"Huh? That's strange?"
Zoro, tied to the cross, suddenly looked puzzled and mumbled.
For a fleeting moment just now, he suddenly felt a deeply hidden power within him.
But it was only for that instant; the feeling then disappeared.
Monkey D. Luffy noticed Zoro's confusion but didn't say much.
When he awakens in the future, he will know what that power is.
Throwing the terrified Helmeppo aside, Monkey D. Luffy untied Zoro.
Zoro, now free, did not rush to find his beloved swords, which Helmeppo had taken, but instead looked at Monkey D. Luffy and said solemnly.
"Luffy, I don't care what people in this world think of me. I will only act according to my own beliefs and will never regret it. It's the same now and in the future."
"I have something I must accomplish: to become the world's greatest swordsman."
"For this goal, I will always strive desperately."
"So, Luffy, what is your resolve?"
"If your resolve cannot match mine, then one day in the future, I will definitely choose to leave you for this goal."
"Even so, do you still want me to be your companion?"
After Zoro finished speaking, he stared at Monkey D. Luffy without blinking.
He had a good impression of Monkey D. Luffy, so he held expectations in his heart, hoping that they could share the same great resolve.
Monkey D. Luffy heard his words, smiled faintly, and said, "I have only one goal, and that is… Pirate King!"
"Is that so?!"
Zoro's lips curled up, and he suddenly spoke with serious solemnity.
"Roronoa Zoro, Swordsman."
"Please take care of me…"
"Captain!"
Seeing this, Monkey D. Luffy also curled his lips and said.
"Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Welcome aboard!"
On the wall.
"You're kidding, right? That Pirate Hunter actually joined?"
"Oh no! What if he chops us all up while we're sleeping?!"
Nami first exclaimed in surprise, then immediately imagined future crises.
Koby, seeing this scene, was once again inspired by Monkey D. Luffy.
"As expected of Mr. Luffy, he even managed to recruit a Pirate Hunter!"
Uta looked at Monkey D. Luffy's expression and smiled slightly.
"Luffy, he's very happy!"
...
Marine Base, Morka's office.
Nami excitedly snuck in alone, rummaging through the room until she found a safe in a corner, her eyes lighting up instantly.
"Found it, found it!"
Running over excitedly, Nami squatted down and began her old trade.
While picking the lock, she mumbled.
"I've long heard that there's a map of the Grand Line hidden in this Marine base. If I can steal it, it'll definitely sell for a lot of money! Hehehe…"
Nami thought happily.
Click!
At this moment, the lock on the box was finally picked.
However, to her great disappointment, there was only one piece of paper inside.
It read: [The sea chart has been accepted by this great lord!].
Below this line of text, there was also a drawing of a red-nosed skull.
"Tsk tsk! It seems the sea chart has been stolen!"
"Yeah! That symbol seems to belong to that Clown Buggy's crew. That scoundrel, how dare he steal the treasure I had my eyes on."
Nami subconsciously retorted to the previous statement, then suddenly realized something and turned back in terror.
She saw Monkey D. Luffy, Uta, and Zoro, who had recovered his three swords, all staring at her.
Nami was startled, unconsciously recoiled, and sat down on the ground.
"When did you guys…"
Monkey D. Luffy laughed at Nami's guilty and flustered appearance.
"Nami, why didn't you tell us there was treasure here?"
Zoro followed up with a jab.
"Are you trying to secretly hide the treasure and betray us sometime?!"
Hit by both of them, Nami immediately waved her hands in a panic, forcing out a stiff smile and saying.
"Ha… haha, how could that be? How could I betray everyone?"
"I was thinking of first confirming I got the treasure, and then telling everyone."
"Otherwise, if I hadn't found the treasure, everyone would definitely be disappointed."
"You see now, didn't someone else get to the treasure first?"
Monkey D. Luffy leaned his head inches away from Nami, staring at her with a suspicious look.
"Oh?! Is that so?"
Nami nodded like a pounding garlic, her smile growing increasingly stiff from being stared at by Monkey D. Luffy, almost looking like she was about to cry.
At this moment, Monkey D. Luffy suddenly pulled his head back and clapped his fist into his palm.
"Since that's the case, then let's go retrieve the sea chart!"
Nami immediately let out a long sigh of relief, thinking to herself.
"Luckily, the Captain is an idiot, otherwise I would have been exposed!"
After Nami and Uta left the room first, Zoro immediately became serious and said to Monkey D. Luffy.
"Luffy, this woman is untrustworthy, don't be fooled by her appearance!"
To Zoro's surprise, Monkey D. Luffy smiled and nodded.
"I know!"
At this point, Zoro also guessed that Monkey D. Luffy must have his own plans, so he said no more.
As long as the Captain wasn't deceived by appearances, it was fine!
...
The news of Monkey D. Luffy defeating Morka quickly spread throughout the town.
Immediately, the entire town became like the Marine at that time, cheering and celebrating.
"Great!"
"That tyrant has finally been defeated."
"Finally liberated!"
"Let's have a feast!"
Someone suggested it, and the idea of holding a feast immediately received everyone's support.
Monkey D. Luffy had originally planned to set sail directly to find Buggy.
But when he heard there was a feast, he was tempted.
Can a Pirate still be called a Pirate if he doesn't have a feast?
So, Monkey D. Luffy decided to attend a feast in Shells Town.