Chapter 31: Straw Hat, Straw Hat

Originally, Shano had intended to leave Shimotsuki Village after breakfast and set off for the final destination of his "wool-shearing" journey: the Kingdom of Goa. However, everyone was so reluctant to see him go that they insisted he stay one more night.

That evening, a large group of them gathered on the tatami mats in the hall for a fireside chat, the atmosphere relaxed and leisurely. During the gathering, young Zoro and Sanji snuck some rice wine and were promptly beaten by Zeff, adding a touch of boisterous humor to the air. Shano, feeling slightly tipsy and in high spirits, talked extensively with everyone. Through these stories, they learned about Cocoyasi Village, his two lovely younger sisters, and how beautiful his hometown’s orange groves were, producing citrus fruits that were crisp, juicy, large, and sweet.

Shano had considered, just in case, asking Zeff or Koushiro to stay in Cocoyasi Village for a few months after the coming spring. With them there, dealing with the Arlong Pirates would be effortless. But after a moment’s thought, he kept it to himself. He hadn't even obtained the straw hat yet, and his system points were already nearing ten thousand. He could essentially pick and choose any technique or item from the system's trading market. If, after a year of rigorous training, he still couldn't handle the Arlong Pirates, he would be no better than a failure. He might as well not bother setting sail and just end it all with a real blade.

The next day arrived in a blink. Kuina, Zeff, Sanji, Zoro, and the rest of the group saw Shano off at the dock with heavy hearts. This included Junichi, who had been nowhere to be seen since early the previous morning. It was only then that Shano learned the boy had been training with demonic intensity ever since returning to Shimotsuki Village—from five in the morning until midnight, skipping lunch, with an intensity far more terrifying than even Zoro’s.

This made Shano take notice. In his view, Junichi’s talent for swordsmanship didn't rival Zoro’s, let alone Kuina’s. But talent was never the sole factor determining a person’s potential. As long as one put in effort and sweat far exceeding that of others, the results rarely disappointed. After all, it only took two years to go from having no strength to speak of to becoming a new generation of Marine hero.

"Why do you keep looking at me, Boss?" Junichi, who was busy moving supplies onto the ship with Zoro, felt Shano’s gaze and looked up, puzzled.

"I’m just a bit worried about you," Shano said, half-jokingly. "I’m genuinely afraid that in a few months, you’ll just set sail, and I’ll have to figure out how to collect your remains."

Had his resolve been seen through? Junichi pursed his lips. Suddenly, he looked up and grinned. "What? That’s a terrible joke. Don’t worry, Boss. I’m not some hot-headed idiot; I won’t do anything stupid unless I have enough certainty."

"Wait, what are you two talking about? Are you speaking in riddles? My head hurts," Zoro looked from one to the other, completely bewildered.

"It’s not that you’re hearing something that gives you a headache; you really do have a headache," Shano glared at the moss-head. The guy had been pummeled by Zeff last night and had received a fresh set of bumps on his head from sparring with Kuina this morning; the swelling had yet to subside. It was no wonder his head hurt while standing in the sea breeze.

Shano turned back to Junichi. "Anyway, as long as you know what you’re doing. Just don’t forget that you’re not alone. No matter where you go in the future, you have plenty of comrades you can fight alongside."

After giving his earnest advice, Shano waved goodbye to the others on the shore and pressed the button to start the boat, sailing into the distance. He was borrowing this small vessel, which was secretly equipped with advanced propulsion technology. It only took two days to reach the nearest large island from Shimotsuki Village, and Zeff was planning to head there the next day to purchase supplies. Once he arrived, Shano could simply dock the boat and leave it. He would then switch to a passenger ship in that town to head for the Kingdom of Goa, and Zeff would naturally bring the boat back to Shimotsuki Village.

Six days later, deep within the Colubo Mountains of the Kingdom of Goa, Shano scrambled up to the top of a towering tree in the dense forest, peering out at the endless expanse of mountains and woods. After a long moment of confusion, he rubbed his temples in frustration.

"This was a real miscalculation..."

He had arrived in the Kingdom of Goa the morning before last. However, more than fifty hours had passed, and he was still stuck wandering in these mountains. It wasn't that he had caught Zoro’s sense of direction; it was simply that the Colubo Mountains were far more vast than he had anticipated. Having grown up in Cocoyasi Village, where the surrounding island area was quite small, he had become accustomed to a compact landmass. Upon arriving in the Kingdom of Goa, one of the major powers of the East Blue, he was finally re-experiencing what it felt like not to be able to see the horizon from a high vantage point.

"If only Luffy were still in Foosha Village," Shano sighed. A year ago, Luffy would have been there. But after the incident with Shanks, Garp had found out and immediately relocated him to the Colubo Mountains, leaving him in the care of the mountain bandit Dadan. That led to all the subsequent events: meeting Ace and Sabo, encountering the Blue Gem Pirates, forming the ASL brotherhood, and so on.

By his calculations, Sabo should have already been taken by Dragon to the Revolutionary Army headquarters months ago, leaving only the brothers Luffy and Ace in the mountains. Shano felt that his luck since setting sail had been exhausted on meeting the Sea King and Zeff. Finding these two brats in this vast mountain range on his own was indeed difficult. But surely he shouldn't have spent over fifty hours searching day and night without finding a single clue? Those two troublemakers were restless by nature, and being semi-feral in these mountains, they should have left some signs of activity.

"Sigh."

Having not slept well for several nights and feeling sore all over, Shano sat down against the trunk of the tree and took out a few pieces of bread from his backpack, gnawing on them dry. He had stuffed himself in the small town outside the mountains before entering, but his rations were now running low. If he couldn't find them today, he might have to hunt a wild beast and roast it. Since he had no seasonings with him, the taste surely wouldn't be pleasant.

After finishing the bread, Shano pulled a straw hat from his bag and spun it on his index finger. It looked ordinary and old; the woven straw brim was a bit loose, and the bright red ribbon had faded to a dull, bruised color. If you leaned in close, you could even smell a greasy odor of hair oil. He had bought it from a farmer in the town before entering the mountains for two hundred berries, intending to pull a "swap the beam for the pillar" trick once he got his hands on Luffy’s hat.

In fact, there were plenty of shops in town where similar straw hats could be bought. The reason he insisted on this smelly, second-hand item was that the ones in the shops were too new. Luffy might be a thick-headed idiot, but he would surely notice if his beloved straw hat suddenly became brand new and clean. This, he mused, was where the details determined success or failure. Shano was even thinking that if he encountered Luffy again in the future, he might be able to harvest another wave of points. Therefore, it was best not to let the secret of the swapped straw hat be revealed.