Joining Ace Crew In Onepiece World

"Oh? There's an island up ahead," Shin said, reeling in his fishing rod as the silhouette of land loomed in the distance.

Deuce checked the map, nodded, and confirmed, "That's Rogue Town. If we dock there and stock up, we'll be ready to enter the Grand Line."

"Rogue Town?" Ace repeated softly, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. There was a flicker of emotion in his voice, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

"Alright, first things first—we eat!" Ace suddenly burst out. "If I keep eating Shin's grilled fish every day, I'm gonna start breathing fire even without the Mera Mera no Mi!"

"Then stop stealing half of it every time I cook!" Shin grumbled. "Anyway, I need to buy better bait. I keep pulling up junk. There's gotta be something wrong with what I'm using."

"Let's dock properly before you two go running off," Deuce interrupted, eyeing them both like an exasperated parent.

"Deuce, you're starting to sound like the old lady who gossips outside the village bakery," Shin teased, earning a laugh from Ace.

"You two—! Fine, go! I'll handle things like always," Deuce snapped, flustered, as the two darted toward the dock.

Rogue Town. The town of beginnings and ends.

Here, the Pirate King Gol D. Roger was both born and executed. It was a major hub—buzzing with travelers, merchants, and pirates alike. Despite the heavy naval presence, there was always someone sneaking in or out.

Wandering through the port district, Shin blended in easily—no bounty yet meant no wanted posters to worry about.

He weaved through fishing stalls until one shop caught his eye. The owner, a stout man with a fin-shaped scar across his scalp, was skillfully gutting his catch.

"Yo, you really hauled in a feast today!" Shin said, watching the man work.

"Of course. Wouldn't be much of a fisherman if I didn't."

"Got any tips? I'm just passing through but want to cast a line or two."

The man looked up briefly. "Don't expect much. This area's mostly small fry. And don't rush. Fishing—and life—aren't about quick results."

Shin smirked. "Right, right. One person, one rod, casting all their anxiety away. Fishing for peace of mind, not dinner."

"But if they bite non-stop, it's definitely a mental problem," he added under his breath.

He ended up buying a selection of upgraded bait and tools. Still unconvinced by the shopkeeper's pessimism, Shin scouted the coastline until a narrow stone bridge caught his eye.

"This is the spot."

A system prompt chimed in his mind.

[Ding! Random Mission Triggered: Fish in Rogue Town.]

Objective: Catch a big fish and parade it through downtown.

Reward: Double daily task gains for a week + surprise chest.

Penalty: For your next 10 fishing attempts, you'll only catch trash.

"Alright, let's do this!"

After setting the bait and making a nest, Shin cast his line. Not long after, the float jerked violently.

"This is it—this is the one!"

But just then—

THUMP THUMP THUMP

Heavy footsteps thundered behind him.

"You there! STOP! You freeloading pirate bastard!" a furious waiter screamed.

"Huh?" Shin turned just in time to see Ace sprint around the corner, arms full of food.

"Shin! Yo! You eaten yet?"

"…I can't believe this guy," Shin muttered.

"There's his accomplice!" the waiter yelled, pointing at Shin.

In a flurry of chaos, Shin yanked his line just as he and Ace began running.

"DIG LOTUS ROOT!"

A massive fish, nearly the size of a person, soared from the water, glittering like a gem in the sunlight. Shin netted it mid-air, tied it up, and strapped it to his back.

Ace grinned. "You really are a fisherman, huh?!"

They eventually escaped and settled near the docks to eat—well, eat the stolen food.

"Mmm! I was already full, but that run worked up an appetite!" Ace mumbled between mouthfuls.

"Yeah… this tastes even better when it's technically illegal," Shin added.

"Technically?! You idiots! I had to apologize and pay for everything you two stole!" Deuce appeared behind them, whacking both on the head.

"Hey, how'd you know I caught a big fish?" Shin asked.

"I didn't, you moron."

Just then—

[Ding! Mission complete.]

Reward: Fishman Karate (Basic Level) Unlocked!

A wave of muscle memory, martial forms, and techniques entered Shin's mind.

"Huh… Fishman Karate? Now that's an upgrade," he murmured.

As they walked back, they passed groups of pirates shouting about the Pirate King and the execution platform.

"You wanna go see it?" Deuce asked Ace.

Ace shook his head. "Doesn't matter. I'm not here to look at what he left behind… I'm here to surpass him."

"Hell yeah!" Shin gave a thumbs up, his giant fish swinging over his shoulder.

Back on the ship and heading out, Shin frowned. "Something's off…"

Ace and Deuce tensed. A moment later, a masked figure stepped out from behind the storage room.

"Oh, I've been discovered. Hello, gentlemen. I'm just a humble collector. Please, don't be alarmed."

He wore a skull mask, an afro wig, and enough bone-themed trinkets to make a cemetery jealous.

"Collector?" Ace narrowed his eyes.

"Yes! I sneak aboard ships heading to interesting places. I clean, cook, and collect pirate-related paraphernalia! That's all!"

"Were you after my fish?" Shin asked, raising a brow.

"What? No! If it were a skeleton fish, maybe."

Ace stayed on guard, but Shin raised a hand. "He's not lying. No malice… just weird."

(Over time, Shin's Observation Haki had improved—not only in range but in emotional detection.)

"So… you've been to the Grand Line?" Shin asked.

"Indeed! I sneak aboard ships, help out until the next port, and hop again. I've seen bits of every sea. I know a lot about different islands, cultures, and bounty trends."

Shin's eyes gleamed. "An informant and a weirdo. You'll fit right in."

"What's your name?" Ace asked.

"Scar. You can just call me that. Thanks for not throwing me overboard, Boss Ace."

"Then let's drink on it," Shin said, already breaking out the wine.

"Oi! What about the guy steering the ship?!" Deuce shouted.

"We'll switch out later!" Shin called back.

As Scar joined the table, he asked, "So, what do you collect, Boss Shin?"

Shin looked up at the sky, eyes wistful.

"…I used to have a whole hard drive of treasure… Terabytes of it…"

"…Huh? Of treasure?!"

"Yeah. I didn't bring the drive when I crossed over here…"

"…Crossed what?"

"Never mind. Just pour the damn drink."

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A/N: Please Leave A Comment Or Drop A Powerstone It'll mean alot to me...