"Makino, I'm back!"
Luffy led Shanks and his crew into Makino's tavern.
"You guys go on in. I'll put this stuff away," Luffy said, turning to Shanks and the others behind him.
With that, he dragged his captured prey to the storeroom, paying no further attention to Shanks' group.
"What a strange kid," Shanks shook his head and followed inside the tavern.
In the storeroom, Luffy drew his dagger and sorted through the useful parts of the carcass, organizing everything carefully.
This dagger hadn't been used in combat for over a year. As the beasts he faced grew stronger, its effectiveness diminished.
After a year of trying to master the dagger and failing to gain any real skill, Luffy gave up and turned to raw physical combat.
He discovered that the impact of fist on flesh gave him a unique thrill—something he couldn't get enough of.
After tidying everything, Luffy washed his hands and entered the tavern through the back.
The tavern was already crowded, Makino bustling about, serving drinks to the tables.
"Makino, I'll help you!"
Luffy lifted a small barrel with one hand, refilling the empty cups on the counter.
"Thanks so much, Luffy."
Makino took the refilled cups and returned to her work.
Once all cups were full, Luffy grabbed a jug of milk from under the counter and poured it into the glasses.
This milk had been stored for two years.
Over those two years, Luffy hadn't grown much in height, which worried Makino's family—they feared he might have a growth disorder. They bought him only the finest milk, but it seemed to have no effect.
Luffy, however, had fallen in love with the taste. He had always enjoyed yogurt and milk, and in the One Piece world, animals were sturdier, making milk far superior to Earth's. He never refused Makino's milk deliveries.
Sitting at the bar, he sipped the fresh milk. A cup of liquor was placed beside him by another customer, who then sat down.
"Hey there, little one, want a sip of this?" Shanks teased, seeing Luffy drinking milk. "Ah, sorry! I forgot—you're just a kid."
Seeing Luffy's calm demeanor, Shanks couldn't resist teasing him.
"Let's see who looks more like a child, you or me?" Luffy shot back in his childish voice.
"Ahahaha!"
Everyone in the tavern burst into laughter at Luffy's reply.
"Tch!" Shanks gritted his teeth, amused but slightly defeated.
"Kid, you probably don't know! We're the Red-Haired Pirates—people fear our name on the seas. Even crying children stop crying when they see us!" Shanks deliberately lowered his face, trying to look intimidating.
"So what? My grandfather is a Navy hero—Monkey D. Garp," Luffy said calmly, sipping his milk.
The tavern went silent.
In the seas, few could make Shanks feel fear. Garp ranked first among them.
Back when Shanks was a trainee on Roger's ship, he had seen Garp's iron fists in action countless times—and had narrowly survived the aftermath of battles between Garp and Roger.
But that was long ago. Shanks was no longer the reckless dyed-hair youth.
Still slightly shaken, he regained his composure, setting down his cup. "Navy hero Garp, huh? Kid… do you know who we are? We're pirates! And we hate the Navy!"
Luffy continued drinking his milk, casting a quick glance at Shanks out of the corner of his eye.
"Not very fun," Shanks finally relaxed, shaking his hand and sitting down with a beer. "You're a strange kid."
The tavern returned to its usual noise.
"So… what brings you to the East Blue?" Luffy asked calmly.
It was the same curiosity Luffy had in his past life. By now, Shanks had the power of a top-tier Warlord of the Sea. While many remarkable figures had appeared in the East Blue, it remained the weakest sea.
Shanks hesitated, swirling his cup. "You seem to know a lot about me."
Looking at the clock on the wall, he said in a low voice, "I'm here looking for the child of a benefactor. His current situation is… dangerous."
"A child, huh…" Luffy finished the milk in his cup, thinking quietly, Ah, he must be here for Ace… no wonder.
"Ah…" Shanks sighed, eyes glistening with faint tears. He removed his hat, placed it beside his cup, and drank deeply.
"My grandfather… said something like that too…"
"What…?" Shanks quickly looked toward Luffy.
Luffy, holding an empty cup, went to the counter and poured a fresh glass of milk.
"My grandfather once told me… he adopted a friend's child," Luffy said with an innocent smile.
Shanks stared, puzzled. Sitting back, he poured himself another drink, unsure what Luffy would say next.
Raising his milk cup, Luffy continued, "He said the child was a bit older than me, and that he'd be my brother one day."
"…"
Shanks' hand trembled slightly, memories stirring: Navy hero Garp, a friend's child…
Recalling the strange outcomes when Roger and Garp clashed, Shanks suddenly realized that this child Luffy mentioned could very well be the person he was searching for.
Raising his cup, Shanks acknowledged Luffy, then drank it in one go.
Shanks' crew had gone silent, and the tavern was unusually quiet, save for Shanks swallowing and Luffy slurping milk.
Time passed in this silence.
The more Shanks thought, the surer he became.
If Garp had adopted the Captain's child, then his safety was likely secure.
And…
Shanks looked down at Luffy drinking milk. Somehow, this child seemed to be intentionally conveying something.
"No wonder he's Garp's grandson," Shanks murmured, watching Luffy perched at the bar. "Looks like the Navy is about to have another formidable officer."
"The Navy?" Luffy licked milk from his lips. "I'm not going to work for the World Government."
"But if you ask what I want to do… my goal…" Luffy stood, placing one tiger-head shoe on the table, raised his milk cup, and shouted loudly:
"My goal is the stars and the sea!"
…
Every eye in the tavern turned toward this little child. Just moments ago, he seemed like any remarkable young man.
Now, in this adorable form, proclaiming such a bold goal, everyone burst into laughter.
The tavern erupted. Even Makino, now the future tavern owner, covered her mouth and giggled.
They weren't mocking Luffy's dream—they just couldn't resist the sight of such a cute child declaring it so earnestly.
Seeing Shanks and the others laughing at Luffy, Makino smirked and lifted him from the table onto a stool.
"Our future captain has to grow up fast. A tiny little master of the seas wouldn't look right," she said.
She refilled his cup with milk. The aroma enveloped Luffy.
Suddenly standing, as if remembering something, he looked at Shanks and said:
"Shanks… next time you set sail, take me with you."