The last of the bounty hunters hit the ground with a dull thud, joining the pile of groaning bodies scattered across Grove 32 like fallen bowling pins. The once-threatening ambush had turned into something embarrassingly one-sided.
Giovanni rolled his shoulders, exhaling slowly as if he had just finished a light warm-up rather than dismantled thirty armed men.
"Well," he muttered, brushing dust from his coat, "that was disappointing."
Behind him, Shanks burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.
"BAHAHAHA! Gio, that was incredible!"
Giovanni glanced over his shoulder, eyebrow raised.
"Incredible?"
Shanks strode forward, grin wide enough to split his face.
"You didn't even draw your sword! Thirty guys, guns, blades, all that bravado. Boom, down in seconds! If this were a performance, I'd throw money at you!"
Giovanni folded his arms smugly.
"As you should."
Shanks circled him once like a proud coach inspecting a champion fighter.
"That speed, those reactions, seriously, I blinked and half of them were already unconscious. And that spinning kick at the end? Stylish. Efficient. Terrifying. I love it."
Giovanni tried to maintain a composed expression, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him.
"You're exaggerating."
"Not at all," Shanks insisted, slapping his shoulder. "If bounty hunters keep throwing themselves at you like that, your next poster's going to need extra paper."
Giovanni snorted.
"Then they should bring stronger hunters."
Shanks leaned closer, voice dropping conspiratorially.
"Honestly? If I were them, I'd just run."
Giovanni chuckled under his breath.
"That would be the smart move."
The lighthearted moment lingered, until Giovanni's gaze drifted past Shanks' shoulder.
Someone else was there.
Standing at the edge of the grove, leaning casually against a mangrove root as if he had been watching the entire fight unfold.
Giovanni's expression sharpened instantly.
"…Shanks."
Shanks turned.
"Oh?"
The man stepped forward into the light.
He was tall, taller than both of them with a lean, athletic build that suggested speed rather than brute strength. His skin was sun-kissed from years at sea, and his yellow hair was styled in a wild, swept-back manner, with streaks of lighter color running through it like sun-bleached strands.
The vest itself was open, revealing a muscular torso crisscrossed with faint scars.
White gloves covered his hands. A long sash hung loosely at his waist, and strapped to his back was a heavy iron rod with weighted ends. More like a brutal tool than a refined weapon.
His eyes were sharp but relaxed, carrying the confidence of someone who had seen plenty of violence and was unimpressed by most of it.
He lifted one hand slowly in a nonthreatening gesture.
Giovanni narrowed his eyes.
"Are you here to collect our bounties too?"
The man shook his head immediately.
"No, no."
He raised both hands higher, palms outward.
"Just an observer."
Shanks watched him carefully but didn't seem tense.
The man smirked faintly.
"Besides… I'm not stupid enough to challenge two of the most talked-about rookies in the world right now."
Giovanni studied him for a moment longer before relaxing slightly.
Shanks stepped forward with his usual easy smile.
"Well then, since we're not fighting…"
He extended a hand.
"My name's Shanks."
Giovanni gestured to himself.
"Giovanni."
The man straightened and returned the handshake firmly.
"Name's Limejuice."
Giovanni tilted his head.
"Limejuice?"
"Yeah."
"…Interesting name."
"I get that a lot."
Shanks grinned.
"Nice to meet you, Limejuice."
Giovanni stepped closer, arms still crossed.
"Since you were watching us anyway… have you seen a big round guy named Lucky Roo?"
Shanks nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! Huge guy. Eats constantly. Always smiling. Probably holding meat in one hand."
Giovanni added,
"Round face, curly hair, moves surprisingly fast for someone his size."
Limejuice chuckled knowingly.
"Oh, that guy."
Both Shanks and Giovanni leaned forward slightly.
"You've seen him?" Shanks asked.
Limejuice nodded.
"I saw someone matching that description earlier."
"Where?" Giovanni asked immediately.
"At the carnival."
Shanks blinked.
"Carnival?"
"Yeah," Limejuice said, jerking a thumb toward the distant mangroves. "Over in Grove 31. That's where the amusement district is. Rides, games, street food, loud music, the works."
Giovanni's face twisted.
"That's far."
Limejuice shrugged casually.
"It's not that bad."
Giovanni crossed his arms.
"We just fought thirty bounty hunters. I'm not in the mood for a long walk."
Limejuice smirked.
"You don't have to walk."
Shanks' eyes lit up with sudden understanding.
"Oh! You mean—"
"Yep."
Limejuice pointed down the path.
"Bon Chari."
Giovanni blinked.
"…Bon what?"
Shanks laughed.
"It's like a bicycle, but built for Sabaody's terrain. Makes getting around way easier."
Limejuice nodded.
"Fast, stable, and you don't have to worry about the mangrove roots."
Giovanni's expression shifted from annoyance to excitement almost instantly.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Limejuice pushed himself off the tree, turning casually.
"There's a rental place not far from here."
He began walking, motioning for them to follow.
Shanks grinned.
"Perfect."
Giovanni cracked his knuckles.
"Carnival, here we come."
---
The Bon Chari rental stand sat wedged between two massive mangrove roots, its wooden sign creaking softly in the humid Sabaody air. Rows of sleek bubble-wheeled bicycles were lined up neatly, their frames gleaming faintly under the filtered sunlight.
The moment the shopkeeper saw the three approaching men, his eyes sharpened with interest, especially when they lingered on the swords at their waists and the air of danger that clung to them like an invisible aura.
"Welcome, gentlemen!" the renter said, voice overly cheerful. "Looking to travel in comfort across the Archipelago?"
Limejuice nodded. "Three Bon Chari rentals."
The man's smile widened, then shifted subtly into something more calculating.
"Rentals, you say?" he repeated. "You look like capable men. Why not buy instead? These models are top quality, reinforced frames, upgraded bubble stabilizers, smooth glide suspension. Perfect for long-term travel."
Giovanni leaned over one of the Bon Chari, poking the transparent wheel with curiosity.
"They do look pretty cool…"
Shanks crouched beside another, spinning the pedal experimentally.
"Yeah! Imagine racing these around the island!"
The renter sensed opportunity.
"I could give you a very special price," he continued smoothly. "Three units, permanent ownership. No need to return them. Perfect for pirates or adventurers on the move."
Limejuice didn't even hesitate.
"No."
The blunt refusal hit like a hammer.
The renter blinked.
"…No?"
"Rentals," Limejuice repeated calmly.
The man's shoulders sagged slightly.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "He's a veteran."
Without further persuasion attempts, he turned, grabbed three Bon Chari from the rack, and wheeled them forward.
"Fine. Rental terms. Bring them back in good condition."
He handed each of them a vehicle.
Shanks mounted his immediately, wobbling once before finding his balance.
"Ohhh this is fun already!"
Giovanni hopped onto his with surprising ease.
"This thing moves smoothly."
Limejuice swung onto his own with practiced familiarity.
"Let's go."
The three riders glided through the winding paths of Sabaody, weaving between massive mangrove trunks and bubble-coated walkways. The Bon Chari hummed softly beneath them, the bubble wheels absorbing every bump.
Giovanni leaned forward slightly, enjoying the speed.
"So… why rent instead of buying?"
Limejuice didn't look back.
"Because we're pirates."
"…And?"
"You don't buy things you can't carry onto your ship," Limejuice said matter-of-factly. "And you don't leave behind equipment that can be traced to you."
Shanks nodded approvingly.
"Smart."
Limejuice continued,
"Besides, these things are everywhere on Sabaody. No point owning one. Rent when needed, return when done."
Giovanni smirked.
"So it's about efficiency."
"And not wasting money," Limejuice added.
Shanks laughed.
"Beckman would approve of that."
Soon, the sounds of laughter, music, and mechanical clanking grew louder.
Bright lights flickered between the mangroves.
The air filled with the scent of fried food and sweet syrup.
Grove 31.
The carnival district.
As they entered, Giovanni's eyes went wide.
"…Whoa."
Towering rides rose into the air, spinning bubble Ferris wheels, rollercoasters twisting between mangrove trunks, game stalls shouting for attention, performers juggling glowing bubbles.
Shanks froze beside him.
"…Gio."
Giovanni slowly turned.
Both of them spoke at the same time.
"ROLLERCOASTER."
They pointed in the same direction.
"—AND THAT GIANT SWING."
"—AND THE BUBBLE SHOOTING RANGE."
"—AND THAT FOOD STALL."
"—AND THAT THING THAT SPINS REALLY FAST."
Limejuice stared at them in disbelief.
"…Aren't you supposed looking for your friend?"
Both of them answered instantly.
"Roo can wait."
"Rides first."
Limejuice pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You two are unbelievable."
Shanks was already starting to move toward the attractions.
Giovanni cracked his knuckles excitedly.
"I call first ride!"
Then—
Everything changed.
The laughter died.
The music stuttered.
One by one, people dropped to their knees.
Heads lowered.
Bodies trembled.
Sweat dripped onto the ground.
Giovanni frowned.
"…Huh?"
Before he could react, Limejuice's expression snapped from annoyance to alarm.
"Down."
He grabbed both of them and forced them to kneel.
Shanks resisted slightly.
"Oi, what are you—"
"DOWN."
Limejuice shoved their heads lower.
"Don't look up."
Giovanni gritted his teeth.
"What's going on?"
Then he felt it.
An oppressive tension.
A procession approached.
At its center was a grotesque sight.
A man in lavish, flamboyant clothing sat atop the back of another human being, riding him like a horse.
The "mount" crawled on all fours, shaking with exhaustion, chains biting into his wrists and neck.
The rider had bright green hair styled in ridiculous curls, his face twisted with bored contempt. He wore a clear bubble helmet over his head, gold embroidery covering every inch of his outfit.
Beside him walked a masked CP agent, silent and deadly.
Saint Donquixote Mjosgard.
The Celestial Dragon sneered down at the man beneath him.
"Faster, you useless creature!" he snapped, kicking him casually. "Is this the best this filthy island can offer?"
The man whimpered, scrambling forward.
Mjosgard looked around with disgust.
"This place reeks of commoners."
Giovanni's fists clenched against the ground.
'Mjosgard!…'
He watched the scene with cold eyes.
'Later… this guy redeems himself after meeting Queen Otohime…'
Mjosgard yanked harshly on the chain.
The slave choked, stumbling forward.
'He even saves Princess Shirahoshi at the Reverie…'
Mjosgard spat toward a nearby stall.
"Pathetic insects, all of you."
'And dies for it.'
Giovanni's gaze hardened.
'An incredible man… eventually.'
Mjosgard struck the slave's back with a cane.
"Move properly!"
Giovanni's nails dug into his palms.
'But right now…'
He lowered his head further, hiding the fury in his eyes.
'Right now he's just an absolute asshole.'
---
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