By the time Ian made his way back toward Shimotsuki Village, the raid was nearly finished.
A bucket of freshly caught fish swung lazily from one hand as he walked.
The village, however, was anything but peaceful.
Wagons stood lined up along the main street, piled high with stolen supplies.
Sacks of rice.
Barrels of grain.
Preserved vegetables.
Salted meat.
Everything the villagers had spent months preparing for the seasons ahead.
Everything they needed to survive.
And now, it was all being hauled away.
At least, if Fushi had his way.
The self-proclaimed Bandit King stood atop one of the wagons like a conquering ruler surveying his spoils.
A broad grin stretched across his scarred face.
“Come on now, little prodigy.”
His eyes drifted toward Kuina.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
Kuina glared back without hesitation.
The hatred in her eyes was so intense it seemed capable of drawing blood.
Fushi only laughed.
“Relax.”
He waved dismissively.
“I’m not interested in brats.”
The mocking tone only made her angrier.
But there was nothing she could do.
Her wrists were tied.
Her body still ached from the fight.
Every attempt to resist earned another rough shove from her captors.
Nearby, Zoro wasn’t faring much better.
Two bandits pinned him against a wall, struggling to keep him restrained.
His face was twisted with frustration.
If anger alone could win battles, the village would already be saved.
Unfortunately, reality was far less forgiving.
Fushi glanced between the two children and snorted.
“Hmph.”
His gaze lingered on the wooden practice swords discarded nearby.
“You sword freaks are all the same.”
“Always talking about becoming stronger.”
“Always chasing impossible dreams.”
His grin widened.
“And in the end?”
“You’re still powerless.”
The words struck deep.
Not because they were true.
But because neither child could prove him wrong.
Not yet.
Fushi stretched lazily before clapping his hands.
“Alright, enough wasting time.”
His voice rang across the street.
“Load the rest of it.”
“We’re heading out.”
A cheer erupted from the bandits.
“Hahaha!”
“This haul is incredible!”
“Best raid we’ve had all year!”
“Boss really found the perfect village!”
From their perspective, they had every reason to celebrate.
Many settlements in East Blue now had Marine patrols.
Raiding them came with risks.
But Shimotsuki Village?
No Marines.
No soldiers.
And most importantly—
No Koushirou.
It felt as though fate itself had handed them an easy fortune.
Around them, the villagers could only watch helplessly.
Some clenched their fists until their knuckles turned white.
Others lowered their heads.
A few elderly residents looked close to tears.
Those wagons weren’t merely supplies.
They represented security.
Hope.
Survival.
After helping Koushirou acquire grain for the village, many households had already stretched their resources thin.
If those wagons left today…
The coming months would be brutal.
Then—
A voice suddenly rang out from the far end of the street.
“Mr.
Ian!”
The cry cut through the heavy atmosphere like a bell.
Everyone turned.
Bandits.
Villagers.
Children.
Every gaze shifted toward the village entrance.
A lone figure walked calmly down the road.
One hand carried a fish bucket.
Several freshly caught fish dangled over the rim.
His other hand rested casually in his pocket.
Ian Gale.
As though he had simply returned from an ordinary morning of fishing.
His eyes swept across the village.
The damaged buildings.
The frightened villagers.
The stolen supplies.
The prisoners.
Nothing escaped his notice.
Then he raised an eyebrow.
“Oh.”
His tone remained calm.
Almost amused.
“Looks like everyone’s having a rough day.”
His gaze settled on Kuina.
A scrape marked her cheek.
The air around him seemed to cool slightly.
“Kuina.”
His smile faded.
“You got hurt?”
The girl’s eyes immediately reddened.
“Mr.
Ian!”
Relief flooded her voice.
Then Ian looked toward Zoro.
The green-haired boy was still thrashing against his captors like a shark caught in a net.
Ian sighed.
The sound was filled with disappointment.
“Honestly.”
Zoro froze.
“As my disciple…”
Ian shook his head.
“…you couldn’t even protect a young lady?”
The villagers blinked.
Zoro nearly exploded.
“MASTER!”
His face turned bright red.
“I TRIED!”
Ian clicked his tongue.
“You should train harder.”
The future swordsman looked utterly devastated.
Being captured was one thing.
Getting scolded in front of the entire village was another.
Character-building, perhaps.
Humiliating, definitely.
At last, Ian’s gaze shifted.
Toward the man standing atop the wagon.
Fushi.
The bandit leader stared back.
Neither looked away.
For a brief moment, the entire street fell silent.
Then Fushi spoke.
“And who the hell are you?”
Ian blinked.
“Funny.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“I was about to ask you the same thing.”
Several villagers nearly choked.
The sheer audacity was unbelievable.
A vein twitched on Fushi’s forehead.
“Do you know who I am?”
Ian actually considered the question.
Then shrugged.
“Not really.”
The answer was completely genuine.
There were countless criminals throughout East Blue.
Why would he know this one?
Before Fushi could respond, Kuina shouted from behind him.
“Mr.
Ian!”
Her voice was filled with urgency.
“That’s Bandit King Fushi!”
The relief in her eyes was unmistakable.
To her, Ian’s arrival meant only one thing.
They were safe.
Ian nodded thoughtfully.
“Ah.”
Understanding dawned.
Then he casually set his fish bucket beside the road.
The movement was so relaxed that several bandits frowned.
Something about it felt wrong.
Ian rolled his shoulders.
Then looked directly at Fushi.
His voice remained calm.
Almost friendly.
“You have three seconds.”
The entire street went silent.
“Put down the supplies.”
“Release the villagers.”
“And leave.”
A pause followed.
Then—
“One.”
Nobody moved.
“Two.”
The villagers unconsciously held their breath.
“Three.”
Stillness.
Absolute stillness.
The atmosphere tightened like a drawn bowstring.
Even the wind seemed to hesitate.
Fushi’s face darkened.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
Around him, the villagers exchanged uncertain glances.
Most knew Ian had defeated Koushirou.
But bounty numbers carried weight.
And nine million berries sounded terrifying.
Especially to ordinary people.
Kuina wasn’t worried.
Her eyes practically sparkled.
If anything, she looked excited.
Zoro was even worse.
The boy was vibrating with anticipation.
“MASTER!”
His voice echoed down the street.
“Beat them up!”
A brief pause.
Then he added enthusiastically,
“Cut them all down!”
Several villagers stared.
Kuina immediately buried her face in her hands.
Some things would never change.
Fushi, however, wasn’t laughing anymore.
His expression twisted with rage.
“You little bastard.”
The veins on his forehead bulged.
“I am Bandit King Fushi!”
His roar shook the street.
“A man worth nine million berries!”
The villagers flinched.
Even now, the number carried weight.
A criminal with a bounty that high wasn’t someone ordinary people encountered in their lives.
Many instinctively looked toward Ian.
Could he really win?
Would he?
Or was this about to end in disaster?
Meanwhile, Ian simply kept walking.
One step after another.
Unhurried.
Calm.
Steady.
The distance between them shrank.
Ten meters.
Eight.
Six.
Bandits tightened their grips on their weapons.
Fushi’s hand settled on the sword hanging at his waist.
The atmosphere became explosive.
One wrong move could ignite the entire street.
Several bandits stepped forward.
“Boss!”
“Let me kill him!”
“Who does this punk think he is?!”
Another slammed a club against the ground.
“He’s got a death wish!”
The threats echoed from every direction.
Ian ignored all of them.
Instead, he smiled.
A relaxed smile.
The kind someone might wear while discussing the weather.
“Actually.”
His gaze remained fixed on Fushi.
“Shimotsuki Village has treated me pretty well.”
Fushi narrowed his eyes.
“What are you babbling about?”
Ian clasped his hands together.
“As a gesture of gratitude…”
His smile widened.
“…I’d like to make a deal.”
The bandits burst into laughter.
“A deal?”
“Has he lost his mind?”
Fushi slowly drew his sword.
Steel slid free with a sharp metallic hiss.
For the first time, genuine killing intent radiated from him.
His eyes gleamed with malice.
“You’re really asking to die.”
Ian nodded thoughtfully.
Then pointed at him.
“Your bounty is nine million berries, right?”
The street fell silent once more.
Even the bandits looked confused.
Fushi frowned.
“What about it?”
Ian’s smile never changed.
Simple.
Friendly.
Dangerous.
“Then how about this?”
He met the bandit king’s gaze.
“Mind lending me your head?”
A heartbeat passed.
Then Ian added casually,
“I’ll turn it in and give the reward money to the villagers.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Every eye in Shimotsuki Village locked onto him.
Nine million berries.
A bounty.
A man’s head.
And Ian spoke of it as casually as ordering another drink.
For the first time since arriving in Shimotsuki Village—
Bandit King Fushi stopped laughing.