The next morning, Windmill Village docks.

Most of the Red-Hair Pirates lingered on the deck of the Red Force, its Jolly Roger fluttering in the breeze. Yet none rushed to set sail, their gazes fixed on two figures at the pier.

"Hold onto this hat for me," Shanks knelt, placing his cherished straw hat on Luffy's head. "Return it when you've become a great pirate."

The scene mirrored yesterday’s tavern moment so precisely that even Shanks felt a surreal twinge.

"Didn’t Sige-san also favor this kid?" Beckman leaned against the railing, puffing his cigarette. "Odd he vanished before dawn…"

"The sea’s vast," Yasopp mused. "Who’d expect a legend hibernating here?"

"Retired? Doubtful," Beckman smirked. "If he truly eliminated fifty-plus emperors in the Great Pirate Era’s infancy… why nest in backwater mountains?"

——

Meanwhile, deep in the wilderness beyond Windmill Village…

Sige marched his bandits through rugged trails, their breath labored from the steep climb.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Boss, why the rush back to the hideout?" a bandit groaned, nursing yesterday’s hangover.

"Silence." Sige’s curt order stifled all complaints—his authority now unquestionable since the Red-Hair showdown.

The bandits buzzed with theories:

"Raiding Goa Kingdom’s capital?"

"Hunting emperors near the Grey Terminal!"

Unbeknownst to them, Sige’s only plan was hiding from Garp.

Hide in the mountains until the marine leaves. Easy.

His plan derailed when tinkering with the KING card uncovered something… peculiar.

[Equip KING] → [Unequip] → [Equip]

With each switch, a ghostly weakness flickered in his chest—vanishing the instant KING’s power activated.

Wait… Is this KING’s secret?

Normal humans couldn’t sustain those earthquake heartbeats without cardiac arrest. Yet during裝備, vitality surged through him.

What if "ordinary civilian" KING actually has… superhuman physiology?

A glance at his system panel confirmed it:

[Sync Rate: 37% (+6%)]

The panic last night boosted it!

Hope ignited.

If I keep facing threats… maybe I’ll unlock KING’s true power!

The revelation birthed grand delusions:

Daily training! 100 push-ups! 100 sit-ups! 100 squats! 10km runs! Master Haki! Smash emperors with beer bottles! Usher in the Great Mountain Bandit Era!

He revised his schedule: Start tomorrow.

"Boss! Someone’s there!" The bald bandit halted abruptly, squinting at the woods.

Bandits erupted in laughter.

"Ambushing US? Hilarious!"

"With Boss here? Even 80 million Berry crooks tremble!"

Sige’s eyes darted nervously. Who’d target us NOW?

The Emperor Engine whimpered in his chest—not from fear, but fragile hope.