There was no helping it.
It wasn't that Red was being heartless.
It was simply that they barely had any game time left, and the matter of the Pokémon Day Care wasn't something that could be explained clearly in just a few sentences.
Rather than wasting what little time remained, Red thought it better to wait until the game ended and let Usopp come ask him himself.
After all, it would only take ten-odd minutes.
As it turned out, Red's decision was absolutely correct.
After leaving the Pokémon Day Care, he and Nami continued heading south, soon running into a city checkpoint guarded by staff who wouldn't let anyone pass without offering some… "tea money."
Nearby, there was also an underground passage that led directly to Vermilion City.
Familiar with the game's storyline, Red didn't waste a second. He led Nami straight into the underground tunnel.
Honestly, thank goodness the system showed mercy!
In the game world, this passage ran across an entire city—by real-world standards, it should have taken at least an hour to traverse.
But the system clearly had no interest in forcing players to repeat dull scenery endlessly.
So after just over ten minutes, Red and Nami emerged from the tunnel onto Route 6, which connected Saffron City and Vermilion City.
And right at that moment, the device's battery warning began flashing—it was about to run out of power.
Red swiftly saved the game, exited the game world, and returned to the Going Merry.
The moment he opened his eyes, he found Usopp staring at him with a completely baffled expression.
Because the Going Merry's cabin space was limited—with only two crew quarters, one for men and one for women—even Luffy and Red, the captain and vice-captain, had no choice but to squeeze in with everyone else.
Looking at the sleeping Luffy and Zoro, Red suddenly raised a finger to his lips, signaling "shh," then motioned for Usopp to step outside the room to talk.
That night, Red told Usopp everything in detail—about the Pokémon Day Care and the Pokémon world.
Usopp had already heard bits and pieces about the Pokémon world over the past few days.
When he learned that he, too, could improve his strength through that world, he was overjoyed, thanking Red repeatedly.
If it hadn't been so late, and if he hadn't been worried about disturbing the others, he might have burst into song on the spot.
Seeing Usopp so happy, Red couldn't help but smile as well.
"All right, we still have things to do tomorrow. Go get some rest," Red said, waving his hand.
It wasn't anything particularly serious. After explaining it in a few words, Red planned to head back and continue training with Ancient Power.
Having used Surf too many times in the Pokémon world, he was utterly exhausted—he didn't even feel like speeding up the Going Merry.
But just then—
BANG!!!
A sudden collision sounded from beneath the ship, causing Red and Usopp—who had just reached the cabin door—to freeze.
Immediately after came a man shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Hey! Is anyone there?! Please save my friend!!!"
…
…
A short while later.
Everyone in the Straw Hat crew—except for Luffy, who was still fast asleep—gathered on deck.
Under the ship's lights, a man wearing a blue jacket quickly climbed aboard using a rope.
On his back was another man, pale to an alarming degree.
"Hm!?"
Seeing the pair, both Red and Zoro froze at the same time.
They instantly recognized them.
Zoro, who had a prior connection with them, spoke first."Johnny? Yosaku? What are you doing here?"
"Big Brother Zoro!? Why are you here?!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Johnny and Yosaku looked up abruptly and cried out in shock.
But almost immediately, joy spread across Johnny's face.
"That's great—it's Big Brother Zoro!"
"Yosaku, you're saved!"
Johnny rushed forward and dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Big Brother Zoro, you have to save Yosaku!!!"
"Ever since this afternoon, something's been wrong—his body keeps feeling worse, and his complexion keeps getting paler!"
"Uh… this…"Zoro, who had never been sick a day in his life, hesitated. He looked at Yosaku, only to see that the man—who had been excited just moments earlier—had already collapsed weakly to the deck.
Instinctively, Zoro turned his gaze toward Red.
Red had always been the one managing the bigger picture, to the point that Zoro—aside from training—had gradually stopped thinking too deeply about problems.
After all, if he tossed the problem to Red, it would definitely be handled properly.
And sure enough, it was.
"Judging from Yosaku's condition, it's probably scurvy," Red said calmly as he stepped forward and reassured Johnny.
"Don't worry. It's just an illness caused by long periods at sea without proper nutrition. From the symptoms, it looks like it's only just begun."
"Once he gets some vitamins, someone with your physique will recover very quickly."
"Usopp," Red turned his head, "there should be some limes specially stored in the warehouse. Take them out and squeeze the juice for Yosaku to drink."
"Ah, okay!" Usopp nodded and immediately ran toward the cabin.
With just a few words, Red took control of the situation.
That commanding demeanor—like someone in a position of authority—radiated an aura of absolute reliability.
Johnny's eyes filled with confusion as he quietly asked Zoro:
"B-Big Brother Zoro, um… who is this?"
"This is our vice-captain, Red!" Zoro replied with a wide grin, pride evident in his voice.
But hearing that only made Johnny look even more bewildered.
"Huh? Vice-captain? Then, does that mean Big Brother Zoro, you…?"
With Yosaku's problem easily resolved, Zoro relaxed and laughed.
Pointing at the Straw Hat flag fluttering atop the mast, he said:
"That's right—I became a pirate!"
"And right now, I'm the Straw Hat crew's number-one combatant!"
"Straw Hat…" Johnny blinked, muttering, "That name sounds really familiar…"
"Wait!"
In the next second, his expression tightened. He raised his head nervously, his lips trembling.
"Big Brother Zoro, the Straw Hat crew you're talking about… it couldn't be that really famous one in the East Blue lately, could it…?"
"Straw Hat Luffy—Monkey D. Luffy—our captain!" Zoro answered before anyone else could.
"Hiss—!!!"
Johnny sucked in a sharp breath, staggering backward in shock.
"Monkey D. Luffy!? The great pirate with a 50 million Beli bounty!?!"
"W-Wait, wait… If it's the Straw Hat crew, then it's not strange at all that Big Brother Zoro became a pirate."
At this moment, Usopp returned carrying a whole crate of limes.
"Red, juice is fine, right? Is squeezing them by hand okay?"
"That's fine," Red nodded. "Nami, help Usopp out."
"Mm-hm."
Clearly exhausted, Nami yawned, responded softly, and walked over.
"Ah… no need, we can handle it ourselves…"
Realizing he might have boarded a truly incredible ship, Johnny's nerves tightened instantly.
After learning that the captain of this ship was a pirate with a 50 million Beli bounty, how could he dare trouble Usopp and the others?
But just then, Red reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"Relax. Leaving Yosaku to Nami and Usopp won't be a problem."
"But that aside…"
"You two have been drifting around this sea area lately, haven't you?"
"Ah—yes, yes!" Johnny answered at once.
Then he saw Red's lips suddenly curve upward, a mysterious glint flashing in his eyes.
"Good."
"In that case, you must have heard something about the world's greatest swordsman—Hawk-Eye, right?"
"Hm?"
Zoro, who had been about to help, froze in place and turned around sharply.
"Hawk-Eye?!"
He clenched his sword hilt, his expression changing instantly, his throat bobbing with tension.
"Is he… in these waters right now?"
"Uh…" Johnny nodded blankly. "Lately, there have been rumors that someone saw Hawk-Eye in the Sambas sea area."
Clang!
A sharp blade burst from its sheath.
But after realizing that the battle wouldn't be happening right now, Zoro's arm trembled as he slowly sheathed his sword again.
In that instant, a thin sheen of cold sweat formed on his forehead—yet a look of anticipation spread across his face.
"I didn't expect… to meet him this soon."
He quickly turned his gaze to Red.
"Red, you know where he is, right?!"
Zoro trusted that if Red had brought up Hawk-Eye so suddenly, it definitely wasn't idle chatter.
And sure enough—
Under Zoro's intense stare, Red smiled softly and calmly asked in return:
"Yeah. I know where to find him."
"So?"
"Want to give it a try?"
"Even if it means wagering your life!"
"Heh."Zoro let out an unrestrained snort, his gaze firmer than ever."I have no reason to run away!!!"
"Figures~"
Moonlight spilled across the sea as Red gazed up at the star-filled sky, a faint smile on his lips.
"Then…"
"Let's go see it for ourselves!"
"The gap between you—"
"And the pinnacle of this world."
"And then…"
"Use a thousandfold, ten-thousandfold training to surpass it!!!"
"Prove to this world that 'World's Strongest' is not the title of just one man!!!"
Red spoke solemnly.
Zoro's eyes shone, his face filled with confidence and resolve.
"Understood!"
(End of Chapter)