East Blue.
A fairly sizable port town.
The docks bustled with people, peddlers hawked their wares, and dockworkers shouted over one another as several merchant ships that had just arrived unloaded their cargo.
Luffy's little boat had only just bumped against the dock, and the rope had not even been tied down when a commotion suddenly erupted at the street entrance ahead.
"The pirate hunter is back!"
Luffy immediately looked up.
The crowd automatically parted to either side.
A green-haired man walked out from the street entrance, three swords hanging at his waist and a thick hemp rope clenched in one hand.
At the other end of the rope was a battered, bruised pirate.
The man had been beaten so badly he barely looked human. He lay sprawled on the ground as Zoro dragged him forward, with hardly any strength left to struggle.
The townspeople around them clearly all knew him.
"Mr. Zoro!"
"Did you catch another one this time?"
"I know that guy! His bounty is three million Berry!"
Zoro ignored the voices and walked all the way to the Marine outpost before flicking his arm.
Bang!
The pirate was thrown straight onto the ground.
"Money."
The Marine soldier in charge of registration looked up at him, his expression full of helplessness.
"Roronoa Zoro."
"Haven't you been coming here a little too often lately?"
The Marine checked the wanted poster as he complained.
"At the rate you're catching them, the few small-time pirates left in East Blue won't be enough for you."
Zoro folded his arms.
"Need money lately."
"..."
The Marine lowered his head and wrote out the receipt.
Meanwhile.
Luffy had already sidled over.
More accurately, his eyes had lit up the moment he saw the three swords.
"Three swords?!"
Zoro turned his head.
"Hm?"
Luffy circled