Chapter 210: The Bathing Convention!
Smoker snatched the document and quickly scanned through it.
As he read, his face grew paler.
Planting spies?
An intelligence network?
The World Economy News Paper?
What kind of terrifying organization was this?!
"Report this to Navy Headquarters immediately!"
He roared, "No, report directly to Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
Tashigi stood straight and saluted: "Yes!"
After she ran off, Smoker slowly picked up his cigar and put it back in his mouth.
He looked toward Alabasta with a complex expression.
That Straw Hat kid and his crew... what kind of monsters had they gotten involved with?
Of course, he didn't know that all those so-called "spies," "intelligence network," and "influence across the world" were just Ralph boasting to a few newly recruited agents.
Navy Headquarters didn't know either.
A document marked "Top Secret" was thus delivered to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk.
...
One week later.
Alabasta Royal Palace.
Mr. 1 and his group of four people and one dog arrived at the capital and formally apologized to King Cobra.
The process was much smoother than expected.
Cobra indeed, as Ralph had said, treated them with a generous and merciful attitude.
As long as they contributed to Alabasta's reconstruction, past matters would not be pursued.
Paula's Spider Cafe reopened.
Miss Goldenweek finally wore the princess dress she had longed for.
And Mr. 1, the man covered in blades, found Ralph.
"You said I could be a hero."
"Yes."
"How?"
Ralph looked at him and smiled.
"You'll know when everyone needs you."
The system notification chimed appropriately:
[Detected increased favorability with target "Daz Bonez," current relationship: Friend]
[Detected increased favorability with target "Paula," current relationship: Friend]
[Detected increased favorability with target "Mr. 4," current relationship: Friend]
[Detected increased favorability with target "Miss Goldenweek," current relationship: Friend]
[Detected increased favorability with target "Lassoo," current relationship: Friend (?)]
[Detected multiple Devil Fruit Users establishing "Friend" relationships, additional reward obtained: Can acquire their Devil Fruits via Fruit Reincarnation Method (optional)]
Ralph glanced at it and ignored it outright.
Living people are more useful than Devil Fruits.
Living dogs too.
He looked down at Lassoo, the Dachshund who had eaten the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Jackal, following at Mr. 4's feet.
Munch-Munch had somehow crept over and was sniffing Lassoo back and forth.
Ralph's eyes lit up.
"Munch-Munch, come here."
Munch-Munch trotted over.
Ralph pointed at Lassoo:
"Can you eat it?"
Mr. 4's face changed drastically:
"What?!"
"Don't panic, don't panic."
Ralph waved his hand,
"Not really eat, just... try it out."
He had long wanted to test something.
The ability of the Baku Baku no Mi is "devour everything and make it your own."
So if Munch-Munch devoured a Devil Fruit User...
"Munch-Munch, swallow Lassoo and feel it!"
Munch-Munch tilted its head, thought for a moment, then opened its big mouth and swallowed Lassoo whole.
Mr. 4 almost collapsed on the spot.
But a few seconds later, Munch-Munch spat Lassoo out again.
Perfectly intact.
Except... Lassoo's form had changed.
The originally round Dachshund body was now covered with a metallic-textured shell.
Four short legs transformed into treads, a turret-like bulge rose on its back, the cannon barrel aimed at the sky, rotating with a clack-clack sound.
Woof!
Lassoo barked, its voice carrying a metallic tremor.
Everyone stared in astonishment.
"It worked."
Ralph crouched down and tapped Lassoo's shell, producing a clanging sound.
"Tank Dog Lassoo, making a dazzling debut."
Mr. 4 was nearly moved to tears:
"Lassoo... Lassoo has become so amazing!"
Lassoo wagged its tail, barking excitedly, clearly pleased with its new appearance.
Munch-Munch let out a burp nearby, wearing a proud expression that said, "It was nothing."
Ralph patted its head:
"Well done."
For the remaining time, Ralph sought out Paula.
"I heard you know pressure point techniques?"
Paula raised an eyebrow:
"A special application of the Toge Toge no Mi. Using spikes to stimulate acupoints can grant extraordinary strength."
"Can you teach me?"
Paula glanced at him but didn't refuse.
The principles of pressure point techniques weren't complicated; the key lay in precise mastery of the body's meridians and acupoints.
With his foundation in Shigan and the support of advanced medical skills, Ralph learned with remarkable efficiency.
In less than an hour—
[Congratulations, host. Through learning and practice, you have comprehended the skill: Pressure Points (Beginner).]
Ralph opened his eyes, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
His first thought was of Lufia.
He found the shrunken version of Lufia and tested a set of pressure point techniques on her to relax muscles and promote blood circulation.
Little Lufia giggled uncontrollably:
"It tickles so much! Ralph, what are you doing?"
"Helping you with a massage."
"Oh, oh! Then keep going!"
Ralph chuckled and continued.
There was no immediate effect that day.
But three days later, at noon in the palace dining hall, while little Lufia was buried in her meat, there was a sudden—
Pop!
A soft sound.
Lufia sat upright at the dining table, her body having returned to its normal size, making the large bone in her hand seem a bit small.
She blinked, then looked at her hands.
"Huh? I'm back to normal!"
The dining hall fell silent for a second.
Then it erupted in cheers.
"The captain is healed!"
"Miss Lufia is back to normal!"
"Wah, the full-sized Miss Lufia is also adorable!"
Sanji covered his face in rapture, only to be kicked away by Nami.
Lufia stood up, stretched her limbs, then grinned with her signature laugh:
"Shishishi! This captain is finally back to normal! That means I can keep eating meat!"
With that, she buried her head back into her meal as if nothing had happened.
Ralph watched her, a weight finally lifting from his heart.
That evening, the palace held a grand celebration banquet.
First, to celebrate Lufia's recovery, and second, to celebrate the Straw Hat Pirates' imminent departure.
After the banquet, there was a special event—
A bathing party.
The palace baths were spacious enough, divided into separate areas for men and women.
The men cheerfully crowded into the men's bath, while the women headed to the other side.
Some might wonder how Lufia bathed?
Lufia was curious too!
"Why can't I go with them?"
A vein throbbed on Nami's forehead:
"Because you're a girl!"
"But the bath on the Going Merry is small, and this one is huge!"
"That has nothing to do with the size of the bath!"
Nami grabbed her wrist and dragged her inside.
"Whether it's sleeping or bathing, you're staying with me! Get in!"
"But I want to be with Ralph and the others..."
Thud!
Nami punched her on the head.
Lufia clutched her head, teary-eyed as she was dragged into the women's bathhouse.
Vivi followed behind, unable to hold back her laughter.
Amidst the swirling steam, the three girls soaked in the hot water, sighing contentedly.
Lufia soon forgot her earlier displeasure, splashing around in the water like a happy otter.
"Lufia..."
Vivi suddenly spoke up.
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask you something?"
Lufia poked her head out of the water:
"Sure!"
"Ralph... why did he join the ship?"
Lufia tilted her head thoughtfully:
"He said he likes me and wants me to marry him."
Vivi: "..."
Nami: "..."
Why did that sound so strange.
"And then?"
Vivi pressed.
"Then he just stayed on the ship."
Lufia said matter-of-factly, "He's really strong in fights, can cook, repair the ship, tell stories..."
"He's just a really amazing partner!"
"Just a partner?"
"What else?"
Lufia blinked, her expression innocent.
Vivi fell silent.
Looking into those clear, untainted eyes, she suddenly understood something.
This girl truly didn't understand.
In her world, there were partners, enemies, meat, and adventures.
But the concept of "liking" someone was absent.
Vivi glanced at Nami.
Nami was looking back at her.
The two girls exchanged a look, both seeing a complex emotion in each other's eyes.
"Forget it."
Nami sighed, ruffling Lufia's wet hair,
"She'll understand eventually. We'll deal with that later!"
Vivi said nothing.
But her gaze, through the steam, seemed to drift in a certain direction.
Then she noticed...
One head after another popping up over the wall separating the men's and women's bathhouses.
Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Zoro...
Even Ace and Cobra!
Then Ralph knocked them back, one by one.
Followed by the sound of intense scuffling from next door!
"It's so lively next door! What are they playing?"
As she spoke, Lufia stretched her neck out long!
Then Nami jumped up and punched her back!
The bathing gathering concluded joyfully!
That night.
Palace corridor.
Nami hid in a dark corner, watching the room at the end of the hallway.
That was Ralph's room.
The door opened.
A figure emerged from inside.
Vivi.
Early the next morning.
The Straw Hat Pirates were ready to depart.
The Going Merry waited at the harbor, sunlight spilling across the deck, seagulls circling between the masts.
Lufia stood at the bow, her straw hat slung behind her, excitedly gazing into the distance.
"Let's go! Where to next?"
No one answered.
She turned around and found her crewmates standing on the deck, their expressions all somewhat strange.
"What's wrong?"
Sanji frowned, cigarette in his mouth.
Zoro leaned against the mast, his gaze fixed on the harbor.
Usopp and Chopper stood together, glancing at each other.
Lufia followed their line of sight.
At the harbor, Nami stood alone.
Beside her, there was no sign of Ralph.
"Where's Ralph?"
Lufia jumped down from the bow,
"Isn't Ralph on board yet?"
Nami looked at her, opening her mouth but unsure what to say.
Lufia blinked, her face blank with confusion.
"Is he... is he oversleeping? I'll go find him!"
She started to run toward the shore.
"Lufia."
Nami called her back.
Lufia turned around.
Nami took a deep breath and slowly said:
"Ralph... I'm afraid it'll be very difficult for him to adventure with us anymore."
The sea breeze blew past.
Lufia's straw hat swayed slightly.
She stood by the ship's edge, her expression blank for a few seconds.
Then, "Huh?"