Chapter 4: Red-Haired Shanks

As the distance closed, Bardock finally got a clear look at the ship. It was a pirate ship, and not just any pirate ship, but one that Bardock recognized. The sail bore the image of a grinning skull, with three scars over its left eye and two crossed swords behind it. This was none other than the ship of the soon-to-be infamous Emperor of the Sea, Red-Haired Shanks. They appeared to be hosting a banquet once again.

"Hey, Shanks, something's approaching fast. Is everything okay?"

Yasopp, true to his reputation as a top sniper, was the first to spot the fast-approaching Bardock.

"Ah, it's fine. Whoever it is, we can handle them. Hey, Luu, don't hog all the food—bring the meat over here."

Shanks casually adjusted his straw hat, showing little concern. Although he was only in his early twenties and the Red-Haired Pirates weren't yet recognized as one of the Four Emperors, they were already among the top pirate crews on the seas. Shanks was confident they could face any enemy, even if it were the world's strongest man, Edward Newgate, also known as Whitebeard.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming."

Lucky Roux, balancing a huge platter filled with all kinds of food in one hand, took another bite from a large drumstick with the other. As he walked and ate, the pirates sprawled across the deck, drinking heavily, didn't disrupt his stride—proving he was the most agile of the bunch despite his size.

As soon as the food was laid down, everyone eagerly dug in, laughing and drinking heartily. Shanks was in the middle of it all, shouting along with the crew, showing no trace of a captain's authority as he downed drink after drink under the encouragement of his men.

Ben Beckman leaned against the railing, smoking quietly, keeping an eye on the cloud-riding Bardock. He had already ruled out the possibility that this was Big Mom, the monstrous pirate from the New World, approaching them. Whether or not this new arrival posed a threat, the fact that they could ride clouds meant their Devil Fruit ability was no small matter, so Beckman paid close attention. Watching Shanks and the others fooling around, he couldn't help but sigh, thinking, Who's the real captain here? What a bunch of idiots.

"Hey, how's it going? My name's Bardock, from the West Blue. I'm 8 years old and a Devil Fruit user. My ship was overturned by a huge wave, and I was wondering if I could hitch a ride with you guys to the next busy port. I have some local specialties as payment, and if it's not enough, I can help out—I'm really good at grilling meat…"

Bardock shouted from a distance. He had to—if Yasopp or Beckman took a shot at him, he wasn't sure he could survive it.

"Kid, do you know we're pirates?" Beckman asked, curious. Few people would willingly board a pirate ship, especially since most pirates were notorious criminals.

"Yeah, I know. I saw your Jolly Roger," Bardock replied as he steered the Flying Nimbus to run parallel to the ship. He continued answering Beckman's questions, "I can feel your joy. You're different from other pirates. My instincts tell me you won't mind having a temporary barbecue chef on board."

Bardock thought to himself, I can't exactly tell them I've read your story in a manga, so I know what you guys are like.

Beckman glanced at Shanks, leaving the decision up to him. Shanks, intrigued by Bardock's claim to be good at grilling, smiled and said to Lucky Roux, "Roux, looks like you've got some competition." Then he turned to Bardock and said, "I've got an appointment coming up, but after that, we're heading to Sabaody Archipelago. If you don't mind, come aboard and join the party."

Hearing the name Sabaody, Bardock hesitated for a moment. The original plan for his family had been a vacation to the Sabaody Archipelago, before they were caught in extreme weather.

"Let me show my thanks by grilling some meat," Bardock said as he jumped onto the deck, dispelled the cloud, and transformed back into his human form. After quickly cleaning up, he got to work on the barbecue.

The Flying Nimbus ability wasn't the same as the one from Dragon Ball. It was a one-time skill. If you didn't dispel it, it would continue to drain your energy. You'd have to recreate it if you wanted to use it again, with its size depending on how much energy you expended.

"Kid, are you really 8 years old? You're pretty tall, doesn't seem like it," someone from the crowd remarked.

Bardock was now nearly 1.7 meters tall and looked strong and muscular after six months of training. If his parents were still alive, they'd probably boast, "Our son has the potential of an admiral."

"Absolutely. I just spent six months living with wild beasts on a deserted island."

"Kid, you're quite good looking. Which part of the West Blue are you from? Our captain's from the West Blue, too."

"Is that so? I'm from the Kingdom of Ilusia in the West Blue."

Bardock thought, Should I tell them that Shanks is actually a Celestial Dragon child adopted by Roger from God Valley in the West Blue?

Bardock casually answered their questions while beginning to focus on grilling the meat, using his beastly abilities to enhance his senses.

Before long, the aroma of the barbecue wafted through the air, and the crew's mouths began to water. Despite having frequent banquets, each crew member had a refined taste for food, and just from the smell, they could tell that Bardock hadn't been lying about his cooking skills.

"Roux, this is bad. Once Bardock leaves the ship, we won't be able to eat such delicious barbecue anymore."

"Yeah, Roux, you better think of something," a few pirates who were close to Lucky Roux teased him.

Without lifting his head, Roux kept eating at a rapid pace, taking big bites from both hands. At a time like this, whoever ate the most won.

"Hey, Bardock, how about joining my crew? Your barbecue is amazing, and everyone loves it!" Shanks laughed as he extended an invitation.

Shanks never cared about whether someone was strong or not—no one would be stronger than him anyway. He only cared about whether they felt like a good fit.

"Haha, Shanks, I'm only 8 years old. I'll have to think about it."

By saying he'd think about it, Bardock was politely declining. Shanks smiled, not bothered, and went back to joking around with the others.

During his six months on the island, Bardock had thought long and hard about his future:

First, the Navy. He had no interest in joining the Navy. Not only were they the lapdogs of the Celestial Dragons, but he wanted to live freely on the sea. In the Navy, you had to follow orders. Even as Fleet Admiral, you couldn't disobey the World Government's Five Elders. So he ruled that out, though he was still interested in learning the Navy's Six Powers.

Second, pirates. Bardock wasn't fond of pirates. Most pirates were destroyers of order, bringing tragedy in their wake. A few pirates were more like adventurers, but even they caused a lot of destruction and were constantly being chased by the Navy. If he had to become a pirate, Shanks' crew would be a good choice. The captain was easygoing, the crew was united and harmonious, and their strength was undeniable. In the future, they'd be one of the Four Emperors. However, the freedom of pirates was ultimately the captain's freedom, and Bardock, if given the choice, preferred to be his own boss.

Third, other professions. He had considered being a gourmet, a traveler, a scientist, a doctor, a journalist—he'd thought about trying all kinds of things. But for now, his main priority was getting stronger.

How can I get Shanks and the others to help me train my Haki?