The port town hummed with tension. The Solar Rift Pirates had only been on the island for an hour, yet their presence already had the underworld in a frenzy. Shopkeepers whispered, dockworkers looked down, and pirates in taverns looked at the wanted posters with a mix of horror and ambition.
For Solian and his crew, this was quickly turning into an unnerving pattern.
A Market of Thieves and Opportunists
The streets were filled with traders shouting prices, bumping carts filled with exotic fruits, dried meats, and weapons of questionable quality. The market was full, but the mood had shifted—there could be no questioning the way the traders looked at them suspiciously.
"I don't like this," Kael muttered as he walked alongside Solian. His rusted sword rested on his shoulder, a blatant threat to anyone with malice. "Too many eyes. Too much quiet."
Jorin grinned, tossing a coin to a merchant as he grabbed an apple. "Come on, Kael. We've got bounties now! We're famous!"
Kael shot him a glare. "Being famous gets you killed."
As if to prove Kael right, a burly pirate with a scarred face stepped onto their path, blocking their way.
"You're the Solar Rift Pirates," the man said, voice gruff. His crew of six men flanked him, hands resting on cutlasses and flintlock pistols. "You took down Dagon, huh?"
Solian didn't respond.
The man snarled, glancing at the wanted posters one of his men was carrying. "I ain't stupid enough to start a fight here, but you should know—there's a lot of people very interested in you people."
"Yeah?" Vance said, crossing his arms. "And what kind of people would that be?"
The man chuckled. "People who might wanna work with you… or people who wanna see if you're as strong as those numbers say."
Solian held his gaze for a moment before stepping forward. "We're not looking for trouble. Just supplies."
The man laughed. "That's the thing about names, Captain. Once people know you, trouble finds you."
With that, the scarred man and his crew walked away, vanishing into the crowd.
Kael sighed. "I hate when I'm right."
Rock Lee Draws Attention
While the others gathered supplies, Rock Lee stood in an open courtyard, watching a group of pirates practicing their swordplay.
A few locals noticed him—his outfit, his posture, his lack of weapons. They whispered, wondering why someone traveling with a crew of infamous pirates had no sword, gun, or Devil Fruit abilities.
"Hey, stranger," one of the pirates called out. "You fight?"
Lee turned, nodding confidently. "I do!"
The pirate snarled, advancing. "Barehanded, eh? Not usual in these waters." He raised his wooden practice sword. "How about a friendly match?"
Lee smiled. "A true martial artist accepts any test of skill!"
A crowd gathered. The natives were curious. Lee had no bounty, no reputation, unlike the rest of the Solar Rift Pirates. Yet there was something about the way he stood… his confidence… that made them hesitate.
The pirate struck, sword flashing.
Lee dodged easily, shifting his weight to the side and letting the blade whip inches from his chest. The pirate struck again. Lee dodged. Another blow. Lee sidestepped.
To onlookers, it was bizarre—he wasn't blocking, wasn't counterpunching. He was simply moving too fast for the pirate to strike.
Then, in an instant, Lee struck.
A single kick in the chest of the pirate and he flew backward into a pile of barrels. The crowd gasped.
One old veteran fighter in the crowd muttered, "That's no ordinary man."
Lee turned and bowed. "Thanks for the fight!"
The crowd was silent, staring at him like he was a specter. Then the murmurs started.
".Did you see that?"
".He didn't even need a weapon!"
".Maybe his bounty isn't set yet."
".What is he?"
Solian, who was watching from the sidelines, sighed. "So much for laying low."
The Marines Decide What to Do Next
Far from the island, in a Marine base concealed along the West Blue, reports were being delivered.
A tall man in a Marine coat, his uniform starched despite the dimly lit office, pored over the bounty reports. Vice Admiral Volcus leaned forward, his eyes poring over the names carefully.
The Solar Rift Pirates had arrived on the island. Already, the locals were talking about them in whispers. Even Rock Lee, the enigmatic combatant, was beginning to cause rumors.
Volcus smiled.
"They're taking the bait," he muttered to himself.
A Marine officer swallowed. "Sir, shall we assemble a unit?"
Volcus shook his head. "Not yet. Let them think they're safe."
A second officer stepped forward. "Our intelligence suggests they're headed for the Grand Line."
Volcus nodded. "That's where we'll strike."
He tapped a finger on Solian's wanted poster.
"Let them grow strong. Let them grow confident." His smile widened. "It'll make annihilating them all the more satisfying."