In the distance, Swallow Island had become a tiny black dot.
The people on it were no longer visible.
A short parting makes the reunion sweeter.
The heavy emotions of reluctance and farewell had already been released through tears.
The longing for the sea and the anticipation of unknown adventures welled up once more.
On the deck, Kane composed himself, hauled an empty wooden barrel out of the cabin, and stepped onto it with one foot, looking at Law and the others.
Shachi and Penguin excitedly lifted their feet and placed them on the barrel.
They had heard of this tradition.
Bepo didn’t understand the purpose, but he looked at the feet on the barrel, scratched his head, and stepped up anyway.
Law eyed Kane suspiciously: “Isn’t the launching ceremony supposed to happen when the ship reaches Twin Cape, right before entering the Grand Line?”
And the order was wrong too!!
First you say your dream, then you put your foot on the barrel, and finally you smash the barrel.
Kane’s smile froze for a moment.
“Wh-who cares!
Come on, Law!”
There was no way around it — since he’d already brought out the empty barrel, not doing the ceremony would be awkward.
Law sighed and stepped onto the barrel.
“I’m going to become a great doctor.”
Law spoke first.
And in his heart, he added: And I’ll kill Doflamingo and avenge Corazón!
“Alright, my turn.
I’m going to taste all kinds of food from around the world and become a powerful warrior of the sea.” Shachi followed.
Penguin glanced at Shachi.
“What Shachi said — that’s what I want too.”
“Hey!
That’s way too lazy!” Shachi roared, his teeth turning into jagged fangs like something out of a comic.
“I’m not done yet.” Penguin shoved the roaring Shachi aside and continued, “I also want to see all kinds of beautiful women.
If I get the chance, I’d like to visit Amazon Lily.”
Shachi’s jagged teeth vanished and he threw an arm around Penguin: “That’s a good one!
I want to go in too!”
“My turn, my turn!”
“I want to become an excellent navigator and guide everyone safely to every place we want to go.”
Bepo paused, then closed his eyes and shouted: “I want to find my brother!”
“Hohahaha~ I want to taste all the world’s delicacies, drink all kinds of fine liquor, admire all kinds of beautiful women, and take in all the beautiful sights of the sea!”
“Hey, hey, hey!
That’s plagiarism!
Plagiarism!” Shachi and Penguin instantly formed a united front, waving their right hands back and forth in front of their faces.
Kane was unmoved and continued: “I also want to have a harem of wives and a house full of children!”
“Dream on!” Shachi kept up the barrage.
“Captain, go to sleep — you’ll have all that in your dreams!” Penguin added insult to injury.
Kane wasn’t done.
But his tone suddenly shifted, becoming dead serious.
“And then — I’ll turn the seas upside down.
I’ll burn away all the evil in this world with raging fire, and give this world a clean sky!”
“Exactly, exactly~”
“I didn’t really understand, but our captain sounds amazing!”
Among the four, only Law felt something was off.
That last line sounded like it concealed an incredible declaration.
Brother Kane — my captain — so this is what you’re aiming to do…
Law broke out in a cold sweat.
The back of his shirt was instantly soaked.
He swallowed hard.
Forget it.
I was supposed to be dead anyway.
What’s there to fear?
Let’s do this!!
Without any prompting, the five of them raised their feet in perfect unison and stomped down hard.
SMASH!
The barrel burst apart.
“Now then — final preparations.”
“Got it!
I’ll check the cabin.”
“I’ll open the valves and let the water in.”
Perhaps it was fate — at the very moment Kane declared his bold ambition, something similar was happening on the other side of the sea.
East Blue — Goa Kingdom — Windmill Village.
The harbor was bustling with activity.
Pirates were laughing and chatting as they loaded supplies onto their ship.
Oddly enough, the village seemed unharmed.
It didn’t look like it had been attacked at all.
The villagers had even gathered at the harbor to watch the commotion, and some were chatting with the pirates like old friends.
“You’re leaving now, right?”
A boy with a sunny smile and a faint scar under his left eye asked the pirate leader.
This boy was the destined child of this world — the seven-year-old Monkey D.
Luffy.
“Yeah.
We’ve been here a long time, but eventually, we have to part ways.”
The one-armed man in the straw hat stopped walking, standing on the steps without turning back.
“Are you going to be lonely?”
“Yeah.” Luffy looked at the sea, his gaze firm.
“But I’m not going to ask you to take me with you anymore.”
“Because I’ve decided to become a pirate on my own.”
The man turned his head, revealing red hair beneath his straw hat.
He stuck out his tongue and made a funny face, teasing the kid: “I wouldn’t have taken you anyway.
Do you really think you can become a pirate?”
The man was none other than Red-Haired Shanks — former apprentice of the Roger Pirates, now captain of the Red Hair Pirates.
Luffy was stunned at first. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
He bit his lip and frowned, then shouted: “I will!”
“Someday, I’m going to find a crew that won’t lose to yours, and I’ll find the greatest treasure in the world!”
“I’m definitely going to become the Pirate King!!!”
“Oh~ You want to surpass us?” Shanks dropped the goofy act, his tone turning serious.
Luffy clenched his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead, but he stood his ground in the tense atmosphere.
He was clearly prepared to be laughed at.
“Then —” Shanks took off his straw hat and placed it on Luffy’s head.
“I’m entrusting this hat to you.”
“It’s my most treasured hat.
Take good care of it.”
Luffy lowered his head.
The straw hat shaded his eyes.
He held back his tears, only letting two streams flow down his cheeks.
The big ship sailed away.
Luffy clutched the straw hat, tears in his eyes, watching the ship grow distant.
Makino stood behind him, her hands on his shoulders, giving him support.
The pirates shouted loudly from the ship, waving their goodbyes.
Shanks and Beckman watched Luffy in silence — not just saying goodbye, but as if they carried some unspoken hope.
It wasn’t until Windmill Village disappeared from view that Shanks finally looked away.
The ship fell silent.
All the pirates were watching him.
Shanks turned around.
A strange thrill spread through everyone’s hearts.
“The peaceful days are over.” Shanks grinned freely, and the thrill in his crew members’ hearts grew stronger.
“Next stop — the New World!”
“OHHHHHHH!!”
The cheers of the East Blue had yet to fade.
Here in the North Blue, the same excitement was spreading.
“Amazing!
We’re finally setting sail!”
Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin hugged each other, jumping for joy.
Just like that emperor lying dormant in the East Blue, finally ready to announce his existence to the sea.
Here in the North Blue, Kane — after a long preparation — was setting out on his voyage, reaching his ghostly hand toward the world.
“Boys — let’s set sail!
Let’s begin the most unforgettable adventure of our lives!
Let’s go!”
“Let’s do it, Bepo!” Shachi slapped Bepo’s broad back.
“Okay!”
Bepo piloted the submarine, steering the helm with both excitement and care.
The Little Red Flower Invincible slowly submerged into the sea and sailed forward.
In the midst of the lively atmosphere, only Law leaned against the wall, looking out the window at the undersea world and muttering under his breath:
“Submarines don’t have sails.
Wrong choice of words, idiot!”