Chapter 4: That Man, Named Zoro!
"Wah, hahahaha! So this is Shells Town?"
As soon as his feet touched solid ground, Luffy spread his arms and let out a hearty laugh at the somewhat empty street.
He pressed down on his Straw Hat, having no awareness of a pirate infiltrating Marine territory; instead, he strode forward with excitement towards the front of the street.
"Alright! Time to go find a crewmate!"
Koby, carrying a huge pack that was completely disproportionate to his size, followed behind, sweating profusely and trying to persuade him earnestly.
"Mr. Luffy, please calm down! Trying to recruit someone called a 'demonic beast' as a crewmate is just too reckless!"
"Hmm? What's reckless about it?" Luffy turned back, looking as if it were only natural. "I haven't decided yet. If he's a good person, I'll let him join."
Koby shouted in despair, "It's exactly because he's a bad person that he was caught!..."
Luffy didn't listen at all and even began looking around.
Seeing this, Koby could only turn his pleading gaze toward Tatsuya, who was strolling leisurely beside them.
"Hey, Mr. Tatsuya, as the Vice Captain, please go talk some sense into Mr. Luffy! If this continues, something bad will really happen!"
Tatsuya stopped in his tracks, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"Well, Koby, humans are very complex creatures."
Tatsuya said meaningfully, lightly tapping his forehead with a finger.
"Sometimes, those wearing Marine uniforms aren't necessarily justice, and those tied to a cross aren't necessarily demons."
"Seeing isn't necessarily believing—that's the first lesson for a Magician."
"Huh?"
Koby looked dazed. Before he could react, Luffy ahead of him had already cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at the street:
"Hey—!! Where's that guy named Zoro—!!"
This shout was like dropping a bomb into a calm lake.
The townsfolk who were walking on the street instantly screamed and scattered in terror upon hearing the name "Zoro."
The shops on both sides frantically slammed their doors and locked them with a series of "bangs."
In the blink of an eye, the entire street became empty, with not even a fly left.
"Eh? Everyone is running so fast."
Luffy tilted his head, looking innocent.
Tatsuya sighed helplessly, stepped forward, and pressed a hand on Luffy's shoulder while using the other hand to pick up Koby, whose legs had gone weak from fear.
"Alright, Captain, stop shouting. Since everyone is so afraid of him, isn't it obvious where he is?"
Tatsuya tilted his chin, pointing toward the towering Marine fortress in the distance.
"Let's go to the Marine base first. Koby, haven't you always dreamed of joining the Marines? It's on the way."
Hearing the word "Marine," the fear in Koby's eyes dissipated slightly, replaced by a sense of longing.
"Y-Yes! I want to join the Marines!"
"Oh! As expected of the Vice Captain! You're really fired up!" Luffy giggled and started running toward the base.
"Wait! Mr. Tatsuya, Mr. Luffy! I-I'm not mentally prepared yet..."
...
Under the scorching sun. Outside the walls of the Marine 153rd Branch base.
The three of them stood under the high perimeter wall.
"Oh, this is it!"
Saying that, Luffy climbed the high wall like a nimble monkey and sat on top, looking around.
"Where is he? That demonic beast named Zoro?" Luffy shielded his eyes with his hand.
Koby stood at the base of the wall, looking up and whispering.
"He wouldn't be here, Mr. Luffy. An extremely dangerous criminal like that would surely be locked in a dark cell deep underground, specially built for him..."
"Ah, found him."
Luffy's voice interrupted Koby's reasoning.
He pointed to the training ground inside the wall. "Right there."
"Eh?!" Koby was stunned.
Before he could react, he felt his collar tighten.
Tatsuya lifted him like a chick, a burst of Chakra at his feet, and with a light leap, he jumped onto the three-meter-high wall, standing steadily beside Luffy.
With this glance, the three of them saw the scene inside the wall simultaneously.
In the center of the wide, dusty training ground stood a solitary cross.
A man was tied tightly to it with thick ropes.
He wore a black bandana, a dark green undergarment, and a deep green haramaki around his waist.
Although he looked a bit disheveled and covered in dust.
But the beast-like, fierce aura radiating from him could be felt from far away.
"It's... really that Roronoa Zoro..." Koby crouched on the wall, his voice trembling. "To think he's just being exposed to the sun like this..."
Luffy stared at Zoro for a few seconds and suddenly started laughing.
"Doesn't look like much. We just need to untie that rope, right?"
"Don't joke around! Mr. Luffy!" Koby screamed in terror.
"That's a demonic beast! If you untie the rope, he'll definitely kill you immediately!"
"It's fine." Luffy tapped his chest confidently. "I'm strong!"
Koby's mouth twitched, and he instinctively glanced at the calm Tatsuya beside him.
"Ah... those words would be more convincing coming from Mr. Tatsuya..."
Just then, the man on the cross seemed to notice the prying eyes.
Zoro slowly raised his head, those sharp, tiger-like eyes piercing through the blinding sunlight and coldly stabbing toward the three on the wall.
"Hey, you're an eyesore."
"If you don't want to die, get lost."
"Eek—!" Koby immediately retracted his head and hid behind Luffy.
Just as the atmosphere became tense, a childish voice suddenly came from below the wall.
"Um... big brother, please move aside."
Tatsuya looked down.
He saw a little girl with twin tails, struggling to hold a ladder taller than herself, trying to lean it against the wall.
Seeing Tatsuya looking at her, the little girl blushed with embarrassment.
"I want to go in."
Luffy and Koby were still in an "eye-contact duel" with Zoro and didn't notice what was below at all.
Tatsuya looked at Rika, the famous "Rice Ball Girl" from the original story, and a flash of gentleness appeared in his eyes.
He hopped down lightly from the top of the wall and landed in front of the little girl.
"The ladder is too dangerous."
Tatsuya took the ladder from her hand with one arm and set it aside, then reached out to her with a smile.
"Are you going to bring food to that 'big brother'? Let me help you get inside."
Rika was stunned for a moment, and looking at this handsome big brother, she nodded instinctively.
"Yes... I want to bring rice balls to Big Brother Zoro."
"Hold on tight."
Tatsuya without further ado, picked up the little girl and let her sit in the crook of his arm.
Then, he bent his knees slightly, and Chakra instantly condensed on the soles of his feet.
"Swoosh!"
No run-up, no climbing.
Tatsuya was like a feather caught in the wind, leaping up while holding the little girl.
He jumped directly over the high wall and landed softly on the grass inside the training ground.
He landed soundlessly.
On the wall, Koby's eyes nearly popped out, and he screamed while clutching his head.
"Aaaah! Mr. Tatsuya! That's a Marine base! Why are you acting reckless just like Mr. Luffy!!"
"Heeheehee, how interesting!"
Luffy, seeing this, laughed while pressing down on his Straw Hat, grabbing the still-screaming Koby. "Then let's go too!"
"Eh? Eh-eh-eh? Noooo—!"
Accompanied by Koby's desperate scream, the two also vaulted over the wall and landed heavily on the training ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
This commotion finally caused Zoro, who had been keeping a cold face, to frown deeply.
"A bunch of brats who don't know the meaning of death..."
Zoro gritted his teeth, looking at these uninvited guests who had trespassed onto the execution ground, his brow furrowed.
His swords had been taken by Helmeppo.
Meanwhile, Tatsuya set down the little girl, Rika, and patted her head. "Go on."