The banquet went on until late into the night, and everyone got completely drunk.
Because it was so late, the Marines didn't come to chase anyone away. Instead, they let the heroes who had taken down Morgan enjoy their night properly.
Lin Bei clinked cups with Zoro and drank too much as well.
He had planned to check out his new ability after midnight, but once he got drunk, he passed out completely—
He didn't hear the notification sound at all.
[Midnight has arrived. Random daily superpower acquisition in progress…][Acquired successfully!]
Lin Bei also didn't notice that later that night, after he had fallen into a drunken slumber, a certain little cat burglar tiptoed to his side, preparing to search his person for something.
Obviously, she was hoping to find some kind of secret manual or special item. If she found one, she could just grab it and run.
Lin Bei didn't notice. Luffy didn't notice either.
But Zoro—who should've been just as drunk—suddenly opened his eyes, still holding his swords.
As Nami got closer and closer to Lin Bei, Zoro's thumb slowly pushed against the guard of his blade, ready to draw the moment she tried anything.
However, what surprised him was that just after Nami entered within a one-meter radius of Lin Bei, and before she could even do anything, Lin Bei rolled over— and Nami suddenly sat down on the ground.
Even Zoro tilted his head, somewhat confused.
Did this thief come over just to kneel before Lin Bei?
She didn't look like someone who respected her master that much.
Only Nami herself knew— Respect, my foot!
Her eyes widened, face flushed. What was with that strange sensation?!
Nami gasped for breath, bracing both hands on the ground as she struggled to stand up. That sudden odd feeling had made her whole body go weak for a moment.
There was no way that happened for no reason. Someone had to be responsible.
Nami stared daggers at Lin Bei with near-crying eyes. If nothing else, this guy definitely did something.
But... he was sleeping way too realistically. No acting could be this genuine.
After staring at him for a long moment, Nami finally managed to steady herself and stand up.
Zoro decided not to attack—for now. His mind was a bit scrambled.
Was this little cat burglar… just weirdly lovestruck or something?
Don't tell me she's a nymphomaniac or a pervert!
Just standing next to a man turns her into this?
Someone like that probably won't do anything harmful to Lin Bei, right?
Hmm, hard to say. But even if she did something... Lin Bei wouldn't exactly be the one losing out.
Zoro closed his eyes...
Nami stared at Lin Bei for a long time, and finally gritted her teeth, deciding to test the waters.
She didn't believe Lin Bei was actually asleep. Because if he were truly asleep, wouldn't that mean she was a very... lustful woman?
Just walking to his side made her body uncontrollably... react.
Gritting her teeth, Nami reached out to touch Lin Bei.
She firmly believed she wasn't that kind of person!
And facts proved that she indeed wasn't that kind of person.
After touching Lin Bei's body, she felt nothing!
Nami let out a breath of relief. Maybe it was just the alcohol, or maybe she was coming down with something strange. After she bought back her village, she'd go see a doctor.
But for now, her eyes flickered with resolve.
"Sorry, Master!"
She reached into Lin Bei's clothes.
Off to the side, Zoro—who had been pretending to sleep—had eyelids twitching rapidly, clearly fighting an internal battle between instinct and willpower.
He told himself he absolutely could not look. He couldn't betray the memory of his late friend!
If he knew any sutras, he would've started chanting them right then to calm his mind.
Just then, a sound suddenly rang out.
"Mmm..."
Zoro couldn't hold back; instinct forced his eyes open.
Then he saw Nami sitting on the floor again.
And Lin Bei had just happened to roll over at that moment.
Zoro took a few deep breaths as silently as possible, then squeezed his eyes shut tight, beginning to recall memories of his time with his late friend.
At that moment, the sound of the room door closing softly was heard.
Zoro opened his eyes again; Nami had left.
...
Noon the next day.
Lin Bei stretched and woke up, feeling refreshed.
His head wasn't foggy at all. He didn't know if it was because this other-world body was sturdy or if the other-world alcohol was just good quality.
Either way, he felt great.
But the moment he stretched and got up, he heard a very strange sound.
Turning his head, he saw it was Zoro!
At this moment, Zoro's face was completely red, and he was staring dead at him.
The intensity of that gaze made Lin Bei's skin crawl.
"What are you trying to do?!"
Zoro had just woken up too, stirred by an inexplicable feeling.
It was overwhelming.
He suddenly understood why Nami had been like that last night—it all had to do with Lin Bei in front of him!
Lin Bei took a step back, and Zoro's toes gripped the floor.
"Stop! Don't move! Whatever ability you've got—turn it off!"
Lin Bei froze. Ability?
Right—he forgot to check today's power.
Lin Bei looked at Zoro, a drop of cold sweat sliding down his forehead. Today isn't some weird ability, is it?
He hurriedly checked and found the ability.
[Divine Muscles]
What a strange name...
He focused on feeling out this superpower, and then... Lin Bei understood.
No wonder Zoro looks like this right now!
The ability [Divine Muscles] was a bit strange.
This ability was bizarre. Whenever Lin Bei's muscles moved, it influenced people's emotions. The more force he used, the stronger the effect—and the wider the range.
While sleeping, he was in an unconscious state, so the range of the ability shrank to its minimum—only a one-meter radius.
But when he was awake—like just now when he woke up—in a subconscious state, the range was about five meters, basically covering this room... and the room below.
Understanding the situation, Lin Bei immediately suppressed the ability.
"Sorry, sorry. Still getting used to this new power. You okay?"
Zoro relied on sheer willpower—literally—to stand upright, face composed.
"I'm fine."
"Good, good. That's good."
Lin Bei apologized and was about to turn around.
That tiny movement made Zoro's pupils shrink.
"Wait!"
Lin Bei jolted and stopped, turning back.
He quickly realized why Zoro panicked.
"Don't worry. When I'm awake, I can control it. Let's go eat—we're leaving soon."
Watching Lin Bei open the door and leave, Zoro finally let out a sigh of relief.
Then, he couldn't help but frown.
"So the one guy who looked like the only normal person in the crew… is actually the most abnormal one?"