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Chapter 185: An Unexpected Prize: The First Territory
🕑 Added 2025-09-12 14:21:37 +0000 UTCChapter 185: An Unexpected Prize: The First Territory
All eyes in the room swiveled to Nami.
Feeling a bit cornered, she shrank back and mumbled, "What? Why's everyone looking at me like that? I really don't get it..."
"You dummy!" Nojiko rapped her on the head. "Were you even listening? 'The old place' obviously means the diner where their journey together began!"
Is that it?
Nami looked at old Link, a question mark floating over her head.
"That's right," Link confirmed with a gentle smile, a nostalgic glimmer in his eyes. "When I returned to Raijin Island, I dug up the treasure map from beneath the ruins of the old diner. I followed its directions and, at the base of the island's highest peak, I found this pitcher plant. Or rather... the Dream Weed."
"The Dream Weed?"
"Indeed. It is a user of the Paramecia-type Dream-Dream Fruit."
Link gazed at the plant and sighed. "It can create illusions so real they're indistinguishable from reality, forcing a person to confront their deepest fears."
"This power can be used to scare off powerful enemies, but it can also be used to temper one's will and Haki, to train the next generation. It was... the last gift that Rocks left for me and my tribe."
Shane listened intently.
No wonder all those warriors had such strong Armament Haki. They must have been training for years under the Dream Weed's power to reach that level.
Pulling people into a dream world... That sounded a bit like one of the Holy Knights, the user of the Qilin fruit whose name he couldn't quite recall.
It all clicked into place, but one question still lingered.
"Old man, if it's supposed to make you face your deepest fears, then why did I see Rocks himself?" Shane couldn't help but ask. "And a younger version of him at that... I've never even met the guy. I wasn't even born when he died."
"That wasn't your nightmare. It was mine," Link confessed, a faint blush on his weathered cheeks. "That Doflamingo fellow... I don't know what nightmare he saw that made him flee without the Fruit, but a monster with the qualities of a king like him would never give up so easily. He would have returned."
"So, I decided to challenge my own nightmare, to see if I could break through my fear and reclaim some of my youthful strength..."
"And you saw the result. I overestimated myself. Forget tempering my will; I couldn't even withstand the first blast of his Haki before I passed out. If you hadn't come along and shattered that nightmare, I probably..."
So it can let you enter other people's nightmares, too?
Shane glanced at the pitcher plant, his fascination with it growing even stronger.
"The Agatha Archipelago may be remote, but being in the New World, we're constantly harassed by pirates. We've managed to fight most of them off," the young chief, Noah, said, clenching his fists. "But against someone on Doflamingo's level... we are truly powerless..."
"It's because I've grown too old to protect you," Link said sorrowfully. "If I were twenty or thirty years younger, I wouldn't have let that man act so arrogantly..."
"Grandfather! Don't say that!" Noah interjected quickly. "You've already given so much for us. If anyone is to blame, it's me, the young chief. I am too weak. I'm not as strong as you were in your prime, and I can't protect our people."
"Silly boy..." Link reached out and fondly patted Noah's head.
He'd had his son late in life, only for him to die of an unexpected illness. Noah, his eldest grandson, had shouldered the duties of young chief far too early, but he did so without a single complaint. He trained relentlessly from a young age and, at only twenty, had become the strongest warrior in the tribe, mastering two forms of Haki and personally defeating enemies with bounties over 100 million.
He was already a source of immense pride.
In the New World of the past, Noah's strength would have been more than enough to protect the Agatha Archipelago.
But then... the Great Pirate Era began.
The number of pirates flocking to the second half of the Grand Line had swelled, and their average strength had skyrocketed. A single Warlord had been too much for even his old bones to handle. After he was gone, what would the tribe do if another powerful foe appeared?
Unless...
Link's head lifted, his gaze falling squarely on Shane.
Hm?
Shane raised an eyebrow. He'd been listening from the side, and a strange feeling had been growing within him. The old man sounded like he knew his time was short, like he was trying to entrust his family to someone else.
And now, it looked like... he was right?
At that moment, Link finally made his decision. He stood up with solemnity and bowed deeply to Shane.
"Lord Shane, I know I have yet to repay the debt of kindness I owe you, and it is shameless of me to ask for more, but I have a favor to beg of you..."
Here it comes...
Shane sighed internally, helping the old man up. "Please, just speak your mind."
Link's voice was grave. "I am 104 years old. Barring any miracles, I have only a year or two left... Although our tribe was saved this time thanks to you and Mr. Kuma, we lack the strength to protect ourselves in these increasingly dangerous seas."
"Therefore..." he looked up, his eyes firm, "I wish to ask you, Lord Shane, to take the Agatha Clan under your protection! Let us become your vassals!"
The declaration stunned everyone in the hut.
"Grandfather?!" Noah's eyes went wide. "You're just going to..."
"Noah, I have lived for over a century. Trust my judgment," Link said, raising a hand to silence him, his gaze fixed intently on Shane.
His body was old, his strength was gone, and even his Haki was a pale shadow of what it once was. But the wisdom he'd gained from a hundred years of life, the experience of sailing the seas with Rocks... that was still sharp.
He couldn't be wrong about this.
This young, dark-haired man before him had the same aura, the same spirit as Rocks... or rather, the Rocks he had known in his youth.
—Beneath the magnificent presence of a king, there beat a kind and gentle heart.
It was only later that Rocks' ambition had swelled beyond control, leading him down a dark path.
Would this young man follow the same fate? Who knew?
But... dammit, Link thought with a grim smile, I'm an old man on death's door. Surely fate can't be cruel enough to let me make the same mistake twice!
"Of course, Lord Shane, we would not ask for your protection for free," Link continued. "The Agatha Clan may be small, but we are a people of hunters. We have over a thousand adult warriors, all proficient in Armament Haki and formidable in battle. They will become your most loyal followers, ready to answer your call at any time."
"Furthermore, I am willing to entrust our tribe's Sacred Fruit, the Dream Weed, to you. Its power may not be as effective for a supreme warrior like yourself, whose Haki rivals Rocks', but it can be used to train your subordinates, to strengthen their will and their Haki."
It was a very tempting offer.
The crew exchanged surprised glances. They hadn't expected the old man to place so much trust in their captain so quickly.
As for Nami... she didn't care about the political nuances. Her eyes lit up instantly.
Yes! Yes! Yes!!! The Agatha Clan wants to join us! Does this mean my dream from back before Fish-Man Island is finally coming true?
Is my big brother, after taking his first real steps to conquer the New World, finally about to claim his very first territory?
Shane pondered for a moment.
Then he looked up and met Link's earnest gaze.
A grin finally spread across the young man's face. "After an offer like that, it'd be pretty hypocritical of me to refuse."
"From this day forward, the Agatha Archipelago is under the flag of the Curtain Call Adventurers!"
He would accept this trust!
So what if it meant flying his flag and using his name to protect a few thousand villagers? If he didn't even have the confidence for that, how could he ever hope to achieve his ultimate dream?
Besides, unlike the many times he'd helped others with no expectation of reward, this time, the return was tangible.
Putting aside the Dream Weed that could train his officers, gaining over a thousand loyal warriors who could all use Armament Haki... who wouldn't be tempted by that?
Of course, he had no intention of taking them all with him just yet. The Agatha Archipelago was now his first territory, but it was too small and isolated to serve as a proper base of operations. Once he established a true stronghold, he could call upon any warriors who wished to help defend it. Those who preferred to stay could continue living their lives on the island as they always had.
Shane's acceptance was a massive weight off Link's shoulders. A smile finally broke through the deep wrinkles on the old man's face.
"Everyone, listen well!" he announced, turning to the people in the hut. His voice was weak, but it carried an undeniable authority. "From this day forth, the Agatha Clan will recognize Lord Shane as our sovereign! We swear to follow his flag until death!"
Grandfather, I hope you're right about him...
Noah took a deep breath, his expression hardening with resolve. As the young chief, he was the first to drop to one knee, placing a fist over his heart. "I pledge my life to Lord Shane!"
Kia, on the other hand, was already beaming. Having traveled with them from Raijin Island, he trusted Shane and his crew far more than his older brother did. He was thrilled that their families were becoming one. He immediately knelt beside his brother, mimicking the gesture. The other warriors in the hut followed suit, their movements synchronized, their voices booming as one:
"WE PLEDGE OUR LIVES TO LORD SHANE!"
That night, under Link's personal direction, a grand bonfire feast was held on the main island to welcome the crew of The Curtain Call.
Cups were raised, food was shared, and the air was filled with joyous celebration. The young warriors of the tribe, while in awe of Shane's officers, were also curious. They were shy at first, but with the help of alcohol and dancing, the two groups soon began to mingle.
Jack got into an arm-wrestling competition, defeating one muscular warrior after another.
Nami and Nojiko danced with the local girls in their grass skirts.
Smoker, after a few too many drinks, started performing tricks, blowing smoke rings of various shapes from his mouth and nose, earning gasps of amazement from the young warriors.
And Mochi was relegated to the kids' table, where she instantly became the center of attention, swarmed by children chattering with questions.
"Wow! Kitty, you can really talk!"
"Hehe, it's not that hard! Only dumb dogs can't!"
"Are you a cat or a mouse? Why are your ears so pointy?"
"I'm a cat, you silly!"
"Can you do that trick again? The one you did before!"
"Well..." Mochi flicked her tail smugly, affecting an air of mystery. "That's my special move. I don't usually use it, but—" She winked. "Seeing as you've all been so welcoming, I'll show you one more time!"
She leaped gracefully into the air and, with two casual swipes of her claws, sliced two nearby boulders into several pieces. The children erupted in cheers and applause.
So embarrassing. What a disgrace to our master. So childish... Gin, who had also been sent to the kids' table, shot Mochi a disdainful look before lowering his head and happily lapping up a bowl of strawberry milk.
Beside the bonfire, Link and Shane sat side by side.
Link took a sip of his drink and said with emotion, "Ever since the Great Pirate Era began, nine out of ten ships that come here are pirates with ill intentions. It's been so long since we've had a welcoming feast this lively. We have you to thank for this, Lord Shane."
It had also been a long time since he'd been able to set aside his worries for his tribe and simply enjoy a drink.
Shane smiled and offered a few polite words, then explained his plans to establish a base of operations and his future arrangements for the warriors. Link had no objections, holding his cup and smiling even more brightly.
Noah, who had been itching to go challenge Jack in arm-wrestling, paused and turned to look at Shane with a new depth in his eyes. He had been worried that this famous young pirate would immediately take all their warriors away to use as cannon fodder. But now, he saw how wrong he had been. Lord Shane was nothing like the pirates who had attacked their village in the past...
The bonfire burned brighter, and laughter echoed through the night sky. But all good things must come to an end.
By the next morning, Link was sleeping off a hangover. Noah and Kia, representing the tribe, led their people to the port to see Shane and his crew off.
"Big Brother Shane!" Kia stood at the very front, waving his arms enthusiastically. "You have to come back! Next time, I'll take you hunting by the volcano!"
Noah remained silent, giving a solemn warrior's salute.
Shane smiled and waved back. With the two brothers watching, The Curtain Call sailed out of the river mouth and toward the endless horizon.
At that very moment, if one were to look out from the sea, they would see new flags, hastily stitched overnight, flying from the highest peak of the Agatha Archipelago and at the river port.
—The flag of the Curtain Call Adventurers.
On the ship, Shane pulled his gaze away from the islands, which had shrunk to tiny black dots, and turned to his System panel.
The parchment map unrolled. In the black fog of war, a new area was illuminated. Besides the winding path of their journey, a cluster of seven interconnected islands now shone brightly.
Territory: Agatha Archipelago
Land Area: 350 sq. km
Population: 6,720
Regional Leader: Link
Happiness: Medium → High
Zooming in, he could see detailed resource points. The archipelago's resources were simple, mostly centered around fishing and hunting.
Even living such a primitive life, can their happiness really jump from medium to high just by removing the immediate threat to their survival?
Shane was silent.
Perhaps this was the reality for most islands in the world of One Piece. As long as they weren't crushed by the Heavenly Tribute or tormented by pirates, the people could find happiness quite easily. With abundant natural resources, they could feed and clothe themselves, living self-sufficient lives.
And on his own path to achieving his dream, what he wanted—what he needed—to do, was to bring this same peace to more and more islands.
He narrowed his eyes, staring out at the distant horizon. The wind whipped through his black hair, his dark clothes snapping behind him.
