Chapter 2: PortMark's soles sank into the soft sand—the sand was mixed with tiny, broken seashells, pricking his feet and making him instinctively curl his toes."If I'd known, I wouldn't have thrown that shoe away!"Looking up, a heavily weathered wooden board stood not far away, with the words "Luo'ou Port" scrawled crookedly in charcoal. Hanging from the edge of the board was half a dried seagull wing, which creaked as it was blown by the sea breeze."Luo'ou Port?" Mark rubbed his heavy temples, searching through every map of Pirate King in his mind.Confirming that this place name had never appeared, he thought, "Looks like it's an obscure little place... That's fine, at least I don't have to face those big shots for now."He tried moving his wrists and suddenly realized there were no barriers to language or writing—perhaps this was a perk of soul transmigration, or the only decent thing that lousy system had ever done.The port wasn't large, but it was chaotic and disorganized, like an overturned paint palette.Crooked wooden sheds were crammed along the dock, some hanging tattered flags that read "Ship Repairs," while others were piled with moldy fishing nets.Even more glaring was the mountain of trash on the west side of the dock that was almost spilling into the seawater—the stench drilled into one's nose from over ten meters away, making Mark's eyes water.Mark smacked his lips and rubbed his empty, hungry stomach—it felt like a hand was twisting inside his gut, and the rumbling was loud enough to drown out the waves.He looked down at himself: his coarse hemp jacket was stained with brown smudges, whether from seawater or something else he didn't know, and his whole body felt sticky—he really did look like "trash.""Is God testing my patience by transmigrating a person with mild mysophobia into such a ghostly state?"He grimaced as he scratched his back, which felt uncomfortably sticky. "The top priority is to get money, eat, change clothes, and find a place to stay."He stopped an old man carrying fishing gear. After finding out that the mayor was in the house in the center of town with the "Luo'ou Port" wooden sign hanging on it,Mark mustered his remaining courage and walked toward that wooden house, which was passably decent among the pile of sheds."Whether I get to eat three dishes depends on this."When he pushed the door open, the door hinges let out a creaking shriek. The room was dimly lit.A middle-aged man with a thick beard and a round belly was sighing at the documents on the table, his fingers tapping the desk unconsciously. The tea in the coarse porcelain cup on the table had long since gone cold."Who are you?" The mayor looked up, his murky eyes sweeping over Mark's tattered clothes. His brows instantly knotted, and his beard even twitched. "A trash picker from the dock? The administration office doesn't have any extra food.""My name is Mark, and I'm not here to beg for food."Mark straightened his back, trying to look as reliable as possible, and pointed at the vaguely visible mountain of trash outside the window. "That pile of stuff—if I help you clear it, how much will you pay me?"The mayor's eyes widened sharply, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. He slammed his thick palm onto the table with a thwack, making the documents jump. "Clear it? Kid, do you know what that is?" He paused, his tone sinking."It's the mess left behind after the tsunami a while ago! Broken nets thrown by fishermen, ruined goods from washed-away cargo ships, household trash thrown by townspeople... It's been piling up for nearly a month. It would cost at least 300,000 Berries to hire someone to clear it, but the tsunami washed away the town's savings, so now I can at most... at most, I can scrape together 30,000 Berries.""30,000 Berries..." Mark had just mentally cursed, "Not even a dog would...", when his stomach let out a loud protest.He swallowed his saliva, forcing the second half of the sentence back down, and squeezed out a reasonably sincere smile. "Deal! If the dogs won't do it, I will. —I'm a professional cleaner, after all."The mayor was stunned, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg. He sized him up for a long time—this kid looked only about ten years old, skinny as a bean sprout, and the clothes on his body weren't even as clean as the rag he used to wipe his table.He muttered to himself: Are the young people these days this brave? I've lived for sixty years and have never seen one so arrogant.But he didn't hold back with his words: "Little brat, are you here to amuse this old man? Just you alone?""Just me." Mark didn't waste any breath. He turned and walked to the corner—where a few sacks, gnawed full of holes by rats, were piled up, their loose threads hanging out like messy hair.He took a deep breath, focused his intent, and silently commanded the sacks, "Come here."The next second, those broken sacks suddenly floated up, swaying as if pulled by invisible threads. They drifted slowly in front of him and spun in mid-air.The mayor sprang up from his chair, the documents in his hand dropping to the floor with a thud, but he didn't even notice."Th-this is... a Devil Fruit ability?!"Mark didn't deny it; he raised his hand and gently touched the sack.With a few rustling sounds, the sack instantly turned into a pile of gray powder. It swirled on the ground as if blown by the wind, then vanished without a trace.[Absorbed "Damaged Sack", Energy +0.02]"See that?" Mark spread his hands, his tone carrying a hint of smugness. "Cleaning trash is my specialty. 30,000 Berries, do we have a deal?"The mayor stared at the clean patch on the floor, then looked at Mark, remaining silent for a full half-minute.Suddenly, he slapped his thigh hard, shaking the cold teacup on the table. "Deal! As long as you can clean it up, never mind 30,000, I'll add another 5,000! This 5,000 is my personal thanks to you!""No need, 30,000 is fine." Mark was afraid he would go back on his word and urged him, "Write me a receipt, and I'll go right now."The mayor scrambled to find a piece of yellowed paper, wrote a note with a charcoal pencil, and signed his name—serving as proof.Mark carefully tucked the note into his chest, turned, and rushed toward the trash mountain. As he ran past the doorway, he heard the mayor muttering to himself inside: "This world... is getting harder and harder to understand..."Standing in front of the trash mountain, Mark took a deep breath—the smell went straight to his brain, and he almost threw up on the spot."Endure it." He pinched his own thigh, grimacing in pain. "This isn't a trash mountain; it's an energy reserve, it's Berries, it's meat, it's clean clothes..."Thinking about it this way, it actually seemed much more pleasing to the eye.He tried to focus his mind, closing his eyes to perceive his surroundings. Soon, a blurry image seemed to appear in his mind.Everything within a two-meter radius that fit the definition of "trash" appeared like glowing dots—from a tiny piece of broken glass to half a piece of rotten wooden board; even the rusty iron nails embedded in the sand were clearly imprinted on his "map.""Try moving it." He silently commanded.He saw a dozen pieces of broken wood and a few rags within two meters suddenly float in the air, swaying like fallen leaves blown by the wind, and drift slowly in front of him."So, my intent can control trash within two meters." Mark's eyes lit up. He wouldn't have to touch it with his hands, so he could at least avoid some of the smell.He tried to expand the range to three meters, but as soon as they crossed the two-meter boundary, the floating trash fell like a kite with a broken string. They hit the ground with a patter-patter, and a slight stinging sensation, like being pricked by a needle, shot through his mind."Looks like the current limit is two meters." He wasn't discouraged; there was plenty of trash, so he would just clear it slowly.He began to focus on decomposing, and the system notification sounds rose and fell:[Absorbed "Rusty Iron Nail" x5, obtained "Iron Element Particle x3", Energy +0.05][Absorbed "Rotten Vegetable Leaf" x10, obtained "Organic Residue x7", Energy +0.03][Absorbed "Broken Fishing Net Fragment" x2, obtained "Crude Fiber x1", Energy +0.01]The energy value was rising slower than a snail crawling. Mark looked at the "Energy Value: 32" on the panel and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "System, you're so damn stingy! I've been decomposing for ages and can't even scrape together 100 points?"[Notice: Ordinary household trash has low energy density; rare trash (such as special metal residue, energy weapon fragments, etc.) contains higher energy.][Current energy value can be used for: 1. Physique stat increase (1 Energy Value = 0.01 Physique Point); [Physique Point: Comprehensively improves the host's basic attributes such as strength, agility, stamina, recovery, etc.]Mark's eyes lit up instantly. "Comprehensively improves?" He immediately tried, "Add 0.3 points to my Physique!"[Consumed 30 Energy Value, Physique +0.3, Current Physique: 1.3 (Average for an ordinary adult male is 2.0)]A warm current suddenly surged from his dantian throughout his whole body, like soaking in freshly boiled warm water, and it felt so comfortable that he couldn't help but hum.Mark clenched his fist and clearly felt his arm muscles had tightened a bit, and the pain from being pricked by the wooden board earlier had also eased. He tried running a few fast steps, his pace much lighter than before, and even his breathing was smooth—when he had run over earlier, he had been wheezing like a broken bellows."It really works!" He was so pleasantly surprised he almost jumped up, and his motivation to decompose trash grew even stronger.He started finding techniques: first, use his intent to gather all the trash within two meters in front of him, pile it into a small mound, and then decompose it all at once; this was much more efficient.When encountering large pieces of trash, like half a small boat smashed by the waves, with fishy, stinking seaweed still stuck to the planks, he would first decompose it into palm-sized pieces and then absorb them one by one.[Absorbed "Rotten Boat Plank", obtained "Wood Fiber x20", Energy +0.5][Absorbed "Damaged Anchor Fragment", obtained "High-Purity Iron Particle x8", Energy +0.8][Absorbed "Expired Can", obtained "Metal Shell x1", Energy +0.3]The energy value slowly rose to 56, and Mark added 0.5 points to his Physique without hesitation.This time, he felt his eyes could see more clearly—he could make out the words on the tattered flag hanging on a distant wooden shed; his ears were also sharper, and he could hear the laughter and curses of fishermen dozens of meters away."So this fruit can not only clean trash but also refine the body." Mark worked with increasing enthusiasm, even starting to attempt more precise control: letting the floating trash be sorted by material, metal to the metal pile, cloth to the cloth pile. The materials obtained after decomposition were automatically stored by the system in the "Material Library" on the panel—although the synthesis function hadn't been activated yet, storing them first was never a bad idea.When the setting sun dyed the sea surface a golden red, the mountain of trash that had once given the whole town a headache had vanished without a trace. In its place remained only a clean patch of ground washed by the seawater, the sand white and shining, and even the sea breeze felt much fresher.Mark wiped the sweat from his forehead, the sweat mixing with some dust to draw a few streaks on his face.He felt the abundant strength in his body—his Physique had already risen to 2.1, exceeding that of an ordinary adult male; he still had 300.2 Energy Value left.He turned and walked toward the administration office. When he pushed the door open, the mayor was accounting by an oil lamp, his quill pen scratching away with a swish-swish sound."Mayor, it's all cleared."The mayor looked up, saw Mark, and was stunned for a moment before reacting. "Clea—cleared?"He clearly didn't believe it and followed Mark to the port, circled the location of the former trash mountain three times, and then squatted down to touch the sand, but he couldn't find even a speck of trash.Finally, he grabbed Mark's arm suddenly, his grip so strong it almost crushed his bones. "Yo—you really cleared it all? Not even a scrap left?"Mark nodded and pointed to the clean ground. "Take a look."The mayor looked at him, suddenly let go, and turned to run into the room. A moment later, he came out holding a heavy money bag and stuffed it into Mark's hand. "35,000! You must accept this extra 5,000! Otherwise, I won't feel at ease!"The Berries in the money bag clinked together, making a crisp sound that was as pleasant as music.Mark squeezed the money bag; it was quite heavy, probably about half a bag.He looked at the mayor's sincere eyes and didn't decline anymore. "Then I thank you, Mayor."His stomach chose this inopportune moment to growl again, the sound loud enough for both of them to hear.Mark scratched his head in embarrassment, and the mayor laughed heartily. "Starving, aren't you? There's a'Seafood Bistro' at the far east end of town; the owner's fish stew is legendary—go eat there!"Mark thanked the mayor, gripped the money bag tightly, and turned to run toward the east.The setting sun stretched his shadow long, his footsteps so light it was as if he were walking on air—looking just like a child who had aced an exam and was rushing home to share the good news.Fish stew... He licked his dry, cracked lips. Just thinking about it made his mouth water.
Chapter 3: An Unexpected Awakening!The hunger in his stomach was like a rising tide, washing over the embankments of his reason in waves, nearly submerging his consciousness entirely.Mark clutched his empty belly and turned toward the restaurant the mayor had mentioned. He had barely taken three steps when an indescribable sour, rotten stench assaulted his nostrils—The source of that smell was the tattered hemp shirt he was wearing, which was covered in mud and filth."Forget it, I'll change my outfit first."Mark frowned and turned into a small shop by the roadside with a wooden sign that read "Sea Breeze Fashion."Just as he lifted the door curtain, a shop assistant wearing a gray cloth apron rushed over with a glaring look, waving a feather duster in his hand:"Where did this smelly beggar come from? Don't touch my clothes! This fabric is precious; can you afford to pay if you get it dirty? Get out, get out, get out!"Mark looked down at his attire and couldn't even argue.The tattered hemp clothes he wore when he transmigrated were already shiny with dirt, and after cleaning the garbage dump this morning, he was covered in filth. Calling him a beggar was almost a compliment—He looked like he had just been fished out of a trash pit.But he couldn't lose his momentum. He slowly pulled out the coin pouch given by the mayor, pinched the opening, and gave it a gentle shake. The gold coins inside immediately made a crisp "clink," sounding exceptionally loud in the quiet shop.The assistant's face flipped like a page in a book, instantly turning from frost to hot soup. His originally crumpled brow smoothed out, an exaggerated smile piled onto his face, and he quietly hid the feather duster behind his back, rubbing his hands as he approached:"Oh my! Little beauty, have you... just returned from the sea? I knew it, the moment you walked in, I saw your extraordinary 'aura'! The clothes in our shop are all...""Stop."Mark raised a hand to interrupt, his tone calm. "I know what I look like; I certainly don't look like I'm here to buy clothes, so I don't blame you. Also, what the hell is with 'beauty'!"As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly lit up. Right, he was a Trash-Trash Fruit ability user!Weren't the oil stains, dust, and sweat on his body all ready-made "trash"? Since it was trash, wouldn't it be clean if he decomposed it?"Hahaha, from today on, please call me 'Mo Moon' brand laundry detergent!" He felt cheerful and decided to get to work.First, he used his consciousness to lock onto the filth all over his body, from the mud on his hair to the stains on his ankles—Marked, okay, done. Then he activated his fruit ability, letting invisible energy wrap around the dirt like a thin film;Simple!Finally, "Decompose"—A strange scene occurred: the grime attached to his skin acted like living insects, scrambling to peel off. They swirled in the air and then dissipated into fine dust,Revealing the fair, almost translucent skin underneath. This part was fine, and the effect was surprisingly good!But in the next second, Mark's smile froze on his face.Accompanied by a flash of pale blue light, the tattered hemp shirt on his body also let out a "buzz,"Turning into countless tiny pieces of "trash" that were completely decomposed by the fruit ability, not even a thread remained.This... the clothes were so tattered they were defaulted as trash!The air instantly froze.Mark stood there stark naked, locking eyes with the dumbfounded shop assistant.The feather duster in the assistant's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter." It took a full three seconds before he covered his mouth and choked out a sentence: "Oh... little brother, you're quite well-built without clothes... teeheehee..."A "ding—" system notification sounded at an inopportune time: [Detected that the host has completed the "Unexpected Cleanliness" achievement, gaining 0.001 energy value]."Achievement my ass!" Mark complained wildly in his mind, "System, you definitely did this on purpose! And 0.001? Are you tipping a beggar?!""So-Sorry!"He scrambled to grab a blue T-shirt, a pair of harem pants, and some flip-flops hanging nearby, then rushed into the fitting room without looking up, wishing he could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.This social death scene could practically be recorded in his history of transmigration shame.After changing and standing before the fitting mirror, Mark finally saw his appearance clearly for the first time and was stunned on the spot—The youth in the mirror had a slender build, skin as white as fine porcelain, and shoulder-length black hair that hung softly. His features actually looked somewhat familiar.This... isn't this the protagonist Rimuru Tempest from "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime" that I watched before transmigrating?He quite liked Rimuru when watching the anime; who could refuse a slime that was cute enough to bubble?But this was the world of One Piece! There were powerful people everywhere who could punch through a ship's hull; how many hits could this thin, small body take?"Whatever... isn't Luffy also pretty thin?"Mark comforted himself. "He could withstand Kaido's Thunder Bagua, so why can't I become stronger?I am a Logia ability user; what's wrong with being a bit thin? What's wrong with being a bit cute?Even if I really become a slime, I'll be the strongest one! I'm a man with a cheat!"[Detected that the host's "desire to become a slime" is intense, meeting the conditions for acquiring the Trash-Trash Fruit Logia form—Slime Form has been unlocked.]"Mark! Hey! Lord System, don't cause trouble! I was wrong! I was just talking nonsense!" He almost jumped up.But the system didn't give him a chance to regret it. The cold notification sound was like a verdict being announced: [Current Logia form has been updated to 'Slime Form'.]"The Trash-Trash Fruit was one thing, but now it's Slime Form... just destroy me, hurry up."Mark covered his face, feeling that his path to becoming stronger after transmigrating was destined to be bumpy.Since there was no one in the fitting room anyway, he simply hardened his heart:There's nothing wrong with trying out the ability; what if this form hides a powerful weapon?For example, if he could gain magic power by devouring others like Rimuru, wouldn't he just take off?He concentrated his thoughts and silently chanted "Slime Form."The clothes on his body slipped off with a "shush," and an oval blue jelly-like body half a meter high appeared on the spot. Its surface shimmered with a faint luster, looking exactly like a mini version of Rimuru.New information instantly flooded his mind: Ability one, ignores ordinary physical attacks, can change body size, can grow up to five meters (the stronger the constitution, the higher the limit);Ability two, can wrap around objects and analyze their material structure and properties;Ability three, can absorb waste particles in the air and purify the air.Mark: "...Purify the air..."Isn't this just a combination of a cheap air conditioner dust filter and an air freshener?"This is a total scam!"He roared in his heart, "I want combat power! An ability that can beat people up! Do I become bigger just to be a living target for people to hit?"...Wait, it doesn't seem completely useless? For example, scaring people!While he was feeling lost, his stomach suddenly growled like thunder, pulling him back to reality. Forget it, eating was the priority.Mark hurried back into human form and got dressed. When he walked out of the fitting room, the assistant's gaze was like it was glued to him, his mouth full of praise:"Oh my, little brother, you look absolutely beautiful in our shop's clothes! How about taking a photo!"Mark paid 900 Berries and fled the clothing shop as if escaping. He jogged all the way to the "Fresh Flavor Bistro" mentioned by the mayor.He ordered a table full of signature dishes, but in the end, except for the fried rice which was barely edible, the taste of the other dishes made him, a native of Sichuan, China, shake his head repeatedly—The grilled fish had a fishy smell that hadn't been cleaned properly, the stewed meat was sickeningly sweet, and even the signature seafood soup was as bland as water, with not even the saltiness being mixed evenly."As expected, it's more reliable to cook for myself."Mark sighed; at least his past efforts in studying gourmet cooking weren't in vain.Even so, he still swept through the food like a whirlwind, enough to fill three adults—Only then did he understand that there was a reason Luffy was always hungry; the consumption of this body was simply too high.He found a small shop called "Gull-Sleep Inn" to stay in. Mark lay on the bed, tossing and turning as he studied the system panel.He added all his remaining energy points to his constitution, finally bringing his constitution points up to 5.However, the gray "Trash Synthesis" area on the panel remained inactive, and the decomposition material values following it also seemed to be locked.[System Panel]Host: MarkBasic Attributes:- Constitution Points: 5 (Note: Armament Hakirequires 1000 constitution points to unlock)- Energy Value: 0.701Ability System:1. Fruit Ability:- Trash Manipulation- Trash Decomposition- Trash Synthesis (Not Activated)2. Personal Ability (+ indicates energy value can be consumed to upgrade):- Observation Haki: Beginner +Resource Reserves:Decomposition Material Library:- Iron: 80 units- Copper: 6 units- Glass: 421 units- Cotton Fiber: 324 units- Wood Fiber: 897 units...After finishing his study of the constitution column, Mark's mood was a mix of joy and worry.Armament Haki could actually be awakened, but it required the constitution to reach 1000 points to unlock the beginner stage—"How much trash do I have to pick up for that?"He wailed, then was immediately shocked by another piece of information: Observation Haki had actually already been awakened!"Could it be built into the Trash-Trash Fruit?"He rubbed his chin and pondered. "After all, even dust in the air counts as trash. It makes sense for this kind of analytical ability to slowly evolve into perception..."It's just that this perception range is too short; it's probably only slightly more sensitive than a normal person's."My ass... System, are you here to play me!"Mark buried his face in the pillow, feeling that the road to becoming stronger was long and difficult.Waking up at noon the next day, Mark ate a bowl of bland seafood noodles downstairs at the inn and then headed straight to the mayor's house to ask for information.The mayor was sitting in the courtyard repairing a fishing net. Seeing him arrive, he smiled and handed over a glass of coconut milk:"What do you want to know, little brother? Although our Gull-Drop Town is remote, our information is still quite good."Mark inquired about the current time and location, learning that it was late in the year 1520 of the Sea Calendar—more than a year before Luffy would set out to sea.And Gull-Drop Town, where they were, was a remote island in the East Blue. Traveling two days east by sea would lead to the sea restaurant Baratie;Going south to the nearest other islands would take a full five days."Sea restaurant?"Mark's eyes lit up. "Is it that restaurant on a ship shaped like a fish head?"The mayor nodded: "Exactly! I heard the chefs on that ship have superb skills, though their tempers are a bit strange, especially their exceptional kindness toward ladies."Mark made a decision on the spot: "I have to go see for myself!"It wasn't just for Sanji's cooking—He also figured that with people coming and going at the sea restaurant, he might hear more news about the world of pirates;Moreover, while drifting at sea on a boat, he would surely be able to pick up plenty of "trash" along the way, just right for accumulating energy points to improve his constitution;He couldn't just be a "dust filter" forever, could he?Having made up his mind, Mark thanked the mayor and turned toward the pier. He had to buy a fishing boat first, even the simplest kind would do.A few small fishing boats were docked by the pier. A dark-skinned old fisherman was squatting on the deck mending nets.Mark went over to ask the price. The old fisherman glanced at him twice:"This boat was built by my boy when he was young. It's very sturdy. If he hadn't followed a merchant ship out to sea, I wouldn't be willing to sell it. One price, five thousand Berries."Mark felt his coin pouch; there were over twenty thousand Berries left, which was enough, but he suddenly remembered he didn't know how to row! Then he looked at the surrounding waste and thought of something!"Old man," he pointed to the edge of the fishing boat, "can you use some scrap materials to install a propeller for me here?"The old fisherman was stunned for a moment. Seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, he simply nodded:"Sure, as long as you pay, it'll be at least five hundred. I guarantee it won't break unless there are huge winds and waves."The old fisherman added, "Although I don't know why you want to use scrap materials, I won't ask questions. I'll have it ready for you by the morning."Mark smiled. That was great!"Half a day later!" The old fisherman briskly collected five thousand five hundred Berries and even gave him a simple sea chart as a bonus. "Go east, follow this current, and you'll reach Baratie in two days for sure."Mark jumped onto the fishing boat, checked the propeller and the wooden barrel for storing water, and finally felt at ease.The sea restaurant, Sanji, and those names he had only seen in manga... his journey in the world of pirates had only just begun.The "putt-putt" sound of a propeller churning through seawater spread across the surface, carrying a hint of mechanical stiffness.This contraption was something Mark had specifically tinkered with—he'd had Lao Yong piece together a simple fan from scrap metal, then used his Trash-Trash Fruit powers to drive the blades.The wind pushed against the stern, and the reaction force sent the small boat darting forward, making it the only "Wind-Powered Boat" in the East Blue.Mark sprawled on the deck, soaking up the warm sun with a coconut and a straw by his side, feeling quite comfortable.His sharp eyes caught sight of plastic bottles and wood fragments floating on the water; with a casual activation of his decomposition ability, the values in his material bank slowly rose, making it feel like his efforts weren't for nothing.However, using his power to drive the propeller was truly taxing on his mind; after a long time, his temples would begin to throb.Fortunately, his Observation Haki was gradually improving without him even noticing, its perception range expanding by half a meter—a small consolation.His mind was filled with thoughts of the gourmet food at Baratie.Back before he transmigrated, watching Luffy and the others gorge themselves at the sea restaurant had always made him salivate at the screen—He had always been a foodie, so now that he was in the world of One Piece, how could he miss out on the cooking of "Black Leg" Sanji?As he thought about it, even the rhythm of the propeller seemed to lighten.Unexpectedly, after only half a day of sailing, a dark shadow appeared on the horizon.A massive ship flying a skull flag with a "wooden club" came chasing through the waves, its hull thirty times sturdier than Mark's small fishing boat.Standing at the bow was a burly man with a face full of rough flesh and a messy mohawk, a wooden club as thick as a bowl strapped to his waist, followed by a gang of underlings who looked like a bunch of misfits—There was one with crossed eyes, another picking his nose in public, and the most eye-catching was a balding man with a "Mediterranean" hairstyle, his few remaining strands of hair combed desperately to the sides like a bald-tailed peacock showing its feathers."Boss, look! There's a fair-skinned little girl up ahead! There might be valuable treasure on that boat!"That balding Captain narrowed his triangular eyes into slits:"You little girl up there, hand over the treasure! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rough! I am 'Wooden Club' Johnny, a man with a bounty of three million Berries!"Mark's heart skipped a beat.Three million Berries was no small sum in the East Blue; even a ruthless character like Arlong only had a bounty of twenty million. This group looked like misfits, but they might not be easy to provoke.But as he looked closer, he couldn't help but stifle a laugh—these people had vacant stares and no sense of posture; no matter how you looked at them, they radiated a vibe of being "not very bright."His actual combat experience was almost zero. While he wasn't necessarily afraid of a head-on confrontation—after all, he could ignore physical attacks—what if they directly destroyed his boat!But he couldn't outrun their fast ship either. Marktook a deep breath, his mind racing as a plan to bluff them emerged."Hey! Do you know who I am?"He stood up abruptly, intentionally raising his voice high and arrogant, laced with a feigned contempt."I am a Logia Devil Fruit user who can duel the Shichibukai and the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye, for three hundred rounds without being defeated!People call me the 'Devil Devourer'!"He glanced at the broken wooden clubs and rusty knives in the pirates' hands and sneered:"You're attacking me with that junk? Do you think I, the 'Devil Devourer,' am an easy target?"Wooden Club Johnny froze for a moment, then clutched his stomach laughing: "Logia? You little girl, aren't you afraid of throwing out your back with such big talk!"Hawkeye coming to the East Blue?""If he can come to the East Blue, I'll eat shit!""I have a bounty of three million Berries; I wasn't born yesterday!""Hmph, how disgusting!"Mark raised an eyebrow and intentionally drawled, "With 'excellent genes' like yours, would I even bother lying to you?"This comment actually made Johnny feel quite flattered. He smoothed his few pathetic strands of hair:"At least you have good eyes! Since you're being sensible, hand over the money and I'll let you live. Otherwise..."Before he could finish, Mark suddenly activated his power.With a "poof," he jumped onto the opposing ship. His body inflated like a balloon, instantly transforming into a two-story-tall blue Slime.Two dark, hollow "eyes" opened on the translucent jelly.Below them, a large mouth dripping with blue slime opened up. The slime dripped onto the deck,Corroding several small pits with a "sizzle."At the same time, he secretly manipulated several pieces of rotting wood near the railing. The wood acted as if caught by an invisible mouth,Flying into the slime's mouth with a "whoosh" and dissolving instantly without a trace."Fire!"One of the underlings, scared out of his wits, raised his gun and fired.But the bullet passed through the Slime's jelly body without leaving a mark, instead being decomposed into copper elements—The system notification sounded at the perfect time: [Absorbed discarded bullet, obtained copper element, energy value +0.01]."Wh-what kind of monster is this!" A cross-eyed pirate's legs went weak and he fell to his knees. "Bullets are useless! It's a Logia! He was telling the truth!""That slime is corrosive! I don't want to be melted into a puddle of water!"Fear grew wildly like weeds.Mark squeezed a "jie jie" eerie laugh from his throat, his voice as raspy as sandpaper on iron:"My slime doesn't just melt wood; it melts bone just as fast... want to try?"He intentionally let more slime drip down and manipulated several wood chips to vanish into thin air near the slime, scaring the pirates out of their souls.It was unclear who shouted "run" first, but the first person jumped into the sea with a "plop."With a leader, how could the others care about their Captain?Even Wooden Club Johnny didn't dare say a harsh word. He grabbed a wine barrel and jumped after them, the group dog-paddling away as fast as they could, terrified of being touched by the slime if they were too slow.Mark looked at the empty pirate ship and breathed a long sigh of relief. His Slime body shrank with a "shua," and when he returned to human form, his back was soaked with sweat."That scared me to death. Luckily these guys are both cowardly and stupid." He wiped his sweat and boarded the pirate ship to search through it, quickly finding a heavy treasure chest—Inside were 300,000 Berries, along with some gold coins, copper rings, and other odds and ends."This wave was truly a massive win!"As he was moving the treasure to his own boat, the system notification suddenly exploded in his mind: [Detected a pirate ship abandoned by its Captain, meets trash recycling standards. Recycle?]"Recycle!" Mark didn't even think about it. This ship was too big; he couldn't sail it alone, and keeping it would just take up space.As soon as he spoke, Mark was standing on his own small boat as the entire pirate ship seemed to be caught by an invisible net;Within the perception range of his Observation Haki, it turned into countless points of light and surged into his body with a "shiu."A warm current instantly flowed through his limbs and bones. His strength seemed to increase out of thin air, and even the fatigue from driving the propeller earlier vanished by more than half.[Recycling complete! Reward for first pirate ship recycled: Constitution +10, Energy Value +1000, obtained Martial Art 'Baji Quan' (Proficient), unlocked system space item 'Trash Can'.]Mark froze for a moment, trying to recall the moves of Baji Quan—the crumbling, shaking, lunging, and striking. The fierce and sharp technical essentials were clearly engraved in his mind, as if he had practiced them for ten or eight years.He clenched his fists, feeling the power surging in his muscles, and couldn't help but grin. He simply added all the energy points he had just gained into his Constitution."Now with 25 points of Constitution plus Baji Quan, I finally have some damn self-defense capability!"He was so happy he began to hum a song, the tune wandering all over the place, repeating just one line over and over:"Today is a good day... ah... a good day."His gaze fell on the newly unlocked "Trash Can." With a thought, a translucent spatial entrance appeared before him, about ten meters square.[Notice: The 'Trash Can' space can store non-living items.]"...If it's a system space, call it a system space. Why call it a Trash Can?"Mark rolled his eyes but still quickly stuffed the treasure into a burlap sack and threw it into the space—it really could store things!"Perfect! In the future, I can stuff food and supplies in there. I just need to find a clean bag for the food..."This system really holds a grudge.Having dealt with the pirates and gained benefits, Mark was in a great mood.Perhaps because his constitution had strengthened, he no longer felt the previous sluggishness when controlling the propeller. The blades spun rapidly, and the boat's speed was more than twice as fast as expected.By the time he realized it, a familiar silhouette had emerged on the distant sea—Wasn't that the fish-head shape of the sea restaurant Baratie?"How did I get here in the middle of the night?"Mark looked at the pitch-black restaurant, completely stunned.His boat was too small, and he had switched back to Slime Form to huddle in the cabin, so the people on duty didn't even notice this "uninvited guest.""Forget it, there's no way in anyway."He yawned, parked his boat next to the Baratie, found a soft piece of canvas in the cabin to use as a mat, and curled into a ball.As the sea breeze blew, it faintly carried the scent of butter and bread from the restaurant, making his stomach growl."First thing tomorrow morning, I'm going to eat the breakfast Sanji makes."He smacked his lips and, accompanied by the sound of waves lapping against the boat, soon fell into a deep sleep.His dreams were filled with sizzling steaks, golden crispy fried pork, and braised beef noodles—It seemed his obsession with gourmet food occupied his mind more than the adventures of the pirate world.
Chapter 5: Harvest at the BaratieThe early morning sunlight spilled into the cabin where Mark was temporarily staying.He had made do with the small boat for the night, but now he was completely awakened by a clamor that far exceeded the sound of the waves—It was the crisp clinking of tableware, the laughter and chatter of guests, and the shouts of chefs.Like a pot of boiling thick soup, one could feel that vivid bustle even from a distance."So this is the Baratie... it really lives up to its reputation."Mark rubbed his eyes and sat up. The hangover-like fatigue hadn't dissipated yet, and his body felt sticky and very uncomfortable.He looked down at himself; the dust and grease stained from moving treasure on the pirate ship yesterday made him feel very unpleasant.He frowned, and with a thought, used Observation Haki to lock onto the dust on his skin and clothes: "Cleaning Technique." This was a name Mark had come up with himself.Who doesn't have a dream of becoming an immortal cultivator!A faint blue light instantly enveloped his body, and those stains and dust peeled away from his clothes and skin as if they had come to life.It was like being sucked away by an invisible vacuum cleaner, not even letting go of the grit in his hair.A few seconds later, the light dissipated, and Markwas completely refreshed—His originally fair skin glowed delicately under the morning light, and his shoulder-length black hair fell smoothly over his shoulders.The clothes he had hurriedly bought in Seagull Town were still loose, and the oversized cuffs and pant legs made his figure look slender.Coupled with that already slightly androgynous and handsome face, from a distance, it actually made it hard to tell if he was male or female, instead exuding a unique sense of cuteness.Having finished tidying up, Mark walked toward the huge restaurant floating on the sea.Just as he stepped onto the wooden walkway of the Baratie, a man in a black suit, with blonde hair covering half his face and eyebrows shaped like swirls... who else could it be but that perverted kappa, Sanji!Sanji wore a perfectly timed, gentle smile on his face:"Beautiful young lady, welcome to the Baratie. May I arrange a seat for you?"Mark was stunned for a moment before realizing the other party had mistaken him for a girl.He was about to open his mouth to explain, but was interrupted by the other's string of considerate words:"Your hair is so beautiful, did you just wash it? The sea breeze is strong; would you like to find a seat by the window but sheltered from the wind?Today's seafood chowder is our specialty, and I've specially added extra scallops. it's very suitable for a beautiful lady like you..."He had seen Sanji's gentlemanly demeanor in the manga long ago, but experiencing it personally still made Mark feel uneasy all over.He vaguely responded with a "thank you," his cheeks flushing slightly, and could only allow Sanjito lead him to a seat with an excellent view.The surrounding guests also seemed to default to his "female" identity, and several male guests even cast secretly admiring glances, making him even more restless."That... I actually am...""Please wait a moment, miss!"Sanji bowed elegantly and turned toward the kitchen."Your chowder will be here shortly. I guarantee it's a delicious taste you've never experienced before!"Mark looked at his brisk back and could only sigh helplessly. Oh well, he'd enjoy the food first.Soon, a steaming bowl of seafood chowder was brought out.The transparent broth glistened with oil, and the freshness of scallops, shrimp, and clams mixed with the fragrance of herbs hit his nose. A single sip was so delicious it felt like his eyebrows would fall off—It was rich but not greasy, and the original flavor of the ingredients was perfectly brought out. As expected, it was just like the description in the manga; Sanji's skill was practically a work of art.Just as Mark was buried in his meal, the restaurant's door was suddenly shoved open crudely.A group of slovenly, pot-bellied pirates swarmed in. The leader was a burly man with a face full of scars and a rusty scimitar hanging at his waist.A diner recognized them and cried out in alarm: It was the "Big Eater Pirates, Porticas, with a bounty of 5 million Berries.""Bring us your best dishes, extra-large portions!"The burly man plopped down at the large central table, his foot stepping directly onto a chair.The Big Eater Pirates acted as if they hadn't eaten in ten years, crudely driving away guests and directly throwing out those who showed signs of resistance.A scramble immediately broke out at the dining table. Food from the plates was haphazardly stuffed into mouths, with no regard for what fell on the floor; someone even threw a plate directly toward the kitchen."Hey! You're being too wasteful!" A waiter who looked like a gorilla tried to stop them, but was pushed aside by the pirates.Sanji came out of the kitchen carrying a tray. Seeing this scene, the smile on his face vanished instantly, and his gaze turned cold.He walked up to the group of pirates, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable authority:"Guests, please respect the food.""Where'd this little blondie come from?" a pirate sneered. "I'm spending money to eat; how I eat is none of your damn business!" As he spoke, he grabbed a piece of steak and threw it on the floor.Bang!Sanji's leg was fast as lightning, instantly kicking the pirate in the face and sending him flying out onto the fin deck, where he lay motionless."At the Baratie, the customer is God, but wasting food is the greatest sin."He rolled his ankle, his gaze sharp as a knife beneath his golden hair."You dare raise a hand? Waste him!"The pirate captain roared, and a dozen lackeys immediately lunged forward.Sanji did not retreat but advanced, his figure weaving through the crowd. Every kick landed precisely on a pirate's vital points, yet skillfully avoided fatal spots.A series of muffled thuds followed as the lackeys were kicked away one after another like kites with broken strings. Some crashed into walls, others flew right out of the restaurant, crying out in pain.His kicking techniques were as smooth as flowing water, a perfect combination of power and skill. Mark nodded inwardly—as expected of a disciple taught by Zeff.Just as Sanji finished off the last lackey, the pirate captain suddenly pulled a dagger from his coat and lunged forward just as Sanji turned his back.The target was Sanji's heart. Out of survival instinct, Sanji raised his hands in front of his chest to block!No one expected a pirate with a 5 million bounty to resort to a sneak attack."Watch out!"Mark's pupils contracted. He knew better than anyone how much his hands meant to Sanji, who took pride in being a chef.Hands were more precious weapons than life itself.Almost at the same moment he shouted, Mark had already moved.His figure blurred, instantly crossing the distance of several meters. At the moment the dagger was about to touch the back of Sanji's hand, his right hand clamped onto the pirate captain's wrist like iron pliers.His left hand pressed down on the man's shoulder, and with a clever leg trip, it was the "Embrace the Elbow" move from Baji Quan!"Argh!"The pirate captain felt a sharp pain in his wrist, and his body involuntarily leaned forward.Mark gave him no chance. Sinking his shoulder to exert force, he slammed a "Heart-Piercing Elbow" into the man's chest.Following that, with a twist of his body and a flip of his arm, it was another "Iron Mountain Lean"!The continuous combo was like a violent storm, giving the opponent no chance to breathe.Pfft—The pirate captain spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a broken sack, crashing heavily into a pillar of the restaurant before sliding to the floor, unconscious.The entire restaurant fell silent. Sanji stood frozen in place, looking at his unharmed hands, then wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked at Mark.His eyes were full of shock and gratitude: "Th-thank you... beautiful young lady, may I know your name!""Mark.""And also, I'm a guy!"Mark smiled and ignored the stunned Sanji."It's nothing. His sneak attack was too ugly."Mark shook his hand and said to himself; that combo just now was almost an instinctive reaction.At this time, Zeff, who had been watching coldly from behind the bar, snorted, a flash of approval in his eyes:"Kid, nice moves."He had been ready to act just now, but hadn't expected Mark to beat him to it. This speed, explosive power, and these martial arts were all killing moves.What followed was much simpler.The restaurant's waiter skillfully took out a transponder snail and contacted the nearby Marines—Looking at this setup, they clearly handled this kind of thing often. "5 million Berries is enough to compensate for these losses."Zeff rubbed his chin and said to Sanji, "Keep an eye on them."At this moment, Sanji was still petrified... his mouth was still muttering incoherently:Something about "male, female..." clearly in the middle of a social death.Mark had nothing to do, so he simply took a turn around the pirate ship.The cabin was piled with stolen food. He certainly couldn't use it all himself, so he simply told the waiters to move it all to the Baratie."Take these as extra dishes," he said with a smile.While cleaning out the pirates' treasure chests, Markmade an unexpected discovery:Besides some Berries and miscellaneous items, there was actually a gold-stamped invitation and a strangely designed sea chart.The invitation read—"East Blue Gluttony Competition"The location was the island the sea chart pointed to, and the organizer was the island where a retired Marine Vice Admiral resided.Even pirates with bounties could participate in the competition; as long as they didn't cause trouble during the event, it was absolutely safe.The time was five days away, and the notes also listed the prizes—one hundred thousand Berries, and a Devil Fruit that had never been recorded."A Devil Fruit?"Mark's eyes lit up; this was an unexpected surprise. He wasn't very interested in the competition itself, but that fruit made his heart race.At this time, the system's mechanical voice sounded—[Detected that the ship owner Porticas has lost consciousness. The pirate ship can be decomposed into trash. Decompose? Yes/No]Mark was silent for a moment at the system's prompt... It seemed that simply defeating the opponent wasn't enough to decompose their ship.At least one of the following needed to be met—1. The opponent actively abandons the ship to escape.2. They lose consciousness.Mark: "Decompose."In the area covered by Observation Haki, the pirate ship slowly disintegrated, turning into streams of light that flew into Mark's body.Just then, the system prompt sounded in his mind:[Absorbing pirate ship. Gained 2000 energy points.][Current energy points: 2000. Energy points have exceeded 2000. Activated new Trash-Trash Fruitability: Trash Synthesis.][System Panel]Host: MarkBasic Attributes:- Constitution Points: 27 (Note: Armament Hakirequires 1000 Constitution Points to unlock)- Energy Points: 2013.701Ability System:1. Fruit Abilities:- Trash Manipulation- Trash Decomposition- Trash Synthesis2. Personal Abilities (+ indicates energy points can be consumed to upgrade):- Baji Quan: Proficient +- Observation Haki: Beginner +- Trash Can Space: 10×10 cubic meters +Resource Reserves:Decomposition Material Bank:- Iron: 1780 units- Copper: 146 units...System: [Decomposable items are broken down into basic elements. After removing impurities, they can be re-synthesized. For example: Iron → Iron Ingot, Wood → Wood Pole. Synthesized products are of higher quality than natural materials.]Mark tried picking up the rusty scimitar of the Big Eater Pirates from the ground and selected decompose.The iron pieces instantly turned into points of light, and the system panel displayed "Iron Element."Then he selected synthesis. The light condensed into a small silvery-white iron block. It was smooth to the touch, without a single impurity, better than the refined iron sold on the market."This function is quite something." He nodded in satisfaction. Getting materials would be much more convenient in the future.When he returned to the restaurant, Sanji was looking at him with a formal expression:"Mark, to thank you, the Baratie is closing for today. I'm throwing a banquet for you!"Zeff also nodded: "As it should be. Kid, have a drink with this old man."And so, a temporary banquet became lively at the Baratie.Mark sat on the open deck, drinking iced beer and eating barbecue personally grilled by Sanji, along with various nameless seafood and desserts. It was truly a feast for the taste buds.Sanji's cooking completely conquered him; every bite was the taste of happiness.After a few rounds of drinks, Zeff patted Mark's shoulder and said half-jokingly, half-seriously:"Kid, I like your temper and character.If you plan to go on an adventure, although this brat Sanji has a stubborn temper, his cooking and skills are both top-notch." The meaning was clear.Mark looked at Sanji, who was busy adding more dishes, and smiled: "I will." However, inviting Sanjiwould be up to Luffy.First, Mark had thought it through clearly; he wanted to join the Straw Hat Crew. After all, he was familiar with the plot, which was equivalent to having a cheat code.Second, his current strength wasn't enough to wander aimlessly in this pirate world.Third, he simply liked the members of the Straw Hat Crew.That was why he chose to contact Sanji, to lay the groundwork for joining the ship later.The banquet continued until late at night. Mark was slightly tipsy, lying on the deck looking at the stars, feeling that this trip to the Baratie was truly worth it.Early the next morning, Mark bid farewell to Zeffand Sanji. "Until we meet again."He waved his hand and boarded his small boat.Sanji stood at the edge of the Baratie, waving goodbye."One hundred thousand Berries and a Devil Fruit... Gluttony Competition, here I come."The small boat carried him toward his new goal.The sunlight bathed him, the sea breeze blew through his long hair, and his loose clothes fluttered. The road ahead was unknown, yet full of anticipation.(Friends, the system panel will appear very rarely from now on.)
Chapter 6: Mark vs GarpMark had been drifting on the vast, emerald waves of the East Blue for three full days.After crossing the occasionally calm and occasionally rippling sea, a lush green island finally appeared at the end of the horizon.This was the southernmost island of the East Blue. Because it was far from the entrance to the Grand Line, its location was relatively remote, which instead saved it from the harassment of most pirates.The island was small but exuded a rare sense of peace and vitality. Merchant ships and fishing boats moved in an orderly fashion at the pier, pedestrians walked leisurely on the streets, and the sounds of hawking and laughter intertwined into a harmonious symphony."I heard from the people at the Baratie that this seems to be the hometown of Marine Vice AdmiralGala. After retiring due to injuries sustained during a mission, he's been recuperating here?"Mark stepped onto the pier, sensing an atmosphere different from other places. There was no tension in the air; instead, there was a calmness that came from having weathered many storms.He soon understood the source of this stability—along the streets and at key port passages, he could always see guards in plain clothes with upright postures.They weren't official Marines, yet they possessed military-like discipline. Their strong physiques hid explosive power, and their eyes were as sharp as eagles, scanning the passing crowds with unquestionable vigilance."These people have clearly undergone rigorous military training." Mark realized that this must be the work of the retired Marine Vice Admiral Gala.With such a powerful veteran overseeing the place and a group of guards trained by him, it was no wonder the island could remain untainted in the chaotic East Blue.However, today the island was a bit more boisterous than usual. A massive banner stretching across the main street was particularly eye-catching, with bold characters written on it:"East Blue Big Eater Peak Showdown: Gathering the Strong to Compete for the Ultimate Reward!"Vendors carrying ingredients could be seen everywhere on the streets. The seafood in the baskets still smelled of the sea, the meat had a fresh luster, and the fruits and vegetables were so succulent they looked like they could drip juice.In front of many temporary cooking stations, chefs were showing off their skills; some were adjusting sauces,while others were demonstrating their knife skills. The air was filled with the aroma of various foods, causing passersby to stop frequently.Mark followed the crowd, asking for the location of the competition venue along the way, and finally arrived at a wide outdoor plaza.The plaza was already busy, with several workers collaborating to build an incredibly long dining table that spanned the entire square, its surface smooth and flat.It was large enough to accommodate hundreds of people dining at once, with bar stools neatly arranged on both sides.At the very front of the plaza, a temporary stage had taken shape, clearly prepared for the host and the award ceremony.Beside the stage, a long queue had formed in front of a tent with a "Registration" sign.Mark walked closer and saw the notice board: "Registration Fee: 1,000,000 Berries.""One million?" someone nearby gasped. "Wasn't it only 100,000 in previous years? It's increased tenfold!""What do you know?" another person whispered, their voice full of excitement."This year's grand prize is a Devil Fruit! It's said to be worth at least a hundred million Berries!"The crowd instantly erupted into a frenzy, with discussions breaking out everywhere."A Devil Fruit? No wonder the registration fee is so high!""Even if you spend a million, winning the fruit would be a massive profit!"Mark watched the crowd paying to register one after another, a slight smirk playing on his lips.The organizers were quite shrewd; by using the competition, they could not only boost consumption on the island, but the registration fees alone would be enough to recover their costs.They might even make a huge profit through this Devil Fruit. After all, the more people who registered, the higher the total income, far exceeding the value of the fruit itself.He walked to the registration desk and asked the staff for details."Excuse me, do I still need to register if I have an invitation?"The staff member immediately became serious. "Contestants holding a golden invitation do not need to pay; they can participate directly. Do you have any other questions, miss?""Is it this one?" Mark took out the golden invitation he had "picked up" from the Big Eater Pirates."It's actually gold!" The staff and several passersby looked at this "little girl" in shock."Having a golden invitation means you ranked in the top ten in previous competitions. Not only is the registration fee waived, but all expenses on the island are free, and you can stay in a dedicated guest room," the staff member explained.Mark was moved. He hadn't expected that the "Big Eater Pirate Captain" might be bad at fighting but was number one at eating.He felt the low-key yet textured golden invitation in his pocket. Since there were such benefits, he naturally couldn't let them go to waste.There were still two days until the competition, just enough time to enjoy this rare peace.Two days passed in the blink of an eye. On the day of the Big Eater competition, the entire plaza was already packed with people.The stands were packed, and the cheers and whistles of the audience were deafening.Nearly half of the contestants were already seated on both sides of the long table, each rubbing their hands in anticipation, their eyes filled with desire for the championship.The competition was scheduled to start at 12:00 PM, and it was currently an hour before the start. Mark took out the golden invitation and handed it to the staff at the entrance.The staff member took the invitation, and after seeing the logo on it, their eyes widened instantly. Their face was full of disbelief before they immediately switched to a respectful expression, carefully guiding Mark:"This little girl? Please follow me; your seat is over there."Mark couldn't be bothered to explain! He was immune to it now.Under the curious or inquisitive gazes of the surrounding contestants, Mark was led to the center seat directly below the stage.This position had an excellent view, facing the stage directly, clearly prepared for top-tier contestants with special status.Just as he sat down, a gruff voice complained from beside him, "What's going on? Why hasn't it started yet? I'm starving to death!"Mark glanced to the side and saw a middle-aged woman weighing at least five hundred pounds. Her face was full of fat, and she was irritably patting her round belly.Noticing Mark sitting next to her, she immediately stopped complaining and squinted her eyes to size him up, as if looking at some rare object."Hey, kid, are you here for the competition?"The woman's voice was loud, drawing the attention of several people nearby."What's wrong with the organizers? Why is such a puny frame joining in the fun? Go sit at the kids' table in the back! Hahaha!"Before Mark could speak, a staff member nearby quickly explained, "This is a contestant holding a golden invitation.""Gold?"The mockery on the woman's face froze instantly, replaced by utter disbelief. She leaned in closer and lowered her voice."Kid, I was third in last year's competition. How come I've never seen you?You didn't steal an invitation from your elders, did you? Hahaha, interesting!"Mark looked up, glanced at her, and ignored her. In his heart, he thought, "She's just an NPC, what is there to say?"Seeing that Mark was ignoring her, Auntie Feituo's face turned pale and then flushed. Finally, she turned away resentfully and stopped talking.As time passed, the contestants arrived one after another, and the long table gradually filled up. The audience in the stands grew more excited, and the atmosphere became increasingly heated.Finally, with only five minutes left before the start, the host walked onto the stage full of energy and picked up the microphone."Guests and contestants, welcome to the East Blue Big Eater Peak Showdown! I am your host for today!"Thunderous applause and cheers immediately erupted from below the stage.The host enjoyed the enthusiasm, and once the crowd quieted down slightly, he continued, "I believe everyone is already impatient!The rules of this competition are very simple. Our staff will serve ten big meals in sequence. Whoever finishes all the dishes first will be this year's champion!In previous years, the champion was often crowned before the tenth dish was even served. I hope this year brings us some different surprises!"He paused and then changed the subject."Additionally, to ensure fairness and prevent anyone from using Devil Fruit abilities to cheat,we have prepared special elastic belts for every contestant. Please put them on now."Staff members immediately stepped forward to distribute the belts to each contestant.Mark took the belt, and the moment his fingertips touched it, he felt a wave of weakness.A power that could suppress Devil Fruit abilities—it was laced with Sea Stone."The organizers are quite experienced,"Mark thought to himself. "The amount of Sea Stoneis controlled just right; it won't make one collapse, but it perfectly seals away fruit abilities."AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteHowever, this had no effect on him. The confidence with which he entered the competition and aimed for victory did not come from his own appetite.It came from the "Trash Can Space" rewarded by the system—something he could control with his mind, not a Devil Fruit ability.The perverse system just had to name it "Trash Can."He had long realized that the system was a bit biased against him...Today's host was wearing a golden yellow suit and a fox mask.Just as he was about to announce the start of the competition, a loud, resonant voice suddenly came from the entrance: "I'm not late, am I? Hahaha!"Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw a sturdy old man walking in; he wore a dog-head-shaped hat, his face was etched with the ravines of time, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, carrying an aura of natural authority.When Mark saw that face, his pupils shrank suddenly, and his whole body stiffened—that dog-head hat, that iconic smile, and that invisible pressure..."Vice Admiral Garp?!"This name exploded in Mark's mind.One of the power ceilings of the pirate world, a legendary figure who once chased Pirate King Roger until he was running for his life; Luffy's own grandfather, the Navy Hero! How could he be here?What made Mark's scalp tingle even more was that after Garp scanned the room, he walked straight toward the long table and, in the end, actually sat down in the seat opposite him!No need to think, this old man was most likely last year's champion...Immense pressure instantly enveloped Mark; he could even feel the surrounding air seemingly solidify.Garp also noticed Mark's gaze and looked at him, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes; it immediately turned into a gleam of interest as he chuckled softly: "It seems this year's competition won't be so boring."The host clearly recognized Garp as well. "It turns out to be our champion from last year, Vice Admiral Garp! Let's give him a warm welcome!" After the applause and cheers died down, the host announced loudly: "Alright, everything is ready! I declare the East Blue Big Eater competition officially started!"As soon as he finished speaking, the staff, who were already prepared, pushed out the food carts one after another.The first dish was tuna sashimi. A whole tuna over a meter long was sliced into paper-thin pieces and arranged neatly on a huge platter; soy sauce and wasabi were placed on the side, and the deliciousness of the fish meat mixed with the fragrance of the seasonings made one want to start eating immediately.Mark was indeed hungry, and not in a rush to use his ability, he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat elegantly and quickly.The tuna was fresh and tender, melting in the mouth, carrying the sweet freshness of the ocean; it tasted excellent.Garp, opposite him, was even more direct. He picked up a large stack of fish slices, dipped them in a bit of wasabi, and stuffed them into his mouth, eating with great relish while muttering: "Mmm, fresh!"Soon, the first dish was wiped clean. The second dish followed immediately—roasted Bordeaux goat meat, a whole roasted goat that was golden and glistening; the skin was crispy, oil dripped down the crevices of the meat, and it emitted a rich meaty aroma.Mark remained calm and unhurried. The lamb was roasted until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, without any gamey smell. He ate with great satisfaction, patted his stomach after finishing, and felt he could eat more.Garp and the auntie next to him also finished it easily, especially the auntie, who ate until her mouth was covered in oil, her speed not slow at all.The third dish was a giant Hamburg. This Hamburgwas half a person tall, with bread, meat patties, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese stacked layer upon layer, the portion size was astonishing; just looking at it made one feel full.This dish was clearly a watershed moment. Many contestants showed difficulty halfway through and eventually shook their heads and gave up. Less than half remained who could finish the first three dishes, all of them elites with astonishing appetites.Mark looked at the huge Hamburg and raised his eyebrows slightly. If he kept eating, he would probably really be stuffed. He quietly activated his mind to silently transfer the chewed food in his mouth into the Trash Can Space.On the surface, he continued to eat big mouthfuls, his movements smooth and natural, showing no flaws."Whew..." As he swallowed the last bite of the Hamburg, Mark pretended to sigh with relief, acting as if it were a struggle.Opposite him, Garp let out a burp, patted his stomach, and remained unfazed. The auntie next to him also wiped her mouth, a hint of smugness in her eyes.The fourth dish, the fifth dish... as the dishes were served one after another, more and more contestants were eliminated. By the seventh dish—a large basin of thick seafood chowder—only ten contestants remained at the long table, including Mark, Garp, and the auntie.The seafood chowder was rich in ingredients, with shrimp, crab, shellfish, and fish chunks, the broth was thick and hearty, and it was extremely filling. Having already eaten so much dry food, drinking this thick soup was a huge test for the stomach.Garp scooped a spoonful of soup, and after drinking it, his brows furrowed slightly, and his expression changed; clearly, this soup made him feel a bit troubled too.Mark began his "performance." He clutched his stomach, his face showing a pained expression; every sip of soup seemed to take all his strength, and his speed slowed down.The auntie next to him persisted for a few sips, but eventually put down her spoon and pounded the table in frustration: "No way, I really can't drink any more..."After a few more dishes were filtered out, only Markand Garp remained at the long table.When the two finished the seventh soup simultaneously, Garp wiped his mouth and looked at Mark, his eyes becoming more serious: "Kid, I couldn't tell you could eat so much. You wouldn't be cheating, would you?"Mark rubbed his head—it was so damn awkward—but he still put on a dazed and harmless smile, saying in an innocent tone: "Grandpa, you're joking. We have supervisors behind us, how could I cheat?" He waved his hand, "That's impossible!"Garp took a deep breath, and the aura around him changed abruptly: "Hmph, brat, don't think you can beat me just like that! From now on, I'm getting serious! You're a hundred years too young to compete with me for the championship!"As soon as he finished speaking, Garp's body moved slightly, and his previously bloated stomach visibly deflated—he had used "Life Return"!"Damn it, you old man, you have no martial virtue!" Mark could only vent in his heart!The eighth dish was a large plate of super-long noodles, and the ninth dish was a whole roasted camel. Even with Life Return, Garp's expression didn't look too good; his round, bulging stomach exposed his limits, and fine beads of sweat even seeped from his forehead.Mark continued his "difficult" performance, clutching his stomach with a pained expression, as if he would pass out from fullness the next second, but his hand movements never stopped.Amidst the roaring cheers of the audience, the two finished the roasted camel almost at the same time.Garp panted heavily, looking at Mark with sharp eyes: "Give up, kid. I could eat another hundred dishes like this!" If not for the cold sweat on his forehead and his slightly trembling hands, Markwould have almost believed him.Mark also "panted," retorting: "Grandpa, don't force yourself, be careful your stomach might explode." The two stared at each other for three seconds. Their gazes met in the air, as if sparks were flying.The next second, they simultaneously raised their hands and slapped the table, shouting in unison: "Bring out the food!"The host was so excited his voice was nearly hoarse, roaring into the microphone: "Oh my god! Ladies and gentlemen! We have finally arrived at the contestants who have made it to the tenth dish! This year's competition is too spectacular! This is a historic moment! Please welcome the tenth dish!"Amidst the anticipation of the crowd, the staff pushed up a huge tray, upon which sat a hill-like dessert—the world-famous Mermaid Island Wendy Cake. The cake was layered, the cream was delicate, the fruit was abundant, and it emitted an enticing sweet fragrance.Looking at this "cake mountain," neither Mark nor Garp hesitated and immediately buried their heads into eating. Time ticked by, and the cake diminished at a visible speed.When Garp had eaten half, he suddenly stopped, put down the spoon in his hand, and looked at Mark, his eyes complex. "Kid," Garp began, his voice a bit hoarse, "
Chapter 7: The Oscar-winning Best Actor"Kid," Garp spoke, his voice a bit raspy, "state your name.""Mark." Mark replied while "struggling" to swallow.Garp laughed loudly, with a hint of relief: "Hahaha! Good! This old man has lost!"The whole venue erupted instantly! The audience stood up, clapping and cheering wildly for this brilliant duel and for this dark horse champion.Although Mark won the match, he didn't feel much joy in his heart; instead, he felt a bit guilty.After all, he had won by relying on a system cheat; facing a legend like Garp, this victory felt somewhat dishonorable.He walked up to Garp and, imitating the way apologies were made back in his hometown, cupped his hands above his head and bowed deeply: "Old man, thank you for going easy on me."Garp looked at him and suddenly smiled:"Not bad, you're quite interesting, kid. You're good material for the Marines... Haha!"He changed the subject and pointed to a bench not far away. "After you collect your reward, go wait for me over there. I have something to say to you."Mark was about to speak when Garp suddenly cracked his knuckles, the joints making a "crack-crack" sound. The smile on his face carried a hint of "kind" threat: "You wouldn't refuse, would you?"To Mark, that smile was scarier than any harsh words. He swallowed hard and gave a forced laugh: "Since the old man has given an order, how could I refuse? Hahaha..."Next was the award ceremony. From tenth place to first, when the host announced "Champion—Mark," the audience erupted in thunderous applause once again.Mark took the box containing the Devil Fruit, feeling the complex gazes around him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.After receiving the award, he didn't linger and walked straight toward the bench Garp had mentioned.Just as he reached the bench and before he could sit down, a sudden sound of rushing wind came from behind! Alarm bells rang in Mark's heart, and he immediately raised his arms to block."Bang!"With a dull thud, Garp's fist, coated in Armament Haki, slammed solidly into Mark's arms.A massive force surged instantly. Mark felt a sharp pain in his arms, and he was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, sliding several meters across the ground before stopping.If he hadn't awakened Observation Haki, he'd probably have two big bumps on his head by now...Garp withdrew his fist and looked at Mark as he struggled to get up, saying calmly: "At such a young age, to have this level of strength and talent, and even awaken Observation Haki—not bad!"He shifted the topic, his gaze turning sharp. "The Big Eater Pirates' Potikas, with a bounty of 5 million Berries—did you defeat him, or was it that old fogey Zeff?"Mark clutched his numbing arms, knowing there was no point in hiding the truth from Garp, so he briefly recounted his encounter with the Big Eater Pirates' trouble-making.After listening, Garp nodded, a hint of contemplation flashing in his eyes, as if he had made a decision."Regarding the match just now, I don't know what methods you used, but a loss is a loss, and I accept it." Garp's tone suddenly became unquestionable."Kid, join the Marines! I'll train you personally! I have a good-for-nothing grandson who shouts about becoming a pirate every day; you go help me talk some sense into him."Before Mark could react, Garp grabbed the back of his clothes and lifted him up like a little chick, walking toward the warship with the dog-head emblem by the shore.Mark struggled a few times in the air, not knowing whether to laugh or cry—was he... just after winning the match, being "conscripted" by the Navy Hero?The sea breeze lazily brushed across the deck of the dog-headed warship.Mark imitated Garp, sinking himself into a large wicker lounge chair. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the parasol, casting dappled shadows on his face."Kid," Garp's voice broke the silence. He took a sip of the orange soda in his hand, the bubbles sizzling in the sunlight,"That fruit you won from the Big Eater Competitionis a fake."Mark's fingers gripping the armrest of the lounge chair paused slightly, but his face remained expressionless:"Fake? Old man, don't joke with me. The patterns, the feel—it's exactly like the legendary Devil Fruits."In his heart, waves were already surging as he waited for Garp to continue."Hmph, no matter how much it looks the part, it's still an artificial fruit."Garp scoffed and sat up a bit straighter, his gaze directed at the rolling waves in the distance,"That's something Vegapunk cooked up called SMILE, an artificial fruit.""Vegapunk?"Mark feigned surprise, though his mind was clear. That genius scientist of the Marines could only be described as terrifyingly formidable."The guy whose brain turns faster than a warship's engine."Garp curled his lip, his tone a bit complex. "He researched this stuff wanting to give life to inanimate objects.Think about it: a sword that can swing itself, a gun that can fire on its own—doesn't it sound quite divine?"Mark's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly thought of that scene at Enies Lobby—Didn't that guy Spandam have a sword that could turn into an elephant because it 'ate' this thing?At the time, he only thought it was absurd; now he knew the source."Damn it, what a profiteer!"Mark cursed inwardly, but his face timely showed an expression of realization mixed with anger,"I was wondering why it felt off. They said it was some unrecorded rare fruit; isn't this just a total scam?"Garp didn't seem to hear his quiet muttering and continued:"The core technology of these SMILE fruits is something only Vegapunk himself has fully mastered.The ones that leaked out are all defective products. If you're not careful, you'll end up turning into some grotesque monster."He turned to glare at Mark, his eyes becoming serious,"So, kid, remember this well: don't you dare shove that crappy fruit into your mouth. Who knows what kind of mess it would cause.""I got it, old man."Mark nodded obediently, but in his mind, he was planning to decompose the thing later to see if he could get some special materials."And another thing,"Garp's tone deepened, carrying the solemnity of someone who had seen it all,"When it comes to getting stronger, don't always think about relying on Devil Fruits. Fruit abilities are just the icing on the cake,What truly allows you to stand your ground is your own fists and the grit in your bones."He pointed to Mark's chest. "Understand?""Understood!""Good."Garp seemed very satisfied with his attitude, grinning to reveal two rows of white teeth,"Train hard with me. With your foundation and a bit more effort, applying for you to become a Commander in the future shouldn't be a problem!"Mark chuckled inwardly. Commander? He hadn't forgotten what kind of figures the "Marine material" Garp trained turned out to be.But his face showed an expression of being overwhelmed by favor, which then immediately slumped as he sighed:"Old man, actually... I'm already a Devil Fruit user."Garp's hand holding the soda bottle stopped mid-air, and he raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Since when?"Mark sat up straight, his face instantly switching to a look of grief and stubbornness, his voice carrying a hint of a sob:"It's a long story... My family were originally merchants from the East Blue. My parents took me all over the place to do small business.One time, our ship passed through a certain sea area and happened to encounter a fleet of Celestial Dragons..."He lowered his eyelids, his voice deep, as if sinking into painful memories:"They said we were in their way and started firing without a word... The ship sank,My parents... to protect me, they stuffed me into a wooden barrel, while they themselves..."Mark choked up and couldn't go on, his shoulders trembling slightly, perfectly portraying the immense grief of losing his parents.After a long while, he finally looked up, his eyes glistening with tears:"I drifted for who knows how long before being washed up on a deserted island.There was nothing to eat on the island, except for a fruit growing on a strange tree.I was starving to death, so I just... I just ate it like a wild fruit. Only later did I find out it was a Devil Fruit."This Oscar-worthy performance, a story mixed with blood and tears (mostly fabricated),made Garp's face turn pale with anger. The soda bottle in his hand shattered with a "crack," and he didn't even notice the orange soda leaking through his fingers."Those scumbags!"He gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead, clearly enraged by the actions of the Celestial Dragons. The way he looked at Mark now held a few more degrees of genuine sympathy and fury."Damn Celestial Dragons!"Garp slammed a fist into a nearby cannon barrel. With a loud "clang," the noise made Mark's ears ring."Don't worry, kid. With me here, no one will dare bully you again!"He patted Mark's shoulder; the force wasn't light, but it carried a sense of warmth,"Good boy! I will definitely train you to be the most outstanding Marine, to show those scumbags—"Mark chuckled inwardly. Well, he had successfully won that sympathy.As for what his fruit ability actually was, Garp didn't ask, and he naturally wouldn't volunteer the information.Trash Manipulation? If he said that, he'd probably be disposed of as trash by the old man.Looking at Garp's righteous indignation, he suddenly found it a bit funny.This Navy Hero had served the Marines his whole life, yet he loathed the Celestial Dragons behind the Marines with a passion.And the people he trained personally all seemed to have taken paths opposite to his expectations—Dragon became the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Ace became the Second Division Commanderof the Whitebeard Pirates,and Luffy was shouting about becoming the Pirate King. Now, there was also himself, harboring his own ulterior motives.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteFor the next five days, it was hell mode for Mark.Garp's training methods were simple and brutal, yet exceptionally effective.Every day before dawn, he would be dragged up to run fifty laps around the warship, followed by endless sparring—though, of course, it was mostly Mark getting beaten up.Garp's fists were coated with a faint layer of Armament Haki, and every time they landed on him, it felt like being struck by a heavy hammer. It made him wince in pain, yet he strangely felt his body rapidly growing stronger under this extreme pressure."Kid, put some effort into it! You think you can be a Marine with that much strength?""Your fists need to be hard, and your gaze needs to be fierce!""Dodge! Use your Observation Haki! Don't just stand there like a wooden post!"Accompanied by Garp's roars and fists, Mark's constitution points soared like they were on a rocket.From the initial 25 points, to 30, 40, 60... Five days later, when he could finally barely catch one of Garp's punches that lacked Haki, his system panel clearly displayed 91 constitution points!He was stunned himself. This wasn't training; this was clearly just getting stronger by getting beaten up!No wonder that kid Luffy kept getting stronger the more he was beaten; was this a traditional skill of the Garp family?At the same time, over these five days, Mark also took on the job of cleaning up all the trash on the warship.The quality of the trash on the warship was much higher than the scrap metal he had picked up before: discarded shell casings, worn-out weapon parts, damaged instruments... Decomposing these items brought him a massive amount of energy points and various metal materials.After five days, his energy points had accumulated to 2369, almost catching up to the gains he had made from decomposing an entire shipwreck before.When the dog-head warship slowly sailed into the port of Windmill Village and saw the iconic giant windmill from afar, Mark's heart couldn't help but thump wildly.It was close; he would soon see Luffy, the protagonist from the anime, that man who was always full of vitality and could turn the impossible into the possible.He took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement and a trace of complexity in his heart. He had really come to this world.As soon as the ship docked, Garp dragged Markalong without a word, walking familiarly toward the village with a clear destination—Partys Bar."Makino! Where is that brat Luffy?" As soon as he pushed open the tavern door, Garp's booming voice echoed inside.The tavern was filled with the faint scent of alcohol and food. A green-haired woman wearing an apron with a gentle smile was wiping the bar counter.Hearing the voice, she looked up, and when she saw Garp, her eyes curved into crescents: "Oh, Mr. Garp, long time no see. Are you on vacation again?"Her gaze fell on Mark behind Garp, filled with curiosity, "And this little... who is this?""His name is Mark, and he's a boy." Garp sat down carelessly, picked up a water glass on the table, and drained it in one gulp. "I caught him! From now on, he'll be training here with Luffy. He's going to be an excellent Marine prospect in the future!"Makino smiled helplessly and didn't respond.Mark quickly stepped forward, putting on his most well-behaved smile, and bowed deeply to Makino: "Hello, Big Sister Makino. My name is Mark, and I'm 14 years old. I often hear the old man talk about you, saying that not only are you beautiful, but your cooking is the best in the world, and your personality is as gentle as an angel's. Seeing you today, it's truly well-deserved; you're a hundred times better than what the old man described!"This string of flattery made Makino's cheeks blush slightly, and she covered her mouth and couldn't help but laugh: "You child, you really know how to talk. I'm not that good."She looked at Mark gently, "Just arrived in Windmill Village, right? Would you like to eat something? I'll make it for you.""Hey, you brat!" Garp was displeased on the side and reached out to give Mark a rap on the head. "You've been with me the whole way, how come I haven't heard you say a single nice thing? It seems you don't take me seriously at all!""Ouch!" Mark covered his head and quickly begged for mercy, "Old man, don't be angry! You represent dignity, while Big Sister Makino represents gentleness—they're different! In my heart, you are a towering mountain, unmatched by anyone!"Mark knew very well that Makino was the soul of Windmill Village, had a close relationship with Red Hair Shanks, was half a guardian to Luffy and Ace, and even Garp treated her with respect.In this world, there were probably very few people who could have connections with Garp, Shanks, Whitebeard (indirectly), Luffy, and Sabo all at the same time.If it had been her being executed during the Marineford War... Mark shuddered; he didn't dare to imagine it. That scene would definitely have been world-destroying, and the Marines would probably have had to surrender directly.Therefore, maintaining a good relationship with Makino was definitely a wise move.Garp snorted, not truly angry, and turned to ask Makino: "Where is that brat Luffy?""He probably went to the back mountain for an 'adventure' again," Makino said with a smile, "He should be back by dinnertime. If he hasn't returned, he's probably at Aunt Dadan's place."Garp nodded and was just about to get up to take Mark to find Luffy when the tavern door was slammed open with a "bang.""Makino! Look what I brought you!"A boy wearing a Straw Hat was actually carrying a giant wild boar weighing 800 jin on his head. The boar's tusks flashed with a cold light; it had clearly just been caught. It was Luffy!"Makino, let's have a roast wild boar feast tonight! I caught it myself!" Luffy shouted excitedly, not noticing Garp in the tavern at all."Luffy!" Garp's voice instantly turned cold, and a trace of "murderous intent" flashed in his eyes. "You brat, you're getting more and more arrogant! You don't even greet your grandfather when you see him! It seems I've been too indulgent with you!""Fist of Love!" Garp's fist whistled through the air and landed precisely on Luffy's head."Ouch!" Luffy shrieked, clutching his head and jumping up. "Grandpa? Why are you here? It hurts! Why does it hurt so much? I'm rubber!"Mark watched it all clearly from the side and couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter. This scene was exactly like the one in the anime; it was truly hilarious. The contrast of Luffy, who was clearly rubber, still jumping around in pain was peak comedy.However, he forgot that mocking Garp's precious grandson in front of him came with a price.Mark's Observation Haki was already at the elementary level, and he vaguely felt a dangerous aura locking onto him, but before he could react, a fist the size of a sandbag was already enlarging before his eyes."Bang!" "Ouch!" "You kid still dare to laugh? Today's training isn't over yet!"Mark was also punched to the ground, howling in pain while clutching his head along with Luffy.Five minutes later, the originally cozy and tidy tavern had become a total mess. Tables were overturned, chairs were shattered, and there was even a hole in the wall.Garp looked at his "masterpiece," scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, and said sheepishly to the helpless Makino: "Um... Makino, sorry about that. I didn't know my own strength."After speaking, his gaze instantly turned to the two culprits on the floor, his eyes becoming fierce, looking as if he were about to eat someone: "Mark, Luffy! Clean this place up for me!"Seeing Garp's man-eating gaze, Mark dared not delay. With a thought, his body instantly changed.His original human form disappeared, replaced by a translucent, sticky Slime Form, with a soft, light-black body, and he specially formed two small, cute-looking hands.He floated to the scattered wooden fragments and glass shards, picked up a piece with his little hand, and stuffed it into his "mouth," deliberately making "guji-guji" sounds as if he were eating with great relish.Garp watched in astonishment, his eyes nearly popping out: "This... what kind of ability is this?!"He had lived for so long and seen all kinds of Devil Fruit users, but he had never seen anyone who could turn into a slime!Mark chuckled inwardly. He could have activated his ability to instantly decompose all the trash, but he deliberately slowed down his movements, "eating" it bit by bit for Luffy to see.Sure enough, Luffy was instantly attracted. He seemed to have forgotten the pain from being beaten just moments ago. His eyes widened, glittering with countless little stars, and he pointed excitedly at Mark, shouting: "Sugoi! That's so interesting! Makino, look! It's a slime! A legendary slime!"He rushed in front of Mark and examined him curiously: "Do you poop? Do you eat people? Can you turn into a big monster? Can you swallow me too? Will you..."A barrage of questions came flying at him. Luffy's face was filled with undisguised curiosity and excitement; he was clearly extremely satisfied with Mark's Slime Form.While slowly cleaning up the trash, Mark responded with his thoughts: 'Heh, look at you. Aren't you completely wrapped around my finger? Building a good relationship with you in the future will be a piece of cake, won't it?'He continued to "eat" the trash, feeling Luffy's burning gaze, and began to calculate how he should use this form to properly "conquer" this future Pirate King.