Chapter 125: Unable to Tie a Chicken "Thanks for the support of "Meaningless Duck!""Nami charged forward, instantly appearing in front of Luffy, her white teeth transforming into fangs as she roared, "Who told you to leave her there alone! We always leave someone to guard the ship, so why not the Ship Spirit?! Those guys clearly look like bad uncles!"Whether Captain Luffy was competent or not was unclear, but he was certainly good at taking a beating and obeying orders in such matters. Hearing Nami, he shuffled "pat-pat" in his slippers towards the shipyard.Nami clutched her chest, exhaling with lingering fear. Just as she was about to say something, Luffy's head poked out again: "Nami, are you feeling unwell? That hit didn't feel right..."Startled, Nami gritted her teeth and unleashed a terrifying aura, punching Luffy's head so hard it embedded into the ground. The two bumps on his head, one large and one small, would drive any perfectionist crazy; the larger one was even gently smoking... Luffy finally walked off, clutching his head. Nami repeatedly turned her head sharply whenever she was about to speak, eventually sighing and saying, "I can't do this anymore. I need to rest. My heart can't take these extreme ups and downs."Robin followed with a smile. Chopper had long since reverted to his normal, less valuable form. He told Meruem, "Get some good rest, don't run around," and then followed them out. Zoro and Sanjiglanced at Usopp and also walked out, but it seemed they started arguing at the doorway. Someone slammed the door shut, and their cursing voices faded into the distance.Usopp walked up to Meruem with his head down and knelt directly, "Meruem... thank you. I'm sorry, it was all my fault for being so headstrong."???Meruem tried to pull Usopp up but couldn't. He looked at his hand with a wry smile, shook his head, and said, "What are you talking about? I don't quite understand.""It was because I couldn't bear to part with the Going Merry that you got so seriously injured. You were on the brink of death for the past few days. Although you're awake now, I still think I should properly apologize to you.""I see..." Meruem said, understanding, then firmly pinched Usopp's nose: "If you weren't headstrong, would I not have saved Merry? What are you thinking?! And stop saying thank you and sorry. If you're truly embarrassed, repay it with your life someday."Usopp's nose, which usually broke so easily, showed no reaction despite Meruem's strong pinch. Meruem could only release it helplessly, shaking his hand with a frustrated look.Upon hearing this, Usopp felt the gloom of many days dissipate: "I knew you were the best! I am the brave warrior of the sea, Usopp. If one day I need to sacrifice myself to save you, I will not hesitate."Meruem looked at the determined Usopp with a slight headache and waved his hand, "Go away, go away, let me have some peace. I'm much stronger than you. Go train yourself."Usopp grinned, gave a thumbs-up, and left the room.Meruem adjusted his body slightly, lay back down, and closed his eyes... Tsukuyomi's room was becoming increasingly high-tech... who knew what strange tech trees that guy had invested in."Now it's over... How does it feel to be powerless? Can you handle it?"...I can handle it, but I don't know if the readers can."It's not bad, it's only for a while. As long as I completely devour the killing intent, I should still be a little stronger than before," Meruem said casually, finding a sofa chair and comfortably sinking into it.Tsukuyomi spread his hands and shrugged, "Then don't be so reckless lately. I've been drained by you too. Thankfully, it's just a Ship Spirit; otherwise, you might have been completely crippled this time... But you really are a freak. Armament Haki and basic physical fitness, even my Moon Energy, were all burned out, yet your Observation Haki actually advanced a step, now firmly stepping over the threshold of the third stage."Meruem pouted, a bit annoyed: "Oh, come on, it's useless anyway. If I fought now, I probably couldn't even beat Usopp in close combat, let alone long-range.""Who told you to be so reckless? It wasn't enough to just save her; you even created a physical body for that Ship Spirit. She should probably rank fourth in strength among your group now...""I've been kind-hearted since I was a child. How pitiful for her to only be able to attach to a ship and not see the prosperity of islands."..." Tsukuyomi paused, looking at Meruem with a strange expression. A kind-hearted person whose killing intent was almost solidifying? He was clearly talking nonsense."Alright, don't look at me like that. What's done is done, there's no use talking about it. I need to quickly regain my strength, or I'll have no sense of security in this damned world." Meruem stood up, stretched, waved at Tsukuyomi, snapped his fingers, and vanished from the room."According to the theory in your world, you'd be called a psychopath... What a strange person. I wonder if following you will help me fulfill my long-cherished wish..." Tsukuyomi shook his head, muttering softly, a complex smile on his face... Meruem sat cross-legged on the bed, enveloped in a spiral of red light. Sweat drenched his body, and he bit his teeth tightly, clearly enduring immense pain.With a muffled grunt, Meruem tiredly opened his eyes. The red light around him drilled towards his heart. His breathing was heavy, and faint traces of blood could again be seen seeping through the bandages on his chest.He casually picked up a shirt and draped it over himself. As soon as he stood up, he couldn't help but be stunned, as if he had just been born into this world. His body seemed to have no problems, but all his strength had completely vanished, as the sensation of his feet touching the ground clearly informed him.He shook his head with a helpless, wry smile, preparing to go out for a walk.The door quietly opened, and a small head peeked in, looking left and right. Upon seeing only Meruem, Merry excitedly fluttered her short legs and ran to Meruem's side. Like climbing a mountain, she quickly scaled Meruem's body and sat on his shoulder, hugging his head."Merry, weren't you at the shipyard? Why are you back?" Meruem didn't mind, and walked out with this 'hat' on his head."They're very skilled! I just need to choose the materials~ It's already finished now. When the new ship is built, I'll become even stronger, and I'll protect you then~" Merry's excitement was completely unhidden, and she secretly observed Meruem's expression when she said the last sentence."Is that so? Then I'll leave it to you~"Seeing that Meruem's expression hadn't turned melancholic, Merry's smile became even brighter: "Mm-hmm~ Leave it to me! They seem to be having a BBQ by the pool, let's go quickly~ Sanji's cooking is so delicious~""They didn't even call me... how heartless..." Meruem walked towards the pool, muttering to himself.
Chapter 126 Chase...Oh my god, Nami's bikini is absolutely the best! And there's someone coming out of the water... What the heck, a monster coming out of the water?! Meruem saw a figure leap out of the water. Kokoro, with her human body and fish tail, completely shattered Meruem's lingering hopes for mermaids. Kokoro in a bikini was just too much for his eyes... Meruem covered his eyes, not daring to look again. Merry, however, watched with great interest, her eyes seemingly turning into stars. Everything on shore was too novel for her."Meruem~ Meruem~ Is that a mermaid~""Uh... yes, that's a Fish-Man... I absolutely refuse to admit that's a mermaid..." Meruem's voice sounded somewhat listless. Perhaps this was the legendary magic attack."I absolutely refuse to admit that's a mermaid either!" Sanji's voice, full of indignation, came over. The two turned to look, and Sanji was biting his clothes, with an indescribable expression... he looked like he was about to cry.On the grill in front of Sanji, the roasting meat sizzled. Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp watched eagerly, their mouths watering."Sanji! As Captain's orders, hurry up!" Luffy's Captain's orders were truly a bit annoying... "Great Captain Usopp orders you to flip it quickly!""Sprinkle seasoning~ Sprinkle seasoning~"A desperate Sanji was pulled back to attention by these three guys. He looked at the three idiots with great disdain, but his movements didn't slow down in the slightest. The meat danced on the grill, and the seasoning flew through the air, evenly sprinkling onto it. Then, Sanji reached out and scooped, and half of the grilled meat was gone, placed on a tray, along with a refreshing-looking drink. He lifted the tray, his face changing instantly.(♡ ⌂ ♡)It was hard to say if it was a lecherous expression or a "gentlemanly" one as he skipped towards Nami... It was indeed skipping; from his steps, it looked a bit like a waltz."Miss Nami~ The grilled meat is ready~ Eat slowly, I'll grill more later. Luffy, don't steal my ingredients."The first half was like a spring breeze, the second half like the dead of winter. The difference couldn't be more obvious. Is this how crew members treat their Captain? It's simply too disrespectful, he should be hung up and whipped... But then looking at Luffy... The trio instantly broke into a fight, pulling at each other. The grilled meat was still sizzling with oil, lying perfectly on the grill, exuding its charm. The three guys were wrestling in front of the grill, and Chopper's leg seemed to have gone into Luffy's mouth... Is he really not afraid of being bitten... "Meruem~ So delicious~ Here you go~" Merry, on his head, handed him a skewer of grilled meat, while she held a whole bunch in her own hand. The size was a bit too much for her; the skewers were almost as tall as she was, but it looked adorably cute.Meruem casually took a bite, and his mouth was instantly filled with aroma. The deliciousness of the meat was fully brought out, making it truly irresistible. He ate while turning his head to look...???The grill, where the three were fighting, was already empty. Meruem instantly felt the skewer in his hand was a bit hot... Chopper discovered the empty grill, rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then froze in place, letting out an inarticulate grunt. Luffy noticed Chopper stop, reached out and wrapped Usopp up, then flung his head towards the grill, looking quite grotesque... "Ahhh!" Luffy's wails sounded like Sanjiseeing Kokoro's bikini, that desperate... Luffy wailed and scanned, instantly spotting Meruem with a skewer of grilled meat in his hand, and Merry, his "hat," holding a bunch of skewers on his head."Merry, you're no man! How can you sneak around like that!"Chopper's hand and Usopp's hand simultaneously slapped Luffy's head. His bobbing head seemed to echo the sound of the sea. Heaven knows what this Captain had in his head."What's the shouting for?! If you don't hurry, there won't be any left!" Usopp lifted his leg and ran towards Merry."Ah... Eh? Is that why we're hitting Luffy?" Chopperseemed to be controlled by some mysterious force. He didn't even know why he was hitting Luffy, but he couldn't control himself. Seeing Usopp run over, he wasn't to be outdone and followed."Gum-Gum Rocket!" And there was one who didn't play fair... Merry looked at the three coming, bared her teeth and smiled, shoved the skewers to Meruem, then jumped to Meruem's feet, hugged Meruem's calf, and started running. Her short legs blurred into a phantom... Meruem, held up like that, was utterly bewildered, floating around the area. The skewers in his hand still exuded their aroma, somewhat like Merry's fishing bait... He never thought he'd one day enjoy the same treatment as Karoo the duck... Amidst the chaos, Merry was cornered by the pool. The trio rubbed their fists, staring intently... at Merry? Perhaps the chase had been going on for a while, and these three had already forgotten their original objective, focused only on catching Merry. Their brain capacity really did seem to be, perhaps, somewhat insufficient."Hehehe, surrender, you have nowhere to run!" Usopp, are your lines really okay... "Wahoohoo, we're finally going to catch you~ Soon it'll be your turn to chase us!" Chopper, are you playing some kind of game...? "Hmph hmph hmph~ I definitely won't let you catch me later." Luffy, you're really confident, aren't you... Meruem looked at the skewers in his hand, then at the three pairs of burning eyes opposite him that weren't looking at him, feeling a bit lost about what he was doing there, and could only take a bite of the grilled meat... Mmm... So fragrant~Merry's small figure held Meruem up, her smile blooming like a flower. The feeling she had never experienced before made her incredibly excited. She bared her teeth and smiled at the trio, then with a push of her legs, she... jumped towards the pool... Mama mia, I can't swim. Meruem was still chewing meat when he saw himself flying towards the pool. He definitely wouldn't die, but this grilled meat might be a bit wasted... It probably wouldn't be, if it got wet, he'd just feed it to Luffy, he probably wouldn't mind.The anticipated splash didn't come. Merry moved her short legs and ran across the surface of the water. Newton's coffin lid was once again nailed shut... Her splashing little legs felt no different from stepping on solid ground. The splashes and Merry's joyful laughter mixed together, leaving the trio dumbfounded.Luffy and Chopper chased after her, laughing and with swift movements, and then... with swift movements... they sank to the bottom... Is it really that hard to remember that they ate a Devil Fruit?
Chapter 127 BanquetUsopp lay panting beside Luffy and Chopper, while Merry squatted nearby, watching the two spit water like fountains with great interest.Meruem stood to the side, completely at a loss for words, so he just took another bite of the barbecue—it really was delicious!"Cough, cough, cough... I can't believe I lost, Chopper, we still need to keep training..." Luffy's body was truly amazing; while Chopper was still puffed up like a ball, he had already returned to normal, declaring with an air of conviction.Poor Chopper, still acting like a fountain, nodded firmly when he heard Luffy, but it seemed he choked, and the fountain... split.Meruem casually handed the barbecue to the others, then squatted on the ground, propping his face with his hand as he looked at Luffy: "...No matter how much you train, you can't run on water.With just that one move, Merry is sure to win.""Meruem~ You're so kind~ If I just get stronger, I can definitely do it!"The skewer in Luffy's hand was instantly reduced to just the stick... Heaven knows how this guy managed it; did he not even chew?Did he really taste anything?Luffy's expression didn't look like he was joking; a guy who ate a Devil Fruit wanting to run on the sea was simply insane..."Huh?BBQ?!I have cola here, and I have ingredients in stock too, so let us join in~" Franky's blue Speedo appeared next to Meruem, its eye-searing intensity almost on par with Kokoro's bikini.Franky said this, then took out a Den Den Mushi and said, "Bring all the ingredients stored in the warehouse to the pool.It's time for a party!"(=͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*))...We haven't even agreed to let you join; there's a limit to how familiar you can be.Are you sure what you just said was a question?Meruem subtly shuffled his feet, moving himself further away from that blue Speedo.He stated that having that thing appear next to his head was a bit too much to bear."Party? Party!It's a party!"When Luffy heard those two words, it was as if some strange switch had been flipped inside him; the excitement on his face was uncontrollable as he shouted loudly."A party?Then I've arrived quite opportunely.I'll come back tomorrow to explain the concept for the new ship."Iceberg of Galley-La Company touched the... mouse in his pocket?His expression was very calm, and his familiar demeanor was just like Franky's—they truly were from the same school of thought...Somehow, the party just started abruptly.Everyone, familiar or not, rushed into the area, and the previously empty space instantly transformed into a pool party.That guy Pauly was both drinking with Zoro and condemning the ladies in bikinis, spouting idiotic remarks like "wearing that is an affront to public morals," yet his eyes never left those ladies, perfectly embodying the phrase "saying one thing but doing another."Franky was going head-to-head with Iceberg, looking like he was about to puke from drinking, but Iceberg still maintained that calm expression, as if the alcohol in his hand wasn't alcohol at all.Giving alcohol to someone like him was truly a waste; drinking like water, one might as well just drink water...The members of the Franky Family were also getting chummy with the members of Galley-La Company, completely devoid of their previous disdain for each other.The experience of fighting side-by-side seemed to have changed many things, causing even discordant relationships to begin to dissolve...Wait, where did the alcohol come from?I didn't see any of these guys bring anything; even the Franky Family only brought one sea beast, which, looking at the scene, was clearly not enough.Meruem frowned, wondering if some kind soul was supplying provisions, then he turned his head and saw Luffy smiling as he handed out several boxes.From their appearance, they were clearly Nami's money chests, things that were supposed to be in a safe; how did they end up in Luffy's hands?"Luffy, you...?"Meruem walked over to Luffy, looking at him, unsure what to say.Luffy's body involuntarily trembled when he heard the voice, then he turned and found only Meruem.His rigid expression instantly relaxed, and he let out a sigh of relief, secretly glancing in Nami's direction, and whispered, "A party definitely has to be enjoyed to the fullest~""...I suspect Nami will kill you tomorrow."Meruem's eye twitched as if it were dancing; encountering such a "generous" Captain was completely speechless.This time, Enies Lobby essentially yielded no income, and this Captain actually used the shipbuilding money to throw a party.Luffy patted Meruem's shoulder, then put his arm around Meruem and walked towards the center of the area, saying with a laugh, "Relax~ Franky said he'd give me a ship, and what he stole before counts as payment for the ship~ Now, besides the party, there's no other place where we need to spend money~"...Good thing you still remember Merry.Meruem breathed a sigh of relief, then cautiously glanced at Nami and whispered, "...I think that won't stop Nami from killing you tomorrow.I just beg you, please don't say I knew about it tomorrow.Please, it's better for one person to get beaten than for us to get beaten together.""...I think you're being a bit disloyal.""...If you say that again, I'll tell Nami right now.The party will definitely continue as usual, but whether you can still participate is another matter."Luffy frowned in thought, feeling that the saying "share blessings and misfortunes" should be correct, but this guy Meruem clearly looked like he'd abandon ship at the first sign of trouble, which was simply unreasonable.However, it would be too regrettable if he couldn't participate in such a fun party, so he said helplessly, "Alright, alright, I'll take the blame alone.Let's go, let's get high!"As he spoke, he stretched out his arm and wrapped it around Meruem's waist, then took a big leap towards... the pool...This is revenge, isn't it?This must be revenge.Suicide attacks aren't played like this, are they?Meruem watched as a circle instantly cleared in the lively pool, and he fell into it with Luffy, flailing but unable to float.Water surged into his mouth, and if no one came to save them, they would most likely die in there.Seeing this, Chopper executed a perfect dive, slapping straight onto the water's surface—it looked painful... He sank to the bottom with the two of them.Merry giggled and also jumped into the water, flailing like the three of them, a wide smile on her face, with no intention of offering a helping hand...The scattered crowd surged back.Someone, he didn't know who, pulled the three of them up, holding them above their heads.Three of the four guys were acting as fountains, one was giggling, bobbing in the sea of bikini-clad ladies.Sanji was so envious his eyeballs were about to pop out, but he hadn't finished cooking the ingredients, yet he actually managed to resist jumping into the pool...Wow, this pool is really big and white.Is what's coming out of my nose blood or water?Meruem wiped his nose, his body uncontrollably rising and falling in a sea of white...
Chapter 128 Kuzan who doesn't want to work overtime "Thanks to Gu Feiyan's support"The two figures acting as fountains turned into three. Meruem lay on the ground, looking utterly dejected, with an impulse to stab Luffy to death. This guy was simply inhuman; it was bad enough that he jumped himself, but he even dragged Meruem along, fully embodying the 'brotherhood' of 'if I die, you die with me'.Luffy grinned as he climbed up from the ground. Seeing that Sanji's food was almost ready, he vanished in a flash.Meruem sat up and scratched his face. Merry, that fellow, had once again climbed onto his head in a few moves, acting as a hat. Chopper, the big victim beside him, was still acting as a fountain... It was truly exasperating. Then, Meruem's eyes flared red, his brows furrowed tightly, and he walked towards Robin, who was leaning against the wall, holding a wine glass and smiling at them.As Meruem approached, Robin's expression inexplicably began to change. Her smile was replaced by astonishment and fear. Her other hand involuntarily clutched her arm, trembling slightly, as she shook her head at Meruem.But Meruem paid no attention, even quickening his pace by two points. He reached the wall, gritted his teeth as he assessed the height, then pouted and went around the side. There, he saw Kuzan, looking languid, greeting him."Yo~ Your Observation Haki has improved~"Meruem took a deep breath, hands in his pockets, and a smile replaced his earlier expression: "I've made a little progress recently. Why don't you join our banquet? It's quite fun.""Forget it. If I went in, your banquet wouldn't be fun anymore. Your bounties are about to come out. Take care of yourselves." Kuzan shrugged, yawning as he casually replied."What, aren't you going to arrest us now? You won't have another chance later..." As Meruem said this, his hands were a little sweaty. The nervous(nervous) feeling consumed him. Encountering an Admiral when he was completely defenseless was simply terrible.Kuzan smiled, then lightly stomped his foot. An ice flow extended from his foot towards Meruem, stopping just at Meruem's toes.Meruem stood his ground, not retreating, even as the fear in his heart threatened to drown him. He maintained his smile, looking at Kuzan with a calm expression.Merry leaped down from Meruem's head, instantly shattering the ice flow. She adopted a boxer's stance, looking at Kuzan with vigilance, but she really didn't look very intimidating, even a little cute.Robin sat on the wall, her arms crossed, frowning as she looked at Kuzan. The tense atmosphere instantly intensified.Kuzan was slightly taken aback, then looked at Merry with interest: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, a materialized Ship Spirit. This ship of yours... you, this freak, made it, didn't you? Paying such a price is truly incomprehensible. You guys are really quite different from the pirates I've seen before."Kuzan said, looking at Meruem, his interest growing even stronger. He gestured in the air with his fingers, and cold air instantly descended, enveloping this small space.Meruem placed his hand on Merry's head, stopping her impulse to lash out. He gently stroked her and said: "It's no big deal. As companions on the same ship, how can you clearly calculate who saves whom? It's normal that those pirates you've seen are different from us. Who made us stuck with a Captain whose thought process isn't quite normal..."Kuzan thought for a moment, and for some unknown reason, he shook his head and smiled. He snapped his fingers, and the cold air vanished without a trace: "Garp's grandson, it's hereditary, which is understandable. It seems you guys also have it tough. Forget it, I'm resting today and have no desire for Gaban. I can even give you a piece of advice..."...You must be the first person against involution. I applaud you. Meruem breathed a sigh of relief. The plot was indeed proceeding as usual and hadn't changed much because of him. Kuzan was indeed not an opponent they could deal with right now.Meruem's thoughts raced, but his expression remained calm. He softly said: "Please speak, but I can't do anything about whether the Captain will listen.""True, if Garp's grandson could listen to advice, I'd have to wonder if he was even his biological grandson... But I'll tell you anyway. The world's situation is gradually starting to stir. With your current strength, you don't have the qualifications to step onto the stage. Become stronger, become stronger faster, otherwise, just stop sailing."...Marineford War? No, from the timeline, Aceshouldn't have been captured yet. Is there something else? Meruem was a little helpless. Besides Luffy's route, he knew very little about other things. Kuzan didn't seem to want to say more, and the severe lack of information made it impossible for Meruem to respond.However, Kuzan didn't mind Meruem's silence. He walked over, picked up his bicycle, and waved his hand at the three with his back to them: "Farewell~ I hope we don't meet during work hours next time~" With that, he rode towards the sea, leaving the three looking at each other.It wasn't until Kuzan's figure disappeared from sight that Meruem's legs involuntarily weakened. He supported his knees with his hands, breathing slightly. Strictly speaking, this was the first time he had experienced fear in this world. Strength was indeed the most important factor for survival in this world. Without strength, there was no possibility of doing anything at all.Merry looked at Meruem with a worried expression, wanting to say something but feeling that nothing she said would be appropriate. Her aggrieved look made one feel a little heartache.Meruem wiped away the cold sweat from his forehead, smiled at Merry, then picked her up and placed her on his head, softly saying: "Don't worry, Merry, next time we meet, I'll definitely be stronger than that guy~""Mmm-hmm~" Merry saw Meruem return to his normal state, and the aggrieved expression on her face faded considerably. She hugged Meruem's head and gently rubbed against him, not at all thinking that Meruem was boasting like Usopp.How could an Admiral, basically a top-tier combatant in this world, be so easily achieved...? Robin sighed in relief, jumped down from the wall, and gently helped Meruem straighten his clothes, softly saying: "Thank you, Meruem... Didn't you say you were going to catch me and spank me? How about now?""..." Meruem's face instantly turned crimson. Having never been teased by an older woman in his previous life, how could he withstand this? He subtly shifted his feet and darted towards the banquet, shouting: "It wasn't me, I didn't say that. Sister Robin, don't believe rumors, don't spread rumors..."Oh~ Sister~Robin covered her mouth and chuckled at Meruem's reaction, then looked in the direction Kuzan had left, softly murmuring: "Saul, I've found companions who are willing to protect me... After I sail with them for a week, I'll come to see you..."The wind gently rustled the leaves, making a soft "shh shh" sound, like a friend's reply...
Chapter 129 Don't Lead the Children astray"Cough, cough, cough... I am an intern with three and a half years of practice – U-so-pp Captain! I'm about to present my original work, 'Usopp Captain' ~ Please look forward to it ~" Who knows when a high platform was set up; the guys from Galley-La Company are not only excellent shipbuilders, but they also seem to be old hands at this kind of thing.Usopp stood on the high platform, looking very smug and asking for a beating.Luffy ran to the platform, hugged it, and started shaking it, shouting, "Usopp, what nonsense are you spouting? I'm the Captain!"The platform didn't seem very stable and began to sway with Luffy's movements.Usopp, who was usually so timid, seemed like a different person at this moment; the smug look on his face hadn't diminished one bit.He stepped forward and... let out a pig-slaughtering rap."Great Captain Usopp, riding the wind and breaking the waves ~Great Captain Usopp, blazing trails and cutting through thorns ~On the high seas, bravely fighting Sea Kings ~At Enies Lobby, single-handedly battling CP9 ~..."(Alright, I can't make this up anymore.)Anyway, this pig-slaughtering sound was like demonic music piercing the ears; Meruem admitted he really couldn't stand it.At this moment, he even started to agree with Luffy; indeed, this ship really needed a musician.If every future banquet featured this kind of music, it would be torture.But this pig-slaughtering sound actually drew cheers, and the atmosphere grew even livelier.Zambai stuffed a large piece of meat into Luffy's mouth, and Luffy immediately stopped being angry, stopped shaking, and the light in his eyes began to shine again.His hands moved over the dining table like he was using "Gum-Gum Gatling," making the clean and tidy tabletop a delight to behold... What a load of crap.Meruem watched the grilled meat he had painstakingly cut, ready to taste it, when it instantly vanished.Anger rose in his heart, and malice grew in his gut.He winked at Merry, who was beside him, and the two secretly sprinkled all the chili powder on the freshly served grilled meat.Sure enough, as soon as they finished sprinkling, the meat disappeared from their sight.Then they saw Luffy tightly clutching his mouth, his eyes instantly turning red."Moved" tears flowed from his eyes, and his flushed face clearly showed how excited he was."Hehe ~" Merry excitedly high-fived Meruem, looking triumphant.She seemed to have opened a door to a New World, secretly scurrying around the entire venue.Wine glasses, food, and drinks all fell victim to her extra seasoning.Watching each person shed "moved" tears, a satisfied look appeared on her small face.Suddenly, Merry felt her short legs leave the ground.She turned to look and saw Zoro, his face still streaked with "moved" tears, completely flushed.He placed a glass of wine, redder and more fiery than Boruto, in front of her, staring at her with an unfriendly expression, signaling her with his eyes to drink it.Merry also had no idea how to write the word "cowardly." (Well, she really didn't know how to write it.)She reached out, took the glass, and guzzled it clean in one gulp, then stared back at him defiantly.Zoro's expression froze.He gritted his teeth, placed Merry opposite him, and the two sat cross-legged facing each other.The onlookers, who loved a good show, piled around them with their doctored wine, and the jeering was incredibly noisy.Merry wiped her delicate little nose, reached for a wine barrel taller than herself, and "gulped, gulped" it all down.After drinking, she even stuck out her tongue and licked her lips, her small face flushed but her gaze unyielding.Zoro was still pouring wine into his glass when he saw this scene, his eyes nearly popping out.Amidst the cheers of the crowd, he laboriously picked up a wine barrel, placed it in front of him, and took several deep breaths... He had never breathed so deeply even during a fight.Then, with a resolute heart and closed eyes, he imitated Merry and began to chug the wine.The red liquid felt like it was burning as it went down his throat, the veins on his neck bulged, and his whole body turned red, as if he had changed species.A scorching breath escaped from Zoro's mouth; he let out a pained roar.After all, drinking like this was a novel experience.The onlookers cheered loudly, making it seem as if these guys held a grudge against the Straw Hat Pirates and wished one of them would drink themselves to death right there... "Merry is amazing ~" Luffy took a sip and spat out all the doctored wine, exclaiming in shock, completely ignoring the suffering Zoro, and joining the onlookers in their jeering... also seemingly wishing Zoro would die on the spot.Chopper looked at the milk in his cup, then at Merryholding a wine barrel taller than himself.He gritted his teeth, put the milk cup aside, and, looking like he was sacrificing himself for a just cause, reached for the wine barrel.Meruem watched Chopper's trembling hand with interest, even feeling an urge to move the wine barrel closer.However, Merry's alcohol tolerance was truly terrifying; Heaven knows why a Ship Spirit could drink so much... "Again..." Before Zoro could finish saying "again," he received a sharp rap on the head, forcing the word back down.Meruem and Luffy only saw a flash before their eyes, and they, too, received consecutive raps on the head.They turned to see a gloomy Nami glaring at them fiercely, her fists clenching with a "creak."Nami in a furious state was a true god among the Straw Hat Crew.The three guys, clutching their heads, squatted in a row like criminals, watching Nami walk towards them, holding Merry in her arms and holding Chopper's hand.They quickly bowed their heads, not daring to speak."If you three dare to corrupt the children again, I will make you experience what cruelty is... Hmph!" Namisaid, then left without any hesitation.The three of them waited until Nami's figure disappeared into the crowd before Meruem finally sighed in relief and whispered, "Zoro, are you crazy... to actually challenge Merry to a drinking contest...""...It's because Merry added something to my drink, I don't know where she learned that.""Cough cough... That's not important.If you hadn't challenged her to a drinking contest, we wouldn't have gotten hit.Luckily, Chopper hadn't drunk yet, otherwise, I think the three of us would have been beaten even worse." Meruem's face showed some embarrassment, but it was fleeting.He immediately said righteously, making Zoro hang his head in shame."Good, good... I thought I had messed up.But what did that just now have to do with me? Why did she hit me?It's all Zoro's fault, ugh." Luffy patted his chest with lingering fear, looking at Zoro with disgust, which made Zoro bury his head even lower.This world truly is where the kind are bullied...Luffy, as the main culprit, and Meruem, as an accomplice, actually ganged up to criticize Zoro, which was truly a bit excessive...Zoro, the victim, not only drank doctored wine but also got beaten, and now he was being criticized... It was simply too much.
Chapter 130 Banquet. EndNami arranged the two little ones by her side, smiling as she handed them the drinks Sanji had meticulously prepared, and said softly, "Those guys are usually a bit unreliable; you two mustn't learn from them… "Merry secretly tried to pour chili powder into her drink, but Nami stopped her. She could only take a helpless sip of her drink. Her taste buds, which had just been ravaged by the doctored alcohol, instantly exploded. A refreshing and sweet sensation swirled in her mouth. No matter how she compared it, this was infinitely better than that undrinkable concoction from before. Her large eyes immediately lit up, and she gulped down a few more sips.Chopper pouted and muttered, "I'm a man too! Only men drink alcohol!" Then he put the straw into his mouth, and a look of pure happiness immediately spread across his face. To hell with being a man… let whoever wants to be one do it.Looking at the expressions on the two little ones' faces, Nami conjured up two more drinks as if by magic. It was a bit like seeing her younger self and Nojiko. A nostalgic smile appeared on her face."Here we go~ Carefully crafted children's meal set and masterfully made beauty meal set~" Sanji spun and jumped over with three plates. Then… he kicked Luffy, who was craning his head over like a ghost, squarely in the face, and said fiercely, "The barbecue over there is ready, go get it yourself."Luffy's head bounced back, and he grumbled unhappily, "How can you treat your Captain like this? And I'm paying today, you know…"… Is there a Captain who tries to steal food from children? I don't think even Shanks would do that. Meruem scratched his cheek, a bit speechless, and looked at the guy with a shoe print still on his face, saying, "…I think you should hide tomorrow. If Namifinds out tomorrow, you might become the first Captain to be beaten to death by a crewmate."Luffy shivered uncontrollably at the words, then tremblingly said, "Meruem… why don't you share some of the blame with me? I don't think Nami's strength is enough to beat both of us to death…""…I think you're underestimating her. Not only can she beat you and me to death, but even if you add Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp, she can beat all of us to death. And… I haven't been feeling well lately. You go and trick… ah, no, you go and persuade Zoro to share the blame with you. He's more resilient. Sanji… Sanji won't do it, he'll definitely sell you out immediately." Meruem also shivered, unhesitatingly abandoning the loyalty of a comrade, immediately refused, and then gave Luffy a suggestion that he wasn't sure was good or bad."…You have a point. Later, when Zoro is drunk, we'll stuff the remaining money into his arms and say he did it tomorrow." Luffy's voice sounded a bit excited, completely disregarding what fate the unfortunate Zoro would face. A Captain like him was truly one of a kind… Two swords were placed on Luffy's neck, immediately halting his excitement. Zoro's sinister voice came from behind Luffy: "My dear Captain, what are you planning now~"Meruem covered his face, watching the frozen Luffy. He himself had been speaking in a low voice, but this guy's voice was simply outrageous. If Namihadn't been so far away, she might have heard it… not to mention Zoro was only a step away from them… Luffy chuckled, immediately flipping 360° in the air… turning into a kneeling posture mid-air, prostrating himself, and said aggrievedly, "Zoro… I really can't withstand Nami's beating alone. You don't want your Captain to be black and blue, do you? It would seriously affect the image of our Pirate Crew.""Do we even have an image with you as Captain? I understand now. Apologize properly tomorrow… maybe you won't die so miserably…" Zoro sheathed his swords, squatted down, and patted Luffy's shoulder with a solemn expression… a bit like he was bidding farewell to a corpse. Then he swayed towards the group of drinkers, who were eyeing him fiercely, seemingly intending to wreak havoc… "Luffy… you…" Meruem really didn't know what to say. He sighed and patted Luffy's shoulder, feeling a bit heavy.Luffy suddenly raised his head: "Hmph! It's just a beating, isn't it? It's not like I haven't been beaten before. I'm not scared at all, Meruem, let's get high~"Saying this, he rushed towards the barbecue, a wine glass in one hand and a piece of barbecue in the other, drinking heavily and eating heartily, looking for people to toast everywhere. Although he was smiling happily, it gave off a feeling of self-abandonment… Awesome. Meruem couldn't help but give a thumbs-up in Luffy's direction from afar. A true warrior dares to face a bleak life. Luffy, you are truly brave.Merry, who had just been carried away, wiggled her short legs and ran back, handing Meruem a drink. She held a drink herself and sat on Meruem's shoulder, her face full of smiles.Meruem was a bit puzzled. He glanced around and saw Nami's figure gambling with people for money. Judging by the amount… it looked like a few thousand Berries. It could be considered a small, harmless gamble. Nami's excited expression as she held the money made Meruem shiver again. He silently made the sign of the cross over his chest… Luffy, may the Lord bless you, Amen.Usopp's rap continued… to be able to find so many words to praise himself was truly a unique talent. The pig-slaughtering sound, after a long time, seemed to become bearable. Meruem, with Merryaboard, wandered freely through the venue, sometimes being offered drinks, sometimes being fed food. After one round, he hadn't really gotten to know many people, but his tipsiness and fullness had increased considerably.Meruem walked to a nearby wall and leaned against it, looking at the boisterous party. The smile on his face was gentle and a bit complex. He murmured softly, "No wonder that guy Luffy loves parties so much. All worries are washed away in this clamor. All the effort and struggle for this moment are truly not in vain."Merry listened to Meruem's murmurings, unable to understand. She pouted and messed up Meruem's hair into a bird's nest, looking at him with dissatisfaction, though her pouting expression looked very cute."Meruem~ What are you saying…""Hahaha, nothing. Come~ Cheers~" Meruem's expression was like melting ice and snow. He raised his drink and clinked it with Merry's, then drank it all in one gulp.Merry's body was entirely composed of Meruem's killing intent and Armament Haki. Her bond with him was deeper than anyone else on the ship. Feeling Meruem's change in mood, she also smiled and drank her drink in one gulp."Bang!" Fireworks, brought by someone or perhaps bought by Luffy, exploded in the sky, illuminating their faces in alternating light and shadow.The vibrant fireworks flashed and vanished in the sky, like a fleeting epiphyllum, adorning the night sky beautifully.As the fireworks bloomed, the clamor gradually faded until it became quiet. Snoring sounds rose and fell, the night deepened, and the party quietly ended here…
Chapter 131 Private Money "Thanks to "Short Jie 233" for the support""Aaaaaah!" Nami's heart-wrenching wail shattered the peaceful morning. Her head was stuck inside the empty safe, only to see a few hundred thousand Berries scattered around. The rest of the Berries had vanished without a trace, and a look of despair and agony appeared on her face.Meruem and Luffy woke up at the same time. Seeing the situation, they couldn't help but move to run outside. Where to go no longer mattered at this moment; they just wanted to set sail and leave this troublesome place. However, their ship was still under construction, and reality didn't allow them to depart... "Miss Nami, what's wrong?" Sanji, the simp, appeared instantly like a ghost. Did Zeff teach him his kicking techniques just for him to be a simp? He was truly letting down Zeff's earnest teachings.Meruem, seeing Sanji appear, couldn't help but quicken his pace, feeling an ominous premonition."Sanji... quickly, go catch the thief! My money has been stolen! How dare someone steal from me, they must be tired of living!" Nami seemed possessed by a mountain bandit at that moment, and an instant aura of a brigand appeared. The words squeezed through her teeth sounded very sinister."Oh~ that money, I saw Luffy take it last night to buy ingredients and drinks... Don't... don't tell me you didn't agree?! Meruem also saw it!" Sanji didn't hesitate at all, instantly selling out Luffy and Meruem completely. Halfway through his sentence, his voice changed, and his face was full of shock."Mon...key... D... Luffy..." A full name, rarely heard, burst out of Nami's mouth, word by word, like a roar from hell. The air seemed to solidify at that moment.Luffy, who was almost out of the hotel, involuntarily froze in place. He paused, turned his head, grinned, and said, "Hehe~ it's fine, anyway, we all have a ship now. That money was just sitting there. I didn't expect so many people to come last night, but it was fun, wasn't it? I was just..."Before he could even say the words "Captain," Namiinstantly used "Soru," her high-heeled leg cutting a beautiful arc in the air, kicking directly into Luffy's cheek and confiscating all his subsequent excuses.Luffy's face smashed into the ground just like that. Nami, with a dark expression, pulled Luffy by his collar and dragged him towards the room."Save me, Meruem, save me!" Luffy's wails were so tragic. The Captain, who could charge at Butt Lucci, was crying non-stop at this moment, making people weep upon hearing him."Eh..." Meruem raised his hand, wanting to say something, but Nami's sinister gaze made all his words instantly choke in his throat. He closed his eyes and turned his head in one smooth motion. If it weren't to avoid seeming too obvious, Meruemalmost wanted to cover his ears.Seeing this, Luffy instantly lost all hope. He was dragged into the room, where the sounds of fists hitting flesh intertwined with his wails, sounding somewhat utterly inhumane.Everyone except Robin stood in a row, uniformly drawing a dragon... ah, bah, uniformly making the sign of the cross over their chests, silently muttering "Amen," somewhat like attending a funeral.The wails gradually grew weaker, finally becoming silent. Nami abruptly pushed open the door, lightly patted non-existent dust from her body, straightened her hair, and gritted her teeth as she handed the money in her hand to Sanji: "...Go prepare the ingredients. I asked, and the ship should be finished in about two days. The log is also full, so we can prepare to depart."Sanji took it and pulled... but it didn't budge. He looked at Nami with a bewildered expression. Namitook several deep breaths, feeling her hand itch again, but the guy inside was already unrecognizable, so she could only give up. She released her grip on the Berries and looked at Meruem with a desperate expression.???Meruem was full of question marks and could only sigh. He tore open a hidden compartment in the clothes he was wearing and pulled out a string of ancient golden beads... a ruby ring... a string of jade necklaces... one... Everyone stared dumbfounded at this guy. Nami was even more direct, directly stripping off Meruem's clothes and shaking them vigorously. A pile of artifacts and cultural relics piled up on the ground, all of which, not surprisingly, were from Sky Island.Meruem stood with his arms crossed, wearing an expression of "I'm not clean anymore," and felt a bit awkward under everyone's gaze: "...Ahem, I felt the purchase price here wasn't high enough, so I wanted to go see the island behind us... It's definitely not secret savings..."Nami's expression instantly changed from cloudy to sunny. Although it couldn't compare to the funds spent last night, this pile could still sell for tens of millions of Berries, truly solving an urgent problem. She didn't care at all about what Meruem said, her gaze shifting to Meruem's... pants.???!!!━ Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||) ━Meruem immediately pulled up his pants, shouting with a look of astonishment, "There's really nothing left! Absolutely! I swear!"Nami's suspicious gaze scrutinized Meruem, then she took out a bag, packed all the items on the ground, and said, "Zoro, Sanji, come with me to exchange these things for Berries. Sanji, give the money from earlier to Chopper and the others, consider it pocket money. Later, we'll go together to purchase the items we need for our voyage."Chopper took the Berries, carefully divided them into several portions, and handed them to each person, only omitting Meruem. Even Merry got some... =͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*)Meruem felt like a pure, unadulterated fool. Now, the only valuable things on him were the Golden Den Den Mushi and kitetsu. He couldn't possibly sell those two things, could he...? Meruem provided the funds, and everyone else was responsible for spending them... Apart from the whimpering Luffy, the curious Merry counting Berries, and the shirtless, despairing Meruem, the hotel became empty. A Crow flew by in the sky, cawing "Fool~ Fool~"... "Sigh..." Meruem let out a long sigh, ready to go in and chop Luffy into pieces, The End... Of course, that was impossible. Meruem went in and saw Luffy, who was no longer in human form, and couldn't find a place to hit him even if he wanted to. He squatted beside Luffy, gritting his teeth, and said, "Your navigator robbed me. Are you going to do anything about it or not?""...My navigator beat me up like this. Do you think I can do anything about it?"The two looked at each other, and both sighed again. Perhaps this was a true portrayal of an elephant beating a tiger, a tiger eating a chicken, a chicken eating a bug, and a bug burrowing into an elephant. As the two strongest fighters on this ship, they had no way to deal with someone at the bottom of the rankings. No one would believe it if they told them.It was like Sichuan, where a big man gets beaten by his wife at home, and no one believes it except for people from Sichuan... No wonder there are so many 'zeros' in Chengdu, perhaps there's no other way... What a sin this is...
Chapter 132 BountyLuffy's physique was truly miraculous; just moments ago he was bruised and swollen, but after breakfast, he had returned to normal. Even a plastic surgeon would cry upon seeing it."Big Brother Luffy! Big Brother Meruem! Little Sister Merry! Something terrible has happened!" Zambai, along with a group of his subordinates, rushed over in a panic, looking like they were about to start a brawl.Meruem frowned, absorbing the red glow around his body, clenching his fists, and a smile played on his lips: "What's wrong? Did Franky get beaten up again? I told him not to wander around in just his briefs; he was bound to get hit eventually."At these words, the Franky Family all looked down at their lower halves, their exposed thighs wrapped in fishnet stockings looking quite striking.Meruem covered his head. He hadn't paid attention to these guys before, but it seemed none of them were particularly normal. He felt out of place among them because he wasn't perverted enough.He didn't know why this scene struck Luffy's funny bone so much, but he was laughing so hard he was practically dying. He seemed quite unhinged.Merry was once again acting as Meruem's hat, looking curiously at the Franky Family... Zambai, however, didn't care and urgently said, "The boss didn't get beaten up... All of you have bounties on your heads! Even the boss! So... so we actually came to ask for a favor.""Luffy, we have a job. Stop laughing... What's wrong with your sense of humor..." Meruem slapped the back of Luffy's head. He didn't know what was wrong with this guy, who was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.Luffy stumbled from the blow, then turned his head to look at Meruem with a surprised expression. Meruem nodded slightly, then shook his head."...Meruem, why are you nodding and shaking your head?""...I mean my strength has recovered a little, not completely! What happened to our tacit understanding? Are you an idiot?" Meruem felt like he was casting pearls before swine... Even pigs were smarter than Luffy!"Oh, oh, oh~ With me here, there's no need to worry~" Luffy bared his teeth and grinned, then turned to the members of the Franky Family: "Alright, what's the matter? But let me tell you now, if it's not interesting, I won't take it..."Doesn't take it if it's not interesting... Luffy.Doesn't take it if there are no beauties... Sanji.Doesn't take it if there are no Berries... Nami... The other few guys don't seem to have any standards. This ship actually makes me feel that Luffy is the most suitable Captain, which is a little absurd. Meruem stood to the side, yawning, his mind filled with chaotic thoughts, diverting his attention. Red lines spread from his heart, gradually penetrating his muscles, causing him to tremble slightly from time to time. It was probably still painful, but Meruem's expression showed no trace of it.Merry gently hugged Meruem's head, rubbing against him. Meruem raised his hand above his head, pressing it onto Merry's head and messing up her hair. The two exchanged glances, Meruemgrinned, and Merry also started to laugh, holding him even tighter.Leaving aside the two who were playing charades, the Franky Family on the other side all knelt down in unison, startling Luffy."Please... please take Franky Boss with you on your voyage. We can't protect him here; we'll only hold him back." As Zambai said "hold him back," his voice became choked, which was quite distressing to hear.Luffy turned to Meruem, who was communicating with his eyes, and called out with his gaze... It was a good thing Meruem's Observation Haki had improved, otherwise, he wouldn't have heard such a call. He shrugged his shoulders, spreading his hands: "Anyway, we need a shipwright, either Franky or Iceberg. You pick one.""Iceberg wouldn't agree, would he? He has such a big company...""He will agree~ Do you choose him?" Meruem rolled up his sleeves, ready to go out, but Luffy quickly stopped him... Luffy stopping Meruem, it's simply absurd... The suicidal Luffy stopping the suicidal Meruem. Indeed, the sea is vast, and anything can happen."Let's just stick with Franky; that guy is quite interesting~"...I think you just don't want a normal person. I often feel out of place among you because I'm too normal. Meruem nodded and leaned against the wall again, yawning.It must be said that Meruem truly had no self-awareness to call himself normal. It was so absurd it was like the mother of absurd opened the door for absurd; it had reached peak absurdity.Luffy and the Franky Family gathered in a small circle, discussing seriously how to take Franky away. As Luffy's smile grew wider, Meruem, though he didn't know what they had discussed, felt that the plan must be getting more and more outlandish.Finally, Luffy and the Franky Family patted each other on the shoulders, gave thumbs-up, and reached a consensus. Zambai pulled out a stack of bounty posters from somewhere and handed them to Luffy, then waved goodbye.Luffy waved back with great vigor, his smile giving an involuntary bad premonition.No sooner had the Franky Family left than the Straw Hat members returned, carrying large and small bags of supplies. Everyone had a satisfied expression on their faces, looking like they had bought everything they wanted. Seeing their expressions, Meruem felt a little choked up... Besides Nami, none of these guys treated money like money... As soon as they entered, everyone saw the bounty posters laid out in front of Luffy like he was selling them at a street stall, and they immediately gathered around.Straw Hat. Monkey D. Luffy... 300,000,000 Berries.Three-Sword Style. Roronoa Zoro... 120,000,000 Berries.Cat Burglar. Nami... 16,000,000 Berries.Sniper. Usopp... 30,000,000 Berries.Demon Child. Nico Robin... 80,000,000 Berries... Black Leg. Sanji... 77,000,000 Berries. As the only one without a photo, only a drawing, and one with a somewhat abstract style, Sanji painfully knelt before his bounty poster. Not only was the amount lower than Zoro's, but he was also so ugly, which shattered his fragile heart.Loves Cotton Candy. Tony Tony Chopper... 50 Berries. Chopper was completely distraught, muttering, "W-why? I fought so hard..." Meruemcouldn't bear to watch. He rummaged in his pocket, finally pulling out a 100-Berry coin and handing it to Chopper, patting Chopper's shoulder and saying gravely, "...Next time someone tries to catch you, just give them money."Robin picked up Meruem's bounty poster and looked at him with a strange expression. Seeing Robin's face change, the others gathered around, all uniformly showing strange expressions.Meruem on the bounty poster had a smirk, his smile looking somewhat sinister.Demon - Meruem... 280,000,000 Berries.???━Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━Small question, what is the relationship between the Demon Child and the Demon?Meruem wondered if the Marine people were sick, giving him such a nickname.
Chapter 133 The One I MissWindmill Village.The bandit Dadan, a cigarette dangling from her lips, pushed open the door of a tavern and walked grimly to the bar. The noisy tavern instantly fell silent."Bang!" A wanted poster was slapped onto the bar. Dadan took a deep breath, then grinned brightly: "To celebrate our Monkey D. Luffy becoming a great pirate with a 300 million bounty, drinks are on me today!"The quiet tavern immediately erupted into cheers and whistles, everyone looking overjoyed.The old village chief, Slap, impatiently thumped his cane, grumbling, "Our village produced the Marinehero Garp, and now it's produced two great pirates. Each generation is worse than the last…"The tavern owner Makino's smile was like sunshine. Looking at Luffy's wanted poster, she whispered, "Being a pirate isn't so bad. He looks very happy, judging by his smile~"Slap paused at her words, pouting and saying nothing. Dadan was shouting with a wine glass in her hand, and the tavern's atmosphere grew increasingly lively… shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo."Master! Master! We want to be great pirates like our senior, famous throughout the world!" A group of little kids buzzed noisily around Genzo.Genzo, holding Zoro's wanted poster, said with a smile, "I've already said I only taught him swordsmanship, not how to be a pirate… But remember, to draw your sword for what you believe in, your conviction must be strong enough to cut through anything."The group of little kids listened, half understanding, half not, then buzzed in reply, "Got it!" before running into the dojo… all becoming Three-Sword Style users.Genzo covered his head, a little helpless, but the gentle smile on his face remained. He looked up at a small grave on the back hill and whispered, "Kuina… Zoro is moving towards your promise. Do you see him…?"The breeze rustled through the trees, making a soft sound, like a gentle yet firm girl nodding in response… Baratie, the Sea Restaurant."This customer, this ugly fellow used to be on our ship too~" Patty excitedly introduced, holding a wanted poster, his ugly face grinning like a chrysanthemum.Sanji's wanted poster had replaced all the paintings in the Baratie. No matter where you sat, you could see his abstract face.This group of unscrupulous chefs had never been so dedicated even when introducing dishes. Each of them acted as if they were matchmaking for Sanji. Whenever they saw a halfway decent-looking girl, they would sing Sanji's praises at length, then point out his wanted poster, getting instant satisfaction from watching the girl's expression change from anticipation to disgust.It was a good thing Sanji wasn't there, or there might have been a fight… Zeff leaned against the ship's rail, lit a cigarette, and took a puff. The swirling smoke enveloped him, and the smile on his face grew, as if he had seen his own child become famous. He murmured, "Black Leg, tsk tsk tsk, don't you dare embarrass me, Red Leg…"…Syrup Village.The three little kids of the Usopp Pirate Crewweren't playing "Pirates are Coming!" Instead, they ran straight to Kaya's villa, shouting excitedly as they handed her a wanted poster."Sister Kaya~ Even though he's wearing a mask, this must be Captain Usopp!" Onion Head was beaming with excitement, as if he had received the bounty himself.Kaya put down the thick medical book in her hand, took the wanted poster, and gently stroked it, a gentle smile on her face: "It seems Usopp is closer to his dream. Then I must work harder too. I must learn to heal all his injuries before he returns."As she spoke, she placed the wanted poster aside and continued reading, her hand still stroking the poster, as if she were touching Usopp's face.The three little kids of the Usopp Pirate Crewexchanged glances and quietly slipped out."We need to train harder too. If Captain Usoppdoesn't marry Sister Kaya when he returns, we'll beat him up…""Mhm, mhm, we must make Captain take Sister Kaya home…"Their voices faded into the distance, but Kaya in the room wasn't as focused. Hearing the three little kids' words, her hand, stroking the wanted poster, involuntarily froze, and the blush on her face was as striking as an evening glow… Cocoyasi Village.Nojiko walked down the street with a bag of tangerines, looking spirited and brave. The usual desolation was gone, replaced by a bustling prosperity. The gloom that once clouded everyone's faces had vanished; even at work, they seemed happy.People constantly greeted Nojiko, and she smiled and responded. Before long, she finally reached her destination, put down the tangerines, and shouted, "Kenzo! The tangerines are ripe, I brought some for you to try."The windmill on Kenzo's head whirred. He came out of the room, looking angry: "You quickly call the Marine! I just called to complain, telling them not to choose such a sexy photo for the wanted poster, and they called me crazy…""What does it matter…" Nojiko looked up and saw that the entire wall of the room was covered with Nami's sexy photo. The rest of her words got stuck in her throat, and her eye twitched slightly.Kenzo still had an angry expression. Nojiko could only console him, "It's fine, look how happy Namilooks~""Sigh… You're right. It seems those guys really are good. Otherwise, I would definitely chase after them and beat them up severely," Kenzo gritted his teeth, then sighed, saying resignedly. He looked at Nami's photo with a tenderness, as if looking at his own daughter whom he had painstakingly raised."…" Nojiko couldn't respond. She looked at Nami's photo with a smile, anticipating the day they would meet again… The castle of the Sakura Kingdom (formerly Drum Island)."What, are you nervous about being inaugurated tomorrow?" Dr. Kureha asked Dalton, who had entered her room, her tone still playful.Dalton smiled, not caring at all. He handed her Chopper's wanted poster and said, "It's just that today's news had an update about Chopper, so I quickly brought it for you to see."Dr. Kureha took it very casually, then burst into laughter looking at the wanted poster: "Is this bounty amount a joke? Hehehe, but it's good to see him~""It seems they really are an incredible bunch… Chopper must be having a hard time with them.""Hahaha, when that little kid comes back, you can ask him yourself~"…Green water, lush mountains, sunset, and evening glow formed a beautiful picture. A cloaked figure placed a wanted poster in front of a solitary grave. The ferocious grin of Meruem on the wanted poster seemed a little gentler here.A dagger was plunged fiercely into the wanted poster and then into the ground, all the way to the hilt. Then, the black-clad figure said nothing, turned, and went down the mountain…
WTR-LABWhen You are in Pirates, You Can Sneak Into the Straw HatsCh. 135 / 74018.2%WebWeb+AI#135Cap [Thanks to "木ぃ子" for the support]Chapter 134: Garp "Thanks to "Ki-ko" for the support"The Marines, in neat formation, marched towards the hotel where the Straw Hat Pirates were staying. Luffy, Meruem, and Usopp, all possessing Observation Haki, simultaneously frowned and looked towards the wall. Seeing the change in their expressions, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.Then, Luffy and Meruem, as if carved from a single shadow, both ran to the window and leaped out... Usopp took out a megaphone and started cheering them on... Luffy's arm locked with a pink-haired man's arm, while Meruem's kitetsu clashed with two broadswords."Coming to arrest us? You're not good enough." Luffy grinned, using his other hand to grab the man in front of him, slamming him down, and raising his fist high.Meruem held his kitetsu in a reverse grip. A flash of sparks from clashing blades, and the broadsword-wielding man in front of him was knocked to the ground, the kitetsu resting at his neck, radiating cold."...Luffy, you're still so strong." A familiar voice rang out, making Luffy freeze._( ꒪ ⌓ ꒪ *)Meruem also reacted then, looking at the pink-haired man Luffy had pinned to the ground with a suspicious expression: "Koby? Did you eat pig feed? How did you get so big?"The slightly moving reunion scene was instantly shattered. Koby looked at Meruem awkwardly, not knowing how to respond."And me! It's me! Helmeppo..." Helmeppo, whom Meruem had knocked down, looked at the two expectantly, mouthing "Helmeppo," for some unknown reason, wanting them to say his name.The two exchanged glances. Luffy asked suspiciously, "You know him?"Meruem frowned and thought for a moment: "You know him, right?"o(╥﹏╥)oHelmeppo looked as if struck by lightning. Do minor characters truly have no rights? They recognized Koby but couldn't recognize him. What kind of justice is this...? Luffy reached out and pulled Kobyup, not at all curious about what the guy ate to grow so fast, and said with a chuckle, "Koby~ It's been a long ti—""Fist of Love!" Before he could finish, a loud roar came, and a fist the size of a cooking pot made zero-distance contact with Luffy's face, sending Luffyflying, shattering the hotel wall... By the time Meruem reacted, Luffy was already airborne. The white-haired old man in front of him maintained his punching posture, laughing heartily, causing Meruem to involuntarily shift his feet, moving a little further from the old man. From the injury, this punch wasn't very damaging but was extremely humiliating."Ga... Garp... Marine Hero, Vice Admiral Garp..." Nami, who always read the newspapers, looked through the hole in the wall and immediately recognized the guy who had punched Luffy, causing everyone's recently eased tension to return. They stood in front of Luffy, their gazes fixed on Garp."Grandpa, why do you punch me as soon as you arrive!" Luffy bounced out of the rubble, clutching his face and complaining angrily.=͟͟͞͞( ꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇) Wh—=͟͟͞͞( Ŏ ◊ Ŏ ‧̣̥̇) —at!!!!"Grandpa?!" Everyone's voices were filled with astonishment. They looked at Luffy, then at Garp, their faces full of disbelief."Ah hahahaha, I thought you had gotten stronger, but you're still so green~ Ah hahahaha." Garpwalked towards Luffy with his hands on his hips, looking smug. In this situation, no one would stop him. The Straw Hat Pirates watched as their Captain was picked up by the Marine Vice Admirallike a little chick.Luffy struggled fiercely, but Garp's hand locked him like an iron clamp. His futile struggles made him look even more like a little chick... Then... both of them fell asleep?!━Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━The neatly lined-up Marines and the disheveled Straw Hat Pirates watched as Garp stood sleeping and Luffy hung sleeping. It was completely speechless. These two truly looked like grandfather and grandson; there was absolutely no possibility of them being mistaken."Ah... sorry, I fell asleep..." Garp suddenly startled awake, then nodded slightly to apologize to everyone. Seeing Luffy sleeping soundly in his hand, he instantly became furious: "How can you fall asleep when someone is lecturing you! Wake-Up Fist!"The pot-sized fist once again smashed onto Luffy's head. The automatically gathered Armament Hakiwas instantly dispersed. Fortunately, he had a rubber body; otherwise, with his head half-dented like that, he wouldn't have survived... Perhaps this move shouldn't be called Wake-Up Fist; Long Sleep Fist would be more appropriate. One punch and he'd be in eternal slumber, never to wake up again.Luffy's dented head sprang back with a "duang" to its original shape. With tears in his eyes from the impact, he clutched his head and shouted, "Grandpa! Why are you hitting me again!"Seeing him like this, Garp's anger flared even more. His fists rained down on Luffy's head like raindrops. It was clear how he learned "Gum-Gum Gatling."The sound of punches landing continued for quite a while. Garp casually tossed Luffy aside, exhaled a deep breath, and greeted the trembling Straw Hat Pirates with a smile: "Hello everyone~ It must be hard following this guy, why don't you come and join the Marines instead~""Grandpa... you can't do this..." Luffy's trembling hand grabbed Garp's pants, and then Garp turned and punched Luffy, knocking him out... Garp turned back again, smiling expectantly for their answer._( ꒪ ⌓ ꒪ *)How could they answer? Luffy was beaten to that ghostly state. If they refused, they'd probably end up like Luffy. Killing a chicken to warn the monkeys... Luffy was that little chick, and the rest of them were... Meruem gritted his teeth and said, "Forget it... I don't want to be a dog for the Celestial Dragons..."Garp paused at his words, then shook his head with a wry smile: "Is that the reason...? Well, then forget it. This time, for the sake of my idiotic grandson, I won't arrest you. Now! Assemble! Fix the wall!"=͟͟͞͞( ꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇) Wh—=͟͟͞͞( Ŏ ◊ Ŏ ‧̣̥̇) —at!!!!"If you're going to fix it, why did you break it in the first place!" The Marines' voices rang out. It was clear Garp was a repeat offender, being dragged to personally fix the wall. But if Garp were the leader, it probably wouldn't be so bad.Meruem squatted to the side, frowning as he watched Garp. In his Observation Haki's perception, Garp in front of him was entirely a human-shaped beast. He hadn't felt this way even when facing Kuzan. Age seemed not to have eroded him. If he calculated this... the Marineford War must have spanned an entire Pacific Ocean, otherwise, how did Luffy manage to knock him flying...? "Kid, your strength is pretty good, but why is your Observation Haki and Armament Haki so different..." Garp asked casually, picking his nose and hammering nails.Merry scampered over with her short legs, making "da da da" sounds. Garp paused his nose-picking hand, and the corners of his mouth turned up: "So your Armament Haki is here~ Truly, it's a shame you're not a Marine... Just wait a little longer. When the world stirs up again, you can make your choice then."
Chapter 135 People from the same family don't enter the same doorMeruem saw his limited edition hat approaching, lowered his head to let the hat climb up on its own, then spoke: "Waiting for the world to stir up a storm? What does that mean?"Garp was picking his nose again, it was unclear what kind of snot was in his nostril that he couldn't get it out: "Ah... it's Luffy's father, my unfilial son Monkey D. Dragon, and his Revolutionary Army. In the past two years, they've subtly shown signs of being able to contend with the Celestial Dragons' World Government. Now the Marine is also divided into several factions, plus you lawless pirates, it's definitely going to get lively in a few years. Ah hahahaha, but it's also unpredictable.""W-what the—!""Monkey D. Dragon!!!""The leader of the Revolutionary Army is the son of Marine Hero Vice Admiral Garp?!""Luffy, your dad is Monkey D. Dragon?!"Hearing Garp's words, there was a sudden silence, then an explosion of noise. All the Marines stared blankly at Garp, while the Straw Hat Crew all looked at Luffy, who had passed out and was now sleeping. Nami even slapped Luffy awake with a big smack, asking with a face full of shock."Ah... yeah, didn't I tell you?" Luffy, looking groggy and very punchable, rubbed his eyes and replied casually, completely unfazed by how shocking this news was."Huh, didn't that kid Dragon say he was going to see you off? Didn't you see him?" Garp asked, frowning, also unconcerned with everyone's reactions.Luffy looked utterly bewildered, frowning and racking his brain but unable to recall when he last saw his father.Meruem propped his face with his hand and said casually: "Your dad blocked Smoker for you in Loguetown. Maybe he was ashamed of being so irresponsible, so he didn't come to see you...""Ashamed?" Garp's and Luffy's expressions were identical, with big question marks on both their small and large heads.Meruem couldn't withstand their suspicious gazes, sighed at the differences in world culture, and turned his head, no longer speaking."Oh, oh, oh, right. Just pretend you didn't hear what I just said, okay~" Garp said unreliable words to his subordinates with a serious face.The Marines' clamor showed no sign of being elites; they looked more like pirates. Garp hammered in the last nail, turned and walked out, waving goodbye to the Straw Hat Crew with his back to them: "You guys take care of yourselves. Next time we meet, I'll arrest all of you. Ah hahahahaha~""Grandpa, goodbye~ Next time we meet, you won't be able to beat me~" Luffy waved cheerfully, then Garp instantly vanished from his sight. He was enveloped in a shadow, and his waving hand froze involuntarily."—!!!"Luffy turned his head somewhat stiffly. Garp was looking at him with a menacing grin, his fist raised high."Fist of Love! Double!"Garp's fist smashed Luffy straight into the ground. He clapped his hands and said: "Tsk, what an unteachable fellow. You're still a hundred years too early to surpass me!"Saying that, he stepped over Luffy and strode away, gradually disappearing from everyone's sight... Pure Armament Haki, this is basically the ceiling, right? Meruem clearly saw Luffy's Armament Haki gather, but it was completely ineffective. Even with Garpclearly holding back, Luffy couldn't withstand a single move. The increasingly close War of the Best made Meruem's expression a little grim."So... so strong..." Usopp and Chopper pulled with all their might, but Luffy was stuck fast in the ground, not budging an inch.It wasn't until Sanji and Zoro each grabbed one of Luffy's legs and pulled hard that the unconscious Luffy was finally dragged out. Facing such a vast disparity in combat power, the excitement brought by the bounties had long since vanished.The Straw Hat Crew had seemingly never been so silent."...I'm going to train." Zoro was the first to speak, and with that single sentence, he walked straight out, bringing everyone present back to their senses.Sanji lit a cigarette and also walked outside: "I'll bring that Marimo Head back by dinner time. We're setting sail tomorrow, so everyone check if there's anything else we need to prepare."Chopper rolled up his bounty poster and put it in his small bag, saying: "Then I'll go read for a while.""Then... I'll go check the equipment. Nami, give me your Clima-Tact. Tell me what needs adjusting." Usopp, who should have been the most scared, seemed very calm.Nami responded and followed Usopp towards the room. In the open space in front of the hotel, only the unconscious Luffy, Meruem squatting on the ground, Merry making a limited edition hat on Meruem's head, and Robin leaning to one side remained."You don't need to rush too much. You're all still young, and you'll grow very quickly." Robin said softly, uncharacteristically not saying anything scary.Meruem straightened up and smiled: "Sister Robin, if I told you I could predict the future, would you believe me? The crisis is already approaching...""I believe you!" Robin's decisive answer made Meruem freeze, then Robin continued: "The me on the Enies Lobby is already dead. Every day now is given by you all. As long as I can be with you, any crisis is sweet to me."Meruem listened to these words with a frown, then broke into a smile, walking towards the room and waving to Robin with his back turned: "Don't say things like your life was given by us. We're all comrades; saying that sounds too distant... Besides, I was tricking you~ How could I possibly predict the future~" With that, he vanished from the spot.Robin paused, then shook her head and chuckled, muttering: "If it's not predicting the future, then who exactly are you... Meruem... But, who you are doesn't matter. None of you care that I'm a jinx, so how could I care who you are..."...This little bit of mischief truly makes me happy~Meruem, with Merry as his "hat," sat cross-legged on the bed. Red mist, more turbulent than ever, overflowed, enveloping Meruem and Merry in layers. Two small spirals appeared; upon closer inspection, spirals had appeared at both Meruem's and Merry's brows. The red mist was continuously drawn in, entering their bodies.Meruem's muffled groans and Merry's even breathing formed a stark contrast. From their expressions, Merry looked drowsy, while Meruem's forehead was constantly seeping sweat, and his brows were tightly furrowed.The red mist entering Merry's body caused no ripples, but the red mist entering Meruem's body transformed into a small snake, traversing his entire body before returning to his heart. His aura continuously climbed, and his whole body looked as if it had been drenched in sweat.The air Meruem exhaled turned into black flames. He struggled to open his eyes and muttered: "...I guess I've created a cheat for myself."Tsukuyomi's voice, however, was full of mockery: "Fools have their own blessings~"You're the fool...
Chapter 136: Grown CrookedIt was also a good thing they were out of money; Nami had put all her cash into a newly bought safe, hugging it tightly even when she slept, which deprived Luffy of the starting capital for a feast.Otherwise, the Straw Hat Crew would most likely have to change their name to the Feast Crew in the City of Seven Waters.Meruem placed Merry on the bed and carefully tucked her in, after all, as his cheat, she couldn't catch a cold... bah, it was purely because Meruemdoted on little lolis... bah, it was definitely because Meruem cherished his companions.Then he leaned back on the sofa in the room, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was already in the upgraded otaku room... what was with it looking more and more like a Gundam cockpit?"Tsukuyomi, didn't you say all your energy reserves were depleted? Can you explain to me how my sea of consciousness was transformed into this?" Meruem casually pressed a button, and the room began to deform, leaving him stunned.Tsukuyomi, wearing a pilot's suit and holding his helmet, looked a bit awkward.He turned his head away from Meruem and mumbled, "Well... that, I think I must have been influenced by you, I like to save some private money.""...You, tell me honestly, if you help, how much can I recover?" Meruem felt a dull ache all over his body again.For the past few days, he had been forcibly stimulating his muscles with killing intent to draw out his potential; every bit of Armament Haki he trained required experiencing the pain of shattered bones, and he gritted his teeth in annoyance at the guy in front of him who was having such a good time.Tsukuyomi's expression became even more awkward.He looked up at the ceiling, then suddenly turned his head and said excitedly, "Isn't it because you'll have an easier path after regaining your strength this way? Plus, you have Merry as a cheat.I guarantee your Armament Haki will steadily reach the third stage within three months!""...I see from your reaction that you just thought of that, didn't you?""...Don't mind those details.At worst, I'll use moon energy to put a film on you later; the pain can be reduced by seventy or eighty percent.""...So why didn't you do it a few days ago?""...Because Gundam was too cool, I was staying up late."Meruem lunged forward, grabbed Tsukuyomi by the neck, shook him vigorously, and yelled through gritted teeth, "You watched anime without helping? Eating you, I must have run into a ghost!If I don't deal with you today, the pain I've suffered these past few days will have been for nothing!"Tsukuyomi swayed from side to side with a look of utter despair.It was a good thing he had worked hard, hard, and harder these past few days, building a Gundam with his bare hands, getting shaken to bits inside; otherwise, Meruem would probably have made him throw up by now.After a flurry of commotion, Meruem leaned back in the pilot's seat, panting.He casually poured all the iced cola in front of him into his mouth and looked at Tsukuyomi, who seemed to have been humiliated, with ill intent.The whole scene appeared very strange..."Stop pretending, I know you're fine.Tell me, when did you recover? Even for you, the energy consumed last time wasn't easy to replenish." Meruem got his breath back, took a deep breath, and asked casually.Tsukuyomi knew there was no point in pretending any longer.He quickly got up from the ground, snapped his fingers, and his pilot's suit transformed into... a short-sleeved T-shirt and beach shorts.He casually put on sunglasses and lit a cigar, looking like he definitely had some serious issues.Then he spread his palm and rotated it in the air, and the scene instantly changed back to the otaku room Meruem had visited a few times before... The only drawback was that the pilot's seat instantly disappeared, and Meruem, who was lying on it, fell directly and solidly onto the floor.The damage was not high, but the insult was extreme.Meruem twisted his neck as he got up from the ground, glaring at Tsukuyomi, which made Tsukuyomi's action of pulling out another orb of light freeze."Cough, cough... well, it was all an accident.I was just going to change the scene to help you relax." The Gundam cockpit transformed into an orb of light held in Tsukuyomi's hand.He gave an awkward laugh and threw the other orb of light onto the floor, and the otaku room instantly turned into a sunny beach... with bikinis playing volleyball?!This familiar scene... Meruem instantly became awkward, glaring at Tsukuyomi: "What exactly have you been reading in my memories?!""...You yourself named it 'learning materials,' so of course I had to learn.""You make a damn good point, but weren't you sitting on a skull throne at first?!""...I think the stuff in your head is much more interesting than that.""...You're hopeless." Meruem covered his forehead helplessly.This completely twisted guy was beyond saving.Given his hands-on ability, next time he might even see Mikami... bah, how could he possibly know what Mikami Yua was?Tsukuyomi put his arm around Meruem's shoulder, handed him a drink, and said to himself, "Actually, I prefer Fuuka Reiyuu~""━ Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━""...Are you really watching anime?""...Isn't adult anime still anime?""I'm going to..." Meruem reached out to throw the drink in the face of this twisted guy, but managed to stabilize himself with great difficulty, gritting his teeth and saying, "Stop fooling around, I'm asking you, how did you recover so quickly?"Tsukuyomi shrugged and spread his hands: "Who knows~ Last time when you were in slumber, I also went into slumber.That endless darkness, I once thought I was gone... Then I woke up again and found that as long as you cultivate, my moon energy here shoots up like crazy, like damn housing prices.I can also explore your memories more deeply.Except for the part you've locked away, I've found other things you almost don't remember, so if you have any questions, you can ask me~""━ Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━""What the hell is 'like housing prices'..." Meruem's eye twitched, and he let out a long sigh before continuing, "I roughly understand.So now our cultivation is linked, right?I suffer, Merry acts as a converter, and you reap the benefits..." The more he spoke, the more it sounded wrong, and Meruem's gaze once again fixed on Tsukuyomi."Oh, no, you can't say that.It should be that I help you block the pain, Merryacts as a converter, and your strength skyrockets.As long as killing intent continues to be generated, within three years, you'll reach the ceiling of combat power in this world." Tsukuyomi smiled like a sly merchant, looking utterly untrustworthy.However, Meruem, hearing this, fell silent.After a while, he finally spoke: "...You saw old man Garp today.Give me your assessment.""...A definite ceiling-level fighter.The only thing that can constrain him is probably his age.Alright, indeed, time isn't quite enough.For the Marineford War, you should really think about it.Something that changes the world line... think about it again.""No need to think.Things I regretted in the past, I don't want to see them happen again before my eyes.I really couldn't bear it before.Later, I will activate the maximum release of killing intent; you protect me.""OJBK~"Why are you doing that at such a serious moment...?