Chapter 14: Luffy's Chance Encounter with NamiMark leaned against the gunwale, watching the figure wearing a Straw Hat at the bow—Luffy was standing against the wind, his mouth wide open as he let out strange sounds, his arms spread as if he might take flight at any moment."Hey, Luffy, where exactly are we headed?"The Three Sword Style swordsman, Zoro, impatiently tapped the deck with his sword hilt."The sake is all gone. If we keep circling this sea, even my blades will start to rust."Luffy whipped around, his eyes shining brilliantly beneath the Straw Hat:"To the Grand Line, of course! We'll sail around it once and find the One Piece!""I'll defeat all the powerful pirates and become the freest pirate on the sea!""I've heard of the Grand Line, but I don't know much about it. After all, I only cared about improving my swordsmanship before;""The title of 'Pirate Hunter' was only something I got from catching a few pirates to trade for sake money!""The Grand Line, huh..." Mark rubbed his chin and cleared his throat;"That place is known as the 'World's Most Dangerous Sea,' the ultimate stage that every pirate dreams of.""It's located between the Red Line and the four seas, forming a ring that divides the world into two halves.""There are two entrances. One is through Reverse Mountain, and the other... it's said to require a special method to enter."He paused, looking at the increasingly excited expressions of Zoro and Luffy, and continued:"The weather there is completely unpredictable. It might be clear skies one moment, and a blizzard or thunderstorm the next.""The ocean currents are even more bizarre. Compasses fail completely inside; I've heard you can only navigate using a log pose.""Furthermore, it's filled with powerful pirates, mysterious islands, and elite Marine forces... In short, it's a place where only the truly strong can survive.""The strong?"Zoro gripped the swords at his waist, a smirk playing on his lips—"Perfect! I'd like to see just how powerful these so-called strong guys really are!"He suddenly pointed in a direction, "Then toward the Grand Line, full speed ahead!""Oh!" Luffy and Mark responded in unison.Three seconds later, only an awkward silence remained over the sea.The smile on Zoro's face froze. He looked at Luffy, then at Mark, and finally fixed his gaze on the motionless sails:"I say... you two don't even know which direction the Grand Line is, do you?"Luffy and Mark exchanged a glance and shook their heads in perfect synchronization."Do we at least have a sea chart?"A vein popped on Zoro's forehead, his hand already resting on his sword hilt..."We've been at sea this long, and you didn't even prepare a sea chart?"Luffy scratched his head: "Sea chart? What's that? Is it edible?"Mark coughed dryly: "Well, it seems we don't know the first thing about navigation."Zoro took a deep breath, feeling his patience being eroded bit by bit by these two landlubbers.He stared at the two clueless guys in front of him, with only one thought in his head:"Is it too late to jump overboard and swim back?""Oh, don't worry!" Mark suddenly slapped his chest, lifting his chin proudly as he waited for the two to show looks of admiration, "I've already thought of a way!"Luffy and Zoro raised their eyebrows simultaneously: "What way?""Zoro," Mark said solemnly, "based on your gut feeling, which direction is the Grand Line?"Zoro was stunned, but he still closed his eyes seriously, feeling the direction of the sea breeze and the changes in the current;A minute later, he opened his eyes and pointed confidently to the left: "It should be this way.""Definitely not!" Luffy immediately waved his hands, "That's the Marine base, we just came from there yesterday!"Mark snapped his fingers: "Then there's no problem! Rudder to the right, full steam ahead!""Hey! Mark! What do you mean by that?" Zorolooked bewildered."Don't ask. If you must, call it metaphysics."Mark rolled his eyes internally: Don't you have any self-awareness about your maxed-out level of being directionally challenged?This was the correct way to use Zoro—as a reverse indicator!Just then, Luffy suddenly pointed at the sky and shouted: "Wow! What a huge bird! It looks delicious!"Before Zoro and Mark could react, he had already leaped up like a cannonball, accurately grabbing the leg of the giant bird, which had a wingspan of at least three meters.The bird shrieked in pain and suddenly lunged its talons into Luffy's clothes, carrying him straight into the clouds."Luffy!" Zoro and Mark shouted at the same time, but they could only watch helplessly as Luffy was dragged into the distance by the giant bird, soon becoming a small black dot.In an alleyway in Orange Town, the orange-haired Nami was running for her life, with the crude curses of pirates echoing behind her."Catch that little girl! That damn Cat Burglar!""Don't let her get away! Captain Buggy said whoever catches her gets a hundred thousand Berries!"Nami gritted her teeth, her pace quickening. She turned into a dead end, and seeing the high wall before her, her heart sank—it was over, she had nowhere to run.The pirates' footsteps drew closer, and the pirate in the lead with the red bandana sneered as he blocked the alley entrance: "Little kitty, let's see where you run now!"Nami clutched the charts hidden in her shirt, a flash of despair in her eyes.Just then, with a loud 'thud,' a figure fell from the sky, landing right on the ground in front of her;His head was stuck directly into the dirt, leaving only a butt wearing a Straw Hat and two legs kicking wildly in the air.Nami: "...What kind of strange creature is this?"This elegant posture, the aura of a total sucker that couldn't be hidden even with his head buried in the dirt...A flash of inspiration struck Nami, and she immediately had an idea.Luffy finally managed to pull his head out, looking around in a daze.Nami rushed forward quickly, solicitously dusting him off:"Boss! You finally came to save me! Look at these people, they've been bullying me so badly!"She turned to face the group of pirates, hands on her hips as she shouted: "You guys better watch out! This is my Boss! Now that my Boss is here, let's see how he deals with you!"Luffy scratched his head, looking confused: "Who are you? Do we know each other?"Nami: "Well then, Boss, I'll leave things here to you!"Taking advantage of the moment while Luffy and the pirates were stunned, Nami turned and ran, vanishing in the blink of an eye.The red-bandana pirate snapped out of it, glaring at Luffy: "You're that girl's boss?""Tsk tsk, with a scrawny frame like yours, I've already cut down fifty-eight!" As he spoke, he swung his blade down.Luffy's gaze sharpened. He stepped aside, easily dodging the blow, and threw a punch that landed squarely on the red-bandana pirate's jaw.A loud 'crack' rang out, accompanied by the spectacle of teeth flying everywhere. The red-bandana pirate flew back like a broken kite, crashing into a wall and passing out.The remaining pirates looked at each other and shouted: "He's only one man, let's get him together!"Luffy took two steps back, took a deep breath, and his legs suddenly stretched: "Gomu Gomu no Whip!"A long leg whipped across the pirates' waists, and they were all sent flying with cries of pain, piling up into a small mountain. This was a literal 'whip kick.'Nami, who had run off and then quietly returned to hide on a rooftop, was still a bit worried that the guy in the Straw Hat would be killed because of her. Then she saw this scene, her eyes widening in shock—This guy... is he actually this strong?She jumped down from the roof and walked up to Luffy: "My name is Nami. I didn't expect you to be so powerful. How about we team up?""Who are you? No thanks!"Luffy turned to leave, but his stomach let out an untimely 'growl.'"I'm so hungry... I wonder when Mark and Zoro will get here."Nami's eyes lit up, and she immediately said: "I'll treat you to a meal!"Luffy whipped his head back, his eyes sparkling: "Really? You're such a good person!"In a private room at a restaurant, Luffy rubbed his round belly and let out a satisfied burp: "Ah! I'm full!"He looked at Nami across from him: "By the way, why were those people chasing you?"Nami hesitated for a moment, then pulled a chart from her shirt: "Because of this."Luffy leaned in to look, his eyes widening even further: "This is... could it be a sea chart?""My name is Nami, and I'm a thief who specifically targets pirates."Nami put the chart away, a flash of complex emotion in her eyes."I have to save up 100 million Berries. As for the specific reason... I can't tell you. With this map, I can expand my business to the Grand Line and save up the money quickly.""A sea chart?" Luffy looked at her, "Are you a navigator?""I'm much better than an ordinary navigator." Namilifted her chin with a hint of pride.Luffy suddenly stood up, hands on his hips, and said loudly:"I am Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King! Come and be my comrade!"Nami's face instantly turned pale: "A pirate? Forget it, I hate pirates more than anything.""Nami, come be the navigator on my ship!" Luffywasn't discouraged in the slightest!"I already have two comrades, a swordsman and a logistics guy, and they're both very strong!""No!" Nami refused without a second thought."Alright then." Luffy didn't force it and turned to leave.Just then, the crude shouts of pirates came from downstairs:"Don't let that girl escape! If we don't get the sea chart back, Captain Buggy will kill us all!"Nami's heart tightened—Buggy? The immortal Clown Buggy?By herself, there was no way she could escape from the Buggy Pirates.What should she do? Survival was the priority right now... She looked at Luffy, a calculating glint in her eyes."On second thought," Nami suddenly changed her expression and said with a smile:"Luffy, I think you're pretty strong. We can collaborate. Here, I'll give you this Grand Line sea chart." She handed the chart over.Luffy took it in surprise: "This is the Grand Line sea chart? You're really giving it to me? Awesome!""Let's go, I'll take you to see Buggy." Nami grabbed Luffy and started heading out."Take me to see Buggy?" Luffy looked confusedly at the rope Nami had produced, "Why are you tying me up?""Oh, for someone as strong as you, a little rope like this is nothing at all," Nami said dismissively.Luffy thought about it and felt it made sense: "I see, alright then."Inside Buggy's tent, the atmosphere was so oppressive it made it hard to breathe."What? You're telling me you didn't catch that little Cat Burglar?"Buggy kicked over the table in front of him, his heavy makeup twisting with rage."Do you all want to die flashily?"The surrounding pirates trembled in fear: "What should we do? Captain Buggy is furious...""Captain Buggy, we will definitely catch the person who stole the sea chart!"Just as Buggy was venting his rage, a pirate subordinate rushed in frantically:"Captain Buggy! The thief who stole the sea chart is here! And she's brought a tied-up man!"Buggy was taken aback, then gave a cruel laugh: "What? You stole my sea chart and you dare come looking for me?I want to see who gave you such courage!"He strode out of the tent and saw Nami and the tied-up Luffy, his expression darkening:"Stealing my sea chart and then daring to seek me out... I don't know if you're commendably brave or just utterly stupid!"Nami quickly put on a fawning smile: "Great CaptainBuggy, you've misunderstood.This is my former boss. I don't want to work for him anymore, so I'm returning the sea chart to you.Moreover, I've always admired the Buggy Piratesand hope to join you!As for my former boss, please spare his life. After all, he was my big brother, we just had a disagreement.""At least you have some common sense."Inwardly, she was sneering: 'Once I get close to them, I'll take your treasure and everything else!'Luffy had a sudden realization: "Oh, so you're trying to save me! Actually, there was no need for that."As he spoke, he exerted some force, and the ropes on his body snapped into several pieces with a 'crack'."This Big Red Nose is no match for me at all."After a year of grueling training with Mark, Luffy's strength had long since improved by several levels; these ordinary ropes were no different from paper to him.The entire area instantly fell silent.Buggy's face turned livid inch by inch as he said in a trembling voice: "Who did you say has a... red... nose?"Luffy pointed at his nose with a curious look: "You. Your nose is so big and red, it's really interesting.""Aaaaaah!" Buggy completely exploded, "Push the Buggy Ball over here!I'm going to blow this kid to smithereens!" He pointed at Luffy and roared:"You and your Straw Hat make me sick!"Luffy blinked: "You recognize this Straw Hat? Do you know Shanks?"At the mention of Shanks, Buggy's rage grew even stronger, and tears even welled up in his eyes:"If it weren't for that bastard Shanks, I would have already obtained the Great Treasure of the sea!It's all his fault that I ate the Devil Fruit and became a landlubber!"He wiped his face, his expression becoming fierce again:"Fire!"The cannon was aimed at Luffy, making him feel a hint of unease.His awakened Observation Haki allowed him to clearly sense the terrifying power contained within the cannonball.It would be easy for him to dodge, but if this cannonball landed in the town behind him, there was no telling how much destruction it would cause.Boom!The cannonball shot out with a piercing whistle.Luffy didn't have time to think. He immediately took a deep breath, his body expanding rapidly like a balloon: "Gomu Gomu no Balloon!"He used his inflated body to block the cannonball's path, absorbing it into himself.The massive impact made him let out a muffled groan. Even the Armament Haki energy within him that hadn't fully awakened was instinctively mobilized before he could barely steady himself and violently bounce the cannonball into the air.Bang—!A deafening explosion erupted in the sky, flames lighting up the heavens as the entire Orange Townshook violently.Even though he had tanked the shot, Luffy felt his blood churning, and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth. The power of this Buggy Ballwas much greater than he had imagined.On the shore of Orange Town, Mark and Zoro had just stepped onto land when they saw the massive mushroom cloud in the sky and felt the ground tremble.The two exchanged a look and said in unison: "Luffymust be over there, let's go check it out!"In front of Buggy's camp, Nami and Buggy, who had witnessed the whole process, both had their mouths wide open, their faces filled with disbelief."What... what was that?"Nami murmured to herself. She never expected that Luffy could actually tank a Buggy Ball and bounce it into the sky.Buggy the Clown stared with wide eyes and cried out: "You've got to be kidding me! Kid, this is the East Blue, how can there be a powerhouse like you here?"Luffy wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze determined: "Of course. I'm the man who's going to become the Pirate King, and I'll get even stronger."Buggy didn't want to get tangled up with Luffy. His gaze swept over Nami, a flash of malice in his eyes—It was all this woman's fault for stealing his sea chart and bringing such a powerhouse to him. She deserved to die!He quietly used his fruit ability, his hands gripping a short knife inside his clothes.Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, he suddenly attacked Nami!The hand holding the knife separated from his body like an arrow from a bow, stabbing straight toward Nami's heart!It happened so suddenly. Luffy hadn't expected Buggy to be a Chop-Chop Fruit user or that he would suddenly target Nami, leaving him momentarily caught off guard.Nami froze on the spot. Watching the cold glint of the short knife get closer and closer, her mind went blank—It's over, I can't dodge it... I'm sorry everyone... Is my life going to end here?Clang!A crisp sound of metal clashing rang out.At the critical moment, a man with a green glow on his head (a marimo-head) appeared.The Three Sword Style swordsman Zoro had stood in front of Nami at some point, using one of his swords to precisely parry Buggy's incoming knife.He roared fiercely at Luffy: "You bastard, can you stop being so reckless!"Nami came to her senses, her legs going weak as she slumped to the ground, her face pale, clearly shaken.She looked at Zoro's back and thought to herself: 'Is this that guy's partner? He's really something...'Mark also walked over leisurely. Seeing the blood on Luffy's mouth, he couldn't help but laugh:"Yo, isn't this our future Pirate King? How did you end up getting hurt? Hahaha, this shouldn't be happening!"Luffy rubbed his nose and said somewhat sheepishly: "I was careless. That red nose's cannonball was really powerful."Buggy looked at Zoro, and hearing Luffy mention "red nose" again, his teeth ground together as he said viciously:"You bastard, who are you calling a red nose!"His hand holding the knife stabbed at Luffy again from mid-air. Luffy tilted his head to dodge, while Zoro slashed at Buggy.Buggy didn't dodge or block, letting the sword slash through him. To everyone's surprise, his body actually split in two from the middle, with his upper half floating in the air as he laughed cruelly:"Pirate Hunter Zoro, are you here for my head? Too bad, I'm the natural enemy of you swordsmen! Hahaha!"Zoro frowned, looking at Buggy's floating upper body, and muttered: "Splitting? This is going to be a bit troublesome.""The Chop-Chop Fruit doesn't make one invincible against swordsmen; it makes one invincible against all cutting weapons."Mark suddenly spoke up, shaking his fist. "But if you don't cut him, it's fine, right? For example, using fists, or... the back of the blade."Buggy snapped: "Don't... don't talk nonsense! I am Buggy the Immortal!Even with fists, my fruit ability can disperse the impact!""Is that so? Then I'll give it a try." Mark cracked his wrists and was about to step forward."Wait, Mark." Luffy stopped him. "Since fists can hurt him, I'll handle this.He has the sea chart and treasure over there, I'll leave those to you guys."Mark shrugged: "Since it's the Captain's order, let's complete the mission beautifully!"Zoro grinned, his gaze locking onto a man not far away riding a unicycle with flowing hair: "There's a guy playing with blades over there, I'm going to have some fun with him!"Mark glanced at the unicycle man. He looked familiar, but he couldn't recall the name.He sighed: "Sigh, let's get the mission done. I'm just a hardworking logistics guy."Buggy looked at Luffy, then at Zoro and Mark, roaring: "Don't touch my treasure!""Your opponent is me!" Luffy threw a punch, cutting him off and initiating the attack.Zoro also charged at the man on the unicycle, and the glint of blades instantly intertwined.Nami's eyes lit up at the word "treasure." She immediately grabbed Mark's sleeve and used her usual honey trap:"Hey handsome, I'm just a weak girl and I'm so scared here.I'm your Captain's partner now, why don't you take me to find the treasure? I know the way, I'll lead you there."Mark laughed to himself: 'If I hadn't seen the anime, I might really have been fooled by this "weak girl" who can punch the future Pirate King and kick the future greatest swordsman.'On the surface, he remained unfazed: "Since you know the way, lead on."A flash of triumph crossed Nami's eyes, but she said:"Alright handsome, once we find the treasure, I'll help you carry it. After all, I should contribute to be worthy of being your partner!""Don't call me handsome," Mark said flatly. "My name is Mark, I'm 16 years old.""Alright, little brother Mark, this way!"Nami immediately changed her tune, enthusiastically leading the way while plotting in her heart: 'Once we find the treasure, just watch how I play you for a fool!'
Chapter 15: Haki Awakening"Hey, can you take this a bit more seriously?"Nami lowered her voice, looking at the lazy-eyed boy beside her who was yawning. Her brow furrowed into a knot."We're currently robbing the rich to help the poor, not taking a stroll!"Mark raised an eyebrow and casually leaned back on a chair he had seemingly pulled out of nowhere. His tone was nonchalant."What's the rush? It's not like the treasure is going to grow legs and fly away."Before he could finish, heavy footsteps echoed from deep within the warehouse. A burly guard approached, carrying an oil lamp."Who's there?!" the guard bellowed, his long blade whistling through the air as he swung it.Nami's heart tightened. Just as she was about to dodge, she saw Mark move.He didn't even stand up straight; he just tilted his body slightly and thrust his right hand out casually, his elbow striking like forged iron.The movement was too fast to see clearly. There was only a dull "thud."Accompanied by the crisp sound of impact against bone, the guard didn't even let out a groan before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed stiffly to the ground.The oil lamp hit the floor with a "clatter," the flame flickering a few times before dying out.The whole process was clean and efficient, taking less than a second. Mark clapped his hands as if dusting them off, returning to his lazy demeanor.Nami glared at Mark. "Don't think you're all that just because you have some skill!"She pulled a set of small tools from her waist and crouched by the heavy iron door at the end of the warehouse.Her fingers flew as various hair-thin probes and hooks danced nimbly within the keyhole, producing faint, almost inaudible "clicks."In just over ten seconds, with a light click, the lock core that Buggy himself had reinforced was easily opened by her.Mark was truly surprised this time. He looked at Nami with interest."Not bad. That's some professional technique! Practice makes perfect, I guess?"Nami lifted her chin proudly and pushed the door open."Naturally. Who do you think 'Cat Burglar' Nami, the one who strikes fear into the pirates of the East Blue, is?"Behind the door was a passage leading to the treasury. The two of them walked in one after the other.Mark remarked casually, "Actually, you didn't need to go through all that trouble. I could have just kicked the door down. No matter how many of these underlings come, they're not enough for me to warm up on.""Can you stop being so boastful?" Nami rolled her eyes. "Watch out, or you'll trip over your own tongue."Passing through the passage, the view suddenly opened up. The treasury doors were tightly shut, carved with intricate patterns.Several spheres shimmering with a black luster were hanging there—the Buggy Balls that Buggywas so proud of."Careful, those are bombs," Mark warned.Nami nodded and used her old trick again, starting to pick the door lock.This lock was even more complex, but she remained calm and collected, her finger movements precise and steady.Mark leaned against the wall, watching her focused profile. He had to admit, this woman was indeed naturally gifted in this area."Done!" Nami whispered, and the large doors slowly creaked open.An indescribable golden light surged from within, illuminating their faces.Inside the treasury, gold coins were piled like mountains. Various gems and diamonds were a feast for the eyes, and there were even several crates of well-sealed fine wine.The air was thick with the scent of money, enough to drive anyone mad."My god..." Nami covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling with a greedy light."This is worth at least twenty million Berries! That bastard Buggy hid so many good things!"She didn't care about anything else anymore. She lunged at the pile of gold coins, her hands incessantly stuffing coins and gems into the cloth bag she had brought. Her movements were as fast as the wind.Mark appeared much calmer. He didn't look at the treasure but instead walked straight to a bookshelf in the corner of the treasury.It was filled with various scrolls and parchments. He leafed through them unhurriedly, seemingly searching for something.While stuffing her bag, Nami sneakily pocketed a few high-quality gold coins.She also quietly hid a small bag of diamonds behind an inconspicuous wooden crate, intending to come back for them later.She did it very discreetly, thinking she was being completely unnoticed.Little did she know that Mark had already enveloped the entire treasury with his Observation Haki. Every one of her movements, even the twitch of an eyelid, was clearly reflected in his perception.A faint, imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of Mark's mouth as he continued searching for sea charts, having already formulated a plan.Nami had finished packing most of it. Seeing Markstill slowly looking at those scraps of paper, she couldn't help but say urgently:"Hey, what are you dazing off for? Hurry up and pack! With this much treasure, we have to move fast, or it'll be trouble if we're caught!"Mark didn't even look up. "What's the rush? I haven't found what I'm looking for yet.""What could be more important than this treasure?" Nami was puzzled, but she increased her packing speed, calculating how to get a bigger share later.Just then, Nami saw an exquisite red sandalwood box in the deepest part of the treasury, inlaid with gems and clearly very valuable.Her eyes lit up, and she tiptoed over, wanting to open it and see what treasure was inside."Don't move!" Mark's voice suddenly rang out.Nami jumped, her hand snapping back just as it touched the box. "What is it?"Mark pointed around the box. "Don't you see those thin wires? They're connected to Buggy Balls. It'll blow if you touch it."Nami only then noticed several almost transparent thin wires wrapped around the box.One end was connected to several Buggy Balls in the corner. She instantly broke into a cold sweat.If she had been just a moment slower, she probably would have been blown to bits.Mark stepped forward, his fingers moving like lightning as he precisely pinched several thin wires.With a gentle tug, he separated them from the Buggy Balls. Then, he opened the red sandalwood box.The contents left both of them stunned—there was no rare treasure as they had imagined.Only a pile of bottles and jars with patterns of rouge and powder on them. It was a complete set of high-end cosmetics."..." Nami's mouth twitched. "That bastard Buggy! He used so many bombs to protect cosmetics?!"Mark didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed this clown Captain indeed had many eccentricities.Nami huffily tossed the cosmetics aside and went back to packing the treasure.Soon, several huge bundles were piled on the floor, filled with gold coins, gems, and various valuables.And Mark finally found what he wanted—several detailed sea charts. Although incomplete, they were precious enough.Additionally, he found a notebook in a hidden compartment that detailed the formula and production method for Buggy Balls.This should be very useful for Usopp. Mark tucked the notebook away, nodding in satisfaction.He looked at the packed bundles on the floor and glanced at Nami.Nami was taking advantage of his distraction to stuff a few more gold coins into her pockets, a smug smile on her face.She knew that with this much treasure, it was impossible to keep it all to herself. Taking a little extra was better than nothing.Mark stepped forward and patted Nami on the shoulder. "Good work."As soon as he spoke, with a thought, the massive bundles on the floor suddenly vanished into thin air.Even the bag of diamonds Nami had hidden behind the wooden crate and the gold coins in her pockets vanished without a trace.The smile on Nami's face froze instantly. She subconsciously felt her pockets; they were empty.Looking at the floor, the mountain of treasure was gone too.She snapped her gaze toward Mark, her eyes wide. "You... where did you put the treasure?!"Mark pointed to himself. "I put it away.""Put it away?!" Nami was fuming. "Then where is my share? And what I just..."She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.Mark looked at her with a half-smile. "Your share? When you were hiding things earlier, it didn't seem like you planned on sharing with us."Caught in the act, Nami's cheeks flushed red, followed by a surge of embarrassed anger. "You... you noticed long ago?""Mhm." Mark nodded. "My perception is much sharper than you imagine."Looking at this seemingly harmless boy, Namisuddenly felt he was bad to the core.She had originally planned to slip out the back window after dividing the treasure and then come back for her hidden stash to make a bit extra.She never expected that he wouldn't even let the few gold coins in her pockets go!Tears welled up uncontrollably. Nami forced them back, gritting her teeth. "You're ruthless!"Although the coins in her pockets were gone, she remembered that when she was stuffing them in earlier...a few seemed to have rolled into her boots. Namifelt slightly better.At least it wasn't a total loss, but she was still shaking with anger.Seeing her on the verge of tears, Mark stopped teasing her.He knew Nami needed a hundred million Berries to buy back her village—the village controlled by Arlong.Although he thought the idea was a bit naive, he understood her persistence.He took a medium-sized bundle out of his System Space and handed it to Nami. "This is for you."Nami was stunned for a moment and didn't take it. "What's in here?""See for yourself."Nami opened the bundle suspiciously. Inside were neatly stacked Berries, about five million or so.She jerked her head up to look at Mark, her eyes filled with shock."You... why are you giving me so much? You could have given me nothing, and I couldn't have done anything about it."Mark's gaze was sincere, without a hint of mockery. "Because you're our partner.""Partner?" Nami murmured. The word was both foreign and distant to her.She had grown up in the shadow of pirates and had seen too much betrayal and greed. A "partner" was nothing more than an excuse for an exchange of interests."Yes, partner."Mark nodded firmly. "Between partners, there aren't that many 'whys'.""As long as we have it, and as long as you need it, things like treasure can be given to you."Nami stared blankly at Mark, then at the bundle in her hands. The icy barrier that had long encased her heart seemed to loosen slightly.This boy was different from all the pirates she had met before.She took a deep breath, put the bundle and sea charts away, and said with a determined look:"Don't worry. Since you trust me, I'll keep my word and take you to the entrance to the Grand Line."Just then, a cacophony of footsteps came from outside the treasury, accompanied by an exasperated voice:"You damn Cat Burglar! Put down my treasure! And you rubber bastard, get out of my way! Don't block me!""It's Buggy!"Mark tilted his chin and said to Nami, "Looks like things are wrapping up on Luffy's side. Time to bail."The two exchanged a glance and moved toward the treasury's back door in unison.Meanwhile, in the open space at the center of the camp, the battle between Zoro and Cabaji was reaching its climax.Cabaji was riding his unicycle, nimbly sliding across the gravel ground. The sound of the wheels grinding over the stones was extremely grating.His short blade traced eerie arcs in the Moonlight, sometimes stabbing at Zoro's lower body like a viper's tongue,and sometimes suddenly swinging a chain-ball, which whistled through the air toward the sky in an attempt to interfere with Zoro's judgment."Pirate Hunter Zoro? You're just a stray dog rejected by pirates!"Cabaji's laughter was sharp and piercing, as unpleasant as a broken gong.He suddenly maneuvered his unicycle to spin in place, kicking up a cloud of dust that instantly filled the air and blurred Zoro's vision."You can't even catch my tail lights, and you dare say you'll be the World's Greatest Swordsman?"Zoro closed his eyes, his green bandana fluttering in the night wind.He didn't look at Cabaji's movements. Instead, he listened carefully to the rotation of the unicycle's bearings and felt the subtle changes in the surrounding airflow with his skin.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteThis was an instinct honed through years of training; no matter how chaotic the scene, he could precisely lock onto the enemy's trajectory."Juggling belongs in a circus."Zoro suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade, and all three swords were drawn at once."Flashing your blade in front of me only serves to dirty my own."Before the words even left his lips, his figure had transformed into a blur, rushing forward violently.Cabaji did not expect Zoro to be this fast; he hurriedly swung his chain ball, the iron ball whistling through the air straight for Zoro's face.But Zoro's body moved as if he had no bones, dodging with extreme flexibility.The sword in his left hand precisely deflected the chain, while the sword in his right hand slashed directly at Cabaji's sword-wielding wrist.The sword in his mouth grazed the edge of the unicycle, sending out a shower of dazzling sparks."Clang!"The chain was severed by the sharp blade, and Cabaji's wrist was grazed by the force of the sword, blood instantly gushing out.He let out a muffled grunt of pain, the unicycle lost its balance, and he nearly fell flat on his face."How is this possible..."Cabaji struggled to stabilize himself, looking at Zoro's Three Sword Style stance.For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes, "You clearly only have two hands!""This is Three Sword Style." Zoro's eyes were cold as ice. "It is a sword technique practiced to defeat all strong opponents."He gave Cabaji no chance to catch his breath, exerting force under his feet to leap into the air, his voice ringing out coldly: "Three Sword Style: Oni Giri!"Three sharp flashes of steel intertwined, forming the shape of a ferocious tiger.With a whistling sound that tore through the air, it pounced fiercely toward Cabaji.Cabaji hurriedly tried to block with his broken chain and short sword, but the immense power contained within the blade light sent him flying backward.The unicycle fell apart on the spot, he crashed heavily to the ground, and the short sword in his hand snapped in two.A wound deep enough to see bone split open on his chest."You... how are you so strong..."Cabaji coughed up blood, watching Zoro sheath his blades, finally realizing he had provoked someone he shouldn't have.Zoro said indifferently, "It's that you are too weak."Mark, observing from the shadows, nodded inwardly:According to the original plot, Zoro was stabbed in the kidney by Buggy and had a difficult time fighting Cabaji later on.Now that Zoro hadn't been stabbed in the kidney, he was indeed unreasonably fierce!He took a jar of wine from the System Space, tossed it to Zoro, and smiled at him.Zoro caught the wine jar, opened the seal, tilted his head back to take a large gulp, let out a satisfied breath, and sighed:"Stretching my muscles before drinking really makes it taste better. Are you done? Mark.""That goes without saying." Mark laughed, "Look at Luffy's side; it should be over soon, right?"On the other side, the battle between Luffy and Buggy had already turned half the camp into ruins.Buggy's body was smashed to pieces by Luffy's rubber fists, his head rolling back and forth on top of the tent.His arms flailed in the air like a puppet with cut strings, while his mouth continued to curse incessantly:"You bastard Straw Hat! Do you know who I am? I am the immortal Buggy!""Red Nose! Red Nose! Red Nose!" Luffy shouted at the top of his lungs, intentionally provoking him.Buggy roared in anger, nearly flipping over the tent beneath him.His body suddenly reassembled, and he appeared with a dagger in his hand, though no one knew when he had grabbed it:"I'm going to tear you and your Straw Hat to shreds! Chop-Chop Flying Fist!"His fist detached from his body, whistling through the air straight for Luffy's face.Luffy leaned back sharply, the fist grazing his nose as it flew past and smashed into the wooden crate behind him, sending wooden splinters flying everywhere.But this was just a feint—Buggy's foot kicked from the side simultaneously, carrying the properties of the Chop-Chop Fruit, intending to pierce through Luffy's rubber body.Luffy's Observation Haki suddenly captured Buggy's intention; he nimbly dodged to the side, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "It's useless!""You think your rubber ability is so great? In front of my Chop-Chop Fruit, it's nothing!" Buggy sneered and launched another attack.Luffy suddenly remembered the strange power that surged through his body when he took Buggy's cannonball head-on—Mark said it was the rudimentary form of Armament Haki, which could make his body as hard as steel.Now, he seemed to know how to mobilize this power.Seeing Luffy dazed, Buggy thought he had an opening and grinned viciously: "Think you can stop me just because you're rubber? Chop-Chop Bombing!"His body split into countless small pieces, rushing toward Luffy like cannonballs.But this time, those fragments hit Luffy's body, which was covered in black markings, and bounced off as if they had struck a steel plate."W-what?!" Buggy's voice came from the scattered fragments, full of disbelief, "How can your body...""Because I'm going to be the Pirate King!"Luffy retracted his balloon-inflated body, his fist wrapped in a black aura, and rushed violently toward Buggy's not-yet-fully-reassembled body,"So I won't lose to you here! Gum-Gum... Armament Haki... Rocket!"The fist, imbued with Armament Haki, smashed fiercely into Buggy's chest; this time, the Chop-Chop Fruit completely failed.Buggy was sent flying as if hit by a giant boulder, crashing through three tents before stopping. He spat out a mouthful of blood, unable to maintain his split state any longer, and collapsed on the ground, motionless. Nami immediately stepped forward to loot him.Luffy shook his fist, his eyes sparkling, and shouted excitedly: "Is this Armament Haki? It really is powerful! My fist got stronger, and it can actually suppress Devil Fruit abilities!"Mark walked over, looking at Luffy with some surprise: "Luffy, you just...""Mark! Mark!" Luffy grabbed Mark's arm excitedly, "That's great! I just awakened Armament Haki!"Zoro walked over and asked suspiciously: "What are you talking about? Armament Haki?""Yes! It's Armament Haki!" Luffy explained.Mark smiled: "Alright, Zoro, I'll explain it to you in detail on the ship later."He looked around; because of Luffy's battle, the town hadn't suffered too much damage.Only the Buggy Pirates' stronghold had become unrecognizable. "Since Buggy has lost consciousness, I suppose these miscellaneous things can be recycled, right?"As soon as he finished speaking, Mark's body suddenly changed. A massive aura spread out, and his form expanded rapidly, transforming into a gigantic Slime Form that covered most of the camp.The surrounding rubble, wood chips, damaged tents, and even the scattered weapon fragments were all sucked toward him, merging into his body, and then broken down into pure energy.This was the reason for his giant transformation; this was the fastest way to break down "trash."Zoro and Nami were seeing Mark's form for the first time and were too shocked to speak.Although it wasn't Luffy's first time seeing it, he was excited every time, his eyes sparkling: "Wow! That's amazing, Mark! Slime Form is so cool!"Mark converted all the collected energy values into Constitution, watching the number on the panel soar all the way, finally stopping at 1000 points.He felt some anticipation; although he had already awakened Armament Haki, he didn't know if the system would give him additional rewards to upgrade his Armament Haki.[Ding! Congratulations to the host for reaching 1000 points in Constitution, meeting the requirements to awaken Armament Haki.][Ding! Detected that the host's Armament Hakihas already been autonomously activated; the system is changing the Constitution reward to Conqueror's Haki awakening!]Mark was stunned: "Conqueror's Haki? Awakened just like that? Are you kidding me?"He hurriedly checked the system panel again, and methods for using Conqueror's Haki instantly flooded into his mind.It was mainly about "presence," a kind of indomitable spirit; whenever he wanted to use it, he could "show off" at any time.Mark rubbed his nose and retracted his giant form. He looked at the Devil Fruit repair progress, which had already reached 98%,It was just a little bit of energy away from completing the repair, which might become a great asset to him.He clapped his hands and said to Luffy and Zoro: "Look at you, making ruins everywhere; what if you scare the children? Even if you don't scare the children, it's not good to scare the flowers and plants! Look at me, I cleaned it up so cleanly and levelly; in the future, the town residents can come here to build houses or farm, how convenient! When will you two ever become as excellent as me?"Zoro frowned and looked around: "Where are my swords..."Nami chuckled on the side, thinking to herself: They are different from any pirates I've met; perhaps joining them... No, what about the village? She shook her head, casting away the thoughts she shouldn't have.The people around saw her shaking her head for no reason and thought she was a bit slow."Wow! Mark! Nami! Did you find the treasure?" Luffyran over and asked curiously.Mark raised the notebook in his hand: "Yeah, found some treasure and a few treasure maps! Looks like you guys had quite a lively fight.""Oh right, Nami," Luffy suddenly grabbed her wrist, his eyes shining like stars, "Come be our navigator! We're going to the Grand Line and need an excellent navigator!"Nami's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment she was tempted, but thinking of the village, she hardened her heart again and shook off Luffy's hand: "Who wants to be a pirate with you?""But you helped us find treasure just now." Luffylooked confused."I only did it for the money!" Nami raised her voice, as if trying to convince herself, "Once I save up enough money, I'll part ways with you!""Hmph." She turned her face away and took out the Grand Line chart she had looted from Buggy from her pocket, "Seeing as you helped me get rid of Buggy and shared the treasure with me, I, this lady, will guide you pirate rookies. There are reefs in the sea ahead; you can only avoid them perfectly if you follow me."Luffy cheered immediately: "Great! Nami really is a good person!"They handcuffed Buggy with the Seastone handcuffs they got from the Marine base and handed him over to the mayor, telling him to exchange him for the bounty with the Marines to compensate for the town's losses.Then, they took everything that needed to be packed. In order to store the treasure and supplies, Mark insisted on not putting the ship into the System Space, but instead left it docked at the harbor.After packing up, Nami pointed to a ship not far away and asked: "Is your ship the one with the propeller on the stern?"Luffy nodded and said proudly: "Yeah! Markdesigned it! Mark uses his ability to make the propeller spin, cool right?"He seemed to think that Mark being able to make the ship move was even more exciting than his own awakening of Armament Haki.Nami was the first to jump onto the ship, followed closely by Luffy and Zoro.When Mark was the last to board, he saw Namistanding at the bow, her short orange hair flying in the sea breeze, the afterglow of the setting sun casting upon her, outlining a beautiful silhouette."What are you staring at? Hurry up and get the propeller moving!" Nami turned back and glared at him, though a smile that she herself didn't notice curled at the corner of her mouth, "Do you want to get caught by the Marines?"The small ship broke through the waves, sailing toward the direction where the sun was setting.Mark leaned against the ship's railing, watching the three noisy people beside him—Luffy shouting about wanting meat, Zoro closing his eyes to rest, and Nami looking down at the sea chart—and suddenly felt that this journey to the Grand Linewould be much more interesting than in his memories.
Chapter 16: The Boastful UsoppNami stood at the bow of the ship, arms crossed, her orange-yellow hair blown messy by the wind,but it didn't affect the unusual seriousness on her face in the slightest.Her eyes, which usually held a hint of craftiness, were now like a layer of thin ice.She slowly scanned the three people on the deck and said in a low voice, "We can't go on like this."Luffy was sitting on the gunwale, swaying, his legs gently kicking the seawater with the ship's rise and fall.He turned his head, touched the Straw Hat on his head, and asked in confusion, "Hmm? What's wrong, Nami?"Zoro leaned against the other side of the gunwale, meticulously wiping his blade with a snow-white velvet cloth—that was the wado ichimonji, which he valued as much as his own life.Mark, on the other hand, had his eyes closed as if resting, but his fingers were unconsciously tapping the deck.He was controlling the propeller at the stern through his fruit ability, keeping the small boat on a steady course at all times.The gazes of the three landed on Nami almost simultaneously, each with a different expression—Luffy's was pure curiosity, Zoro's was a somewhat nonchalant scrutiny, and Mark's showed a hint of understanding."Are you planning to challenge the Grand Line just like this?"Nami emphasized her tone, "Luffy, you're the Captain. I can say clearly, this won't work!"Luffy rubbed his chin, and suddenly, as if he had thought of a brilliant idea, he clapped his hands hard:"Oh—I get it! We're definitely missing a musician! With a musician, the voyage will be lively enough!""Right, we also need to find a chef as a partner. Although Mark's cooking is delicious,""it's too hard for him to be both a combatant and control the ship!""A musician? Hahaha, what the hell!"Zoro sneered and sheathed his polished blade with a "clink.""The most important thing for sailing is obviously booze. If pirates don't have booze, how can they have a banquet?""How can booze be more important than meat! Meat is the most important!"Luffy immediately stiffened his neck and retorted, then turned to shout at Mark, his voice full of excitement,"Mark, Mark, my Logistics Admiral, you must stockpile more meat!""When we get to the Grand Line, I want to eat meat every day!" At the thought of eating meat, Luffy's mouth was already watering!"Hey! Mark, you need to prepare a few more barrels of booze too!"Zoro glanced sideways at Luffy and added in an unquestionable tone.Mark finally turned his head slowly, his gaze calmly scanning the two, and spoke:"Let me report the status of our supplies to everyone:""Regarding the booze we swiped from Buggy, Zorodrank one barrel, and there are twenty barrels left, all sealed in airtight casks.""As for meat, there's still over three hundred pounds of cooked food!"He cast a particularly wary glance at Luffy—after all, most of it had been "ravaged" by him."There's still over a thousand pounds of raw meat, so I'm not worried about Luffy eating that! He can't just gnaw on it raw, can he?"Mark thought for a moment and then felt that, given Luffy's nature, it was actually possible...He paused and added, "Also, our pirate crew's total assets are 25.3 million Berries:""5.3 million is in cash, and the rest is treasure scavenged from Buggy's ship,""estimated at about 20 million Berries, mostly gold and silver jewelry and antiques.""The priority is to find a place to exchange them for cash. The space inside my body is limited, and I still need to store daily necessities,""otherwise, even the space for meat will be cramped." This last sentence was clearly meant for Luffy.Hot air puffed from Luffy's nostrils, looking quite comical. "If we exchange it for money, can we stockpile more meat?"His eyes widened into circles, and he slammed a fist hard into his palm with a dull "thud.""I see! This is a huge deal! We must exchange for Berries first!""I've really had it with the three of you!" Namislapped her forehead hard, feeling the veins at her temples throbbing.She took a deep breath and said almost through gritted teeth, "I'm talking about the ship! The ship!""Can you guys focus on the main point?""This ship is too small now. In the future, Luffy will add more partners. How can we sail if there's no place to even put our feet?""Even if it was expanded using Mark's materials, it's only suitable for wandering around in these calm waters!""Do you know how ridiculous the weather in the Grand Line is?""One moment it might be clear skies for miles, and the next, storms and giant waves come together. Can this ship hold up?""To go to the Grand Line, we must have a sturdier, more professional ship!""Oh—" Luffy drawled, finally understanding. He immediately waved his fist, his face full of excitement."Then let's go buy a super awesome ship! Mark, can 25 million Berries buy a super awesome ship?"Mark thought for a bit and nodded. "If I sell some more iron blocks and wood, the money we pull together should be enough to buy a decent ship,""and we can also have a shipwright modify it slightly according to our needs, add some furniture, and so on.""Good!" Luffy suddenly raised his arm, his rubber arm stretching long in the sunlight."Guys, then for our future pirate ship, let's head for the next island—whoo!"The ship had just come to a steady halt in the shallows of Syrup Village, the bottom of the boat making a rough scraping sound against the sand as the group stepped onto the island!Zoro suddenly pressed the hilt of the sword at his waist, his gaze sharpening like a cheetah ready to strike. "Watch out!"Before he could finish, a series of "crackling" sounds came from overhead, and dozens of steel balls landed densely at Luffy's feet—those were Usopp's "Galaxy Small Marbles." Some bounced up and grazed his pant leg, making him jump and howl:"Whoa! What's that! Was it shot from the woods?"Hundreds of crooked skull flags suddenly rose from the surrounding bushes, clearly low-quality handmade items.A long-nosed man suddenly jumped out from behind a tree, standing on a rock half the height of a person with his hands on his hips.He deliberately lowered his voice, trying to make himself sound more fierce: "Hey! Who are you? What are you doing here?""We're pirates," Luffy laughed openly, showing two rows of neat white teeth, not paying those crude skull flags any mind. "We're looking for a big ship."Usopp's heart skipped a beat: So they really are pirates? He quietly clenched his fists, tried to straighten his back, and deliberately put on a fierce look to intimidate them:"Listen up! I am the Captain of the Great Usopp Pirate Crew, with eight thousand subordinates!""Syrup Village is this great one's base. If you're planning to target the village, I advise you to give up sooner rather than later!""Eight thousand subordinates?" Stars instantly appeared in Luffy's eyes, his face full of admiration. "That's amazing! That's even more than Buggy's subordinates!"Nami, however, crossed her arms and tilted her head, a clear spark of mockery at the corner of her mouth as her eyes scanned Usopp like a scanner. "You're lying, right?"Usopp's face froze instantly, and he subconsciously covered his mouth, his eyes frantic like a startled rabbit. "I-I've been seen through?""So it was a lie."The admiration on Luffy's face instantly faded, replaced by a hint of disappointment, like a child whose balloon had been popped."Ahem... I don't have eight thousand... but I have many powerful subordinates! Really!"Usopp hurriedly defended himself, his voice rising slightly with a hint of desperate panic.Mark glanced behind the bushes, his gaze landing precisely on three small heads peeking out—those were Usopp's "three core subordinates." He said indifferently, "Is it those three kids?"Immediately, three short sounds came from behind the bushes:"Ah! We've been spotted, run!" Three heads suddenly retracted, followed by the sound of messy footsteps.Seeing they were exposed, the kids vanished in a flash, knocking the crooked skull flags askew as they went, with some even falling to the ground.Usopp looked at the empty bushes, feeling bitter in his heart: Everyone ran away... it's just me!"A pirate who uses a slingshot?" Nami picked up a steel ball from the ground, her tone teasing. "I've never heard of such a thing."Usopp's face turned the color of a ripe tomato, and he was so embarrassed he didn't know where to put his hands or feet, his toes digging several small pits in the sand.His heart was racing, but he stiffened his neck and pulled a slingshot from his waist, his fingers trembling as he pulled back the rubber band, aiming it at Luffy's head while feigning toughness:"Don't... don't underestimate me! You saw it just now, my slingshot skills are better than a gun!"The smile on Luffy's face suddenly vanished, his eyes darkening as if covered by a shadow, carrying an invisible sense of pressure:"Since you've pulled that thing out, it seems you've made your resolution?"Zoro pushed his sword out half an inch with a "clack," the cold light of the blade reflecting his icy gaze as he said coldly:"In front of you are real pirates."Mark narrowed his eyes, a half-smile on his lips, looking casual yet like a crouching beast;Nami also dropped her joking expression and stood aside with her arms crossed, her eyes full of scrutiny,as if assessing the weight of the long-nosed man before her.Invisible pressure surged like the rising tide, and Usopp's legs couldn't stop shaking.The rubber band of the slingshot in his hand shook along with him, as if it might snap at any moment.His voice shook uncontrollably, on the verge of tears: "Re... resolution? What resolution?""The thing in your hand is dangerous."Luffy took a step forward, his gaze like a blade tempered in ice, stabbing straight at Usopp."By pointing it at my head, you must be prepared to die!"Usopp's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, making even breathing difficult.He stared fixedly into Luffy's emotionless eyes, feeling a chill rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.Ten seconds felt as long as a century. He couldn't hold it any longer and collapsed onto the ground with a "thud," his buttocks hitting the sand hard and kicking up a cloud of dust.His face was as pale as paper, his lips trembling as he muttered:"Re... real pirates... the aura when they speak is completely different...""Hahaha!" Luffy suddenly burst into hearty laughter and reached out to clap Usopp heavily on the shoulder,nearly knocking him to the ground. "I learned that from Shanks. How was it? Scary, right?"Usopp looked up sharply, his eyes widened into circles as if he had heard something unbelievable:"Shanks? You know that great pirate, Red HairShanks?""Yeah." Luffy nodded, then suddenly pointed a finger at his nose and laughed brightly,"Hey, long-nosed Usopp, your dad is Yasopp, right? You look just like him; I recognized you at a glance.""Ya... Yasopp?"Usopp was so startled he almost jumped off the ground, his voice cracking with unbelievable trembling,"Th-that's my dad's name! How do you know?""He's a member of Shanks' crew." Luffy scratched his head, his tone as relaxed as if he were mentioning something perfectly ordinary."Back then, he mentioned you to me every day, saying you were a very impressive kid,"AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite"Say that one day you will become a brave pirate. I know quite a bit about you."Usopp's eyes slowly lit up. The corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably, and his voice carried a tearful tone, yet it was filled with an indescribable pride:"So my dad was a crew member of the great Red Hair Shanks... My dad is truly amazing!"In the village's small restaurant, the aroma of food filled the air. Luffy held a huge piece of roasted meat, eating until his mouth was covered in grease;Three jugs of wine were placed in front of Zoro, and he drank them down heartily;Mark and Nami had long finished eating and were leaning against the table, munching on apples, creating a lively atmosphere."Is it good?"Usopp sat to the side, watching them eat with such enjoyment, and he laughed happily along with them."This is the best restaurant in our village, the landlady's barbecue skills are top-notch!"Nami took a bite of her apple and looked at Usopp, her eyes filled with a hint of anticipation:"Hey! Usopp, can we find a larger ship here? We need one urgently."The smile on Usopp's face faded a little. He shook his head, his tone filled with a hint of apology:"Sorry, as you can see, our village is quite poor. Everyone only has a few decent fishing boats, so I don't think we can meet your needs.""There seems to be a huge mansion on the mountain."Zoro put down his wine jug, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and pointed to the hill behind the village. There, one could vaguely see a dense forest, and deep within the forest, a white, luxurious roof was hidden."Looks pretty wealthy." Mark replied, his tone calm, "If they have a ship, we can pay to buy it, the price is negotiable.""A mansion..." Usopp suddenly stood up, a flash of panic in his eyes—he remembered Kaya's mansion, and that always cold-hearted butler."Ah, that's right, I have something important to do! Eat whatever you want, the owner knows me well, just put it on my tab!"After saying that, he ran off like a gust of wind, not even bothering to close the door."Is he trying to dine and dash?" Nami immediately frowned, instinctively touching her money pouch, her face full of vigilance.Mark shrugged, a knowing smile in his eyes: "Looks like he's in a rush to do something. In that case, Nami, you'll have to treat us.""Why should I be the one to treat?!" Nami instantly bristled, rolling up her sleeves to argue with Mark, "Why should I use the money I worked so hard to save to pay for you guys?!"Just then, three little kids slammed the restaurant door open with a "bang," the door hitting the wall with a loud crash.They put their hands on their hips, trying hard to imitate Usopp, and shouted loudly: "The UsoppPirates have arrived!"Luffy chewed on his meat and asked vaguely: "Who are you guys?""Huh! Oh no... Captain doesn't seem to be here."One kid scratched his head, then turned to Luffy and the others, eyes wide: "Where did you take our Captain?"Luffy had just finished a piece of meat. He rubbed his round belly and sighed contentedly: "So full, this meat is really delicious."The three kids looked at each other, the ferocity on their faces instantly collapsing, replaced by blank expressions, their mouths wide enough to fit an egg: "No way... Captain, he...""Your Captain," Zoro intentionally stiffened his face, his eyes fierce enough to look like he was going to eat someone! Combined with his signature "dark face," the intimidation was immense, "was eaten by us."The three kids were so scared they burst into tears, backing away repeatedly, and finally huddled in the corner, trembling, tears and snot streaming down their faces."Hahaha! I'm kidding!" Mark laughed and waved his hand, his tone softening, "Don't be afraid, he just ran off for something. By the way, do you know where Usopp went?"The kid wearing the onion-head mask sobbed and choked out: "H-he must have gone to the mansion! He's going to tell Miss Kaya stories! Miss Kaya... her parents passed away a long time ago, and she's been bedridden, feeling very down.""Usopp said that his adventure stories could make Miss Kaya happy, and Kaya's illness has really improved a lot over these years. Actually, Miss Kayahas known for a long time that Big Brother Usopp is bragging, but she always listens very seriously and even secretly slips us snacks.""So Usopp is this kind!" Luffy's eyes lit up, and he jumped up from his seat, "Let's go, let's go meet this young lady! And ask about the ship while we're at it!"The iron gate of the mansion was tightly closed, covered in ivy on the carved railings, exuding a solemn and mysterious atmosphere.Everyone was observing the luxury of the mansion, but Luffy couldn't be bothered to knock. He grabbed Zoro, Mark, and Nami's hands, exerted force with his feet, and the elasticity of rubber sent him shooting into the sky like a cannonball, soaring over the wall with the three of them in mid-air with a "whoosh."—Nami was scared to tears, Zoro gritted his teeth and growled, "I'll cut you down sooner or later," while Mark, being a Logia user, wasn't afraid at all—They landed with a "thud" on a huge oak tree, the very one where Usopp was hiding to tell stories.The branches shook violently, and Usopp was so scared he almost fell out of the tree; he scrambled to grab onto the branches.In the window below the tree, Kaya was wearing a white nightgown. Although her face was still pale, she looked more lively than the rumors suggested. She exclaimed upon hearing them: "Ah! Are you guys okay?""They aren't bad guys! They are the new members of my Usopp Pirates!" Usopp hurriedly waved his hands, trying to smooth things over, his eyes full of panic."Not really." Luffy lay on the branch, grinning at Kaya, revealing two rows of white teeth, "I have a favor to ask—we want a bigger ship!""Breaking into someone's house like this is very troubling." A cold, hard voice came from across the lawn, piercing the awkwardness in the air like an icicle.Everyone turned their heads to see a man with gold-rimmed glasses walking over. He was wearing a crisp butler uniform, his hair combed meticulously, his expression serious, and his eyes like tempered ice—it was Klahadore, the butler of Kaya's house.He adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light. His gaze scanned the four people on the tree like a scanner, finally landing on Usopp, his tone filled with undisguised disdain: "Please leave, including you, Usopp, the liar who disturbs the whole village every day."Usopp slid down from the tree, stiffening his neck, trying hard to make himself look not so cowardly: "What? Do you admire me? Then address me as Captain Usopp!"Klahadore pushed up his glasses, a sneer curling his lips: "Captain? I do know a thing or two about your father."Usopp's face turned pale instantly, his lips pressed into a thin line, a flash of imperceptible pain in his eyes—his father was the thing he cared about most, yet people always used it against him."Mr. Klahadore..." Kaya spoke softly, trying to stop him, her voice as faint as a mosquito. Over the years, she had long noticed Klahadore's hostility toward Usopp, but she was always powerless to retort.But Klahadore acted as if he didn't hear her. He walked straight up to Usopp, his voice not loud, but every word was cutting: "Usopp, your dad is a great pirate, and you are just the son of a pirate with dirty, barbaric blood flowing in your veins."Luffy's eyes instantly darkened, his originally smiling face becoming serious, his fists quietly clenched at his sides—he hated hearing things like "dirty blood" the most; Shanks and Yasopp were people he respected. He didn't speak, wanting to see how Usopp would respond.Usopp suddenly looked up, his eyes seeming to burn with two small flames. He stood straight up from the ground, his chest heaving violently, as if a fire was burning inside: "What did you say?""I said," Klahadore repeated slowly, the mockery on his lips deepening, while a flash of imperceptible malice flickered in his eyes—he was waiting, waiting for the right moment to completely get rid of Usoppand seize Kaya's family fortune. "You must hate your dad, right? Abandoning his family, only knowing how to chase after those illusory treasures, what a shameful man. Aren't you best at lying? You should use your specialty and say your dad is actually a respected businessman? Or that you aren't even related to him by blood?""Bang!" Usopp could no longer hold back and punched Klahadore hard in the face. Klahadore stumbled back two steps, his glasses crooked to one side, and a crack appeared on the lens.Usopp's chest heaved violently, his eyes rimmed with red, but he glared at him fiercely: "I am a braggart, I am a coward! But my dad is not what you say! He is a warrior who fears no danger on the sea! I am proud of him! The blood of a pirate flows in my body, and this is my pride! I am the son of a pirate!""See," Klahadore wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his sneer deepening, his eyes filled with disdain, "Just as expected, an animal with barbaric blood, only knowing how to solve problems with violence. Proud? Pride? Pirates are just a bunch of shameless, dirty idiots!"Usopp raised his fist again, and Kaya hurriedly shouted from the window, her voice filled with pleading: "Usopp, don't use violence!"Just then, a muffled "bang" exploded, like thunder rolling across the ground. Klahadore's body was hit as if by an invisible heavy hammer, flying sideways, tracing a parabola in the air, and landed with a heavy "thud" in the flowerbed over ten meters away, crushing a patch of beautiful roses.The gold-rimmed glasses on his face were completely shattered, and the shards were scattered all over the ground.Mark shook his slightly numb fist; he hadn't used Armament Haki, fearing he would crush the guy with a single punch: "Sorry, Captain. I know this might cause trouble for us buying a ship, but I really couldn't help wanting to smash this disgusting thing's glasses."Kaya covered her mouth, her eyes wide, her face full of shock—she had never seen such a direct conflict before.Zoro raised an eyebrow, a curve of approval curling the corner of his mouth, as if saying "Well done."Nami held her forehead and sighed softly, but there wasn't the slightest bit of blame in her eyes.Usopp stood in place, looking at Mark's back, then at Klahadore struggling in the flowerbed in the distance. His eyes suddenly grew hot, and his heart felt as if it had been filled with something, warm—so this is what it feels like to be protected so firmly by someone.
Chapter 17: Wings of ReincarnationSide Story:The ink on the poneglyphs records the Void Century, but the shadow currently looming over the Red Lineis more suffocating than those heaviest of engravings.The rock layers of the Red Line crackled in the high heat; it was the wail of the earth as the World Government's butcher knife cleaved through the lunarian race's last settlement for the third time.The flames that once symbolized the glory of the "God Race" were now licking at the broken walls and ruins, burning a millennium of civilization into charred debris.The air was thick with the pungent smell of scorched flesh, and black feathers, like crushed stardust,mixed with scalding ash, drifted down from the burning vault of the sky, covering the crimson earth.Mo leaned against a shattered white jade pillar. Behind him, the pair of wings that were once as magnificent as obsidian now had only half a broken bone remaining, with charred feathers stuck to bleeding wounds.Every breath he took pulled at the sharp pain in his ribs, and he forcibly swallowed the metallic taste of blood rising in his throat—he could not show weakness in front of Yue.Not far away, Yue was curled up in the corner of a collapsed altar, clutching an infant in swaddling clothes.The scar on her left arm from a laser burn was hideous and terrifying; the wound that once flowed with golden flames now held only ash-gray, scorched skin.But both of their gazes were locked firmly on the child in her arms.That was Xing, the last bloodline of the lunarian race's royal family. The infant slept peacefully in his mother's arms, his tender little face still bearing traces of vernix,and the tiny pair of wings on his back, not yet fully unfurled, were covered in soft black lanugo.Occasionally, a few wisps of faint black fire would escape with his breath, flickering at the edge of the swaddling clothes like fireflies.This was the innate mark of the lunarian race, a testament to their coexistence with heaven and earth,but in today's world, it had become a death warrant hanging over his head."They won't stop."Mo's voice was hoarse as he raised a hand to wipe the bloody froth from the corner of his mouth, his gaze scanning the distant horizon—there, the figures of the Gorosei emerged like specters, carrying a pressure that could judge all things."They won't even spare a hatchling that has just broken its shell. This is the World Government's 'Justice'."Yue lowered her head and kissed the child's soft hair, tears falling silently and dripping onto the infant's hand.The tears carried her remaining body heat, making the infant smack his lips uneasily."He's still so small..." she choked out. "He hasn't even seen the real sky yet.""That's exactly why we must let him live."Mo's eyes suddenly became sharp, like flames burning to their limit. "Only by living can he see it."He used the stone pillar to stand up, his tattered wings trembling slightly as the remaining flames reignited, though they were much dimmer than before. "Use'Seal', Yue."Yue snapped her head up, horror and struggle flashing in her eyes. She knew what her husband was talking about—it was the power of the "Seal-Seal Fruit" she had awakened, a power classified as forbidden within their tribe.It could forcibly strip a creature's racial talents and seal them deep within their bloodline,but the cost was the caster's life and their own racial characteristics.Once used, she would completely lose the power of the lunarian race, and her lifespan would shrink drastically, like a plant prematurely entering its wilting phase."But you...""No buts."Mo interrupted her with an unquestionable tone, yet it carried an indescribable tenderness."You and Xing staying alive is the best way to honor the lunarian race.I will do my best to hold them back. You two take the secret passage to the rendezvous ship at the edge of the Red Line and head deep into the New World. Run as far as you can."He walked up to Yue and gently stroked the infant's cheek. "Tell Xing his father's name was Mo,and that he died to protect those he wanted to protect."Yue's tears gushed out; she knew she had no choice.She reached out with trembling hands, pale gold patterns appearing on her palms.The patterns moved like living things, emitting an ancient and mysterious aura.When her palm covered the infant's back, the embryonic form of the tiny wings on Mark's back melted away like snow in the golden light.The black fire escaping with his breath was also instantly extinguished, and with it, the life force belonging to the lunarian race—that aura of life which reigned above all things—was completely erased.The infant's body became warm and ordinary, just like countless other human babies born upon the sea.At the same moment, Yue's face turned as pale as paper, and the flame behind her went out with a puff.Her once glossy black wings quickly lost their luster, becoming withered and gray.She stumbled into Mo's arms, her breathing becoming faint."Yue..." Mo held her tightly, his voice full of pain and pity."I'm fine..." Yue smiled weakly, raising a hand to stroke her husband's scarred cheek. "Go quickly... don't let them... catch up..."Mo took a deep breath, took one last look at his wife and son, and turned to rush toward the shadow that symbolized despair. "Yue, I love you!"His voice pierced through the flames and the roar, reaching Yue's ears clearly,"Remember, the lunarian race never bows its head!"His figure crashed into the Gorosei like a meteor, the resulting explosion of energy making the entire Red Line tremble.Yue knew her husband was using his life to pave a path to survival for them.Gritting her teeth, she used the last of her strength to pick up the now "ordinary" Mark and ducked into the secret passage beneath the altar.The secret passage was pitch black, filled only with her heavy panting.Her withered wings scraped against the stone walls, bringing waves of stinging pain, but she didn't dare stop—every second of delay could mean her husband's sacrifice was in vain.Ten years passed in the blink of an eye, yet felt as long as a century.On the coast of an unnamed deserted island in the New World, waves crashed against the reefs, and the splashing droplets sparkled with rainbow colors in the sunlight.Ten-year-old Mark was sitting on a smooth rock, casting his fishing rod. His long black hair was blown back by the sea breeze, revealing a pair of clear, curious eyes.His skin was very fair, standing in stark contrast to the other wild flora and fauna on the island that were tanned dark by the sun, making him look somewhat out of place."Mama, the fish don't seem hungry today." He looked back at the woman nearby who was tidying a fishing net, his voice crisp.Yue looked up, her face weathered by the elements, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes much deeper than ten years ago.Her hands were covered in thick calluses and small scars, marks left by years of fishing and picking wild fruit.The wings that once symbolized royal glory had long been tightly wrapped to her back with cloth strips, hidden beneath coarse clothing.Even the occasional glimpse of a feather revealed a dull, gray hue."Just wait a little longer, Xing," she smiled, her smile tinged with exhaustion. "We'll definitely catch something today."Over these years, they had lived like two startled rabbits, leading a secluded life on this uninhabited island.Yue taught Mark how to identify edible plants and how to catch fish in the crevices of the reefs, but she never mentioned a single word about their origins.Whenever a ship passed in the distance, she would immediately pull Xing into a cave deep in the jungle,covering the entrance with thick vines and not daring to come out until she was sure it was safe.Xing didn't understand why his mother was always so vigilant, nor why she would often stare blankly toward the Red Line late at night,and he certainly didn't understand what those black feathers were—the ones wrapped in cloth on his mother's back that occasionally peeked out.He only knew that his mother loved him very much, and for him, she seemed capable of doing anything.Until one day, while Yue was tidying up driftwood washed ashore, she found a report about CP0 appearing in the nearby waters.Her face instantly turned deathly pale. That night, she didn't sleep at all."Xing, pack your things. We're leaving." The next morning, Yue's voice carried an unprecedented resolve."Where are we going?" Mark asked curiously."The East Blue."Yue gazed at the distant horizon, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes. "It's the furthest from the Red Line and the most peaceful.Perhaps... it will allow us to live properly."It took them three whole years before they found a merchant ship willing to take them.During those three years, Yue relied on the remaining extraordinary adaptability and superior intelligence of the lunarian race to lead Xing in evading three CP0 searches.She would disguise herself as an ordinary fisherwoman, hide in the foul-smelling fish holds, and even jump into the sea during storms to swim toward another ship—as long as they could survive, she was willing to pay any price.When the merchant ship finally entered the waters of the East Blue, Xing saw his mother show something close to a smile for the first time."Once we reach the East Blue, we'll find a small village to settle in,"Yue leaned against the small porthole of the cargo hold, looking at the azure sea outside, and spoke softly:"Xing can be like other children—picking up shells on the beach, picking fruit from trees, and playing with the neighbor's kids..."Xing leaned against his mother, imagining such a life, a longing smile appearing on his face.He felt that happiness seemed to be waiting for them just a short distance away.However, the cruelty of fate often lies in the fact that it always deals its heaviest blow just when you are closest to happiness.It was a clear afternoon, and the merchant ship was sailing across a calm sea.Suddenly, the lookout let out a terrified cry: "It's... it's a Celestial Dragon ship!"Everyone on the ship instantly fell into a panic. The Captain's face turned pale as he ordered the ship to stop,and all the crew and passengers scrambled to prostrate themselves on the deck, not even daring to breathe loudly.Xing was pulled tightly into Yue's arms, hidden in the shadows of a corner on the deck.A luxuriously decorated white ship slowly approached, its sails bearing the symbol of the Celestial Dragons, the world nobles.Several Celestial Dragons, dressed in ornate clothing and wearing bubble helmets, boarded the merchant ship arrogantly, escorted by a group of Marines.Their gazes swept over the people prostrate on the ground, as if sizing up a group of lowly ants."These commoners are truly an eyesore," a Celestial Dragon said in a shrill voice,his foot accidentally brushed against a crew member's clothes, and he immediately kicked them away in disgust,"Get away! Don't dirty my shoes!"The crew member was so terrified that he kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead hitting the deck with a dull thud.Yue's body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from anger.She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. Mark could feel the stiffness in his mother's body,he looked up at his mother and found her gaze exceptionally firm, even carrying a hint of resolve."Hey, you woman!"A Celestial Dragon noticed Yue, who was not kneeling in the corner, and pointed at her arrogantly,"Why aren't you kneeling?"Everyone around was shivering with fear, and the Captain was even more deathly pale as he repeatedly begged the Celestial Dragon for mercy:"Please calm your anger, Great God! She... she's a fool, she doesn't know any better! I'll make her kneel right now!"But Yue straightened her back. She slowly raised her head, looking directly at the Celestial Dragon. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly across the entire deck:"A beast is not worthy of my kneeling."These words were like a bomb, causing a massive uproar on the deck.Everyone looked at Yue in horror, as if looking at a madwoman.The Celestial Dragon was stunned, but then he burst into a fit of angry, wild laughter:"A fool? What do you think you are? You're just a lowly commoner who doesn't know the meaning of death!"He raised the gun in his hand and aimed it at Yue."Mother!" Xing cried out in terror.Yue suddenly pushed Xing into a nearby empty wooden barrel and used all her strength to push the barrel toward the sea."Live on, Xing!"This was the last sentence she left for her son, her voice carrying an unquestionable power.Bang!The gunshot rang out, and the bullet pierced Yue's heart with precision.She fell into a pool of blood, her body twitching a few times. Her withered hands struggled to reach out,as if wanting to give one last embrace to something, before finally dropping powerlessly.Mama—!Xing hammered frantically at the wood inside the barrel, his vision blurred by tears.Through the gaps in the barrel, he watched helplessly as his mother fell into a pool of blood and saw the hideous grin on the Celestial Dragon's face."Fire! Blow up that barrel too!" the Celestial Dragon ordered viciously.The Marines immediately adjusted the cannon, and a shell whistled through the air, screaming toward the barrel floating on the sea.At that moment, Xing's world completely collapsed.His father's name, his mother's sacrifice, thirteen years of hiding, the pride of his people...everything exploded in his mind, turning into ultimate pain and fury.He roared at the sky, his voice hoarse and desperate: "If there truly are gods!I am willing to pay any price! Just to burn these pieces of trash to ashes!""Even your life?"An ethereal voice echoed in his mind, as if coming from the deepest part of his bloodline, carrying an ancient and majestic aura."Even my life!"Mark roared without hesitation, his eyes filled with a world-destroying madness.Boom!Black flames suddenly erupted from within the barrel. The flames carried a cold temperature, yet possessed the power to incinerate everything.The sturdy wooden barrel instantly turned to ash in the high heat. Mark suspended in mid-air as the black wings that had been sealed for thirteen years burst through his skin,unfolding with dripping blood, like a flower of death blooming in the dark of night.Black flames entwined around his body like living things, and strange patterns emerged in his eyes,the mark of the lunarian royal family, now flickering with the light of revenge."It doesn't matter if I die!"He rushed toward the Celestial Dragons, his voice hoarse with extreme hatred,"But right now, I'm going to make sure you all die!"Bullets were fired at him, but they turned to ash the moment they touched the black flames.The Marines' swords struck, only to be melted through by the fire.Xing's fury ignited the entire merchant ship, and the flames spread like a tsunami, swallowing those wicked figures.The Celestial Dragons let out shrill screams in the flames, some being torn into pieces by the powerful force,the identity and power they were so proud of were utterly defenseless against the wrath of the lunarian race.When the last scream vanished into the flames, the entire merchant ship had been reduced to a pile of ash.The flames on Xing's body suddenly went out, and the wings on his back receded like a tide,he dropped powerlessly onto a floating piece of wood like a fallen leaf."Mother... Father... I'm coming to join you..." He looked at the blood-red sea,a smile of relief appearing on his face. "In the next life... I'll still be your son..."He slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into endless darkness.A gentle breeze blew, seemingly carrying a mysterious power that pulled his soul from his cold shell and into a void-like passage.The passage was filled with white light, and thirteen years of memories flashed before his eyes like fragments, before being completely swallowed and stripped away by the light....Blue Star, in a bright delivery room.The loud cry of an infant broke the silence of the room. A nurse held the newborn baby,and handed him with a smile to a man whose hands were trembling nearby: "Congratulations, it's a healthy boy!"The man carefully took the baby, his movements clumsy yet gentle.The woman on the bed leaned weakly against the headboard, a happy smile on her face:"Dear, give the child a name."The man gazed at the infant in his arms, his eyes full of treasure and hope.The baby's eyes were tightly shut, and his tiny fists were clenched as if holding the entire world."He is the brightest star in my life," the man said softly, his voice trembling with excitement,"I also hope he can be like a star, using his faint light to guide those in the darkness... let's call him Mark."Meanwhile, in the Pirate World, only thirty seconds had passed.At the end of that void-like passage, the soul of a man in his thirties slowly drifted out.His soul passed through the cold seawater and finally landed on that floating piece of wood, possessing the body of the unconscious youth.The sea breeze blew against the wood, and the youth's finger twitched slightly.Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on his pale face."Mark" had awakened.