Kneel

Chase Hail, captain of the Chest Hair Pirates.

Though his bounty was only a measly 15 million, not even enough to earn him a seat at the table on the Grand Line.

In the West Blue, especially in the waters around Ohara, he was already an infamous pirate!

Everyone making a living in these waters knew it.

Chest Hair Chase Hail only did three things a day—kill people, rest, and groom his chest hair!

And today, Chase Hail had already rested, and his chest hair was freshly groomed.

"Still not talking? What kind of tough guy act is a pirate putting on?"

On the broad deck, bloodied figures hung from the mast, their flesh beaten beyond recognition.

Blood dripped from their toes onto the ground, adding fresh red streaks to planks already stained purple-brown.

The captain of the Acne Pirates was covered in torn flesh, crying his eyes out, his voice filled with pleas and grievance.

"Everything I said is true! We really were just planning to head out and rob someone!"

"Do you take me for an idiot? No ships pass through this route at all!" Chase Hail roared. Rising to his feet, he snatched the whip from one of his men, intending to take matters into his own hands.

Just then, a delighted voice rang out from nearby. "Captain, this guy talked! Someone hired them!"

The Acne Pirates' captain's face instantly twisted into a vicious expression. Struggling desperately in midair, he turned toward the crewman hanging in that direction. "Bastard, don't forget—"

Before he could finish, a rough, massive hand clamped tightly over his mouth!

"I knew you lot were up to something!" Chase Hail grinned savagely, turning toward another member of the Acne Pirates, drenched in blood and already broken.

"Come on, tell me what you were planning to do."

"If you dare lie to me, I'll send you straight to your death!"

Before long, word of Ohara's deal with the pirates spread throughout the Chest Hair Pirates.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!!"

Chase Hail stroked his chest hair and laughed in delighted surprise. "It's Ohara!"

Ohara was a wonderful place.

A bunch of historians had gathered there, bringing with them piles of priceless antiques.

Countless pirates had set their sights on it.

Unfortunately, those archaeologists in Ohara were no pushovers either. Every last one of them could wield both pen and sword—damn it, they fought better than pirates.

Most of the pirates who had targeted them in the past were feeding fish at the bottom of the sea now.

Under normal circumstances, Chase Hail would never have set his sights on Ohara.

But today...

"They're going there to teach some brat a lesson?"

"They specifically hired a pirate crew with bounties like yours for this. That brat must be important to those historians!"

"Ha ha ha! If we capture him, they'll surely be willing to pay a hefty ransom!"

Cheers erupted across the pirate ship.

Business had been slow lately. The Chest Hair Pirates had gone a whole month without making a score, and everyone was itching for action!

Otherwise, they would not have traveled all this way just to rob fellow pirates.

"Everyone, switch ships with me!"

Chase Hail gripped the Acne Pirates captain's anxious, furious face and laughed uproariously.

"Don't worry. We'll teach that brat a proper lesson in your place."

"We'll show him what a real pirate is!!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha!!"

Ohara, dock.

Jogo wore a massive backpack used by historians for archaeological work and crouched before little Robin, whose eyes were red and swollen after crying all night.

"From now on, that house is yours. Clean it regularly, and don't open the door for strangers."

Robin rubbed her eyes, pouted, and nodded reluctantly.

"I left a letter for the old man and the others. It's on the desk. After I leave, take it to the old man."

"They'll look after you for me from now on."

Robin burst into tears and hugged Jogo.

"I don't want you to go! Sob..."

Jogo patted her little head.

"You know where the money is. Give it all to the old man when the time comes, so no one else gets any ideas about you."

"Remember what I told you? What do you do if someone bullies you?"

"Hit... hit them back!" Robin said through her tears.

"And if you can't beat them?"

"Run away... go cry outside Grandpa Clow's door! Say I miss Jogo... that without Jogo, I'm a child nobody wants... Waaah—"

That was right. He had to guilt-trip the old man hard!

Otherwise, the old man would have all that strength and spend every day studying history without ever caring about the suffering of ordinary people.

Academic work could not be divorced from the masses!

He glanced at the flashes of reflected light in the windows high up in the distant Tree of Knowledge.

Every one of them had sworn they would not come, yet they seemed perfectly happy watching through telescopes now, didn't they?

"Jogo!"

From a fishing boat docked nearby, someone waved an arm and shouted toward the shore.

"If you don't leave now, you won't reach the next island by nightfall!"

Jogo let out a soft sigh and stood up. Just as he was about to respond, he suddenly heard panicked cries beside him.

"Look, what's that?!"

"A pirate ship?"

"Oh no, it's the Acne Pirates!!"

"They're here! They're here!" Behind a small hill not far from the dock, Clow and several clever schemers lay prone on the ground, watching through telescopes.

When they saw the pirate ship drawing closer, sly smiles appeared on all their faces.

"Those Acne Pirates really are punctual!" one of them said, then suddenly looked worried.

"Just don't hit him too hard."

At that moment, Clow, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke. "Something's wrong!"

"What's wrong?" the others asked in confusion.

Clow frowned deeply. "Do you recognize the people on that ship?"

Archaeology was a profession that required sharp observation!

The others raised their telescopes for a closer look, and they too became puzzled. "No... maybe they recruited new people?"

It was common for pirate crews to replenish their ranks with new blood after suffering heavy losses.

"No... that's not it!!"

The man beside them suddenly lowered his telescope and stammered.

"Those guys... they... they don't have pirate tattoos on them!"

"And... and... and..."

"And what?!" the others demanded anxiously.

"And haven't you noticed? Th-they all have chest hair!!"

Chest hair?

Wait... the Chest Hair Pirates?!!!

A chill ran up the backs of the archaeologists.

The Chest Hair Pirates had disguised themselves as the Acne Pirates... They must have learned the details of the deal!

This was bad!!

Jogo was in danger!!!

Before anyone could react, Clow had already sprinted toward the dock.

As the pirate ship rapidly approached the shore, the dock descended into chaos. Panicked people screamed and fled toward the town.

Robin nervously clung to Jogo's leg.

"Jogo, let's run!"

Before Jogo could speak, an urgent shout suddenly came from behind them.

"Jo—go—"

"Jo—go—"

He turned around and saw Clow racing toward them with several familiar faces.

"Run... watch out..." Their breathless voices drifted through the wind.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!!"

An arrogant burst of laughter drowned out every other sound.

From the speeding pirate ship, the over-six-foot-tall Chase Hail burst through the cabin wall. Carrying a huge blade and followed by his red-eyed crewmen, he leaped straight off the ship.

Boom! The tiny dock seemed to shake!

Then that enormous body exploded forward at a speed utterly disproportionate to his muscles, sending pedestrians flying from his path as he laughed madly and charged straight at Jogo on the dock.

"Found out, did you? Too late now!! Ha ha ha ha!!"

He raised his blade and looked at the defenseless prey before him, laughing wildly.

"Be a good boy and let me kidnap you!"

"Kid, welcome to the world of pirat—uh?"

Before he could finish, the prey before him turned around. Apparently unable to tolerate his noise any longer, Jogo frowned slightly and raised his left hand toward him.

With a flick of his wrist, he pointed a finger at the ground.

"Kneel!" Jogo said impatiently.

The next second, a terrifying presence erupted and swept across the entire scene.

It felt as though a pirate ship had rolled over the back of his head.

Chase Hail's consciousness instantly went blank.

Smiling with his eyes rolled back, he skidded to a stop face-first at Jogo's shoes.

Behind him, the Chest Hair Pirates, who had been laughing wildly just moments before, collapsed to the ground in unison and fell unconscious.

The dock fell silent.