Chapter 54: Stuck With Such A Foolish Woman, What Can I Do?
Yosaku and Johnny had initially intended to check if Ralph was alright.
After all, the duel against Hawk Eye just now had been too shocking, and Ralph collapsing from exhaustion at the end was genuinely worrying.
Then, they saw Ralph lying on Nami's lap.
Nami was kneeling on the deck, cradling Ralph's head on her thighs. One hand gently supported his shoulder while the other gripped her three-section staff, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
Yosaku and Johnny exchanged glances.
"Um..." Yosaku scratched his head.
"Maybe we should..." Johnny blinked.
In unison, they declared: "Let's not go over there!"
Understanding the situation perfectly, they turned their backs to Ralph and Nami, drew their weapons, and remained alert against potential sneak attacks from the Krieg Pirates.
However, the actual situation was far less dire than they imagined.
While Ralph had indeed expended tremendous energy, he hadn't completely lost his fighting capacity.
The moment Hawk Eye departed, he had already used his cross pendant to perform self-hypnosis.
Though it would leave him weaker afterwards, it allowed for rapid partial recovery of stamina in the present.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to unleash a second Killing Blade when Krieg woke up.
Even if the Krieg Pirates' lackeys charged over, he still possessed enough strength for combat.
Moreover... Ralph's mind quietly conjured the system interface.
[Detected establishment of 'Friend' Relationship with key character 'Dracule Mihawk']
[Claim relationship reward?]
Ralph mentally confirmed: Claim.
[Reward successfully claimed]
[Acquired: Armament Haki (Beginner)]
Well...
This was within expectations.
Except for rewards obtained from Lufia, which might exceed her current capabilities—like the previously acquired Six Powers: Soru, clearly not a skill inherent to a Gomu Gomu no Mi user—rewards from others were highly likely related to their own abilities.
Upon reflection, there weren't many things that could be "dropped" from Hawk Eye.
True masters were indeed unadorned—not even ultimate moves, just basic attacks.
The rewards Hawk Eye could provide were essentially swordsmanship, Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and that dubious Conqueror's Haki.
"He couldn't possibly drop a Black Blade, could he!" Ralph inwardly complained, "What would Hawk Eye use if his Black Blade actually dropped?"
Having beginner-level Armament Haki was already quite good.
Ralph recalled that Hawk Eye seemed to practice farming.
If he'd ended up with "Advanced Horticulture Skills" or "Self-Sufficient Survival Techniques on a Deserted Island," that would've been a real loss.
As the reward was claimed, a warm current flowed through his body.
This energy circulated through his meridians, somewhat alleviating muscle fatigue and restoring a bit more of his stamina.
Then he... continued lying on Nami's lap.
This was purely scheming.
A strategy of waiting for the willing to bite.
Ralph kept his eyes closed, breathing steadily, appearing like an injured person in need of protection.
But his ears were perked, carefully monitoring every movement on the battlefield.
He'd heard the Krieg Pirates were consistently despicable in their methods.
Therefore, they wouldn't miss exploiting such obvious weaknesses as him and Zoro—two "wounded invalids."
That would be the moment for Ralph to make his move.
"However..." Ralph added mentally, "that's only if Lufia and Sanji can't hold them off."
He believed in his crew's strength.
Especially now!
"Gomu Gomu no Fusen!"
Lufia's clear voice rang across the deck.
Facing dozens of bullets fired simultaneously by the pirates, raining down like hail, the short-haired girl wearing a straw hat didn't retreat but instead charged forward. She took a deep breath, and her entire body rapidly expanded like an inflating balloon!
Her originally slender figure instantly transformed into a round, spherical form.
"Thud thud thud thud thud—!"
The bullets struck her rubberized body with dense, muffled impacts, and then...
They all bounced off!
The bullets ricocheted at various tricky angles—some shooting toward the sky, some plunging into the sea, and others unluckily rebounding back into the ranks of the Krieg Pirates, causing chaotic cries of surprise.
"Ah! My arm!"
"Who fired?! Wrong target!"
"It's a rebound! The bullets bounced back!"
Lufia returned to her original form, patted herself down, and giggled happily:
"Useless, useless! I'm a rubber human, bullets don't work on me!"
This move shocked everyone present.
The pirates of the Krieg Pirates widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.
"What... what kind of monster is that?!"
"Is the straw hat girl a Devil Fruit user?"
"She's actually immune to bullets... What a terrifying ability!"
Panic began to spread among the pirates.
However, their captain, Krieg, showed no fear at all.
The overlord of the East Sea, clad in Golden Armor, sneered, his voice cutting through all the commotion:
"What's there to be afraid of?! Devil Fruit users may have strange abilities, but they all share one fatal weakness—they can't swim!"
He raised his hand and pointed at Lufia:
"Besides, it's just rubber! Just slash or pierce it with sharp weapons! No matter how elastic rubber is, it can't block swords and blades!!"
With just these words, he restored courage to the panicked pirates.
"The... the captain is right!"
"Use blades! Use swords!"
"Cut her down!"
Under Krieg's command, the pirates immediately changed their tactics.
The pirate grunts wielding swords and blades charged forward with wild shouts, their gleaming blades flashing coldly in the sunlight.
"Oh? Switching to blades?"
Lufia tilted her head, her smile unwavering. "Then let's give it a try!"
Just as she was about to engage, a golden figure rushed out ahead of her.
"Such trash isn't worthy of being handled by a beautiful lady personally."
Sanji's voice was elegant yet firm.
He swept into the battlefield like a whirlwind, instantly displaying the terrifying kicking techniques inherited from Red-Leg Zeff.
Front kick! One pirate took the hit in the chest and flew backwards, crashing into three others behind him.
Side kick!
Another pirate was struck in the face, spinning as he fell into the sea.
Immediately after, Sanji spun through the air, his legs sweeping like a windmill!
"Thud thud thud thud!"
Several pirates were hit simultaneously, screaming as they fell in different directions.
Clean, efficient, without any hesitation.
Sanji landed, adjusted his suit collar, and glanced back at Lufia with a wink: "Miss Lufia, please rest for a moment. I'll handle these weaklings."
His showy demeanor, combined with the strength he had just displayed, indeed carried a certain flair.
Lufia shook her head, her rubber arm already stretching out: "No! I want to fight too! We agreed to protect the restaurant together!"
As she spoke, her fist shot out like a cannonball...
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
"Thump!"
A pirate who was about to ambush Sanji from the side took the punch right in the face, flying halfway across the deck like a broken kite before splashing into the sea with a "splash."
Sanji: "Then... let's fight side by side, Miss Lufia."
However, the Krieg Pirates still numbered at least several dozen.
With just two people, they couldn't hold back the pirates' full assault.
Pirates swarmed from multiple directions—some charging at Lufia and Sanji, while others tried to bypass them to attack the main structure of the sea restaurant.
At this critical moment...
A roar erupted from inside the restaurant.
Followed by a group of men in chef uniforms rushing out!
They wielded all sorts of "weapons"—massive meat cleavers, long-handled soup ladles, and even large iron forks used for grilling!
The two at the front were particularly conspicuous.
One was stout with a fierce face, his chef's hat tilted sideways, brandishing two kitchen knives—none other than Patty, who had once beaten up Gin.
The other was relatively lean with sharp eyes, holding a specially made long-handled meat hook—the fourth chef, Carne.
"How can we let Sanji and a temporary worker fight alone?"
Patty bellowed, his cleavers slicing through the air with a cold gleam, "Protecting the sea restaurant is our responsibility too!"
Carne added, "Never underestimate chefs at sea."
"Charge—!"
Over twenty chefs, roaring like tigers descending a mountain, rushed out and clashed with the pirates.
In an instant, the deck became a scene of flashing blades and clashing metal, filled with battle cries, the clang of weapons, and screams.
But it still wasn't enough.
The Krieg Pirates still held the advantage in numbers, and among them were true desperadoes.
Patty and Carne exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.
"Activate it," Patty said.
"Should've done it sooner," Carne replied.
The two quickly retreated, rushing into the restaurant to pull a hidden lever.
"Clank—clank clank—"
The sound of machinery operating came from below the hull.
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, the "fish head" of the sea restaurant Baratie, this massive fish-shaped ship, slowly separated from the main body!
Even more unbelievable, the separated fish head unfolded on the sea, its mouth opening to reveal three pitch-black cannon barrels, while paddle wheels extended from both sides of the hull.
It had transformed into an independent battle ship!
Lufia's eyes sparkled like stars at the sight.
"So—cool—!!!"
She even forgot about the fight momentarily, turning to shout at the combat boat with excitement and envy written all over her face, "A transforming ship! So awesome!"
Patty yelled through a speaking tube: "Witness the true power of the sea restaurant Baratie! Sabagashira No. 1, launch!"
"Boom—!"
The first shot accurately hit a nearby wreck of a Krieg Pirate ship.
The already battered deck completely disintegrated under the cannon fire, wood splinters flying everywhere as the pirates on board screamed and fell into the water.
"Well done!"
"So amazing!"
The morale of the Baratie's side soared.
Patty aimed the cannon at Krieg, whose Golden Armor gleamed under the sunlight.
"Prepare yourself, Krieg!" Patty roared. "I'll show you the power of the Baratie Floating Restaurant!"
"Boom—!"
The second cannon shot was fired, heading straight for Krieg!
The shell exploded at Krieg's location, instantly engulfing him in smoke and flames.
Everyone held their breath.
Was it over?
The smoke slowly cleared.
Then, everyone gasped in shock.
Krieg stood there, completely unharmed.
No, not just unharmed!
He began walking toward the Sabagashira 1.
The combat boat immediately turned its cannon, preparing to fire again.
But Krieg was faster.
He rushed to the boat in a few steps and, under the stunned gazes of Patty and Carne, stopped the boat's bow with one hand.
"What?!"
The two men pedaled frantically, the paddlewheel spinning wildly and splashing water everywhere.
But the boat didn't budge an inch.
Krieg had halted the entire propulsion force of the combat boat with just one hand!
Then, the muscles in his arm bulged, and his body beneath the Golden Armor erupted with terrifying strength.
"Haa—!"
With a single heave of his arm!
The entire Sabagashira 1, along with Patty and Carne on board, was flung high into the air!
"Aaaaaah—!"
Patty's screams echoed through the sky.
The boat traced a parabolic arc through the air, hurtling straight toward the main body of the floating restaurant!
"Not good!" Sanji's expression changed.
He leaped into the air instantly, spinning mid-air and delivering a flying kick!
"Crush!"
"Bang!"
A precise kick struck the side of the boat, altering its trajectory.
The Sabagashira 1 skimmed past the main body of the floating restaurant and landed on the extended deck. Although it didn't crash directly into the restaurant, it was completely incapacitated and forced to run aground.
Patty and Carne scrambled out of the Sabagashira 1, disheveled but fortunately not seriously injured.
They exchanged a glance and simultaneously drew their backup weapons from their waists.
Patty wielded a cleaver, while Carne brandished a short-handled hook and fork.
"Close combat it is, then!" Patty wiped seawater from his face. "Don't underestimate chefs—we know how to handle blades too!"
"Let's go!" Carne said tersely.
The two joined the chaotic battle on the deck.
With the addition of these two head chefs, the previously outmatched cooks quickly turned the tables.
The battle seemed to be tilting in the Baratie's favor.
But in reality, the situation wasn't optimistic.
Because their captain, Krieg, hadn't even made a proper move yet.
His earlier display of strength—flipping the boat with one hand—had already proven that his personal combat prowess was nothing to scoff at.
Not to mention his Golden Armor, riddled with hidden mechanisms and loaded with devastating weapons.
It was still anyone's guess who would win this restaurant defense battle.
"Hey!"
A clear voice interrupted Krieg's observation.
Lufia jumped in front of Krieg, her eyes beneath the straw hat fixed directly on the overlord of the East Blue:
"You're just too much! Boss Zeff gave you food, and not only are you ungrateful, but you're trying to steal the restaurant! I'm going to knock you flying, you thankless bastard!"
Krieg looked down at the Straw Hat Girl, who only reached his chest, and smirked disdainfully.
"Don't think your Devil Fruit power lets you run wild on the seas."
His voice dripped with disdain, "Devil Fruit users are all landlubbers—it's utterly foolish to fight at sea. And..."
His gaze swept past Lufia, drifting slowly elsewhere.
"Your weakness is far too obvious."
As the words fell, Krieg suddenly moved.
But not toward Lufia.
He swiftly raised the golden round shield on his left arm. A seam suddenly opened on the shield's surface, revealing the dark muzzle of a cannon.
"Bang!"
Not a cannonball.
Dozens of sharp short spears shot out from the cannon barrel!
Their target wasn't Lufia.
Nor Sanji.
But...
The corner where Johnny, Yosaku, Nami, Zoro, and Ralph were!
"What?!" Johnny and Yosaku paled in shock.
They had been on guard, but it was too late to move Ralph and Zoro away.
Exchanging a glance, they simultaneously stepped forward, placing themselves between the incoming spears!
"Sword God Yosaku stands here!"
"Sword Saint Johnny arrives!"
They attempted to block the spears with their blades.
"Clang! Clang!"
They indeed managed to slice the first two spears.
But over a dozen more followed!
"Thud!"
"Argh!"
The sounds of spears piercing flesh echoed one after another.
A spear struck Johnny's thigh, another impaled Yosaku's shoulder. They cried out in pain but stubbornly held their ground, not retreating a single step.
Because behind them lay an unconscious Zoro, a weakened Ralph, and Nami supporting Ralph.
"Johnny! Yosaku!" Lufia's eyes instantly reddened.
She turned to glare furiously at Krieg: "Bastard! Those people aren't even fighting! How could you—"
"Your naivety is downright laughable!"
Krieg cut her off, the mockery in his smile deepening.
"The sea isn't a playground for a straw-hat brat like you! If you don't want your comrades hurt, take them and scram now. My target was never you people."
Lufia gritted her teeth.
Blood flowed from Johnny and Yosaku's wounds, staining the deck red.
But she still shook her head.
"How could I possibly do that?"
Lufia's voice was resolute, "I promised Boss Zeff I'd help protect his restaurant. And you bastard, you attacked my comrades..."
She lifted her head, flames of rage burning in her eyes.
"How could I ever let you get away with this?!"
As she spoke, Lufia pulled her arm back, her rubber arm stretching to its limit.
"Gomu Gomu—"
"It seems you don't understand human language," Krieg said coldly, raising his cannon muzzle again.
This time, it was still aimed at Ralph and the others!
"Bastard!"
Lufia cursed, her rubber arm snapping back abruptly. But instead of attacking Krieg, she grabbed the nearby mast, launching herself like a slingshot!
She intercepted the cannonball's trajectory mid-air.
"Bang!"
The cannonball exploded in front of her.
It wasn't an ordinary cannonball—it was filled with dozens of sharp cross-shaped shuriken!
The blast's shockwave sent Lufia flying backward, while the scattered shuriken rained down upon her like a deadly blossom.
"Swish, swish, swish—!"
Blood splattered.
Lufia crashed heavily in front of Ralph and the others.
Her body was slashed by at least a dozen shuriken, blood streaming from the gruesome wounds.
She quickly rose to her feet, facing Krieg once more. Though her body trembled slightly from the pain, her posture remained upright.
A voice sounded behind Lufia.
"Even when your opponent is this despicable..."
Ralph's voice came from Nami's embrace, "Lufia, do you still insist on holding to your beliefs?"
Lufia didn't turn around.
She simply nodded firmly, her voice loud and clear:
"Of course!"
"No matter how underhanded my opponent's methods are, I can protect all of you, and then knock him flying!"
She said it so matter-of-factly, so unquestionably.
This was the simplest, most right thing in the world.
Then, Nami noticed that Ralph in her arms was covering his face with his hands in frustration.
Through the gaps between his fingers, Nami saw the corners of Ralph's mouth twitching, as if he were laughing, or crying, but more like a kind of helpless indulgence.
Only Ralph could hear his inner monologue:
Stuck with such a foolish woman...
What am I supposed to do?
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