One Piece: The warrior of Justice

Hatchan and Jinbei

Deep beneath the ocean, in the tranquil currents of the Fish-Man District, Hatchan waved goodbye to Jinbei, the stalwart Warlord of the Sea. The undersea currents carried the news slower than on the surface, and as Jinbei handed Hatchan a folded poster, his expression was unreadable.

Hatchan opened the poster eagerly, his wide grin lighting up the surrounding waters. "Look at this! It's him!" Hatchan exclaimed, showing the bounty poster of Gadgil D. Atharva.

"For his first bounty to be 100 million... He must've done something big in the East Blue!" Hatchan added, his excitement bubbling over.

Jinbei, however, remained quiet, his sharp eyes fixed on the poster. His thoughts churned. Could this boy be the one we've been waiting for?

"Hatchan," Jinbei finally said, his tone cautious, "this is no ordinary feat. The World Government doesn't hand out such bounties lightly."

But Hatchan, too thrilled to wait for Jinbei's response, started swimming upward. "I'm going to find him and see for myself! Take care, Jinbei!" he shouted over his shoulder, disappearing into the shimmering depths.

Jinbei sighed as he watched Hatchan leave.

Shakky's Rip-Off Bar

At Sabaody Archipelago, inside Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, the faint hum of activity could be heard outside. Inside, the air was calm, filled only with the soft clinking of glass as Shakky wiped the counter. Across from her sat an old man with a mop of white hair and a weathered yet composed face—Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King and former right-hand of the Pirate King.

Shakky slid a bounty poster across the counter toward him. "Look at this, Rayleigh. Another masked mystery. A lion this time," she said, her sharp eyes glinting with curiosity.

Rayleigh picked up the poster, studying the masked figure. He let out a hearty laugh. "Another D from the East Blue... And he's just a kid!"

Shakky smirked. "Fourteen years old, if I'm not mistaken. For a first bounty to reach 100 million, he must've stirred up some trouble with the old men in Mariejois."

Rayleigh's laughter faded, his expression turning serious. "It's not just about the bounty," he said, setting the poster down. "If he can survive what's coming and keep moving forward... he'll become a leader worth following."

Shakky leaned against the counter, smiling faintly. "The world's getting interesting again, isn't it?"

Rayleigh nodded, his eyes distant, as though seeing into the future. "Indeed."

The Chief's Visit

Back on Atharva Island, the village chief, Brock, made his way up the hill, clutching the bounty poster. The house at the top stood tall and sturdy, overlooking the entire village. He knocked on the door, and it was answered by Nojiko, her kind yet strong demeanor evident.

"Chief! Please, come in," she said, stepping aside.

The chief greeted her respectfully. "Miss Nojiko, where is Lord Atharva?"

Nojiko closed the door and gestured toward the back of the house. "He's in the backyard, practicing." Noticing the anxious expression on the chief's face, she asked, "Is something wrong?"

Without a word, Brock handed her the poster. Nojiko glanced at it and smiled, much to the chief's surprise.

"Aren't you worried?" he asked, puzzled by her reaction.

Nojiko shook her head. "We knew this would happen sooner or later. Don't worry about it." She called out, "Nami! Come down! There's something you'll want to see."

Upstairs, Nami sat in her room, surrounded by maps, tools, and sketches of her dream—the map of the entire world. Hearing her sister's voice, she stood up and headed downstairs.

"What is it?" Nami asked curiously.

Without a word, Nojiko held up the poster. In a blur, Nami vanished from the stairs, appearing beside Nojiko and snatching the poster from her hands. Brock stared, stunned by her speed.

As Nami studied the poster, her face lit up with a radiant smile. Without hesitation, she dashed toward the backyard.

Backyard.

In the backyard, Atharva sat cross-legged on the grass, his eyes closed as he meditated. Nearby, Lillie and Miko, the two young girls who had started to open up under his care, played together. Lillie was still quiet, but Miko's cheerful energy seemed to be rubbing off on her.

Sensing Nami's approach through his Observation Haki, Atharva stood up, his eyes still closed. Just as he did, Nami leaped into his arms. Without opening his eyes, he caught her effortlessly.

Before he could say a word, she kissed him lightly on the lips.

Behind them, Nojiko and Brock arrived just in time to witness the scene. Nojiko clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Opening his eyes, Atharva looked at Nami with a soft smile. "Why are you so happy, darling?"

She grinned and held up the poster. Atharva's expression froze as he took it from her, scanning the bold lettering and the bounty amount.

Before he could process it, the two little girls ran up to him. Lillie climbed onto his back while Miko clung to his arm.

"Brother, what is that?" Miko asked, looking curiously at the poster. Lillie leaned over his shoulder, her wide eyes waiting for an explanation.

As Atharva looked at their innocent faces, his jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't let his concern show.

Nojiko and Brock finally approached. The chief greeted Atharva with a respectful bow. "Lord Atharva."

Atharva nodded, acknowledging him. Then his expression turned serious as he said, "We're leaving tomorrow."

Everyone froze at his words, their shock evident.

To Be Continued...