Chapter 8: The Swordsman of Shells Town

The salty wind carried us toward our next destination—Shells Town. The small raft drifted steadily as the sun climbed higher, painting the sea with golden hues. Koby sat nervously at the edge, his fingers gripping the side as he watched the waves. Nami, sitting cross-legged near the sail, seemed lost in thought, occasionally glancing my way as if still trying to figure me out.

"Luffy, why are we heading to Shells Town anyway?" Koby asked, breaking the silence.

I grinned, the excitement bubbling in my chest. "To find a swordsman! I heard there's someone really strong there. His name's Roronoa Zoro. If we're going to the Grand Line, I'll need a crew."

Nami scoffed. "And you're just going to walk into a Marine base and recruit someone famous for being a bounty hunter? You do know he's probably locked up for a reason, right?"

I just smiled wider. "He'll join. I can feel it."

By midday, the massive Marine base loomed in the distance, white towers rising against the sky. We docked the raft quietly near the outskirts, careful to avoid drawing attention. As we approached the town, we heard rumors floating among the townspeople—about a pirate hunter who'd been chained to the yardarm for weeks, sentenced by Captain Morgan for defying him.

Curiosity burning, I made my way toward the Marine courtyard. There he was—Zoro, the pirate hunter. A tall, muscular man with short green hair, his arms bound tightly to a wooden post. His face was shadowed by the sun, but his fierce, unwavering gaze met mine the moment we entered.

"Oi, you're Roronoa Zoro, right?" I called out.

He narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

I grinned. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy! Join my crew!"

Zoro blinked once, then snorted. "You're kidding, right? I'm not some pirate. I hunt them."

Koby pulled on my sleeve. "Luffy, maybe we should—"

I ignored him, stepping closer. "I heard you're strong. And I need strong people. I can free you."

Zoro's gaze hardened. "I don't need saving. I made a promise."

Before I could respond, a loud voice echoed across the yard. "HEY! What are you brats doing here?!"

Captain Morgan's men stormed forward, weapons raised. Zoro's expression didn't change, but I saw a flicker of recognition as I shifted into a fighting stance.

"I'll handle this," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Zoro, when I'm done, you're coming with me."

The battle for Shells Town was about to begin.