Chapter 164 - 22

Chapter 22Nami's words were intermittent as she naturally pressed her hands, which were gripping his collar, against his chest, then buried her burning cheek into the crook of Luffy's neck.Her sobs could no longer be suppressed, and her shoulders trembled slightly with each cry...."Nami, we're here to help you!""We've endured for so many years; let's fight it out with Arlong and the others!""Wait, Nojiko, what are you doing?"Groups of villagers were stopped at the entrance by Nojiko."The Arlong Pirates have already been wiped out.""We shouldn't be the only ones to enjoy this good news; go let the others know.""To celebrate today, go prepare a banquet."Nojiko announced the news to the villagers.Nojiko, who had rushed over following the noise and the messy traces left after the battle, happened to see that scene.She wanted to rush forward at first, but unconsciously stopped her steps.Nami, who had forced herself to become incredibly strong and locked her vulnerability deep within the chart room ever since Belle-Mere left, finally had someone to vent to.The only place she could cry was that tiny room.A warm smile with a hint of tears slowly rose at the corners of Nojiko's lips.Now, it seemed there was one more place.In the arms of that Straw Hat boy....On the other side."Is it over just like that?"When Zoro and the others entered the village, they received an extremely warm welcome as soon as people heard they were partners of the Straw Hatboy.They began to doubt their own identities.Aren't we pirates?Chapter 25: Learning New Knowledge, Striving to be a New PirateThe entire Cocoyasi Village was celebrating.The village, which had been shrouded in gloom by the Fishman crew, ultimately didn't wait for the Marine; instead, it was redeemed by a group of pirates.If many islands communicated with each other, they might know that such absurd things are not uncommon in this vast sea."To handle such serious injuries yourself, honestly, are you guys really pirates?"Dr. Nako said while helping the Marimo man in front of him treat his wounds."You don't even have a ship doctor!""Actually, I am the Captain of this ship and also the acting ship doctor!"Luffy sat on a desk not far from Zoro, grinning: "How about letting me do it? My skills are pretty good too.""Absolutely not."Zoro flatly refused.He learned a few tricks and wants to use him as a guinea pig?Don't even think about it."Is that bad woman's trouble resolved?""Nami is Nami, she's our partner. Can't you just call her by her name?"Luffy's hand never left the meat while his other hand was still writing and drawing. Even though a banquet was being held outside and he wanted to go, unfortunately, now was the time for fruit development."To be honest, I didn't expect our Cocoyasi Villagewould eventually be redeemed by you pirates. I express my most sincere gratitude to you..."Listening to the conversation between the two, Dr. Nako suddenly used force to help Zoro secure the bandage, "But... that doesn't mean you can bully Nami!""Hiss... Ow, ow, ow!"Zoro slapped the side of the bed and almost jumped up. Does this old man have any medical ethics at all!He's actually using a public matter to settle a private grudge!"Don't worry, Village Doctor. Nami is the most important Navigator on our ship," Luffy said."I'll leave Nami in your care then." Dr. Nakonodded.He quite approved of Luffy, especially since not long ago when Zoro and the others had just arrived, that curly-browed bastard in a suit tried to rush in front of Nami, only to be sent flying by a single punch from Luffy."I absolutely cannot let that kind of person get close to Nami!""Oh, you mean Sanji. Don't worry, I promised the Chef old man that if Sanji did anything inappropriate, I would punch him flying," Luffy said calmly.He had always taken the entrustments of his partners' families seriously."By the way, Zoro, were the wounds on your body caused by that Hawkeye man?" Luffy asked, looking at Zoro's wounds."...Yeah."Zoro suddenly went quiet, remembering the previous scenes."I am Dracule Mihawk.""No matter how many years pass, I will wait for you at this strongest seat.""Surpass this sword, surpass me, Roronoa!"Today, Zoro had witnessed the gap between himself and the world's strongest.To become the Great Swordsman, there was indeed a long way to go."Hmph, an ordinary person would have died from such injuries. It would take two or three years to recover... but his recovery power is indeed terrifying." Dr. Nako finished the follow-up treatment and left the space to the two of them."That man is very strong. I was startled when I saw your injuries just now," Luffy said."...Very strong. I really don't want to experience the taste of such a defeat a second time."Zoro propped himself up and looked at Luffyseriously, "Before I defeat him and become the Great Swordsman, I will absolutely never lose again!""Do you have any objections? Pirate King!?"This was Zoro's promise to Luffy. His vision had previously been limited to the East Blue, but after witnessing the existence at the top of the world, he was startled by the gap.Luffy's goal was to become the Pirate King. Since that was the case, as a crew member of the Pirate King, he had to possess the status and strength to match!This was the man he acknowledged.The tacit understanding between partners only required a single look."Hee hee hee, none."Partners pursuing their dreams—everyone on the going merry was like this....Not long after."...You don't need to stay here with me."Zoro looked at Luffy at the desk, his brow furrowed. The scene before him felt too out of place.When Luffy and Nami were studying in the room, the only witness was Nami. If someone said they were actually studying in there, Zoro wouldn't believe it for a second.He might believe it a bit more if they were studying 'positions'.Seeing this eerie situation now, Zoro really felt like Luffy was possessed by a ghost."It's just because I have nowhere else to go. If you're fine, just rest well and don't disturb my studies."The half-day partner recruitment day ended.After dealing with the Fishmen, along with the end of the reward time, it was back to hell time.Outside, Usopp was already arm-in-arm with the villagers, starting the banquet.Sanji, after being punched flying, began to hit on the pretty young ladies in the village.Only Luffy and Zoro, the two injured ones, were here."Luffy, did that woman Nami give you some kind of poison?" Zoro finally couldn't help but complain."Don't you feel a sense of incongruity right now?""...Why can't I just like studying?"Luffy couldn't help but retort. Did he look that much like an idiot who hated studying? Once he mastered his studies, he would definitely stand in the camp of the intellectuals and look down on illiterates like Zoro!"Can you even believe those words yourself?" Zoropicked up the beer mug on the table and took a heavy gulp.Refreshing!"..." Luffy.Stop blurting out the truth.Given that he was currently being pushed forward by some power with a sword at his back, that description wasn't wrong.But being pushed forward had its benefits.Luffy's personality was exactly the type that needed someone to give him a push from behind."Oh right, I remembered something," Luffysuddenly turned around and said."Zoro, was that black blade you mentioned just now like this?"Luffy's fist was seen wrapped in Armament Haki, turning pitch black."Th-This, what is this?!" Zoro's expression was shocked, and his newly tied wounds almost cracked open again.This power felt very familiar!When Zoro first fought Hawkeye, he was almost beaten into a broken state of mind by the opponent using just a small knife."Hee hee, Armament Haki.""How did you learn it?""Uh..."He just learned it by rewarding himself during the reward time?After all, this was a hard-won opportunity to show off; it wasn't easy to make Zoro show such an expression.Before the warning sounded, Luffy thought of a good explanation."Do you remember our sparring session two days ago?""One punch from you, one punch from me?""It was ten punches from you and one from me," Luffy corrected Zoro's phrasing.Training by taking a beating is the most important part of learning Armament Haki, and he indeed practiced it that way.It's just that Zoro didn't have the so-called reward time, so he might need to take a few more beatings?Anyway, he wasn't lying!Zoro seemed to be seriously considering the feasibility of this.Let Luffy teach him?In terms of fighting, they might be able to complement each other's strengths, but in other aspects, he couldn't be trusted at all. However, from certain perspectives, it was precisely because of his stubbornly rigid personality that he was trustworthy.The value he placed on a hat was the same as Zoro's obsession with swords.Wait..."Luffy, where's your hat?"Right, where's my hat?"Nami!"