Chapter 6: The Path to the Grand Line
The sun had just started to dip below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the quiet village of Foosha. Despite the chaos of the past week, the villagers had slowly begun to rebuild, their spirits undeterred. The Red-Haired Pirates were preparing to leave, the ship's sails billowing in the wind as they made ready for the next leg of their journey. Luffy and Lucky stood on the docks, watching the pirates, their minds full of thoughts of adventure.
"Lucky, do you think we can join their crew?" Luffy asked eagerly, eyes shining with excitement.
Lucky glanced at his younger brother, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I don't know, Luffy. It's not that simple."
Luffy didn't seem to care about the answer. "I'm going to be the King of the Pirates, Lucky! Just wait and see!"
Lucky chuckled, his gaze still on the ship. "You'll have to get a lot stronger first, little brother."
Luffy's eyes flashed with determination. "I'll get stronger! I'm gonna be just like Shanks!"
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from behind. It was Coby, the young boy from the village, panting heavily as he ran toward them.
"Luffy! Lucky! Wait up!" Coby called out, waving his arms.
"What's going on, Coby?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.
Coby stopped in front of them, his face flushed with excitement. "The Marines are coming! They'll be here tomorrow, and they're looking for recruits!"
Luffy's eyes lit up. "The Marines? That's awesome! We should join them, right, Lucky?"
Lucky narrowed his eyes slightly. "The Marines... that's interesting."
Coby nodded enthusiastically. "They'll be passing through Foosha Village on their way to the Grand Line. They're recruiting people for the military. This could be your chance to go on an adventure, Luffy!"
Luffy jumped up and down, already imagining himself in a Marine uniform. "Yes! Yes! I'm going to join them!"
Lucky sighed, but a faint smile remained on his face. "Hold on, Luffy. It's not that simple. The Marines are powerful, but they're not always as good as they seem. We need to be careful."
Luffy stopped bouncing and looked at his brother, confused. "What do you mean?"
Lucky's eyes narrowed as he watched the setting sun. "There's more to the world than just being a pirate or a Marine. We have to learn what's really going on out there—especially when we're dealing with power like that."
Before they could discuss further, a sudden commotion from the docks grabbed their attention. A ship was coming into port, one that wasn't a pirate ship, nor was it the Marines. It was sleek, fast, and well-maintained—like something the highest-ranking officers would sail on.
The crew aboard the ship was equally intimidating. Tall, imposing figures, their eyes sharp with intelligence, disembarked onto the dock with quiet confidence. The leader of this group—a tall man with long, dark hair and a long coat—walked toward them.
Luffy blinked in confusion. "Who are they?"
Lucky's expression hardened, his instincts telling him this was no ordinary group. "Pirates, but not the kind we're used to."
The man stopped in front of Lucky, his sharp eyes locking onto his. "So you're the one, huh? Lucky Luafalemana. I've been looking for you."
Lucky stiffened slightly but didn't step back. "And why's that?"
The man smiled, though it didn't reach his cold eyes. "I have a proposal for you. Something that could change everything. For you... and for your brother."
Luffy looked between the man and Lucky, sensing that this encounter was about to shape their journey in ways they couldn't yet understand.
"What do you mean?" Luffy asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
The man's gaze flicked to Luffy, then back to Lucky. "It's not just about pirates or Marines. There's something bigger. Something much bigger than either of those things."
Lucky's mind raced. Whoever this man was, he was not someone to take lightly. This could be the opportunity they'd been waiting for... or the trap they hadn't seen coming.
He stepped forward, his gaze never leaving the stranger's. "We're listening."