Chapter 11 Xiluobu Village"Meruem~ We're back!" Luffy had a large package on his back, and from the parts that weren't tightly wrapped, it seemed to be fruit or something similar.Not far behind him, a Kaman in a box, a snake with a rabbit's head, a pig with a lion's mane... various strange creatures watched him."This world truly teaches me something new every day," Meruem said, a bit surprised by the bizarre creatures, but he remained calm as he replied, "Then let's get ready to set off."Setting sail, Luffy waved goodbye from the ship's railing, Nami looked at the sea chart, Zoro was sleeping, and Meruem... was cooking.(꒪Д꒪)ノ"Sanji, hurry up and come!"...After a few days of sailing, the group of four finally set foot on land again."Is there a village here?" Luffy asked.Nami looked at the map and replied, "Yes, but it's a small village. According to the map, it should be Syrup Village.""Is the God Usopp about to make his appearance...?" Meruem watched the long-nosed man with three children from beyond the mountain, who thought they were secretly observing.But anyone who wasn't blind could see them."Why does it feel like another one with insufficient intelligence...?"Meruem sighed, feeling helpless."I thought it was strange just now. Who are those guys?" Zoro said, stretching.Luffy and Nami followed Zoro's gaze."Ah ah ah ah, we've been discovered, run!" The three children ran off in a flash."Don't run!" Usopp, stared at by the three, felt his legs go weak and shouted.Stare... The silent atmosphere was so awkward you could carve out a three-bedroom apartment."Ahem, since you've asked so sincerely, I shall mercifully tell you! I am Usopp, the leader of the Great Pirate Crew here! You'd best leave early, as I have 80 million subordinates." Usopp stood up, arms crossed, his trembling legs notwithstanding.Nami looked at him expressionlessly, coldly spitting out two words: "Braggart."Usopp covered his head with his hands, saying in disbelief, "Ah! My cover's blown, what a clever bad woman!""Hahahaha, you're really interesting." Luffy's sense of humor was unfathomable, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face."How dare you make fun of me, I am the brave Sea Warrior Usopp!"Meruem watched this scene, feeling a headache coming on, and once again began to doubt his choices... "According to Luffy's selection criteria... am I too normal and thus a bit out of place? No, Nami is still normal."...The group was at a restaurant in the village, where Usopp recounted the pitiful background of the wealthy young lady Kaya."Alright, losing both parents is indeed tragic... but compared to Nami, how is this pitiful?"Meruem idly stirred his plate with a spoon.Luffy was asking for meat, and Zoro was asking for sake.Nami's eyes held a hint of sadness."Aren't you looking for crewmates? I can be your Captain!" Usopp said confidently."No need." The four said in unison."Don't be so blunt!" Usopp roared.After a while, Usopp glanced at the time and hurried off, without even paying... Meruem looked around, sighed, paid the bill, then turned to Luffy and said, "Let's go, Luffy, don't you want your own ship?"Luffy's eyes lit up. "Meruem~ Do you have a way?""Follow me." He said, pushing the door open and stepping out first.Zoro and Nami exchanged a bewildered look, but followed him.The four walked towards the mansion on the hilltop."Meruem, do you want to buy a ship from Kaya? Let me tell you, you can't spend my Berries." Namivigilantly hugged her backpack to her front.Meruem replied with a smile, "Don't worry, we're just going to help someone solve a problem, and then they'll willingly give us a ship.""Problem? Can you cure illnesses?""...Do you think I can?""Then what problem are you solving?""..."As they spoke, the four arrived at the hilltop villa, just in time to see Usopp deliver a solid punch to Kuro's face."...This must be his peak, right? How long until he's this cool again?"Kuro was about to utter his manipulative words to make his plan go more smoothly.Meruem spoke first: "Kuro, Captain of the Black Cat Pirates, bounty of 16 million Berries. He faked his death three years ago, and now he's a small butler here."Kuro's expression changed, and he pushed up his glasses with his palm: "I don't know what you're talking about.""What I say isn't important. Luffy, defeat him, tie him up, and send him to be exchanged for Berries." Meruem said with a smile.For a long time, there was no reaction.Meruem turned to look, Luffy was picking his nose, frowning: "Meruem~ I didn't understand what you said..."(꒪Д꒪)ノ"Is it that hard for me to be cool?!" Meruem's eye twitched; having such a Captain was too frustrating. He spoke again: "This Kuro plans to kill Kaya and take her fortune for himself. If you catch him, we'll have our own ship."Luffy understood this time, stretching his arm back forcefully."Gum-Gum Pistol!" His fist flew towards Kuro, and judging by the force, one hit would likely knock him out cold.Whoosh.Luffy's fist only hit an afterimage. He turned to see Kuro standing on the wall, coldly looking at them."Who exactly are you? Why are you ruining my plan! My Pirate Crew will arrive tonight, and I'll kill all of you!"Before he finished speaking, he vanished into thin air... "Ai... Meruem, is what you said true?" Usoppasked, trembling."He just said he'd kill us all. You're asking me if it's true...?" Meruem said with a wry smile, "Yes.""Then what do we do now...?" Nami, still a bit unaccustomed to these super-powered people's actions, asked with a hint of fear."Nami, you stay here with Kaya. The four of us will go to the beach and stop them right there on the sand." Meruem thought for a moment and said.Luffy and Zoro heard this and immediately headed out.Usopp's legs were trembling, but he glanced at Kaya, forced himself to stop shaking, and followed them."Luffy, that speed was a bit fast just now. Can you handle it?" Meruem indicated he didn't want to act; if he did, Luffy might truly become King Luffy... Luffyraised his fist, flexing his biceps, and said confidently, "Don't worry, no problem.""Le... leave it to me. Ka... Kaya, I will protect her." Usopp stumbled along behind them, his voice trembling as he spoke.Zoro silently tied on his black bandana, saying nothing.
Chapter 12 Hello everyone, is the money enough this time?The four searched along the beach for a while, but couldn't find any trace of Kuro, so they had to wait in place... Not long after, the silhouette of the Black Cat Pirates' ship, the Hundred Plans, was visible."Why are you so late?" Kuro's appearance had changed drastically; he wore a greatcoat, and the claw blades on his hands reflected a chilling glint.Jango looked a bit awkward, stammering, "Captain... Captain, we were robbed."Kuro was stunned, his emotions disconnected, and he stared at him with wide eyes: "What did you say! The Pirate Crew was robbed?! Are you joking with me?!""Captain... he was too strong. There was no room to resist at all. If we encounter him again, we can only hope we have enough money..."Kuro took a deep breath, deciding to proceed with his three-year plan first, and said fiercely: "Today, some unknown pirates exposed my plan. Before it spreads, let's go kill everyone in that villa and that annoying Usopp in the village, then pin it on them.""Yes, Captain!""Boys, let's go!"... "Isn't framing them a bit too despicable!" Zoro's voice came.The Black Cat Pirate Crew looked in the direction of the voice. Luffy was squatting on the ground, looking at them coldly. Zoro had a sword in his mouth, and Usopp stood with his arms crossed and his head held high, though it would have been better if his legs weren't trembling.Meruem hid in the shadows, covering his face. After all, he had only extorted them a few days ago, and running into them again was a bit awkward... Kuropushed his glasses with his palm, looking at the three coldly: "Nameless small-time pirates, you still have one man and one woman... did they run away?"Only then did Luffy and the other two notice Meruem hiding in the shadows. Stared at intensely by the three, he couldn't take it anymore. He scratched his head, walked out, and waved, greeting them: "Hello everyone... Your Captain is here this time too. Let me calculate, you'll need at least 35 million. Do you have enough money this time?"The Black Cat Pirate Crew's jaws dropped to the ground, staring at Meruem in astonishment. Jangotrembled and said, "Captain... Captain, that's the guy who robbed us of a full 30 million. We've checked, he's the infamous bounty hunter, Fire Blade Meruem, from recent years. However, he basically doesn't capture or kill people; he often extorts wanted criminals!"Meruem scratched his head, unable to meet the gaze of the three beside him, and said awkwardly: "How is it extortion? Didn't you all give it willingly?""You put a sword to someone's neck and say they gave it willingly! You're utterly shameless!" Jango's voice sounded a bit indignant.Since he did take the money, Meruem didn't know what to say... "I want meat!" Luffy said fiercely."I want booze!" This was Zoro."I want to be Captain!" This was... The three turned their heads to stare at Usopp, then said in unison again: "No!"... "Still a nameless guy, you actually dared to rob my Pirate Crew. You're looking for death." Kuro felt he was being underestimated. The claw blades on his hands clashed, emitting a metallic clang that sounded particularly deep in the quiet night."Luffy, he's yours. Zoro is in charge of those two disgusting brothers. Usopp is in charge of the one wearing sunglasses. I'll take care of everyone else. Any problems?" Meruem said, drawing his sword."No problem." Luffy and Zoro seemed quite eager for battle. Thinking of how rich their Pirate Crewwas, they were already planning their next feast and drinks, eager to finish quickly."Problem! I think I'd be better off cheering them on!" Usopp raised his hand, saying seriously, not at all like he was joking.Meruem ignored him, casually twirled his sword, and looked at Luffy.Luffy tightened his Straw Hat a bit and said with a smile: "Partners! Let's go!""Boys! Let's go!" Kuro's voice echoed in the dark night, and looking in the direction of the sound, only afterimages were seen."Hypnosis, Rage!" Jango's voice rang out. After a snap of his fingers, the eyes of the Black Cat Pirate Crew members were bloodshot, their veins bulging fiercely, as they rushed towards the Straw HatPirate Crew, yelling and screaming... "Roar!" Sam and Buch let out beast-like roars, charging towards Luffy. Zoro brandished his two swords, blocking the two, and said coldly: "Don't disturb my Captain."Clang, clang, clang... The sound of clashing blades rang out incessantly. If one were to count, the well-coordinated Sam and Buch were like Four-Sword Style swordsmen, continuously attacking Zoro."Roar, roar, roar!" The roars of the Kitten Brothers were deafening. Zoro held his swords horizontally and spun in place, and two long sword wounds appeared on their abdomens, but their movements didn't slow down by half a beat; they still desperately attacked Zoro."...They're not affected by injuries, are they?" Zorothought, seizing an opportunity to step on Sam's head, then did a backflip into the air, his two swords behind his back.The Kitten Brothers were relentless, stomping hard and charging towards Zoro in the air."Three-Sword Style, Tiger Hunt!"A faint white tiger phantom appeared, letting out a silent roar. After a flash of sword light, Zoro half-crouched on the ground, while the Kitten Brothers had already fainted nearby... The Black Cat Pirate Crew let out meaningless howls, charging forward recklessly. One of the grunts punched a huge rock, shattering it."Jango will be troublesome if he joins the Marinelater, maybe I should just kill him here."Meruem held his sword, its tip pointing downwards, pondering this difficult problem, and casually knocked down several rushing subordinates.Usopp had already led Jango away, and it was unknown where they had gone."Forget it, it's too troublesome. Let Luffy decide. I'll just stick close to the strong ones." Meruemmumbled to himself.He charged into the crowd with his sword, the blades flying, as if playing a Musou game... In just a short while, the grunts were piled up together. He also took a detour to the Bragou and found that these guys were really poor; they had nothing.He seemed completely oblivious, as if it wasn't his fault they were so poor.Sitting on the Bragou's gunwale, he began to watch Luffy's true debut battle. Unfortunately, there were no melon seeds or cola at this time, otherwise, it would have felt like watching a real blockbuster... "Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy fiercely struck at Kuro, but only hit an afterimage.Kuro appeared silently behind him, murderous intent surging, and the claw blades in his hand swept mercilessly. If this strike connected, Luffy's body would likely become like Buggy's.Luffy felt this murderous intent, fell backward, spread his legs, and his whole body formed a 'Y' shape, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. "Wow, that was too dangerous." Luffy's voice even sounded a bit thrilled.