East Blue's calm waters shimmered under a gentle breeze. A sleek single-masted ship carved through the waves, its white sheep's head figurehead gazing forward. Beneath the main mast, a shirtless man in yellow overalls waved energetically at a passing newspaper seagull. His black curls bounced as he gestured, clearly signaling his intent to buy.
The seagull alighted gracefully on the ship's railing, tapping its wing against the price tag on its bag: one hundred Berries per copy.
With a grumble, the long-nosed man dug into his pockets for coins. "It's been days since we beat the Krieg Pirates," he muttered, "so where's my wanted poster as Captain Usopp?"
Perched on the sheep's head figurehead, Luffy twisted around, his straw hat tilting precariously. "Hey!" he protested, voice tinged with irritation. "Let's get one thing straight, Usopp. On this Merry Go, I'm the Captain, got it?"
Usopp rubbed his nose, puffing out his chest. "Without my navigation skills," he boasted, "you and Zoro would be lost fish in this vast ocean."
Truth be told, Usopp had grown up in Syrup Village with no special talents to speak of. Sure, he could hit a target with his slingshot, and he had a knack for spinning tall tales, but that was about it. Three years ago, an old man arrived in the village—a seasoned navigator who'd braved the Grand Line.
The old man saw something in Usopp, declaring him a natural navigator with the makings of a brave sea warrior. For two and a half years, he taught Usopp everything he knew, drilling him in the fundamentals of navigation until he mastered them.
A week ago, fate brought Luffy and Zoro to Syrup Village, where they crossed paths with the Krieg Pirates. Together, the trio took on Krieg's fleet of five thousand, sending the so-called 'East Blue Admiral' running for the horizon.
Of course, Usopp's role in the battle was more... supportive. While Luffy and Zoro unleashed their full power, Usopp cheered them on from the sidelines, shouting encouragement. But those details weren't worth dwelling on.
Luffy grinned, adjusting his hat. "You're right about the navigating part," he conceded. "But I have to be Captain. I made a promise to someone..."
"How about this," he offered, "you can be Vice-Captain."
Usopp stroked his chin, feigning reluctance. "Well, if you insist, Lord Usopp will graciously accept the position." He unfolded the newspaper, eager to see the day's headlines.
Two wanted posters fell out, landing face-up on the deck. Usopp's eyes widened. "Eh?! Luffy! Zoro! You're both on wanted posters!"
"Really? That's awesome!" Luffy leapt from the figurehead, bounding over to snatch the poster with his face on it. He squinted at the numbers, counting aloud. "Ones, tens, hundreds... ten millions... fifty million Berries! Hahaha! I never thought I'd be worth so much!"
Zoro, who'd been dozing against the railing with his three swords at his side, cracked one eye open. Curious, he pushed himself up and sauntered over. "Let me see," he said, reaching for his own poster.
"Zoro, yours seems to be forty million Berries," Luffy said casually, glancing at the poster. He held up his own bounty with a triumphant grin, waving it in Zoro's face. "Ten million less than mine!"
Zoro glanced down at the wanted poster in Usopp's hands, his own face staring back at him. A satisfied grin spread across his face. "Forty million Berries? Not bad at all..."
Usopp's hands trembled as he held the poster. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. His voice quivered as he corrected Zoro, "It's... it's not forty million! Open your eyes and look—ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions, ten millions, hundred millions! Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro's bounty is four hundred million Berries!"
Luffy's jaw dropped. He shot Zoro a disgruntled look. "What? Why's there such a huge gap between my bounty and yours?"
Usopp scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe it's because Zoro was a Pirate Hunter? He's got a reputation. Before I met him, I heard all sorts of stories—like how he hunted down pirates on the Sabaody Archipelago."
"Sabaody Archipelago?" Luffy tilted his head, curiosity lighting up his eyes. "What's that place?"
Zoro scratched the back of his head, frowning. "How should I know? Maybe it's some island I passed through after leaving Shimotsuki Village three years ago. I don't really remember..." He paused, his expression turning slightly puzzled. "Though I do recall a few tough guys showing up looking for revenge. They mentioned something about me killing their comrades there."
Truth be told, ever since Zoro started working as a bounty hunter three years ago, strange people had been coming after him. Some were even masters of two types of Haki, traveling all the way from the Grand Line to the East Blue just to challenge him. A few times, he'd barely managed to defeat them using every ounce of his strength.
If it hadn't been for the three Great Grade swords Kouzaburou forged for him, and the Ryuo fighting technique he'd learned, he didn't know how he would have survived those battles. The experience gave him a deep respect for the dangers of the bounty hunter profession.
Yet, despite it all, Zoro continued wandering as a bounty hunter, seeking out strong opponents. What else could he do? Swordsmanship was the only skill he had to make a living.
A loud growl interrupted his thoughts. Luffy clutched his stomach, his expression pitiful. "I'm starving! Usopp, make me something to eat!"
Usopp threw up his hands in exasperation. "I'm not a cook, you know! Why do you two keep expecting me to handle meals every day?" Despite his complaints, he shuffled into the kitchen to start preparing food.
Luffy's eyes lit up as though struck by a sudden epiphany. He clapped his hands together. "That's it! What's a crew without a cook who can whip up delicious food?"
He grinned, determination shining in his eyes. "I've decided... the next crewmate, I'll find a cook!"