Shanks and the few crew members who still remained conscious stared in disbelief, while the leader of the mountain bandits trembled where he stood, his legs barely holding him up.
"W-what did you do, brat!?" the bandit leader shouted.
Luffy blinked, just as confused as anyone else.
"I… I don't know," he muttered.
No mistake… that was Haoshoku, Benn Beckman thought. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. He met Shanks' gaze across the room.
Shanks' expression didn't change, but he gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod.
Before anyone could react, the mountain bandit snapped.
"I'll kill you!"
Steel flashed.
The blade came down toward Luffy. Shanks tried to move—but his body was still sluggish from the earlier shock. He couldn't make it in time.
The sword struck.
It cut from Luffy's shoulder toward his chest—
—and stopped.
Lightning exploded outward.
A violent surge burst from Luffy's body, traveling straight through the blade and into the bandit. The man screamed as electricity tore through him, his body convulsing before he collapsed unconscious to the floor.
The sword clattered away.
Silence swallowed the bar.
Everyone stared as the wounds on Luffy's body began to close, crackling sparks stitching flesh together until nothing remained—not even a scar.
No one spoke.
They were staring at a seven-year-old boy.
Shanks broke the silence.
"Luffy," he said carefully, "did you eat the fruit from that chest?"
Luffy nodded.
Shanks stepped forward and grabbed Luffy's shoulders.
His hands passed straight through.
A sharp jolt shot up his arms, forcing him to recoil immediately.
Shanks exhaled slowly and laughed under his breath.
"Guess that answers it."
He crouched so he was eye level with Luffy.
"You ate the Goro Goro no Mi," Shanks said. "A Devil Fruit."
Luffy listened intently.
"Anyone who eats a Devil Fruit loses the ability to swim forever. But that one—" Shanks glanced briefly at the scorch marks on the floor "—is a Logia. Your body can become lightning itself."
Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"So… I'm super strong now?"
Shanks grinned. "You're dangerous."
Luffy beamed.
"Does that mean I can come with you now?"
Shanks stood and returned to his seat. Benn followed. Makino approached quietly, sensing the mood.
Benn spoke first, his voice low.
"Captain… that kid just ate a Logia."
His eyes never left Luffy.
"And if that earlier was Haoshoku—"
He paused.
"Leaving him untrained is more dangerous than taking him with us."
Makino swallowed. "Is… is Luffy going to be alright?"
Shanks smiled, relaxed as ever.
"He'll live," he said. "That's more than most people get."
Luffy suddenly shouted.
"Hey! Stop whispering! I can hear you plotting stuff!"
All three turned toward him.
"So?" Luffy asked eagerly. "Can I come with you, Shanks?"
Shanks crossed his arms.
"I'll decide after two questions."
Luffy straightened instantly. "Okay!"
"First," Shanks said, "do you know what you used to knock those bandits out?"
The room went still.
Luffy scratched his cheek. "Not really. It just happens sometimes… usually when Grandpa gets mad during training."
Shanks' smile vanished.
"…You've used it before?"
Luffy nodded. "Yeah. On some monkeys Grandpa made me fight."
No one spoke.
Makino sighed softly. Of course he did…
Shanks turned slowly toward her.
"Makino," he said, "who exactly is Luffy's grandfather?"
She smiled—just a little too knowingly.
"Monkey D. Garp."
The bar froze.
"THE Marine Hero Garp?!" Lucky Roo shouted.
Makino nodded.
Shanks stared at Luffy.
The boy was picking his nose.
"…That explains everything," Shanks muttered.
"Second question," he said aloud. "What's your dream?"
Luffy didn't hesitate.
He jumped onto the bench.
"I'M GONNA BE THE KING OF THE PIRATES!"
"And why?" Shanks asked.
"Because the Pirate King is the most free person in the world!" Luffy shouted. "I'll find One Piece and become the greatest adventurer ever!"
The pirates laughed—not mockingly, but warmly.
For a moment, Shanks saw another man standing there. Same words. Same fire.
"Alright," Shanks said.
Luffy leaned forward.
"You're in."
The bar erupted.
Luffy cried without shame.
A week later, the entire village gathered at the harbor.
Mayor Woop Slap had argued until his voice gave out, but Benn and Shanks had been blunt. A child with that power, left alone, was a disaster waiting to happen.
Reluctantly, the mayor agreed—on the condition that Makino inform Garp the next time he returned.
Aboard the Red Force, Luffy waved wildly.
"Bye, Makino! I'll be back once I get my own crew!"
Shanks watched Dawn Island fade into the horizon.
"No need to resupply," he said. "We've got enough to reach Reverse Mountain."
"Aye, Captain!"
Shanks glanced at Luffy, who was running around the deck like it was a playground.
"Luffy," he called. "Come on."
He led him to a small cabin.
"This is yours."
It was simple. A bed. A desk. A cupboard.
Luffy smiled.
"I like it."
Later, Shanks laid out the rules. Benn would handle navigation, history, and tactics. Roo would oversee Devil Fruit control. Yasopp would teach marksmanship. Shanks himself would handle Haki.
Luffy listened for exactly ten seconds.
"Do we have meat?"
All four men collapsed.
Three days later, Reverse Mountain loomed.
As the ship climbed, Luffy scrambled onto the figurehead.
Everyone panicked.
As the ship plunged into the Grand Line, Luffy threw his fist into the sky.
"I WILL BECOME THE KING OF THE PIRATES!"
The crew smiled. Not because it was funny. Because it sounded inevitable.