chapter 1

In the year 1516 of the Haiyuan Calendar, in the North Blue, a small port town called Glass Town bustled with life. Ever since the beginning of the Great Pirate Era, countless dreamers had set sail, bringing both chaos and prosperity to places like this.

"Look! There's someone in the sea!"

A sailor, busy unloading cargo, froze as his gaze caught sight of a figure moving through the distant waves.

"Could it be a sailor in distress? Go help him!"

"Wait... Look at him swim! Maybe he doesn't need it," the sailor muttered, astonished.

Just as he spoke, a man with short red hair emerged from the water, leaping effortlessly onto the shore. His well-built body glistened with seawater as droplets slid off his skin.

"Hah, that was farther than I thought." The man stretched, his deep green eyes scanning the surroundings. Turning to the stunned sailor, he asked casually, "Brother, could you tell me where the Old Gun Tavern is?"

Pulling off a towel tied around his arm, the red-haired man wrung it dry before rubbing it against his hair.

The sailor, still processing what he had just witnessed, pointed in the direction of the tavern.

"Thanks," the man said with a nod. Hanging his towel on the sailor's arm, he began walking toward the tavern. He untied a shirt from around his waist and threw it on. Steam rose faintly from his body as his wet clothes dried in seconds.

The sailor stood there, speechless, before mumbling, "That guy... is a monster."

His companion, eyes filled with awe, added, "I've never seen anyone swim so fast! Maybe he'll become a big shot someday, like Admiral Akainu."

Hearing that, the sailor paused and looked at the towel still hanging on his arm. He folded it neatly and tucked it into his bag.

"Yeah, he could be someone great, like Admiral Kizaru!"

The two men began to argue heatedly.

"Akainu's strength is unparalleled!"

"Kizaru's speed is unbeatable!"

---

Meanwhile, at the Old Gun Tavern, the air was heavy with tension. A hulking man downed a large mug of beer, the foam dripping down his thick beard.

"If you ask me, we should kill every last one of those damn navy dogs!"

The tavern fell silent.

Even in a den of cutthroats and pirates, openly declaring hatred for the navy was dangerous. After all, spies lurked everywhere, and this was the North Blue, where the navy's influence was strongest.

"It's Black Bear Victor," someone whispered.

Victor was a rising terror of the North Blue. Known for annihilating the Cliff Pirates, who had a bounty of 13.5 million berries, and recently repelling an attack from the 128th Navy Branch, he had become infamous in the area.

"Hahaha, that's right!" one of Victor's crew members laughed. "The navy barely escaped last time!"

"Just wait. Captain Victor will make us the strongest crew in the North Blue!" another chimed in.

"Right! We'll crush the navy—and anyone else who gets in our way!"

"And keep the women and treasure, of course!"

The tavern erupted into raucous laughter, but most patrons kept their distance, wary of attracting the pirates' attention.

Suddenly, one of Victor's lackeys slammed his machete onto a nearby table, pointing at a figure sitting quietly in the corner.

"Hey, girl! Didn't you see Captain Victor here? Get over here and pour him a drink!"

The person in the corner, engrossed in a book, looked up briefly. Beneath long red hair was a handsome face, framed by piercing green eyes. Despite the tavern's noise, he exuded a calm demeanor.

"Sorry, I'm a man," he replied evenly, returning to his book.

The pirate sneered, walking over with a malicious grin.

"Men are fine too."

He slammed his blade onto the red-haired man's table and reached out to touch his face.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out, silencing the tavern. The pirate fell back, a bullet hole in his forehead.

The other patrons quickly backed away, leaving a wide space between the shooter and Victor's crew.

"You bastard!" Victor roared, his massive frame rising as he smashed a table with his fist. His men glared daggers at the young man, their hands on their weapons.

"I hate interruptions while I'm reading," the red-haired boy said coldly, closing his book and standing up.

Bang!

Another shot echoed through the tavern.