Chapter 71 The daily life on the Going Merry, getting closer
The azure sea stretches to the horizon, and the sky is crystal clear.
The Going Merry sailed leisurely on the calm sea, carried by the gentle sea breeze.
However, in stark contrast to the tranquil seascape, the mornings on the ship often begin with a chaotic scene of chickens and dogs running around.
"Slurp..."
On the deck at the stern, Luffy was leaning on the railing, his body twisted like a snake.
They were quietly approaching the three newly transplanted, lush orange trees in the corner.
Looking at those golden, plump oranges that exuded an enticing fragrance, Luffy's mouth was dripping with drool, and his eyes even turned into the shape of oranges.
"It looks so delicious... I'll just have one... I hope I won't get caught?"
Luffy's arm slowly stretched out, his sinful rubber hand about to touch the sacred fruit.
"Stop it! You philandering rubber monkey!!"
A roar was accompanied by the sound of wind breaking.
"when!!"
A heavy frying pan slammed down on Luffy's outstretched arm.
Sanji, wearing an apron and holding a frying pan, stood like a guardian deity in front of the orange tree:
"This is Nami's most precious orange tree! Even if only one leaf falls, I'll turn it into rubber sashimi!!"
"Ouch! Sanji, you're so stingy! Oranges are for eating!"
Luffy covered his arm and protested loudly in dissatisfaction, then jumped back.
This jump, unfortunately, landed squarely on one of the green algae-covered people who was fast asleep on the deck.
"Pfft!"
Zoro was dreaming of becoming the world's greatest swordsman when he was suddenly jolted awake by a heavy blow to the stomach.
"Damn it! Who attacked me?!"
Zoro sprang up abruptly, and upon seeing Luffy and Sanji, immediately joined the battle with a grumpy expression.
"You two idiots! What are you yelling about so early in the morning! Do you want to get chopped up?!"
"Who are you calling an idiot? You green algae head!"
"I'm talking to you! You lecherous cook!"
"I want to eat an orange!!"
The deck instantly descended into chaos, with dust flying everywhere.
Meanwhile, in the other corner.
"Hehehe, after my improvements, this is a'specially made super invincible chili pepper star' that can make an elephant cry from the spiciness!"
Usopp was wearing goggles, holding a small, purplish-red pill in his hand, and grinning smugly.
"Huh?"
Clay, the black crow beside him, curiously approached and tilted his head to stare at the red pill.
"Oh? Clay, would you like to try some? This is good stuff!" Usopp grinned mischievously and handed over the chili ball.
Clay, not understanding why, opened his mouth and swallowed it whole.
One second, two seconds.
"boom--!!"
Clay's feathers bristled instantly, turning his originally black body a bright red, like a roasted turkey, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Ugh—!! It's spicy!! It's killing me with spiciness!!!"
It let out a piercing scream.
Then, like a red shooting star, it shot straight out of the railing and plunged into the sea with a "plop".
"Hahaha! The effect is outstanding!" Usopp laughed wildly, clutching his stomach.
"Gah gah! Help... gurgle gurgle... help me..."
Usopp paused, then immediately jumped over the railing and into the sea.
On the second deck.
This is the first mate's designated spot.
Victor was lying on a comfortable beach chair, a thick book covering his face, his hands clasped behind his head.
Although the book is titled "Zeff's Nautical Log," his even breathing reveals that he is currently immersed in an "ocean of knowledge."
He didn't even bother to move when there was noise downstairs, as if an invisible barrier separated him from these idiots.
until...
"Squeak—"
The door to the girls' room was pushed open.
Nami watched as the three main fighters fought over a few oranges on the deck, and Usopp laughed heartily while clutching his stomach.
A bright red "well" character instantly appeared on Nami's forehead, and a visible black aura of dominance rose from her body.
"You bunch of guys..."
Nami clenched her fists, then walked over with a benevolent smile:
"Can't it be a little quieter this early in the morning?!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three muffled thuds.
The three main players, who were just moments before so arrogant, suddenly found themselves kneeling neatly on the deck, their heads covered in steaming bumps.
"Ouch... Nami, are you a devil...?" Luffy covered the bump on his head, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Nami, hands on her hips, announced the ship's new rules with an air of dominance:
"Listen up! Now that you're at sea, you must abide by the rules of this navigator!"
"First, all the money on the ship is under my control! You have to apply to spend any money!"
"Secondly, I control the course! Anyone who dares to give wrong directions will be thrown overboard to feed the fish!"
Nami pointed to the orange tree behind her, her eyes becoming incredibly sharp:
"Third! These three orange trees are absolutely forbidden territory! Anyone who dares to steal even one... I'll fine them ten million Berries!!"
"Yes!! Miss Nami!!"
Sanji, though he'd also been hit, was wriggling his body with hearts in his eyes: "Being managed by Nami-san feels... amazing! This is a trial of love!"
Zoro curled his lip and turned his head to the side with an annoyed look: "Tch, what a troublesome guy."
...
It was late at night.
Silver moonlight, like a veil, spilled across the shimmering sea, and the whole world seemed to fall asleep.
Apart from...
"Slurp...meat...delicious...slurp..."
Inside the boys' cabin, Luffy's deafening snores rose and fell, as if playing an unpleasant symphony.
"..."
Viktor opened his eyes, looked at the ceiling, and sighed helplessly.
"That snoring is even stronger than a sonic attack."
Unable to sleep due to the noise, Victor quietly left the room, intending to go to the deck to enjoy the sea breeze.
He stopped just as he reached the stern of the boat.
A slender figure stood beneath those orange trees.
Nami was not asleep.
She had just finished showering, her short orange hair still wet and clinging to her cheeks. She wore only a thin white shirt, which made her look exceptionally gentle and serene in the moonlight.
She reached out and gently stroked the leaves of the orange tree, her eyes devoid of the shrewdness and irritability of the day, replaced only by endless tenderness.
"Are you staying up so late counting how many fruits are on these trees so you can sell them for money?"
Viktor's languid voice broke the silence.
He leaned against the railing, smiling as he looked at the girl under the tree.
Nami didn't get flustered like she did during the day.
She turned around, the moonlight shining on her face, her brown eyes gleaming with a complex light.
"Fool."
Nami spoke softly, a faint smile playing on her lips:
"These oranges... are priceless treasures that money can't buy."
Viktor smiled and did not refute.
He took a step and slowly approached Nami.
As they drew closer, a faint scent of shower gel and orange blossoms filled the air.
Viktor's gaze shifted downwards, landing on Nami's exposed left shoulder.
There, the black jagged tattoo that once symbolized enslavement and nightmares has completely disappeared.
Instead, a brand new pattern has emerged—windmills and oranges intertwined, appearing particularly vivid under the moonlight.
Viktor reached out his hand.
His fingertips lightly touched the new tattoo.
The slightly cool touch made Nami's body stiffen slightly, and a blush instantly rose on her cheeks, but she did not dodge away, but let Viktor's fingers linger.
"Compared to that ugly jagged edge..."
Viktor looked at the design and said in a low voice, "This design is much more pleasing to the eye."
Nami lowered her head, looking at the pattern on her shoulder, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes:
"Um..."
"It represents freedom... and family."
She looked up at Victor, who was so close to her, the man who had broken her shackles in the flames.
"Thank you, Victor."
Nami's voice was soft, but very earnest.
Subsequently, in order to cover up this overly ambiguous atmosphere...
She deliberately feigned distress, bringing up what Victor had said to her on the ship when he helped her preserve the treasure:
"Speaking of which... although you helped me keep my money, I now owe you so much debt..."
Nami raised her head, half-jokingly and half-seriously, her large eyes sparkling with cunning and a hint of barely perceptible expectation:
What if I can't pay it back in my lifetime?
Upon hearing this...
Viktor slowly withdrew his hand, his dark eyes smiling as he looked at her.
He suddenly leaned down and moved closer to Nami.
The distance between the two instantly closed, close enough that they could feel each other's breath.
Viktor leaned close to Nami's ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.
He spoke softly, with a hint of mockery, in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"I can't pay it back..."
"Then use your entire life... to slowly pay off the debt."
boom--
This statement is like a depth charge.
Nami's face instantly turned bright red, all the way to her ears, and her heart pounded wildly like a deer.
"You...you...!"
She frantically looked up and met Victor's smiling eyes, her mind going completely blank.
Goodnight!
Nami could no longer resist and abruptly pushed away Viktor, who was getting closer and closer.
Like a startled rabbit, she hurriedly ran back to her room.
"Bang!"
The door slammed shut.
Silence returned to the deck.
Viktor stood there, watching the fleeing figure, touched his nose, and the smile on his lips grew wider and wider.
He turned around, looked at the bright moon in the sky, and stretched happily.
"The moonlight tonight... is truly beautifulChapter 72 The Town of Beginnings and Ends! The Demon Sword Onikiri!
Beneath the massive arched gate, the Going Merry slowly sailed into this bustling port city.
Rogge Town.
This place is known as the "Town of Beginnings and Ends" because of the man who once possessed everything in this world—the Pirate King Gol D. Roger.
He was born here, and he was executed here.
As soon as we docked, we were greeted by the hustle and bustle of the crowds and the vibrant streets.
"Oh! I'm going to be the Pirate King!!"
The moment Luffy stepped onto land, his eyes were fixed on the towering execution platform in the center of the town. He shouted excitedly and charged ahead of everyone else.
"I want to see the execution platform!!"
"That idiot..."
Nami sighed helplessly, then picked up her backpack. "I'm going to buy some clothes suitable for the climate of the Grand Line."
"I want to go too! I want to go too! I'm going to buy some equipment!" Usopp followed closely behind.
"Then I'll go buy some ingredients. I heard the seafood market here is great." Sanji straightened his tie and gracefully stepped off the ship.
Seeing that everyone had made plans, Viktor casually grabbed Clay, the raven on his shoulder, and tossed him to Nami like a sandbag.
"Gah?!" Clay flapped his wings in the air.
Viktor watched as Nami hugged Clay, then turned and called to Zoro, who was about to walk in the opposite direction:
"Hey, Green Moss Head. Where are you going?"
"Of course, we'll go to the weapon shop." Zoro pointed ahead. "Two of my swords are broken, so I need to buy new ones."
"The weapon shop must be inside the city."
Victor pointed in the exact opposite direction and sighed.
"Fine, I'll go with you. If I leave you alone, you'll probably still be going around in circles until we leave Loguetown."
"Stop nagging! I won't get lost!"
...
The streets of Rogge are intricate and bustling with people.
"This way."
"Hey! That's a dead end!"
"left!"
"That's the right side!"
Viktor, exasperated, grabbed Zoro by the collar, forcibly correcting his sense of direction.
He felt that this guy's terrible sense of direction was on a causal level; he would disappear into another dimension the moment he let go.
Just as the two were passing through a secluded alley.
"Stop! Put the knife down!"
A quarrel broke out.
Several thugs were seen surrounding a girl with glasses and short, dark blue hair, seemingly trying to snatch the famous knife from her hand.
"That's my Shigure! No!" Although the girl was pushed to the ground, she held tightly to the knife in her arms.
"Ugh, what a hassle."
Zoro frowned. Although he didn't want to meddle, as a swordsman, he couldn't stand seeing people being bullied like this.
"Hey, you trash over there."
Zoro, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, walked over with a fierce look in his eyes:
"What kind of skill is it to bully women? If you want to die, I'll grant your wish."
The thugs were so terrified by Zoro's terrifying killing intent that they ran away in a panic.
"Thank...thank you..."
The girl adjusted her glasses and hurriedly looked up.
The moment Zoro saw that face clearly.
boom--
Like a bolt from the blue.
Zoro froze on the spot, his pupils dilated violently, and his usually resolute face showed a look of shock as if he had seen a ghost.
That face...that look in his eyes...
She looks exactly like the deceased Kuina!
"Ku...Kuina?!" Zoro blurted out the name instinctively.
"Eh? My name isn't Kuina, it's Tashigi, and I'm a sergeant at Marine Headquarters."
Tashigi picked up her glasses, put them on, and explained in a somewhat dazed manner.
Viktor, arms crossed, leaned against the wall, observing the two men's reactions with great interest.
Seeing Zoro's bewildered and confused expression, Viktor's lips curled into a slight smile:
"Tsk tsk, is this the legendary'substitute literature'? The plot is even more melodramatic than a novel."
"Looks like this is the destiny of the green algae head."
After some explanation, Zoro was still a little awkward.
But the kind-hearted Tashigi, in order to repay the two for helping them out, offered to take them to the best weapon shop in town.
...
"Ipponmatsu" weapons store.
This is an old shop that looks like it's been around for a while.
The owner, Ipponmatsu, was a middle-aged man with a broom-like hairstyle. He was sitting with his legs crossed, looking at Zoro with a snobbish expression as he walked in.
Looking at Zoro's shabby appearance, Ipponmatsu curled his lip and pointed to a bucket of junk by the door:
"If you want to buy a knife, you can pick any one in there, 50,000 Berries each. If you don't have money, don't come in and wander around."
Zoro touched his empty pockets, his expression turning somewhat grim.
"Clatter".
Just then, a heavy money bag was thrown onto the counter, making a crisp, pleasant metallic clanging sound.
The bag opened, revealing gleaming gold coins inside.
Ippon Matsu's eyes widened instantly.
"Bring out the good stuff."
Viktor walked in with a smile: "Don't try to fool us with that kind of trash. We want the real 'master sword'."
"Oh my! It's a distinguished guest!!"
Ippon Matsu's attitude instantly did a 180-degree turn; his face was plastered with a fawning smile, and he ran out rubbing his hands together.
"Okay, okay! Please wait a moment, sir! I'll go get the store's prized possession right away!"
Just as Ipponmatsu was rummaging through boxes and cabinets, Zoro still walked up to the wooden barrel full of discarded swords.
Perhaps it was the swordsman's intuition, but his gaze locked onto a long sword with a red and black scabbard among a pile of broken metal.
"This knife..."
Zoro pulled it out, and a chill instantly spread out.
"Buzz—"
Viktor, standing behind, suddenly spun the tomoe in his Sharingan.
In his vision, the knife did not have the aura of an ordinary weapon; instead, it was surrounded by a scarlet aura of malice.
The aura was like a ferocious demon, baring its fangs and claws, yearning for blood.
"Oh? That's interesting. This one's Onikiri, isn't it?"
Viktor looked at the knife, a playful smile curving his lips:
"A bloodthirsty beast dwells within this knife."
"Hey! Don't touch that!!"
When Ipponmatsu saw the sword in Zoro's hand, his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly ran over to try and snatch it away.
"That's a cursed sword! The Sandai Kitetsu!!"
"All of its previous owners died violent deaths! This is a cursed knife! Even I'm too scared to sell it, so I can only try to get rid of it by mixing it with other scrap knives!"
"You'll die! Put it down!"
However, Zoro did not give up.
Looking at the ominous demonic sword in his hand, a wildly arrogant smile appeared on his face:
"A demon sword... This is what I want."
"Give it a try."
Zoro extended his left arm and held it horizontally in front of him.
Amidst the shocked gazes of the crowd, he tossed the incredibly sharp Sandai Kitetsu high into the air.
"Let's see if I'm just lucky, or if this guy's curse is stronger!"
"Hey! Are you crazy?!" Ipponmatsu shouted anxiously.
Tashigi stared blankly at the scene before her, completely bewildered.
The blade spun in the air, flashing with a chilling light, before falling straight down, aimed directly at Zoro's arm!
At that moment, the air seemed to freeze.
Tashigi covered her mouth, unable to bear watching the bloody scene.
Ippon Matsu was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.
But Viktor's fingers twitched slightly.
His chakra instantly condensed at the soles of his feet, and his muscles tensed.
If the sword's trajectory deviates even slightly, if it's really about to sever Zoro's arm, Victor will immediately activate "Body Flicker Technique" to kick the sword away at the last second.
Although he believed in Zoro's luck, he would never gamble with his partner's arm.
"brush--!!"
The Sandai Kitetsu spun and fell.
The blade grazed Zoro's arm skin, missing him by mere millimeters.
"Duh!!"
The long sword was deeply embedded in the floor, penetrating three inches into the wood.
Zoro's arm is completely unharmed.
"call..."
Zoro withdrew his arm, looked at the still trembling cursed sword, and a smile crept onto his face:
"I want it."
Seeing this, Viktor dispersed the chakra he had gathered, the red light in his eyes faded, and he returned to his usual spectator expression.
"Looks like... you won, Green Moss Head."
At this moment, Ipponmatsu was completely impressed by Zoro's amazing spirit.
He ran into the inner room and took out a black lacquered katana.
"Take it! This is the fine sword'Snow Walk'! It's my family heirloom!"
A pine tree with tears in its eyes:
"Although I'm just a knife seller, I hope to entrust good knives to real men! These two knives... consider them a gift! I don't want the money!"
...
A few minutes later.
Zoro walked out of the weapon shop with three swords hanging from his waist (Wado Ichimonji, Sandai Kitetsu, and Yubashiri), completely satisfied.
Viktor followed behind, tossing the bag of unspent gold coins in his hand.
He hesitated for a moment, but still placed it at the door.
"Wait...wait a minute!"
Just then, Tashigi, who had been in a state of shock, suddenly saw something on a wanted poster that had been blown away by the wind.
She picked up the wanted poster, looked at the photo on it, then at the green-haired man with three knives in front of her, and the black-haired, red-eyed boy.
Tashigi's face turned deathly pale instantly.
"Clang!"
She abruptly drew her famous sword, "Saya Shigure," her hand trembling as she pointed it at the two men, her voice filled with disbelief and rage:
"Three-Sword Style... Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro!!"
"And... there's 'Crimson Lotus' Viktor, with a bounty of 28 million!!"
"So you guys... were pirates!!"
Looking at the gleaming blade and Tashigi's grief-stricken expression, as if her feelings had been betrayed.
Viktor remained calm.
He tilted his head with a smile, pointing innocently at himself:
"Red Lotus? Who's that?"
Then, in an extremely sincere tone, he said:
"You've mistaken me for someone else, Miss Marine. I'm Luffy!"
Zoro standing next to him: "..."
He stared at Viktor with a dark expression, almost dropping the knife in his hand.
You... that lie was so flimsy!Chapter 73 Nami's "Mysterious Weapon"? A Reunion Before the Execution Platform!
Rogge Town, a town known as "the beginning and the end," boasts the most bustling commercial street in the East China Sea.
The streets were lined with shops and bustling with people.
Inside a high-end clothing store called "ROSE," the decor is exquisite, and a faint fragrance permeates the air.
"Hmph~ This one is not bad, and it's also very suitable for the climate of the Grand Line."
Nami was humming a little tune as she strolled happily among the clothes racks, picking out her favorite clothes.
On her shoulder, the black raven Clay was restlessly looking around.
"Gurgle, gurgle! Grandpa wants it..."
Klein's raspy voice had barely begun when, before he could utter any "grand pronouncements,"
"Smack."
A fair hand swiftly and precisely pinched its obnoxious beak.
Nami hugged Clay tightly in her arms like a doll, her hand clamping down on his mouth to prevent him from making a sound.
She lowered her head, a kind smile on her face:
"Keep quiet, Clay."
Nami leaned close to Clay's ear and whispered:
"If you dare to utter another word, I'll have Sanji stew you into crow soup tonight."
"Ugh! Ugh!!"
Clay instantly felt a chilling murderous aura, which terrified him so much that he broke out in a cold sweat. He could only nod frantically to indicate that he would absolutely keep quiet.
Having dealt with the noisy crows, Nami was in a great mood and continued her shopping spree.
As a navigator about to embark on the Grand Line, she selected several sets of clothes that were both stylish and practical, adaptable to the ever-changing weather.
Just as Nami was about to go to the counter to pay.
Her steps inexplicably stopped as she passed a corner at the very back of the shop.
That's... the "private lingerie area".
Under the soft lighting, several boldly designed and exquisitely made pieces of intimate apparel hang in the display case.
Nami's gaze was involuntarily drawn to three of the outfits—
The two sets are matching lingerie with black lace trim, mysterious and sexy;
The other outfit was a burgundy silk slip dress, its smooth texture shimmering with a captivating sheen under the light.
"Glug."
Nami swallowed unconsciously, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Yes...it's just because I'm all grown up now, and I'm about to head to the Grand Line, so I need to wear something nicer..."
"That's right, exactly! It's all for... comfort!"
Nami blushed, frantically trying to justify herself in her mind, attempting to convince her wildly beating heart.
"Oh my, this young lady has excellent taste."
Just then, a young and pretty female shop assistant walked over with a smile.
Her gaze lingered between Nami's beautiful figure and her daring outfits.
Then he leaned closer to Nami and said in a suggestive and seductive tone:
"These two are currently limited editions in Loguetown, made with high-grade silk from the South China Sea."
The female shop assistant blinked and added meaningfully:
"This is a design that can drive men... 'crazy' about."
Upon hearing those words... a scene inexplicably flashed into her mind...
boom--
Nami's face instantly turned as red as a boiled shrimp, and steam even rose from her head.
"Aaaaaah! What am I thinking?!"
She screamed inwardly, but Nami's brain went blank when she saw the shop assistant's knowing smile.
"Wrap it up...wrap it up!!"
"I bought it!!"
...
A few minutes later.
Nami walked out of the "ROSE" clothing store carrying large and small bags.
Although she was walking down the street, the blush on her face had not completely faded, and she was tightly clutching the bag containing the "secret weapon" in her arms.
"Huh?" Clay on the shoulder curiously poked his head out, wanting to see what good stuff the boss had bought.
"What are you looking at!"
Nami immediately glared at it fiercely and threatened in a low voice:
"You are absolutely not allowed to tell anyone what you just saw!!"
"Otherwise... I'll really stew you! Do you hear me?!"
Clay was so frightened that he immediately shrank back, thinking to himself that women were truly terrifying.
Just then.
call--
A sudden gust of cold wind swept through the bustling street.
The once bustling crowd involuntarily shrank back.
As a genius navigator with top-notch talent, Nami's body trembled violently as she keenly sensed the sudden drop in air pressure around her.
This feeling...
Nami immediately dropped her shyness and playfulness, and her expression became serious.
She raised her head and looked up at the sky.
Just moments ago, the sky above Rogge Town was clear and sunny, but now it was covered with dark clouds, the thick clouds hanging low as if they could be touched.
"This change in air pressure...is not an ordinary storm."
Nami frowned, a strong sense of unease rising within her.
"We must find Luffy and his crew as soon as possible, and then set sail immediately!"
Without hesitation, Nami identified the direction and immediately ran towards the execution platform square in the center of the town.
...
at the same time.
In the intricate alleyways of Rogge.
"Huh? Where exactly is the execution platform?"
Luffy scratched the back of his head, wandering aimlessly through the alley.
It looked so close, but no matter how he walked, he couldn't get there. This town was like a maze to him, who had no sense of direction.
Just as Luffy turned a street corner.
"Found him! Straw Hat Boy!"
Suddenly, a man and a woman appeared in front of him, blocking his only path.
The woman had an incredibly hot figure, wearing a bikini top and cape, carrying a huge spiked club, and her skin was as smooth as jade, seemingly radiating light in the dark alley.
Beside her stood a mysterious man wearing a large cloak that concealed his face.
"Hehehe..."
The woman giggled and stepped forward, looking at Luffy with a confident glint in her eyes:
"Still so cute, Luffy."
She struck what she considered her most alluring pose and asked seductively:
"Hey Luffy. Do you think... I'm the most beautiful woman on this sea?"
The air was still for a few seconds.
Luffy stopped, stuck out his little finger, and picked his nose expressionlessly.
He looked the strange woman up and down, then asked with a blank expression:
"Huh? Who are you, auntie?"
Pfft—
It was as if an invisible arrow had pierced the woman's heart.
"A...Auntie?!"
Alvida, who had been charming and alluring, suddenly had veins bulging on her forehead, and her beautiful face was contorted with rage:
"I'm Alvida!! You clueless rubber doll!!"
"And another thing! Don't you dare call me 'Auntie'!!!"
"Alvida?" Luffy tilted his head. "I don't know her. The Alvida I knew before was an ugly, fat old woman."
"That's me! I ate the Smooth-Smooth Fruit and became beautiful!!" Alvida roared.
Just then, the man in the cloak next to him couldn't hold back any longer.
"Stop wasting your breath on him, Alvida!"
The man suddenly ripped off his cloak, revealing his signature big red nose and clown costume.
"Long time no see, Straw Hat Boy!!"
Bucky spread his arms wide, several throwing knives held between his fingers, a vengeful grin on his face:
"I'm here to take your dog's life!!"
Upon seeing this face, Luffy's memories were finally awakened.
His eyes lit up instantly, and he pointed at Bucky and shouted:
"Ah!! It's a big red nose!!"
"Who's the big red-nosed bastard?!"
Bucky's defenses crumbled instantly; this was his greatest taboo. "I am Captain Bucky!!"
"Rubber rubber—pistol!!"
Luffy didn't bother listening to their nonsense and threw a punch directly at them.
"it's useless!"
Alvida straightened her back and didn't flinch.
"Slurp!"
Luffy's fist struck Alvida's smooth skin, but due to the "zero friction," it slid to the side and slammed directly into the wall.
"What? It slid open?" Luffy was stunned.
"Hehehe, my skin is so thick that even dust can't stand on it!" Alvida laughed triumphantly. "You can't hit me!"
at the same time.
"Scrapped in four pieces—a pancake!!"
Buggy activated his Devil Fruit power, his lower body suddenly flying out and kicking Luffy hard in the back with spinning blades.
Wow!
Luffy jumped away quickly, but his arm was still cut.
"Damn it! He's so troublesome!"
Although Luffy's strength is now vastly different from what it used to be, he still faces two "former bosses" with bizarre Devil Fruit abilities and excellent teamwork.
Coupled with his unfamiliarity with the Smooth-Smooth Fruit, he was suddenly put on the defensive.
"Hehehe! Straw Hat Kid! You're just showing off here!"
Buggy, seeing Luffy's somewhat flustered state, had a sudden idea.
While manipulating his body parts to harass Luffy, he deliberately retreated towards the alley exit:
"What's wrong? Didn't you want to go to the execution platform?"
Bucky pointed to the towering plaza outside the alley and issued a sinister provocation:
"Then come on! That place... is where the Pirate King died, and it will also be your burial ground!!"
"Come on over if you dare!!"
After saying that, Bucky and Alvida turned and ran, heading straight for the center of the square.
"Stop! Big red nose! Slippery old lady!"
Without a second thought, Luffy roared and gave chase:
"I'm going to send you all flying!!"Chapter 74 A Familiar Face! An Inextricable Bond
Central square of Rogge town.
"Phew... Phew... We're finally here!!"
Luffy ran wildly all the way and finally stood under the legendary execution platform.
He looked up at the high platform that had weathered twenty-two years of storms, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Is this where the Pirate King died...? It's so high up!"
Luffy, holding onto his straw hat, started climbing up using both his hands and feet:
"I want to climb up there too! I want to see what the view was like when the Pirate King finally saw it!"
"Stop right there, Straw Hat Boy!"
Before he could even climb the first step, two figures blocked his way again.
It was the ever-present Alvida and Bucky the Clown.
"You guys are so annoying!"
Luffy was a little annoyed. Without thinking, he swung his fist and threw a powerful punch.
"Rubber rubber—pistol!!"
"It's no use~"
Alvida giggled and puffed out her chest, not flinching at all.
"Slurp!"
Luffy's fist struck her smooth, mirror-like skin, instantly losing its friction and sliding off her shoulder.
Luffy staggered forward due to inertia and lost his balance.
"Now! Captain Bucky!" Alvida shouted.
"Scattered into pieces - Carnival!!"
Bucky, who had been waiting in the wings, instantly activated his ability.
His body split into countless pieces, his two hands gripped Luffy's wrists tightly, and his other two legs kicked Luffy hard in the back of the knees.
"thump!"
Taking advantage of the moment Luffy lost his balance, Buggy manipulated his body parts.
Like a living shackle, Luffy was forcibly pressed into the wooden shackle on the execution platform that had been empty for twenty-two years.
"Snap!"
The shackles originally used to restrain the Pirate King now tightly fastened around Luffy's neck and hands.
"Why?!"
Luffy struggled for a moment, but found he couldn't budge, and was immediately dumbfounded:
"I...I can't move?! Hey! Big Red Nose! You're cheating! Let me go!"
"Hahaha! Cheating? Don't make me laugh!"
Baji stood on the execution platform, looking down at the immobilized Luffy, and let out a hysterical laugh:
"Whether it's cheating or something else, the outcome of a pirate battle is determined by the result! Winning is justice!"
He pulled a gleaming broadsword from his robes, and the thrill of revenge practically overflowed from his face, which was covered in paint.
"To end you here, where Roger died... that's my most magnificent revenge!!!"
...
The colonel's office at the Navy base in Loguetown.
In the smoke-filled room, Smoker had his feet propped up on the table, two cigars dangling from his mouth.
"Colonel! Something terrible has happened!!"
A marine rushed in in a panic:
"A large number of pirates have gathered over at the execution platform plaza! It looks like Buggy the Clown and his crew!"
"And... and Luffy with the 30 million bounty is there too!"
"Bucky? Straw Hat?"
Smoker suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed the jitte on the table, and white smoke began to billow around his body.
He put on a coat with the word "Justice" written on the back, strode out, his eyes fierce as a wolf's.
"So they've finally shown themselves... those rats."
"All troops assemble! Target: Execution Platform!!"
"Since they're all gathered together, let's wipe out this bunch of arrogant pirates in one fell swoop today!"
...
At the entrance of the weapons shop "Ipponmatsu".
"Stop lying! You are Honglian!"
Tashigi took off her glasses, wiped them vigorously with the corner of her clothes, and put them back on.
This time, her brown eyes no longer held confusion or naivety; instead, they were filled with unparalleled sharpness and anger.
Her gaze passed over Victor and fixed on the white longsword at Zoro's waist—Wado Ichimonji.
"That knife...the pattern on that straight blade...it can't be wrong!"
Tashigi's voice trembled slightly with excitement:
"That's the 'Wado Ichimonji', one of the 21 Great Swords!!"
"Clang!"
Enraged, she drew her famous sword, "Yoro Shigure," its sharp tip pointed directly at Zoro's brow.
"Why would such a noble and exquisite sword end up in the hands of a villain like you?!"
"A man like you, who becomes a pirate for bounties and fame, and kills without hesitation... doesn't deserve it! Give it back!!"
Zoro rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, watching Tashigi's face flush red with anger.
That face...it looks so much like Kuina's.
Even their angry expressions are exactly the same.
Zoro's expression became extremely complicated.
"Tsk..."
Zoro was speechless and didn't draw his sword immediately.
"This is a matter between swordsmen."
Viktor, who had been standing to the side, wisely took a step back, crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall, adopting a spectator's posture.
He glanced at the increasingly thick clouds in the sky and said with a smile:
"Although I really want to take you away directly, judging from your appearance, you won't be able to move without dealing with her."
"I'll give you three minutes, Zoro. Don't let a woman interfere with important matters."
"Hmph, it won't even take three minutes."
Zoro's eyes turned cold. Instead of drawing Wado Ichimonji, he drew the "Yubashiri" sword he had just acquired.
"A villain... call me whatever you want."
"If you want this knife, then take it with your strength!"
"Aaaaaah!!"
Enraged, Tashigi attacked, her movements as swift as a swallow, her Shigure sword transforming into a streak of light, aimed straight for Zoro's throat.
This sword strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless, far surpassing that of an ordinary naval soldier.
But in Zoro's eyes...
"when!"
Zoro, wielding his sword with one hand, casually swung it and precisely parried Tashigi's thrust.
"Too slow," Zoro muttered.
"It's not over yet!!"
Tashigi gritted her teeth, changed her attack, and unleashed a barrage of sword light.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Zoro casually parried all her attacks with a single, sweeping motion of his snow-white sword.
Their swordsmanship skills are on completely different levels.
Is this all you've got?
Zoro's patience ran out as he watched Tashigi continue to swing her sword desperately.
The instant Tashigi swung her sword down again.
"when--!!"
A crisp, metallic clang rang out.
Zoro exerted his strength, and Yubashiri's blade slammed heavily against Shigure's tsuba.
The immense force instantly numbed Tashigi's hands.
"ah!"
Tashigi exclaimed in surprise, and the famous sword in her hand flew out of her hand. After spinning a few times in the air, it "clanged" and stuck into the ground in the distance.
The outcome is decided.
Zoro's long sword stopped just in front of Tashigi's neck, the sharp blade only millimeters away from her skin.
With just a gentle push, this naval girl named Tashigi would perish.
Tashigi closed her eyes tightly, awaiting death.
However.
One second, two seconds.
The expected pain did not come.
"brush."
Zoro sheathed his sword expressionlessly, turned and left, his voice cold:
"I don't kill women, you can leave."
These words were like a needle, piercing Tashigi's pride.
She opened her eyes, looked at her beloved knife that had been knocked away, and then at the back of the person who turned and left. A huge sense of humiliation welled up in her heart.
Tears welled up uncontrollably and streamed down my face.
"Why...why didn't you cut me?!"
Tashigi shouted at Zoro's retreating figure, her voice trembling with tears:
"Because I'm a woman?! If you had been facing a man, you would have already attacked me!!"
"Damn it... I don't need your pity!!"
She knelt on the ground, her hands gripping the earth tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"Whether it's swordsmanship or the dignity of being a swordsman... I lost miserably... Waaaaah..."
"She clearly practices harder than anyone else... Is it just because I'm a woman...?"
Hearing the crying behind him, Zoro stopped in his tracks.
His body trembled slightly, and his sobs seemed to transcend time, overlapping with the memory of that unwilling, short-haired girl.
—[Girls are weaker than boys when they grow up, I want to become the world's greatest hero too!]
A sudden surge of inexplicable anger rushed to my head.
Zoro whirled around and roared furiously at Tashigi, who was kneeling on the ground:
"Stop talking nonsense!!! Stop blaming everything on men and women!!"
"You cry and whine after losing? What kind of swordsman are you?!"
"Just looking at your face makes me furious! Can you please just stay away from me?!"
Zoro's roar echoed through the streets.
Tashigi was stunned by the shout, forgetting even to cry, and stared blankly at the fierce-looking pirate.
"Hey, algae head."
A hand patted Zoro on the shoulder.
Viktor interrupted the argument, which was filled with a sense of "fate," with a smile.
"It's time. We have to go. Luffy is still there."
Victor pointed in the direction of the square, where a deafening commotion was already taking place.
"cut."
Zoro gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing his frustration, glanced at Tashigi one last time, and then turned and ran after Viktor.
...
The other two sides of the town.
Seafood market.
Sanji, who was carefully selecting a top-quality bluefin tuna, suddenly heard a huge commotion coming from the direction of the plaza.
"That's... Luffy's voice?"
Sanji's expression changed: "That idiot! Didn't you say you'd be right back after checking it out?!"
"not good!!"
Sanji threw down the tuna in his hand, took a long stride, and dashed off like an arrow.
On another street.
Usopp, who had just bought the latest windproof goggles, hadn't even had time to be happy when he saw a large number of fully armed marines gathering towards the square.
"That's... the navy? Such a large-scale operation?!"
Usopp's legs went weak with fear, but then he remembered the captain who was always getting into trouble.
"Damn it... Luffy... he's definitely gotten himself into trouble again!!"
Despite his fear, Usopp gritted his teeth, adjusted his backpack, and mingled with the crowd as he ran toward the dangerous plazaChapter 75 Roar! Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
In the central square of Rogge town, the sky seemed to have a huge hole in it.
The torrential rain poured down, and the dense curtain of rain shrouded the entire world in gray.
Thunder rumbled, as if counting down to death for what was to come.
"Hahaha!!"
On the towering execution platform, Buggy stomped one foot hard on Luffy's head, raising his gleaming sword high in the air.
Ignoring the torrential rain, he let out a triumphant laugh as he faced the densely packed crowd in the square:
"That red-eyed brat!! Keep a close eye on him!"
"This is what happens when you dare to oppose me!!"
"It's almost over! Straw Hat Luffy! Want to be the Pirate King?! Keep dreaming!!"
Despair was spreading beneath the execution platform.
"Get out of here!!"
With Wado Ichimonji clenched in his mouth and his eyes bloodshot, Zoro wildly swung his Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri, cutting down two pirates blocking his way.
"Luffy!! Damn it... I'm going to miss it!!"
He was too far away, and ahead of him was a thick human wall composed of the Buggy Pirates' circus troupe and countless marines.
"Luffy!!"
Sanji kicked a Marine away, but more enemies immediately filled the gap.
That is a distance called despair.
However, at this critical moment of life and death...
Trapped in chains and unable to move, Luffy watches through the rain as his companions desperately try to rush towards him in the distance.
There was no fear, nor did he beg for mercy.
Luffy's lips curled into a wide grin, revealing his usual signature wide smile:
"Sorry, Viktor, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp..."
He laughed and shouted:
I'm going to die!
That smile was pure and serene, as if death were nothing more than a new adventure.
...
"You big idiot, you're going to die!!!"
The moment Luffy shouted those words.
On top of a tall clock tower at the edge of the square.
A black figure used chakra to adhere to the slippery wall, climbing rapidly like a gecko, and instantly reached the top of the clock tower.
Viktor was soaking wet, with his black, tousled hair plastered to his forehead.
Those crimson Sharingan eyes emitted a chilling red light in the cold rain, fixed intently on the scene on the execution platform.
He looked up at the unusual thunderclouds in the sky, which were gathering terrifying energy.
As someone familiar with the plot, his rationality was clear—it was the work of the dragon.
The next second, the lightning bolt called "Fate" will strike down and save Luffy.
In theory, he only needs to watch.
but.
When Victor looked down and, through the extraordinary vision of his Sharingan, clearly saw Buggy's cold blade touch Luffy's neck.
"boom!"
An uncontrollable rage instantly breached the dam of reason.
Victor's usually smiling face was now contorted with rage.
To entrust one's companion's life to someone else?
He can't do it.
"Are you kidding me...?"
Viktor no longer waited for that so-called "thunder of fate".
He stomped on the top of the clock tower and leaped down from the sky like a black hawk!
A person is suspended in mid-air, with torrential rain and strong winds howling past.
Viktor's hands moved like afterimages, so fast it was dazzling.
Forty-four seals were formed in a matter of seconds!
"This torrential rain...this flooded ground..."
Viktor felt the overwhelming abundance of water elements around him, and his chakra surged forth like a burst dam.
This is the perfect water-based battlefield!
While suspended in mid-air, Victor let out a roar that shook the entire square as he looked down at the execution platform:
"Get out of my way!! Bucky!!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!!!"
Rumble—!!!
It is not water spitting out of the mouth.
At that moment, Victor mobilized the power of heaven and earth.
The torrential rain seemed to have received a king's command, instantly stopping and gathering in the air.
The water on the ground surged upwards, like a waterfall flowing backwards.
Countless streams of water were compressed and condensed wildly in front of Viktor, and in the blink of an eye, they transformed into a gigantic, ten-meter-long, ferocious water dragon!
"roar!!!"
The water dragon roared deafeningly, carrying immense power as it traced a terrifying arc through the air.
It struck first, then crashed into the towering execution platform!
"What...what is that..."
Bucky, who was about to be executed, looked up in horror at the enormous blue dragon that blotted out the sky, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
He hadn't finished speaking.
"BOOM!!!"
A devastating impact occurred.
The execution platform that had stood for twenty-two years, symbolizing the beginning of the Great Pirate Era, was as fragile as a paper toy in the face of this raging water dragon.
It shattered instantly!
The massive wooden stake snapped, sending wood chips flying everywhere.
"Waaaaaah!!!"
Bucky and Alvida let out piercing screams as they were struck head-on by the terrifying water pressure.
The two were like two pebbles swept away by the current, flying hundreds of meters away and disappearing at the end of the street.
The very next second that the execution platform was shattered by the water jets, with water splashing everywhere.
"Snap!!!"
The green lightning that had been accumulating in the sky for so long finally arrived, albeit a little late.
The lightning bolt that should have struck the execution platform instead struck the ruins that had been swept away by the water dragon and the water droplets flying everywhere!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!!!
Water is the best conductor.
The violent lightning instantly spread along the water flow, forming a huge high-voltage electric grid that covered half of the square.
"Aaaaaaah!!"
"It's numb! It's numb!!"
"Get away from here!"
Those marines and pirates who tried to approach were instantly struck by this terrifying electric current.
One by one, they foamed at the mouth, convulsed, and collapsed into the rain.
To onlookers, this scene was nothing short of a miracle—
The boy in black descended from the sky, summoning a water dragon that destroyed the execution ground and also attracting thunder from the heavens!
It was as if the god of thunder and rain had descended!
Splash...
Amidst the ruins, Luffy fell along with the broken wooden planks.
Because he is a rubber man, lightning has no effect on him.
Although he wasn't electrocuted, he was completely soaked by the water jet.
"Pfft!"
Luffy climbed out of the puddle, spat out a mouthful of water, and grinned as he picked up his straw hat that had fallen to the ground and put it back on his head.
"Hehehe! I survived!"
He didn't even have time to be happy.
"Bang!!!"
A fist wrapped in chakra slammed mercilessly into Luffy's head.
"Ouch! That hurts!!"
Luffy clutched his head, tears streaming down his face.
Viktor, soaking wet, stood in front of Luffy.
He shook the water droplets off his hands. Although the Sharingan had faded, the expression on his face was still terrifyingly gloomy.
"Laugh? You still have the nerve to laugh?"
Victor grabbed Luffy's cheeks and pulled them apart forcefully, roaring through gritted teeth:
"Don't just throw around the word 'death' all the time, you damned captain!!"
Luffy stared blankly at Viktor's angry yet fearful expression, his face being pulled.
A few seconds later.
He held down his straw hat, and even with his face being pulled, he still managed an even brighter smile:
"Hehehe! Sorry, Victor!"
"Because I know..."
"You will definitely come to save me!"
"..."
Viktor's hand stiffened slightly, then he reluctantly released it and sighed.
"I'm truly defeated by you."
at this time.
As the smoke and dust cleared, although some had fallen, more naval forces were closing in again.
"Crimson Lotus Victor..."
Not far away, Smoker held a jig in his hand, and the cigar in his mouth was already soaked by the rain.
His sharp eyes pierced through the rain, staring darkly at Viktor's retreating figure:
"That was... a Devil Fruit ability? No, it seemed like some kind of water manipulation trick... and it could also attract lightning? Plus his flames..."
"Who exactly is this guy?"
In a dark alley in a corner of the square.
A tall figure draped in a dark green cloak was silently watching all of this.
Rainwater slid down his cloak.
Beneath the hood, the man with red square tattoos on his face had a slightly upturned smile on his lips, revealing a meaningful expression.
"That's... a really good eye."
Dragon glanced at Victor, then at Luffy, before turning and disappearing into the darkness.
"Luffy, you've found a really reliable man.