One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 36: A Wanted Man

The farewell from Cocoyashi Village was a heartfelt one. The villagers of the Conomi Islands gathered at the harbor to bid farewell to Goku and his crew, their hearts full of gratitude for the freedom they had been given. The weight of Arlong's tyranny no longer hung over them, and for the first time in years, the people could breathe easily. The air was filled with the sounds of celebration, laughter, and well-wishes as the crew of the Going Merry prepared to depart.

Nami stood at the forefront, her eyes moist with emotion. Her adoptive father, Ganzo, and her sister, Nojiko, were there, their faces marked with pride and sadness. Nami took a moment to embrace them, whispering her farewells. "Take care of yourself," Nojiko said softly, her voice trembling as she gripped Nami tightly. Ganzo, ever the protective father figure, placed a hand on Nami's shoulder. "You're always welcome here, Nami. Don't forget that."

With a final wave, Nami stepped aboard the Going Merry, her heart both heavy and light at the same time. As she officially joined the crew, the villagers cheered for the brave pirates that had liberated them. The ship's sails were raised, and with a gust of wind, the Going Merry set off into the horizon, sailing away from the Conomi Islands to the fanfare of the villagers, who watched with grateful hearts.

---

As the ship sailed onward, the sense of purpose filled the air. Nami, now officially the navigator, took her place at the helm with a determined gleam in her eyes. "Our next destination is Loguetown, the town of the beginning and the end," she declared, setting the course with precise calculations. Goku, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Gin were all filled with anticipation as they sailed toward the legendary town where Gol D. Roger had been executed.

A few hours into their journey, Zoro and Gin resumed their intense training, striving to harness their Ki. While Usopp and Nami had made more progress, Zoro and Gin were determined to catch up. Zoro's eyes burned with focus as he tried to feel the energy within him, his muscles tensing with the effort. Gin, ever the silent fighter, mirrored Zoro's determination. Sanji, though eager to join, was summoned by Goku to prepare lunch, much to his annoyance.

Sanji had learned quickly that feeding Goku was no easy task. Goku ate enough for five men on a slow day, and today seemed no different. Sanji grumbled under his breath as he prepared a feast worthy of the Saiyan. Massive plates of roasted meats, grilled fish, mountains of rice, and vegetables were laid out alongside a variety of sauces and spices. He even threw in a few special dishes like stir-fried noodles with spicy shrimp and a towering fruit salad for dessert.

By midday, the crew gathered for their meal, and as expected, Goku devoured most of the food with a voracious appetite. The others ate their fill, laughing at Goku's never-ending hunger, though Sanji grumbled about the work involved in keeping him fed.

---

As they relaxed after the meal, a flock of birds arrived, dropping off newspapers to the ship. Nami, being a subscriber, immediately grabbed hers, though she groaned at the rising prices. "How do they expect people to keep up with these rates?" she muttered, tossing a few berries to the delivery bird. She settled into a lounge chair, flipping through the pages with a mix of curiosity and boredom.

Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Goku! You need to see this!" she called urgently. Goku, Usopp, and Gin quickly gathered around her, curious about the commotion. She held up a piece of paper she had pulled from the newspaper—a wanted poster.

It was Goku's face, scowling fiercely, with a bold "Wanted: Dead or Alive" printed at the top. Beneath his image was a bounty: 50 million berries. The crew stared in shock.

"Fifty million berries...?" Usopp stammered, his voice filled with a mix of awe and fear. Gin's eyes narrowed, and Zoro's usual cool expression faltered slightly. Sanji whistled, impressed. "Looks like we've got a high roller on our hands," he said.

But Goku, instead of feeling concerned, grinned widely. "Hah! I'm worth 50 million berries? That's amazing!" His grin quickly turned into a hearty laugh. "Looks like I've made quite the name for myself."

The rest of the crew wasn't as amused. "This means bounty hunters will be coming after you," Nami warned, her voice serious. "We have to be careful."

Zoro, always focused on strength, clenched his fists. "We need to get stronger. If they're coming after our captain, we can't be weak."

Gin nodded in agreement. "We're heading to the Grand Line. We'll face much tougher enemies than this."

Usopp swallowed nervously but stood firm. "Yeah… we need to be ready. No more slacking off."

With that, the crew steeled their resolve. The Grand Line awaited, and with Goku now marked as a high-value target, the dangers were only just beginning. But they knew one thing for sure: they would face whatever came their way, united as a crew.

***

In a town far from the peaceful waters of the Conomi Islands, an ominous fleet gathered in the harbor. The largest ship, looming over the others, belonged to none other than Buggy the Clown. His flag waved high, a grinning skull adorned with a red nose and crossbones, mirroring Buggy's sinister visage. The ship itself was a garish display of color and flash, with bright reds and blues decorating its hull, which resembled a floating circus. The deck was adorned with cannons disguised as clown faces, and the sails bore a mixture of circus stripes and Buggy's infamous jolly roger.

Inside the ship, in a chamber lit dimly by the flicker of a single lantern, Buggy and Alvida sat around a table. Buggy, lounging in an oversized chair, tapped his fingers on the wood while his eyes gleamed with malevolent intent. Alvida sat across from him, her large iron mace resting on the side of the table. Her once rotund figure had been replaced by a svelte and beautiful appearance, but her ruthless nature remained intact.

Buggy clenched his fists. "That blasted brat. We were this close, Alvida! This close to taking him down when we were in Orange Town!"

Alvida nodded, her eyes sharp. "But we'll have our revenge. We've gathered this fleet for a reason, Buggy. We'll hunt him down and make him pay for humiliating us."

Buggy chuckled darkly. "Oh, we'll make him pay. And it's going to be flashy!"

Just as Buggy was about to continue his rant, the door to the chamber creaked open, and a crew member entered hesitantly. He was a lanky man with a hunched back, clutching something in his hands. His face was pale, and he seemed nervous to interrupt.

"Captain Buggy... I, uh, I have some news for you," the crewman stammered, stepping forward and placing a rolled-up piece of paper on the desk before them. "It's... it's about Goku."

Buggy's eyes gleamed with curiosity and anger. "What is it now? Spit it out!"

The crew member unrolled the paper and placed it flat on the desk. Buggy and Alvida leaned in, their expressions immediately darkening when they saw it.

It was a wanted poster—Goku's wanted poster.

There, scowling back at them with a fierce expression, was the face of the boy who had bested them before. Beneath the picture, the bounty glared back at them: 50 million berries.

Buggy's mouth dropped open in shock before it twisted into a furious snarl. "Fifty million berries!? That brat's bounty is the biggest in the East Blue!" He slammed his fist on the desk, shaking the room. "How the hell did a snot-nosed kid like that get a bounty bigger than mine?!"

Alvida's expression mirrored Buggy's rage, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the edge of the table. "This is unacceptable! That bounty should belong to us, Buggy!"

Buggy's face contorted with anger, his nostrils flaring. "He humiliated us once, and now he gets the biggest bounty?! This is beyond flashy—it's insulting!"

Alvida, her voice steady despite her fury, leaned closer to Buggy. "Buggy, think about it. If we take down Goku—if we bring him in—we'll be the ones with the biggest bounties in the East Blue. Our reputations will soar."

Buggy, his anger momentarily giving way to greed, grinned wickedly. "You're right. If we take him out, we become the legends. The marines will put a bounty on my head that'll make the whole Grand Line tremble."

He stood up abruptly, pointing at the crewman. "Get the fleet ready! Raise anchor! We're setting sail now! I'm not waiting one more minute to get my flashy revenge!"

The crewman stumbled out of the room, nearly tripping in his haste to carry out Buggy's orders. Within moments, the sound of feet scurrying across the deck and the creaking of sails being hoisted filled the ship.

Alvida crossed her arms, a sinister smile playing on her lips. "This is our chance, Buggy. If we play this right, the next time our names are on posters, they'll be worth ten times what that brat is worth."

Buggy's laughter echoed through the chamber, filled with malice. "He won't see us coming, Alvida. We'll crush him, and everyone will remember the name Buggy the Clown!"

Their laughter mingled, dark and menacing, as the ship's anchor lifted and the fleet set sail.

---

In another part of the East Blue, the night was heavy with smoke, the thick, curling plumes filling the dimly lit room. The single light in the room cast long shadows across the walls, giving it a foreboding atmosphere. Sitting in the center of the room, behind a large desk, was a man known throughout the East Blue: Captain Smoker. His square jaw was set in a permanent scowl, his muscular form barely fitting in the worn-out swivel chair that creaked under his weight. His signature cigars glowed brightly, casting a faint red light on his hardened face.

The room was quiet until a knock interrupted the silence. Smoker turned his chair slowly, blowing a thick cloud of smoke as he faced the door. "Come in."

The door creaked open, revealing a marine lieutenant. The officer stepped in smartly, offering a crisp salute before addressing his superior.

"Captain Smoker, sir. We've just received the latest wanted posters. There's... a notable new bounty. The highest in the East Blue."

Smoker raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."

The lieutenant stepped forward and handed him the wanted poster. Smoker's eyes narrowed as he took the poster, scanning it in silence. His gaze fell on the picture of a young man with spiky hair and a fierce expression—Monkey D. Goku. Beneath the image was the bounty: 50 million berries.

"Monkey D. Goku, huh?" Smoker muttered to himself, blowing another cloud of smoke. He stared at the poster for a moment longer before lowering it. Without another word, he brought the poster close to his cigar, the paper catching fire instantly.

As the poster burned in his hand, Smoker's expression remained unreadable. He watched the flames consume the paper until only ashes remained, falling to the floor.

The room filled with silence once again, the air thick with the scent of burning paper and tobacco.

[A/N: Read 20 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]