Chapter 248: Nika's Will Interferes with Luffy
Aboard the slave ship,
the Lunarian orphan's eyes sparkled like embers in the night as he shouted excitedly,
"I don't want to be an evil pirate, and I won't be a slave either!"
"I want to become an adventurer!"
"Freedom, will, dreams—I'll restore the glory of the Lunarian race!"
He spoke with passion and fire.
Beside him, Rayleigh remained silent for a long time, his gaze fixed on Shanks,
who stood like a skeleton ravaged by wave backlash.
His expression was complex—shock, confusion, melancholy, and a trace of longing.
"Shanks… You were chosen by the captain to inherit his will.
And now, you've stepped onto your own path?"
Rayleigh quietly repeated Shanks' declaration under his breath.
"'Adventurer,' huh… what a fitting title.
That brat's actually created a new era."
In his eyes, Shanks had always been a junior with great potential.
Now, without realizing it, that junior had surpassed him—
and Rayleigh finally felt the shift in the tides.
"Do I need a Contract Fruit to become a player?"
For the first time, Rayleigh felt an urgent desire to enter the game and see it for himself.
On the East Blue battlefield—
Beckman, now Vice President of the newly formed Adventurers' Guild, rushed to Shanks' side,
carefully pulling out a healing potion, afraid any sudden movement might snap Shanks' fragile lifeline.
[Wave Scars]: A status effect that continuously drains HP, ending only after 100,000 HP has been lost.
One hundred thousand HP!
This meant that for a long time afterward, Shanks would need constant healing and remain in a severely weakened state.
To use a Tier-2 skill like Dark Heaven Wave Eye with a fragile Tier-1 body was a brutal act—
the backlash immense.
This was the difference between life ranks.
"Kill every last Red-Haired bastard!"
Sakazuki's eyes burned red as molten lava dripped from his hands.
The Marine family territory lay in ruins before him.
He had executed deserters. He manipulated politics. He disdained slackers—
but no one loved and believed in true Marines more than Akainu.
And now, seeing the monument nearly destroyed, he wanted nothing more than to burn its destroyer to ash.
Vice Admiral Tsuru suddenly said,
"Let him go."
"Let go of the pirate who insulted the Marines and brought this destruction?
Vice Admiral Tsuru, are you under illusion magic?"
Sakazuki turned slowly, his face icy.
He didn't even call her by her title—just "Ms. Tsuru"—a clear sign of his deep dissatisfaction.
"Admiral Sakazuki," she said calmly, though her own eyes held frustration,
"I told you to stay calm."
"Ever since Shanks announced the disbanding of the Red-Haired Pirates and made that declaration,
unless you had killed him with that magma cannon earlier, the Navy has lost its window to act."
His declaration would give rise to a new group—
adventurers.
And in a sense,
Shanks had already bound himself to this group.
The Marines' response to him would set the tone for how this new generation would view them.
Pirates were evil.
The Marines had every right to hunt them, always standing on the side of justice and order.
But adventurers were different.
Inspired by Shanks, they were a symbol of freedom and hope, no different from neutral civilians.
If the Navy attacked them,
they would instantly become enemies of the people—hated and feared by the very public they were sworn to protect.
The Marines weren't the World Government.
They lacked eight hundred years of authority.
If they lost the people's trust, the consequences would be devastating.
"What a brilliant move… Even I didn't see it coming."
Though she didn't want to admit it, Tsuru—the strategist of the Navy—had been outmaneuvered by a pirate.
No—
not by Shanks.
By the Game Merchant.
He had disrupted the fate-bound flow of the One Piece world and unleashed chaos—endless possibilities.
"Are we really going to just watch him leave?"
Akainu clenched his fists, lava boiling over with rage.
But control of the battlefield had been granted to Tsuru by Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
He couldn't go against her word.
And truthfully, he wasn't a fool.
Her concerns were valid.
Who knew how many adventurers would now set sail?
The Marines had already severed ties with the World Government.
They still carried the burden of hunting pirates.
They couldn't afford to antagonize a brand-new group.
"Admiral Sakazuki,
if you want to protect the Marines—go hunt corruption."
Tsuru's tone was cold.
"When the Marines wield power equal to the Game Merchant, when we can shake the world with a gesture,
evil will have nowhere to hide."
In the end, the problem was still one of strength.
The Marine Family had repelled two Yonko, the Revolutionary Army, and countless pirates.
They should've been the stars of the show.
But a single adventurer's declaration had stolen the world's spotlight.
Fortunately,
the monument had survived.
The Marines' primary goal was still intact.
Akainu's face was dark as he said,
"Mobilize all Marine players.
Hunt Corrupted Monsters.
All material drops must be surrendered."
Tsuru added,
"Players who turn in materials will receive contribution points based on value.
They'll receive priority resources."
The family estate hadn't been expanded.
Most Marine players hadn't joined the Marine Family yet.
In the past, the Marines had offered pay, weapons, and martial arts manuals.
Now, all of that could be earned by hunting monsters.
If they used force,
they risked rebellion.
In this new era,
many Marine rules would need to change.
No more relying on old habits.
Back in Syrup Village—
"'Adventurer'… That's such a beautiful word."
Nami smiled,
"See? I knew Luffy didn't feel like a pirate. We're adventurers!"
"What the hell…? Is Luffy going to be the King of Adventure now?"
Sanji puffed on his cigarette, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.
He hadn't noticed it before—
but hearing Shanks' declaration brought it into focus.
He realized he'd forgotten his original reason for going to sea.
He used to step onto each island,
gathering rare ingredients, preserving seeds, learning local recipes—
That was his dream:
to explore the culinary wonders of the world and become the ultimate chef.
But lately…
It felt like something had been nudging his thoughts.
Something that whispered,
"Just keep being a pirate. Reach the final island. That'll make your dreams come true."
Chills ran down his spine.
His hand trembled. The cigarette fell on his suit.
Panicking, he patted it out.
"I don't want to be King of Adventure.
I want to be Pirate King!"
Even after seeing Shanks betray everything,
Luffy's gaze remained firm.
No anger at being betrayed.
No sorrow or regret.
Not even a question.
It was like a voice in his mind told him—
This is your destiny.
No matter what,
don't give up on becoming Pirate King.
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