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Zap~!
A faint crackle of electricity flickered around Red.
In the next moment, his feet slowly lifted off the deck of the Going Merry, floating gently into the air.
A flicker of excitement flashed in his eyes.
"Interesting! I didn't gain a powerful electric attack, but I got a flying ability for free—what a nice surprise!"
"And..."
Sensing the energy consumption in his body while using Magnet Rise, Red's grin widened.
"Rather than a move, it's more like a passive ability."
"If I don't focus on speed and just stay afloat, the energy cost is practically zero. I could hover all day without an issue."
"But if I speed up..."
A spark of electricity flashed around his body.
In the next instant, he turned into a streak of red lightning, dashing from the bow to the stern of the ship in a flash, as if teleporting.
"Hoo~!"
Landing back on the deck, Red exhaled, placing one hand on the ship's railing.
Feeling nearly half of his stamina and energy drained, a thought formed in his mind.
He had just activated all the Pokémon energy in his body and pushed electromagnetic levitation to its maximum power.
And the result was clear.
"This speed is almost on par with Luffy's Shave, but the energy cost is ridiculous."
"In my current state, I can only use it for about a hundred meters at most."
"It's useful for emergency escapes, but in battle? Not so much."
Red murmured to himself.
But that was fine.
After all, his goal was never to become a frontline fighter.
His true role was helping his comrades grow stronger.
Thanks to the powerful recovery ability granted by the Cascade Badge, his stamina replenished rapidly.
For the next half hour, he experimented with electromagnetic levitation at different speeds, testing its energy consumption.
Generally, if he moved at a normal walking pace, the energy cost was almost nonexistent.
But the faster he went, the more the drain skyrocketed.
Clearly, it wasn't suited for long-distance travel.
However, it expanded Red's movement from a two-dimensional plane to a full three-dimensional space, vastly improving his mobility.
"Well, at least now I can make fun of Groudon!"
At the end of his tests, Red smirked in satisfaction at his newfound ability.
The night passed in silence.
By dawn, a new day had arrived.
For the past two days, business at Baratie had been noticeably slower.
Even though Luffy and his crew hadn't done anything disruptive—spending their time either training on the Going Merry or enjoying their meals at Baratie—the presence of a pirate crew with a 50,000,000-Belly bounty made ordinary, law-abiding people uneasy.
No matter how delicious the food was, dining next to notorious pirates tended to ruin one's appetite.
As a result, many ships that had planned to stay at Baratie for a few days left in a hurry.
But today, the slow business at Baratie was about to change.
A new, high-profile customer had just arrived.
The bright sun cast golden reflections over the waves, making the ocean shimmer like liquid gold.
Noon had arrived.
The Straw Hat crew, having completed their morning training, gathered on deck, eager for a feast at Baratie.
"Hey! Red, it's time to eat!!!"
"MEAT!!! I'm gonna eat so much meat today!!!"
Usopp and Luffy clung to each other, cheering excitedly toward the cabin.
The two, sharing similar personalities, had officially become the most chaotic idiot duo among the Straw Hats.
Zoro, on the verge of facing Hawkeye and taking his first real step toward his dream, and Nami, who had just received the Clima-Tact and still carried the burden of the Arlong Pirates, were noticeably quieter than usual.
For the past few days, aside from eating, sleeping, and playing games, the two had dedicated every spare moment to training, pushing themselves to their absolute limits.
At that moment, Red lazily stepped out of the cabin, stretching after finishing his Ancient Power training.
With a yawn, he glanced at Luffy and Usopp.
"Really, the only time you guys have a strong sense of timing is when it's time to eat."
"Of course!" Luffy declared, hands on his hips with absolute confidence. "Eating is super important!!!"
"Yeah, yeah, sure~" Red replied half-heartedly, as if admitting defeat. With a wave of his hand, he motioned for the others to lower the small boat so they could head to Baratie.
But just then—
A sharp whistle pierced through the air from behind the Going Merry.
The sudden noise immediately caught the Straw Hats' attention. Everyone turned to look out over the sea.
A marine warship, slightly larger than the Going Merry, cut through the calm waters like a blade, charging toward Baratie with an air of arrogance.
"Hmm!?"
At the sight of the marine vessel, the expressions of the Straw Hat crew shifted.
Zoro's hand instinctively went to his swords, his eyes flashing with anticipation.
"A marine warship? Are we about to fight?"
With his duel against Hawkeye approaching, Zoro wouldn't mind a little warm-up.
But Usopp clearly didn't share the same enthusiasm.
With a dramatic groan, he collapsed weakly onto the deck.
"Ah~! I suddenly remembered I have a disease that stops me from fighting marines!"
Then, peeking up slightly, he slyly suggested:
"Hey! How about we sink them now with some Buggy Bombs?"
He wasn't keen on direct combat, but long-range bombardment? That, he had faith in.
"No rush." Red stopped Usopp, smirking slightly. "They wouldn't dare start a war with us."
Nami observed the approaching ship carefully.
"Judging by its size, it doesn't belong to a big shot in the marines."
"So…" Luffy tilted his head in confusion. "Can we start eating now?"
Grrrrr~
His stomach growled loudly in agreement.
"Hold on~ Since we're meeting the marines, we should at least introduce ourselves."
Red walked over, patting Luffy on the shoulder with a casual grin.
"After all, once we reach the Grand Line, we'll be dealing with marines all the time."
"Okay~" Luffy sighed, reluctantly holding his stomach.
But unlike Luffy's impatience, Red felt rather excited about this encounter.
If his guess was correct, this warship was escorting none other than one of the most mysterious men in the pirate world—Man-Demon Gin.
And the officer in charge of this ship?
A marine captain whose nickname stood alongside that of Garp—Double Ironfist Fullbody!
A Few Minutes Later…
The marine warship sailed closer to Baratie, coming to a stop right next to the Going Merry—pure coincidence or not, it was hard to tell.
"Huh? I've never seen that pirate flag before."
Standing by the ship's railing, Fullbody—who carried the aura of a discount celebrity—immediately noticed the unfamiliar Jolly Roger on the ship next to them.
With a cocky smirk, he called out:
"Hey! You lot over there!"
"I am Lieutenant 'Double Ironfist' Fullbody of Marine Headquarters!"
"Who's your captain!? State your—"
His voice suddenly cut off.
Because right in front of him—
A straw hat came into view.
And no marine in the East Blue could ignore what that symbol meant.
Luffy frowned slightly, clearly annoyed at being interrupted from his meal.
"You looking for me?"
In an instant—
The atmosphere shifted.
Fullbody's pupils dilated, his body tensed, and in a trembling voice, he muttered the name that had just flashed through his mind:
"Yo....You… Straw… Straw Hat… Monkey D. Luffy!?"
"W-why are you here!?"