Chapter 15: Where’s Kaito?

All unwanted things gather here, whether they be objects or people...

Of course, this is a lawless zone with no doctors, where crime and disease run rampant. A foul stench permeates the area year-round, with mountains of garbage spontaneously igniting in the sun, creating a haze that hangs over the place. Welcome to the Uncertain Object Terminus!

"Ugh! It stinks! So much garbage! Where is this place?"

As they arrived, the awful smell made Luffy unable to hold back his complaints.

"From what Ace said, this place is called the Uncertain Object Terminus," Kaito Sakamoto explained, pinching his nose tightly. Compared to the stench here, stinky tofu and canned herring are nothing! It was also quite an eye-opener; it was his first time seeing such a massive dump.

Suddenly, Luffy spotted Ace up ahead and rushed out, eager to prove himself.

"Kaito, wait for me!" Kaito called, trying to keep up.

But shortly after Kaito ran out, he suddenly stumbled into a hole hidden beneath the trash.

"Damn it! What the hell?!"

Luffy, however, didn't hear him; he was too focused on trying to impress Ace.

...

Up in a tree, Ace and Sabo were counting the money they had collected over the years. This would be their future funding to buy a pirate ship.

"A pirate ship?"

"You guys want to be pirates too? Hahaha."

Hearing that Ace shared his dream made Luffy shout with joy, startling Ace and Sabo, who jumped down from the tree.

"Ugh, just when it was the last day, you guys caught up. What a pity."

Ace looked at Luffy and Kaito—wait, where's Kaito?—with a hint of disappointment.

"So, these are the ones you were talking about—Luffy and Kaito," Sabo chimed in.

"Of course! Kaito and I are awesome! Now we can be friends, right? You're Sabo? Ace's friend? Then we can be friends too!" Luffy grinned widely.

Sabo didn't answer; instead, he turned to Luffy.

"What do we do now, Ace? They've discovered our secret."

"Hmm... as much as I hate to say it, we'll have to silence them!"

"I agree," Sabo replied.

"Then you deal with Kaito, and I'll handle Luffy!"

Ace assigned the roles, and they both turned to face their targets.

Ace grabbed Luffy by the neck, while Sabo turned to... wait, where is Kaito?

"Hey, Ace, where's that guy named Kaito?"

Ace suddenly realized. "Yeah, where is Kaito?"

Luffy also caught on. "Where did Kaito go?!"

Kaito: ... Thanks for at least remembering me, you guys.

"Kaito is missing!!!"

Now Luffy started to panic; Kaito had gotten separated from them.

But before they could find Kaito, the punk who had stolen Ace's money showed up with members of the Blue Sauce Pirates, including Pulshimi. That money was actually meant as protection money for the Blue Sauce Pirates.

Ace and Sabo immediately ducked into the bushes to hide, but they forgot one person—Luffy.

"Let go of me!"

"Ace! Kaito! Help me!"

Luffy shouted for help as Pulshimi held him up.

Ace and Sabo quickly ducked down, trying not to be seen.

Pulshimi heard Ace's name; wasn't that the name of the brat who stole his money?

"Hey, kid, do you know Ace? Where is he?!"

Luffy realized he couldn't betray his friends, so he shook his head and pretended not to know.

"I don't know~ (○?ε?○)"

But his acting was terrible.

Seeing that Luffy wasn't speaking, Pulshimi decided to take him away until he did.

Sabo and Ace waited for the coast to clear before jumping out, but their first concern wasn't Luffy; it was the treasure.

"Quick, let's move the treasure! Hurry!"

"It's only a matter of time before that kid starts talking."

They didn't believe Luffy, thinking he was too young to endure Pulshimi's questioning.

...

Meanwhile, Kaito struggled to climb out of the trash pit, his body covered in filth.

"Damn it, what bad luck."

"Where am I supposed to find Luffy and the others?!"

Looking at the endless piles of garbage, Kaito felt lost.

"The Uncertain Object Terminus? Luffy, Ace, and Sabo's first meeting! Oh no! The Pulshimi incident!"

He remembered clearly the flashback arc that started after Ace's death in the anime during the War of the Best. After Ace's passing, Luffy's brothers were formed due to a series of events, including Luffy being captured by the cadre Pulshimi and not revealing Ace and Sabo's location, which led to their bond being solidified.

"But where should I go?"

Kaito was worried but didn't know how to take the next step.

At that moment, a homeless person from the Uncertain Object Terminus approached. Gathering his courage, Kaito asked, "Excuse me, do you know where Ace and Sabo are?"

The homeless man glanced at Kaito. "What a little brat, go away!"

Kaito didn't have time to waste. Since he wouldn't accept a polite request, then fine!

His bracelet instantly transformed into a flintlock pistol. Holding the gun, Kaito's gaze turned cold as he asked, "I'll ask you one more time."

"Do you know where Ace and Sabo are?!"

With a gun pointed at him, the homeless man's legs went weak, and he trembled, pointing in a direction.

Kaito immediately put the gun away and ran towards that direction.