Rocking.
Shaking.
Kane sorted gifts in his private cabin on the merchant ship.
Originally, there had been no escort job available for the past two days.
Kane had planned to buy a ticket and head home as soon as possible.
But the merchant ship captain recognized “Ghost Hand” Kane, whose reputation had been growing recently, and recruited him on the spot as a traveling escort.
Even if Kane did not accept a full escort mission, that was fine.
The captain promised to take him to Swallow Island, providing all meals, a luxury cabin, and generous compensation along the way.
All he needed to do was step in if pirates attacked.
Kane gladly accepted.
Of course he would take the money.
“This one’s for Wolf.”
All-purpose wrench, all-purpose calibrator, From Clockwork to Steam: The Evolution of Machinery, Maintenance and Repair of Precision Instruments…
Wrapped in kraft paper and twine, with a label that read “Imported from the Future Kingdom” — done!
These tools and books were not actually imported from the Future Kingdom, but that did not stop Kane from writing it.
When giving gifts, the perceived value depended on how you presented them.
If you could tie it to Vegapunk, the prestige would instantly shoot up.
It sounded much better than picking something from a small town shop.
As for whether Wolf believed it…
Who cared?
Kane believed it himself.
Wolf — a brilliant but seemingly irresponsible scientist.
He was also the old man who had picked up Kane from the beach right after he transmigrated.
“GIVE-TAKE” was Wolf’s catchphrase.
It meant exchanging labor for reward.
Kane could stay, but he needed to work in town and help others, earning money to pay the so-called “rent.”
In truth, Kane had long seen through it.
The old man was the type with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
He truly cared about this boy who was all alone.
This behavior was meant to train Kane, to help him learn self-sufficiency.
It had something to do with Wolf’s own early experiences.
Over the years of living together, Kane learned that the old man had once been a pirate for a time and had even traveled to the Grand Line.
“This one’s for Law.”
Willow-blade surgical set, anatomy atlas, surgical forceps three-piece set, Human Anatomy: From Bones to Organs, Herbs and Currents: Marine Pharmacology…
Wrapped simply in white cloth with a knot of twine, and a small card attached: “To the Future Surgeon.”
For Law’s gift, there was no need to inflate the value.
A big brother’s gift could not be criticized by a little brother.
It was fate, really.
Kane had planned to set sail a year ago, right after he successfully created his first Ghost God.
But Law’s appearance interrupted his plans.
It was a snowy, windy night.
On his way home after training, Kane heard a scream.
Following the sound to a cave, he found an unconscious boy.
Without a second thought, he took off his coat, wrapped the boy in it, and carried him home.
Just as Wolf had saved Kane years ago, this time Kane saved the boy.
Inside the warm room, the boy woke up.
He seemed fine and his spirits clearly improved after eating.
“You were way worse than him back then.
You were as scrawny as a little chick.”
Wolf teased from the side.
Kane ignored him and asked the boy if he had been separated from his family, or…
Learning that the boy was an orphan with nowhere to go, Kane — under Wolf’s questioning gaze — extended a GIVE-TAKE invitation and let him stay.
Later, Kane learned the boy’s identity: Trafalgar Law.
And so, he shelved his original plans.
Wolf did not understand.
He had even gifted Kane his treasured submarine, the Little Red Flower Invincible, and Kane had learned to operate it under Wolf’s guidance.
Setting sail was right within reach.
They had even painted the pirate flag on the submarine.
And now he was saying he would not set sail?
Was he messing with the old man?
Kane’s explanation was that he could not leave Law behind.
In reality, he was eyeing Law — this “SSR card.”
Hey, hey, hey!
This was Law!
The man who would later team up with Kid to take down Big Mom, the Ope Ope no Mi user, the super-surgeon, the man with a negative 2-billion-Beri bounty!!
Whether in terms of utility or combat power, he was a crew member not to be missed.
So Kane bided his time.
He continued training, moonlighted as a bounty hunter to gain practical experience, and earned startup funds on the side.
He bought all kinds of resources to enrich Law’s knowledge.
He trained with the younger ones, accelerating their growth so they could set sail as soon as possible.
“This one’s for Bepo.”
Diving suit, nunchucks, Log Pose, Introduction to Nautical Charting: From Zero, Practical Island Surveying Manual (Illustrated Edition)…
“This one’s for Shachi.”
Diving suit, katana (Wazamono-grade, also known as Skillful-grade), killer whale hat, sunglasses (Sumo Panda brand).
“This one’s for Penguin.”
Diving suit, baseball bat (Wazamono-grade — PS: it was actually hard to find), penguin hat, new kitchenware set.
Ever since picking up Law, Kane had been wandering around the island frequently and, as expected, picked up one kid after another.
Bepo — a polar bear Mink from the Zou Kingdom in the New World.
He had gotten lost as a child and longed to reunite with his older brother Jaggy.
To that end, he studied navigation seriously.
Seeing how dedicated he was, Kane personally taught him.
In the latest storyline, Bepo transformed into Sulong, went toe-to-toe with an Emperor, kicked Teach, and successfully rescued someone while surrounded by the Blackbeard Pirates.
His stock had skyrocketed through the roof.
Shachi and Penguin — their parents had died in a shipwreck while traveling together, leaving only the two boys alive.
The brothers were forced to stay with Shachi’s uncle, but were treated as tools and made to steal and commit crimes everywhere.
After learning the details, Wolf contacted Sheriff Rad of the town and had Shachi’s uncle and his entire criminal family arrested, solving the boys’ problem.
Kane had not known the brothers well at first and had indeed underestimated them.
But he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity from them, so he adjusted his attitude and treated them equally.
Shachi and Penguin did not disappoint him either.
Their combat ability was almost on par with Bepo’s normal state.
And they were excellent swimmers — even slightly better than Bepo — making them formidable in naval battles.
“Lord Ghost Hand, we have arrived at Swallow Island.
Thank you for your hard work on the journey.
Thanks to your presence, we…”
The merchant ship captain’s words died in his throat, stunned by the sight before him.
Kane pushed open the cabin door and walked out slowly, followed by one ghost after another — some carrying money chests, some holding gifts, wreathed in black aura.
The captain and crew, who had pressed themselves against the walls on either side, shivered.
“You flatter me, Captain.
Guarding the merchant ship is my duty.”
No one spoke.
They all watched Kane disembark, then finally let out a breath.
“Goodbye, Lord Ghost Hand!
We look forward to our next meeting!”
Kane glanced back without responding, the corner of his mouth curling into a mischievous grin.
Next meeting?
By then, you might be crying~
Swallow Island — also known as Flying Swallow Island.
Legend had it that a great pirate had buried all his treasure somewhere on the island.
Fishermen had also claimed to have seen a giant swallow in the sea multiple times, accompanied by deafening cries.
Some came to believe that the treasure was actually “a swallow flying beneath the sea.” This rumor gained widespread acceptance and spread far and wide.
That was how Swallow Island got its nickname.
The familiar scenery, brushed by the wind, made Kane whistle.
BANG!
“Hohahahaha~ Boys, I’m home!”
“Anyone there?
Come help me out!”
“I brought gifts!
Everyone gets one!”
Kane pushed open the door — but no one answered.
“Where did everyone go?”
Kane searched room by room, but found no one.
The ghosts entered the hall, set down the gifts, and dissolved into black aura, sinking into the shadow beneath his feet.
“What’s this?!”
On the dining table in the hall lay a single piece of white paper, covered in Law’s handwriting:
[Brother Kane — Happy Town is under attack by pirates.]
[The pirates are powerful.
The five of us couldn’t hold them off, so we retreated home for now.]
[The pirate captain is a Drunk-Drunk Fruit user.
All the townspeople have been controlled.
If we don’t defeat him within 24 hours, everyone will die.]
[There are only Den Den Mushi in town, so we couldn’t contact you.
With the situation so urgent, we decided to…]
Kane did not read further.
He turned and bolted out the door, heading straight for Happy Town.
The paper was left behind in the room, spinning slowly as it drifted to the floor.