How can someone like this be your captain?

Zoro spoke softly, saying just two words.

Sure enough, there's nothing a bottle of alcohol can't solve.

"It was just a small favor," Link smiled, putting away the empty bottle and pulling out another one.

"Want more?"

"...Yes!!"

While Link celebrated with drinks, Nami and Coby by the wall were wide-eyed in shock. Luffy was grinning widely, looking like a goofy monkey.

"I can tell you're not a man who gets caught by the navy easily," Link said while pouring the drink.

Zoro couldn't answer with his mouth full, but the girl, feeling frustrated, shared the story.

It turned out that twenty days ago, Helmeppo, the son of the cruel Colonel Morgan, barged into her restaurant with two pet wolves. He ruined her food and attacked her. Zoro stepped in, cutting the wolves and knocking Helmeppo around a bit.

In response, Helmeppo threatened Zoro, saying that even if he couldn't get to Zoro, he could punish her and her restaurant after Zoro left. He had Zoro tied up for a month with a bet: if Zoro could survive that long, he would be released, and everything that happened would be forgotten.

Because of that, Zoro found himself stuck here.

He wanted to honor the man's agreement, but the other side didn't seem to have the same idea.

After hearing the story, Link just chuckled and didn't say much about it. Instead, he looked Zoro in the eyes and said, "You have ambition, don't you?"

"Yeah, I want to be the world's greatest swordsman. That's my goal!"

After two bottles of alcohol, the mood became lively, and Zoro happily shared his determination and dreams.

"The world's strongest…"

Link looked him up and down, shaking his head slightly. "With your current skills, you have a long way to go."

"I'll get there someday!!"

Zoro was confident. He felt that even if he wasn't as good as Mihawk, the man he always wanted to find, he wasn't too far behind.

At least, he could see the gap.

Only when he actually fought Mihawk did he truly understand the difference in strength.

"I agree~"

Link continued, knowing that Zoro would definitely become the world's greatest swordsman in the future. "But remember, your environment shapes your growth."

"This little East Blue is too limiting for your talent and will. Have you thought about aiming for a bigger stage?"

"A bigger stage? You mean the Grand Line?"

Zoro had heard of that place. "It's the graveyard of pirates."

"But it's also where the strongest gather, a place full of experts."

Link said casually, "You think you're not weak, but did you know there are sword masters who can slice a meteor into pieces with just one strike?"

"Some strong fighters can easily flatten a mountain with just a couple of swings."

Like Mihawk from the Baratie arc and the weakened version of Shiki from the strong world arc, both could do this effortlessly.

"Are there really people like that?"

Zoro's expression turned serious when he heard about such powerful swordsmen.

"Of course~"

Link nodded, "And the swordsman who can cut meteors is currently the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk."

"Mihawk…"

Hearing that name made Zoro catch his breath.

He didn't doubt what Link said and asked seriously, "Have you seen him?"

"I have~"

Link smiled lightly. Not only had he seen Mihawk, but he'd also met Fujitora, who could summon meteors, and someday Zoro would be able to cut them too.

"Cutting meteors, the Grand Line…"

Zoro mumbled, his gaze becoming firm and bright.

"Then it seems I must go there for sure."

He said each word clearly, showing his determination.

"Ha ha ha! You want to go to the Grand Line too? That's awesome!!"

Luffy came running over, his bright, silly laugh ringing out above the execution ground.

"Who's that guy?"

Zoro glanced at Luffy, who was running over with excitement, and asked Link.

"Oh, that's Luffy. He's my captain," Link adjusted his collar. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Link, and he's Luffy. We're pirates looking to recruit crew members for our journey to the Grand Line."

"By the way, my captain shares your ambition. Well, it's more of a dream; his goal is to become the Pirate King."

"Pirate King, huh…"

Zoro stared at Luffy's smiling face, thinking he looked unreliable.

Zoro looked skeptical. "Someone like that can really be your captain?"

"Luffy can be quite reliable at times," Link said, patting his hands together. He then glanced toward the entrance of the execution ground. "We can talk more later. Let's deal with the trouble in front of us first~"

At that moment, three figures approached from a distance.

"Heh heh heh, it's quite lively here~"

A loud, annoying voice, sounding like a duck's quack, echoed from the entrance.