Chapter 20: Luffy vs. Buggy the Clown"If you've made up your mind, come with me. If not, I won't force you.""But I should warn you, once the explosion sounds, Buggy's men will quickly search the alleys. By then, you won't be able to leave even if you want to."Nami bit her lower lip, her teeth sinking into the soft flesh. She looked down at the heavy treasure chest in her arms, then glanced at the corner of the alley, finally gritting her teeth to make up her mind.She hoisted the treasure chest onto her shoulder, the weight pressing slightly against her, and tilted her chin at Adam, saying stubbornly."I'll only stay with you until you set sail and deal with Buggy, then I'm leaving immediately.""Also, the lock-picking potion and stealth spray you mentioned must be provided in full, not a single drop less.""No problem."Adam stifled a laugh, complaining wildly in his heart.She actually believed such nonsense meant to fool a child; people in the pirate world really are simple-minded, innocently cute.He turned and walked out of the alley, his tone relaxed. "Let's go, let's go see some excitement."Nami followed behind clutching the treasure chest, her footsteps extremely light, like a cat creeping along. She scanned the alleys on both sides vigilantly from time to time, her ears tense. After walking a few steps, she couldn't help but ask."Your Captain really just took that Moss-head and barged into the Buggy Pirates?""Yeah." Adam nodded indifferently."Are those two crazy?"Nami rolled her eyes, looking speechless."The Buggy Pirates have hundreds of people, plus two tricky officers. With just two people, how are they supposed to fight?"Adam smiled, his tone firm."Just watch. Sometimes, having more people doesn't mean having more strength. You'll get to witness how a true powerhouse fights."Hearing the word "powerhouse," a shadow flashed across Nami's eyes. Thinking of her hometown occupied by Fishmen, her face suddenly darkened.Fortunately, she was walking behind Adam, so that flicker of emotion was well hidden and went unnoticed.The two walked along the street toward the center of town. The closer they got, the more deafening the commotion became.The houses on both sides of the street had been mostly blown down, with broken tiles and wood chips scattered everywhere, crunching underfoot.Members of the Buggy Pirates lay scattered all along the way, either knocked unconscious or tied up like dumplings, without even the strength to groan.Turning the corner, the town square suddenly appeared before them.Zoro leaned against an orange tree at the edge of the square, spinning his sword with his fingertips, the blade catching the sunlight and flashing cold light.Lying by his feet were two unconscious pirates: one was the beast tamer Mohji, and the other was the acrobat Cabaji.His clothes had a few tears and were stained with specks of blood, but he was completely uninjured.Seeing Adam and Nami approaching, he just lifted his eyes and nodded slightly, acknowledging them.Nami raised an eyebrow, leaned against the wall while holding the treasure chest, and tilted her chin at Zoro."Not bad, Moss-head, you actually took out both Mohji and Cabaji."Zoro's brows instantly knitted together, his hand gripping the sword tightened suddenly, and his knuckles turned white.He glared at Nami, his tone turning cold. "Moss-head? Who are you talking about?""Who else here has green hair besides you?"Nami pouted, not afraid of him at all, her tone righteous.Seeing that the two were about to start bickering, Adam quickly stepped in to mediate."Alright, alright, let's watch Luffy fight first; it's at a critical moment."In the center of the square, Luffy and Buggy were at the final stage of their fight.Buggy was wearing a gaudy clown outfit, his bright red nose particularly eye-catching, his face twisted and distorted with malice.His body was chopped into pieces, with arms, legs, and torso floating in mid-air like a broken puppet, attacking Luffy frantically while cursing."You brat! How dare you destroy my Buggy Pirates! How dare you knock away my subordinates! I'll tear you into pieces!"Luffy stood in the center of the square, his straw hat firmly on his head, his eyes extremely serious.His Rubber body could withstand normal attacks, but Buggy's Chop-Chop Fruit, however, specifically countered his Rubber punch.When he threw a punch, Buggy would simply split his body, dodging easily without even letting him touch his clothes."You guy, can you only dodge around?"Luffy shouted with a frown, throwing another heavy punch, but only hit Buggy's empty, split-open clothes."Dodge? This is the power of the Chop-Chop Fruit!"Buggy laughed loudly, his body splitting into countless pieces, spinning rapidly around Luffy, his arrogance at its peak.Adam stood at the edge of the square, his fingertips tucked into his pockets, never stepping forward.His eyes were calm as he quietly watched the figures grappling in the arena, with no intention of intervening.He knew the plot trajectory by heart; Luffy could handle Buggy on his own, so there was no need for him to steal the spotlight. Being a quiet witness was enough.Nami held the treasure chest, huddling by his side, her gaze glued to the center of the battlefield, her eyes wide open.She looked at the chop-chop clown, then at the straw-hat boy who could stretch at will, and muttered softly."Chop-Chop Fruit... Gum-Gum Fruit... they're all such absurd, off-the-wall abilities."Just then, Buggy suddenly pulled his split body back together.He held several gleaming throwing knives in his palms, his eyes vicious, and with a wave of his arm, he threw them all at Luffy.Luffy couldn't dodge completely. With a few thuds, the throwing knives pierced his straw hat, pinning his most cherished hat firmly to the dirt wall behind him.That straw hat was a treasure entrusted to him by Shanks, his obsession for setting sail, more important than his own life.Seeing this, Buggy threw his head back and laughed wildly, his voice shrill and rampant."Your precious straw hat is pinned? Let's see how you dodge now! Isn't it just a broken straw hat? After I kill you, I'll burn it to ashes!"Luffy lowered his head, the shadow of the straw hat completely obscuring his eyes. The air around him suddenly froze, the pressure so low it made people unable to breathe, even the rising dust stopping in mid-air.He slowly raised his head, his eyes piercingly cold, enunciating each word, his voice heavy as Seastone."You guy... dare to touch my straw hat.""So what if I touched it?"Buggy laughed even more arrogantly, his body splitting apart with a roar again.His two detached hands each gripped a half-person-tall iron ball, and with a whistling wind, they smashed down hard toward Luffy's head.Everyone held their breath, thinking Luffy definitely couldn't dodge this hit.But just as the iron balls were about to smash into his forehead, Luffy suddenly took a deep breath.His chest swelled rapidly, his body becoming a huge, round balloon, taut in place. "Gum-Gum... Balloon."Buggy's iron balls smashed heavily onto Luffy's belly, instantly bounced back by the strong elasticity. The iron balls, their momentum undiminished, smashed hard into Buggy's own split body."Urghhh—"Buggy let out a miserable scream, his split body forced to merge back together, smashed until he was dizzy and disoriented, his steps unsteady, unable to even stand.
Chapter 21: Nami Boards the ShipLuffy seized this fleeting opening. He raised his hand and tugged, pulling the straw hat pinned to the wall back onto his head, wearing it firmly.His arm stretched to its limit in an instant, the Rubber tension pulled taut, and he slammed both fists towards Buggy, who hadn't yet recovered his senses."Rubber Rubber — — Bazooka!"His fists, carrying the force of a thousand jun, slammed solidly into Buggy's stomach.Buggy didn't even have time to let out a full scream before his entire body turned into a cannonball leaving the chamber, flying off sideways.His figure traced a long arc, flying directly out of Orange Town and plunging headfirst into the sea, disappearing completely.The plaza instantly fell into a deathly silence. Even the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the orange leaves could be heard clearly.The remaining members of the Buggy Pirates, seeing their Captain knocked away, panicked instantly and turned to scatter and flee.Zoro took a step, his blade flashing repeatedly, and with a few strikes, he knocked the weapons from their hands.The townspeople hiding in the houses rushed out and used hemp ropes to tie these pirates up tightly.A few clever pirates had already taken advantage of the chaos to slip to the edge of town, where they boarded their pirate ship and hurriedly went to find their Captain.The townspeople hiding in the houses pushed open their doors and ran out one after another.They looked at the empty plaza, stunned for a few seconds, before erupting into earth-shaking cheers.The fear and grievances suppressed for half a month exploded at this moment.The mayor led the residents in bowing deeply to the three of them, tears rolling down his eyes as he kept thanking them.Luffy scratched the back of his head and laughed heartlessly, not taking this credit to heart at all.The mayor had people bring over several baskets of freshly picked oranges, golden and plump, and stuffed them into everyone's hands as a thank-you gift.Adam took an orange, gently squeezing it with his fingertips. The peel sank slightly, and the pulp was full and juicy, the sweet aroma drifting into his nostrils.It would be perfect for concocting a new batch of energy potions.When Luffy saw the oranges, his eyes lit up instantly, and he hugged the basket, gnawing on them until juice splattered everywhere.After taking two bites, he leaned over to Adam, tugging on his arm and shaking it back and forth. "Adam, Adam! Hurry up and make this into a sweet potion! It has to be even sweeter than the last one!""Don't even think about it."Adam reached out and took the orange from his hand, his tone allowing no room for negotiation."The sugar content is too high and will cause cavities. Plus, if you dare to sneak a drink again, you won't get even half a tube of potion in the future."He grumbled inwardly, thinking that even if this guy's teeth were knocked out, he could just drink two bottles of milk and grow them back. Could this also be a low-end version of Life Return?The setting sun hung low, dyeing the sea a golden red. The group stepped onto the pier and returned to the flying, which was docked at the shore.Nami locked the treasure chest full of riches into an empty room in the cabin.This large ship had many cabins, dozens of them. She chose the most central, spacious room with a window, and converted the two adjacent rooms into her private bedroom, one for washing up, and one specifically for drawing nautical charts.She stood by the ship's railing, holding an orange between her fingertips, watching Orange Towngradually fade into the distance, her eyes showing a hint of indescribable softening.Luffy stood at the bow, pushed his straw hat up, and spread his arms to the evening breeze. His voice drifted far, far away along the sea breeze."Set sail! To the next island! I'm going to be the Pirate King!"Zoro leaned against the mast, carefully wiping his three blades, occasionally tilting his head back to take a swig of wine.The determination in his eyes never wavered; it was his obsession with becoming the Worlds Greatest Swordsman.the flying cut through the blue waves of the East Blue, the hull gliding forward steadily.In the planting area at the stern, the orange trees transplanted from Orange Town swayed gently with the ship, their orange-yellow fruits hanging from the branches, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance.As the sky just began to brighten, the damp, cold morning mist, wrapped in the salty sea breeze, clung to her cheeks, soaking the sails until they grew slightly heavy.Nami leaned against the ship's helm, one hand resting steadily on the brass wheel, her palm brushing against the cool, metallic texture.Her other hand smoothed out the nautical chart on the stand. A pencil stub was tucked behind her ear, and her high orange ponytail was swept across her cheek by the wind, the tips stained with fine specks of lead dust.She raised her hand to tuck the loose hair behind her ear, and when her fingertips brushed against the lead dust, she casually wiped them on her skirt.She then looked up at the wind vane on the mast, twisted the helm with her fingertips, and raised her hand to pull tight the ropes adjusting the sail angle.Once the ship stabilized with the wind, she looked up at the group on the deck and called out loudly."Hold on tight, everyone. The wind direction has changed. We're heading southeast; the next island is Syrup Village."As soon as she finished speaking, Luffy, who had been lying by the railing struggling with a fishing rod against a fish in the sea, instantly threw the rod onto the deck.His legs, made of Rubber, bounced twice on the wooden planks, and his whole body turned into a wound-up spring, leaping up suddenly.He circled around Nami, his bright black eyes filled with admiration, his straw hat bobbing on the back of his head."Wow! Nami, you're amazing! You even know when the wind direction changes."Luffy kept circling, muttering non-stop."Adam told me a long time ago that you're the best Navigator in the East Blue, understanding ocean currents better than those old sailors who've been at sea for decades. You really are our Navigator!"He had repeated this dozens of times over the past three days. From the day they set sail from Orange Town, Adam had told him that Nami had a natural intuition for the sea.With her around, let alone traversing the East Blue, they wouldn't have to worry about getting lost or hitting reefs even if they entered the Grand Line.After hearing this, Luffy completely categorized Nami into his inner circle. He spoke of "our Navigator" every other sentence, not taking Nami's words about "just hitching a ride, not joining" to heart at all.Nami's ear tips turned slightly hot. She closed the nautical chart on the stand and raised her hand to give Luffy a flick on the forehead, her knuckles knocking against his straw hat with a dull, soft sound.She was fierce with her words, but there wasn't a hint of anger in her eyes."Who is your Navigator? Stop flattering yourselves. I'm just hitching a ride on your ship for now; I'll get off once I find a suitable place."Nami's cheeks were slightly flushed as she shouted at Luffy, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.Adam sat at the cabin entrance with the freshly picked oranges in front of him.His fingertips glowed with a faint green light as he extracted the active ingredients from the pulp, bit by bit, the amber-colored liquid in the test tube slowly filling up.The sea breeze filled the sails, and the flying slowly sailed away from the waters of Orange Town, heading into the depths of the ocean.The adventure in Orange Town came to an end.And on their ship, there was now an orange-haired Navigator. The journey of the Straw Hat Pirates had taken another steady step forward.She glanced down at the fishing rod Luffy had thrown on the deck; the fishing line was floating lightly on the waves, and even the bobber was long gone.She tapped her toe lightly against the wooden planks and added crossly."And you, the fish was almost caught, and you just threw the rod away like that. You can forget about eating fish for dinner tonight."
Chapter 22: Luffy's Daily Life (Part 1)Luffy clutched his aching head, looking out over the sea from the ship's railing with a look of grievance. After seeing the empty sea, his ears drooped, his face fell, and he crouched down, slowly picking up his fishing rod while muttering under his breath."But Nami is really super amazing..."Nami turned her face away, pretending to ignore him, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.She gripped the helm firmly again, applying a little pressure with her fingertips to adjust the course of the flying bit by bit.This was their third day sailing from Orange Town. Three days of sailing, and the entire journey had been calm and peaceful.The surface of the East Blue was always clear and bright; the sun slid slowly from the bow to the stern, warming the wooden planks, and even the wind carried a touch of laziness.Life passed slowly, but it was not boring in the slightest.On the deck of the flying, there was never a lack of activity.Every day before dawn, when the morning mist was still wrapped around the railing like thin gauze, Zorowas already standing in the center of the deck.He was barefoot, stepping on the cool, damp wooden planks, holding the wado ichimonji in one hand. Starting with the most basic vertical slash, he swung his blade, each stroke steady and powerful.The blade cut through the morning mist, bringing with it a sharp gust of wind, and the whistling sound of the blade slicing through the air became the only sound in the early morning.Sweat dripped down his sharp jawline, hitting the deck with a soft patter, blooming into small, dark, damp spots.The intensity of his training grew harsher day by day.In the past, when he trained until his muscles were swollen and his arms were exhausted, he would have to lie down and rest for at least half a day to recover.Now, with the physical recovery serum formulated by Adam, he could gulp down a tube when he reached his physical limit, and within an hour, his entire body would be filled with strength again, his condition immediately pulled back to its peak.His sword-swinging speed became faster and faster, and the trajectory of his blade became steadier and steadier.The budding form of the Three Thousand Worldscould already be vaguely glimpsed within his continuous flashes of blade light.Adam was usually the second one to wake up. He would walk slowly out of the cabin, carrying a cup of freshly prepared light green nutritional serum, lean against the doorframe, and quietly watch Zoro finish his entire set of basic sword moves. Only when the other man took a break to sheath his sword and catch his breath would he lift his hand and accurately toss a new tube of physical recovery serum over."Today's dose has some added ingredients for maintaining wrist joints," Adam said in a flat tone, yet hitting the nail on the head. "You swung your sword too fiercely yesterday; your wrists are already showing signs of strain."Zoro reached out and caught the glass tube steadily, weighed the cold tube wall with his fingertips, and tilted his head back to gulp it down. The pale golden liquid slid down his throat, and a gentle warmth instantly spread through his blood vessels to every part of his body. His originally sore and stiff muscles, as if soaked in warm water, instantly relaxed. He wiped the traces of the liquid from the corner of his mouth and nodded slightly at Adam. His words remained few, but they carried sincere and genuine gratitude."Thanks."Adam waved his hand and was just about to speak when a rustling sound suddenly came from above the mast. Luffy, like a monkey, was hanging from the mast's crossbar, peering down with his head, his eyes shining brighter than two small light bulbs."Zoro, Zoro! Are you done training? Come fight me! I'm full of energy right now!"Zoro glanced at him sideways, casually sheathed his sword, and the veins on his forehead twitched slightly."No fight."His tone was crisp, leaving no room for negotiation."You secretly drank Adam's semi-finished serum yesterday and were hyperactive all night. I have no interest in keeping a perpetual motion machine company while it goes crazy."Luffy slid down from the mast using his hands and feet, landing on the deck with a thud that made the wooden planks tremble slightly.He immediately grabbed Zoro's arm, swinging back and forth, pestering him relentlessly."Just one fight! Just one! I promise not to use any serum! If I win, share half of the sweet energy serum Adam makes today with me!"Zoro, having no choice because he was being shaken, could only press his hand onto the sword hilt again, slowly draw his sword, step back, and take a fighting stance."Let's get this straight beforehand."His gaze was serious as he set the rules in advance."If you break the deck, you fix it yourself. Also, if you lose, you are not allowed to touch any sweet serum for three days."Luffy's eyes instantly went wide, he clenched his fists, assumed a standard fighting stance, and was trembling all over with excitement."No problem! Rubber Rubber—Pistol!"The fight between the two instantly broke out on the deck. Luffy's Rubber arm was stretched extremely long, the wind from his punch carrying force, yet he subconsciously avoided the mast and the helm.After all, this wasn't the first time he had been subjected to a tag-team beating from Adam and Nami; on this vast sea, the ship was a partner even more important than meat.Zoro's blade light was as sharp as lightning, yet he only parried and didn't hurt anyone; the blade always grazed past Luffy's fist without harming him in the slightest.But they hadn't been fighting for two minutes when the door to the cabin was suddenly pulled open with a bang.Nami stood at the doorway with her hands on her hips, her eyes sweeping over the shallow scratches on the deck left by the blade aura, the veins on her forehead instantly popping out, and she let out a roar at the two of them."You two, are you ever going to stop? Fighting on the deck again! The deck boards I just fixed have been hacked up by you again!""If you keep making trouble, the money for repairs will be deducted from your food allowance! Luffy's meat will be halved, and all of Zoro's alcohol will be confiscated!"As soon as these words were spoken, the two of them were as if hit by a pause button, stopping in unison.Zoro silently sheathed his sword, turned around to grab a rag from the corner, and lowered his head to wipe the sweat stains off the deck, pretending that nothing had happened.Luffy, on the other hand, immediately fell flat, scurrying over to Nami's side, bending over to apologize with a smile, his tone as obedient as could be."I was wrong, Nami, I won't fight anymore."He looked exactly like a puppy that had caused trouble and was hanging its head in admission of guilt.Adam leaned against the doorframe, his shoulders shaking slightly as he watched.Farces like this played out once or twice every day over these three days, yet no one ever truly got angry.Daytime was mostly filled with Luffy's antics.He was naturally unable to sit still; he was either squatting at the stern fishing, pestering Adam for the newly formulated sweet energy serum, or running around the ship, crumpling Nami's organized nautical charts into a mess, and then being chased all over the ship.If they didn't see a bruised and battered Luffy every day, everyone would feel like something was missing.At noon that day, Luffy moved a small wooden stool, sat at the stern, and held his fishing rod, struggling against a fish in the sea.He had been sitting quietly for nearly an hour when the fishing rod suddenly sank sharply, the fishing line pulled taut and creaking, and he was almost dragged directly into the sea."Wow! So much strength! It must be a big fish!"Luffy shouted excitedly, gripping the fishing rod tightly with both hands, pulling back with all his might, his Rubber arm stretched extremely long.But the next second, the surface of the sea suddenly exploded. A small Sea Kings, seven or eight meters long, lunged out of the water, opening its bloody maw, bringing with it a fishy stench, and bit fiercely toward the stern.
Chapter 23: The Grind King ZoroLuffy was not afraid at all; instead, his eyes shone even brighter. He let go of the fishing rod, clenched his fists, and prepared to charge forward.Just then, a streak of silvery-white blade light flashed suddenly.Zoro, who had appeared at the stern without anyone noticing, unsheathed all three swords. With a flash of cold light, he instantly severed the taut fishing line. Immediately following that, he landed another strike, using the back of his blade to slam hard against the Sea King's nose, sending it crashing back into the sea."Stop making a scene by the ship," Zoro said, sheathing his swords with a calm tone. "If you break the ship, Nami will start yelling again."No sooner had he finished speaking than Namicharged over in a fit of rage. Seeing the stern railing deformed from the Sea King's tail strike, her cheeks flushed red with anger. She grabbed a nearby fishing net and chased after Luffy, hitting him."You idiot! That railing was just fixed! Tonight, you're eating fruit—don't even think about touching a single piece of meat!"Luffy clutched his head, darting back and forth across the deck, shouting incessantly."I'm sorry, Nami! I was wrong!"As he ran, he hid directly behind Adam, peeking out with only half his head visible.Adam walked over holding a tube of white ointment and helplessly pulled him out from behind.Seeing the red marks on Luffy's palms caused by the fishing line, he gently squeezed out some ointment and applied it slowly."I've told you so many times, don't fish for these things in the nearshore waters." Adam's tone carried a hint of reproach, though his movements were gentle."If the ship gets damaged, we'll all be drifting in the ocean drinking saltwater."Luffy chuckled foolishly, standing still and obediently letting him apply the ointment, while mumbling happily to himself."But it's fun! And Zoro is super strong; he scared it off in one hit!"Adam shook his head helplessly and put the ointment back into his canvas bag. At present, their strength wasn't enough to directly slay a small Sea King.Besides, if a large amount of blood scent were to spread across the sea, no one knew what kind of monsters it might attract.They would have to wait until they could easily defeat Sea Kings before considering collecting materials.Over these past three days, his backpack had been stuffed to the brim, filled with various emergency medicines. Hemostatics, anti-inflammatories, sedatives, insect repellent...He had taken care of every possible minor mishap that anyone on the ship might encounter.The only regret was not being able to collect any Sea King blood.It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he really didn't want to risk the safety of the entire ship for just a few materials.What Luffy craved most was always the locked medicine cabinet in Adam's cabin.The sweet energy serum, wrapped in a crisp orange scent, would slide down his throat, instantly sweeping away his hunger while filling him with an itching surge of strength.To him, this stuff was more tempting than a large platter of grilled meat.Fearing that drinking too much would disrupt his metabolism, Adam had specifically put a lock on the cabinet.But Luffy had a natural talent for dealing with gaps; his Rubber arms could stretch and bend, allowing him to sneak them through the cabinet cracks and hook his target every time.That afternoon, the faint scent of herbs drifted through the cabin.Adam was holding a dropper, mixing a new batch of genetic serum, with cool water vapor condensing on the walls of the test tube.Suddenly, a very faint rustling sound came from the direction of the cabinet, like a small insect gnawing on a wooden board.He glanced up and saw a piece of elongated Rubberarm slowly creeping in through the door gap.The fingertips accurately hooked a vial of golden concentrated physical energy serum and were dragging it out bit by bit.Adam gently set down the dropper, cleared his throat, and spoke in a tone as calm as deep water."If you drag that out any further, I'll replace all your sweet serums today with bitter medicine brewed from coptis."This tactic was forced out of him. Luffy, the repeat offender of stealing medicine, never learned his lesson; after his materials were squandered to the bottom, he finally brought out his ultimate sanctioning weapon.Ever since he tried the bitter gourd and coptis version of the punishment serum, Luffy would always sniff intensely at the door gap for a long time before attempting to steal medicine.That piece of Rubber arm froze in mid-air instantly and then zipped back in the next second.Immediately after, Luffy's head cautiously peeked in from the doorway, his face beaming with an obsequious smile, his eyes curved like two crescent moons."Adam... I was just looking, I wasn't going to take it...""Don't pull that on me."Adam walked over, clicked the cabinet shut, and locked it again, stuffing the key into his pocket.To put it plainly, this lock was just for peace of mind; against a Rubber man, it deterred the honest but not the devious. Still, having a barrier was better than leaving it wide open."Two vials of sweet serum a day at most, not a drop more."He glanced sideways at Luffy, his tone carrying an uncompromising seriousness. "If you steal any more, you won't even get to taste a hint of sweetness for the next week."Luffy's face fell instantly, and he crouched by the doorway with his head drooping and shoulders slumped, looking like a soaked puppy.Just then, Nami pushed the door open, saw this familiar scene, and couldn't help but roll her eyes dramatically. "I knew it was you stealing things here."She turned to Adam, her tone carrying a hint of disdain."Give me some insect repellent; there are bugs crawling in the corner of the cabin, rustling, and it's keeping me awake at night."Adam turned around, took a tube of light green spray from the wooden shelf, and handed it to her."One spray lasts for half a month."He also grabbed a small bag of pendants and handed them to her as well."And this, for repelling sharks. Hang it on the ship's rail, and sharks in the nearshore waters won't dare to approach once they smell it."the flying was originally a living ship, with vitality hidden within its wood fibers, so it was perfectly normal for one or two small bugs to crawl out occasionally.Although insect repellent had been placed everywhere, there were always a few resilient ones that slipped through the net.Nami took the items, stuffed them into her pocket, glanced at the wilted Luffy crouching on the ground, and added a remark to Adam."You just spoil him too much. Next time he steals, just cut off the sweet serum entirely and see if he dares to do it again."Luffy instantly lifted his head, stuck his tongue out at Nami, and made a face.But as soon as he met Nami's glaring eyes, he immediately shrank his neck and crouched back down.While they were bickering, Zoro also pushed the door open and walked in. He was clutching two empty medicine vials that had been warmed by his grip, and he placed them gently on Adam's experimental table."I've run out of recovery serum; give me two more."His tone was flat, with a slight rasp from practicing swordsmanship."I want to try some new sword moves tomorrow, so the training volume will be a bit higher."Adam turned to retrieve four vials of serum and handed them to him, his fingertips applying slight pressure."Two for daily use, and two for emergencies."He cautioned, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness."Don't train too intensely; if your body can't keep up, you'll damage your foundation instead. I've added ingredients to nourish your qi and blood in these; drink them after you finish training."Zoro took the serums, stuffed them into his waist pouch, nodded slightly at Adam, and turned to walk back to the deck.Nami watched his retreating back and muttered softly to Adam."Zoro really is a grind king; training until midnight every day. It's only because of your serums that he can handle such punishment."
Chapter 24: Syrup VillageAdam smiled, his gaze falling upon the dense array of test tubes on the table."He has his goals, and all we can do is help him avoid unnecessary detours."Zoro, that battle-crazed maniac, spent his days on the deck and his nights locked away in the training room at the bottom of the ship.Fortunately, the flying had excellent soundproofing; otherwise, everyone on board would have been woken up by the sound of him swinging his sword.Even when Adam trained himself, he only did so during the day and would never push himself to such extremes.Nami looked at the experimental bench filled with potions, and at the shelves where customized potions were neatly organized for each person; a quiet warmth deepened in her eyes.This guy, Adam, might look unreliable, but in reality, he was incredibly dependable.She kept saying she was just hitching a ride temporarily, but in her heart, she knew better. This ship and these noisy people had long since become tied to her.She seemed to be gradually growing fond of this kind of life.Evening on the flying was the quietest time of the day.The setting sun dyed the entire sea a warm orange, spilling light like shattered gold onto the deck, heating it until it felt slightly warm.Their shadows were stretched long, clinging to the deck in quiet stillness.Leaning against the railing at the bow, they enjoyed the sea breeze carrying the scent of oranges, savoring this rare moment of leisure.Nami unfolded the rolled-up nautical chart, her fingertip gently tapping on the location of Syrup Village, her voice soft yet clear."Syrup Village is a small village by the sea. There are no Marines stationed there, and the people are quite simple and honest.""We can restock our fresh water and food there, and while we're at it, repair the railing at the stern that was damaged by the Sea Kings."Luffy's eyes lit up as he listened, swaying back and forth while clinging to the railing, his straw hat nearly sliding down to the tip of his nose."Wow! A new village! Is there any delicious meat? And anything fun?"Zoro leaned against the mast, clutching a flask in his hand and taking a sip from time to time.This liquor was fermented by Adam using fruits and accelerated with special potions; the taste was mellow, the alcohol content low, and it was perfect for relieving fatigue after sword training.Listening to the noisy chatter around him, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Zoro's mouth.This kind of life wasn't bad at all.At least it was much livelier than drifting alone on the sea as he used to.Adam sat to the side, mixing a few glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice and handing them out to everyone one by one.Ever since the orange trees were transplanted to the stern, fresh juice had become a daily beverage on the ship.Luffy took the cup, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. Smacking his lips, he reached out to grab the cup in front of Zoro.Just as his fingertips touched the side of the cup, Zoro firmly held his hand down."This one has alcohol in it; it would be a waste for you to drink it."Luffy looked aggrieved and listlessly retracted his hand.Adam smiled and handed him another full glass, his tone helpless yet indulgent."I saved this for you, so don't go grabbing his share."The group sat like this, chatting idly back and forth.They talked about glowing fish in the sea, the slow-drifting clouds in the sky, and finally, naturally, they arrived at the topic of their respective dreams.Luffy sat cross-legged at the very front, clenching his small fists, his eyes shining brighter than the brightest stars in the night sky.He took off his straw hat, pressed it gently against his chest, and spoke with utmost seriousness."I am going to the Grand Line to find the One Piece and become the Pirate King!"Zoro tilted his head back, finished the last drop of wine, gripped the flask, and looked on with sharp, determined eyes."I have a promise with someone to become the Worlds Greatest Swordsman and make my name echo through the heavens."Everyone's gaze fell gently upon Nami.Nami hugged her knees, gazing at the endless horizon in the distance. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke softly, a gentle yet firm smile playing on her lips."I want to travel across every sea in the world and draw a complete world map that belongs to me."After saying this, she looked up at Adam, curiosity in her eyes.The others' gazes also fell upon him.Adam gently swirled the juice cup in his hand, the orange liquid spinning inside. He looked at the familiar faces around him and spoke with a smile."I want to concoct potions that can break through the limits of the human body and travel with you to every corner of this sea to see all the scenery."The sunset fell gently upon them, and the sea breeze carried their voices far, far out into the ocean.Luffy suddenly stood up abruptly, spread his arms wide, and shouted at the boundless sea."Once we gather all our crewmates, we'll head to the Grand Line together! I'm going to be the Pirate King!"Everyone laughed. No one retorted, and no one poured cold water on his dreams.On this small ship, the flying, the hearts of four people, each carrying different dreams, were already tightly bound together.Three days of sailing had passed without thrilling battles or perilous crises.There was only the endless playful bickering on the deck, the faint scent of medicine in the cabin, and the occasional offhand remark of concern or instinctive act of protection.Their friendship was like the wooden fibers within the hull of the flying, spurred to growth by Adam's potions.Intertwining bit by bit, interlocking piece by piece, they eventually became unbreakable.Night slowly descended, and stars blanketed the entire night sky, studded across the black velvet canopy.Luffy leaned against the mast, already fast asleep with his round belly held in his arms. He was still clutching two empty test tubes, muttering intermittently in his sleep."Meat... sweet potion... give me one more..."Zoro leaned against the other side of the mast, eyes closed for a nap, his palm still firmly gripping the hilt of his sword, never relaxing for a moment.Nami gently put away the nautical chart and turned to head back to her room.Before going to sleep, she didn't forget to pick up the fishing rod that Luffy had tossed on the deck and put it away neatly in the corner.Adam sat at the bow, watching the two sleeping figures, then looked up at the stars filling the sky.A faint smile remained on his lips.He knew that Syrup Village was just ahead. New crewmates and new adventures were waiting for them not far away.The sea breeze filled the sails steadily, and the flying cut through the night, sailing quietly and firmly toward the southeast.Nami leaned against the ship's helm, the salty sea breeze lifting her orange hair and gently brushing against her cheek.She raised her hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her fingertips stained with the chill of the sea breeze, and gave a gentle kick to Luffy, who was sprawled on the deck sunbathing."Stop lying there. Get up and pull in the bow lines; in another four hours, we'll reach Syrup Village."Luffy rolled over, belly facing up, the warm wooden deck pressing against his back, and he squinted his eyes in comfort.He had half an energy bar made by Adam in his mouth, the sweet aroma mixed with the taste of wheat spreading on his tongue, his words slurred yet full of admiration."Nami, you even calculated the arrival time so accurately; you really are our Navigator."Over the past three days, he had repeated this phrase dozens of times, and he never grew tired of saying it.The tips of Nami's ears turned slightly hot, as if scorched by the setting sun.She folded the nautical chart onto her knees with a soft rustle of paper, raised her hand, and gave Luffya crisp flick to the forehead, her tone still fierce.
Who is your Navigator? Stop trying to flatter yourself.""I am only riding your ship temporarily. As soon as I find a suitable place, I will get off immediately.""Also, don't think I don't know that you stole a drink from Adam's cabinet again yesterday. If you steal another, I will tie you to the mast and leave you in the sun for the whole day."Luffy sat up, clutching his head, a faint red mark on his forehead. His face instantly fell, and he slumped over, completely dispirited."But that potion makes me feel so energetic all over. Adam is too stingy, only giving me two vials a day."The wooden cabin door creaked open, and Adamwalked out, holding a freshly prepared pale blue potion.Condensation beaded on the cool glass as he heard this and raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe with a tone full of complaints."That is a semi-finished product; it hasn't undergone complete human trials yet.""You stole half a vial, stayed hyperactive for two days and nights, and dragged Zoro into four fights. You should be counting your lucky stars that it didn't cause metabolic stress on your body, yet you still want more."Zoro, who was practicing swordsmanship nearby, just sheathed his sword. The blade kicked up a breeze that swirled fallen leaves across the hot deck.He picked up the wine jug at his feet, tilted his head back for a swig, and a vein pulsed slightly on his temple as he suddenly added:"If he steals another, the next time he drags me to practice swordsmanship, I'll just slash him into the ocean to feed the fish."Adam walked over, flicked his wrist, and accurately tossed him a vial of the newly formulated physical recovery agent.This was his re-formulated version, just enough to keep up with the group's skyrocketing physical energy consumption."Today's dose. Drink it after you finish training; don't take it on an empty stomach, it's bad for your digestion."Zoro reached out and caught it steadily. He weighed the cold glass vial with his fingertips, said nothing more, and simply nodded slightly at Adam.In these three days, his training intensity had nearly doubled, all supported by Adam's potions, and his strength had long since surpassed his past self.Before, when he trained until his muscles tore and his arms gave out, he would have to lie paralyzed for half a day to recover.Now, with one vial in his stomach, he could return to his peak condition in less than an hour.His sword swings were faster, his strength heavier; his hand gripping the sword was steady without a tremor, and his blade trajectory was precise to the millimeter.He could clearly feel that he was one step closer to his goal of becoming the Worlds Greatest Swordsman.It was just that after Luffy stole the potion, he became a veritable perpetual motion machine, pestering him for sparring matches every day.Even though his stamina was far beyond that of a normal person, he couldn't handle being pestered day and night like this.Most of the energy in the potion was consumed, but a small portion quietly settled in his body, tempering his physique bit by bit, waiting for the moment of total eruption.Luffy crept up to Zoro's side, grabbing his arm and shaking it back and forth, his eyes shining brightly."Zoro, Zoro, when we dock, let's have another fight, okay? I feel like I'm full of energy right now!"Zoro shot him a sidelong glance, hooked the wine jug onto his waist, gripped his sword hilt again, and spoke in a cold tone."When you stop stealing the potion, I'll fight you again. Otherwise, even if I win, it wouldn't be a fair victory."Nami rolled her eyes dramatically and raised her voice to remind the group, her tone carrying the unique vigilance of a Navigator."Everyone, pay attention. There are reefs near Syrup Village. If the ship gets damaged, I'm not fixing it."Luffy jumped up immediately, his Rubber legs bouncing on the deck twice, and he nimbly rushed to the bow to haul in the mooring ropes.Humming an off-key tune, he was full of anticipation for the new island—what he loved most was adventuring in unfamiliar places.Zoro leaned against the mast, continuing his basic sword swings—one stroke, another stroke—his rhythm as steady as a pendulum.Adam leaned against the ship's rail, flipping through the list of medicinal herbs in his hand, silently calculating which raw materials for his prescriptions he could replenish in the village.Two hours later, the morning mist had completely dissipated, and the lazily warm sunlight covered the sea surface.On the horizon, a vast expanse of deep green slowly unfolded as Syrup Village lay quietly on the gentle slope of the coast.Small houses with white walls and red tiles were scattered along the slope. Orange trees and olive trees grew lush and leafy in front of and behind the houses. As the wind blew, the leaves rustled, mixing with the soft sound of distant waves lapping against the shore, creating an unbelievable quietness.Several small fishing boats coated in tung oil were moored at the pier. Fishermen were squatting on the shore mending nets, hemp threads weaving through their fingertips. Seeing the flying dock, they all looked up.the flying docked steadily at the wooden pier, the planks trembling slightly under the pressure of the ship's hull.Luffy was the first to jump off. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he stretched out in a big yawn, sniffed hard, and his eyes instantly brightened like two little suns."There's the sweet scent of wild fruit here, and the smell of freshly baked bread!"Nami followed behind, clutching her coin purse, her footsteps clattering on the wooden pier as she retorted irritably:"All you ever think about is eating.""We're going to the town to restock fresh water and food first. And you, Zoro, don't walk in the opposite direction, lest you get lost again."Zoro, carrying his sword, had just taken a step in the opposite direction of the village, but paused when he heard this, stubbornly saying:"I was just checking the surrounding terrain. Who would get lost?"Adam walked at the back, carrying his canvas bag, his gaze sweeping calmly over the village on the slope.He didn't say anything, but he was crystal clear in his heart.This was Usopp's hometown, and also the place where Kuro, the Captain of the Black Cat Pirates, had been lurking for three full years.A conspiracy against the rich young lady Kaya was currently hidden in this gentle sunlight, brewing quietly.They hadn't gone far up the slope into the village when a boisterous shout suddenly came from ahead, accompanied by the sound of rapid footsteps approaching from afar.A boy wearing windproof goggles and sporting a signature long nose, carrying a slingshot larger than his own upper body, came charging down the slope, gesticulating wildly, his voice booming loudly."Oh no! Pirates! A huge group of pirates is charging over! There are eight thousand subordinates, and their ships have completely blocked the harbor!"He was rushing too fast, his foot slipped, and he almost crashed into Luffy.Fortunately, he braked in time, stumbled back two steps, and managed to steady himself.He looked up to size up the group before him, his gaze sweeping over the three swords on Zoro's shoulder, then landing on Luffy's red vest, his eyes instantly widening.The boy jumped back violently, raised his slingshot to aim at them, and shouted loudly:"Who are you people? Are you pirates?""I am Captain Usopp, and I have eight thousand elite subordinates! If you dare to cause trouble in this village, I will absolutely not let you off!"Having spent years roaming the coastline, Usoppcould tell at a glance that these strangers were definitely not residents of the island.Luffy looked at his long nose and then stared at the large slingshot in his hand; far from being angry, his eyes brightened even more.He eagerly leaned forward, staring at the slingshot with a look of admiration, and asked curiously:"Wow, are you Usopp? Do you really have eight thousand subordinates? That's so cool!"
Chapter 26: Kuro's ConspiracyUsopp was stunned by the sudden admiration, his hand holding the slingshot frozen in mid-air, his knuckles tightening slightly.The next second, he puffed out his chest, stood on his tiptoes, tilted his chin up triumphantly, and began to brag with wild gestures, his spit nearly flying out."That goes without saying. I, Captain Usopp, am a great pirate who has crisscrossed the East Blue; I've seen all kinds of storms and waves!""Last time I encountered a hundred-meter-long Sea Kings, I punched it away in one blow, even knocking out its teeth!""Another time, I broke through the encirclement of twenty Marine warships. Their cannons couldn't even touch a single hair on my head, and the Marines chased me for three whole streets!"Nami stood to the side with her arms crossed, the sea breeze lifting her hair, and rolled her eyes dramatically before leaning in to whisper in Adam's ear."This kid doesn't even draft his lies. Eight thousand subordinates? I don't think he even has eight who can actually fight. He's the ceiling of the bluster world."Adam smiled, rubbed the strap of his canvas bag with his fingertips, and didn't respond.He looked at the gesticulating teenager with a hint of tenderness hidden in his eyes.This kid might look like a liar, but deep down, he was kinder than anyone.Calling out false alarms over and over wasn't because he was bored; it was because he wanted to keep the people in the village vigilant.Bragging about outrageous things every day was just a way to cope with his longing for his father, who had gone out to sea.What's more, the things this kid bragged about actually ended up coming true one by one, which was strange to say the least.It's just that his physical shortcomings were too obvious. Even as a sniper, he couldn't neglect physical training. It looked like he would need to add physical training for all the crew members later—maybe set up a Pirate-style boot camp.Zoro leaned against a nearby olive tree, arms crossed even tighter, and scoffed with a tone full of disdain."A hundred-meter-long Sea Kings, punched away in one blow.""I'd like to see how those spindly arms and legs of yours are going to punch away a Sea Kings. I'm afraid you'd be swallowed whole by one instead."Usopp's face turned beet red instantly, even the tips of his ears flushing, feeling the embarrassment of being called out on the spot.He stiffened his neck, gripped his slingshot, and retorted loudly."Of course I can do it! You just haven't seen it!" "I'm very strong, and the people in the village rely on me for protection!"Luffy, however, listened with shining eyes, not realizing at all that this was bragging. No matter how much others mocked, he listened with utmost seriousness.He grabbed Usopp's arm and shook it back and forth, his straw hat tilting to one side."Wow, you're amazing!""I'm Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King!""This is Zoro, my swordsman who will become the Worlds Greatest Swordsman. This is Adam, my pharmacist, who is super good at making medicine. And this is Nami, my Navigator, who knows a lot about navigation."Usopp was completely dumbfounded, his mouth agape, unable to speak for a long time.He had bragged countless times in his life, but no one had ever taken him so seriously.The straw-hatted boy in front of him had sparkling eyes filled with genuine admiration, making him feel a bit embarrassed. He scratched his head, silently lowered his raised slingshot, and muttered softly."Hey, you guy, do you actually believe it?"Luffy looked at him as if it were obvious, his eyes incredibly sincere. "Why wouldn't I believe you? Your stories are super interesting, much more fun than the pharmacy principles Adam tells me about!"That afternoon, the setting sun dyed the village rooftops a warm orange, and the evening breeze carried the sweet scent of oranges.Usopp scurried onto the flying in a panic, his footsteps stumbling, his feet thumping loudly against the wooden deck.His face was deathly pale, his lips purple, and he was trembling all over—a completely different person from the spirited braggart of the morning. His body was covered in grass and dirt."It's bad! There really are pirates! It's the Black Cat Pirates!""Their Captain, Kuro, is actually Klahadore, the butler for Miss Kaya!"He grabbed Luffy's arm, his fingertips ice-cold and still trembling uncontrollably. His voice was shaky, his eyes filled with urgency, and he couldn't even speak coherently."I just heard him talking to the hypnotist Jango in the woods to the north.""He's been undercover for three years. Tomorrow at daybreak, he's going to kill Miss Kaya and loot all her family's wealth!""He also brought two cat-man brothers; they are cold-blooded killers who strike mercilessly!"The more he spoke, the more anxious he became. His eyes were red, tears swirling in them, but he held them back."I ran to tell the people in the village, but they didn't believe me.""They all thought I was bragging again, saying I'm just a bad kid who only knows how to lie. No one would listen to me..."Nami frowned, pulled over a wooden chair, pushed it in front of him, and handed him a glass of warm orange juice, her tone much softer than usual."The Black Cat Pirates, I've heard of them.""Captain Kuro is cunning and ruthless. He faked his death to escape three years ago. I didn't expect him to be hiding here. Are you sure you didn't mishear? He's acting tomorrow morning?"Nami had been traveling the seas alone for many years and was well-informed, knowing the ins and outs of every pirate crew in the East Blue.After all, if you're living on the sea and don't even know the background of your opponents, you would have fallen countless times.Usopp nodded vigorously and downed the orange juice in one gulp. The warm liquid slid down his throat but didn't dispel the chill in his body.He gripped the empty cup, his hand still shaking, his tone incredibly firm."I heard it clearly. He said he's endured for three years and doesn't want to play the role of the docile butler anymore; he's going to kill Miss Kaya with his own hands!""I absolutely cannot let him hurt Miss Kaya. She's the only one who is willing to listen to my stories and doesn't mind my bragging."Zoro's hand on his sword tightened abruptly, his knuckles turning pale, and his gaze turned cold instantly.Bullying the weak, especially a frail and sickly young girl, was, in his view, the most pathetic and unforgivable thing."Going undercover for three years just to loot the property of a sick young girl—that's truly pathetic. Does he even deserve to be a pirate?"Adam leaned against the ship's railing, twirling a vial of pale green sedative between his fingertips, the glass wall coated with cool moisture, and teased with a smile."The Kaya you're talking about is the rich young lady in this village, the one you go to tell sea stories to every day, right?""You kid, your intentions aren't exactly pure, are they? Going for that childhood sweetheart cultivation route?"Usopp's face turned red again instantly. He scratched his head, eyes darting away, not daring to look at the others, his voice trailing off."Miss Kaya's parents passed away early, and her health is poor. She's been bedridden for years, and no one is there to keep her company.""I go to tell her sea stories every day, and she really likes listening to them. I absolutely cannot let her be killed by that bastard Kuro!"Luffy looked at him, his eyes red with anxiety, yet still clenching his fists tightly and refusing to back down, and suddenly smiled.
Chapter 27: Easily Defeating the Cat BrothersHe reached out and patted Usopp on the shoulder, his touch neither too light nor too heavy, his tone incomparably firm, carrying the unique forthrightness of a Pirate King."Alright, we'll help you."Usopp jerked his head up, eyes wide with disbelief, unable to trust his own ears as tears instantly welled up and rolled down.He had only come to ask for help with a sliver of hope; after all, on his own, he was no match for Kuroat all."You... you believe me? The people in the village don't believe me; they all think I'm lying...""What does that matter?"Luffy crouched down to look him in the eye, his straw hat sliding down slightly to cover one eye, his smile open and bright.When it came to matters of right and wrong, Luffynever disappointed anyone; even if a stranger asked for help, he would agree without hesitation—that was Luffy, a pure and passionate youth."You weren't lying; you wanted to protect that young lady, right?""We were going to send guys who bully others flying anyway!"Usopp's tears fell even harder, but he quickly wiped his face with his sleeve, puffed out his chest, gritted his teeth, and said word by word, his voice full of resolve."Alright! Tomorrow morning, we'll intercept them at the north slope in front of the village!""I, Captain Usopp, even if I have to risk my life, will absolutely not let them take a single step into the village!"Zoro lifted his eyes, flicked his wrist, and a sharp, honed dagger flew over, landing steadily in Usopp's hand—this was a spare blade he carried, modeled after Hawkeye's style."Follow behind us tomorrow, don't run around, and try not to hold us back."Usopp caught the dagger, the coldness of the blade seeping into his fingertips; his hands were still shaking, but he nodded firmly, a bit more confidence appearing in his eyes.At the crack of dawn, the morning mist still wrapped around the north slope, and cold dew hung on the grass blades, soaking into their trouser cuffs, biting and damp.Clutching his slingshot, Usopp stood at the very front of the slope, his legs trembling uncontrollably, yet he kept his eyes locked on the forest path ahead, refusing to retreat a single step.His palms were full of sweat, his hand gripping the slingshot turning white, yet he still held the slingshot high, his gaze full of stubbornness.Luffy, Zoro, Adam, and Nami stood behind him, their presence radiating.Nami crossed her arms, her brows furrowed, watching the intersection vigilantly, her ears twitching slightly to catch every movement around them.Zoro had his hand on the hilt of his sword, his aura terrifyingly heavy, the blade faintly reflecting a cold light as he prepared to strike at any moment.Adam carried a canvas bag on his back filled with emergency anesthetics, hemostatics, and a calming spray specifically prepared for Usopp; his fingertips rested lightly on the bag strap, his expression calm.Luffy clenched his fists, his gaze firm, his straw hat swaying slightly in the morning breeze, his whole body radiating an unyielding spirit.Not long after, the sound of soft footsteps came from the mist, growing closer and closer, accompanied by the crude laughter and chatter typical of pirates.Walking at the front was Jango, wearing a pointy striped hat covered in mist, spinning a hypnotic ring in his hand; the ring reflected light as he walked with a swaggering, devil-may-care gait.Behind him followed two tall, thin men, moving silently with slightly hunched backs and sinister eyes; they were the cat brothers, Buchi and Sham.Further behind were dozens of pirates wielding machetes, each looking fierce and evil, with savage smiles on their faces; their machetes were stained with rust and grime, and they reeked of a foul, fishy stench.And walking in the very middle of the group was Kuro, wearing a crisp, tailored butler's uniform.He remained refined and gentle, his collar neat and cuffs pressed straight; he raised a hand to push up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, the lenses reflecting a cold light that felt completely out of place with his demeanor.Seeing the group on the slope, a look of perfectly feigned surprise appeared on Kuro's face, then his gaze fell on Usopp, a sinister smile curling the corners of his mouth as his tone turned ice-cold."I was wondering who it was; it turns out to be you, that little braggart.""What, did you eavesdrop on my plan and find a few helpers to come and die?"Usopp raised his slingshot and aimed it at Kuro; although his voice was still trembling, he shouted loudly, piercing through the morning mist with the courage of a man burning his bridges."Kuro, your conspiracy has been exposed by us; hurry up and take your men and get out of the village!""I will absolutely not let you harm a single hair on Miss Kaya's head!""Get lost; I don't have time to play house with a kid like you."Kuro sneered, his voice colder than the ice in the morning mist.He raised his hand slowly, his fingertips brushing over his neatly trimmed nails; every movement exuded the sinister nature suppressed for three years."Go play your pirate games with someone else.""For this plan, I pretended to be a gentle butler for three years, fussing over that sickly girl every single day, enduring it for three whole years."He swept his eyes over the few people on the slope, his tone light but laced with bone-chilling malice."Do you think that just by relying on a few kids like you, you can stop me?"If Luffy and his group already had bounties on their heads, Kuro would never have dared to be so arrogant.His gaze swept over the group, finally fixing on the three swords at Zoro's waist, and his pupils suddenly contracted."Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, I didn't expect you to get involved in this kind of trivial matter.""I advise you not to meddle in other people's business; otherwise, I don't mind taking care of all of you together."Kuro didn't want any complications; after three years of planning, he preferred not to fight if he didn't have to.Zoro took a step forward, his boots crushing the dew-covered grass."Clang—" The clear sound of a blade being drawn pierced the morning mist as the wado ichimonji was unsheathed, its silver-white blade reflecting a faint light, radiating a biting chill."Is it such a great achievement to bully a sick young girl?"Zoro's gaze was cold and sharp, not yielding an inch."If you want to fight, I'll oblige.""You don't know when to die."The fake smile on Kuro's face instantly vanished, and he tilted his chin toward the cat brothers beside him."Buchi, Sham, go cut off that swordsman's hands and feet.""Jango, take the men and hold off the rest; I'm going into the village to finish off that sickly girl. Make it quick."Before his words had even faded, two black shadows suddenly sprang up.The cat brothers moved as fast as ghosts, their feet making not a sound, claws springing from their fingertips with a flash of cold light, locking onto Zoro's throat and heart from left and right, every move aimed to kill.Zoro stood motionless, watching the two lunging at him, his eyes devoid of any ripples."With only this much speed, you dare come out and embarrass yourselves."Three silver-white flashes of steel suddenly erupted, so fast they left only a blur."Clang!" Two crisp sounds rang out as the cat brothers' claws were severed at the root.Immediately following, the broad back of the blade swung out horizontally, slamming heavily into their chests.The two didn't even have time to scream before they were sent flying like broken sacks, crashing heavily into the muddy ground, sliding several meters away, and passing out on the spot.
Chapter 28: Two Ships Fusion PlanIt took no more than two seconds.Kuro's raised foot froze abruptly, and the composure on his face shattered completely.He knew the strength of the Cat Brothers better than anyone; even a Marine Captain from Marineford couldn't have taken them down so casually.This green-haired swordsman was stronger than he had anticipated.Jango's hand, holding the hypnotic ring, froze in mid-air; he didn't know whether to advance or retreat, standing there completely stunned.Usopp's eyes went wide, his slingshot nearly slipping from his hand, as he muttered to himself."So, so amazing... Finished in one move?"Zoro sheathed his sword, stood with his arms crossed, and looked up at Kuro, his aura as cold and sharp as a blade."If you have any other moves, use them."Kuro's expression turned completely livid.He knew he had run into a tough opponent today, and any further delay would surely lead to complications.He shoved his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose, crouched down low, and transformed into a blurred afterimage, charging wildly up the slope."Scoop—" This was his trump card.Moving at high speed, his figure split into countless afterimages, and blades flashed everywhere; he could instantly slaughter all targets nearby, with a trajectory even he couldn't predict.Back in the day, it was this very move that allowed him to wipe out an entire Marine fleet and earn the fearsome reputation of "Kuro of a Hundred Plans."The morning mist was shredded by the wind of his blades; the whole area was filled with drifting phantoms, and cold, sharp edges slashed wildly toward them.But in Luffy's eyes, these incredibly fast afterimages were laughably slow.The half-tube of unfinished genetic serum he had sneaked a drink of earlier had not only skyrocketed his physical fitness but also multiplied his nerve reaction speed, fully activating the flexibility and perception of the Gum-Gum Fruit.Just as the tip of Kuro's blade was about to slash across Luffy's face.Luffy's arm suddenly stretched out, precisely piercing through the sea of afterimages, and grabbed Kuro's collar tightly.No matter how frantically Kuro shook, that hand remained as immovable as an iron clamp.Kuro's pupils constricted, and for the first time, terror erupted on his face."Impossible! How could you catch me? No one can catch me when I'm moving at high speed!""Don't you get dizzy, shaking around like that?"Luffy frowned, looking disgusted.He pulled his arm back sharply, his other fist clenched so tightly that the veins bulged, and he swung it hard at Kuro's face."Gum-Gum—Pistol!""Bang!"A solid punch landed squarely on Kuro's face.His gold-rimmed glasses flew off instantly, disappearing into the grass.He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into an olive tree trunk. The trunk shook violently, and leaves rustled down. Kuro's head lolled to the side, and he passed out on the spot.Three moves in total. Kuro, Captain of the Black Cat Pirates, and his two top officers were all finished.The remaining dozens of pirates were scared out of their wits, their cutlasses clattering to the ground as they turned to flee in all directions.Usopp snapped out of it, raised his slingshot, and stones precisely struck their knees one by one.The pirates fell, wailing for their parents, and after Zoro knocked their weapons away with a few slashes, they were all tied up tightly by the villagers who arrived shortly after.The morning mist dissipated, and the rising sun broke through the clouds, covering the northern slope in golden sunlight that warmed everyone to the bone.Usopp looked at the pirates tied up all over the ground, then at Luffy and the others beside him, unable to process what had happened for a long time.He had thought today would be a battle to the death and had even prepared to lose his life, but he hadn't expected it to be ridiculously easy.Adam walked over and crouched down beside the unconscious Kuro and Jango.He pulled a tube of long-acting anesthetic from his canvas bag and gave both of them a shot to ensure they wouldn't wake up for three days, before standing up and smiling at Usopp."Alright, the conspiracy is exposed. Go tell Miss Kaya and the villagers."Tears instantly fell from Usopp's eyes onto the ground. He wiped his face hard, straightened his back, and bowed deeply to the group, his waist bending until it almost touched his knees, his voice choked with emotion."Thank you... truly, thank you!"That afternoon, the villagers learned the whole truth, and everyone was so ashamed they didn't know where to hide, crowding around to apologize to Usopp. The group handed the remnants of the Black Cat Pirates over to a passing Marine patrol.Kaya sat in a wheelchair, being slowly pushed to the dock by the butler Merry. She wore a white dress, her face still bearing the pallor of long-term illness, but her smile was as gentle as the sun.She bowed slightly to the group, her voice soft and sincere."Mr. Luffy, Mr. Zoro, Mr. Adam, Miss Nami, and Usopp, thank you for saving me and saving the entire village."Luffy scratched the back of his head and laughed carelessly."No need to thank me. Guys who bully people deserve to be sent flying anyway."Kaya smiled faintly and nodded to Merry beside her.Merry stepped forward, bowed to the group, and spoke respectfully."Honored benefactors, to express our gratitude, Miss Kaya has specially prepared a ship to gift to you all."He raised his hand and pointed to the shipyard next to the dock.A brand-new sailing ship was moored quietly on the water. It had a clean white hull, and the bow featured a cute, round sheep-head statue. The sail bore the small insignia of the Usopp Pirates. The lines were smooth, the craftsmanship exquisite, and the keel was built from the sturdiest hundred-year-old teak.Luffy's eyes lit up like little suns instantly; he hopped over, running around the ship again and again, muttering non-stop."Wow! What a beautiful ship! And a sheep head! So amazing!"Nami also stepped forward, carefully inspecting the ship's structure and keel, her eyes full of surprise.The ship's craftsmanship far exceeded her expectations; the cabin layout was reasonable, and it had strong wave resistance—it could easily handle sailing into the Grand Line.Looking back at their own ship, the flying, it was completely put together by Adam using unconventional methods, just cobbled together like building blocks.Now that they had Merry, a professional shipwright, right here, Adam was secretly calculating.It was time to give the flying a complete overhaul.Watching the joy that couldn't be hidden in their eyes, Kaya's smile grew even gentler. Her fingertips brushed lightly over the gunwale of the Going Merry, the touch warm and smooth.Being able to do something for her saviors was the most reassuring thing for her."This ship is called the Going Merry. I hope it can carry you all safely across this vast ocean."Adam circled the Going Merry twice, his fingertips grazing the clean white hull, then looked back at the flying he had built with his own hands not far away. A flash of inspiration crossed his eyes, and he suddenly spoke."How about we fuse the two ships together?"The group froze instantly, turning their heads in unison to look at him, their faces full of astonishment.Splicing and fusing two ships? They had never heard of such a thing.Luffy even hopped over to Adam's side, hanging onto his arm and shaking it, his eyes shining."Fusion? How do you fuse them? Can two ships really be put together like building blocks?""Of course."Adam nodded, reached out to poke the hull of the Going Merry, then pointed to the keel of the flying, and explained slowly."The keel of the flying is made from a hundred-year-old ancient tree from a deserted island, giving it maximum wind and wave resistance, plus the support of the serum I concocted, it comes with a self-healing buff."
Back then, I was rushing the job; it was just a makeshift, amateur build. The chemical synthesis was barely passable. It couldn't compare to the Going Merry in terms of wind resistance, hydrodynamics, or stability. The sails and internal structure need a major overhaul, and now I have the perfect opportunity to perfect it.""The Going Merry has a reasonable cabin layout, and the living space design is superb—it's both comfortable and practical to live in.""By merging the two ships, we can preserve the main aesthetic of the Going Merry, use the keel of the flying to reinforce the hull, and nearly double the usable space. It's all about 1+1 being greater than 2; it'll be even better than those lousy Marinewarships."When he built a ship on the deserted island back then, he relied on wood healing agent to make the separated timber regrow and fuse together.Now, with ample materials and a solid foundation like the Going Merry, he would certainly be able to build a ship that was robust, practical, and full of warmth—after all, a ship is always the most indispensable companion on the vast sea.Nami's eyes lit up instantly. She stepped forward, tapped her fingertip on the spot Adam was gesturing to, and her tone was filled with anticipation."Can you really do that? If you can expand the space, could you make the living quarters larger?""Of course."Adam nodded with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of humblebrag."Not just the living quarters. I'll section off a private, enclosed navigation room for you, create an indoor sword training area for Zoro, a dedicated workshop for Usopp, and a play area for Luffy. It's all going to be arranged; we're aiming for luxury private rooms for everyone.""Besides, didn't Luffy declare he wants to find 10 companions?""We need at least 12 bedrooms, plus a private room for each person. With the public meeting room, storage, kitchen, and so on, that's about thirty rooms in total. We have plenty of space to build it; there might even be extra."Zoro leaned against a nearby wooden post, raised his hand to take a swig of wine, and lifted his eyes. He didn't say anything extra, but he gave a slight nod.Clearly, he was very satisfied with that indoor sword training area where he could be sheltered from the wind and rain and wouldn't have to be exposed to the elements.Usopp was so excited he jumped up, the blueprint in his hands nearly flying away, and shouted."Really? I can have my own workshop? I can make slingshots, modify cannons, and prepare ammunition to my heart's content?"No one felt that reserving a spot on the ship for Usopp was unnecessary.It was as if from the moment they fought side by side on the north slope, this boastful yet incredibly kind-hearted boy was destined to step onto this vast sea with them."Of course."They got straight to work.That afternoon, Adam brought in the village's top shipwrights, along with the experienced Merry, and led Luffy and the others to kick off the renovation project with great enthusiasm.He first led everyone to dismantle the non-load-bearing structures of the two ships, carefully preserving the Going Merry's cute sheep-head figurehead and the intact main hull, as well as the thick and sturdy core keel of the flying.Adam precisely aligned the two keels, held a syringe between his fingertips, and slowly injected high-concentration wood healing agent into the seams, then evenly brushed cell fusion agent onto the joints.In less than an hour, the two previously separate keels slowly grew dense wood fibers, like countless little hands tightly entwining and interlocking, fitting together seamlessly.Not even a trace of the splicing could be seen; it was as if it were a keel that had grown as a whole from the start, only thicker and stronger than before, capable of withstanding even fiercer wind and waves.Luffy crowded nearby, curiously reaching out his hand to touch the fusing keel. Just as his fingertips touched the warm wood, Adam slapped his hand away."Don't touch! If you break it before it's fully grown, the keel will be ruined, and you can just wait to drink bitter potions for three months!"Luffy retracted his hand, holding his red-slapped back of the hand, looking aggrieved with his mouth pouting enough to hang an oil pot."I just wanted to see! It's too amazing; wood can actually grow together on its own, it's even more amazing than eating the Gum-Gum Fruit!"Adam didn't believe his nonsense at all; he always said he just wanted to touch, but he often caused trouble.Nami held the blueprint full of annotations, squatted by the ship, and gestured the details to the shipwrights, her eyes full of longing."This part needs to be widened. The table in the navigation room should be two meters long, and a row of moisture-proof cabinets should be built next to it. I need to store all my nautical charts and navigation tools.""And here, install a floor-to-ceiling window facing the bow; it will be convenient for watching the sea and drawing charts later."Usopp also crowded over, holding up his own crookedly drawn blueprint, chattering non-stop."My workshop needs to be at the stern. Build fireproof cabinets to store gunpowder and ammunition. Leave three gun ports on the ship's side; I'm going to mount the cannons I modified myself, the power will definitely be enough to blast away small-time pirates!""The workbench must be stable. I want to make the most powerful slingshots and various small mechanisms!"During a break from sword training, Zoro caught sight of a thick log rolling over. Without a word, he reached out, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and placed it steadily in the designated spot, his expression remaining unchanged throughout, without even his breathing becoming disordered.He tilted his chin at Adam and spoke calmly."Put shock absorption on the floor of the sword training area. Don't let me cut through the deck while I'm practicing, or Nami will start yelling again."Adam nodded, noting everything down in his small notebook, and carefully instructed the shipwrights on every detail, without being the least bit sloppy.Next was the splicing of the hull.The main body of the Going Merry was completely preserved, and the two sides of the flying were precisely docked to the left and right of the Going Merry. The total length only increased by two meters, but the width was widened by nearly four meters, and the overall usable area directly increased by more than one hundred square meters.Adam used the fusion agent again, allowing the side planks to perfectly merge with the hull of the Going Merry. The grain of the wood connected naturally, just as if it had grown that way, without a trace of artificial splicing.He also specifically used the healing agent to catalyze a layer of dense wooden protective lining within the hull sandwich layer.If hit by a cannonball, as long as the core structure wasn't completely blown apart, the hull could slowly self-heal, which could be called the "ceiling of self-healing in the world of pirate ships."Luffy couldn't stay idle and insisted on coming over to help move the wood.Holding a thick log taller than himself, his face flushed red. He hadn't taken two steps before his foot slipped, and he fell hard on his bottom. The log rolled away with a loud "clang," nearly smashing the newly made ship railing.Nami gritted her teeth in anger, reached out to grab his straw hat, and chased him around the dock, scolding him as she ran."You just stay over there! Stop being a hindrance! If you cause trouble again, tonight's meat will be confiscated!"Luffy scurried around holding his head, shouting "I was wrong, Nami" non-stop, looking exactly like a little monkey causing trouble.For three whole days, Adam, along with the shipwrights, Merry, and the others, used up a large amount of growth hormone and finally perfectly merged the two ships.The new ship finally took its final form amidst everyone's input.It was 30 meters long, up to 10 meters at its widest point, and divided into six levels, with clear structure and complete functionality.The bottom layer was the ballast, which steadily supported the entire ship.The second layer from the bottom was the supply storage, storing alcohol, ammunition, food, etc., which was moisture-proof and safe.
Chapter 30: Usopp Boards the ShipThe second level below deck included over a dozen private spaces, such as Zoro's swordsmanship training room, Adam's potion laboratory, Usopp's workshop, and a martial arts arena, all undisturbed by one another.The first level below deck featured 12 bedrooms, a spacious meeting hall, and a glass cabinet specifically for displaying the various sea fish that Luffy caught.The first level above deck was entirely public space, housing the conference room, living room, and kitchen. The kitchen had a passage leading directly to the supply storage on the second level below, making it exceptionally convenient to retrieve ingredients.The second level above deck contained Nami's chart room, a well-stocked library, and the medical room that Adam had prepared in advance for their future companion, Chopper—this area received the most sunlight, surrounded by glass on all sides, free from the oppressive feeling of being below deck, and was both warm and bright.Nami's room was exceptionally exquisite and cozy, equipped with an independent vanity, a double-door wardrobe, a dressing table, and a combination safe specifically for storing her precious Berries.A soft, large bed was placed against the window, with a circular porthole facing the sea, allowing one to see the azure surface while lying in bed.Although the boys' bedrooms were simple, they were also fully equipped with independent vanities, wardrobes, and large beds, making them spacious and comfortable.The new ship retained the iconic sheep figurehead of the Going Merry, but the hull was much more spacious than before, with smooth lines and a pristine white body that shimmered with a gentle luster under the sunlight.It combined the gentle agility of the Going Merrywith the toughness and sturdiness of the flying; hidden within the cold wood was a warm vitality, and in the gaps of the hull, there were even a few tender green leaves slowly unfurling.Luffy ran around the new ship over a dozen times, trembling with excitement, then suddenly leaped onto the sheep figurehead, spread his arms, and shouted loudly toward the boundless sea."Wow—so cool! From now on, this is our ship! The ship that will carry us to become the Pirate King!"Nami walked into her chart room, her fingertips gently caressing the wide solid wood table, then looked out at the rolling waves beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, her lips curling into an involuntary smile.The thought in the back of her mind of "just making do on the ship and getting off once she found a place" had unknowingly faded a bit.Zoro walked into the training room, placed his three swords steadily on the custom sword rack, touched the shock-absorbing floor with his fingertips, and offered rare praise."Not bad, much more comfortable than practicing on the deck."Usopp poked around his workshop, his fingertips brushing over the brand-new workbench and fireproof cabinets, his face flushed with excitement.In his entire life, he had never possessed a space that was entirely his own, where he could make slingshots, modify cannons, and tinker with all the little gadgets he loved at will.Adam stood by the gunwale, his fingertips gently brushing over the smooth hull, clearly perceiving the faint vitality emanating from the wood, like a beating pulse. He smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness.This ship would carry them, through wind and waves, sailing toward the vast, distant sea, meeting more companions.The night before setting sail, the group sat at the bow of the new ship, gathered around a small lamp, drinking wine that Adam had brewed from fruit.The Moonlight spilled onto the sea, shimmering and sparkling, with specks of light like crushed gold rising and falling with the waves.The sea breeze carried a faint salty-damp scent, mixed with the mellow aroma of the wine, brushing against everyone's cheeks.Usopp sat by the gunwale, swinging his dangling feet, his gaze fixed on the boundless sea, his eyes filled with envy and longing.His father, Yasopp, had gone out to sea to adventure with Red Hair Shanks. Since he was a child, he had dreamed of becoming a brave warrior of the sea just like his father, and going to see the world beyond.Luffy suddenly leaned in beside him, reached out and patted his shoulder, his tone incredibly sincere, without a hint of jest."Usopp, join our pirate crew."Usopp jerked his head up, his eyes wide as saucers. He was stunned for a long time before scratching his head, letting out two dry laughs, his eyes darting away, not daring to meet Luffy's gaze."Hey, stop joking.""I'm just a kid who loves to brag. I don't have eight thousand subordinates, I don't have any real skills, and I only use a slingshot when I fight. I can't help you guys at all.""What does that matter?"Luffy squatted in front of him, his straw hat sliding down slightly. His eyes were bright and pure, and he smiled with absolute seriousness: "You are interesting, and you are a sniper. Our ship happens to be missing a sniper.""You can also repair ships and make cannons. You're super amazing."Zoro leaned against the mast, tilted his head back to take a swig of fruit wine, and added calmly: "That day on the North Slope, even though your legs were shaking, you still stood at the very front and didn't run.""Just for that, you're qualified to be a pirate."Nami peeled an orange with her fingertips, the scent of orange drifting through the air, and she smiled with her eyes curved."Yeah, from now on, ship repairs and cannon maintenance are all up to you. We can't have us rough guys doing this delicate work."Adam also nodded with a smile, pointing toward the direction of the cabin."My potion laboratory still needs your help to make custom glass test tubes and tools. Your craftsmanship is even more skillful than the craftsmen in Syrup Village."Usopp stared blankly at the people in front of him, his eyes suddenly growing hot. Tears welled up instantly, swirling in his eye sockets.In all the years he had grown up, except for Kaya, no one had ever trusted him or acknowledged him like this, and certainly no one had ever sincerely invited him to go to sea.He wiped away his tears fiercely, stood up straight, and bowed deeply to the group.When he lifted his head again, the tip of his nose was red, but his eyes were incredibly firm, and he shouted at the top of his lungs."Alright, I'll join! I, Captain Usopp, will reluctantly join your pirate crew!""From now on, I am your sniper! Whether it's Sea Kings or Marine warships, I can hit them with a single shot!"Luffy jumped up instantly, pounced on him, and hugged him, laughing loudly, which made Usopp's ears tingle."Great! We have a new companion again!"The Moonlight gently enveloped the bow of the ship, and the boys' laughter drifted along the sea breeze toward the boundless ocean.The next morning, just as the sky was brightening, pale golden morning light spilled onto the sea.The new ship, a fusion of the flying and the Going Merry, slowly raised its white sails, preparing to set sail.On the pier, Kaya, Merry, and the entire village had come to see them off, the crowd packed together, filled with reluctance.Kaya waved her hand, her eyes rimmed with red, yet she still smiled and shouted."Usopp, you must become a brave warrior of the sea!"Usopp stood at the bow, waving his hand vigorously, his voice choked with emotion, yet exceptionally loud."Don't worry, Miss Kaya! When I return, I'll tell you even more amazing adventure stories!"The iron anchor was slowly hauled up, the iron chains emitting a dull clanking sound as they scraped.The sea breeze filled the sails, puffing them out like a white dove spreading its wings, and the flyingslowly sailed away from the pier of Syrup Village, forging ahead through the waves toward the depths of the sea.The figures on the pier grew smaller and smaller, but Usopp continued to wave his hand. Not until the village had completely disappeared from the horizon did he lower his arm and gaze toward the boundless blue sea, his eyes filled with burning longing