Zoro sat tied to the center stake, head tilted back against the rough wood. His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the familiar straw hat approaching.
"You again?" Zoro muttered.
Luffy grinned, hands behind his head as if he were just out for a casual walk. "Yeah. I came to ask you something."
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
"Join my crew," Luffy said bluntly.
Coby nearly jumped. "Luffy! You can't just—"
Jack raised a hand to quiet him. Let's see where this goes, he thought.
Zoro gave a short, humorless laugh. "You want me to join a pirate crew? You know who I am, right? I'm a pirate hunter."
"Yeah," Luffy said simply. "That's why I want you."
For a moment, Zoro just stared at him, unable to tell if the boy was joking.
"You're insane," Zoro finally said. "I have no interest in becoming a criminal like you. Besides, I have my own goal."
Luffy tilted his head. "What goal?"
"To be the greatest swordsman in the world," Zoro said firmly. "I can't waste my life chasing after some captain dream."
But Luffy didn't flinch. "Good. The Pirate King needs the strongest swordsman in his crew. And from now on, that'll be you."
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "...Since when did I agree to that?"
Luffy stood up and started walking toward the Marine base, waving casually over his shoulder. "Wait here. I'll be back... with your swords."
And just like that, he was gone.
For a moment, silence hung over the execution ground.
"…What's wrong with that guy?" Zoro muttered under his breath.
Jack chuckled. "Where do I even start?"
Zoro eyes flicked toward him. "You. Why are you following him?"
Jack shrugged. "Because I think he's the real thing."
"The real thing?" Zoro echoed, brow furrowing.
"Yeah," Jack said, sitting down cross-legged a few feet away from the post. "I've seen plenty of people talk big. Most of them bend the second things get hard. But that guy…" He nodded toward the direction Luffy had gone. "Even if he were tied up in a prison cell, he'd still say he's going to be King of the Pirates without blinking."
Zoro was quiet for a long moment.
"You really think he can do it?" Zoro finally asked.
Jack smiled faintly. "I don't know if he can. But I know he'll try. And I'd rather follow someone like that than sit around and watch the world crush people like you."
Zoro closed his eyes, jaw tight.
"…You're a strange guy," he said finally.
Jack grinned. "Yeah, I get why Luffy likes you now."
The three of them sat in silence for a while, the sound of distant waves filling the air.
Zoro finally spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "If that idiot actually brings me my swords… maybe I'll hear him out."
Jack's smile widened. "Good. I think you'll fit in just fine."
"I just hope he doesn't get himself killed trying to find them…" Zoro muttered.
"He's strong. Don't worry," Jack smirked.