ONE PIECE: Lone Sails

The barbecue stretched into the afternoon, the crackle of the fire mingling with the murmur of voices. As the group ate, the initial wariness melted away, replaced by a tentative camaraderie. Noah took the opportunity to learn more about his new companions, beyond the three girls—Lilith, Lillian, and Mary—whom he'd already met.

Five boys completed the gathering:

Anthony, twelve, with spiky black hair like a hedgehog. The son of a fisherman, he'd lost his parents to pirates, a tragedy that mirrored Noah's own.

Tomani, eleven, with lank brown hair that earned him the nickname "noodle boy." His father, a painter, had been killed while visiting relatives in the Goa Kingdom, and his mother succumbed to grief a year ago.

Vic, ten, with striking black hair and blue eyes. A farmer's son, he'd watched his father die to a lion's jaws and his mother waste away from illness.

Alei, ten, a wiry boy with green hair, and his younger brother Ajie, seven, also green-haired. Their father had abandoned them three years ago to become a pirate, only to perish in a skirmish with a rival crew. Their mother, shamed by his actions, followed him to sea and later took her own life. The brothers harbored a deep hatred for their father and all pirates.

Lilith and Lillian, too, had lost their parents to a pirate raid three years prior, just like Noah. Mary, meanwhile, had been found abandoned on the beach as an infant, raised by a grandmother who passed away from illness last year.

Halfway through the meal, Noah set down his food and smiled at the group. "Are any of you interested in helping me out around here?"

Mary, her mouth full of meat, blinked in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"As you've seen, I eat over fifty kilograms of meat in a single meal," Noah explained. "Uncle Joseph has his work, and I'm busy too. I need help with cooking and daily chores. I can't offer a salary—just food and lodging. Anyone interested?"

"Food and lodging included? I'm in!" Mary raised her hand eagerly, her eyes gleaming at the prospect of regular meals.

Lilith glanced at her frail sister, Lillian, then nodded. "Brother Noah, I can wash clothes and clean. Lillian's good at cooking."

"You're hired. Welcome aboard," Noah said warmly, then turned to the boys. "What about you? I could use help with the orchard and workshop. Same deal—free food and a place to stay."

"I'm in," Anthony replied without hesitation. He didn't fully grasp Noah's plans, but a job was a job, and he needed one.

Alei tugged his brother Ajie's arm, speaking for them both. "We'll do it too." Shunned by the townsfolk for their father's piracy, the brothers had struggled to survive. Noah's offer was a lifeline they couldn't refuse.

Tomani, who still had some savings from his late parents, hesitated before nodding. "I'll help out, but I don't need to live here."

"That's fine," Noah assured him. "No pressure to stay."

Finally, Vic scratched his head sheepishly. "Brother Noah, I eat a lot…"

Noah had noticed Vic's appetite—twenty kilograms of meat and still going. He chuckled. "Worried I can't afford to feed you? Don't be. Work hard for me, and I'll make sure you're full."

"Really?" Vic's eyes welled up. "Oh, Brother Noah, I'm in!" He clasped Noah's outstretched hand, tears streaming down his face.

Joshua clapped his hands, breaking the emotional tension. "Enough talking—let's eat and drink!"

The group raised their juice-filled glasses, the clink of wood against wood sealing their bond. In this chaotic era of pirates, they were mere specks of dust, unremarkable and overlooked. Yet, in that moment, their futures intertwined, fragile but full of potential.

The day slipped away unnoticed, marking the quiet birth of Noah Manor.

Noah wasted no time organizing his new team:

Lilith as housekeeper, managing laundry and cleaning.

Lillian as cook, her gentle hands preparing meals.

Anthony as kitchen assistant, supporting Lillian.

Mary as chore girl, tackling odd jobs with enthusiasm.

Tomani as logistics and record-keeper, tracking supplies and resources.

Vic and Alei as orchard workers, tending the fruit trees.

Ajie as workshop assistant, aiding Noah's crafting efforts.

Each evening, Noah trained and educated the group, instilling the manor's rules—especially the need for secrecy. He drilled confidentiality into them, ensuring they understood the stakes.

After a month of foundational training, he introduced deeper lessons: ideas, philosophies, and songs. "No Savior," once a duet between Noah and Joshua, transformed when sung by ten voices. The chorus swelled with power, its resonance stirring their souls. It became a nightly ritual before dinner, a unifying thread weaving them together.

February 28, 1502

Noah Manor, Cabin Dining Room

Lillian, her cheeks rounded with a hint of baby fat, carried a steaming platter of grilled sausages to the table. "Dinner's ready!" she called, her voice bright.

The group filed in, taking their seats. Joseph, watching the children with a contented smile, felt a quiet pride. Joshua clapped his hands with a grin. "Everyone, get ready… let's sing!"

The familiar strains of "No Savior" filled the room, their voices rising in harmony. As Noah sang, a sudden surge coursed through him—an electric, commanding force. A terrifying aura erupted from him, rippling outward in all directions.

Shock flashed across Joseph's face, mirrored by the children. Then, one by one, they slumped to the floor, unconscious.

Conqueror's Haki awakening? Noah's mind remained steady, unshaken by the revelation.

He rose and gently patted his uncle's face. After a moment, Joseph stirred, blinking groggily. "Noah… what just happened? Why did everyone collapse?"

"Uncle, please look after Joshua and the others. I need to check outside. I'll explain everything when I get back."

Though puzzled, Joseph nodded. "Alright, leave them to me. Go."

Noah darted into the night, his movements swift and feline. In less than two minutes, he reached the nearest neighbor's house. Peering through the window, he saw the family unconscious but unharmed. Satisfied, he moved on, checking five homes in quick succession. At one, a stove blazed unattended; he released a [Wave Card], dousing the flames with seawater.

He continued his patrol, noting the range of the effect. It wasn't until he reached a house eight hundred meters from the manor that he found residents still awake, unaffected. Silently, he retreated, calculating the radius of his Haki's reach—approximately eight hundred meters.

Returning to the manor, he found everyone rousing, confusion etched on their faces. "Brother, what happened?" Joshua asked, his voice tinged with fear.

Noah raised a calming hand. "Don't worry. It seems I've awakened Conqueror's Haki."

He retrieved a book from his [Secret Card—Library], its cover reading Great Route Situation Analysis Report. Compiled from years of newspapers and travelogues, it contained his detailed study of the world, including Haki. He opened it to the relevant section, reading aloud the explanation of Conqueror's Haki—its rarity, its power to overwhelm wills, and its mark of a true leader.

As the group listened, understanding dawned, replacing their fear with awe. Noah closed the book, meeting their gazes with quiet resolve. The manor, once a refuge, was now something more—a foundation for a future he would shape with his own hands.