Finally, after drifting for hours under the sun and wind, the silhouette of Shells Town appeared on the horizon—a sturdy, coastal town with a large marine base dominating its center like a white monolith.
The surrounding houses were built with flat tiled roofs and pastel walls, huddled together like a quiet fishing village afraid of its own shadow.
The boat creaked as we neared the dock, bumping gently against the wooden posts. Luffy stood up, arms stretched behind his head with that ever-present grin.
"Land ho!" he declared, as if we hadn't all seen it for the last fifteen minutes.
Koby looked nervous, clutching his tiny bag like a lifeline. "This is it... The marine base where they're holding Zoro."
"Right," I said, standing as well. My eyes drifted toward the large white building near the center of town—the symbol of justice painted boldly on its front, fluttering in the wind above the gate. "And this is where we test how good your potential crewmate really is."
Luffy's grin widened. "I'm telling you, he'll be great!"
I raised a brow. "Says the man who's never met him."
"Yeah, but I have a good feeling!" he laughed.
"Let's hope your gut doesn't get us killed."
He patted his stomach proudly. "This gut's never wrong."
"Alright, we made it!" Luffy shouted, hopping onto the dock behind me, his straw hat bouncing with each step.
Koby clambered out awkwardly, nearly falling into the sea before catching himself on a rope. "W-Whoa… that was close."
I smirked, glancing toward the looming Marine base in the distance. Its walls were pristine white, but that false sense of purity did little to mask the undercurrent of tension in the air. The place radiated authority—but not justice. Not anymore.
"Luffy, Koby," I said, brushing some dust from my coat. "You two go check out the Marine base. That's where they're keeping Zoro, right?"
Luffy turned to me, puzzled. "You're not coming with us?"
I shook my head. "No. I want to take a look around the town first. Gather a little info. See how the people here feel about the Marines. Besides, if something goes wrong in there, it's better we don't all walk into the lion's den at once."
Koby looked uneasy. "W-We're not going to fight them, right? I mean… we're just here to talk to Zoro."
"Relax, Koby," I said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure Luffy's charisma will win him over."
Luffy beamed. "Yeah! I'm great at making friends!"
I gave him a dry look. "Right."
Koby's knees wobbled a little as he turned toward the base. "O-Okay. Let's go."
I watched them make their way through the narrow streets—Luffy skipping, Koby practically tiptoeing—and once they disappeared around a corner, I exhaled and turned toward the marketplace.
Shells Town wasn't big, but it was busy. Vendors lined the streets with baskets of fish, barrels of apples, and freshly baked bread steaming on wooden carts. Kids ran barefoot between the stalls, and old men sat under umbrellas drinking tea and grumbling about the heat.
Despite the normalcy, there was a strange tension beneath it all. People smiled, but not too much. Laughed, but with eyes darting to check for uniforms. Marines walked the streets in pairs, their white coats crisp, their rifles slung casually but threateningly over their shoulders. The civilians gave them a wide berth.
I made my way to a small food stand near the plaza. The old man behind it was grilling fish skewers, the scent wafting through the air and making my stomach growl. I tossed him one of my gold Yggdrasil coins.
"Don't know what this is," the man grunted, inspecting the coin. "But it's shiny, and I ain't picky."
He handed me a skewer, and I took a bite—crispy, salty, and just enough spice.
"Quiet town," I said casually, watching a pair of Marines walk past. "Feels... too quiet."
The old man grunted. "Quiet don't mean peaceful. Not with that bastard Morgan in charge."
"Morgan?" I asked, pretending not to know.
"Captain Axe-Hand Morgan," he spat. "Runs this place like his own damn kingdom. That boy Zoro's been tied up in the yard for days. Most thought he'd be executed already."
"Executed?"
"Yeah. Refused to follow orders or somethin'. The Marines say he's a demon, but folks around here know better. That boy protected a little girl from one of Morgan's thugs. Got himself locked up for doing the right thing."
I leaned against the stand, chewing thoughtfully. "Sounds like the kind of guy worth saving."
The old man looked at me, squinting. "You with the Marines?"
I shook my head with a smirk. "Do I look like I follow orders?"
That got a rare smile from him. "Hah! You got a point."
Finishing the last bite, I straightened and gave him a nod. "Thanks for the food. If anyone asks, I was never here."
~~~