The Trust Well Earned

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Elbaf...

The enchanting island that, upon taking a bird-eye view, unfolded like a picturesque Norsemen's village straight out of the vibrant Viking era. Its dwellings, streets, shops, and structures exuded an unassuming simplicity, yet they efficiently catered to the daily needs of its inhabitants.

Amidst this charm, nonetheless, an extraordinary spectacle came to light when outsiders ventured into the village. As they intermingled with the locals, their diminutive stature starkly contrasted with the grandeur of their surroundings, akin to mice scampering through a majestic mansion. This captivating sight set Elbaf apart from all other islands, earning it the well-deserved reputation as the esteemed home of The Great Giant Warriors.

Presently, inside the only ordinary-sized tavern located near the main port, purposefully built to accommodate general visitors, two figures engaged in a conversation. The familiar redheaded man took a hearty swig of beer before speaking nonchalantly, "This pretty much sums it up, Benn."

Benn Beckman, the vice-chief of the Red Hair crew, nodded with a resigned sigh as he lit his cigar. They had been discussing matters for a while now, before he inquired, "Any other pressing issues we need to address, Chief?"

But instead of providing an answer, Shanks momentarily paused and asked another question, "Do you know where the doctor is?"

"Last I saw him, he was wandering along the shore."

'Hmm... He's been doing that for two days straight since we arrived here...' Shanks mused, "You remember how he reacted after reading that news article the other day? There was something troubling him, and it seems like each passing day just keeps accumulating his inner turmoils."

Benn arched an eyebrow and with a thoughtful expression, he responded, "Yeah, I noticed that too. But to be honest, the pieces just don't fit together. From my observations, Law must have some connections to Rinascita Island and its Lord ruler, and yet he doesn't seem to have any ties to its history or people at all..."

Shanks took another gulp of his drink, shifting slightly as he continued, "I think it's time I take matters into my own hands. These mysteries won't unravel themselves, and I can't just let them keep piling up."

"Are you going to lend him a hand? Since when have you been so quick to trust someone so powerful, Chief?" Benn inquired with genuine curiosity.

"Haha... You know, the other day when we arrived here, he approached me asking about the Saberos cubs and the Guardian Tree..." Shanks recalled, a faint smile appearing on his face, "After learning that everything was well-guarded and taken care of, he gave me the notebook we had found in the Forest..."

He turned to his first mate, still grinning, "He insisted it should finally go to the man named 'Fugar'. He believed it was what the owner would have wanted."

"I may not know much about Law... but one thing is clear, Benn—he is incredibly passionate beneath that impassive exterior. Without hidden motives, his spontaneous actions to save the Guardian Seeds and those lives were nothing short of heroic. If we hadn't reached him in time, he wouldn't have made it out alive by now..." The scarred-faced captain pointedly looked at his glass as he spoke...

"So, I trust him based on his deeds, not just his words or lack of."

Then he casually raised from his seat and started walking towards the tavern's door...

"Ah, I see..." spreading a broad knowing grin, the older pirate extinguished his last cigar before he too, slowly moved across to follow his captain...

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Trafalgar Law found himself walking along the isolated shore, seeking solace away from the chaos that had turned his life into a whirlwind of uncertainty... Try as he might, his mind couldn't escape the relentless torrent of questions that burdened heavily on his troubled soul...

He had been ripped away from the battle against Blackbeard and thrust seven years into the past, to the time when the country of Rinascita was still standing. But now, even in that place of origin, all that remained were ruins, leaving him adrift in this unfamiliar time and space, no longer with any purpose or destination...

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Alone and cut off from everything he once knew, Law grappled with the harsh reality of his situation... His crew, his submarine, his allies— all gone... There was no one to recognise his face, no one to welcome him back. It was reminiscent of the time he fled Flevance as a lost, young boy, fighting all by himself to survive just for another day...

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How was he supposed to continue on living like this...?

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The biting wind swept through his slim body...as he wrapped his arms around himself, trembling with an abruptly unbearable shiver..."Cora-san...no matter how hard I try, the world just keeps getting colder and colder..." he quietly murmured, succumbing to the weight of numbness and deep sorrow...

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And yet, in that very moment, a familiar baritone voice pierced through the forlornness, calling out to him from some distance behind...

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"There you are...I've found you."

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Startled by a sudden sound, the young doctor swiftly recomposed himself, slipping into his usual stoic facade. He lowered the brim of his hat to shield his vulnerability from the newcomer, "Red Hair-ya..." he acknowledged.

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The Redhead took steady steps closer, until he halted right in front of him. He spoke calmly, but with a sense of purpose, "Let us make a deal, doctor..."

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Surprised by the sudden proposal, Law couldn't help but asked, "A deal...? What is this about..?" The unanticipated offer momentarily pulled him from his mental struggles.

Capturing the young doctor's attention, Shanks then continued, "Within this island lies a vast treasure trove of invaluable knowledge— the works salvaged from the Island of Ohara, the island which faced the same fate as Rinascita itself by the 'Buster Call.' All the books, sacrificed and passed on by Oharan scholars during the attacks, had later been smuggled here by the Giants' efforts to preserve them from the government's grasp..." The redheaded captain paused, then further supplied, "We could say that they contain everything— records of history, philosophy, medicine, science, engineering and much more...or in other words, knowledge of the world in its entirety."

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The revelation struck a chord within Law. As the redhead sharply observed the lean surgeon, he found his previously-dimmed golden eyes flickered with curiosity...'Good,' he thought.

"As I mentioned before, we might be resourceful enough to help you with what you're looking for. And I can make an arrangement for you to access into this huge library, letting you roam free to search for anything you may need." Shanks explained, before breaking into a grin...

"But under one condition, of course....that you'll have to answer three of my questions! We're pirates after all, and we don't normally give things away for free... So, will you accept this deal, doctor?!"

The gears in Trafalgar's brain began to turn... This time, his logical side could come into play, focusing on something practical...

Perhaps he could find some information related to time-travel within those vast archives?

The tiniest glimmer of hope in the darkness was enough to make him consider the offer. Yet, he glanced up at the older captain, trying to decipher his expression... Why would Red Hair Shanks go to such length to help him? To repay the debt for saving his comrade probably...?

But within the captain's returning crimson orbs, Law saw something beyond the surface—a radiant of confidence and...warmth?, as if silently and directly communicating with him...'Do not give up. There'll always be tomorrow.'

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A flash of the Red Force coming to his aid rushed through his mind. The sense of security; something non-existant in his entire life, within the supportive hands of its captain and his crew as he let himself slip into unconsciousness, had ignited something within himself that he had rarely given to anyone before—trust.

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...The trust he had learnt from the unexpected helping hands, extended to him in his most desperate moments... First, from Cora-san, and then from Strawhat Luffy, and now for the third time, it came again from Red Hair Shanks...

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A touch of warmth in the midst of bitter coldness... .

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He could work with that, and he might as well return the sincerity with his own... .

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"Alright, Red Hair-ya... I'll answer any of your questions..."

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The red-haired captain beamed... pleased to hear the younger's resolve, "Great." .

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