Three days passed since the Going Merry left Cocoyasi behind — three days of endless blue skies and the rhythmic lull of the ocean.
The Straw Hats had fallen into an easy rhythm aboard the newly modified ship.
The mornings were filled with training, the afternoons with laughter, and the nights with the sound of the waves brushing against the hull.
Then, one cloudless morning, the flapping of wings broke the calm.
A news bird swooped low above the ship, its shadow cutting briefly across the deck before dropping a bundle of papers.
"Oi, Nami! Paper delivery!" Usopp called, waving.
Nami flipped a coin to the bird, snatching the bundle midair.
She unfolded the top paper, scanning the headlines with mild disinterest—until her eyes widened.
A single sheet fluttered loose, carried by the breeze before Ben caught it with a spell. He frowned, reading the bold print.
"Wanted: DEAD OR ALIVE Monkey D. Luffy — 30,000,000 Berries."
Nami's face turned pale as she stared at the bounty poster. "Thirty… million?" she breathed. "Do you realize what this means?"
Luffy, sitting cross-legged on the deck, tilted his head with a grin. "It means I look cool!"
Zoro chuckled, resting his swords against his shoulder. "It means we're officially pirates and bounty hunters and marines will be after us."
Usopp leaned closer, squinting at the poster. "Wait, is that—hey, that's me!" He jabbed a finger at the image. "Right there, behind Luffy's shoulder!"
Sanji leaned over and frowned. "That's just the back of your head."
Usopp puffed up proudly. "Still counts."
Sanji muttered something under his breath and looked away, his cigarette trembling slightly. "Tch… not even my face in the photo. Ridiculous."
Ben only smiled faintly, the corner of his mouth curving in amusement. He said nothing, though he noticed the shift in Nami's expression — worry, calculation, and something else beneath it.
Nami knew what it meant to have a bounty that high. The Marines would come, and stronger foes would follow.
A week later, Logue Town appeared on the horizon like a promise and a warning — the gateway between dreams and danger. The place where one story had ended, and another had begun.
"Land ho!" Usopp's shout echoed from the crow's nest, his voice sharp with excitement.
Luffy burst out of the kitchen, a half-eaten slab of meat in his hands. "Really?! Where?!"
He sprinted to the bow, leaped onto the figurehead, and stared ahead. His grin widened as the wind whipped his hat.
The island stretched out before them — a sprawling city of towers and stone, the execution platform looming like a silent monument.
When they docked, the scent of the sea gave way to that of baked bread, oil, and smoke from the bustling harbor.
Merchants shouted prices, Marines patrolled the streets, and seagulls circled above.
Luffy immediately made a beeline for Nami. "Hey, Nami! Can I have some money? I wanna eat at one of those restaurants!"
Nami crossed her arms, exasperated. "You just ate ten minutes ago!"
"Yeah," Luffy said with complete sincerity, "but that was ten minutes ago!"
She sighed, muttering under her breath, but eventually handed him a few notes. "Fine. Don't spend it all in one place."
Zoro approached next, sword strapped to his hip. "I'll need money too. Gotta find a decent blade shop."
Nami raised a brow, arms still folded. "You'll get it… under one condition."
Zoro frowned. "Condition?"
"Three hundred percent interest."
Zoro blinked. "You're kidding."
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" she said, tapping her foot.
He stared at her for a long moment, then sighed in resignation. "Fine. But remember, you are a blood sucking witch."
Nami's smile was sharp and victorious as she dropped a few coins into his hand. "Whatever, but remember to pay interest on time."
Usopp chimed in, "And I'll need some tools! I've got an idea for new ammo designs."
Sanji pushed his hair back. "Food supplies. Can't have the captain starving before the next island."
Ben handed each of them a small pouch, smooth and light in their palms. "I've enchanted these. Spatially expanded interiors — you can store whatever you buy without worrying about space or weight."
Usopp blinked. "Wait, you mean… like a bag that's bigger on the inside?"
Ben gave a faint nod. "Exactly."
He turned to Nami next. "You'll need to buy clothes for everyone — light for the tropics, heavy for cold climates. The Grand Line's weather changes without warning."
Nami's lips curved into a small smile. "Finally, someone responsible around here."
Then her gaze softened. "What about you? Where are you going?"
Ben looked past the harbor, toward the heart of the city. "There's someone I need to meet."
He left the ship quietly, blending into the crowd. The streets were alive — stalls overflowing with goods, laughter ringing from taverns, and the sea breeze cutting through the air.
But beneath it all, he could feel something… weighty. A current of purpose, an invisible presence.
Once he reached an empty stretch of cobblestone, Ben drew his wand and whispered, "Point me to Monkey D. Dragon."
The wand trembled, spinning slowly before locking toward a narrow alley across the square.
Ben followed. The noise of the crowd faded with each step, replaced by the echo of his boots on stone.
The alley was narrow, half-shadowed by the tall walls rising on both sides.
A gust of wind rustled the hanging laundry above, the air heavy with tension.
Halfway through, Ben stopped. Someone was there — standing still, facing away, yet unmistakably aware of his presence.
The man turned slightly, the faint light catching the lower half of his face. His cloak billowed gently in the breeze, the emblem beneath it hidden from view. His eyes, sharp and calm, met Ben's.
Ben exhaled, his voice steady. "Hello," he said quietly. "I was searching for you for a while… Monkey D. Dragon."
The alley fell silent. The air around them seemed to hold its breath.
And the storm was about to begin.
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