Rolan, Zoro and Lina sat on the deck, the morning sun warming the wooden boards.
"Zoro, as our newest companion and the only swordsman on board, these two swords are for you. And these 1,000 senzu beans." Rolan placed the supreme grade swords he received as a system reward and the one he took from the Celestial Dragons' ship in front of Zoro.
Zoro's eyes widened as he examined the blades. As a swordsman, he could immediately sense the immense aura radiating from them.
A quiet breeze passed over the ship, carrying the scent of the open sea. The waves gently tapped the hull, adding a steady rhythm to the moment. On any other day, Zoro might have simply grunted, but the weight and history behind the swords before him pressed heavily on his chest. Even the normally carefree Lina held her breath, sensing something important was unfolding.
"Rolan, this…" he began, but Rolan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"As you can see, I don't use swords," Rolan said casually. "One person's strength is limited. I need your help. Only if everyone grows stronger can we achieve our dreams."
Zoro, still hesitant, thought it over carefully and then nodded decisively.
"These are both supreme grade swords. This one is called 'Ryugu,' and this one is called 'Yugen.' Train them with Haki; not only will they become your exclusive black blades, but they'll also refine your Haki."
"What? Supreme grade swords? This… this…" Zoro's surprise was palpable. Any swordsman knew the rarity of such weapons; the top-tier swords in the world were few and far between.
For a moment, Zoro could almost picture himself in the future—standing atop a battlefield, both blades in hand, Haki overflowing like a tidal wave. The ambition burning in him flared brighter. He didn't know what destiny awaited this crew, but he felt instinctively that following Rolan would push him far beyond any limit he'd imagined.
Yet Rolan could identify them with certainty, signaling both knowledge and trust. Zoro understood this was not just a gift, but a vote of confidence. He would not betray it.
Rolan's eyes softened slightly at the sight of Zoro's resolve. This swordsman had Conqueror's Haki, and in this timeline, his potential was far beyond what was shown in the manga.
Lina watched nearby, her hands clenched and eyes shining with determination.
"Rolan, Green Algae Head, what do you want to eat? I'll cook it for you," she offered brightly.
"Hey, hey, hey! Who are you calling Green Algae Head?! Today, I'll test if these two supreme grade swords can cut through flames!" Zoro snapped, grabbing the blades and dashing after Lina, who rolled her eyes and dodged.
Their playful chase echoed across the deck, a rare moment of peace amid the dangers that awaited them. Birds circled lazily above, and the sun cast a warm glow against the polished steel of the swords. Even Zoro's angry shouting carried a hint of newfound excitement — something in him had changed.
Rolan leaned against the mast, smiling faintly as he watched them playfully spar on the deck. He reached out to catch a ray of sunlight and silently swore to protect this world, these companions, with everything he had.
A chirp interrupted the calm as a news bird flew overhead.
---
Syrup Village, East Blue.
"What? Rolan's already bounty-hunted? And for 200 million Berries? Zoro-san, 15 million? What about me?!"
A newspaper and two bounty posters lay spread out on the deck.
Rolan
Bounty: 200,000,000 Berries
Roronoa Zoro
Bounty: 15,000,000 Berries
The shock of seeing their faces on wanted posters lingered in the air. Lina held hers upside down at first, trying to process the numbers, while Zoro simply stared at his own poster with a mixture of pride and annoyance. It was a strange milestone — but undeniably a step deeper into the world of Pirates.
Rolan smiled faintly as he scanned the articles. The Celestial Dragons' attack was mentioned, but their deaths were omitted—clearly, the Marines wanted to maintain their public image.
Much of the article painted Rolan and his crew as villains with impure motives—a deliberate smear campaign designed to incite public hatred while reinforcing the World Government's dominance. Rolan expected as much; having read the manga, he knew how the World Government operated.
Lina leaned over Rolan's shoulder, squinting at the exaggerated descriptions. "Why do they always make us look so evil? I literally rescued a cat two days ago."
Zoro muttered, "At least they didn't draw me ugly."
"…That is the ugliest drawing of you I've ever seen," Lina said.
They would never admit Celestial Dragons had been killed under Marine protection. The outside world likely condemned him and his crew, exactly as intended.
His 200 million Berries bounty was strategic: to lure bounty hunters and Pirates into pursuing him. If he fell, the Marines would eliminate a threat while neutralizing other Pirates indirectly. The World Government always benefited. Rolan could only admire their meticulous planning.
---
Early Morning, Syrup Village.
"Mirasang, it's bad! Pirates are here!"
"It's bad! Pirates are coming!"
A long-nosed boy ran through the village, shouting warnings.
Bang! Bang! Ding! Clang!
"Hahahaha, can't hit me, can't hit me!" The boy darted through the villagers' various attacks, slipping into the bushes with ease.
It was none other than Usopp, adding his usual flair to the morning chaos.
Villagers sighed in resignation as they lowered their makeshift weapons. This was a routine—one that began before sunrise and ended with Usopp's dramatic escape. Still, for reasons no one understood, it kept the village lively. Some even suspected the boy enjoyed being chased more than doing the chasing.
"Hehehe, another lively morning thanks to me!" he muttered, wiping his nose with satisfaction. "Mission accomplished. Now to see Kaya."
A voice called from behind. "Hey! Young man, excuse me, is this Syrup Village?"
"Who?" Usopp turned, surprised, to see two men and a woman standing before him.
Naturally, it was Rolan, Zoro, and Lina. He had stored Breaking Sky in the system space before landing, careful not to be detected by the nearby Marine base.
Though Rolan knew Kaya's mansion from the manga, he still had to act the part.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Usopp's legs trembled like jelly, though his tone was firm.
"Hello, we're just tourists, here to experience the local customs," Lina quickly said, putting on a charming smile.
"Lina… are you stupid? We're Pirates!" Zoro muttered, half exasperated.
Lina rolled her eyes at him. Don't you know saying we're Pirates will scare them?
Usopp's eyes sparkled at the revelation. "Pirates? What are you here for? To kill everyone?"
Rolan lowered his head slightly, letting his hair shadow his expression. In a low, teasing voice he said, "We're Pirates. We're here to rob. If you don't cooperate… well, you might not live to see tomorrow."
A gust of wind rustled the bushes behind them, making Usopp jump in place. He gulped, glancing between the three strangers — their calm faces made them look even more dangerous. His imagination filled in the rest, painting them as fearsome raiders of the seas.
Lina stared, baffled.
Zoro added matter-of-factly, "Hand over all your treasures. We don't joke about this."
"I… I'm a Pirate too! Captain Usopp, with 8,000 men under me! Leave now if you know what's good for you!" Usopp stammered, legs trembling.
Seeing this, Zoro cracked Ryugu slightly in the sunlight. The reflection hit Usopp's eyes, and his knees buckled. Sweat ran down his face as his expression blanked.
The aura of true Pirates is… overwhelming, he muttered silently.