"My treasure? If you want it, I'll grant it! Search on! All the world had to offer, I left in that place!"

On the execution platform, the man known as the "Pirate King" declared loudly. Before his words could fade, he was pierced by two long naginatas, leaving behind a statement that would influence the decades to come and usher in the Great Age of Pirates.

"To think this is actually the world of One Piece... What should I do?" thought Ethan Voss, a boy with the appearance of a five-year-old, his heart filled with unease.

...

A month ago, a programmer who had died from staying up too late, found his soul transmigrated into the body of a five-year-old boy named Ethan Voss, who had survived a shipwreck by floating on a barrel. He was rescued by a passing ship and sent to an orphanage in Loguetown.

After a few days of confusion, Ethan calmed his initial panic and began to ponder where he had ended up. It wasn't until he saw a newspaper headline—"Pirate King Gold Roger to be Executed in Loguetown in One Month!"—that he realized he was in the world of One Piece.

At that moment, a thought crossed his mind: "No wonder everyone here looks so... unique."

Having gone through twelve years of compulsory education, how was he supposed to survive in this dog-eat-dog world? And how could he possibly make a fortune in a world ruled by pirates?

Ethan, who often left comments on a novel app joking about the "orphanage trope," couldn't help but sigh, "Now I'm part of that 'orphanage trope' too."

...

With the Pirate King's execution drawing near, crowds flocked to witness the event. To prevent any disturbances or attempts to rescue the condemned, the Marines imposed strict security measures. The orphanage director also decided to lock down the facility temporarily. However, determined to witness the pivotal moment that would kick off the Great Age of Pirates—and perhaps to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure—Ethan didn't hesitate to sneak out through a hidden hole in the orphanage wall.

As he watched the Pirate King's execution, Ethan couldn't help but marvel, "There really are people who can face death with a smile."

Having witnessed the death of the Pirate King and the dawn of the new era, Ethan hurried back through the pouring rain, his mind racing. He thought about how several future Warlords of the Sea were likely present. He had only caught a glimpse of the towering Gecko Moria—he looked way more intimidating than the shut-in he becomes after meeting Luffy.

He wondered where the future greatest swordsman, "Knife Education Enthusiast," Dracule Mihawk, who could slice through icebergs with a single strike, might be.

Or Crocodile—the "man" who got jobbed by Luffy's plot armor too early and spent years unemployed, later blackmailed by Okama King. The "Sand-Sand Fruit User Who Can 50-50 Anyone" and self-proclaimed "Equal Standing King."

And what about the future underground broker, the mastermind who played both sides, the man with the eerie laugh—Donquixote Doflamingo? Where was he?

But if I were to seek them out now, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

Then there were Red-Haired Shanks—user of the "Face-Face Fruit," future Straw Hat babysitter, and mentor to the next Pirate King—and Buggy the Clown, the luckiest man alive who had somehow eaten two Devil Fruits—the Chop-Chop Fruit and the "God of Fortune Fruit." Those two were probably hiding somewhere, crying their eyes out.

When Ethan returned to the orphanage, as expected, the kind but strict director discovered his escape and punished him with a month of sweeping duties.

"I remember it was '100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run every day, with no air conditioning no matter how hot it gets' that turned Saitama into the One-Punch Man," Ethan mused as he swept the floor, daydreaming about his own potential.

"Too bad I'd have to go bald, but whatever," Ethan thought, already resigned to the "receding hairline" and "bald spot" lifestyle he had embraced as a programmer. "Who hasn't had hair at some point? Farewell, my luscious locks."

Three years later...

"Something's not right. Why haven't I gotten stronger? Why hasn't my hair fallen out?" Ethan, who had been mercilessly harsh on his hair, remained oblivious. He had diligently followed his "One-Punch Man" training regimen for three years, dreaming of becoming a hero who could defeat anyone with a single punch. In a misguided attempt to prove himself, he tried to take on the orphanage's 12-year-old bully, Hoth, only to be beaten so badly that he was unrecognizable.

Due to his unique training methods, Ethan stood out like a sore thumb among the other orphans, earning him the reputation of being the "weird kid." Though he proudly called it his "chunibyo spirit," no one else bought it.

Another five years passed...