One Piece: Starting by Refusing Shanks

Takumi didn't even bother dodging. As soon as the Mink Tribe residents rushed toward him, he unleashed a wave of Conqueror's Haki, knocking them all out in an instant.

The remaining minks who were just about to join in stopped in their tracks, staring in confusion at their unconscious comrades.

"What happened? What's wrong with everyone?"

"Did that hairless mink do this? What did he just do?"

"I don't know. I didn't see him make a move. Was it a hallucination?"

"Hey, are you guys okay?"

The still-conscious minks rushed to check on their fallen companions. Once they realized that no one was hurt and they were merely unconscious, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Takumi calmly walked away, completely ignoring the baffled minks who were still conscious.

Kaku, hearing the commotion nearby, hurried over.

When he saw the mass of unconscious minks sprawled on the ground, he let out a weary sigh. "As expected… Even half-animal minks can't get close to you, Captain. This isn't good. You can't keep avoiding interactions with others. You need to be more sociable—although, I admit, these minks are a bit too enthusiastic."

"If you want to socialize, go ahead," Takumi replied expressionlessly as he walked past Kaku.

Kaku wasn't expecting a response, but then the memory of being swarmed and cuddled by countless minks flashed in his mind, and his face turned pale.

(Imagine being surrounded by a hundred cats all rubbing against you, then replace those cats with giant minks of various shapes and sizes.)

"On second thought, I'll pass…" Kaku shook his head and quickly followed Takumi. "Captain, did you manage to catch up to Enel?"

"No."

"Even you couldn't catch him?" Kaku was surprised. "When did that guy become so capable?"

Just as Kaku finished speaking, a group of several dozen mink residents burst out of a nearby alley.

The moment they spotted Kaku and Takumi, their eyes lit up like hungry wolves spotting fresh meat. Some even started drooling.

"There they are!"

"Kaku-san's captain is here too!"

"Kaku-san, Karuchuu~"

"Captain, Karuchuu~"

The group of minks charged toward Takumi and Kaku with shining eyes.

Kaku instinctively took half a step back, not eager to experience another round of affectionate rubbing.

Takumi, however, remained indifferent—after all, no one could get close to him.

But just as the group of minks approached, they noticed the mass of unconscious bodies nearby. Almost in unison, they skidded to a halt, their faces full of confusion and shock.

"Huh? What happened to them? Are we under attack?"

"Who did this?"

Someone in the group asked aloud.

A middle-aged goat mink who had witnessed the whole event looked up and replied, "They're fine. They just passed out. It seems like it was done by the hairless mink captain. But we didn't see him make a move, so we're not sure what happened."

"Did you do this?" A bold tanuki girl fixed her gaze on Takumi and asked directly.

Takumi had no intention of answering.

Kaku, on the other hand, responded with a calm smile. "Does it matter who did it? Your friends aren't hurt—they're just unconscious. But if you keep asking questions, I can't guarantee that the next ones won't get hurt."

"Quite the bold claim," a steady voice suddenly interrupted.

Inuarashi had arrived.

As he approached from outside Kurau City, his gaze swept across the unconscious minks. His eyes narrowed as they landed on Takumi and Kaku. He walked toward them with a composed yet stern expression.

The surrounding mink residents immediately showed him respect, bowing slightly as he passed.

"Duke-sama, you're here!"

"Duke-sama, what should we do about the unconscious ones?"

"Are they really okay?"

To the minks, Inuarashi was an all-knowing protector, a leader who had ventured beyond Zou and seen the outside world.

"They're fine," Inuarashi reassured them. "Take them home. They'll wake up in a while."

"Understood, Duke-sama." The minks nodded and began moving the unconscious ones as instructed.

Inuarashi stopped in front of Takumi and Kaku, his sharp gaze locking onto Takumi. His tone was calm but carried an underlying weight. "Was it you who injured the members of the Knight Squad?"

The moment Inuarashi appeared, Kaku had already sensed that this individual wasn't someone to be taken lightly. Judging by the respect shown by the mink residents and his imposing figure, it was clear that this man held a significant position in Zou.

So, when Inuarashi asked his question, Kaku mentally prepared for a potential confrontation.

Takumi, however, remained indifferent, speaking in a calm tone. "And if it was?"

Inuarashi's eyes narrowed. "I can't interfere with Nekomamushi's matters. He'll deal with you himself tonight. But my subordinate Sicilian was also injured by you. I won't let that slide so easily. Who are you, and what's your purpose on Zou?"

Takumi replied simply, "We're travelers. We're here for sightseeing."

"Tourists?" Inuarashi chuckled, though his tone carried a hint of sarcasm. "If you're merely guests, then why did you attack my people?"

Kaku chuckled. "You should've asked what your people did first. We didn't even get a chance to say a word before they attacked us as if they wanted to kill us. Were we supposed to just stand there and take the beating?"

"You trespassed into the Whale Forest," Inuarashi countered. "It's a forbidden area on Zou. Nekomamushi and his men are tasked with guarding it. Any intruder will naturally be attacked and driven away."

Kaku remained unfazed, replying with absolute confidence. "Well, there weren't any signs saying it's off-limits. It's our first time here—we had no idea it was a forbidden area."