Water Seven.
The city was bustling as ever.
Canals crisscrossed the streets. Water buses shuttled back and forth. Shipwrights' shouts echoed without end.
At a quiet dock, a small pirate ship was moored.
Its hull was old.
Its paint was worn.
Yet it was kept impeccably clean.
At the bow, a sheep-headed figurehead stared ahead with a gentle expression.
The Going Merry.
At this moment, several figures gathered on the deck.
Luffy sat casually, legs dangling over the side, swinging back and forth.
Zoro leaned against the mast, arms crossed, eyes half-closed.
Nami stood near the cabin, checking a stack of documents, her expression serious.
Usopp paced back and forth, restless.
Sanji leaned on the railing, smoking quietly.
Everything looked normal.
But—
An invisible tension hung in the air.
"Still no news…" Nami frowned. "The shipwrights haven't given us a clear answer."
Usopp swallowed. "Th-this ship… it'll be fine, right?"
Zoro opened one eye. "If it's not, we'll just get another one."
Nami shot him a glare. "Do you have any idea how much money a new ship costs?!"
Zoro closed his eye again. "Then fix it."
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke. "We can only wait."
Luffy tilted his head back, staring at the sky. "So boring…"
At that moment—
A faint sound rose from the dock.
Footsteps.
Light.
Almost inaudible.
But—
Zoro's eyes snapped open instantly.
"Someone's here."
Sanji's expression changed.
Nami stiffened.
Usopp jumped. "W-what?!"
The next second—
No splash. No creak. Like someone had stepped out of a blind spot.
A boy.
Wearing a Marine uniform.
He stood there calmly, as if he'd always been there.
The Straw Hat Pirates froze.
"Eh?" Luffy blinked. "A Marine?"
Nami's pupils shrank. "Why is there a Marine here?!"
Usopp screamed. "D-d-d-don't tell me he came to arrest us?!"
Sanji flicked his cigarette away. "Oi. How did you get on board?"
Raifeng looked at them quietly, his gaze sweeping the deck.
Luffy.
Zoro.
Nami.
Usopp.
Sanji.
Just like he remembered.
He spoke evenly. "Relax. I'm not here to start a fight."
The Straw Hats exchanged looks.
Zoro narrowed his eyes. "Then what are you here for?"
Raifeng answered simply, "I wanted to see you."
Silence.
Complete silence.
"See us?" Luffy tilted his head. "Why?"
Raifeng looked at him. "Because you're interesting."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Interesting?" He suddenly jumped up. "You think so too?!"
"Luffy! Be careful!" Nami snapped.
Raifeng didn't move.
He stood there, calm and unhurried.
Zoro took a step forward. "You're a Marine. Coming alone. Aren't you afraid?"
Raifeng shook his head. "No."
Zoro's mouth curved slightly. "Interesting."
Sanji frowned. "You're not ordinary."
Raifeng nodded once. "I know."
Usopp trembled. "Th-this guy… feels dangerous…"
Nami tightened her grip on her staff. "What do you want?"
Raifeng replied honestly, "Nothing for now. I just wanted to take a look."
Nami stared at him. "You expect us to believe that?"
Raifeng's eyes drifted to the ship. "Your hull's been patched too many times… and the keel looks stressed."
Nami's expression changed instantly. "You… what do you know?!"
"If you keep pushing it, it won't last much longer," Raifeng said calmly.
The atmosphere froze.
Those words hit the Straw Hats dead center.
Zoro's expression sharpened.
Sanji clenched his teeth.
Usopp's face went pale.
Luffy stared at Raifeng.
"…Is that true?"
Raifeng met his gaze.
"Yes."
Luffy fell silent.
Nami's grip tightened until her knuckles turned white. "Then why are you telling us this?"
Raifeng answered, "Because… this ship is important to you."
Luffy's fists clenched.
"…Yeah."
Raifeng turned away. "I've said what I came to say."
"I won't interfere with your choices."
He walked toward the edge of the deck.
Zoro frowned. "Just like that?"
Raifeng stopped.
Without turning back, he said softly, "Take care of it."
Then—he stepped off the deck, kicked the air once, and vanished
The Straw Hats stood in stunned silence.
Usopp swallowed. "…What was that?"
Sanji lit another cigarette. "A strange Marine."
Nami stared out at the sea, her expression complicated.
Luffy looked at the spot where Raifeng had been standing.
Then grinned.
"That guy…"
"…is really interesting."
The Going Merry rocked gently with the waves.
As if responding in silence.
But none of them noticed—
Far away, on a rooftop—
Raifeng stood quietly, looking down at the ship.
The Going Merry.
His gaze was calm.
Yet deep within—
A faint trace of emotion stirred.
"This is only the beginning."
He turned and left.
Water Seven—
Was about to truly erupt.
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