The sea below them rolled calmly, sunlight scattering across the water like broken glass.
Luffy's clouds glided forward at a steady pace — roughly a hundred and twenty kilometers per hour — floating no more than six meters above the surface. Low enough to feel the salt in the air. High enough to ignore the waves entirely.
Zoro was stretched out on one of the flatter clouds, arms crossed beneath his head, snoring without shame.
Luffy, meanwhile, sat comfortably on his larger cloud chair, one leg crossed over the other, a glass of whiskey balanced casually in his hand. He stared up at the sky, watching thin clouds drift past the endless blue.
For a moment, it was peaceful.
Then Luffy turned his head.
"Oi," he said. "Wake up."
Zoro rolled over, muttered something unintelligible, and continued sleeping.
Luffy smiled.
A bad smile.
He raised his right hand and extended his index finger. Blue sparks crackled to life at the tip, electricity humming softly, almost playfully — like a warning whispered by the air itself.
The bolt struck Zoro square in the back.
"GYAAAAAH!"
Zoro launched upright in an instant, swords drawn on pure instinct, killing intent flaring as his eyes snapped open.
Luffy laughed.
"Relax," he said, sipping his whiskey. "It's just me."
Zoro froze, then slowly sheathed his swords, veins bulging at his temples.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!" he roared.
"I tried the normal way," Luffy replied calmly. "Didn't work. So I improvised."
Zoro clenched his fists, then exhaled slowly.
"You're lucky you're strong," he muttered.
Luffy tossed the empty glass aside, where it dissolved harmlessly into cloud vapor.
"The barrel on your right has food," he added. "Left one's liquor."
Zoro eyed him for a second longer, then grabbed a slab of meat and a cup of alcohol without another word. Hunger won over pride.
While Zoro ate, Luffy leaned back and finally spoke about what actually mattered.
"We'll reach Orange Town in about thirty minutes," he said. "The pirate there is Buggy the Clown. Fifteen million beli bounty."
Zoro paused mid-bite.
"A clown?" he asked flatly.
"A dangerous one," Luffy replied. "Former Grand Line pirate."
That earned Luffy Zoro's full attention.
"And what's the plan?" Zoro asked.
"I'll see what kind of pirate he really is," Luffy said. "If he's worth keeping around, I'll ask him to join."
"And if he refuses?"
Luffy smiled.
"Then we beat him up and cash his bounty."
Zoro laughed, genuinely this time.
"Fair."
Luffy continued, voice calm and practical.
"Right now, there's about eight hundred million beli stored in the clouds."
Zoro spat his drink across the cloud.
"HOW MUCH?"
"Eight hundred million."
Zoro stared at him like he'd just claimed to own the ocean.
"…You're joking."
"I collected it in the Grand Line," Luffy said. "Pirates with big bounties, weak crews, sloppy discipline. Easy money."
Zoro slowly shook his head.
"That kind of cash changes things."
"Exactly," Luffy said. "We clean out East Blue first. Use the money to buy a ship that can survive the Grand Line. If we're lucky, we only need one."
"And the rest?"
"Split evenly," Luffy said without hesitation. "Anyone who beats an enemy with a bounty gets paid. Captain covers ship costs."
Zoro studied him quietly.
"That's… fair," he finally said.
They flew on in silence after that.
Orange Town came into view soon after.
Or what used to be Orange Town.
Buildings were smashed. Streets torn apart. Houses reduced to splintered wreckage.
Zoro frowned.
"This place looks like a battlefield."
Luffy sighed.
"So much for first impressions."
They descended, the clouds dispersing into the sky at Luffy's command.
As they walked into town, the silence felt wrong. No merchants. No voices. No laughter.
Only destruction.
"Looks like Buggy isn't the pirate I hoped for," Luffy said coldly.
"Looks like we're about to be fifteen million richer."
Zoro cracked his neck.
"Hopefully one of his men can fight."
They didn't get far before shouting reached them.
Three pirates burst around a corner, chasing a girl at full sprint.
She was fast. Clever. And smiling.
Orange hair bounced wildly as she ran, clutching a rolled-up map tightly in one hand.
Luffy's eyes flicked to the paper.
Navigation map. High-quality parchment.
Ah. That explains it.
As she spotted Luffy and Zoro, the girl's smile widened — sharp, calculating.
She skidded to a stop in front of them.
"Oh! Boss!" she said brightly. "You're finally here to save me!"
Before Luffy could open his mouth—
"They're all yours!" she shouted, darting away instantly.
Luffy exhaled slowly.
"…Knew it."
Zoro already had his swords out.
The three pirates didn't even get a chance to scream.
Steel flashed.
Bodies hit the ground.
Blood soaked the street.
Zoro stood over them, wiping his blade clean.
Luffy watched the girl disappear down an alley, eyes thoughtful.
"That," he said quietly, "is going to be trouble."
And somewhere ahead, a clown waited..