"YOU DINE-AND-DASHER!"
The furious roar shattered Jerry's moment of sublime triumph. The mob of angry restaurant staff, not at all impressed by his magnificent catch, was rumbling toward them again.
"Run!" Ace yelled, grabbing Jerry's arm and yanking him into a sprint.
"Hey!" Jerry shouted as they weaved through the crowded streets, the giant fish bouncing on his back. "Did you know I was going to catch this monster today? Is that why you caused all this trouble?" He swung the fish around, its dead eyes rolling, causing several passersby to shriek and leap out of their way.
After a chaotic chase through half the town, they finally lost their pursuers. The two found a quiet spot near the coast to sit, catch their breath, and dig into the food Ace had "procured."
"Mmm, delicious!" Ace said, his mouth bulging with food. "I was almost full before, but all that running made me hungry again."
"Not bad," Jerry agreed, taking a large bite of a stolen chicken leg. "I haven't eaten anything this good in a long time."
"HEY!" A new voice cut through their feast as Deuce appeared out of thin air, delivering a sharp chop to both of their heads. "You have to pay for food! That's common sense! Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to run after you two, apologizing and settling your debts at every single shop?"
"Mmmph?" was all Ace could manage, his cheeks puffed out like a squirrel's.
Jerry just turned his head. "Deuce! How did you know I caught a big fish today?"
Deuce threw his hands up in exasperation. "I don't care about your fish!" he sighed. "Have you finished your shopping? We need to set sail while we still have daylight." It was clear he'd already taken care of his own errands and had probably loaded their supplies onto the ship himself.
Just then, a familiar notification chimed in Jerry's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations! Random Quest "A Fisherman's Tale in Loguetown" complete!]
[Reward: Fishman Karate (Beginner)]
A quest reward? Fishman Karate? Jerry's eyes widened. Now that's a serious upgrade. If I remember correctly, this fighting style can manipulate water itself... A flood of new information—stances, techniques, and fighting principles—poured into his mind. He silently began processing it, already thinking of how to integrate it with the skills he already had.
"Alright, let's go!" Ace declared, wiping his mouth clean, his hunger finally sated.
As they walked back toward the port, they could hear the buzz of other pirates, their conversations filled with words like "One Piece," "treasure," and "Execution Platform."
Deuce glanced at Ace. "Don't you want to go see it?"
Ace's cheerful expression hardened for a moment. He clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "It'll be there whether I see it or not," he said, his voice low but firm. "My goal isn't to look at what he left behind. It's to surpass him."
"That's the spirit," Jerry said, giving him a thumbs-up and adjusting the massive fish on his back. "You can do it."
Thankfully, the rest of their journey back to the ship was uneventful. It seemed Smoker the White Hunter had yet to be stationed in Loguetown, or perhaps he was simply off-duty. They boarded their ship and set sail as quickly as possible, leaving the Town of the Beginning and the End in their wake.
They were not far from shore when Jerry suddenly went still. "Hold on," he said, his voice dropping. "We're not alone."
Ace and Deuce immediately tensed, their hands moving toward their weapons as they scanned the deck.
"Oh, dear. I've been discovered." A voice, light and theatrical, drifted from behind the main cabin. "My apologies for the intrusion. I am but a humble collector. I mean you no harm."
A man slowly emerged with his hands raised. He was dressed in black and wore a cartoonishly simple skeleton mask over his face, topped by a magnificent afro. Skull-themed accessories adorned his clothes. From his voice, he sounded young and energetic.
"A collector?" Ace asked, staring at the strangely dressed man, not lowering his guard. "Then what are you doing on our ship?"
"Oh, hohoho," the man let out a low, strange chuckle. "I am a collector, you see, and a pirate enthusiast! I collect all things related to skeletons, pirates, and the grand romance of the sea!"
"Your hobbies are... unique," Jerry deadpanned. "Is there something on our ship you're hoping to add to your collection? Are you after my fish?" He held up a hand to signal Ace to relax. His Observation Haki wasn't sensing any hostility, just a weird, bubbly curiosity.
Over the past few weeks, Jerry's Haki had grown. The 18cm range was a thing of the past; now he could sense the entire area of their ship and even pick up on the vague emotions of those nearby—a useful tool for telling friend from foe.
"Your fish?" the skeleton man said with a sniff of disdain. "My dear boy, unless it is a skeleton fish, I have no interest. My tastes are far more refined."
"Are you after our food, then?" Ace asked, his eyes narrowing again.
"I do not collect perishables," the man explained patiently. "I am simply a man in need of passage. According to my research, your ship was preparing to head for the Grand Line. I, too, wish to go there. In exchange for passage, I can assist with any and all chores. You can let me off at the first port after we cross Reverse Mountain. A fair trade, no?"
"You've been to the Grand Line before?" Jerry asked, seizing on the important detail.
"Many times!" the skeleton man said proudly, patting his chest. "In my quest for rare collectibles, I have stowed away on dozens of pirate ships. I help with odd jobs and depart at the next island. As such, I have been to many places in all Four Seas and along the Grand Line!"
"So you're not just a collector," Jerry realized. "You're a walking, talking information broker."
"Of course! A true collector must always be well-informed to avoid... disappointments," the man said with a dramatic flair.
Ace, his beast-like intuition also sensing no threat, finally relaxed. "Alright. Let's talk. I'm Ace. These are Jerry and Deuce. What's your name?"
"Ah! Captain Ace!" the man said, relieved. "You can call me Skull."
"C'mon, let's have a drink," Jerry said, having already produced several bottles of rum from a storage. He sat down on the deck railing, setting up their impromptu meeting.
"Hey! Don't you forget about me!" Deuce shouted from the helm.
"Hahaha, you handle the ship for now, Deuce! We'll help later!" Ace called back. Deuce just rolled his eyes, knowing full well that help would never come.
As Skull walked over, a sly grin spread across Jerry's face. "You know, you may not believe this," he said, "but I used to be something of a collector myself."
Skull's eyes lit up behind his mask. "Oh? Truly? A fellow connoisseur! What did you collect, good sir?"
Jerry sighed wistfully, a deeply melancholic look in his eyes as he stared up at the sky. "Ah, I had a treasure trove... Several terabytes of the finest, most priceless gems stored on my hard drive." He choked up slightly. "It's a pity... I couldn't bring it with me when I left."