One Piece: Blood Clan

After verifying that the ships were in order, the fleet set sail.

"I'm heading back to my cabin. Call me if you need anything," Burs announced.

"Yes, Young Master Burs!" came the enthusiastic reply of the villagers.

Though the sun was mild that day, the daylight still made him a bit uneasy. Once back in his quarters, Burs eagerly slipped into the coffin-panel bed that had been prepared in advance.

It was a special coffin board delivered by Uncle Moga from the coffin shop—purportedly the finest in their collection, boasting "winter warmth and summer coolness," as if crafted from a mythical "Adam's Timber."

Though it surely couldn't match the true marvel of that legendary wood, Uncle Moga's praise left little room for doubt.

As Burs reclined fully, he instantly felt a curious, enveloping sensation: the specially crafted wooden box sealed the coffin so perfectly that not a ray of light penetrated—a darkness so complete it was as blissful as switching from years of rigid wooden bedding to the sumptuous comfort of a waterbed.

Every vampire, it seemed, was destined to own a coffin board.

Night fell, and Burs awoke on deck. With the change of watch underway, he exchanged greetings with the crew before settling in to admire the nocturnal sea.

The last time he'd truly gazed upon the ocean was half a year ago—back when he was on Captain Garp's ship, devouring most of the donuts by force (a memory that still made him feel rather proud).

The crew would never forget the sight: a fair-skinned, red-eyed boy standing on deck with a sorrowful expression, as if carrying a burden of unspoken regrets. Though Burs's mind was still partly occupied with thoughts of donuts, he kept his expression suitably melancholic—after all, vampires are fated to exude a noble, sorrowful aura.

This was Burs's first time at sea. As the story's protagonist, he was destined for calamity—and yet, strangely, up to their arrival at the Kingdom of Goa nothing had gone awry. The journey had been inexplicably smooth; there had been no urgent need for blood replenishment (and his reserve of 400 units wasn't so easily exhausted).

He recalled with a wry smile that the Kingdom of Goa was hardly known for its noble souls. He even wondered how old Luffy was now and whether he'd been handed off to mountain bandits.

Fortunately, Luffy hadn't, besides, the port of call this time was Windmill Village. A quick visit to Makino's Tavern might even let him catch a glimpse of Luffy.

"Young Master Burs, we'll be reaching our destination port soon. Please prepare to disembark," an officer announced.

"Understood," Burs replied with a slight nod. He carefully secured Blood Drink—the blade that had been with him since his evolution—and, because it was still daylight, his vision wasn't at its peak, and he felt a slight discomfort. He could just make out a huge vessel moored at the harbor, though its details remained vague.

It wasn't until he drew near that, spotting the ship's dragon-head prow and its distinctive pirate flag, Burs instantly recognized it.

"Red Hair!" he thought.

This was a ship belonging to the Red-Haired crew. Remarkably, Shanks and his companions were also anchored at Windmill Village. The timeline was now clear: Luffy, who was also around six years old, was roughly Burs's age.

The surrounding crew members took note of the sight but felt reassured seeing Burs still aboard.

Early that morning, the army of the Kingdom of Goa had been waiting at the port. General Gno, accompanied by roughly three hundred soldiers, strode over.

Catching sight of Burs, Gno remarked, "Is that Young Master Burs? You look exactly like your father did when he was a child—truly a match between father and son."

"Do you know my father?" Burs inquired, surprised.

"Of course. Your father is the count we honored in the Kingdom of Goa. We used to play together in our youth—I naturally remember him," Gno explained warmly.

Only then did Burs realize why these haughty nobles of Goa spoke so respectfully to him: not only was it his noble status, but his father had been a dear friend to them.

"What about the cargo?" Gno suddenly asked.

"It's right behind me. Please have someone inspect it," Burs replied.

After a brief inspection, Gno confirmed, "The numbers are correct." He then handed Burs the balance. As Burs looked at the received Beli, he mused that merchants truly knew how to make money.

After deducting costs and wages, this single transaction netted him about 1.5 million Beli. It wasn't a fortune by pirate standards—far less than what one might seize by robbery—but in the world of pirates, where chance is currency, it was respectable.

"Little Burs, I must take my leave—I need to lead my troops back," General Gno announced.

"Understood," Burs answered.

Once Gno departed, Burs addressed the assembled crew and villagers, "To celebrate our first successful transaction, let's hold a feast!"

A cheer erupted: "Ohhh!!!!~"

Later that day at Machino's Tavern in Windmill Village, members of the Red-Haired Pirates were reveling. A chubby, tiger-faced youngster sat at the bar, munching away as the kindly proprietress Machino looked on with gentle amusement.

After arriving at the tavern, Burs decided it was best to stow away Blood Drink and fasten a plain longsword at his side. He then pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"Hey, boss, got any more booze?" asked a crewman from Burs's fleet. The man stopped short at the sight before him—inside, the tavern was packed with fierce-looking men. Remembering the pirate ship he'd just seen in port, the crewman gulped nervously.

At that crucial moment, Burs stepped forward and approached the proprietress. "Lovely lady, might I ask—do you have any food?" he inquired with a charming grin.

"Oh, you call me 'lovely lady'? You really know how to flatter a girl, kid. We've got plenty—find yourselves a seat," Machino replied brightly.

"I'm not flattering; I'm stating the truth," Burs countered with a mock-serious expression.

"Ah~ then, what would you like? I'll have the kitchen serve it up immediately," Machino said as she scurried off.

Surveying the room, Burs ordered, "Bring twenty cups of beer, twenty platters of meat, a double portion of milk, and one steak."

"Right away!" Machino chirped.

Seated in a corner, a red-haired pirate watched with keen interest as the composed young Burs made his orders. He'd already noticed there was something extraordinary about this kid.

Burs, meanwhile, was mainly there to catch a glimpse of Luffy. After signaling for calm and letting everyone enjoy the feast, he approached the little fellow who was ravenously devouring food.

"Hey, kid—who are you? How did you get into a tavern like this?" Burs asked.

The child, busy stuffing his face, glanced over and replied, "Who are you, anyway? I'm not a kid—I'm a man destined to be the Pirate King!"

This chapter captures the shifting tides of fortune as Burs embarks on his maiden voyage, setting up business ventures and encountering both noble allies and rough-and-tumble pirates. His quiet determination, mixed with youthful audacity, sets the stage for the unfolding drama of the Red-Haired Pirates' world.