fruit was going to be moved."

"I never told you to stand in the street and yell it."

"But you clearly said..."

Su Hang handed the fish to Makino and raised a hand over Luffy's mouth.

"Do you want to see the fruit?"

Luffy pried his hand away.

"I do!"

"Then listen to me for once. The mountain bandits will come to the tavern tonight to collect protection money. You're responsible for taking the village children home. Don't leave anyone on the street."

"If Higuma dares show up, I'll send him flying!"

"You can't even beat a stray dog. What are you going to fight him with?"

"I'll get stronger someday!"

"Someday won't help you today. Take everyone away first."

"What about you?"

"I'm staying here."

"You can't beat Higuma either."

"I know. That's why I won't fight him head-on."

Luffy stared at Su Hang for a moment, gripping the brim of his Straw Hat.

"Did you know the mountain bandits were coming all along?"

"I just found out."

"Shanks is here too. Would they dare cause trouble?"

"Someone told Higuma that what's in the wooden box is worth over a hundred million Beli. He'll come."

"Who told him?"

"Someone who wants that box."

Makino put down her kitchen knife and turned to Su Hang.

"You went out to buy fish. What exactly did you hear?"

"A government spy is watching Red-Hair. He used Higuma to block the front door and plans to steal the box from the back."

"You should tell Shanks."

"If I tell him, the box will be sent to the ship tonight, and the mission... my chance will be gone."

"What chance is worth risking your life for?"

"A chance to survive in this world."

Makino looked at his injured shoulder for a long while before speaking.

"There are still customers in the tavern. I can't put them at risk."

"Close before dark. Leave only Red-Hair's people. Luffy will take the children away. You watch the well in the backyard. If there's a fire, draw water immediately."

"What are you planning to do?"

"Let Higuma come through the front door, let the government spy come through the back, and make Red-Hair's people too distracted to worry about that box."

Luffy grabbed Su Hang's wrist.

"That belongs to Shanks!"

"It didn't belong to Shanks in the first place."

"You want to steal it?"

"Stealing it isn't enough."

"Then what are you going to do?"

Su Hang pulled his hand free, his gaze falling on the wooden box in the middle of the tavern.

"Opportunities never wait for anyone, but I can make everyone open the door for me."

Night had just fallen.

The Den Den Mushi in the warehouse opened its eyes again.

Benns loaded the bullets into the chamber one by one.

"Before tomorrow, I'll make those pirates kneel and hand over the box."