Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everything felt, to put it mildly, strange. His thoughts were jumbled; there was a sense that Cale had forgotten something. What had he been doing today? The children, as always, had woken him up early. They looked cheerful, eager to show their human something interesting. There were no worries — the hunters had long been dealt with. Then, after some time, Cale found himself sitting in front of his Super Rock villa and… darkness. Those foolish gods. He couldn’t even blame the god of Death anymore. This time, a strange melodic voice echoed in his mind: "Child… I’ve long wanted to meet you. Death never allowed me to contact you. I understand him — after all, you are not only loved by him. Many wish to speak with you, even the sea itself. I wanted to ask for your help, but time is short. Your vessel is in my world — please, help my children."

The rest of the words sounded as though they were coming from underwater — nothing was clear. Cale didn’t even want to listen anymore. What the hell was this?! Why was he being sent to another world again without warning? His family would definitely be worried! Cale didn’t even want to help anyone anymore…When would they finally leave him alone?!

That unpleasant moment dissolved into the depths of darkness. Cale was still drifting, until he suddenly felt a strange jolt to his head — like he had hit a tree. It was hard to open his eyes. With effort, the young man forced them open and looked around. It looked like… a prison? Just what he needed!

“Damn it, those stupid gods! Why am I in danger the moment I wake up?”

Cale cautiously moved. His hands were bound in chains… Disgusting. There were several other children around, all trying hard to stifle their cries.

“Children?”, Cale lifted his hands, touched his face, and realized he had ended up in the body of a child — no older than 8 or 9. And judging by the surroundings, the rest weren’t older — in fact, many seemed younger than him.
“Slaves,” the word echoed in Cale’s head. It was revolting. What kind of monster would treat children like this? Suddenly, the sound of a key clinking rang out, and into the room with the cage stepped a corpulent man with a repulsive smile. The children’s voices immediately fell silent, though the occasional sniffle could still be heard as the man turned his gaze toward them.

“Good stock. I think they’ll like the variety. Especially this red-haired one — the Tenryubito love pretty children like him,” he said, his eyes landing on Cale, making his stomach turn. He wanted to rip the eyes out of this filthy animal.

“How dare you say that about our Cale, you #@”'/!!” — a familiar voice of a mad child finally soothed Cale’s nerves.

“She’s right. What is this place, anyway? Cale blacked out for just a minute, lying at the villa, and now we’re all here! I think we should burn this disgusting place to the ground.”

“Calm down. Cale, are you okay?”, the voice of Super Rock separated the two flaring ancient powers. Cale gave a subtle nod, his mind racing to keep up with the conversation of ancient powers and simultaneously trying to think of a way out of this place. But he didn’t get the chance — the corpulent man suddenly opened the cage and grabbed him. In this child’s body, there was no chance to escape safely. A child was obviously weaker than an adult. The stranger simply tossed him through the door into the hands of another slaver.

“Move the boy to the other section with the most profitable goods.”

Calling a person “goods” was horrific, but Cale wasn’t even worried for himself — he worried about the other children. He, at least, was an adult in a child’s body — psychologically he could endure it.
But those poor kids didn’t deserve such treatment. Maybe it would be more logical for Cale to focus on saving himself — but he’d always had a soft spot for children. He couldn’t abandon them.

"Looks like we need to destroy this disgusting place."

"Haha, yeah Cale, you're right!", the thief even whistled at the statement. It was comforting that in this unfamiliar world, he still had the support of his ancient powers.

While Cale stayed silent for a while, the slaver urged him forward, leading him outside.The salty scent of the sea hit his nose — it was beautiful. Fish splashed in the distance, the sunlight reflected off the water, making him squint.There was something familiar in the blue expanse, but a harsh “Move it!” and a shove forced Cale to walk on. It looked like the slavers had set up camp by the shore, keeping their "goods" in dark, moldy huts. Surprisingly, Cale wasn’t shoved into a hut, but led toward a ship. Apparently, they were transporting slaves even beyond this continent. The ship looked like a typical wooden vessel, almost medieval in style. From what he could tell, this world didn’t seem much different from Roan in terms of development. The only thing left to find out was whether there was magic here — so far, nothing pointed to it, but neither did anything disprove it.

“What a quiet kid. Usually they’re all crying. You’ll clearly fetch a high price.” Cale frowned. He had simply stopped breathing to avoid smelling this vile man’s stench, and now the bastard was getting closer. The young man didn’t want the filthy stranger touching him, so he stepped forward himself into the lower deck when the door was "kindly" opened for him. Inside was only slightly better than the hut from earlier. The walls were sturdy enough to keep the ship from leaking. The lighting was dim, and it took his eyes a moment to adjust. That’s when Cale saw the others. Chained just like him, a few women sat on the floor, along with a boy around 15, and two men — one wearing a hat, and the other hard to make out as he sat facing the wall. The women turned their gaze to Cale and, realizing he was just a child, relaxed. One of them even approached him.

“Sweetheart, are you okay? Those disgusting people even brought a child down here. Come, sit with us. What’s your name?” - Cale confidently approached the women. His small body felt weak — apparently, the slavers weren’t bothering to feed him. The women gathered around him protectively, ready to shield him if needed. That gesture warmed Cale’s heart. Even in despair, they protected the weaker ones. These three women inspired only trust and confidence.

“My name is Cale. And what about you, noona?”

The light-brown-haired woman who had called to him smiled and patted the boy’s head.

“What’s ‘noona’? Anyway, my name is Zoya. These are my friends — Sora and Mina.
Cale, I know you're scared, so if those people come, hide behind us.”

All Cale could do was nod, though he didn’t want to hide behind anyone — his body left him no choice.

“Such kind women… Even in a situation like this, they still have endurance,” Super Rock couldn’t help but admire the strangers’ resilience. Few could argue with his words.

The two males turned toward them — the teenager and the man who had been staring at the wall. They looked angry, with nearly vacant expressions. The older man gave a crooked smile.

"Another redhead — no wonder they want to sell both of you so badly. Hey, kid, isn’t that your father?" - The stranger nodded toward the last man in the hat. Cale looked at him from within the women’s embrace and blinked a few times. Even in the darkness, you could imagine how the man's bright red hair would shimmer in the sunlight. He looked young — about 22, maybe a little older.
But there was no way he could be the father of the body Cale now inhabited. At the very least, the age didn’t match.

The red-haired man slowly opened his eyes, as if he wasn’t on the verge of being sold into slavery. He yawned lazily, his whole demeanor showing he hadn’t even been listening to what was going on. But then his eyes met Cale’s, widened, and his hand shot out to point at the boy.

"Who’s this kid? And why does he look like me!?"

Cale didn’t even know what to say — especially when Zoya shielded him with her shoulder. Everything about her posture screamed distrust of men, even if they were in the same boat — literally.

"Hey, you! How can you sleep in a situation like this!? The kid’s not even the main issue! We’re setting sail in just four days! We’re going to be sold like livestock!" - The sudden outburst came from the teenager who hadn’t shown any signs of life until now. He looked panicked, his voice echoing off the walls — someone even banged on the wall in response. The red-haired man, however, just shrugged and smiled at Cale, looking relaxed and cheerful. Cale, in turn, gave everyone around him a glare that didn’t suit a child’s face. He wanted to get out of this place. He needed a plan.

"Guys, what do you think — can I use any of you, aside from the crybaby?"

"Cale, that’s going to be hard. Your core is already weak, and now you’re in a child’s body. Please don’t overstrain yourself.", the concerned voice of Super Rock echoed in Cale’s mind.
Even if he couldn’t use one of his most destructive powers, maybe he could make use of the others.

"I think Cale’s core is actually a bit stronger in this body. Once he grows up, he’ll be fine!"
Cale wanted to believe the Glutton. It was always nice to know your weaknesses were no longer such — but that wouldn’t help him right now.

A sigh came from right beside his ear as Zoya continued gently stroking his head.

"You’re right, Forest, but what can we do? Maybe the Marine Watch will help us. For now, let’s all try to get some sleep — especially Cale. I’m sure he’s suffered more than anyone."

The teenager — apparently named Forest — just snorted and leaned against the wall, a gesture the man near the wall mirrored. The three women huddled together for warmth — the sea air did nothing to comfort them and instead carried a chill. Cale pretended to sleep as well, and after a couple of hours, when everyone was sound asleep, he slipped out of the embrace and approached the red-haired man, who cracked one eye open.

“Hey, escaped from the arms of those three mother hens, huh? Don’t worry, unlike the guys behind the door, I’m not the kind who hurts kids.”

Cale stared at the stranger. There was something strange about him — no matter how calm you might be, it was hard to stay this composed when you were chained and about to be sold. Even the other, braver-looking man had been trembling slightly. Besides, thanks to experience, Cale could tell the difference between strong people and ordinary folk. So, an idea began to form in his head.

“Sir, you’re strong, right? And I bet you want to escape too?” - Not exactly the kind of thing you expect to hear from a child who looked no older than nine.

Shanks was caught off guard for a moment. Cale didn’t look scared — his eyes were filled only with determination, the kind rarely seen even in grown men. It almost made Shanks laugh loud enough to wake the others.

“Hold on, where are you going with this? Don’t tell me you actually know how to break out of here?” - It was hard to believe. One child couldn’t do much against a group of adults. But Shanks was intrigued and leaned in closer to listen.

“You were planning to escape anyway, weren’t you? I think you’re just waiting for the right moment. But that’s not so easy, is it? Escaping alone might be doable — but what about the others? I want to help them. Slavers don’t deserve mercy.” - Yes, it sounded harsh. But sometimes, it was hard to save anyone by being soft. Even Shanks widened his eyes. This kid... Where did he get so much resolve, especially having just met everyone here today? It was true — Shanks had planned to escape and help the others. Breaking the chains would be easy. But what to do about the rest? Protecting everyone and leading them out alone would be a problem. He wished his crew was here. But he'd gotten separated too suddenly.

“Wait a minute, kid. You make a good case — but why tell me about all this?”
Cale gave a small huff. It was obvious, wasn’t it? Who would believe a child if he said they needed to escape the ship? But an adult — a confident, capable one — could definitely rally a group.

“Cale… You’re shocking people again. Your ‘non-dad’ is already a little stunned.”

“I like it. Let’s burn this place to the ground!”

Yes, let’s burn it. No one has the right to treat people like slaves. Everyone deserves a chance at a peaceful life.

“Sir, you seem like someone who can be trusted. And if you're interested in hearing how we can all escape together, let’s try.” - Cale stepped closer to Shanks and began quietly explaining the plan he had in mind. The red-haired man’s brows alternately furrowed in disbelief and rose in interest as he listened. The plan was still rough, of course — but if they could get help from the others, even a small team might be enough to fight back.

“Insane. But why not give it a try? Cale, I want to believe we can do this. By the way, my name’s Shanks — remember it.”

Several more days passed, during which nothing happened. Today, however, was overcast — not exactly ideal weather for sailing. But who cared about the mood of the sea when there was profit to be made off useless slaves? That’s exactly what the slaver boss thought as he issued final orders to a few of his goons. Their group was small, but that made it easier to divide the earnings. They were setting sail today — the slaves hadn’t even tried to revolt, which was a luxury. The man believed luck was finally on his side.

“Hey, you — go check on the merchandise. Make sure everything’s ready for departure.” - The first idle subordinate nodded and headed below deck. It’s worth noting there were quite a few slaves: around 7–8 people in each of four holding rooms — nearly twice the number of slavers. But who cared about numbers when those inside were weak and desperate? Children, women, and a few men who could do nothing. The subordinate approached the first cabin and knocked. Inside, it was quiet and dark.

“Stay quiet, scum. We’re setting sail,” he muttered, then went cabin to cabin. He didn’t see even a hint of a person, but he chalked it up to the darkness — after all, there was usually at least a little light so the slaves wouldn’t scream. Now there was only suffocating silence and a darkness that seemed to stare back at him. He simply scoffed and turned to head back up… When suddenly one of the cabin doors burst open, and he was struck in the head — knocked out for several hours. A woman smiled triumphantly, kicking the pathetic slaver. Behind her stood a dozen others, while more emerged from the opposite cabin. Yes — all of them were now free of their shackles. They’d helped each other remove them the night before, after the last guard check. Cale, with the help of the thief, had managed to steal the keys and pass them around. And now, in the morning, they used those same chains and everyday items — small enough to be unnoticed — to arm themselves.

“Looks like he came to check on us. There won’t be any more guards, so we can move out.” - Zoya smiled, glancing at everyone. Just a week ago, she had been in despair after being captured by slavers. There had been no chance, no motivation to escape. It had all seemed impossible. But now, seeing how everyone stood united — regardless of who they were — tears nearly welled in her eyes. Zoya looked at Shanks, who had proposed this plan and tried to bring everyone together. But deep down, she was sure it was all thanks to that boy — the youngest here, even among the children.

“Perfect! Everyone, listen up one more time. There are only thirteen slavers left on the ship, since we’ve already taken one out. Be careful — disarm them. Don’t go near anyone with a gun.” - Shanks stepped forward, repeating what Cale had told him the night before. It was still hard to believe that the boy's plan, devised a few days ago, was working:
“We need to ask everyone what they saw when they were brought aboard — how many crew there are, whether there are other storage areas nearby where we could find weapons. We have to strike unexpectedly — catch them off guard. Honestly, it’d be best to take their guns too…”

Shanks had listened carefully to all the “madness” Cale spoke.And yet, it all made so much sense — so well thought out — that he couldn’t help but believe it. Somehow, it was easy to trust the boy.
It looked like the escape might actually be easy.

The plan was underway. The captain finally realized something was wrong — his subordinate hadn’t come back with a report. He was furious. How dare that scum ignore his orders?! He had to send another man below — but that one didn’t return either. Not in ten minutes. Not in twenty. Something was definitely off. The captain gave a signal to the rest of the crew to approach the lower deck door together. Behind it, nothing could be heard. But the moment the captain tried to open it — it slammed into his nose, sending him flying back. Slaves poured out — women, men, children — all united against their common enemy. The slavers were momentarily stunned — but rage soon brought them back to their senses.

“Shoot those pigs! Cut them down! How dare such filth raise a hand against us?!”

Bullets flew through the air as people tried to defend themselves with improvised equipment they had found below deck. There were sandbags, steel and wooden beams — anything they could use. Even the children played their part, darting between the slavers' legs, firing slingshots at them. A few furious women attacked two men and managed to wrest a gun from one of them. Gradually, the advantage began to shift in the slaves’ favor. It didn’t matter how unprepared or weak they were — they had the numbers and the unity. They had the will to survive. Above all, Shanks stood out. It was obvious he had ended up in the slavers’ hands by sheer misfortune — not because he couldn't resist. After retrieving a sword, he alone could have easily taken down every one of their captors. His movements were deadly and precise. He clearly hadn't lived an ordinary life.

A vein bulged on the captain's forehead. How dare these slaves defile him like this? He had hidden himself in a compartment while his crew was being dealt with.
Who had given these hopeless people the courage to rise against them? The man scanned the crowd, carefully taking aim at everyone — until his eye caught sight of Shanks. There it was. If he could kill the instigator of all this chaos, the rest would lose faith as soon as reinforcements arrived. He pulled the trigger.

At the same time, Cale was doing what all the children were — helping the adults from a distance. The kids even managed to trip and tie up one man. Everything was going well. With weapons and a strong fighting spirit, the people had found confidence and pushed back hard against the slavers.

“Cale, you’re doing great. Just yesterday these people were in despair, but now they’re fighting for their future.”

“You like saving everyone, don’t you, Cale?”

The ancient powers teased him, but Cale didn’t respond — he just rolled his eyes, scanning the ship. Something was strange… There were supposed to be 14 slavers including the captain. So where was the captain? Cale’s eyes widened when he noticed the glint of a rifle — and then heard the shot fired. The bullet was heading straight for Shanks. There was no way he’d see it in time. Without thinking, Cale thrust his hands forward and summoned a small shield. The bullet ricocheted off of it and clattered onto the deck. It was a miraculous sight — no one had ever seen such a radiant, holy shield. And only Shanks, shaking off his surprise, dashed around the shield and struck the captain on the head. Others quickly followed and tied him up to neutralize the threat. Shanks turned back and noticed Cale, pale and unsteady. With lightning speed, he rushed to the boy — just in time to catch him as he collapsed into the redhead’s arms. Cale coughed up a bit of blood, but otherwise felt okay.

“I think your body can handle one use of a skill like that. Good thing it wasn’t anything worse.” - Cale nodded mentally. He had hoped not to use his ancient powers, but he had been ready to do so if needed. He leaned against Shanks, making sure he was alright.

“Cale… thank you. You were the one who protected me, weren’t you? It should’ve been the other way around.” - Shanks gave a soft chuckle, ruffling Cale’s hair.
He had been scared for a moment when the kid spat blood, but strangely enough, Cale’s face quickly regained color and looked healthier — so there seemed to be no reason to worry. Cale didn’t know what to say, so he just nodded. What he did felt natural — he was sure many others would’ve done the same in his place. Tearing his gaze from Shanks, Cale turned back toward the deck. Everyone had already disembarked — now it was just a matter of dealing with the last of the slaver gang and freeing the rest of the captives. Shanks believed they could handle it, but still wanted to help. This time, though, children shouldn't be involved. If they freed more adults, starting a full rebellion would be easier.

“Why don’t you sit on the shore with the kids, Cale? We’ll take care of the rest. You’ve already done the most important thing.”

Cale raised an eyebrow, which made Shanks laugh. No, Cale didn’t quite understand what he had done. He had helped from afar, like all the kids, and had protected Shanks — but that was just a small part. Still, who was he to refuse a break?

Cale believed Shanks and the others would handle the rest.

“Silly Cale. You gave them hope. That’s what really matters.” - If Super Rock could hear Shanks' thoughts, he’d know they were thinking the exact same thing. What a coincidence.

Only 3 or 4 hours had passed before joyful and tearful voices began to gather along the shore. They had actually done it. Cale watched with a smile as some children ran into their mothers’ arms, as friends embraced and cried, and even strangers comforted one another. Everyone was trying to regroup with their loved ones. People came up to Cale too — specifically Shanks and Zoya. The woman sat down next to Cale and hugged him.
"Thank you, little angel. It’s only thanks to you that my sisters and I will be able to return home."

"You freed yourselves. If you hadn’t wanted it, I couldn’t have helped at all. Besides, Shanks did most of the work," Cale said, patting the woman on the shoulder in an imitation of a hug, while Shanks laughed behind them.

Zoya only sighed and shook her head. She didn’t understand why this child kept downplaying his role. Sure, Shanks had told everyone the plan and shown his strength, but it felt as if he were merely following someone else’s lead.

"Even so, I believe we were only freed because of you. Sadly, I have to go now. I hope you’ll return to your family too — and Shanks will make sure of it." - It was clear that many of the children had adults to vouch for them — but Cale had no one. As much as Zoya wanted to take him with her, she believed that a child as kind as him must have a family somewhere, waiting for him. Saying goodbye was hard. Cale hugged the three women once more before parting. Zoya gave Shanks a playful threat, and then they were gone. Only Shanks and Cale remained on the pier. The boy stared out at the sea — finally able to look at it freely. He and Hong would’ve definitely liked this view, even if they didn’t like water. Cale already missed his children. Shanks approached, breaking Cale’s moment of melancholy, and placed his hat on the boy’s head. It seemed like a gesture of comfort?

"Come on, I’ll take you to your family before my crew arrives."

"I don’t have any family here," the boy replied, catching Shanks off guard. Had Cale been brought from another island? Well, that meant another stop at another port. Shanks was sure his crew wouldn’t say no — just look at Cale. How could anyone abandon such a sweet child?

"You were taken from another island? Then we’ll definitely wait for my crew, and I’ll bring you home. They’re good people, I promise."

Cale almost smiled at Shanks’ enthusiasm, but his eyes didn’t show the same spark of emotion. Shanks noticed, and his face turned serious with concern. He sat down next to Cale. His expression...
His family wasn’t here. But did that mean… they weren’t anywhere? That thought hit hard. Shanks had seen plenty of orphans, and none of their lives had been easy. Who knew what would’ve become of him if Roger hadn’t adopted him?

"...Sorry. Let’s just find a place to stay for the night. We can figure out the rest tomorrow." - Cale nodded. His face was stoic — he wasn’t truly sad. He was just worried about his family.
Cale didn’t know Shanks had misunderstood, assuming that his entire family was dead. The truth was simply that Cale currently had no way of contacting them. He stood up and brushed himself off, ready to go with Shanks to the nearest town — when suddenly, he heard a strange sound. It was just like the moment he’d heard the goddess. Cale turned to the sea... it was as if it whispered to him: "Thank you..."

Shanks noticed the child’s brief distraction and looked at the ocean too. There was nothing there — but maybe Cale had seen something Shanks couldn’t? Could he really…? No. That was a rare phenomenon. Maybe Cale was just thinking about his family. Shanks ruffled the boy’s hair, causing the hat to tilt to the side. Cale looked at him in confusion.

"Come on already. Don’t lose my hat — it’s my treasure."

Cale blinked and took the hat off, examining it as they walked into town. It was… an ordinary, worn-out hat. Pretty old, but clearly well cared for. He wondered what made it so precious to Shanks? Cale didn’t question the value of this old thing — after all, treasure wasn’t only gold and jewels. It could also be memories. Speaking of treasure… Shanks had said he’d take care of Cale and suggested they rent a room at an inn — but they didn’t actually have money to pay for one. Even with a massive discount (after the innkeeper doted on Cale), no one wanted to give a room away for free. With graceful ease, Cale pulled a few crumpled Beli notes from his pocket and handed them to the older woman. She smiled at him, squinted at Shanks, but gave them a key — which Cale immediately claimed. Shanks followed behind, mouth agape.

"Cale, who gave you money!?"

He said it so loudly that Cale even covered his ears slightly. The boy quietly walked into the room the innkeeper had nearly given them for free for a few nights. He washed his face, set the hat on the nightstand, and sat on the bed. All the while, Shanks stared, blinking, completely ignored.

"What’s the big deal? While you all were gone, I climbed back onto the ship and checked the captain’s quarters again. He had some money, so I took it. Stealing from bad people is the best kind." - Cale shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Shanks couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Cale was a strange kid — but in a way, that was his charm.

"You’d make a good pirate. I can already see the World Government gnashing their teeth in the future when they hear your name."

Cale turned with interest. He didn’t know anything about this world! He needed information, and right now, the person in front of him wasn’t the most reliable, but at least he was knowledgeable. Shanks had mentioned having a crew, so at the very least, he was a sailor and knew a lot.

“Aren’t pirates supposed to be bad people?” - Shanks shook his head. That was too narrow a definition of the word "pirate." Yes, the World Government had made everyone believe all pirates were evil — but being a pirate didn’t mean you stopped being human.

“Cale, that makes me sad. Do you think I’m a bad person? Here’s what I’ll tell you: just as there are many bad people, the same goes for pirates. I see pirates as people who seek freedom.” - That made sense. Cale even mentally praised Shanks — he liked what he said. Pirates weren’t just people who loved gold and partying; they were also those who sought to live life on their own terms. Cale liked that. Maybe… maybe he should become a pirate in this world? He could already smell the money. Cale’s face instantly betrayed his excitement, though Shanks didn’t quite understand why. He liked this boy — he reminded him of his younger self, and not just in appearance.

“Hmm, so you’re a pirate, Shanks? Then how did you end up here without your crew?” - Cale rested his head on his hands. He was sleepy, but his curiosity to hear stories outweighed his drowsiness.

“I’ll have you know I’m a captain! I have a great crew, though still small. As for how we got separated… well…” - Shanks didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t exactly tell a kid that he got drunk, passed out at a table, and then woke up in chains on a ship bound for another island. That would sound pathetic. Judging by Cale’s look, he probably already suspected that Shanks had landed in the slavers’ hands because of his own foolishness. It was kind of painful to feel ashamed under the gaze of a 9-year-old. So Shanks decided to change the subject and instead began telling stories — about other islands, monsters, and most importantly, the sea. Kids liked that kind of thing, right? Shanks was so caught up in his storytelling that he didn’t even notice when the child began softly snoring. Cale had really tried to keep listening, but his young body was tired. He was hungry, but that could wait until morning. So, lulled by Shanks’ enthusiastic tales, the boy drifted off to sleep. Shanks quieted down and tucked the boy in, then climbed onto the other bed and closed his eyes too.

It had been at least two weeks since the reckless captain of Benn’s crew had gone missing — or rather, had been captured by slavers. Truthfully, no one on the crew was too worried. After a few years of sailing together, they had all learned that no matter how foolish Shanks’ actions, or where the sea tossed him, he’d always survive and return to them with a smile. Still, leaving their captain who-knows-where wasn’t a good idea. So, after finding out where the slave traders usually gathered, the red-haired crew set off. Shanks would definitely have to wait for them — some time had been spent just gathering intel, never mind the journey itself. But this morning, their ship finally docked at the pier. No obstacles stood in their way. With his usual calm, Ben divided the crew into three groups:
the first stayed with the ship, the second — led by Lucky Roux — went into town to stock up on supplies, and Benn himself, along with Limejuice, went searching for Shanks. There was no way that idiot was still sitting somewhere in a dark cell waiting for them, right? Ben had no interest in rescuing a princess — especially when the "princess" was their captain.

“Keep it down, guys. Last thing we need is to get kicked off another island,” Benn muttered, taking a drag from his cigarette, ignoring Limejuice and a few others scoffing nearby.

“Last time was Shanks’ fault,” Yasopp pointed out accurately. Shanks often got himself into trouble, but by now, everyone was used to it.They didn’t want any other captain. Enough with the small talk — it was time to get moving. The island they landed on was fairly unremarkable. The townspeople had little interest in the outside world, were easily intimidated — probably why the slavers had settled in so well here. Though now… the slavers were nowhere to be seen. Had they already left? Unlikely. More probable that Shanks had done something — or maybe another powerful figure had intervened. Well, if the instigators of all this trouble weren’t visible, then the best thing to do was head to the noisiest place around. That’s probably where their captain would be. At least, that’s what Ben figured. No one argued — although Yasopp occasionally asked the locals about a red-haired man.

“A man with red hair? Let me think… Ah, yes! He was here — and he wasn’t alone. He had a son with him. They looked a lot alike, both had such striking hair. And that boy — he’s very kind. Greets me almost every day.” - The fish vendor laughed warmly, completely unaware that he’d just dropped a bomb on the men who had, until now, remained calm. Benn even choked on his cigarette.

“A son? We didn’t mishear, did we? You said that along with the adult man in the hat, there was also a child following him around?!” - No one had expected this kind of setup from their captain. Why hadn’t he told them he was hiding a son? Yasopp especially had believed that Shanks was almost incapable of keeping secrets from his crew — especially something this important. Could it really be that not only he himself was a lousy father, but so was Shanks now? This definitely called for a drink...

“You seem surprised, gentlemen, but I assure you I’m not lying! Go check for yourselves. Today is Tuesday, and the boy is usually at the library. My wife works there, and she says he visits often and reads a lot of historical books. The child is very smart!” - The three men nearly broke into grins, though only Ben managed to restrain himself.
They hadn’t even seen their captain’s alleged son yet, but they already had a vague image forming in their minds.
Though it was hard to imagine someone who shared Shanks’ blood actually enjoying boring history books.

After thanking the surprisingly chatty fish vendor, the red-haired crew followed directions from a few kind locals and headed to the library.
Once they found the building, Benn was the first to step inside. The library was small but cozy. There were no other visitors, which made the familiar, clearly annoyed voice inside all the more audible.

“Cale, kids your age are supposed to enjoy active games, going on walks, and making friends with other children. Don’t you get bored spending hours in the library?” - Shanks was leaning on his hand, lazily flipping through a worn book. Across from him, the boy was eagerly turning the pages of a seafaring journal, not even glancing at the man. Over the past few days they'd spent together, Cale’s confidence that Shanks was a respected pirate captain had been shaken more than once. The only things Cale was truly sure of were the man’s strength… and his boundless enthusiasm.

“Shanks, I didn’t ask you to come with me. And if you want to go back to the tavern again, I’m not stopping you.” - Benn couldn’t see Cale’s smile — the boy was facing away from him — but from his tone and the way Shanks dropped his face onto the table, he could easily tell their captain had just been outwitted by a kid not even nine years old. And while Benn managed to hold back his laughter, Limejuice and Yasopp certainly couldn’t. Their chuckles caught the attention of both Cale and Shanks — one frowned, the other smiled.

“Benn, guys! Finally, you’re here. I was starting to think a mutiny broke out back on the ship after I went missing.”

“Hahaha, Captain, the mutiny will definitely start once the rest of the crew finds out you’ve been hiding your son from us!”
Yasopp stepped up first and leaned in next to Cale. The boy shifted uncomfortably but kept a stoic expression. Why did everyone assume he was Shanks’ son? Even his crew...

Benn followed, stepping even closer and giving Cale a thorough once-over.

“Sorry, Captain, our mistake. He’s definitely not your son. This boy looks far more mature than you ever will.”

Chapter Text

Do you ever get that feeling like you've made a wrong turn in life? Cale would like to say—almost always. After all, for some reason, he still wasn't a lazy bum. But right now, that feeling was so sharp that the red-haired boy already wanted to complain—and preferably about Shanks. So what exactly had happened?

When Shanks’ loud crew burst into the library (and it was only three crew members plus the captain), Cale, afraid they might trouble the kind librarian, pushed them out. Luckily, the redhead's crew had at least one reasonable man—Benn didn’t abandon the child to fate and helped Cale deal with the three noisy pirates. That alone definitely raised Benn in Cale’s eyes, and it immediately became clear who could really lead the crew.

“Cale, Benn, you’re so cruel. You literally threw us out into the street,” Shanks’ whining didn’t move anyone—everyone just laughed at him.

“Come on, captain. Let’s head back to the ship—the others should be back already. We’ll share the good news!”

It was expected, though for some reason, Cale felt a little out of place. He knew someone would come for Shanks soon—according to his stories, his crewmates were very loyal. It was nice to hear everything Shanks had been through; it was time for him to return and continue his travels—after all, pirates love freedom.
As for Cale, he didn’t know what he was supposed to do. Maybe he was lucky that Shanks had even taken care of him.

“Hey, Limejuice, hold your horses. First, Cale and I need to get our things from the inn,” and with that, Shanks grabbed Cale like a kitten and carried him back. Why did he say our things? Cale didn’t have to go with him… right? The child’s stormy thoughts flickered faintly across his face, in the form of furrowed brows and a thoughtful gaze. Shanks slowed slightly and glanced at Cale.

“What’s on your mind? Those three weren’t even the whole crew—I hope they didn’t scare you. Benn’s the calmest among us. I think you two will get along. You’re going to meet the rest of the crew, so get ready!”

That feeling again… It kept chasing Cale. Why was Shanks including him in his world? Why did he want to introduce him to his crew? Seriously, Cale had thought their paths would soon part. Why would a pirate look after a child? Cale honestly didn’t even understand what he was supposed to be doing in this world. Someone had come to him asking for help—but help who, exactly? Not just the captured people. He didn’t even have a guide, like a god of death or a family to lean on! Right now, Cale felt… empty.

“Why are you saying this? Are you… taking me with you?” - Cale’s silence lasted almost the entire walk to the inn, and only once inside did he finally ask. Shanks had just finished gathering his few belongings, so Cale’s voice caught him off guard. The man walked over to the boy and knelt beside him.

He knew how dangerous it was to take a child to sea—he had been one himself. But how could he leave Cale behind? Even if the kid had some strange Devil Fruit that gave him a shield, even if his body was weak—Shanks liked his spirit. He was sure the crew would like him too. Besides, it gave him something to brag about to Whitebeard. That old man wasn’t going to be the only one picking up kids.

“Come on, what did you think? Why do you think I told you so much about the crew and our travels? Honestly, I was sure you’d get interested! I think you’re going to be the coolest member of the Red-Haired Pirates!”
Shanks got so fired up praising the kid that Cale almost laughed. For a moment, he even forgot that his soul wasn’t much younger than the man in front of him. Shanks’ stories really were interesting—Raon, On, and Hong would’ve liked them, even if cats don’t like water.

“Cale, maybe it’s the right choice—to go with him. In this unknown world, it’s better not to be alone. And Shanks can be trusted.” - Even the ancient forces seemed to be cheering him on. Plenty of reasons to say yes, not many to say no—especially with all the treasure they could get, exploring islands and robbing scumbags.

“Your stories are obviously exaggerated, so I’ll have to come with you and see if they’re true.”
A faint smile touched Cale’s lips as Shanks smiled back and picked him up. Together, they said goodbye to the innkeeper and headed toward the port. The older man didn’t even express annoyance that Cale doubted his words. It was obvious Cale was just a bit shy. And Shanks was sure the crew would enjoy embarrassing the kid even more.

To be honest, Cale was a little nervous about how the rest of Shanks’ crew would react. He was sure they were loyal to their captain and wouldn’t go against him—but how would they respond to a child? Luckily, it seemed like Yasopp, Benn, and Limejuice were friendly toward him. All along the way, they asked him questions about his past and how he had met Shanks.

“Cale, the main thing is not to worry. Everyone on our ship is a bit wild, but one look from Benn or the captain, and they quiet right down. Not that it’ll even be necessary—you’re such an adorable kid.” - Yasopp tried to pinch Cale’s cheeks, but Cale didn’t let him and instead gave him a stoic stare. This wasn’t a pirate crew—it was a group of overgrown children, honestly. Even team leader and Choi Jung Soo never annoyed him this much. Though maybe that was because Cale was just a nine-year-old kid right now.

“Yasopp, stop embarrassing our guest.” - Benn let out a heavy sigh—he was the only one not laughing. A child was a serious responsibility, and how they behaved now would either earn the boy’s trust or lose it. Benn didn’t mind there being a kid on board—especially since the captain had praised him so highly. In fact, just seeing how Shanks treated the boy already raised the bar. The red-haired man might even become more responsible because of it.

“Well, well, while you were all bickering, we’ve already made it to the ship. Look, Cale—everyone’s here!” - Shanks waved at the crew, who responded with cheerful shouts. Cale scanned the gathered people. There were no more than eight of them—a fairly small crew, really—but perhaps that was to be expected from such a young captain like Shanks. It was already a remarkable achievement.

“Captain! So glad you turned up—we were about to start drinking out of grief,” one of them called. Several others laughed and voiced their agreement, right up until they noticed Cale standing next to Benn, looking at them with a tired gaze.

“Nope, party’s off now, guys. Captain brought a kid!” - Limejuice clapped Shanks on the shoulder, and Shanks rolled his eyes before gently nudging Cale forward.

“Limejuice is right, everyone. Today, we’ve got a different kind of celebration. The Red-Haired Pirates have a new crewmember!”

Shanks picked up Cale and placed him on his shoulders, showing him off to the crew like a kitten. The boy blushed and bopped Shanks on the head in embarrassment—for some reason, in this body, he really felt young and childish. It was hard to keep up his usual stoic demeanor.

The crew went silent for a brief moment… and then burst into a storm of questions. Shanks ignored them for a while as he carried Cale toward the ship. Cale, tuning out the chatter, began examining the vessel. It looked fairly ordinary, but it was clearly well-loved and well-used—it had definitely been through many islands.

“Guys, quit crowding me. I can’t even put the kid down so he can introduce himself properly. You’re worse than the old aunties in shops who always want to pinch kids’ cheeks.”
The teasing didn’t dampen the pirates’ enthusiasm, but they stopped embarrassing the boy and scattered around the deck. At last, Cale jumped down from Shanks’ shoulders and dramatically brushed himself off. He wasn’t quite sure how to start the conversation—it was hard when you didn’t know how a child was supposed to act around adults…And he didn’t even have a point of reference. All the “children” in his life had ended up with him by his initiative, not theirs.

“Hello. My name is Cale.”
There was a moment of silence. Cale wasn’t even sure what he had said to cause it—but then the air exploded with greetings and names being shouted back at him. The atmosphere instantly brightened.

“Cale, it’s a pleasure. I’m Lucky Roux—the cook of the Red-Haired Pirates. If you ever want to steal something from the kitchen, just come to me. Besides, you need to eat well.” - Lucky Roux spoke surprisingly clearly for someone who was chewing meat between sentences. Overall, the man gave off a good impression—and not just because he was the cook. Cale liked him. He liked him enough that his stomach let out a small growl.

“Cale, I’m sorry... I suddenly really wanted some meat.”, the Glutton’s voice didn’t sound the least bit guilty, but the fact remained—Cale was hungry. It was really just a matter of time. Lunch had long passed, and because of their sudden relocation, he and Shanks hadn’t had a chance to eat.

“Captain, how could you! You didn’t even feed the kid! Lucky Roux, I think we need to throw a feast in honor of our new crew member.” - The supporting shouts of the crew, along with Benn’s indulgent shake of the head, sealed the decision. Some of them scattered to prepare for departure, some headed to the kitchen, while others simply sprawled out across the deck to relax.

Cale himself stayed on deck, watching the pirates. They were relaxed and full of energy—the presence of a child hadn’t shaken their spirit at all. Shanks had good comrades, and it seemed they had complete faith in their captain’s decisions.

Suddenly, someone appeared behind Cale and sat down beside him, looking up at him from below. A pair of glasses rested on the man’s nose, but it was clear he was looking directly at the boy.

“I didn’t scare you, did I, Cale? I’m Snake. I’m sure you haven’t remembered all our names yet.” - But Cale had remembered him, thanks to record, and so he shook his head. The man smirked in response.
“Oh really? Good to hear. I actually came over because it seemed like you were feeling a little lonely. The guys might be loud and fun, but they can be a bit shy too. No one expected the captain to show up with a kid.”

There it was again. Cale crossed his arms, a frown forming on his young face. He wanted to burst out like a real child:
“We just look alike—he’s not actually my father...”

But those words didn’t faze Snake. He patted Cale on the shoulder and looked off into the distance.

“Even if you’re not related, it seems to me he cares for you like a father would. Just remember that. But okay, let’s drop the topic. Actually, I also came over because Shanks told me you were interested in navigation. And it just so happens—I’m the navigator of the Red-Haired Pirates.”

Now that was interesting. Cale turned toward him with genuine interest. He definitely needed to learn how to read maps—if he wanted to find all the treasures… or rather, not just the treasures. Knowing how to navigate the sea was never a bad thing—especially in a world made entirely of islands, not continents.

“Ho-ho, I can see it in your eyes—you’re curious. Come on, let’s leave these noisy guys for a bit. I’ll tell you something before dinner.”

Cale nodded eagerly and hopped down from the barrel he’d been sitting on. Despite the sudden and unexpected induction into the crew, things actually felt… good. Cale was definitely lucky to have met Shanks. He did want to know more about what was happening in his original world—or to receive some kind of help here. But maybe, for now… it was best not to dwell on the bad.

Returning to the present, Cale could now say with absolute certainty that all of his previous ideas about pirates had completely crumbled within just two weeks of sailing with the Red-Haired Pirates. This crew didn’t fit any of the typical pirate stereotypes he’d imagined as a child growing up in Korea. The Red-Haired Pirates were more like a small family who loved to throw parties. At first, such a loud and chaotic group had made Cale slightly uneasy, but everyone had been so kind to him—and even gave him space when he needed it. For that, he was truly grateful.

And now, a week later, the ship was docking at a new island at Shanks’ insistence. For some reason, the red-haired pirate had been buzzing with excitement and kept talking about meeting someone.

“Captain, we’re almost there! But you still haven’t told us what we’re doing in this place crawling with bandits and thieves,” the crew was already getting ready to dock—even Cale tried to help, although he was often shooed away with phrases like “kids should have fun, not haul cargo.” In a way, he agreed… but he really wanted to help. Thankfully, Benn had noticed his determination and offered him a small task: to retie some sail ropes (under close supervision, of course—but Cale had already gotten used to people watching over him like he might break).

Shanks was standing at the railing, gazing out toward the island with a wide grin on his face—no one knew the reason, but the sight of it was uplifting: “Guys, I told you—there’s someone important to me on this island, and I’m going to meet him.”

No one asked who it was, though Cale, honestly, was curious. He turned to Benn, who immediately shifted his gaze from the captain to the boy and gave him a slight nod—as if he knew exactly what Cale wanted to do. Cale skipped across the deck, earning a lazy chuckle from Lucky Roux, who was just stepping out of the kitchen, and stopped beside Shanks. He wanted to tug on the man’s pant leg to get his attention, but for some reason, deep inside, that felt too childish.

"Cale, you’re a kid right now—even with all your adult memories! What if that dumb goddess just wanted to give you a proper childhood?"

"I agree with the thief. You shouldn’t be embarrassed—especially when all these hardened grown men melt the moment you ask for anything."

It felt like the cheapskate and the thief were mocking him, so out of pure stubbornness, Cale didn’t indulge his childish impulses and instead sat calmly on the railing. Shanks immediately turned toward him, steadying him a bit so he wouldn’t fall into the sea. The older man had already realized that Cale seemed drawn to the water—and he was deeply afraid that, because of a possible Devil Fruit ability, the boy might drown. Shanks knew he’d never forgive himself if that happened.

“Hey, Cale. Why’d you race across half the ship just to get to me?” - Shanks tilted his head, clearly already knowing what the boy wanted.

“I’m just curious... Who is it that you’re so excited to meet?” - Cale tilted his head slightly and looked away, though he still watched Shanks out of the corner of his eye. There was a nostalgic glint in the man’s eyes… and a hint of sadness. The joy of the reunion was tinged with melancholy—but even so, Shanks smiled calmly at Cale.

“I want to introduce you to someone—he was like a brother to me. Roger took us both in. He’s probably still mad at me, but I want to see him anyway.”

Cale blinked and turned to look in the same direction Shanks was facing. In the distance, the island was starting to come into view. He didn’t ask any more questions, even though he wanted to—if Shanks wanted to tell him more, he would. And Cale already knew the most important thing: this stranger was also part of Shanks’ family.

“Well, I guess I’ll go see what those blockheads are up to—though Benn’s probably already taken care of everything. Still, I have to remind everyone that I’m the captain!”, at Shanks’ playful chuckle, Cale just rolled his eyes and hopped down from the railing. By the time his feet hit the deck, the red-haired man was already gone, so Cale made his way to the person he figured was the least busy—Yasopp. The man was cleaning his weapons, and Cale stared at them for a while until Yasopp put one aside and waved him over.

“Bored already, huh? Did Benn wear you out with his requests, so now you’ve run off to play?”

“I already finished everything. I really did want to help.”

That kind of diligence from a child made Yasopp smile—he had never thought kids could be so hardworking. Though… he could imagine his own child. Even if Yasopp wasn’t there now, he believed Usopp would grow up to be a good person. The memories of his wife and child pulled him out of the moment, and it showed on his face. He realized this when he noticed Cale watching him quietly—staring without blinking. This kid was strangely observant for his age (or maybe Yasopp just hadn’t noticed the scale of Cale’s plans).

“You know, when we dock, I bet the captain will run off at full speed to search the island for his friend. So to make sure you don’t get bored—or worse, lost—why don’t you come with me and Benn to the market?”

Cale actually liked that idea, even though he’d heard from other crew members that this island was crawling with bandits and rival pirates. But it was exactly those kinds of places that often had the most interesting artifacts, maps, and of course… weapons (which Shanks still refused to let him touch). Cale had been curious for days about what the other side of island life looked like. So far, the islands they’d visited had received them fairly peacefully—though locals were often shocked to see a child among pirates.

After Cale gave a positive answer, Yasopp patted him on the shoulder. The island and its port were now clearly visible on the horizon, so the two of them went to find Benn. The first mate was talking with several crewmates, assigning tasks to some while the others busied themselves with preparations. Suddenly, a red-haired whirlwind blew past them and jumped off the deck onto the pier.
The wind carried Shanks’ voice behind him:

“Guys, I’m leaving the rest to you—I’ll be back soon… and not alone!”

Benn could only shake his head. Someday, he would get used to all the captain’s impulsive outbursts—and maybe he’d even learn to stop them before they got him into trouble.

“That was to be expected. You heard the captain—time for everyone to get to work.”

Benn calmly lit a cigarette, but when Cale approached, he subtly moved his hand with the smoke aside and quickly extinguished it. He didn’t show it outwardly, but he was a little worried about the child. This island wasn’t exactly safe for kids. Not all pirates—especially not bandits—followed the unspoken rule of “don’t harm children.” But Benn trusted Yasopp and himself; as long as Cale didn’t wander out of sight, things would be fine.

“Well then, kiddos, let’s go check out something interesting while the captain’s not looking. Who knows—maybe these scumbags are selling some decent revolvers.”, Benn’s expression was unreadable, but his eyes were fixed on Cale. Honestly, being a child on a pirate ship, Cale would eventually need to learn how to handle a weapon. Shanks was still coddling him a little, but Cale never looked frightened when the crew cleaned or handled firearms—in fact, the look in his eyes clearly showed that he wanted to try it himself. So Benn figured there was no harm in letting the boy tag along on a weapons shopping trip.

Cale wasn’t exactly fascinated by the idea, but after living in Roan, he hadn’t seen firearms like these in a long time. Only his hyung would sometimes show off a pistol because of his spear work. And besides, looking at the Red-Haired crew, Cale noticed a lot of them used guns. So maybe it wasn’t just childish curiosity—maybe it was a real disinterest in the art of swordsmanship. He wanted to fit in with his crewmates, even though he was sure that no one would hand a gun to a nine-year-old.

“Who are you calling kiddos? You’ve teamed up with the two most mature crew members.”
Cale smirked a little at Yasopp’s boast but quickly turned away in embarrassment. Stupid kid body... Benn and Yasopp noticed his reaction—they’d long since realized that the boy often got embarrassed expressing emotions, so they didn’t press him. Benn just rolled his eyes at his crewmate’s antics, pretending not to notice Cale’s little slip, though a slight smile crept onto his face. The man stepped off the ship at a steady pace, keeping Cale in the corner of his vision. The trio walked down the pier, glancing around. Could you tell from the port alone that this island was a den of less-than-noble types? Well, if you ignored the pirate ships everywhere—maybe not. To Cale, the place was even a little mesmerizing. In just a few weeks, he had grown fond of this old world, though he still longed for news from his own. The sea sent gentle waves lapping at the dock, as if trying to comfort the boy and tell him to wait just a little longer. But Cale only ignored it.

Two pirates and one child reached the marketplace. People gave them sideways glances throughout the walk—mostly at Cale, who was riding on Benn’s shoulders. The boy clearly didn’t belong in this nest of thieves and villains, but luckily most people just stared and left them alone.

“Well, here we are. Cale, please stay close,” Yasopp said. Cale nodded in response, and the two adults relaxed a bit. Benn lowered him from his shoulders so he could stand beside them. The stall they approached was filled with all sorts of weapons—there were even beautiful swords and daggers further down. Yasopp immediately wandered to the far end of the row, though he was easy to spot.

For the first 15 minutes or so, Cale calmly walked beside Benn, gazing in awe at the rare relics. But when they passed stalls selling treasure and treasure maps, Cale got distracted and his curiosity took a sharp turn.

“I think this world has definitely affected our little Cale. Look at how childishly excited he is over all this,” the thief murmured—she herself was interested in the surrounding trinkets. Though she could tell many of them were fakes.

Cale wasn’t listening to the musings of ancient forces. He simply approached the map stall—only to be interrupted by loud shouting nearby.

“100,000 Berries for this scrap of a map!? That’s robbery! It’s barely a fragment—you should at least offer a discount for the damage!” - The man was shouting so loudly it seemed steam might shoot from his ears, and his blue hair practically looked like it was burning with fury. The surrounding pirates just chuckled at the indignant young man—no one was paying any attention to Cale.

“On the contrary, young man, the price is quite fair. This is a treasure map of this island. You see, I could find the treasure myself... but out of the goodness of my heart, I decided to sell it.”

The mention of treasure on this island stirred the curiosity of most of the onlookers. They even stopped laughing at the blue-haired man and began listening to the old sailor with interest. It was as if this was exactly what the old man wanted. With a conspiratorial look, he pulled the map back into his hands and began his tale:

“There’s a legend that long ago, a mermaid of unparalleled beauty lived on this island. Today’s fishfolk are nothing compared to her—not in beauty, and not in strength. Her tears, you see, could turn into pearls that shimmered like the sea under the sun. One day, this lovely lady fell in love with a pirate. He promised he’d return to her, so they could live happily ever after. But the sea brought sad news—the pirate had died, dashed against the rocks. The mermaid cried for a long time, so much that an entire chest was filled with her pearls. She didn’t want this painful reminder of her grief, so she hid the chest deep inside a cave. And this very cave is the one drawn on this map.”

It was a fascinating story—like something pulled straight out of a classic novel. Of course, not everyone believed it, but the greediest among them were already dreaming of that treasure chest. Bidding for the map started almost immediately.
Someone shouted, “105,000 Berries!”
Another yelled, “150,000!”
Pirates closed in around the stall so tightly that Cale wasn’t even sure he’d be able to squeeze through.

“What the hell’s with these guys? Why are they swarming this map like that…? How am I supposed to get back to Benn now?”, Cale sighed and rubbed his temples. He decided to wait and see how things played out.

“I don’t know why, but I’ve got a strange feeling,” the thief whispered excitedly. - “I always get this way when there’s real treasure nearby. Cale—what if the map’s actually legit?”, her excitement earned only a deeper furrow of Cale’s brow. The map might be real, sure—but it was so small that it was nearly impossible to read.

“Back off, you piranhas! I saw this map first—so beat it!” - The blue-haired pirate yelled angrily, kicking and shoving people away from the stall. Eyes began turning to him again—until a tall man grabbed him, slammed him to the ground, and pinned him there with a boot.

“Shut up, clown. I’m offering 230,000 Berries for the map.”
Everyone immediately went quiet. No one dared argue with that guy. Many recognized him—Gazan, a ruthless pirate known for collecting maps and the treasures they led to. So his offer went unchallenged, and the map was handed to the muscular man. But the blue-haired pirate clearly wasn’t ready to give up. Cale didn’t even notice how, but he slipped free from under Gazan’s boot and pulled out a pistol. The shot hit Gazan in the shoulder, causing him to drop the map, which was caught by the wind and lifted above the crowd. But pirates are quick to chase profit—even if it doesn’t belong to them. A scramble broke out. More people rushed in, trying to catch the fluttering scrap of paper. But the map, almost as if it had a will of its own, kept slipping from their grasp. Carried by the wind, the map drifted gently toward Cale. Of course, a stampede of pirates could crush a poor kid, and Cale was very aware of that.

“Is it just me, or is the world conspiring against me again…”

“Cale, I think it’s time for you to leave.”

“But we are taking that map! Look—it’s practically calling out to you!”

Despite the whining and concern of the ancient forces inside him, Cale carefully used the Sound of the Wind. He leapt over the pirates’ heads, grabbed the map, and sprinted away at full speed.
No one around him even registered what had happened before the boy had vanished.

“…What the hell was that just now? Did a squirrel just run over our heads—or was it a kid?”

“Doesn’t matter. Catch that little brat!” - The angriest of them all, Gazan, was furious. He considered himself the most wronged party here, and no one dared argue. The crowd scattered in all directions. Only the blue-haired pirate remained still, one hand slightly hidden beneath his cloak. He didn’t look nearly as enraged as the others.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the market, Cale ducked into an alley and tried to catch his breath. It had been a while since he’d used the ancient powers, and although he felt a headache from using the Sound of the Wind, there was no blood in his throat this time—which was a relief. He rubbed his temples and unfolded the map. He still didn’t quite understand why he had done this… but if a treasure flies right into your hands, why not take it?

“I’ll find Yasopp or Benn and give this to them… or Snake—maybe he’d be interested.”
Cale examined the drawing of the cave. It looked completely ordinary, marked only by a small “X” in the corner. But on the right side of the map, there were tiny ridges and hills, maybe even a patch of woods surrounding the cave. It seemed like those environmental markers were the only real clues to the cave’s location.

Suddenly, Cale felt something strange—like something tugging at his pant leg. He turned around and saw… a hand?

“AAAAAH! A severed human hand! Some kind of spirit must have attached itself to Cale after death! Cale, behind you!!” - The cheapskate’s reaction was so loud and frantic that it scared Cale more than the hand itself. But then, something even more terrifying happened—the hand moved. It clenched into a fist, and the long-nosed man who looked like a clown appeared in the alley. He had a slightly sinister expression, though at least he wasn’t holding a gun.

“Hey, kid. Hand over that map,” the stranger said as he swiftly approached. His cloak flared from the sudden movement, revealing his missing arm.
In an instant, his body split into several parts, as if he’d been cut into pieces. The sight was so surreal and out of line with Cale’s worldview that his hands instinctively let go of the map—
—and it fell into a muddy puddle.

“…”

“Nooooo! I’ve been searching so long for any clue about that pearl-filled chest, and now my only hope is gone because of some kid!?”

The man collapsed to his knees and began cursing the world. Cale even felt a little sorry for him. The guy looked genuinely desperate—and apparently hadn’t even been able to buy the map. His mutterings about “redheads” and “demons” gradually faded, replaced by the sound of pirates’ voices approaching.

“That boy definitely ran this way!”

“Catch him!”

Those words sent a chill down Cale’s spine. How was he supposed to escape from this enraged mob? Unless… Unless this pirate in front of him—who just now had bizarrely disassembled his own body and snuck up unnoticed—might be willing to help him escape, in exchange for something? Cale had memorized the map using Record, and with some practice, Snake could probably redraw it. At the very least, this clown guy looked a lot more reliable than the horde of angry men charging toward him.

“Hey, sir—sorry I dropped your map—but I have a solution. I’d like to offer you a deal.”

At the word 'deal', the stranger looked up immediately. His eyes were skeptical, but even through his grief, he now heard the voices getting closer. Yes—if they caught this kid, he’d definitely be in trouble. Buggy didn’t hurt children himself, but he couldn’t say the same for those guys. This kid… kind of irritated him. Maybe it was the red hair—too many bad memories—but there was something else. That look in his eyes. It wasn’t lazy confidence or carefree mischief. It was serious. A little too serious for a child. And oddly trustworthy. For some reason, Buggy actually felt like listening.

“I’ve memorized the map and can redraw it for you. But I need to get out of here. What do you say?”, Cale smiled. If Raon had been there, he would’ve immediately said: “Human, are we lying to him?!”

In truth, it wasn’t a lie. But it still felt a bit like an unfair trade. Still, what Cale had gathered from this pirate’s self-pity was that the man desperately wanted that treasure. Maybe he’d be willing to work for it.

Buggy blinked a few times… then grinned. So this kid really wanted to bargain like that? But was he telling the truth? Memorizing a map, then drawing it from memory wasn’t easy. Was it just an illusion? But no—there was something about this boy. An odd aura. It reminded Buggy of his captain. Buggy almost let himself fall into those memories, but he shook them off. Suddenly energized, he jumped to his feet and grabbed Cale under one arm. In a blink, his body soared into the air—his legs still glued to the ground. Cale was just glad the guy had believed him. And he couldn’t help but admire dominating aura. It really was the easiest way to convince people.

“All right, kid—we’ve got a deal. I just hope you’re not lying to me.” - Cale looked stoically at this lunatic who had detached his own legs so the rest of his body could fly. Was he a genius, or just completely insane? Every day, Cale found himself more surprised by the people in this world.

“Remember my name, kid—I’m Buggy the Clown! Someday, I’ll be the most famous pirate on all the seas!”

Well, that was a bold statement. And clearly, he took pride in it—even if it inspired absolutely no fear. Cale just blinked at the declaration and nodded: “I’m Cale.”

That kind of response threw Buggy off a little—so much so that he even leaned to the side slightly. This kid acted like he’d never even heard of him—and wasn’t scared at all. Buggy had been sure he’d made a name for himself by now… Cale’s stare demoralized him so much that he wore a gloomy face for the rest of the flight.

Cale was amazed at how easily they had escaped. The mob of pirates had flooded into the alley, but all they found was a crumpled scrap of paper—never noticing a pair of legs tiptoeing past, then breaking into a sprint. Eventually, Cale felt them descending, and at last, his feet touched the ground. Apparently, Buggy had brought him to the other side of the island. There, by the shore, was a small ship—it seemed the man didn’t have a crew. Buggy stomped into the cabin and made a big show of waiting for Cale to follow. But the boy just sat down on a rock and didn’t budge. A vein almost popped in Buggy’s forehead. Was this kid stupid or what?

“Get over here, brat!”

Cale looked at Buggy like he was an idiot. Obviously, even if you follow a stranger somewhere, it’s not smart to go into a confined space with them. That expression on his face made Buggy explode with rage—so much so that he fell apart into several pieces. Why was this kid looking at the great Buggy like he was the dumb one? It was supposed to be the other way around! He was older! But his desire to find the treasure overpowered his pride. Grumbling, Buggy dragged out a small cabinet that served as a table, along with paper and a pencil. Cale immediately settled in and started drawing from memory. Buggy watched him from the corner of his eye. The kid’s hands held the ruler and pencil a little clumsily, like someone who was still learning to draft properly—but it was clear that he hadn’t lied. While some lines weren’t the cleanest, they were confident, purposeful, and drawn with understanding. The map was nearly restored to its original state. Cale even paused for a moment in thought before handing it over.

“You saw this map, even if you didn’t remember it. So you can say for certain—I didn’t lie to you. It’s exactly like the original.”

Buggy scratched his chin, inspecting the map from every angle. For a kid, Cale’s drawing wasn’t bad at all. If the original map had been a bit clearer, this would be perfect. Take those scribbles on the right, for example—what even is that?

“Hey, what’s this?”, Buggy asked, pointing at some outlines of slopes and forests. Cale figured that, as a pirate chasing treasure, Buggy should at least know how to read maps a little.
In Cale’s opinion, he’d drawn it all very clearly. So when the boy once again gave Buggy that stoic stare, the clown felt like he was being seen as an idiot again. Frustration flared—he nearly ripped the map—but Cale snatched it back.

“That’s the slope of Mount Daphan, on this island. Next to it is a forest. Looks like somewhere around there is a hidden cave, with your treasure buried in its walls.”

That immediately lit up Buggy’s mood. He smugly grabbed the map and burst out laughing.

“Yeah! You’re totally right. Say—you know this island well, huh? Then it’s settled! As of today, you’re a member of the great Buggy the Clown’s crew! You now have the honor of finding your first treasure with me!”

Cale rubbed his temples. He definitely didn’t sign up for this guy’s crew. Is this normal here—just recruiting random kids? Or was Buggy just that desperate? Buggy, meanwhile, noticed the lack of excitement on Cale’s face. Were all kids these days this serious? Back when he and Shanks joined Roger for treasure hunts, they were over the moon.

“Umm… You will have a share?”

Cale’s gaze shifted, suddenly sharp. He’d already ditched Benn and Yasopp—so why not come back with something valuable? Even if Buggy wasn’t exactly the most reliable babysitter, treasure was worth the hassle.

“Cale, I think Shanks will be really worried if he finds out his crew lost you…”

“Oh come on, Super Rock! Cale and I are fine. Let’s go get that treasure! Those hens are way too overprotective—I want to travel already and blow something up!”

And just like that, the only voice of reason—Super Rock—was drowned out by the greed and enthusiasm of the cheapskate and the thief. Even Cale felt a little fired up. No matter what, he was going to get at least 70% of the profits. Of course, Buggy didn’t need to know that. A sly, almost wicked grin spread across Cale’s face. Buggy mistook it for agreement—but for some reason, a shiver ran down his spine. What could this kid possibly do? Just look at him—so tiny, wouldn’t hurt a fly. …Though he is a suspiciously good thief.

“Then it’s settled—onward with the great Buggy-sama!”

The man turned confidently and strode forward. But he hadn’t taken three steps before a rock hit him in the head.

“Why you little…!”

Cale simply pointed in another direction: “Mount Daphan is to the east. You’re going the wrong way.”

Buggy turned red from a mix of anger and embarrassment—matching the color of his nose. He stomped off in the correct direction, pretending nothing had happened. Cale just sighed. Maybe the treasure would make up for these few hours of clowning around.

The situation, as they say, wasn't hopeless—but it was a bit of a mess. Benn considered himself a fairly responsible man. But that didn’t change the fact that he had lost a child! He couldn’t even understand how it happened. One moment, Cale was standing right beside him. The next, Benn was flipping through books and treasure maps—and then, in the distance, the sounds of a brawl broke out, and a small figure darted past a mob of pirates. Benn had wanted to chase after Cale, but the street suddenly filled with goons, so he had to fight his way through—and that took time. Then Yasopp came up to him, wide-eyed, his pupils the size of coins.

“Benn… why is some clown carrying off our kid…?”

Could the situation get any worse? Not only had a gang of pirates gone after the boy, but now one of them had kidnapped him!? Benn had always thought it was only his captain who managed to cause chaos on every island they landed on—but apparently, his almost-son was already following in those footsteps, no prompting needed. Benn’s head was throbbing. He lit a cigarette.

“I turned my back for two minutes…”

Even Yasopp felt sorry for the first mate. He could only pat him on the shoulder.

“And here I thought entertaining the kid would be the easiest job...Turns out we needed a titan bigger than either of us...”, Yasopp suddenly jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder from behind. Shanks looked slightly disappointed, like a child who expected a gift but didn’t get it. Although that wasn’t the main issue here. Because someone had to break it to the captain: his son had been kidnapped!!

“Benn, Yasopp. You won’t believe this—I couldn’t find Buggy. Seems like he’s avoiding me. And I went through every place that might interest him. He couldn’t have left the island. I really wanted to introduce him to Cale,” Shanks said, almost theatrically leaning on Yasopp, who by now was sweating buckets, waiting for the moment the captain realized something was off. And speak of the devil—Shanks glanced around and ran a hand through his hair, puzzled.

“By the way, why don’t I see Cale?”

And so, the moment arrived. The moment the whole island might be reduced to rubble. Shanks had already been on edge these past few weeks every time Cale wandered out of sight. And now that he had finally entrusted the boy to his crew—they lost him. Benn took a slow drag from his cigarette. He wasn’t afraid of the captain—no, he was more worried about the kid.

“Captain... some clown took Cale. We need to find them before the rest of the scum catch up to him.”

The explosion they expected didn’t come. Instead, Shanks just looked surprised.

“A clown? Wait, did he have blue hair and a red nose by any chance?”

The two men blinked and nodded slowly in confusion. Did the captain know this clown? Apparently, yes—because a second later, Shanks let out a laugh… then a groan of disappointment. Benn couldn’t help the twitch of his eyebrow at the absurdity of the situation.

“Why did Cale meet Buggy before I did!? I was the one who was supposed to introduce them!”

So apparently, that Buggy—the clown who kidnapped the kid—was the same Buggy their captain had been looking for. And even though the guy had abducted a child, Shanks was bizarrely calm about it. Which couldn’t be said for Benn or Yasopp.

“What are you staring at me like that for? Sure, Buggy can be a little… unreliable, but I’m sure he’s good with kids. We’ll find them soon enough, and once Buggy finds out he has a nephew, he’ll be over the moon!”

For some reason, Benn didn’t quite believe that. Even though he trusted the captain’s judgment, his concern for Cale didn’t really fade. Still, it was at least a bit of a relief—this Buggy probably wouldn’t harm the boy.

“Yeah, all that’s left now is to tell Shanks that his kid swiped a treasure map like a sly little weasel, got chased by a dozen pirates, and—knowing Cale’s love for treasure—he’s probably gone off looking for it.” - Benn sighed and finished his cigar, musing aloud to Yasopp, since Shanks had wandered off again.

“So now we’ve got two red-haired guys who get into trouble? You think the whole crew can handle both of them…?”