Shanks' Test
The Heaven's Embrace cut through the waves under a cloudless sky, the sun glinting off her runed hull. The red-haired Yonko's "little problem" was their next stop — a trade port known as Ravencove, one of the busiest hubs in the northern stretch of Shanks' waters.
Bell-mère had the map spread across a table in the strategy room. "Reports say the Iron Vulture Pirates have been here for a week. Extortion, theft, random brawls. The usual low-life garbage."
Robin tapped a finger to her chin. "For Shanks to ask us to deal with them means they've become more than an annoyance. They must be threatening something he values."
Nami smirked. "I'm guessing that means we can't just blast them into the next ocean?"
Vegito shrugged. "Oh, we can… we just have to do it in style." His tail flicked with amusement. "No mass destruction this time — surgical strike. Think scalpel… not war hammer."
First Sight of Ravencove
The port came into view in the early afternoon. Built on a crescent-shaped bay, Ravencove's docks sprawled with merchant ships, fishing vessels, and market stalls.
But the tension was obvious — vendors kept their heads down, sailors hurried about without laughter, and several shops had their windows boarded up.
As the Heaven's Embrace approached, Nami pointed toward the largest pier. "There they are."
A massive, rust-red galleon sat in the prime docking space, its sails marked with a crude black vulture emblem. A dozen pirates lounged along the pier, laughing loudly as they drank from stolen bottles.
The Distraction
"Alright," Vegito said, leaning over the table. "Step one — draw their attention. Step two — isolate the captain. Step three — humiliate the lot of them."
Carrot's ears perked. "Ooh, can I be step one?"
Five minutes later, Carrot strolled down the pier in full mink form, carrying a tray of drinks. "Special delivery for the big bad pirates! Complimentary from the Heaven's Embrace."
The pirates hooted and hollered, swarming toward her. One reached for a mug — only to get zapped by a sudden static shock that sent his hair standing straight up.
By the time the others realized it wasn't an accident, Vegito was already behind them.
Step Two: Isolation
The Iron Vulture captain was easy to spot — a barrel-chested man with a beak-shaped mask and a giant steel hook for a hand. He was laughing at the chaos… until Vegito appeared beside him.
"Nice hook," Vegito said conversationally. "Mind if I borrow it?"
Before the man could react, Vegito had unclipped the hook and was twirling it between his fingers. The captain stumbled back, staring at the stump where his weapon had been.
"Now," Vegito continued, voice carrying across the pier, "let's talk about manners."
Step Three: Humiliation
What followed was less a fight and more a one-man show:
Vegito flicked one pirate into a fish barrel, the man emerging smelling like low tide.
Another lunged with a cutlass — Vegito caught it between two fingers, snapped it in half, and handed the pieces back.
Two tried to rush him at once… and ended up tied together with their own belts, dangling from a lamppost.
Meanwhile, Carrot danced through the chaos, zapping anyone who got too close, while Nojiko "accidentally" tripped others into the bay.
The Final Blow
Once the crew was a heap of groaning bodies, Vegito turned back to the captain.
"You've got two choices," Vegito said, tossing the hook back to him. "One — you sail out of here and never set foot in Ravencove again. Two — I toss you far enough that it takes you a month to swim back."
The captain hesitated for half a second too long. Vegito sighed, grabbed him by the collar… and launched him skyward.
A faint splash came several minutes later.
The Locals' Reaction
As the last of the Iron Vultures were herded back onto their galleon (now conveniently missing its sails thanks to Robin's handiwork), the market began to come alive again.
Merchants leaned out of their stalls, children peeked from doorways, and slowly — cheers began to spread through the streets.
A fisherman stepped forward, clutching Vegito's hand. "Thank you… they've been bleeding us dry for days."
Vegito grinned. "Happy to help. Tell Shanks he owes me a drink."
Back on the Red Force
Two days later, they were once again alongside Shanks' flagship.
Shanks greeted them with his usual lazy smile. "Word travels fast. Ravencove's already back to normal… and you didn't level the place. Impressive."
Vegito smirked. "Told you — scalpel, not hammer."
Shanks nodded. "Then you've earned it. I'll give you the location of that poneglyph… but be warned, the island it's on isn't exactly friendly to outsiders."
Setting the Stage for the Next Move
Back aboard the Heaven's Embrace, Robin unrolled a fresh chart. "This route takes us deeper into the Yonko territories… dangerously close to Blackbeard's reach."
Bell-mère loaded her rifle with a snap. "Good. I've been itching for target practice."
Vegito's tail flicked in satisfaction. "Alright then. Next stop — poneglyph hunting."
[Crew Status Updated]
Mission complete: Iron Vultures driven out of Ravencove without collateral damage.
Reward: Poneglyph location revealed by Shanks.
Next Chapter: Chapter 61 – The Island That Hates Strangers.