Chapter 19: Backlash
Yasha took a deep breath, then spoke.
"Captain, you're so strong, right? Even the world's strongest swordsman isn't your opponent. Hell, he might not even be cannon fodder in front of you."
"But with all that power, you're still… cautious? You deliberately knocked everyone out at the Baratie to hide your strength. You even warned us not to go all out against that Krieg guy…"
"Is the World Government really that terrifying? Even with your overwhelming power, are you still no match for them?"
Her words drew the attention of the others.
Zala tightened her grip on the katanas at her waist, her expression dark.
"Luffy… did my reckless decision to challenge Mihawk cause trouble for you?"
Kuina lowered her head in guilt. She hadn't realized their captain was carrying such a burden while she was selfishly acting on her own.
Sanju also looked remorseful. Everything seemed to have stemmed from her resistance. If she hadn't kept refusing to join earlier, none of this might've happened.
Nami glanced around at the sudden drop in mood and couldn't help but twitch her lips.
She looked at the drowsy Luffy and rolled her eyes.
"Are you guys overthinking it? Does he look like someone carrying pressure?"
To her, he was just a carefree, heartless bastard. Him and the image of a deep, brooding tactician? They just didn't match.
Luffy looked at her with amusement.
"Nami-chan, you really know me well… As expected of my first crew member."
Hearing the phrase "first crew member," Nami shivered. The girls' glares were practically devouring her alive. She couldn't afford to offend them now.
Bastard Luffy was digging her grave.
Luffy chuckled and continued.
"Yasha-chan, I am worried about something—but it's definitely not what you think."
Yasha blinked. Not what I think? Was there something else entirely?
Luffy leaned back lazily.
"You may not know, but besides my ability to turn imagination into reality… my luck is incredibly high."
Nami snorted.
"Could've fooled me. We haven't found any treasure while sailing. Seems pretty average to me."
Luffy rolled his eyes.
"What do you know? Isn't meeting you already proof of my luck?"
Nami's face flushed, and she fell silent. If the captain thought she was lucky… then maybe he was super lucky.
The other girls gave Nami cold, cutting looks.
Luffy continued his explanation.
"While my luck is good, it comes with a very dangerous perk."
The girls leaned in, curious.
"Anyone who harbors malicious intent toward me—or those closest to me—will suffer horribly. If the enemy is weak, then maybe it's just a string of bad luck or accidents. But if a strong person dares to show true malice toward me or any of you… they'll end up dead. Ashes, even."
The girls stared in shock, some in disbelief.
Yasha asked seriously, "But… is there really anyone stronger than you? If not, then bad luck shouldn't matter—as long as their lives aren't in danger, right?"
Luffy nodded.
"You're right. That was true… before. When I was alone, I didn't worry. But now that you've joined me—now that you share my luck—anyone who's stronger than, say, Kaya, and shows malicious intent, will be hit by luck backlash. And if they're too strong, that backlash can kill them outright."
Yasha gasped."That's… outrageous!"
She looked at Luffy with admiration. The captain wasn't just strong—he was warmhearted enough to even worry about his enemies dying miserably.
The others exchanged bewildered glances. It sounded ridiculous—but they believed it. Luffy had no reason to lie about something like this.
They also felt relief. Thankfully, their willfulness only affected others—not the captain.
As for them? They weren't as "merciful" as Luffy. If enemies died, so what?
Nami glanced at Luffy and suddenly realized something.
"Wait… Luffy, does that mean—"
But before she could finish, Yasha—more perceptive—was already standing on the railing with her scope.
Her expression turned strange.
"Nami! Hurry up… The captain wasn't kidding!"
The others rushed to grab scopes from Yasha and took a look.
Marine warships were in full combat mode—some firing, others already sinking. The entire scene was chaotic.
Nami's jaw dropped.
"How is this possible? The Navy attacking Arlong? Weren't they… partners?!"
She didn't know about Captain Nezumi, but that didn't matter. The Navy base was right next to their island. If they didn't know about Arlong's atrocities, it would've been a joke.
Zala chuckled.
"So this is the 'bad luck' the captain mentioned? That's… insane."
Sanju took a drag from her pipe, her gaze fixed on the captain.
Her eyes were filled with admiration and respect.
As expected of her almighty captain.
Luffy commented lazily from his lounge chair:
"It seems we don't need to do anything... and Nami's lifelong enemy is about to be finished. Sigh... but I'm really curious—what exactly happened?"
Sanju looked energized.
"Captain, since I'm a new crew member, how about I take on this mission?"
Luffy hummed thoughtfully, then nodded.
Nami immediately jumped to her feet.
"I'll go too."
Luffy nodded again.
With his consent, both Sanju and Nami leapt into the sea. Using extraordinary movement techniques, they treaded the water as if walking on solid ground. Sanju was even more outrageous—sometimes stepping on air itself, propelled by sheer brute force.
Luffy and the other girls—except for Kaya, who was still in her lab—watched as Sanju and Nami stormed ahead like twin typhoons.
Navy warships were overturned.
Fish-men were sent flying with screams and howls.
Even a few unlucky Sea Kings that crossed their path ended up dismembered without mercy.
Yasha clicked her tongue.
"Nami is so ruthless… Her hatred level must be sky-high. I never expected her to be this wild."
Zala chuckled.
"That perverted woman isn't bad either. She took cannon shells head-on, and there's not even a scratch on her. What kind of monstrous defense is that? Tsk, I really want to test if I can cut through that tortoise shell…"
Kuina, still watching the chaos unfolding in the distance, rolled her eyes.
"Your Haki is still weak. You'd never get through."
Zala snorted in dissatisfaction.
Yasha suddenly spoke again.
"The battle's over. I have to say—those two are war machines… They just bulldozed everything in their path."
Luffy chuckled.
"Baphomet, increase speed. I really want to know what happened with Arlong…"
He had a feeling that the Arlong incident would finally answer some of the doubts that had been lingering in his mind.