The harbor.
Aboard a pirate ship flying a skull flag bearing two axes, the members of the Giant Axe Pirates were drinking and chatting.
A newcomer who had just joined the Giant Axe Pirates happily said to the pirates around him:
"Hehehehe, being a pirate is great."
"We just raided a village and made a fortune, and we captured a few slaves too. We can make another big haul selling them to a slave trader, and then the boss can take us out to have fun for a few days again."
Hearing the rookie pirate, a pirate captain nearby immediately teased him. "Kamu, you bastard, if it weren't for me, you would've been caught by the Marines last time."
"Of course, of course. Thanks, captain!"
As the pirates laughed and chatted, the few pirates who had fled the tavern hurried back aboard.
"Boss Baku! Boss Baku!"
The pirates drinking and chatting on deck all looked at the pirates who had fled back in surprise.
Bang.
The cabin door was suddenly kicked open with tremendous force. A two-meter-tall fat man with a fierce, fleshy face and a double-bladed giant axe on his back emerged from the cabin, his face full of anger.
"Bastards, what's all this shouting about? Who's disturbing my fun? Don't you know I hate being interrupted when I'm drinking?"
Seeing their captain's angry face, all the pirates on deck looked at the men who had just fled back.
Noticing everyone staring at them, one of the pirates explained shakily, "Boss Baku, our captain Scar was killed by a brat at the tavern."
After hearing the pirate out, Giant Axe Baku grew even angrier.
"Your captain was killed, so why did you useless bastards even come back?"
"Men, kill these useless bastards and throw them into the sea to feed the fish."
"Spare us, boss! We came back to report what happened."
Hearing their captain's order, some pirates immediately drew their machetes and surrounded the men.
Only after the men had been killed and thrown into the sea did Baku give the pirates on deck another order.
"Find the guy who killed Scar. I'll show him what happens when he offends Giant Axe Baku."
"Yes, sir!"
Having received their captain's order, the pirates scattered, leaving the ship and heading into town.
At the inn, Roy, who had returned to his room to rest after the feast, had no idea that killing a pirate lackey had brought the entire Giant Axe Pirates out after him.
Even if he had known, he wouldn't have worried. The crew sounded like fodder just from its name, and even if they came, he could wipe them out with a wave of his hand.
Roy was currently examining the information he had bought from Shakky.
After briefly looking through the manuals in his hands, Roy had a rough plan for everyone's future growth. He then turned off the light and went to sleep.
The next day, Roy woke up and checked his injuries. When he opened the door, he saw Stella setting breakfast on the table.
"Good morning, Stella." Using Observation Haki to sense his surroundings, he found that Tesoro wasn't in the room and asked curiously, "Where did Tesoro run off to so early?"
"Him? He went out to train early this morning. Let's eat breakfast first."
Seeing that Stella had finished setting out the food, Roy sat down without ceremony.
Bang!
"I'm back, Stella!"
Tesoro pushed open the door and, seeing the two already seated at the table, hurried over.
Glancing at the bruises on Tesoro's face that had yet to fade, Roy knew he had been training hard these past few days too.
After they finished breakfast, Roy looked at the two of them.
"We'll rest here for a few days. My injuries should be fully healed in a few more days. We need to prepare supplies for our next voyage while we're here, and more importantly, we need a ship of our own."
"Tesoro, put your training on hold for now..."
"But, boss, I want to get stronger quickly. I can't keep holding you back. I don't want to experience the helplessness I felt facing those pirates yesterday again."
"Idiot, can you let me finish first?" With that, Roy took the basic training methods he had obtained from Shakky out of the luggage he carried with him and handed them to Tesoro.
"You have good physical talent, but you still lack systematic training. For now, follow this to train your body. Once your body is strong enough, I'll teach you a more powerful training method."
"Yes, boss!" Tesoro happily accepted the booklet as if he had received a priceless treasure.
Looking at the delighted Tesoro, Roy took a simple map of the first half of the Grand Line and a Log Pose out of his pocket.
"Stella, this Log Pose points to the island that's our next stop. We need you to work out the sailing route first."
"Okay, Boss Roy."
Over the next few days, the three began a short period of rest in town.
Tesoro spent almost all his time training. Every day before dawn, he headed to the mountain behind the town to train his body.
Stella was responsible for buying supplies, food, and fresh water, while also working out their next sailing route.
Roy didn't sit idle either.
He spent most of his time meditating in his room, further familiarizing himself with and gaining control over his rapidly increased mental power and newly awakened Conqueror's Haki.
He discovered that by finely integrating his mental power into his Observation Haki, he could not only sense emotions and simple thoughts, but could even vaguely "see" the blurred trajectory of his opponent's next move. At the same time, he continued developing the abilities of the Telekinesis-Telekinesis Fruit.
Of course, the peaceful days didn't last long.
When Roy's wanted poster reached the island, the innkeeper recognized them and immediately reported the discovery in secret to the Marines at the nearby Marine Base.
On the afternoon of the third day, Roy, whose injuries had fully healed, and Tesoro, who had finished training, went together to the town's only weapon shop, hoping to pick out a decent sword for Roy. Meanwhile, a group of strange-looking pirates were rushing aggressively toward them.
"Boss, something's wrong."
Roy, who was paying the shopkeeper, swept the area with his Observation Haki. He promptly put the money on the counter, picked up the long sword he had chosen, and led Tesoro out of the weapon shop.
As soon as they stepped outside, the approaching pirates blocked the two of them in front of the shop.
The burly man leading them, carrying a giant axe, was none other than Giant Axe Baku, captain of the Giant Axe Pirates. More than a dozen fierce-looking pirates followed behind him.
"Captain, that's the brat. I've checked it out. He's the one who killed Scar," the newly joined rookie pirate Kamu shouted, pointing at Roy.
Hearing that, Giant Axe Baku looked Roy up and down. He couldn't imagine how Scar, one of his capable subordinates, had been taken out by the kid before him, who looked so young and was dressed like a noble.