Chapter 204 - 62

Chapter 62These two monsters were already worth over a hundred million Berries a hundred years ago; their value is as high as it gets.A hundred-million-berry bounty from a hundred years ago is incomparable to what it is today.Mr. 3's voice carried a sense of superior control as he said, "Our targets are them."These two giants have been dueling on this island for nearly a hundred years, clashing from time to time.Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine gasped in shock.A hundred million Berries, and that was a bounty from a hundred years ago.How could anyone fight such monsters?"What matters now is the Straw Hat kid and the traitor who infiltrated our organization, Princess Vivi," Mr. 5 said.Monsters like those giants are hard to kill even with bombs; they're thick-skinned and too much trouble to provoke."Hmph, head-on confrontation is for fools."Mr. 3 seemed to see through their thoughts, elegantly lifting his teacup as a cold, intellectual light glinted off his glasses. "Small investment, major crime. Solving an enemy without fighting is the optimal solution. Intelligence is the strongest weapon."He took a soft sip of tea. "The two of you just need to follow my command for now."...Meanwhile, by the river where the going merrywas moored.Everyone was quite looking forward to the dinosaur meat and quickly began clearing a spot for a picnic.A Tyrannosaurus Rex this large would be difficult to cook on the ship.As the number of companions on the ship grew, Merry deeply felt the limitations of her small sailing vessel; no matter how much it was reinforced or upgraded since its construction, its potential had a visible end.She felt a bit dejected, wondering how much further she could carry her companions along the route."Merry?" Luffy was very sensitive to these kinds of emotions.Merry said in a small voice, "In the future, if you get the chance, you should still switch to a bigger ship...""...Then we'll travel together in that one too." Luffyrubbed Merry's head. "There's no rule saying we can only have one ship."Luffy also understood Merry's worries; her situation was very similar to Laboon's. Laboon was cut off from the sea by the Red Line, but there would always be a chance; when the time came, he would bring Laboon to the Grand Line, and he would definitely not give up on Merry either.Take good care of the going merry.Leave the fighting to them; just traveling together was enough.If it really didn't work, then the big one could carry the small one.They could build another ship large enough to accommodate Merry.Merry beamed with joy.The others had already brought out the barbecue grill and various pots, pans, and utensils. Luffyshowed off a bit; his skills weren't bad either.Robin seemed to be enjoying herself; her many hands allowed her to help out more, making even Nami dazed for a moment—did this woman not consider herself a captive?When it came to food, Quick was wide awake; he ran up to Luffy, and Vivi couldn't even hold him back.An enticing aroma spread through the air."Sizzle, so good, so good..." Luffy took a piece of leg meat and devoured it instantly; the meat, charred on the outside and tender on the inside, combined with the special seasoning Sanji had developed, made it impossible to stop eating.A Tyrannosaurus Rex was quickly wiped clean, and Luffy wasn't even half full.This was somewhat of an insult to a chef—how could he let a diner go hungry? Especially since Nami and the others had only eaten a few bites! Sanji volunteered to find more ingredients, and Zoro snarked, "Need help?""I'd need help from you?" Sanji practically pressed his face against Zoro's."Number Five, do you have a problem with Number Two?" Zoro retorted, making Sanji fume with rage.Arguing about the order they joined the crew?This guy is really annoying.The two of them simultaneously said they should have a contest; if they were going to compete, they should stop talking and just do it.They ducked into the forest at almost the same time, and not long after, they returned to the shore at almost the same time, each carrying a massive prey.Zoro dragged a creature that looked like a Stegosaurus, while Sanji carried a massive beast resembling a Triceratops."Hmph, Marimo, it looks like the prey I hunted is more delicious!" Sanji provoked."Shut it, Love-cook. Mine is clearly bigger in volume; it'll keep that Idiot Captain fed for a while!" Zoro refused to back down."What did you say? You want to fight?""I'd love to!"Luffy was used to it; he would find it strange if Zoro and Sanji didn't start a fight for even a single day.Chapter 81: The Second TeacherThe picnic ended, but Zoro and Sanji hadn't reached a conclusion.Their daily bickering quickly escalated into an argument over whose prey was better. Finally, the two of them dropped their prey at the same time and pointed into the dense forest: "Then let's have another match to see who can hunt a more impressive fellow next!"With that, the two of them dove into the depths of the primordial jungle like competing cannonballs, vanishing instantly."Hey, wait for me, Zoro!"Usopp screamed in terror; looking at the dark environment where beasts seemed ready to jump out at any moment, he didn't dare stay on the ship alone and hurriedly scrambled to follow in Zoro's direction.Suddenly, only Luffy and the women were left on the shore."How'd they run faster than me?"Luffy looked left and right.They certainly ran off quickly.Vivi, riding on the back of her Spot-billed DuckKaroo, asked fairly calmly, "Luffy, should we go together too?"She didn't want to stay on the ship; she would just let her mind wander into dark thoughts.But the going merry needed someone to stay behind, right? Otherwise, it would be over if it got destroyed."Let's just walk and see. No need to stay behind; Merry can make the ship's presence disappear." Luffy patted Merry's calf.The Klabautermann had too many abilities.Merry sat on his shoulder, muttering something, and then the going merry became faint and indistinct; if one didn't pay attention, they wouldn't even know a ship was there."Amazing." Nami was also a bit surprised; the going merry was like it had eaten a Clear-Clear Fruit.Luffy tugged at his arm, looking at Nami who was holding onto him tightly as if she were glued to him. "It really is amazing, but I'm even more amazing. I definitely won't let a dinosaur get near you, so you don't have to be afraid. You can let go now."Nami looked at him resentfully.Before, you were the one sticking to me, coming to my room in the middle of the night instead of sleeping under the pretext of'studying,' and now you're tired of it.Despite her thoughts, she held onto the corner of Luffy's clothes with one hand, her body almost completely pressed against him. Her eyes were squeezed shut, not daring to look at her surroundings; at the slightest rustle of wind or grass, she would shudder in fright, wishing she could turn into an octopus and wrap herself completely around Luffy.As for Robin, she seemed to not consider herself a captive at all; she was more like a visiting historian, observing the massive plant fossils and ancient rock layers with great interest.In Robin's eyes, the island was full of history, and she was quite interested. She hadn't come before because she didn't have time, but since she was now a captive, she just went with the flow."Then our goal is the giants!" He had already eaten dinosaur meat; Luffy's mind was now set on the giants. Robin said two giants had been dueling on this island for a hundred years, which meant they had been fighting since before his grandfather was even born.They were practically living fossils.However, after just a few steps, heavy footsteps came from ahead, and the ground vibrated slightly.Nami hugged him even tighter, her voice trembling, "What's coming now?"Luffy wasn't startled; instead, he grinned with joy.A massive head poked out from behind a giant fern leaf that was as tall as a building. It was a giant wearing an iron face-guard helmet, with a long flowing beard and a boisterous smile."Gyah ha ha ha ha! It's been a long time since guests have come to this island. I am the Captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates, Dorry the Blue Ogre."He looked curiously at Luffy's peculiar group.He looked at the various 'accessories' hanging off Luffy, especially Nami who was practically wrapped around him, and let out an even louder laugh."Hey, there's something behind you."Luffy sensed a massive fellow rushing over."Hmm?"Dorry blinked and instinctively looked back.A massive Tyrannosaurus Rex, looking like it was starving to death, approached silently, then opened its bloody maw and bit right into Dorry's butt through his leather skirt!Vivi's mouth fell open.That bite should have been able to crush iron.As it turned out, Dorry only let out a cry of pain and then swung his sword back.The Tyrannosaurus's head fell to the ground.Dorry held the dinosaur's head in one hand and gave Luffy a warm invitation."I haven't had lunch yet. Do you have any sake? How about we have a banquet?"A banquet?Mention that, and Luffy was wide awake."Then let's have a banquet, Giant-ossan!" Luffylaughed.Since Sanji had run into the forest for his competition, the heavy responsibility of cooking naturally fell on Luffy, who had learned a bit of the basics.He excitedly began processing the meat of that unlucky Tyrannosaurus.Although his techniques were far less refined than Sanji's—even a bit crude—and the seasoning might have been a mess, to a giant who had lived for a hundred years mostly on basic roasted meat and wild fruit, the skewers, giant bone soup, and fried steaks Luffy made were simply unimaginable, god-tier delicacies!"Ohhh, not bad at all."Dorry ate with tears in his eyes, devouring the food and letting out a loud exclamation of praise with every bite. "It's been a hundred years, and I've never eaten anything this delicious."Nami, Vivi, and the others had actually already tasted the dinosaur meat Sanji prepared on the ship and were already full.Robin smiled and stated she preferred fruit, so only Luffy, whose stomach seemed to be connected to another dimension, continued to eat heartily alongside Dorry.After eating and drinking his fill, Dorry patted his stomach contentedly and began to introduce himself:"I am Dorry the Blue Ogre. I've been dueling that fellow Brogy here for almost a hundred years, all for a silly reason, gyah ha ha ha ha... but that is the romance of a warrior!"Luffy, having eaten and drunk enough, also looked over Dorry's massive frame, an excited light flashing in his eyes.His Third Gear was developed based on imagining the size and strength of a giant.Now seeing a real giant standing before him, he felt inspirations regarding his fruit development surging in his mind.Moreover, this was originally the planned time for fruit ability development; that life-urging voice was already sounding its prelude in his ears."Then how about we have a fight?"Facing Luffy's invitation, Dorry looked down at the tiny tot who wasn't even as tall as his finger. He was surprised at first, but then a battle-hungry fire ignited in his eyes."Gyah ha ha ha ha, what an interesting little guy. You've got guts! Then come on—a giant never refuses a warrior's challenge!"Nami had a tearful face; if they were going to fight, could they at least go somewhere else?The battle began instantly.Luffy immediately activated Third Gear, his massive Rubber fist whistling as it smashed toward Dorry."Eh?"Dorry was pleasantly surprised; that fist had actually turned into a giant's fist, and the force looked quite heavy.He didn't dodge or hide; instead, he grew excited.Dorry could see that while Luffy's strength and moves were unique, they lacked a certain systematic power-generation technique and the true essence of giant strength.After all, Luffy had never been a giant; thinking he could perfectly use a giant's moves was a bit of wishful thinking."Let me give you a good lesson!"Master Dorry was now online.Chapter 82: I Studied for Ten Years, but You Only Need Two Hours?"Little guy, that's not how you use strength."