"Hahahaha!"
Yamato also laughed so hard that she couldn't straighten up, her body shaking, "He said he wants to kill us!"
"Too funny!"
Black Maria giggled, "This is real, extraordinary courage."
"Impressive! Even Boss Kaido and Whitebeard didn't have this kind of bravery!"
Jack made a sharp comment.
Ian, Shanks, Mihawk.
Together, even the Pirate Emperors would bow their heads in defeat.
"Hahahaha! I can't take it anymore!"
Shanks clutched his stomach, his face pale, "My stomach hurts! Ian! Let's call it a day, I don't think I can fight anymore."
Ian's smile didn't fade, "I agree, haha, we'll talk next time."
After witnessing something so funny, how could they still have the will to fight?
Didn't you see Shanks nearly collapse from laughing?
Incredible, Mountain Bandits King! You stopped a battle that could've destroyed the whole island! Great, no need for words!
"Hey! What are you laughing at?!"
Higuma felt insulted. What were these bastards laughing at? They didn't take him seriously at all! But no one cared about his anger, the tavern was still filled with a sea of joy.
"Stop laughing!!"
Higuma yelled angrily, swinging his longsword as he charged toward the three in front of the bar.
"All of you, die!"
He wanted to eliminate those who mocked him!
"Surtur."
Ian smiled, not wanting to act just yet, so he called for his soul weapon.
"Master, is it... me?"
The fire spirit, which looked like a ragdoll perched on his shoulder, slowly floated up, its voice still timid as always.
But in the next moment, it breathed out a burst of flames, "Sorry!!"
The intense fire pillar instantly engulfed the bandit king's body, and the spreading flames mercilessly consumed all the bandits in its path.
The scorching flames blasted through the tavern's door and shot outside.
Outside the tavern, four little kids stared in awe at the raging flames.
They had just been part of an epic chase, running from the tavern all the way to the docks, only to turn around and chase back.
They happened to catch the final scene of the battle.
"What happened?"
Uta asked, curious.
After the flames dissipated, not even a trace of the bandits remained, so they saw nothing.
"Flames!"
Luffy was also surprised, "Could it be Shanks is fighting that guy?"
"Then Shanks must have won!!"
Uta eagerly ran toward the tavern.
"Of course, Ian won!"
Zoro followed closely, not backing down.
Kuina shook her head helplessly at the sight.
It was their first meeting, yet they were already at odds.
The kids ran into the tavern and froze in place.
What they saw was Ian and Red-Haired Shanks casually drinking and chatting.
"Hahaha! Truly fascinating creatures!"
Red-Haired Shanks laughed while drinking, curiously eyeing the shy Surtur, who had hidden behind Ian, "Is it also a product of your powers?"
Ian smiled, "I suppose so."
Although Aunt Linlin helped out, without his destructive fire, there would be no super-strong Homie like Surtur, right?
"Eh..."
Uta scratched her head.
"Why do they look like they're having such a good time?"
"They're already friends!"
Luffy grinned widely.
Ian slightly turned his head and also noticed the two little kids.
The singer Uta and the young pirate king Luffy.
Both are exceptional, cheat-level players.
Luffy, the protagonist of the original story, the destined child.
Uta's Singing Fruit is ridiculously powerful.
In the movie, she almost wiped out 70% of the world's population by herself, making her the most terrifying villain boss in pirate history. Even Imu can't compare to her.
"Uta is my daughter, and Luffy is the child I met here."
Shanks smiled as he introduced them.
"I'm Uta!"
The little girl shoved her hands in her pockets and introduced herself confidently, "I'm the musician of the Red-Haired Pirates!"
"I'm Luffy!"
The hatless Luffy quickly introduced himself as well, "I'm with the Red-Haired Pirates, uh..."
He thought hard for a moment.
Uta immediately laughed at him, "Luffy, you haven't even joined the Red-Haired Pirates!"
"I'll join sooner or later!"
Luffy shouted, then looked pitifully at Shanks, "Shanks, let me join the Red-Haired Pirates!"
"No, Luffy," Shanks shook his head, "You're still too young."
"But!"
For once, Luffy's intelligence took the lead as he pointed at Zoro and Kuina, "They're also kids!"
Zoro snorted, crossing his arms and replying arrogantly, "Don't compare us to you! We're out at sea with the goal of becoming the strongest swordsman!"
"Strongest?"
Luffy blinked, then excitedly grinned. "That sounds amazing!"
"Of course!"
Zoro tilted his chin, responding matter-of-factly.
But he was also a bit surprised.
I was mocking you, and you're laughing?
Ian chuckled lightly. The best partners from the original story met a decade earlier.
"Strongest, huh?"
Shanks glanced at Mihawk with interest.
Mihawk snorted, not saying a word.
At that moment, shouting suddenly came from outside.
"Ship! Where's the ship? I need a ship!"
A loud, boisterous voice, carefree and unrestrained. "Do you have a sea-going ship here?"
Shanks blinked. "Why are so many people asking for a ship today?"
A group of people walked past the broken door.
The leader was a woman with a round figure and orange hair.
She had a black-haired little boy on her shoulder, who was still struggling.
Hmm?
Ian raised an eyebrow.
No way?
Could this really be happening?
"Hey! Dadan! Let me go! I told you, I still need to go save Sabo!"
The little boy shouted.
"I've told you many times already! That kid doesn't need us to save him!"
The woman shouted back, "He's already left with his noble parents and is on a ship heading overseas!"
Oh, Sabo was taken by his parents?
Ian raised an eyebrow lightly.
"And even if we were to save that kid, we need to find a ship first if we want to get away."
The woman glanced around and noticed the tavern next to the gate had been blasted open. Inside, it was crowded with people, so she decided to step in and ask around.
"Do you know where there's a ship—hey!!!"
She didn't even get the question out before her eyes almost popped out of her head.
"Red-Haired Shanks!"
"Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk!"
"And, Ian the Skyfire!!!"
She wasn't like Higuma, who was ignorant of such things.
How could these monsters be in such a backwater village?
She staggered backward in horror, her body crashing against the wall, nearly collapsing to the floor.
Her grip loosened, and the little boy she was carrying on her shoulder jumped down effortlessly.
"Hm?"
The black-haired boy looked at Ian and the others with a surprised expression.
Ian also finally got a good look at him.
He looked younger than ten, with a face full of freckles, wearing a tank top that said "Violence" and shorts.
They had met so soon, after saying they'd go looking for him later.
Ian smirked.
At the same time, Shanks, who had clearly seen the boy's appearance, narrowed his eyes.
Could it be!
Did they finally find him?
And at the same time, the boy's eyes lit up.
"Red-Haired Shanks, Dracule Mihawk! And Ian the Skyfire! All famous pirates!"
The boy shouted loudly, "I'm Portgas D. Ace! Come duel with me!!"
Here we go again?
What's going on with kids these days?
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