On the dirt-paved streets of Windmill Village.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Zyhark. How come your shop isn't open today? I heard you've developed a new braised bird dish, and I wanted to bring the kids to try it."
"Sorry about that, I had some matters to attend to today. You can come by tomorrow."
"Mr. Zyhark! I heard those bandits caused a commotion in your shop yesterday. Are you alright? Didn't get hurt, did you?"
"No worries, just a few bandits. I've dealt with fifty-six of them back in my hometown!"
"Giggle~, Mr. Zyhark, you always have been quite the joker~"
"Speaking of which, I wonder when Mr. Garp will be back. Recently, those bandits have been getting more and more rampant."
"Who are those two odd kids behind you? Are they distant relatives like that somewhat off young lady?"
...
Ace and Sabo followed Zyhark with caution, observing the villagers' warm greetings and feeling their guard slowly dropping.
At least the formidable man before them wasn't lying; he did have a good reputation in this village.
But what's with being called "odd kids"?
They were men fighting hard for their dreams!
Feeling out of place and too stubborn to argue back, the two kept quiet.
As they neared the restaurant, Zyhark, despite the smiles, couldn't help feeling a bit worried.
After all, Aqua, the so-called genius, was still inside. Any careless word from her could arouse Ace and Sabo's suspicion, potentially ruining the morning's efforts.
With this concern, Zyhark stopped in front of his restaurant and slowly pushed open the firmly closed door.
Intending to signal Aqua before she could speak, he found the hall eerily silent, with no sign of Aqua.
After searching around, Zyhark finally found the familiar shade of aqua blue in a nondescript corner.
There, Aqua sat in self-imposed isolation, her knees drawn up to her chest, her once bright eyes now dim, resembling a wilted cabbage.
Approaching her, Zyhark noticed a small bump on her head, symmetrically matching the one he received from the steel pipe.
"What's wrong, Aqua?" Zyhark crouched down to inquire.
Hanging her head low, Aqua sounded defeated, "I went out for a walk and got beaten up."
"Huh? What happened? The people in the village are very friendly. Didn't you mention my name?" Zyhark was puzzled.
He had anticipated Aqua might stir up trouble and specifically instructed her to use his name if necessary, hoping to prevent the villagers from mistaking her for a stranger with mental issues.
Yet, she was still beaten up?
Hearing this, Aqua looked up at Zyhark with resentful eyes, taking a moment before responding.
"I did mention your name, and that's exactly why they beat me up!"
"Um..." Zyhark's mouth twitched.
He was well-liked in Windmill Village and didn't have any enemies. If anyone disliked him...
Zyhark quickly figured out the reason.
"Did those people have white bandanas on their heads, swords at their waists, and a fierce look on their faces?"
Damn it, Zyhark, so you do know them!
Aqua's gaze grew even more sorrowful upon confirmation.
"Ah, ha, ha, there must be some misunderstanding."
With Ace and Sabo listening, Zyhark couldn't admit those were the bandits he borrowed money from, so he awkwardly laughed it off.
"Here's what we'll do. As compensation, Aqua, I'll cook you my specialty dish, egg and beef fried rice!"
Aqua pouted, unconvinced.
A mere fried rice dish couldn't heal the wounds of her bruised ego.
-A few minutes later.-
"Delicious!"
"Zyhark, I didn't expect much from you, but this is actually quite good!"
Revitalized, Aqua held her bowl high, devouring the rice, her face covered in grains.
"What an odd woman. She looks so elegant, but eats like this."
Sabo, raised in a noble family and taught dining etiquette from a young age, muttered under his breath.
"Right, Ace? Eh, what?!"
Turning to Ace to comment, Sabo was shocked by the sight before him. Ace's eating was even more exaggerated than Aqua's, devouring a whole plate of fried rice in seconds.
"What's up, Sabo?" Ace, licking his lips, had never tasted such delicious fried rice before.
"Nothing, never mind." Sabo scratched his head.
Was it really that good?
Tentatively tasting his own fried rice, Sabo's face lit up with a happy smile.
Indeed... it was delicious!
Thus, the three greedy eaters asked for another serving of the same fried rice.
Zyhark, of course, didn't refuse and quickly went back to the kitchen to cook.
After eating their fill, Ace and Sabo stood up, leaving a package they had been carrying on the steel pipe.
Inside were the treasures they had collected over the past two years.
Clearly, they had begun to trust Zyhark, who affirmed their dreams of setting sail, cooked delicious food, and was overwhelmingly strong.
"For the meal, I'll just deduct from here," Zyhark casually pointed to the hefty package.
"Weren't you treating us?!" Ace and Sabo were startled.
"There's no such thing as a free lunch," Zyhark quoted a timeless truth.
"Why doesn't she have to pay?"
Ace pointed indignantly at Aqua, still wiping her mouth on the stool.
"She's technically a staff member of the shop." Zyhark replied warmly, showing tolerance towards Aqua.
Not that he had much choice. No one knew better than him that she didn't have a penny to her name.
Hearing this, Ace fell silent, begrudgingly accepting the situation.
Then, changing the subject, he asked, "So, when do we come to collect our share of the money?"
"Next month. We'll settle accounts monthly."
"Alright!"
With that, Ace slung the steel pipe over his shoulder and, along with Sabo, left the restaurant.
This wasn't their usual stomping ground.
Leaving the restaurant and walking the streets of the village, blond-haired Sabo couldn't help asking, "Ace, although that guy doesn't seem like a bad person, wasn't it a bit rash to just hand over our treasure?"
Ace scanned their surroundings cautiously before replying, "He's strong and knows our secret. We had no bargaining power."
Recalling the oppressive feeling of Zyhark's indifference to their attacks, Ace clenched his fist tighter.
"Weaklings have no right to speak, Sabo. We need to become stronger!"
"Of course!" Sabo responded with a firm and bright smile.
In their conversation, they didn't notice a young boy humming a strange (and quite terrible) song, briskly passing by.
Little Luffy, attracted by the scent of fried rice from afar, also failed to recognize the Ace and Sabo he brushed past.
The bright sunlight cast long shadows on the street, stretching the ASL brothers' silhouettes far and wide.
Like shadows meeting and intertwining at the end, the three would soon come to know each other through fate's design.
(End of Chapter)