At a restaurant in Shells Town, after dealing with Morgan, Sandy and the others were invited by the young girl to eat.
"Ah, I'm so full — I haven't eaten in so many days!" Zoro rubbed his bulging belly with satisfaction.
But when he saw the stacks of small bowls in front of Sandy and Luffy, he frowned. "Why are you eating more than me?"
Luffy grinned. "Because it's delicious."
Sandy explained, "Luffy was kicked out by the villagers because he ate too much, so he had no choice but to become a pirate!"
Koby snorted and orange drink sprayed from his nose. "Is that so? Was everything Luffy told me about risking his life a lie?"
Sandy nodded with a smile. "Yes — you were tricked by Luffy!"
Zoro chuckled and agreed. "I think Sandy's right. Luffy was kicked out. By the way, what about you, Sandy?"
"Me?" Sandy pointed at himself.
Everyone leaned in, curious.
Sandy smoothed his hair with a cough and said smoothly, "Someone this handsome originally didn't want to show his face. But I couldn't stand how shameless Luffy was — he dragged me onto the ship and made me the face of the crew…"
Before Luffy could retort, Sandy grabbed a chicken leg and shoved it into his mouth.
Zoro gave Sandy a long-suffering look and changed the subject. "Luffy, you said you want to be Pirate King — you must have recruited a crew. Where are they?"
Luffy swallowed the chicken leg whole, satisfaction on his face. "Just the three of us."
"Three?" Zoro muttered, incredulous. "What kind of pirate crew is that?"
Luffy shrugged. "What does it matter? The three of us are very strong!"
Zoro accepted the answer reluctantly, then asked, "Where's the ship? Where's our pirate ship?"
Sandy pointed with his knife and fork toward the small boat visible on the coast outside the window. At that moment, a little dog outside lifted its leg and peed toward the boat.
Seeing Zoro's eyebrow twitch, Sandy followed his gaze and immediately shouted, "How dare that dog! How dare it urinate on my ship — get lost!!"
Luffy waved a hand, nonchalant. "Relax. It's just a little dog peeing. No need to get angry."
Sandy grabbed Luffy's collar. "The pirate ship is the face of the whole crew. If someone peed on your head, would you still be okay with it?"
"Ah!" Luffy sprang up. "Then what are we waiting for, you stinky dog — wait for me! I'm gonna beat you up!"
Zoro slapped his forehead. For some reason, he felt like he'd boarded the wrong ship.
After packing, Koby joined the Navy and parted ways with Luffy and the others.
Once aboard, Sandy asked, "Hey Luffy — why haven't we seen Nami yet? Does anyone among us know how to get to the next island?"
Luffy shook his head. "I don't know, but if we just keep drifting, we'll eventually reach the next island, right?"
"Can that work?" Zoro was speechless.
Sandy shrugged. "Why not? Last time we drifted and almost drowned in the sea."
Luffy patted Sandy's shoulder. "Relax — didn't we survive? Ahahaha…"
Zoro glared. "Leaving things to fate? No. I want to get off this ship. Dock somewhere, quickly."
Soon the small boat was sailing on the vast sea.
Luffy said, "Sandy, besides a navigator and a cook, we must first find a musician!"
"A musician?" Zoro asked in surprise. "Hey Luffy, what do you think sailing is?"
Sandy explained, "If we want to be a tasteful pirate crew, we need a musician as the face of the crew. Especially during battles — imagine him playing inspiring background music. How cool would that be?"
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Background music, background music…"
Zoro snapped, furious. "You two scoundrels — enough! If you keep rocking, the ship'll capsize!"
Sandy patted Zoro's shoulder and pulled a cup of tea from his Space Backpack. "Zoro, don't worry so much about the outcome. The process is what matters. Especially when you meet beautiful women — remember, they're all mine!"
Luffy ignored the warning and drooled. "Sandy, give me one too!"
Zoro asked, "Where did that tea come from? And at the Navy base, your weird disappearing move — are you a Devil Fruit user?"
Sandy produced two cups of tea from the Space Backpack and handed them over. "I'm a Space Fruit user. I have incredible abilities, but I'm disliked by sea water. If I fall into the sea and no one saves me, I'll die. For example…"
Sandy set down his cup and jumped into the water.
"Hey, hey — you don't have to—" Zoro started, but Sandy was already swimming happily.
Zoro looked at Luffy and asked blankly, "Is he really a Devil Fruit user?"
Luffy nodded. "Yes."
Zoro grabbed Luffy's head and pointed at Sandy. "Then explain what's going on! How could he swim if he's a Devil Fruit user?"
Luffy, worried, called, "Sandy — come back quick! Watch out for leg cramps and drowning!"
Zoro was exasperated. "Do you curse your companion like that? Explain why he can swim freely if he's a Devil Fruit user!"
After Sandy returned to the ship and explained, Zoro had a rough understanding of Devil Fruit weaknesses — except Sandy's special case still baffled him.
Zoro snapped, "I think Luffy's right. Why didn't you get leg cramps just now?"
Sandy looked disdainful and said tauntingly, "Jealousy, envy, hatred? When someone is too outstanding, what can you do? Even the heavens favor me. Drown? What a joke. Pfft…"
Zoro had had enough. "Luffy, let go of me — I'm going to chop him!"
Luffy shook his head. "Zoro, calm down. We're partners!"
Sandy stood up and dared him, "I'm right here — come and chop me. If you're my partner, come and kill me!!"