Swallow islands..

"So this is it, the Swallow Islands." Looking at the island from my small boat, I decided to roll up the sail and row... and row I did.

The island's distinct feature is its central mountain formation, which resembles a swallow and is covered with trees. The Island is located in the North Blue, south of Minion Island and Rubeck Island.

I rowed my boat to the port and tied it up. I took some berries from inside the small rectangular compartment, which could be closed with a piece of wood, and dumped them into my coat's pocket before jumping to the ground.

Good grief... finally, a stable surface. I slowly began to walk and soon saw houses and numerous buildings quite a distance away.

A sign was hanging from an arch that served as the entrance. It read "Pleasure Town."

Walking past the arch and into the town, I saw people of various sizes, from children to adults, smiling happily and going about their day.

Well, what to say. Artur Bacca might have something to say about that; I've seen his ship quite a distance from the island.

It'll probably take some days for him to get here. After all, what could a Devil Fruit user do if their ship was suddenly hit by waves that threw them nearly fifty miles away?

Whatever, let's focus on the present. As I walked ahead, I noticed people looking at me curiously.

"Hello. I'm looking for a cute teddy bear called Bepo." It might've been a tiny lie, but it's not a complete lie—I've been looking for him too.

"Oh, are you by chance a relative of his?" an elderly man with slicked-back gray hair, wearing a strange-patterned aloha shirt, short pants, and a red sun visor, asked me.

He also seemed very eager to find out if I was his relative or something.

"Oh no, I actually heard about him from a passing Mink who mentioned Swallow Island." I lied again, but this time it was a complete lie. I had never met any passing Mink and never heard anything about Bepo from him.

"Hm, come with me then." He beckoned and walked away, with people looking at him with some respect in their eyes.

Wait, could this be Wolf? Law's benefactor—he's the one who made the Polar Tang, Law's submarine.

"So, what's your name, kid?" he asked as we walked.

"Edward Vance," I answered, then looked at him and asked, "And what might your name be, sir?"

"Call me Wolf," he answered, then slowed to a stop as we approached a building. It was a small two-story structure with grey paint.

"Oi, Bepo!" he called out as we entered the building. A large, white, fluffy Mink bear emerged, wearing a blue pajama-like outfit.

"Wolf-san!" Bepo called out, giving him a bear hug. Get it? "Who is this, Wolf-san?" Bepo asked, looking at me with curiosity.

"This is Edward Vance. He says he heard about you from a passing Mink."

As soon as Bepo heard the word "Mink," his eyes began to shine. He rushed over and grabbed my hands, shaking them with all his might. If I were someone else, I might have broken a bone or two by now. Thankfully, my Lunarian physique helps me handle this.

"Say, what did you hear? Did you see my brother? He's also like me—name's Zepo. Is it my brother?" My God, he's a brocon. Too bad Zepo's dead though.

"Well, how do I put this? It was a cat Mink. She mentioned something about Zou and a bear named Bepo who fell off the island and into the Blue Sea. She also mentioned swallow Island." His face deflated like a balloon for a second, before shining again.

"So, you must know about Zou, right!?" Ugh, no wonder Law was so weak to his cuteness.

"Um, no. I know it's a walking elephant in the New World, but I don't know much about where it is or how to find it," I said, folding my hands which had been released by Bepo.

"I see. So, what do you do for a living?" Wolf asked as he came back with two glasses of cool drinks.

Well, now that question feels a bit awkward, since I don't do anything for a living. Haha.

"I'm looking for people to join my pirate crew," I said as I took the glass he gave me and drank a mouthful.

"So, a pirate, huh?" He nodded and then asked, "How many people do you have in your crew already?"

"Haha! I don't have anyone as of now! Isn't it hilarious?" I laughed at the question, though I didn't find it funny at all. I just wanted to ease the tension in the room after mentioning that I was looking for crew members.

"Hilarious indeed," a monotone voice came from behind. I knew someone was standing behind me by the doors. With my enhanced hearing from my Lunarian physique, I could hear footsteps.

"Law!" Wolf brightened up immediately and walked toward the young man. I turned around and saw Law standing in place, his gaze fixed on me.

"Oh, you look pretty strong. Why don't you join my crew?" I asked in a light-hearted tone as he looked me up and down once again...He'll definitely join me... right?

"No," he rejected me.."Come on! Don't be such a mood-killer! You're strong—though weaker than me, of course—but strong enough to be a first mate," I whined as I spoke. I needed Law as my doctor; he's pretty cool, too.

"Weaker? How do you assume I'm weaker?" he asked with a snark in his tone, though his face remained monotone and plain as ever.

"Well, of course you're weaker than me. I don't think anyone in the North Blue is as strong as I am," I said, looking into his eyes with utmost confidence.

I knew I was stronger than anything in the North Blue. Maybe Vinsmoke Judge might stand a chance, though I doubted it.

"Why don't we settle this with a fight? If I win, you join my crew. If you win, I'll join yours and accept you as my captain," Law proposed, while Wolf and Bepo glanced back and forth between Law and me.

"Very well, I'll get to test my abilities in a real fight after all," I said and began walking out of the building, with Law following me.

"So, where can we fight?" I asked as he looked at me and then pointed towards a thick forest-covered area.

"That's good enough, I guess." We walked for half an hour, and we could hear Bepo and Wolf following us from a distance.

"We have an audience as well," I said as we reached a clearing, far from the town, so I figured I could let loose for the first time.

"Hm, let's give them a show. No matter, I'll be the one to win," Law said, extending his hand with his palm facing down.

"Oh, you're that confident, huh?" I replied, pulling back my fist as a small white bubble materialized around it. "Well, let's see who wins!"

"Room!"

"Tremor quake!"