A large ship docked quietly along the seashore of Shell Town. The sun was just beginning to dip behind the hills, casting a golden hue over the tall marine tower that stood prominently in the distance.
Two figures disembarked from the ship and stepped onto the pier.
"We're here," Zino said with a smile, his eyes locked onto the imposing silhouette of the Marine base. "Shell Town, home of Roronoa Zoro… for now."
Alvida stepped beside him, folding her arms. "Are you seriously planning to recruit that guy? The demon pirate hunter?"
"I am," Zino replied without hesitation. "If I don't move fast, someone else will come along and take him."
"Someone else? Who?" Alvida asked with a confused look.
"That straw hat kid you saw back on the island."
Alvida's expression shifted to one of surprise. "You mean… the boy in the barrel?"
Zino nodded. "That's him."
"Who is he exactly?" she asked, curious now.
"He's the grandson of a Marine Vice Admiral," Zino said, giving her a side glance.
"A Marine's grandson?! Then is he trying to recruit Zoro to the Marines?" she asked, puzzled.
"Maybe… maybe not," Zino replied vaguely. He didn't want to reveal too much. "Either way, he's after Zoro too. So we need to move fast."
With their objective set, the two made their way into the bustling streets of Shell Town. Civilians moved quickly, heads lowered, voices hushed. The air held a subtle tension, something oppressive lingering just beneath the surface.
They eventually entered a modest restaurant near the town square. The atmosphere inside was dim and quiet, the few patrons barely making any noise. Zino and Alvida ordered food, then casually began to question the locals about Roronoa Zoro.
"Do you know where we can find a man named Zoro?" Zino asked one of the waiters.
The waiter flinched slightly, then quickly shook his head. "Don't ask about that man. You'll bring trouble."
Zino acted as if not knowing Morgan, and asked, "Why? Is he really that dangerous?"
The waiter leaned in slightly and whispered, "It's not him you need to worry about… it's Captain Morgan."
That name sparked an immediate reaction. Everyone nearby seemed to go quiet when it was mentioned. The atmosphere turned even heavier than before.
"Captain Morgan?" Alvida echoed. "Who's that?"
"The current commanding officer of the Marine base," Zino answered quietly. "A man feared even by his own subordinates."
After several more failed attempts to get useful information—most people too scared to talk—Zino pushed away his plate and stood up.
"We're wasting time. No one's going to talk," he said.
"What now?" Alvida asked, rising as well.
"We go straight to the Marine base," Zino said firmly. "I have a feeling that we will meet him there."
With that, the two left the restaurant and began walking in the direction of the Marine tower.
When Zino and Alvida arrived at the Marine base, the scene before them was grim.
Just beyond the tall wall surrounding the compound, they could clearly see a man tied to a wooden cross in the middle of the courtyard. His arms were stretched out and bound, and his body slumped forward from exhaustion. His clothes were torn and dirtied, and fresh blood streaked the side of his face. It was evident—he had been beaten recently.
"That must be him," Zino muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Roronoa Zoro."
Despite his worn-out state, the man's presence remained intimidating. His aura gave off a silent defiance, as though he was daring the world to try and break him.
Suddenly, Zino spotted a small figure quietly placing a wooden ladder against the wall from the outside. A little girl, no older than eight or nine, climbed up carefully, paused at the top, and put a finger to her lips when she noticed Zino watching. She then leapt down into the courtyard with surprising agility and ran toward Zoro with something in her hands.
She approached the bound swordsman with hesitant determination and held out a pair of rice balls wrapped in cloth.
"Mister, I made these for you. Please eat," she said softly.
Zoro looked at her and furrowed his brows. "Kid, leave. I don't want your rice balls. Get out of here before you get into trouble."
"You should eat," the girl insisted. "I made them myself."
Just as the moment seemed to warm, an unwelcome voice pierced the air.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
A young man with a pompous stride walked into the courtyard, flanked by a pair of Marines. He had a bowl-cut hairstyle, a smug grin, and an unmistakable air of entitlement. It was Helmeppo—Captain Morgan's son.
Zino watched with a grim expression as the events unfolded exactly how he remembered them from the manga.
Helmeppo sauntered over, snatched the rice balls from the little girl's hands, and took a dramatic bite. Almost immediately, he gagged at the sweet taste.
"Ugh! What is this garbage? Sugar in rice balls? Are you trying to kill someone?"
He threw the food to the ground and stomped on it mockingly.
"Since you're feeding a criminal, that makes you a criminal too!" he declared arrogantly. Then he turned to one of his men and barked, "Throw her out!"
The girl cried out as a Marine grabbed her and tossed her toward the outer wall.
But before she could hit the ground, Zino stepped forward, catching her gently in his arms. She blinked in surprise, and then began to sob softly.
Helmeppo, hearing the commotion but not caring to look back, laughed arrogantly and walked away, continuing to insult Zoro as he went away.
Watching it all, Alvida sneered. "Is that boy supposed to be a Marine or a pirate?"
Zino's eyes narrowed. "Why do you ask?"
"Because he stinks worse than any pirate I've ever met."
Zino didn't respond at first. He simply set the little girl down carefully and turned toward the wall.
"Forget him," he said. "I'm going to talk to Zoro."
Without another word, he jumped high, easily clearing the Marine wall in a single leap. Alvida blinked in surprise.
Landing inside the compound, Zino strode straight toward the cross where Zoro hung.
"Boy, what are you doing here? Get lost," Zoro growled, his voice hoarse but firm. He raised his head slightly and narrowed his eyes at the figure approaching him. Then, he noticed the clothes—marine uniform. His expression darkened.
"...You're one of Morgan's men, aren't you? Did he send you to mock me, or do you want something else?"
"I'm not under that bastard's command," Zino replied calmly, shaking his head.
That response caused Zoro to squint at him in confusion.
Zino continued, "Let me ask you something. What do you think of the Marines stationed at this branch?"
Zoro blinked. "This Marine branch? Why are you asking me that?"
"Just answer honestly."
Zoro hesitated for a second, then said with a scowl, "…This place is rotten. Corrupt from top to bottom."
Zino nodded as if he'd just confirmed something important. "Well said. That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
Zoro looked at him suspiciously.
Zino stepped a little closer and spoke in a low tone, "Listen, I'm currently on a covert mission. I've been assigned to infiltrate the pirate world, and for that, I need to pose as a pirate myself. I'm building a crew—just for show, of course. It's all part of the mission. Would you consider joining me?"
Zoro's eyes narrowed sharply. "Let me get this straight… you're a Marine, pretending to be a pirate, and you want me to join your fake crew?"
"Exactly," Zino nodded. "It's fake in title only, but I need real strength. People I can trust to carry out the mission and handle whatever comes. You fit the bill."
Zoro snorted. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not interested. I have no intention of becoming a pirate—fake or not."
"Why? I think you'd be perfect for it," Zino pressed.
Zoro's eyes burned with resolve. "I'm a pirate hunter. I hunt those bastards down, not sail alongside them. Besides…"
He looked away for a moment before continuing, "I'm a swordsman. I have no desire to stand beneath someone else's flag. I follow my own path."
Zino watched him for a moment, quietly assessing. Zoro's conviction wasn't an act. His pride as a swordsman ran deep—just like the stories said. But Zino wasn't ready to give up just yet. If this was the same Roronoa Zoro he had read about in the stories, then maybe, just maybe, there was still a way to recruit him—even if it meant adjusting his own plan.
"Swordsman, huh?" Zino said, his tone calm and steady as he looked Zoro in the eye. "Then let me make something clear. If you join my crew, it doesn't mean you're becoming my subordinate."
Zoro raised a brow slightly, curious where this was going.
"You won't be under me. You'll be my nakama—my comrade," Zino continued. "Each person on my crew will have their own path, their own goals. I don't care about rank or status. What matters is trust and having each other's backs."
Zoro looked at him, silently listening.
"As for your swordsmanship," Zino added, "being on my ship won't stop you from pursuing your dream. In fact, I'll make sure you have every opportunity to train, grow stronger, and eventually—become the world's greatest swordsman, if that's your goal."
Zoro remained silent, his expression unreadable.
"So, I'll ask you again," Zino said. "Will you become part of my crew?"
There was a pause. Zoro's eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't someone who made decisions lightly. Especially not ones that could change his entire path.
"…Let me think about it," he finally said, his voice low.
Zino didn't push further. He could see Zoro was still conflicted. The swordsman probably still believed he'd be released if he served out the month of punishment. He still had hope in that promise—however fragile.
But Zino knew better.
"By the way," Zino said casually, as if just remembering something, "that bowl-cut guy—Helmeppo—yeah, he has no intention of keeping his promise to release you."
Zoro's head jerked slightly toward him.
"I overheard the truth," Zino continued. "They're planning to execute you in three days."
"…What!?" Zoro's eyes widened, his expression turning grim.
"That's the truth," Zino said with a slow nod. "You knew this place was corrupt. You said it yourself. You've seen what Morgan and his son are like. Do you really think they'd honor a promise to a pirate hunter who humiliated them?"
Zoro fell silent, but the tension in his body said everything. Deep down, he had known. There had always been that suspicion. That something felt off. That Helmeppo's promise was too convenient… too easy.
Now it made sense.
He grit his teeth, glancing toward the wall where Helmeppo had exited earlier. Anger stirred in his chest, not just at the betrayal, but at himself for believing—even for a moment—that they might let him go.
"…So what now?" Zoro muttered.
Zino smiled faintly. "Now? That depends on you. You still want to wait around for your 'release'? Or do you want to break free and decide your own future?"
Zoro didn't respond yet. But this time, he didn't say no.
"So, what do you think now?" Zino asked, stepping closer. "Will you join my crew?"
Zoro let out a long sigh, clearly annoyed. "Why do you keep asking that?"
"Because I know you'll say yes eventually," Zino replied with a grin. "Is that a yes, then?"
"What? No!" Zoro snapped, glaring at him.
Zino shook his head and sighed dramatically. "You're really stubborn."
"Talk about yourself," Zoro muttered, his tone sharp.
Zino chuckled. "Fair enough. But let's be serious now. If I release you, will you become my nakama?"
"I said no!" Zoro growled again, trying to maintain his stance despite the exhaustion etched across his face.
"But if you stay here, you're going to die in three days," Zino reminded him calmly.
Zoro didn't respond immediately. His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the silence between them was heavy. His pride was battling with the logic of survival. The truth Zino had revealed earlier echoed in his mind.