The Gears of Fate Begin to Turn

Sea Circle Calendar 1529, May 5.

Goa Kingdom, Foosha Village, docks.

A three-masted sailing ship lay quietly anchored offshore. A black pirate flag flew from the top of its mainmast, bearing a white skull with a pair of crossed swords behind it. Two diagonal black-and-red stripes ran across the skull's left eye socket.

Dawn, clad in the Invisible Suit, drifted lightly down from the air and landed ashore. Makino's tavern stood quietly before him.

After learning that the Higuma Bandits had been active nearby, and that Higuma himself carried a bounty of 8 million Beli, he had rushed here to witness this famous scene.

The wooden door, repaired at lightning speed by Master Port Friends, opened at the touch of his invisible finger, revealing the scene inside the tavern:

In front of the bar, Higuma, the Mountain Bandit King, tapped the counter with his thick fingers, his face full of impatience.

"We're mountain bandits. We didn't come here today to trash the place. Sell us ten barrels of liquor."

Makino barely maintained her polite smile, her slender fingers unconsciously clutching the edge of her apron.

"I'm terribly sorry, but we just sold out of liquor today."

As the two spoke, the black-haired little boy beside them stood on tiptoe, stretching his tiny arm with all his might. At last, his fingertips touched the fruit covered in spiral patterns.

Luffy's eyes glittered with a child's unique curiosity and stubbornness, utterly unaware that what he held in his hands was a turning point in history.

Dawn did not stop him. He silently moved into the deepest shadows of the corner and took out a miniature Camera Den Den Mushi from inside his suit.

He made no deliberate effort to hide his presence. Yasopp, who had sensed something, had already placed his fingers