Pirates: Starting by Refusing Red-Haired Shanks's Invitation

Pirates: Starting by Refusing Red-Haired Shanks's Invitation

Author: Mingyou Jiuge

Synopsis:

Lin Mo crossed into the world of pirates and activated the Traveler Check-In System. Completing check-in tasks at designated locations earned him rewards. His first check-in gave him the Three Types of Haki. Checking in at Foosha Village earned him Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique; at Shimotsuki Village, Cursed Blade Stardust; at the sea restaurant, Flash Step and Night Guy. Then came Loguetown, Drum Island, Alabasta, Sky Island, Enies Lobby, Sabaody Archipelago, Impel Down... Shanks: "He turned me down twice in a row. He really doesn't care about saving me any face." Garp: "Even if we can't be comrades, we can still be friends. Lin Mo, come on, let's eat doughnuts together! Ahahaha!" Whitebeard: "Lin Mo, become my son... Never mind. Forget I said anything." Sengoku: "Akainu, get back here! Lin Mo could destroy you with one finger!" (The moment he finished speaking, Akainu died...)

Red-Haired Shanks's Invitation

East Blue, Foosha Village.

At noon, just as he did every day, a boy in a black T-shirt named Lin Mo pushed open the tavern door.

"Makino, the usual."

Lin Mo went straight to the bar and sat down.

"Of course." Makino, the tavern's owner, had short dark-green hair and wore a headscarf. Smiling, she chose a well-aged bottle from the shelf, opened it, poured a glass, and set it before him.

As the only tavern in Foosha Village, it served not just villagers but plenty of travelers passing through.

Most customers came for strong liquor. A few children, such as Luffy, stopped by now and then, so the tavern also kept fruit juice for those who didn't drink.

But in all her years behind the bar, this quiet ten-year-old was the first child she had served who actually liked alcohol.

Lin Mo lifted his glass and took a small sip.

Makino smiled. "How is it?"

"Not bad."

Just then, a commotion rose outside the tavern.

The door opened, and a cheerful voice rang out. "Hey, Lin Mo's here too."

It was Red-Haired Shanks.

Yasopp and Lucky Roux followed him in, along with the rest of the Red Hair Pirates. They poured into the tavern, calling for Makino to bring them drinks.

Shanks sat beside Lin Mo, took off his Straw Hat, and set it on the bar. At this point, he had yet to lose his left arm saving Luffy.

Makino brought over her best liquor.

Shanks opened a bottle and took a long swig straight from it. Laughing, he clapped Lin Mo on the back. "Ahahaha! Kid, got an answer to the question I asked you yesterday?"

Lin Mo calmly set down his glass. "I refuse."

"Huh? You're turning me down just like that? You really don't care about saving me any face." Shanks put on a wounded look.

The Red Hair Pirates burst out laughing.

"Ahahaha! The captain got rejected!"

"You can't even win over a kid, Captain? That's rough."

"Ahahaha! Keep trying, boss! We're rooting for you!"

Shanks took another long drink, then laughed along with everyone as if nothing had happened.

The Red Hair Pirates were so cheerful that Lin Mo, a traveler from another world, couldn't help laughing too.

He had arrived in this world ten days ago.

The advantage he had gained upon crossing over was the Traveler System. Every designated destination came with a check-in task.

Checking in wasn't as simple as reaching the destination. He had to fill the check-in progress bar.

What made the bar fill up was... hard to pin down. When Lin Mo first appeared in Foosha Village, it rose to 30%. A drink at Makino's tavern added another 30%. Then he met Shanks and bought him a drink, bringing the total to 90%.

Once he finished that last ten percent, it would be time to head for the next destination.

But ever since he met Shanks a week ago, the bar hadn't budged.

"Hey, kid." Shanks suddenly hooked an arm around Lin Mo's neck. "Ever thought about what you want to do in the future?"

"Go to sea. Eat meat, drink wine, and see the whole world." Lin Mo pushed Shanks away. "I'm going to be a traveler who answers to no one."

Shanks slapped the table and laughed. "Ahahaha! A traveler? With your talent, don't you think that would be a waste?"

Huh? My talent?

Did he notice something?

Before Lin Mo could speak, Shanks went on.

"Kid, other people might not see it, but you can't hide it from me."

They had only known each other properly for less than seven days. Though Lin Mo looked like a quiet ten-year-old, the things he said sometimes showed a maturity and ambition far beyond his age.

Other customers often laughed at him for it, but Lin Mo never cared or argued. If not for his age, Shanks might have mistaken him for an adult who had lived through countless stories.

Despite their short acquaintance, they had clicked at once over Lin Mo's easygoing nature and become friends who could talk about anything.

And while others might not see Lin Mo's strength, it hadn't escaped Shanks.

He was certain the boy had awakened all Three Types of Haki!

Haki was a latent power nearly everyone possessed. It was an inborn ability rooted in presence, killing intent, fighting spirit, and other unseen forces. By mastering those sensations, a person could turn willpower into a formidable weapon.

There were three kinds: Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki. Apart from Conqueror's Haki and the highest level of Observation Haki, ordinary people could acquire these powers through training—but not quickly.

Awakening and mastering Armament Haki and Observation Haki at ten would already make a child exceptionally gifted. Add Conqueror's Haki, possessed by only one person in several million, and what did that make him?

Most importantly, Lin Mo was only ten. That made it terrifying.

And even that wasn't what impressed Shanks most.

When he first saw Lin Mo in this tavern a week ago, he had sensed all Three Types of Haki in the boy. But Lin Mo's aura was still chaotic; he didn't seem to have full control of them.

Every day since, Shanks had felt that aura grow steadier and the boy's strength increase.

He knew no one in Foosha Village could guide Lin Mo. Growing stronger day by day on his own was beyond most people, especially when it came to stabilizing and improving Haki. That was not something normally achieved in so little time.

The boy's potential was frightening.

If Shanks hadn't seen him every day, he wouldn't have believed anyone could grow so fast.

He had no doubt that, before long, Lin Mo would shake the entire world.

That was why Shanks had invited him aboard yesterday and given him a night to think it over.

Even if Lin Mo had just turned him down...

No matter how talented he was or how quickly he grew, how far could a ten-year-old sail alone across these dangerous seas?

Shanks didn't want Lin Mo to die at sea before he had the chance to grow up.

"You've already awakened all Three Types of Haki, haven't you? With your talent, being just a traveler would be such a waste." Shanks wasn't ready to give up. "Come aboard my ship. We can still see the whole world, eat meat, drink wine, and live free. You'll gain a ship full of companions you can trust with your life, too."

Lin Mo: "..."

So he noticed after all.

No wonder he'll become one of the Four Emperors.

Shanks was right about one thing: with his easygoing personality, life aboard his ship would probably be fun.

And a crew of interesting companions who would risk their lives for one another was tempting.

Unfortunately, Lin Mo had never intended to join anyone's side.

He shook his head. "I'm used to being alone. Say what you like, offer me whatever you want—I'm not interested. My dream is to be a traveler who's free to go wherever he wants. That's all."

Shanks paused. He hadn't expected Lin Mo to reject him again.

If not for the unwavering look in the boy's eyes, he would have kept trying. "Kid, think it through. You're the first person I've invited aboard twice. Sure you won't reconsider?"

Red-Haired Shanks was generous, straightforward, and easygoing. He got along with his crew and valued friendship deeply. Even setting aside the fact that he would one day become one of the Four Emperors, Lin Mo would gladly call a man like him a friend.

But join his pirate crew?

Not a chance.

Lin Mo shook his head. "My mind's made up. You don't need to persuade me anymore."

As soon as he said it, a system notification sounded in his mind.

Beep! Successfully refused Shanks's invitation. Check-in progress +10%.

Beep! Foosha Village check-in complete. Congratulations, host! You have received the All-Attribute Chakra Constitution and the skill Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique.

Setting Sail: Everyone Was Stunned

Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique?

It was one of the powerful fire techniques from Naruto: the user refined chakra into intensely hot flames, shaped them into a dragon, and sent it charging at an enemy.

Lin Mo hadn't expected to gain a skill from Naruto in the world of pirates.

He was pleased, but one thing bothered him. If refusing Shanks's invitation completed the final ten percent, why hadn't his first refusal done it?

So Shanks wasn't serious when he invited me the first time...

Lin Mo immediately opened the status panel visible only to him.

Name: Lin Mo.

Age: 10.

Check-in location: Shimotsuki Village (0%).

Constitution: All-Attribute Chakra.

Haki: Armament Haki Lv2, Observation Haki Lv2, Conqueror's Haki Lv2.

Skill: Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique (Beginner).

System space: 10 × 10 × 10 cubic meters.

The Three Types of Haki and the system space had come from the starter package Lin Mo received when he first bound the Traveler System.

The levels beside his Haki measured its strength. Unlike the people native to this world, Lin Mo could raise those levels simply by progressing through check-in tasks.

Meeting Shanks and buying him a drink had raised his progress by 30% and rewarded him with one level in each type of Haki.

His gaze moved to the new check-in location: Shimotsuki Village.

Sure enough, finishing one location revealed the next.

Now that the next destination had appeared, it was time to leave.

But before he went, he could at least treat Shanks and his crew to a proper round of drinks.

A smile tugged at Lin Mo's lips. "Drinks are on me today. Have as much as you want."

He hadn't spent the past few days fighting wolves, bears, and tigers for nothing. He had improved his Haki and earned plenty of Beli in the process.

"What's got you feeling so generous?" Shanks asked with a laugh.

"I'm getting ready to leave," Lin Mo said.

Shanks paused, but before he could reply, Lucky Roux approached with a hunk of meat on the bone in one hand and a Den Den Mushi in the other. "Captain, it's for you."

"For me? Who is it?" Shanks took the Den Den Mushi.

A roar came through it.

"Hey! Shanks, you bastard! Did you go to Foosha Village?"

Recognizing the voice of Luffy's grandfather, Garp, Shanks rose and headed outside with the Den Den Mushi. "Haha, why so angry? If you were here, I'd buy you a drink."

"If I were in Foosha Village, I'd arrest you! Bastard, you've been a bad influence on that brat Luffy. Stay away from him, you hear me?"

"Hahaha." Shanks laughed, then abruptly grew serious. He turned to look at Lin Mo's back as the boy sat at the bar. "Garp, you know something? I've seen a Supernova with limitless potential."

"What Supernova? Just another bunch of arrogant brats with a little ability who think they're hot stuff..."

"No. He's different. Given time, that kid might shake the world."

Garp fell silent. He and Shanks stood on opposite sides, but he knew him well enough: anyone who had caught Shanks's attention and earned such high praise was no ordinary person.