Chapter 60: The Plot Has Changed, But... Let's Fight!
Hearing the sound of the door opening, he looked up and saw Lufia and the other two, a smug smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"You're really slow."
Zoro's voice echoed through the silent courtyard:
"I've already finished the fight."
He paused, then added:
"Don't blame me for not calling you during the fight—who told you to get lost?"
A vein bulged on Sanji's forehead.
He was already annoyed that Zoro had beaten him to it, and seeing the guy's arrogant attitude made him even angrier.
More importantly, it made him miss the chance to show off in front of Lufia and Nami!
"You're just a prep cook in charge of chopping," Sanji gritted his teeth, "Don't get too cocky! Without the head chef present, who allowed you to 'cook' on your own?"
He turned and glared at Ralph:
"And you! Didn't you say he has no sense of direction?!"
Ralph was also a bit confused.
Zoro was indeed directionally challenged, no doubt about it.
But to get "lost" all the way from the orange grove directly to Arlong Park, and even clear out all the leftover grunts guarding the place along the way...
This kind of "lost" route was way too precise, wasn't it?
Ralph didn't dwell on the issue for too long. He scanned the courtyard, his brow slightly furrowed:
"Zoro, since you got here early, have you seen Nami?"
Zoro thought for a moment, then shook his head:
"Didn't notice."
"What?!" Sanji's voice suddenly rose, "How dare you ignore Miss Nami's beauty?!"
Zoro shot Sanji a disdainful look, too lazy to bother with him, and continued explaining:
"I walked straight through the gate, and these half-human, half-fish guys seemed pretty unhappy about me barging in, so they attacked. I didn't hold back either, and then it ended up like this."
He paused:
"During all that, Nami didn't show up."
Ralph frowned, feeling somewhat helpless.
Arlong Park, Cocoyasi Village, and Syrup Village were all in a simple straight line.
But the routes back and forth might not be the same.
It seemed something must have happened that caused Nami to rush to Arlong Park, beat up Chabo and drive him away, then leave again quickly herself.
And she hadn't run into any of them.
But what could it have been?
As Ralph was recalling the plot and analyzing possible scenarios, Chabo was in a state of extreme shock.
The little boy stared wide-eyed at the Fish-man corpses littering the ground, then looked at Zoro sitting on the bench.
"I... I haven't been gone from Arlong Park for long..."
Chabo's voice trembled, "I came back right away with these three... In such a short time, you alone, with just one sword... took out all these Fish-men..."
He swallowed hard, his eyes suddenly blazing with admiration:
"You're amazing!"
Chabo rushed up to Zoro, "Please! Teach me swordsmanship! I want to become as strong as you too!!"
Zoro was taken aback.
In the East Blue, many people were shocked by his ferocity, but wanting to become his apprentice and learn swordsmanship from him... this was the first.
He looked down at this little boy with his blood-stained face and burning eyes.
"First, I have no plans to take on an apprentice for now. Second, my swordsmanship isn't even the strongest on our ship..."
As he spoke, Zoro glanced at Ralph, paused, then asked, "And... what's your purpose in learning swordsmanship?"
Chabo clenched his fists:
"I want to kill those hateful Fish-men and avenge my father!"
Zoro pointed at the corpses scattered across the ground:
"Weren't all the Fish-men supposed to be dead?"
"No!" Chabo shook his head, pointing at the Fish-man bodies scattered across the ground, "Arlong isn't here! None of his officers are here either! These are just underlings! The officers are the most terrifying part of the Arlong Pirates!"
Sanji snorted with laughter nearby.
"So," he drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "you only took care of some small fry. The main course hasn't even been served yet, and you were acting so arrogant just now."
A vein throbbed visibly on Zoro's forehead.
"You damn cook," he slowly rose to his feet, hand resting on his sword hilt, "I've had enough of you."
Sanji met his gaze without backing down:
"What? Want to fight? I'm ready anytime, but before that, tell me which Fish-man officer you actually defeated? Hmm?"
Zoro snorted coldly:
"At least I took action. What about you? All you do is make snide remarks here?"
"Me?" Sanji lifted his chin, "As head chef, of course I'm responsible for the main course. That Arlong guy will be handled—'prepared'—by me!"
"No way!"
Lufia suddenly cut in.
She stood between them with hands on her hips, her expression serious beneath her straw hat:
"I'm the captain! Arlong is obviously my responsibility!"
Sanji opened his mouth, then finally lowered his head:
"Yes... Lufia."
He turned to glare at Zoro, redirecting his focus:
"In that case—you green-haired kitchen helper, find me a Fish-man officer! I'll turn him into sashimi in no time!"
Zoro sneered:
"Do you even know how to use a knife, you pervert cook? Need me to teach you?"
Sanji's temper flared instantly:
"Green algae head, are you looking down on a chef's knife skills?"
Just as the two were about to start arguing again—
"..."
A heavy, dull thud echoed.
Followed by the sound of metal gears turning.
Everyone simultaneously turned to look in the direction of the noise.
It came from the sea-facing side of Arlong Park, where a massive iron gate was slowly opening.
The first thing that came into view was a huge, bizarre creature.
It looked like a cross between a cow and a fish.
Its body was as large as a small hill, with white skin covered in blue patches like a dairy cow. It had horn-like structures on its head, but fish fins on its back, and the rear half of its body ended in a fish tail.
The monster was pulling a ship, slowly swimming into the waterway inside the park.
And when everyone got a clear look at the ship, they all froze.
"Is that..." Sanji narrowed his eyes.
"The Going Merry?!" Lufia exclaimed.
That's right.
The ship being pulled in by the monster was indeed their vessel, the Going Merry.
What about Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku?
Weren't they supposed to be guarding the ship?
Just as everyone was gripped with shock and confusion, the water surface parted with a splash.
A figure emerged from the water.
It was... an octopus Fish-man.
He had six arms, each covered in suckers. His head featured a starfish-like hairstyle, with round eyes and a mouth shaped like a nozzle, grinning to reveal two rows of white teeth as he made a curious expression.
"Who are you people?"
The octopus Fish-man's voice was gentle, even somewhat simple and honest:
"Are you new guests invited by Arlong?"
He glanced at the Fish-man corpses littering the ground, then at the sword in Zoro's hand, tilting his head:
"Or... are you here to cause trouble?"
A brief silence fell.
Lufia, Ralph, Sanji, and Zoro exchanged glances.
The meaning in their eyes needed no words.
Sanji suddenly grinned.
He flexed his wrists and looked at Zoro:
"Green algae head, seems we don't need to argue anymore."
Zoro slowly drew his sword, the blade reflecting a cold gleam:
"We've got Fish-man officers—"
He paused, glancing at the massive sea beast towing the ship:
"Plus a giant monster bonus."
Ralph touched the cross pendant around his neck:
"They actually dared to steal our ship! They'd better pray Usopp and the others are unharmed..."
Lufia grinned, pressing down her straw hat:
"..."
She dropped into a fighting stance, her rubber arms beginning to stretch:
"Let's fight!"
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