The Grand Line.
On a small, nameless island town.
“Lily, take this jug of wine to the old man.” Inside the tavern, a middle-aged woman handed a wine jug filled to the brim to a thirteen-year-old girl named Lily.
“Grandpa Carnes?” Lily asked as she took the jug, her eyes instantly sparkling.
The woman smiled fondly and gently patted her head.
“That’s right.
Grandpa Carnes, the one who always tells you stories.” “The old drunk Carnes who drinks all the time and never pays his tab,” an untimely voice chimed in from nearby.
The woman and Lily turned at the same time.
A young boy walked over with his arms folded across his chest.
“Brother,” Lily called softly.
The woman immediately scolded him.
“Light!
That’s rude.” After being reprimanded by his mother, Light turned his head away in dissatisfaction, though he wisely chose not to argue.
Blinking, Lily looked at him and asked, “Brother, do you want to come too?” “No!
I don’t…” Light paused before coughing awkwardly.
“Ahem!
Since you’re just a little girl and probably won’t be able to get the wine money back, I’ll reluctantly go with you.” — At the edge of town stood a small wooden cabin.
Carnes, now well past fifty with graying hair, staggered toward a table.
His complexion was terrible, beads of cold sweat covering his forehead as though he were enduring unbearable agony.
With trembling hands, he pulled open a drawer and took out a bottle of painkillers.
He poured several tablets into his palm and swallowed them in one gulp.
“Gulp.” Only then did he brace himself against the table and slowly lower himself to the floor.
After resting for quite some time, the pain throughout his body finally eased.
Struggling back to his feet, Carnes looked at his pale, weakened reflection in the mirror and let out a silent, bitter laugh.
He opened the drawer again and took out a roll of bandages and a jar of medicinal ointment.
Dragging over a chair, he sat down before the mirror.
Then he removed his shirt.
His thin frame was exposed.
Along with several scars scattered across his body.
And the bandages wrapped tightly around his waist.
With practiced movements, Carnes slowly unraveled them.
Soon, the horrifying wound hidden beneath was revealed.
The lower right side of his abdomen appeared as though a large piece had been torn away.
The entire area was twisted, sunken, and collapsed inward.
Combined with his emaciated, skin-and-bones physique, the gruesome injury made it difficult to imagine how he had survived to this age.
Staring silently at the wound for a long time, Carnes finally spoke.
“Looks like I don’t have much time left…” Applying fresh ointment and wrapping himself in clean bandages, he put his shirt back on, tidied everything away, and left the mirror.
Some time later, Carnes sat beneath the shade of a tree.
Sipping his wine while enjoying the gentle breeze, he quietly savored the peace.
Until a childish voice shattered the tranquility.
“Grandpa Carnes!
I brought your wine!” Turning toward the sound, Carnes saw two children running toward him.
“Lily.” A warm smile appeared on his face.
“Your wine, Grandpa Carnes.” Lily happily handed him the jug.
“Thank you for bringing it.” Carnes accepted the wine and gently rubbed her head.
“It was no trouble.
I really like Grandpa Carnes.” Lily’s smile was bright and innocent.
But after saying that, her large eyes blinked expectantly as she stared at him.
“Grandpa Carnes, can you tell me the rest of the story from last time?” Carnes was momentarily stunned before chuckling.
“You’re just a little girl.
Why are you so interested in stories like that?” At that moment, Light, who had been standing behind Lily, quietly edged closer.
Though he kept his back turned toward Carnes.
“Because they’re interesting, of course!” Lily replied matter-of-factly.
Then she sat down beside him and gestured animatedly.
“When I grow up, I’m going to join the Marines and catch all the bad guys.” Carnes couldn’t help laughing at her declaration.
“That’s a dangerous job.
The sea is full of powerful people, and getting into fights hurts, you know.” Hearing that, Lily hesitated for a moment.
A tiny crack appeared in her dream.
But only for a moment.
She quickly regained her determination.
“When I grow up, I won’t be afraid of pain anymore.” Carnes burst out laughing.
“Haha!
If Lily sails out to sea, Grandpa Carnes will be very lonely.” “That’s true.” Lily pondered seriously for a moment before suddenly smiling.
“Then I’ll wait until Grandpa Carnes is gone before I go to sea!” Carnes froze briefly.
Then his laughter grew even louder.
“Hahaha…” At that moment, Light coughed twice and reminded him, “Old man, weren’t you supposed to tell Lily a story?” Carnes turned and glared at him.
“You little brat.
Show some respect when talking to your elders.” “Grandpa Carnes~” Lily called sweetly.
Carnes immediately turned back, a smile returning to his face.
“Alright, alright.” Light looked at him with obvious disdain.
“Ah, what a terrible old man.” Carnes paid him no mind.
“Now then, where did we leave off last time?” “The pirate crew was about to enter God Valley,” Light answered.
“God Valley…” Upon hearing that name, Carnes couldn’t help sinking into deep memories.
A moment later, he let out a self-mocking smile.
After a long breath, he began speaking.
“The entire pirate crew set sail for God Valley.
The vice captain believed everything was under control.
He thought that because he knew the future, he could change it.” “But things did not go as he hoped.” “He was wrong.
Terribly wrong.” “There, pirates and Marines clashed in a massive war.
Yet not long after the battle began, events exceeded even the vice captain’s expectations.” “His crewmates still betrayed the pirate crew.” “They abandoned him exactly as they had in the future he had foreseen.” “Everything he had done failed to affect those scheming, ambitious crew members.” “He could not change the future.” “They all left.” “But the vice captain became entangled in the battlefield and could not escape.” “Then the captain of the pirate crew died in battle.” “And the vice captain was gravely wounded.” “That’s where the story ends.” As he finished speaking, a faint smile appeared on Carnes’s face.
Light, however, seemed far from satisfied.
“Didn’t you say the vice captain was badly injured?
He didn’t die, did he?” Carnes glanced at him before lifting his gaze toward the sky.
After a moment of thought, he answered softly.
“No.”