One Piece: It All Started When I Found Shanks' Arm

Chapter 69: Ram Them!

While Shane and his crew were excitedly touring the interior of their new ship, in a remote hotel in the northeastern part of Sherry Island, a different scene was unfolding.

A tall figure in a black greatcoat sat on a balcony, his expression cold as he watched the sun slowly sink below the horizon.

"What a boring life this is…" the man known as "Kuro of a Hundred Plans" murmured to himself.

He had been sailing these seas for some years now. As he entered middle age, the passionate zeal of his youth had faded, and he had begun to grow tired of this life.

Especially these past few years.

Almost every major pirate in the East Blue with a bounty over ten million—with the exception of Buggy, who had fled back to the Grand Line—had been killed by that man named Shane.

He was the only one left.

Standing out from the crowd had made him a prime target. The Marine dogs and greedy bounty hunters pursued him relentlessly, forcing him into one desperate battle after another.

He had stopped on Sherry Island because he'd been forced into a sea battle a few days prior. His ship was severely damaged, and he had no choice but to find a professional shipbuilding company to repair it.

Perhaps it's time for me to find a way out of this situation.

Then I could find a beautiful country estate and live out a few peaceful years as a wealthy, retired gentleman.

As he was contemplating this, Kuro heard the sound of hurried footsteps thudding up the stairs.

"Why are you back so soon?"

Kuro didn't even need to look to know who it was. He frowned. "Didn't I tell you two to check a few more shipyards and compare prices?"

If the cost wasn't too high, he could accept it. If their quote was unsatisfactory, he could always just put a gun to the shipwrights' heads. Let's see if they still dared to name an outrageous price then.

"Captain! A fat sheep! We found a fat sheep!"

Sham and Buchi couldn't hide their excitement, brandishing a photograph. "Look, Captain! I took this close-up photo from a hiding spot, just in case!"

"A famous sword?"

Kuro's eyes were immediately drawn to the Wado Ichimonji. A look of surprise flashed across his face. "It's likely a Grade Sword. It might even be a Great Grade Sword. It could probably sell for a hundred million Berries…"

He suddenly seemed to notice something else, and his expression changed drastically.

Before Sham and Buchi could react, their captain vanished. In the next instant, cold, claw-like blades pressed against their throats.

"Tell me…" a chilling voice whispered from behind them, "have you two found a new captain? Or perhaps you're planning to start your own crew and betray me?"

"Blood! He's going to draw blood, Captain!" Sham shrieked, his face a mask of terror. "Wh-What are you talking about? We're completely loyal to you! Why would we ever betray you?!"

"Y-Yeah," Buchi stammered, swallowing hard and forcing a smile as he turned his head. "You know us, Captain. We'd never have the guts to…"

"It's because I know you don't have the guts! Otherwise, I would have killed you already!"

Kuro sneered, pointing a claw at the photo. "Tell me, are you two blind?! Can't you see who that man is?"

That man?

Sham and Buchi stared blankly at the photo.

Because the camera had focused on the sword, the figures of the people next to it were blurry. But the outline of one of the men's faces did seem familiar, as if they had seen it somewhere before…

"It's Shane! The 'Strongest Swordsman in the East Blue,' Shane! You two blind fools!"

Shane?

Hearing that familiar name, Sham and Buchi gasped, finally snapping out of their stupor.

"The Shane who killed the entire Arlong Pirates crew a few years ago?"

"And the Krieg Pirates! They were wiped out by him not too long ago!"

The more they thought about it, the more terrified they became, breaking out in a cold sweat. It was a true near-death experience.

Thank goodness they hadn't acted rashly back at the Whale Company. Otherwise, they wouldn't have even made it back to see Captain Kuro; they'd be corpses lying in the street.

"Scared now?"

Kuro's cat claws flashed in front of their faces, ten streaks of cold light instantly shredding the photograph. "What are you still standing around for?! Go tell Jango to gather the crew! We're setting sail immediately! We can't stay on Sherry Island! We'll find another place to repair the ship!"

"Huh? But we just got here," Buchi pouted, reluctant to leave. "We can just avoid him, right? We haven't been ashore for almost a month. I was hoping to visit the red-light district tonight…"

"Shut up, you idiot!"

Seeing Kuro's expression grow darker, Sham quickly clamped a hand over Buchi's mouth. "Better safe than sorry! Don't you understand risk? What if that man notices us? Do you want the Black Cat Pirates to be wiped out too? Let's go, hurry up and get the others!"

That's more like it.

Watching the two of them hastily disappear out the door, Kuro snorted, the murderous intent in his eyes gradually fading.

This bunch of incompetent subordinates, each one dumber than the last. Spending too much time with them is making me feel like my own IQ is dropping.

"The Strongest Swordsman, Shane…"

Looking at the shredded photo on the floor, Kuro still felt a sense of unease. He had a bad feeling that something terrible was going to happen today.

That man was far too dangerous. He had to get away, as far away as possible!

As for challenging him to increase his own bounty and fame, like that idiot Krieg?

Ridiculous.

Considering the massive difference in their strength, the probability of success was far too low. He was "Kuro of a Hundred Plans," renowned for his intellect and his cautious approach to survival. He would never do something so foolish.

...

Half an hour later, the Black Cat Pirates' ship hastily set sail. Kuro clung to the railing, his eyes fixed on the distant neon sign of the Whale Company.

Only when the sign had shrunk to an almost invisible speck on the horizon, and no other ship had given chase, did he finally relax his gaze and slowly, with feigned composure, recline on a deck chair.

"Captain Kuro, your red wine."

The first mate, Jango, brought him a glass. Kuro grunted an acknowledgment and took it, but he was in no mood to drink. He set it aside.

"Captain, if you ask me, you've just been under too much stress lately from being chased," Jango said with a grin. "How about I hypnotize you so you can relax a bit?"

"No need."

Kuro's brow furrowed, and he refused flatly.

Jango was the only subordinate he truly trusted, and his hypnotic abilities were indeed useful. But Kuro hated the feeling of not being in control.

"Captain!" the lookout suddenly shouted. "A small boat at ten o'clock, heading our way!"

A small boat?

Kuro's pupils constricted. His back went rigid as he shot to his feet. "Get a better look!" he barked. "How many people are on it? Is Shane one of them?"

"Just one person!" the lookout replied. "I don't recognize him. It's not Shane, and it's not any of the bounty hunters who were after us. He's waving at us, looks like he needs help. Tsk, that boat is tiny, though. It's like a coffin. One person barely fits…"

Not Shane?

Kuro let out a sigh of relief, which was immediately followed by a wave of shame and anger. Some nameless weakling who scared the hell out of me dares to ask for help?

"The clueless fool…"

He couldn't be bothered with it anymore. With a cold sneer, he gave the order, "Ram them! Crush that guy, boat and all!"

"YES, CAPTAIN!!!" the pirates on deck roared in response.

…

Not far away on the sea.

Watching the pirate ship inexplicably charge toward him at full speed, Hawkeye was momentarily taken aback. He then sighed softly, his right hand reaching for the black sword on his back.

I was just trying to ask for directions to Cocoyasi Village.

Why did these people have to go and do this…

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