The New World. A bustling trade island.
The lively market was packed with people of all types, a true gathering of all walks of life. Civilians and pirates mingled in the crowd, constantly coming and going. Every now and then, small squabbles would break out between pirates, but the civilians, long used to such scenes, chose to turn a blind eye and carry on with their day.
At that moment, a man with short blond hair and small eyes exited a tavern, carrying several large bags of goods to the street. Almost immediately, some pirates took notice of him.
"Isn't that Marco, the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"What? Marco the Phoenix? That Marco?"
"We better stay out of his way; a Yonko crew is not to be meddled with!"
One by one, the menacing-looking pirates quickly recognized Marco and swiftly stepped aside, giving him a wide berth. Noticing their tact, Marco gave a faint smile, his lips curling at the corners, and continued walking forward.
Suddenly, up ahead, the sight of a large group crowding around a small stall caught his attention. Initially intending to pass by without care, Marco paused mid-step as the distinct voice of a young man rang out, mentioning injuries being completely healed and energy fully restored. This piqued Marco interest right away, given his role as a ship doctor for the Whitebeard Pirates. Without hesitation, Marco made his way into the crowd.
"Young man, isn't this just outright swindling?"
A pirate with a scar across his eye sneered maliciously. Upon closer inspection, Marco saw a young man—unusually handsome—standing behind the makeshift stall, selling what appeared to be medicine. In front of the stall was a wooden sign boasting bold words such as "Instant Recovery" and "Miracle Remedies." The young man unveiled a cloth pouch, showcasing a few small pills inside.
"What the hell? Aren't these just peas?"
"My mate's life is on the line here!"
"You dare scam me like this? Watch as I teach you a lesson!"
The scar-faced pirate roared in anger, his hand already reaching for his weapon to deal with the smooth-talking salesman.
"A transaction is a willing agreement between two parties. If you don't want to buy it, then don't. Why escalate it to violence?"
Marco calmly stepped in, extending his hand to block the pirate from drawing his sword. Basing his judgment on the young man age and demeanor, Marco deduced that the kid was likely just a small-time scam artist. There was no need for things to escalate to a dangerous level, so Marco intervened without hesitation.
"What does this have to do with you, dammit— Wait, are you Marco?"
"S-Sorry, Lord Marco! I didn't realize it was you!"
The pirate, who had been so brash and aggressive moments ago, suddenly wilted under Marco sharp gaze, his earlier arrogance extinguished instantly.
The man behind the stall, Pryce, also stared at the figure who had intervened. Recognition dawned on Pryce face. This was none other than Marco of the Whitebeard Pirates, the first notable figure Pryce had encountered since arriving in this world. That's right—Pryce wasn't originally from this world. He had transmigrated from a planet known as Earth and, by pure coincidence, had ended up in the world of pirates he loved so much in his previous life.
"Lord Marco, I swear I wasn't the one at fault here!"
"This kid took two little beans and had the audacity to charge me a million Berries!" the scar-faced pirate complained impatiently. "He even claimed they could cure any illness! Meanwhile, my mate is lying at the port, barely clinging to life!"
Hearing this, Marco felt a small pang of regret. It seemed the pirate urgency was justified, and this young vendor was clearly exploiting the situation with his sky-high price and outrageous claims.
"This medicine of mine is worth far more than a mere million!" Pryce retorted indignantly. "It's only because I'm short on cash that I'm even asking that much!"
What Pryce didn't mention, however, was that these weren't just any ordinary beans. The "miracle medicine" Pryce was selling were none other than Senzu Beans from the Dragon Ball universe, a gift from the system that had come with him when he transmigrated to this world.
Yes, the very beans capable of healing all physical injuries and fully restoring stamina with just one bite! Not only that, but the system had even granted him the recipe to independently produce Senzu Beans. Depending on the quality of the materials used, Pryce could manufacture beans of varying efficacy. The three beans in his pouch were made from the cheapest materials, as it had been his first attempt, and he wasn't exactly swimming in cash.
"How about this, kid— If your medicine works as well as you claim, demonstrate it on his injured friend. If the results are legitimate, I'll see to it that he pays you the million you're asking for."
"But if it doesn't work, then I won't stop him from dealing with you however he sees fit. Sound fair?"
Marco proposed this compromise, addressing both Pryce and the pirate. The pirate had no objections he could hardly refuse in front of Marco. Pryce, on the other hand, smiled slightly. After all, he'd been trying to showcase his product to no avail, unable to find anyone who recognized its value. Besides, Marco already seemed convinced this was all a bluff—and had plans to save the pirate friend himself if the "medicine" failed—but Pryce couldn't care less. He knew what his Senzu Beans could do.
A small procession marched toward a pirate ship docked at the harbor. From one of its cabins, a severely injured man was carried out, his body riddled with wounds, some of which were still bleeding profusely. The man groaned in agony, his pale, sweat-soaked face twisted in suffering. Pryce took one glance at the injured pirate, and the corner of his mouth curled into a smirk.
In full view of the gathered crowd, he placed one of the small Senzu Beans into the suffering man mouth. Just as the spectators were gearing up to ridicule Pryce for his nonsense, a vibrant green light began radiating from the injured man body. Marco immediately recognized the sensation exuding from the light—it was strikingly similar to his own healing ability, Phoenix Regeneration! This ability, unique to Marco, allowed him to treat most physical injuries effectively.
However, what happened next left not only Marco but everyone else utterly stunned. The injured pirate wounds began closing rapidly, with blood flow ceasing and the flesh visibly regenerating right before their eyes. His anguished grimaces softened into an expression of relief, and eventually, he let out a contented sigh, now completely healed.
Marco eyes widened ever so slightly, his pupils contracting in disbelief. The effectiveness of the Senzu Bean was extraordinary—far surpassing the speed and extent of his Phoenix Regeneration. Even his own ability could only stem blood loss and provide some relief in such a brief time frame. But this so-called "medicine" had achieved such miraculous results at a pace that was unimaginable.
Overcome with gratitude, the formerly furious pirate quickly handed over the million Berries to Pryce, now all but worshipping the young vendor. Accepting the money graciously, Pryce turned to leave, unfazed by the mix of awe, disbelief, and curiosity directed his way.
"Hold on! Come with me for a moment!"
Marco called out hurriedly, a note of urgency in his voice.
"Where to?" Pryce frowned, unsure of Marco intentions. "I still have goods to sell!"
"Join the Whitebeard Pirates," Marco said, cutting straight to the chase with an extraordinary offer.