One Piece: With Sign-in System

One month ago.

The Grand Line.

Sabaody Archipelago.

"!!"

Rayleigh and Shakky were both stunned and delighted as they looked at the figures who had suddenly appeared before them.

"You guys are alive after all."

Conis, her golden hair cascading down her back, dressed in pristine white, smiled warmly as she met their gaze. "Of course, we're not that easy to kill."

Having not seen them for over two years, Robin, who had grown even more mature and alluring, smiled as well. "Shakky, Rayleigh, it's been a while."

"You didn't expect us to come, did you? Were you surprised?"

Bonney, her pink hair draped over her shoulders, gave them a playful wink.

Meanwhile, Kuina, her long blue ponytail swaying slightly, adjusted the steel blade at her side and nodded at them. "Looks like we'll be imposing on you for a while."

"Sorry for the intrusion!"

Enzo bowed deeply and called out loudly.

Carrot, who had accompanied Robin and the others from Zou Island, stared at Rayleigh and Shakky with curiosity.

Were these two their acquaintances?

After exchanging greetings following their long separation, Rayleigh and Shakky quickly learned about the group's situation.

After Ron's shocking attack on Wano—crippling Kaido and shaking the world—he and the crew had disappeared for two whole years, training separately on Zou Island. It wasn't until a month ago that they finally set sail again.

"Then why come back to this side of the Grand Line instead of heading deeper into the New World?"

Shakky asked curiously.

Bonney took a sip of the special Sabaody liquor and replied, "That was the captain's decision. We're not entirely sure either."

"Where is he now?" Rayleigh asked.

"He dropped us off near Sabaody and left on his own, saying he wanted to roam the seas alone for a while and told us to wait for him here."

Robin explained calmly.

Rayleigh took a sip of his drink and let out a hearty laugh. "Still as reckless as ever. That's just like him."

"Speaking of which, Rayleigh, my master told me to seek your guidance on Haki."

Enzo spoke up seriously.

Rayleigh blinked.

Enzo suddenly bowed deeply again and said in a loud, sincere voice, "Please teach me!"

"My swordsmanship as well—I hope you can guide me."

Kuina followed suit, looking at Rayleigh earnestly.

"Then I..."

Conis also turned to look at him.

Rayleigh, still holding his bottle of liquor, was completely dumbfounded by their sudden requests.

"...Huh?"

…

While Kuina and the others were arriving at Sabaody Archipelago…

Ron had spent half a month wandering the Grand Line, revisiting islands he had previously missed and marking them down. During one such journey, he happened to pass by an island where he sensed a strong gravitational force being manipulated. After paying closer attention, he quickly deduced that the source could only be none other than the future Marine Admiral—Fujitora. At this point in time, however, he was still just a wandering swordsman known as Issho.

When Ron met the blind wanderer who now went by his real name, Issho, their encounter was simple yet meaningful.

Aside from sharing a bowl of noodles together, Ron also took him gambling—twice.

Later, on that very island, the two engaged in a deep debate about the world's current state, justice, and morality. Their discussion had no clear victor, and as if words were not enough, they settled things the way men of their kind often did—with a fight.

The battle was fierce, but in the end, neither side claimed superiority.

Instead, they made a bet.

The outcome of that bet would only be revealed in the future.

After parting ways with Issho, Ron calculated the timeline and estimated that Luffy had already set sail. With that in mind, he decided to leave the Grand Line and head toward the East Blue—just to take a look.

The day before Luffy and his crew arrived at the Baratie, Ron had already been there.

So, when Luffy and the others entered the floating restaurant and got caught up in their antics with the chef, Sanji, a solitary figure dressed in black sat quietly in the corner, his hat pulled low. He sipped on red wine and enjoyed his meal, watching the chaos unfold with an occasional amused smile at the corner of his lips.

Later, he witnessed the arrival of Don Krieg's pirate fleet.

He watched as Dracule Mihawk entered the scene.

And he saw Zoro's fateful duel with Mihawk—every single moment of it.

…

Back to the Present—

As that mysterious black-cloaked figure suddenly appeared beside Zoro, shock rippled through the air.

Everyone was momentarily frozen in place.

Luffy, though stunned for only a second, immediately shifted into a fighting stance. His expression turned serious as he locked eyes on the intruder, his voice sharp and unwavering.

"Oi, you bastard! Are you here to attack Zoro too?! Get away from him right now, or don't blame me if my fists show you no mercy!"

"...Show me no mercy?"

A chuckle escaped from the cloaked man's lips—his voice young, calm, and tinged with amusement.

"Heh... Looks like you've grown pretty strong, Luffy."

The familiarity in his voice made both Luffy and Nami freeze on the spot.

"This voice..."

Luffy tilted his head, frowning as he tried to recall where he had heard it before.

Meanwhile, Nami, who had been standing nearby, suddenly stared at the figure in shock. A memory—long buried yet never forgotten—flashed vividly in her mind.

Her amber eyes widened in disbelief.

She opened her mouth slightly, hesitant, nervous, hopeful.

Was she imagining things? Was her mind playing tricks on her?

Could it really be… him?

"Yare yare… still can't remember?"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the Baratie—from Luffy, Nami, Sanji, and Zeff, to Don Krieg and his crew—the young man lifted a hand and slowly removed the black hat from his head.

Then, he turned to face them.

His features were sharp yet gentle, his expression calm and composed. His semi-long black hair drifting slightly in the ocean breeze, his bangs brushing against his forehead naturally.

There was something undeniably warm and serene about him.

A presence that felt both familiar… and impossible.

"...It's been a long time, Luffy," the young man spoke. Then, his lips curved slightly as he looked at her.

"And you too… Nami."

Luffy's eyes widened, his jaw slowly dropping as realization hit him like a cannonball.

"Wait a minute… No way—"

His breath hitched.

"Are you… Ron?!"

Nami, who had been staring at him with trembling hands, suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes filling with an overwhelming tide of emotions.

Her body shook.

Her voice came out as a breathless whisper—filled with awe, disbelief, and a deep, raw happiness she had long thought impossible.

"I knew it… I knew it…!"

Tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably as she choked out the words.

"You're alive! You're really alive!"

For the past two years, she had been following any trace of his whereabouts, never once believing that he had simply perished. Deep in her heart, she was certain he was still alive. She had even considered setting sail for the Grand Line and the New World to search for him.

And now, on an ordinary day, in the most unexpected of places—he appeared right before her eyes.

How could Nami not be overwhelmed with joy and excitement?

"That guest from yesterday… the one with such refined taste… I never would've guessed he was such a formidable warrior," Sanji remarked in surprise as he stared at Ron.

Beside him, Red-Leg Zeff's expression changed drastically. His sharp eyes locked onto the black-clad young man with a black blade strapped to his waist. His pupils contracted violently, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Sanji, noticing his reaction, couldn't help but ask, "Old man, what's wrong?"

"You idiot! Don't you recognize him yet?!"

A low, tense voice interrupted them—Krieg.

Sanji turned to look at him. The usually arrogant and overbearing pirate was now staring fixedly at that figure, his brows furrowed, his expression tinged with fear and… respect?

"He's really alive… After two years of silence, he's finally emerged again. Is he planning to shake the seas to their core once more…?"

Krieg's voice trembled slightly as he spoke, cold sweat trickling down his face.

There was no mistaking it.

Back when that man was still just a young wanderer, drifting through the East Blue, he had once single-handedly taken down an entire pirate crew with just his sword!

Krieg had witnessed it with his own eyes.

That day had been seared into his memory ever since.

"If my eyes aren't deceiving me… that man is none other than the legendary traveler…"

"The one with a bounty of 1.75 billion Berries—Ron, the Traveler!"

As Zeff's grave words fell upon Sanji's ears, his eyes widened in shock.

The cigarette between his lips slipped and tumbled to the floor, yet he remained frozen in place, utterly stunned.

Ron—the captain of Calamity from the Skies?!

"First, we had the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule 'Hawkeye' Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, making an unexpected visit…"

"And now, we have a man who disappeared for two years, a legend thought to be lost—returning from the dead."

"What the hell is happening today?" Zeff murmured in disbelief.

As a former great pirate himself, even he had seen his fair share of shocking events.

But today's developments were beyond comprehension.

"C-Captain! Hawkeye is coming back again!"

A panicked scream erupted from one of Krieg's men.

Out on the horizon, the coffin-shaped boat that had departed not long ago… was returning.

Standing at the bow, his long black coat billowing in the wind, was Dracule Mihawk—the wielder of one of the 12 Supreme Grade Blades, Yoru.

His piercing, hawk-like eyes fixated on the scene before him, though his true focus was locked onto a single person.

The one he had been searching for.

His gaze burned with the fire of battle.