Joining Ace Crew In Onepiece World

As the ship cruised along under a cloudy sky split by golden rays, a light breeze teased the deck sails. The mood was calm, the seas cooperative, and the only real noise—aside from the creaking mast—was the animated chatter coming from three of the four crew members.

Shin leaned on the railing, casting his fishing line out lazily, while Scar excitedly pointed out patterns in the clouds that resembled skulls or swords or "something cursed."

"Man, you ever see that one merchant from South Blue? Collected nothing but fake Devil Fruits—had a whole museum of wax fruit. Claimed he'd swallowed twenty and just had strong willpower," Shin said with a smirk.

"Lies. All lies," Deuce grumbled from across the deck, piloting the ship. His shoulders hunched like he regretted hearing even a word. "You two are sick in the head."

Scar, completely unfazed, nodded enthusiastically. "Fake fruits? I need to add that to my collection list!"

Though Shin found Scar's obsession with skeletal trinkets and pirate relics more than a little offbeat, it didn't surprise him anymore. After all, before he'd landed in this world, he'd seen weirder collectors with stranger goals. Compared to that, Scar's skull pins and pirate memorabilia were practically tame.

But Scar wasn't just an oddball. As the voyage went on, Shin and Ace discovered that beneath the eccentric exterior was a sharp and methodical mind. Scar had spent years sneaking onto ships across all four seas and parts of the Grand Line—not to loot, but to learn. In his quest for curios, he'd built a vast network of contacts—other collectors, eccentric hobbyists, smugglers, and tavern rumor-mongers.

He might've joined them by stowing away, but it didn't take long before they realized what a valuable asset he was.

"You realize," Shin said one evening as he grilled up a modest catch, "with that kind of info network, you could be the number one intel broker in the world."

"Think about it," Ace added. "Skull collection, pirate maps, rare ship logs, Devil Fruit fakes... It's not just a hobby. It's reconnaissance."

Scar's eyes spun like a compass. The idea clearly rattled him—in a good way. He'd never thought of his passion that way before. But now, he could almost see it: the world's weirdest collector... doubling as its most unpredictable informant.

The more they talked, the more he liked the sound of it.

Not long after that, the ship punched through the final border of the East Blue and officially entered the Grand Line.

The First Stop: Gunnas Island

The morning sun broke in streaks through the clouds, casting brilliant lines across the deck. The breeze smelled faintly of salt and grilled shellfish, probably carried from a port somewhere nearby.

Scar was the first to shout.

"Land ho! Gunnas Island ahead!"

Everyone turned. In the distance, a compact but bustling island slowly grew into view. Cranes moved cargo at the docks, and the haze of chimneys suggested forges or factories nearby. This wasn't just a backwater isle—it was lively, industrious, and exactly what they needed.

"Finally!" Deuce exhaled. "Food, supplies, proper rest. No more seaweed sandwiches."

Shin raised an eyebrow. "We had seaweed sandwiches?"

"That's because you're the one who ate all the meat!" Deuce snapped. "Maybe next time, skip the barbecue when the pantry's empty."

"Haha, as the old folks say—'the bigger the fire, the better the party!'" Shin said, hands raised in mock surrender.

Ace scratched his head, grinning. "We'll just restock more next time. Problem solved!"

"Yeah," Scar added quickly, "but maybe don't blow half our rations celebrating catching a sardine."

Despite the bickering, spirits were high. The moment they docked, the crew scattered to take care of business.

But none of them noticed the few dockworkers eyeing them suspiciously. One whispered to another, and before long, a young man bolted into a side alley and disappeared into the depths of the island.

The Restaurant Visit

"This one looks promising," Shin said, pointing to a mid-sized restaurant tucked into a row of busy shops. "It's packed. Good sign."

Inside, the smell of fried garlic and sizzling meat overwhelmed them—in a good way. The bell on the door jingled as they entered, and a skinny waiter with a round face and a bandage on his cheek hurried over.

"Welcome, welcome! Table for four?"

Before anyone else could speak, Ace grabbed the menu.

"This, that, definitely that, and... yeah, let's just get all of these."

The waiter blinked. "All of them?"

"Three servings of the ones I pointed at. Two of everything else."

"Uh... guests, that might be a little—"

"Oi! Quit nagging and take the order!" someone barked from the kitchen.

Shin snorted. "Relax. If he doesn't finish, I'll help him—by pouring it all down his throat."

The waiter, now visibly panicked, nodded and rushed off. From the kitchen, the clang of pans and a flurry of shouting echoed.

As they sat, Deuce lowered his voice. "This town... doesn't feel right."

"You're not wrong," Scar said, glancing around. "Gunnas is known for more than just fish and trade. It's a hub for black market dealings... and a transit point for slave traders."

"What?" Shin's smile faded.

"Yeah. It's under the protection of a Warlord of the Sea. So long as they pay tribute and keep it quiet, the Marines turn a blind eye."

"Lovely," Deuce muttered. "Just the kind of place we needed to land."

"Hey, we're just here to eat and resupply," Ace said, already halfway into a steamed bun.

Soon, the food arrived in waves, and any tension was forgotten.

Shin devoured grilled mackerel like it owed him money. Ace buried himself in meat skewers, and even Deuce found a moment to stop lecturing and enjoy a soft dumpling.

"Man, this is heaven. Way better than that rubbery fish you grilled two nights ago," Ace said through a mouthful of food.

"Excuse me for trying to keep us alive," Shin shot back, snatching a piece of roast pork before Ace could.

"Heh. We really should get someone who can cook," Ace added between bites.

"We should get someone who can do anything," Deuce muttered, watching the two inhale their food.

"I can cook," Scar said proudly. "If you like your soup crunchy."

"You put bones in soup?"

"Sometimes," Scar said with a smile.

Shin laughed. "As expected of our skeleton collector."

They kept eating, and for a moment, everything felt normal. The restaurant's cheerful clamor, the clink of plates, the chaos of a Grand Line town all faded into the background.

Then Shin leaned back, rubbed his stomach, and sighed. "Ah... nothing like a random street-side place to surprise you. Always better than those fancy joints."

"Oh yeah?" Ace said. "What's wrong with fancy places?"

"Wouldn't know," Shin replied, gazing up at the ceiling dramatically. "I've never been in one."

Deuce didn't even look up. He just threw a meat bun at Shin's head.

"Idiot."

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