62: Chapter 62 Spoilers! The Straw Hat PiratesZoro got up and went to the window.No matter how wide he looked through the glass, he could only see a small boat marked by a passing dog's urine at the harbor.
Zoro covered his face in exasperation, "Is this our pirate ship?" He could almost picture the entire Straw Hat Pirates being wiped out by a single wave.
"A ship!We'll find it soon!Such a big ship!" He spread his arms, trying to make a huge circle.
Zoro, seeing Luffy's naive expression, was both amused and exasperated, and couldn't help but tease him, "Oh?How?Steal it?Or let it fall from the sky?"
He simply couldn't imagine how the two of them could acquire a ship capable of sailing the Grand Line.
Luffy seemed oblivious to Zoro's taunts, completely absorbed in his own fantasy, his eyes sparkling: "I also want a pirate flag!A skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat!"
He imagined himself standing majestically at the bow of a massive ship, with the unique pirate flag fluttering behind him, and couldn't help but exclaim, "So cool!"
Seeing Zoro clutching his head with a bleak expression, Coby couldn't help but mutter under his breath:
"I think.Mr.Luffy is just naturally.not very good at planning." His tone was full of helpless understanding.
Zoro sighed deeply, rubbing his temples, and muttered to himself, "Do I really.have to consider this guy my captain?" A strong premonition, a feeling of "getting on a pirate ship," lingered in his mind.
As Luffy grabbed a new piece of food and stuffed it into his mouth, he mumbled but firmly, "Anyway!I'll find all my crewmates eventually!At least ten."
The little girl, Rika, blinked her big eyes and asked curiously, "Big brother, where are you going next?"
"Is there even a question?"
Luffy immediately stopped chewing, his eyes gleaming with intense light, and his voice booming with longing, "Of course it's—the Grand Line—!"
"puff--!"
Koby, who was drinking juice to calm his nerves, heard this and immediately vomited juice from his mouth and nostrils.
He coughed violently, his face flushed red, and pointed at Luffy, his voice shrill and distorted with shock: "There.there are only two of us right now?No matter what.it can't be!It can't be—"
"Thump!"
Before he could finish speaking, Luffy delivered a light but powerful rubber fist to his head.
"Ouch!Mr.Luffy!Why did you hit me?" Coby cried out, clutching his head in grievance.
Luffy withdrew his fist, looking completely at ease: "I couldn't help it." It was as if he couldn't resist hitting Coby, who looked terrified.
Rika asked, puzzled, "Is the Grand Line.such a terrible place?"
Koby wiped his face with his sleeve, still shaken, his voice filled with awe and fear: "Of.of course!You all know that there are two oceans in the world, right?"
The massive continent that divides these two oceans in two is the Red Line!It is said that there is a town in the very center of the Red Line, and the Grand Line lies perpendicular to the Red Line, passing through that town!
He struggled to organize his thoughts, trying to depict the terror of that demonic sea: "Legend has it.the former Pirate King Gol D.Roger, who obtained everything in the world!"
It was in his last words before his execution that he mentioned leaving the one and only treasure, 'One Piece,' on the Grand Line!
So…pirates all over the world went crazy, rushing headlong into the Grand Line!
Koby's voice trembled more and more: "Now that place.has become the most terrible battlefield!It's a place where the strong prey on the weak, and people die every day.It's even called the 'graveyard of pirates'!" By the end, his body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
The proprietress added worriedly, "I've heard customers mention.once you enter the Grand Line, no one ever comes back alive."
Luffy just smiled nonchalantly, his eyes fixed on the challenging ocean: "But 'One Piece' is somewhere along that route!So.we have to go!" His tone was matter-of-fact, without the slightest wavering.
Zoro put down his water glass, leaned back in his chair, and curled up a wild smile: "Well, there's nothing I can do about it then." It was as if he were talking about something completely ordinary.
Coby jumped to his feet, shouting excitedly, "Mr.Zoro!Even you're like this?That's the Grand Line!"
Luffy looked at him strangely: "Anyway, you're not going?"
Koby was speechless for a moment, then a complex expression appeared on his face, a mixture of reluctance and worry:
"Even though.even though I won't go.I'll worry!Is that not okay?"
His voice trembled slightly, "Because.although I only spent a short time with Mr.Luffy.we're still friends, right?Yes!Even though we have to part ways.we'll always be friends!"
Koby took a deep breath, his eyes glistening with tears of emotion: "From childhood to adulthood.I've never had any friends, and no one has ever stood up for me!More importantly.I've never even thought of rebelling!"
But you two.taught me to live for my beliefs!I've decided to fulfill my childhood dream—to join the Navy!To become a good Navy soldier who can protect everyone!
Looking at the sincerity and determination in Koby's eyes, Zoro, unusually, didn't dampen his spirits.Instead, he showed a hint of barely perceptible concern: "Compared to worrying about us.are you alright?"
He paused, his gaze sharp, "Even if it was just odd jobs, it's a fact that you worked as a handyman on 'Iron Rod' Alvida's pirate ship for two years."
Don't underestimate the Navy's intelligence network.If they find out about this past, it will be."It's impossible for you to enlist."
The color drained from Koby's face instantly, and he froze on the spot: "Well.that's true."
The excitement and exhilaration were instantly doused with cold water, replaced by overwhelming fear and unease.Yes, his shameful past…
Just then, the restaurant door was gently pushed open.
A group of naval soldiers filed in, led by a naval lieutenant commander with a serious face and complex emotions in his eyes.
Their arrival instantly silenced the noisy store.
The lieutenant colonel's gaze swept over Luffy and Zoro, and he spoke in a deep voice, "Excuse me.I heard.you're pirates?Is that true?"
Luffy agreed without hesitation, even with a touch of pride:
"That's right!I'm a pirate!And I've even found a crewmate!"
He pointed to Zoro beside him, "We just formed a pirate crew!It's called the 'Straw Hat Pirates'!"
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