The next morning, Luffy bounced into the docks with his usual carefree grin. A few fishermen were preparing their boats for the day's catch.

"Oi! Old man!" Luffy waved to one of them, a thin, gray-bearded fisherman coiling his nets. "Can you take me to Iron-Jaw Briggs?"

The fisherman froze. "W-What did you just say?"

"Iron-Jaw Briggs!" Luffy repeated cheerfully. "I need a ride to his ship."

The fisherman's face drained of color. "Are you insane, boy? That's a pirate! A real pirate! You'll be killed before you even set foot on their deck!"

Luffy pouted, puffing his cheeks like a child. "C'monnnn. Just take me close, I'll do the rest."

"No!" the man barked. "I won't sail my boat straight into death!"

But Luffy wasn't giving up. He kept following the fisherman, pestering him while he worked. "Please? Please? Please? Please? Pleaseeeeee?"

By the twentieth "please," the fisherman's eye twitched. He threw up his hands. "Fine! But I'm not going anywhere near them. I'll drop you off at a distance and you do whatever madness you want!"

"Deal!" Luffy grinned.

Hours later, the little fishing boat cut across the waves. The fisherman's hands trembled on the oar as a shadow appeared in the distance — a small, rough-looking ship. Tattered sails. A black flag with a crude iron jaw painted on it. Pirates.

"There…" the fisherman whispered nervously. "That's them… Iron-Jaw Briggs and his crew."

Luffy stretched lazily, cracking his knuckles. "Hehehe… time to go."

"Wait—" the fisherman started, but Luffy was already standing on the edge of the boat, stretching his arms toward the pirate ship's railing.

Luffy's eyes lit up. "Wow! You're really smart!"

He pulled his arms taut like ropes, his body coiled back. Then—

"GUM-GUM SLINGSHOT!"

He shot forward like a cannonball. The pirates barely had time to shout before a streak of rubber slammed into their deck. Luffy's eyes locked onto the man with a metal plate strapped across his jaw — big, scarred, and snarling.

The impact thundered across the ship. Iron-Jaw Briggs didn't even grunt; he went flying backwards, crashing into the mast before slumping, unconscious.

The crew froze, staring at their fallen captain. Then they roared and charged, weapons raised.

"Kill him!"

Luffy cracked his neck. "Hehehe… weaklings."

Wood splintered, fists flew, and within seconds, the dozen pirates were sprawled across the deck, groaning in defeat.

Luffy beamed. "Damn, you're so smart!"

A glowing message appeared in Luffy's vision, sparkling like a treasure chest opening.

Luffy blinked, then a goofy grin spread across his face. "Hehehe… I did it!"

Suddenly, he felt a strange rush inside him—a surge of power coursing through his arms and legs. His reflexes sharpened, his senses tingled, and a new understanding of pirate tactics flickered in his mind.

Luffy bounced on his toes, stretching his arms and giggling. "Whoa! I feel… smarter! Hehehe… this thing really knows what it's doing!"

He looked at the unconscious pirate at his feet and then at the glowing message fading away. "Time to see what else I can do with this!"

The defeated pirates tried to crawl away, but Luffy grabbed two by the collars and lifted them off the ground. "Oi. Wanna live? Then listen."

Terrified, they nodded frantically.

"Good. Tie up your captain and bring me all your treasure."

With shaking hands, the pirates obeyed, dragging sacks of coins, jewels, and whatever loot they had stolen onto the deck. Luffy slung it over his shoulder, then grinned at them. "Now take me to a ship market!"

They did as told, steering the vessel to the coast where Luffy quickly sold the battered pirate ship for 400,000 Berries.

Next, he made the two prisoners row him toward the nearest Marine base with Briggs bound and gagged at his feet.

When the white walls of the Marine outpost appeared in the distance, the two pirates fell to their knees. "Please, let us go now! We did everything you asked!"

Luffy tilted his head, then shrugged. "A promise is a promise. Get lost."

They didn't need to be told twice. They leapt into a dinghy and rowed off as fast as they could.

Luffy dragged Briggs onto the dock. The Marines on guard almost dropped their rifles.

"What the—?! Is that Iron-Jaw Briggs?!"

"Who the hell brought him here?!"

Luffy waved cheerfully. "Yo! I caught him. How do I collect the bounty?"

The stunned Marines escorted him inside, completing the paperwork. Within the hour, Luffy walked out jingling a pouch heavy with 1.8 million Berries, grinning ear to ear.

"Hehehe… this is fun."

---

The next day, Luffy bounced onto a small fishing boat with a grin that could melt steel.

"Hey! Take me to Red-Haired Matsu!" he shouted, slapping the side of the vessel.

The boatman froze. "Red-Haired Matsu?! That's… that's suicide! Why would you want to go after a pirate like him?"

Luffy scratched his head innocently. "Hehehe… I'm not afraid!"

The boatman shook his head, expecting the boy to back down. "No way. I won't risk my life for a fool like you."

But Luffy's eyes gleamed with mischief. He fished a small pouch from his bag. "Here! Take this—5000 Berries. Now we're talking business, right?"

The boatman blinked, stunned. "Wait… you'll actually pay that?"

Luffy nodded seriously. "Of course! No bargaining!"

Left with no choice, the boatman sighed. "Fine… but I stay a safe distance away. I'm not letting you die."

"Deal!" Luffy waved, hopping onto the railing like it was his personal launching pad.

Hours later, the boat approached the notorious Red-Haired Matsu's ship. The pirate vessel was slightly larger than Briggs', with tattered red sails and a dozen snarling crew.

Luffy's arms stretched, coiled like springs. "Gum-Gum… SLINGSHOT!"

With a single, massive punch, he blasted Matsu across the deck. The captain's body slammed against the mast before collapsing, unconscious.

The crew, enraged, lunged at him with cutlasses and clubs. But Luffy barely moved. His fists became a blur, knocking them one by one until the deck was littered with groaning pirates.

Luffy grinned. "Hehehe… this is even more fun than hunting bulls!"

He tied Matsu up securely, collected the treasure, and dragged the ship to the local market. The ship was in good condition, well-maintained for a pirate vessel.

The port owner's jaw dropped. "How… how did you get another ship so quickly? Are you robbing pirates like they were civilians?"

Luffy laughed. "Hehehe… pirates are fair game!"

The owner, still shocked, inspected the vessel and handed over 500,000 Berries. "Bring me any future ships you find. I'll give you a good price, no questions asked."

Luffy waved cheerfully and left, the bag of coins bouncing on his back. He sailed the captured ship back toward the Marine base, dragging Matsu along with him.

When the Marines on guard saw him approaching, one of them squinted. "Wait… are pirates… on sale this week?!"

Luffy tossed Matsu to the base. "Here, have fun!"

The Marines hurriedly secured the pirate and guided Luffy through the paperwork. Within moments, he collected the bounty and jingled the heavy pouch of money with a satisfied grin.

The marine in charge chuckled. "Come back with more pirates, after a few days. We're running low on funds, and apparently, you're very good at… sales."

Luffy tilted his head, grinning. "Hehehe… more pirates coming soon!"

--- 

Luffy bounced onto the tavern, the bags of money jingling with every step. His grin was wide enough to rival the sunrise.

"Makino!" he shouted, waving the largest sack in his hands.

Makino, who was wiping tables inside her bar, looked up and froze. "Luffy… what now?"

Without waiting for an answer, Luffy plopped the sack onto the counter. "Keep this safe for me! Don't spend it on sweets or anything!"

Makino blinked. "That… is a lot of money, Luffy. Where did you get this?"

Luffy's grin widened even further. "Hehehe… just a little hunting! Pirates, ships, treasures… you know, normal stuff."

Makino pinched the bridge of her nose, trying not to scold him. "Normal, huh? Only you could think that's normal. This is way too dangerous for someone your age!"

"Don't worry! I'm fine!" Luffy said, puffing out his chest proudly. "Besides, now it's safe with you, right? Nobody can take it!"

Makino sighed, shaking her head, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Fine. I'll keep it safe. But Luffy…"

"Yes?"

"Don't go starting more trouble. You've already done enough for now."

Luffy waved dismissively, already bounding toward the dock. "Hehehe… don't worry, Makino! Tomorrow is another adventure!"

Makino chuckled softly to herself as she secured the sack behind the bar, wondering just how much chaos that boy would bring to Foosha Village—and the world beyond.

Time to set sail?

---