ONE PEICE: LONG ROAD

Village Chief's House

Morning in Xibei Village was a quiet affair, and for the elderly village chief, Hede, it was the perfect time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Sitting at his modest wooden table, Hede held a cup of tea in his left hand. The faint aroma of the tea wafted through the room as he took a slow sip, savoring the warmth and flavor. He let the tea swirl in his mouth before swallowing, a routine that brought him peace.

Suddenly, a loud "bang" shattered the calm, making Hede choke on his tea. Coughing and sputtering, the old man slammed the cup onto the table and turned toward the door.

At the entrance stood Kunke, a towering figure whose broad shoulders seemed to take up the entire doorway. Kunke's large frame blocked the light, casting a shadow across the room.

"Kunke, how many times do I have to tell you to knock before entering!?" Hede barked, his wrinkled face red with frustration.

"Oh, I forgot," Kunke said casually, scratching his head as he glanced at the doorframe.

"Forgot, my foot! You do this every time!" Hede snapped, waving his hands in exasperation. His irritation grew as he noticed the faint smirk on Kunke's face.

"Come now, old man," Kunke said with a grin, "we've known each other too long to let something as silly as a door ruin our friendship."

Hede glared at him but decided to move on. "Fine. What is it this time? Out with it."

Kunke's expression shifted to one of seriousness, his deep voice resonating in the small room. "It's about Wang Li, the boy Sibe found yesterday."

Hede leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "What about him?"

"Did you notice what he was wearing when they brought him to the village?"

"Of course I did. It's hard to miss something so… distinct," Hede replied, stroking his thin beard thoughtfully.

Kunke folded his arms across his chest. "That's exactly my point. The style of his clothing, the symbols—it's not normal for a boy from the East Blue. And his strength... Something feels off. We need to be careful. Sibe is always nearby, and—"

Hede cut him off with a sharp laugh. "You worry too much. Sibe may be young, but he's not a fool. And as for Wang Li, well, even if he's different, I trust my instincts. Years of experience have honed my judgment, Kunke. Let the boy stay for now. Your only concern should be keeping anyone away from the back mountain. Understood?"

Kunke frowned but nodded reluctantly. "Alright. I'll make sure no one sneaks into the back mountain."

With that, Kunke turned and walked toward the door, his heavy footsteps echoing through the house. He paused at the threshold and glanced back. "Don't regret this, old man."

"Just go," Hede muttered, watching Kunke leave. As he sipped his tea, he noticed the door left wide open.

"Damn it, Kunke! At least close the door when you leave!" Hede's angry shout echoed across the village.

The Back Hill

Xibei Village sat nestled between rolling hills, but the back mountain dominated the landscape. Towering cliffs surrounded the rear of the island, their jagged faces almost impossible to scale. A thick forest spread across the mountain's base, its dense canopy hiding secrets that the villagers whispered about but never dared to uncover.

Sibe led Wang Li along a narrow path toward the back mountain. The duo reached a large boulder blocking a small cave entrance. Sibe grinned mischievously, pointing to the stone. "Alright, Xiao Li, let's see if you can move this thing."

Wang Li hesitated. The boulder was massive, and while his mysterious strength had surprised him before, he wasn't sure he could repeat the feat. Placing his hands on the cold surface of the rock, he took a deep breath and began to push.

At first, nothing happened. But as Wang Li concentrated, a faint rumble echoed through the air. Slowly, the boulder shifted, scraping against the ground before rolling aside to reveal a dark tunnel. Sibe clapped her hands excitedly and lit a torch.

"Come on!" she said, disappearing into the tunnel.

Wang Li followed, his mind racing. His newfound strength was unnerving, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't entirely his own.

The tunnel was short, and light filtered in from an opening ahead. Emerging from the cave, they found themselves in a lush forest. The trees were shorter than usual but densely packed, their branches heavy with strange, colorful fruits. Sibe's eyes sparkled as she darted toward the nearest tree, eagerly picking the vibrant orbs.

Wang Li picked up one of the fruits and examined it. Its smooth surface gleamed in the dim light, and its shape reminded him of something from Simon's fragmented memories. Hesitating, he took a small bite. The flavor was sweet and intoxicating, but something about it felt… wrong.

"Xiao Li, these fruits are amazing!" Sibe called, her arms full of the peculiar produce. "Look, no pits!"

Wang Li frowned. The absence of seeds was odd, and the fruits' strange patterns tugged at his fragmented recollections. In One Piece, fruits with unique patterns often hinted at a connection to the Devil Fruits—legendary items said to grant incredible powers at a steep cost.

But these fruits lacked the signature swirling designs of Devil Fruits. Could they be a lesser variant? Or something entirely different? Wang Li's unease grew as he glanced around the forest. There was no sign of animals or insects, just an eerie silence broken only by Sibe's cheerful chatter.

"Xiao Xi," Wang Li said, his voice low, "we shouldn't eat any more of these fruits until we know what they are."

Sibe pouted but nodded reluctantly. As they ventured deeper into the forest, Wang Li couldn't shake the feeling that this back mountain—and the mysterious fruits—held secrets tied to his lost memories.