The Difference Was Like Heaven and Earth 17: Chapter 17 — A Billion-Berry Monster for an Eight-Million-Berry Bandit?
The Difference Was Like Heaven and Earth Shanks slowly turned around.
In his hand rested the final unopened bottle of rum.
His face still carried that relaxed, harmless smile.
“Sorry, mountain bandit brother.” “We really did finish all the alcohol.” “But if you don’t mind…” Shanks casually extended the unopened bottle forward.
“This one’s yours.” His posture remained humble.
No killing intent.
No Emperor’s pressure.
Nothing resembling the terrifying pirate who would someday dominate the New World.
Higuma stared at the bottle.
Then toward Shanks’s smiling face.
And suddenly— He felt insulted.
He came here to intimidate people.
Not accept charity.
“Smash!!” Without warning, Higuma swung his fist violently.
The bottle shattered directly inside Shanks’s hand.
Glass exploded everywhere.
Rum splashed across Shanks’s face, hair, and clothes instantly.
The white shirt beneath his cloak became soaked completely.
For a moment— The tavern turned deathly silent.
Yasopp’s fingers quietly moved toward his rifle.
Benn Beckman extinguished his cigarette slowly.
Lucky Roux stopped chewing entirely.
An invisible killing intent spread throughout the room.
If Shanks gave the order— These mountain bandits would die before understanding what happened.
Meanwhile, Kahn simply shifted slightly sideways atop his stool.
Avoiding spilled alcohol.
He was watching a comedy performance.
An ant dancing atop a sleeping dragon.
Yet— Shanks showed no anger whatsoever.
Instead, he crouched down naturally and began picking up shattered glass from the floor.
“Oops.” “The floor’s dirty now.” He looked toward Makino apologetically.
“Miss Makino, do you have a rag?” Higuma froze briefly.
Then burst into loud laughter.
“HAHAHAHA!!” “I thought you were some kind of big-shot pirate!” “Turns out you’re just spineless trash!” He kicked over a nearby chair arrogantly before throwing several Berries onto the floor carelessly.
“Here.” “Compensation for the booze.” “Let’s go.” “This tavern reeks of cowards.” The bandits swaggered toward the exit proudly.
Before leaving, Higuma even spat directly onto the tavern floor.
Then they disappeared outside.
Silence returned.
Only Shanks remained crouched on the floor while calmly wiping away alcohol.
He even laughed lightly while cleaning.
“It’s alright.” “Everyone keep drinking.” He tried restoring the atmosphere casually.
But nobody laughed this time.
Suddenly— Monkey D.
Luffy exploded.
“WHY DIDN’T YOU HIT HIM?!” Luffy’s entire face turned red with anger.
“That guy insulted you!” “You could’ve punched him flying!” “Aren’t pirates supposed to fight back?!” To five-year-old Luffy, strength meant direct action.
Punches.
Victory.
Dominance.
Shanks’s behavior completely contradicted that image.
Nearby, Portgas D.
Ace clenched his fists tightly.
Although he hated pirates— He hated cowardice even more.
“What a disgrace.” Ace spat toward the floor.
“I thought you people were stronger than this.” Even Sabo’s expression changed subtly.
As a runaway noble from the Goa Kingdom, he understood one thing clearly: Men drew weapons to protect dignity.
Yet Shanks had smiled through humiliation.
Faced with their questioning, Shanks only scratched his head awkwardly.
“It’s just alcohol.” “No reason to get angry over something so small.” Then his expression softened slightly.
“And besides…” “Killing people isn’t something worth doing casually.” Luffy clearly refused to accept that answer.
He thought Shanks was making excuses.
“Coward!” “I’m never talking to you again!” Luffy turned angrily— Only for a large hand to press directly onto his head.
Kahn.
At some point, he had already stood up.
He held Luffy still effortlessly while calmly looking toward Shanks.
Then Kahn suddenly spoke.
“Eight million.” The tavern paused.
Shanks raised an eyebrow slightly.
“That bandit’s bounty.” Kahn pointed lazily toward the tavern exit.
“Eight million Berries.” Then he looked directly at Shanks.
“And you?” “Your bounty’s already over one billion.” The tavern became completely silent afterward.
Kahn’s voice remained calm.
Almost analytical.
“A billion-Berry pirate getting angry at an eight-million-Berry idiot…” “…is a terrible trade.” Simple words.
Yet they perfectly explained Shanks’s actions.
A lion did not turn around to bite every barking dog.
Doing so only lowered the lion to the dog’s level.
Shanks slowly smiled.
This time— It was genuine amusement.
“See?” Shanks pointed toward Kahn proudly.
“This kid understands.” Luffy still struggled angrily beneath Kahn’s hand.
“I DON’T CARE!” “I wanna become strong like Kahn!” “I wanna punch that fat bandit into the sky!” Luffy’s thoughts immediately returned toward direct violence.
To him— Kahn’s straightforward overwhelming style looked infinitely cooler.
Shanks finally crouched before Luffy seriously.
Then he looked directly into his eyes.
“Luffy.” “Strength isn’t decided by fists alone.” His tone became deeper.
More serious.
“The truly strong are the people who can smile while forgiving fools.” Then his gaze sharpened slightly.
“But…” “The moment your friends get hurt…” “…that’s when you draw your weapon.” Those words carried the weight of Shanks’s entire philosophy.
Unfortunately— Five-year-old Luffy barely understood half of it.
Still… Something about Shanks’s eyes felt real.
Kahn finally released Luffy’s head before walking toward the counter.
He casually placed several stacks of Berries atop it.
Money Sabo previously insisted on sharing with him.
“Sister Makino.” “This is compensation for the counter.” He pointed toward the shattered tavern bar from his arm-wrestling match with Lucky Roux earlier.
Makino immediately waved her hands nervously.
“No no, that’s not necessary—” “Keep it.” Kahn interrupted calmly.
Then he turned toward the exit.
“Time to head back.” “Dadan’s probably waiting for dinner.” Ace and Sabo exchanged glances before following him.
Although both still felt dissatisfied about what happened— Neither wanted remaining inside this awkward atmosphere.
Luffy hesitated briefly.
He looked back toward Shanks.
Then toward Kahn.
Finally— He pouted before running after the others.
“WAIT FOR ME!” The four children gradually disappeared beneath the orange glow of the setting sun.
Long shadows stretched behind them across the village road.
At the tavern entrance, Shanks quietly watched their departing figures.
Beside him, Beckman lit another cigarette slowly.
“That big kid…” “He sees things too clearly.” “To think an eight-year-old already understands value and restraint like that…” “…he feels more like an old monster than a child.” Shanks touched his wet red hair before smiling faintly.
“Yeah.” “The future’s going to become interesting.” Then his expression shifted subtly.
“But…” “Hopefully those brats don’t go after that bandit.” Especially Luffy.
That little idiot’s impulsiveness resembled Roger too much.
Beckman exhaled smoke casually.
“With Kahn around?” “The one who should worry…” “…is Higuma.” Meanwhile, farther uphill— Kahn’s super-hearing already covered the entirety of Foosha Village.
Higuma and his men had not gone far.
They currently occupied an inn at the opposite end of the village.
And at this very moment— The bandit loudly bragged about humiliating the Red-Haired Pirates.
His obnoxious laughter echoed clearly through the village.
Behind Kahn, Luffy stomped furiously while muttering nonstop.
“I’m so angry…” “I’m gonna beat that guy up!” “I’ll avenge Shanks!” Ace shoved both hands into his pockets.
“Count me in.” “I hated his face the moment he walked in.” Sabo adjusted his hat seriously.
“A knight of justice can’t ignore people like that.” Within seconds, the three idiots formed a battle plan.
Kahn suddenly stopped walking.
Then turned around slowly.
“You planning to die?” His voice became colder instantly.
Luffy stubbornly puffed out his chest.
“I won’t die!” “I know Haki now!” “And I’m rubber!” Kahn stared at him silently for several moments.
Then stepped aside calmly.
“…Go ahead.” “But if you get yourselves killed…” “I’ll collect your corpses afterward.” The words sounded ruthless.
But this was the world of One Piece.
Without pain— Children never understood the meaning behind an eight-million-Berry bounty.
Luffy snorted stubbornly before charging toward the inn alongside Ace and Sabo.
Kahn watched them disappear ahead.
A faint smile slowly appeared.
Of course— He never intended letting them truly die.
Instead, he wanted to see something.
In the original timeline, Shanks lost an arm while saving Luffy from the Lord of the Coast.
But now— Kahn existed.
Would fate still repeat itself?
Or could even destiny itself change now?
Kahn looked upward toward the setting sun.
Warm solar energy flowed continuously throughout his body.
If he personally intervened— Higuma would die before even drawing his sword.
But that felt boring.
“I should watch the show too.” Without any sound, Kahn slowly floated upward above the treetops.
Like a silent ghost— He followed behind the three reckless children from afar.