"No, no, I was captured a month ago to do odd jobs. I haven't even touched a knife."
Koby explained, trembling, his face drenched in sweat from nervousness, his words stammering, which amused Yun Lie.
Koby was still the timid youth Yun Lie remembered, thin and with a cautious, shrinking look in his eyes.
With such a personality, let alone killing a person, he would probably be terrified and panic-stricken by a flapping fowl even when killing a chicken, and might even get pecked back.
"When we reach the next island, get off the ship yourself." Yun Lie's voice was flat and cold, leaving no room for discussion.
Koby's previously lowered head instantly shot up, and a relieved smile immediately appeared on his face, but before he could even say thanks, he suddenly felt the world spin, and the scene before him blurred.
When he could clearly see his surroundings again, he found himself on the deck of the Infinite Space.
"The Alvida Pirates no longer need to exist either."
Yun Lie stood by the dragon head statue at the bow of the ship, his back to everyone, his tone filled with undisguised killing intent.
Just as Koby was about to thank Yun Lie, a deafening "Boom!" suddenly rang out.
Koby was startled by the immense sound, trembling all over, and stumbled to the side of the ship to look.
He saw a dazzling fire rising into the sky, illuminating half of it, followed by a deafening explosion.
The once imposing pirate ship of the Alvida Pirates instantly disintegrated under this powerful force, turning into countless fragments floating on the sea, and the ocean was stirred by the explosion into huge waves that did not subside for a long time.
"So… so terrifying."
Koby's legs went soft, and he slumped to the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.
His teeth chattered, his face was ashen, and he was secretly relieved that he hadn't wet himself from fright, otherwise, with Yun Lie's temper, he probably would have been thrown off the ship immediately.
"Clang!" Another crisp sound rang out, and the obese Alvida appeared on the deck without warning.
Her eyes were tightly shut, and a trace of blood still hung from the corner of her mouth; she had clearly fainted.
"You brat, tie her up for me. If she escapes, you'll be held accountable."
Yun Lie coldly turned to look at Koby, his eyes filled with undeniable authority, an gaze like a sharp knife that made Koby shiver.
At this moment, Koby was just a poor child who was unlucky enough to be caught by the Alvida Pirates to do odd jobs on their ship.
Although he had the title of "King of Deserters," he had never truly become a pirate, nor had he done anything heinous.
Judging by actions, not intentions, he was just a suffering child at present.
Though Koby was afraid, he still nodded quickly and promised, "Don't worry, I'll definitely do it!"
Perhaps it was being terrified by Yun Lie's formidable methods just now, but this usually timid and cowardly youth suddenly erupted with great strength, gritting his teeth and painstakingly dragging the obese Alvida.
"Let us help."
Nami and Nojiko appeared just in time, both holding a thick rope as they approached.
With the combined efforts of the three, Alvida was quickly tied up securely, and no matter how obese she was, she couldn't move now.
"You two continue sailing. I'll study the Buggy Bomb and try to get you a good toy in the next few days."
Yun Lie said to the two women after seeing Alvida tied up securely and unable to resist.
The method he used to destroy the pirate ship was the Buggy Bomb he obtained from Buggy.
The power of this Buggy Bomb far exceeded that of ordinary cannons, and its small size made it easy to carry, making it very suitable for naval combat.
Not only that, Yun Lie also obtained the formula for making Buggy Bombs and some manufacturing materials from Buggy.
Although the Buggy Bombs made with these materials now were not as powerful as those two years later, Yun Lie was confident in his intelligence, believing that he could develop even more powerful Buggy Bombs.
"Leave it to us!"
Nami said happily, her big eyes sparkling with excitement, and she turned to look at the bound Alvida, her gaze as fervent as if she were looking at five million beli.
"Squeak squeak!" Little Kong also chirped twice from the side, patting his chest, seemingly indicating to everyone that he would definitely complete the task.
Nojiko smiled beside them, watching everything without speaking.
As for Koby, at this moment, he was like a little transparent, silently standing in the corner, trying to minimize his presence.
........
Another day passed, and after a long voyage, everyone finally arrived at the nearest Naval Base.
They handed Buggy's body and Alvida over to the Marine, and successfully exchanged them for their bounty.
Fifteen million beli was an astronomical sum for ordinary people.
Yun Lie gave Nojiko and Nami two and a half million beli each as pocket money, and the rest he stored in his personal Infinite Space.
As for Koby, even without experiencing two years of pirate odd jobs, his yearning for the Marine grew even stronger.
He unhesitatingly signed up to join the Naval Base, becoming a Marine Base orderly soldier.
Although he was still just an odd-job worker, Koby's eyes were filled with determination and hope.
Yun Lie didn't say much about this; in his opinion, Koby joining the Marine might be fate, just two years earlier.
If Koby truly was a talented "King of Effort," two years later, when Luffy set sail, it was uncertain if he could smoothly leave the East Blue.
Of course, none of this concerned him; he just wanted to travel around and enjoy exploring the world with Nami and Nojiko.
........
Time quietly passed, and a few days later, off the coast of Xi Luobu Village, the Infinite Space slowly sailed.
"Yun Lie, Yun Lie, why is there a pirate ship here?" Nojiko pointed to a pirate ship in the distance, hidden by a cliff on the coast, and asked curiously.
Looking in the direction Nojiko pointed, the pirate ship had a lifelike Black Cat statue at its bow, and being off the coast of Xi Luobu Village, Yun Lie knew without thinking that it was the Black Cat Pirates' pirate ship!
"It's nothing, it's the Black Cat Pirates. Bring the ship closer to them!"
Yun Lie showed no fear, even feeling a slight stir of excitement within.