Save the Bandit King!

Luffy had always harbored a grudge over the humiliation he had suffered last time.

Hearing the bandits once again talk about Shanks and the others' "pathetic" performance, their words dripping with contempt and mockery, he could no longer hold back.

"Shut up! Don't you dare look down on Shanks and the others! They're not cowards!"

"Stop it, Luffy!"

Makino's face changed drastically. She tried to stop the impulsive Luffy, but it was already too late.

The "Bandit King," Higuma, immediately darkened his face and beat Luffy up without another word, smashing the bar into a complete mess as well.

"What are you looking at?"

Higuma carried Luffy out of the bar, glared at Van by the entrance, then swaggered off with his men.

"Oh no! I have to tell the village chief right away... Ah!"

Makino's pretty face turned pale as she hurriedly chased after them, only to crash straight into Van's arms.

"What happened?" Van pretended not to know. "If you need anything, I can help."

"Luffy was taken by the bandits. I have to find someone to save him."

"The bandit leader has a bounty of eight million Beli, and there are many of them. They all have guns."

Makino bit her lip and hesitated. "Can... can you handle them?"

Eighty million against eight million—the advantage was mine!

Van smiled confidently. "Wait here. I'll bring that little guy back."

Makino worried that if he acted rashly, the bandits might hurt Luffy instead, so she hurriedly reminded him, "I know you might be very strong, but if you aren't sure, it would be better not to act."

"I'll be careful!"

Looking in the direction the bandits had gone, Van narrowed his eyes before immediately giving chase.

"No, I still need to notify the village chief and have him think of something."

Makino withdrew her gaze, turned around, and ran toward the village chief's residence.

At the same time, a crimson pirate ship slowly approached the shore. The Red Hair Pirates, who had left a few days ago, had returned.

They had not gone far. They had merely wandered around the island, and this time they had returned to say goodbye to Luffy.

When they learned that Luffy had been taken by bandits, the crew became anxious and immediately clamored to rescue him.

Shanks did not object, but he seemed to be thinking about something along the way and was not fully focused.

By the time they found Higuma's group in the center of the village, the village chief and Makino were pleading with them.

What happened next was the same as in the original story. The pirates got serious, and the bandits were completely outmatched.

In the end, Higuma threw a smoke bomb and, under the watchful eyes of the Red Hair Pirates' many experts, successfully escaped with Luffy.

There was no need to say how absurd that was. In any case, Shanks belatedly said that he had been careless, while the Bandit King had accomplished this great feat.

"The timeline has been stretched out too much. Only a conspiracy theory can reasonably patch up the plot holes. Otherwise, it really makes no sense..."

On the sea not far from the docks, Van stood in the sea breeze, leisurely waiting for his target to appear.

The moment the destiny event was triggered, he had decided to start with Shanks and Higuma rather than Luffy, the original protagonist.

Because the gears of fate had already begun to turn. Unless he was willing to risk his life to kill Luffy, he was destined to receive little reward.

That was why he had not interfered with the earlier events. Instead, he had come directly to cut off Higuma's escape route, intending to save this self-proclaimed "uncrowned king" who had killed fifty-six "Pirate Emperors."

Not only that, he also wanted to see whether he could preserve Shanks's arm.

"Captain! The target has appeared!"

Hearing Qiangbalu's startled cry, Van immediately perked up.

He focused his gaze and saw a small boat suddenly emerge in the bay ahead. Higuma was standing on it, holding Luffy.

"Baby-5!"

"I'm here!"

Hearing Van call her, Baby-5 immediately rushed over and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Qiangbalu, follow the plan exactly!"

With that, Van suddenly pushed off with his feet and shot into the sky with Baby-5.

Geppo!

He alternated his feet against the air, quickly rushing toward the small boat.

"Accelerate!"

Hearing Qiangbalu's order, Elena and the others, who had long been prepared, immediately exerted themselves and rowed the oars with all their strength.

Back in Foosha Village, the Red Hair Pirates and villagers were searching everywhere, while Shanks alone headed straight for the shore.

He was clearly able to lock onto Higuma and Luffy's presence, yet he deliberately did not tell his companions.

"Hey hahahaha! I still got away easily! They'd never imagine that a bandit would escape out to sea, would they?"

On the small boat, Higuma held Luffy and laughed smugly, completely unaware that he was about to face a fatal disaster.

"Damn it! Let me go, you stupid monkey!" Luffy struggled relentlessly. "Someone like you deserves to die!"

"Idiot! You're the one who deserves to die! Who told you to piss me off?" Higuma casually tossed him away. "Bye-bye!"

"Ah... damn it! Damn it! Those guys are obviously scum, but I couldn't even land a single punch! Damn it!"

Tears streamed from Luffy's eyes. His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness, but he could not stop himself from falling into the sea.

"Sorry, but you're no longer useful to me! Hey hahahaha!"

Higuma laughed smugly, only to look up and see a dark shadow had appeared in the sky at some point.

Not only that, but the seawater behind him suddenly surged upward as a massive sea beast thrust its head out of the water.

"What... what is that?"

Sensing the dangerous aura, the smile vanished from Higuma's face in an instant, and his hand unconsciously tightened around the long blade at his waist.

"I need a rocket launcher!"

High in the air, Van reached back and hoisted Baby-5 onto his shoulder.

"Understood! Weapon Transformation: Rocket Launcher!"

As her crisp voice fell, Baby-5's legs rapidly transformed into a cannon barrel nearly as thick as her body.

"Now!"

Van found the trigger at Baby-5's waist and pulled it hard.

The shell whistled down, finally striking precisely between the small boat and the sea beast.

Boom!

The shockwave from the explosion flipped the small boat over. Higuma was sent flying and landed on the surface of the sea nearby.

Van's ship was sailing in that direction. With a splash, Qiangbalu jumped into the sea without hesitation.

The plan worked! Now it's Shanks's turn!

Van looked toward the Lord of the Coast and found that it had been enraged by the explosion. It had now noticed Luffy, who was still flailing on the surface.

"I need a harpoon with a tether!"

Weapon Transformation: Harpoon!

Baby-5 transformed again. Her waist became a coiled rope, while her legs turned into a thick metal spear.

However, Van did not act immediately. He first took her back to the ship, then slowly took aim.

"Luffy!"

An anxious shout rang out from the shore. Immediately afterward, a figure seemed to run across the sea, charging rapidly toward Luffy.

At the same time, the Lord of the Coast opened its bloody maw and bit toward Luffy.

"Did he save him?"

Law, Shachi, and the others could not see Shanks's movements at all. They only saw the Lord of the Coast plunge headfirst into the sea, sending up a huge spray of water.

I was only desperate to save someone, and I didn't ruin his plan. He has no reason to blame me for meddling!

Seeing the Lord of the Coast surface again, Van gritted his teeth and pressed the trigger on Baby-5's chest.