Chapter 25: The Straw Hat Crew's Battle MeetingMark leaned against the going merry's bitt, rubbing his still-throbbing temples.His gaze fell on a spot near the wine barrels not far away—Zoro was lying sprawled out, even snores coming from his nose, occasionally muttering, "I won't lose again."Mark shook his head helplessly; drinking with this guy last night was really asking for trouble.His memories before blacking out were stuck on the image of Zoro hugging the anchor and shouting,"Mark, another glass!" Heaven only knows if he joined in on the stupidity."Hey—Sanji! Where did that guy go!"Luffy was running around on the deck. His rubber arm suddenly extended, grabbing Mark's shoulder with a "snap" as he swung over."Mark, Mark, have you seen Sanji? It's time to go!""You're so noisy right after waking up."Mark snapped his fingers, a faint blue glow swirling at his fingertips as he lightly brushed it across their cheeks and clothes.A coolness carrying the scent of morning dew instantly dispelled the hangover fog. Luffy let out a comfortable "Ah."In the room on the second floor, Sanji was slumped deep into his chair.The cigarette between his fingers had burned to the end, the glowing red tip only an inch from his skin, yet he was completely oblivious.He tilted his head back slightly, his eyes fixed on the pristine white ceiling. In a daze—The image of Zeff scolding him for "peeling into his hand," the sight of the old man turning away to secretly wipe his mouth when he made his first decent seafood fried rice,The night they shared a piece of dry bread during a storm... it all flashed before his eyes."So noisy..." Luffy's shouting was like a needle, piercing through this brief memory.Sanji snapped back to reality and pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray with a faint sizzle.He stood up and picked up his already packed toolkit—The crisp clinking of metal utensils was exceptionally clear in the silent corridor.His leather shoes clicked against the wooden steps, sounding like the final punctuation mark on his time at the Baratie.The going merry was docked steadily beside the Baratie, its sails billowing gently in the morning breeze.Nami stood at the bow with her hands on her hips, looking down at the sea chart from time to time before looking up to shout at Usopp on the deck:"Hey! Tie that rope tighter!"Usopp responded in a flurry, with Johnny and Joseph helping move things nearby.Zoro was already leaning against the gunwale, still rubbing his eyes and yawning, his brows furrowed in a knot, clearly not fully awake.Sanji's figure finally appeared at the end of the stairs. He walked up to Luffy and suddenly curled his lips into a smile:"Luffy, do you know about the All Blue?""I do!"Luffy blurted out without thinking, "It's the legendary sea with every kind of fish in the world!"Sanji raised an eyebrow, his eyes widening in surprise—this idiot actually knew?"Mark told me."Luffy pointed to the ship and said as if it were obvious, "He said it's a 'check-in' spot he absolutely has to visit."Luffy rubbed his temples. "Though I don't know how that person named 'Ka' offended him that he absolutely has to hit him."Mark leaned against the mast, arms crossed over his chest, and added:"To be precise, it's a hidden realm where all the fish from the East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, and North Blue converge.It's the ultimate holy land for a chef, and for someone like me who aspires to taste all the world's delicacies, it's a place I must go.""Oh—a chef and a gourmet? Sounds like quite a well-matched pair," Sanji teased."Pah! Try saying that nonsense again! Who's matched with you? Believe it or not, I'll beat you up right now!" Mark's hair stood on end instantly."Sanji, let me reiterate, I'm a man! When I first arrived at the Baratie, you mistook me for..."Now it was Sanji's turn to freak out. Back then, when Mark came to the Baratie, Sanji had mistaken him for a young beauty because of his delicate features and long hair, and had constantly tried to curry favor with him—This was dark history he could never let anyone know! Especially Miss Nami; he couldn't let her misunderstand,And he certainly couldn't be laughed at by Marimo; that would be worse than death!Sanji leaped onto the going merry and covered Mark's mouth to stop him from continuing."Hey—Luffy! We can set off now! Let's go... at top speed!"Sanji quickly changed the subject, shouting toward the deck.Luffy was stunned for a moment, blinking his eyes in confusion:"Huh? What's wrong?...Oh! Sanji is on the ship? Great!"He finally realized and immediately cheered, jumping onto the going merry.Mark looked at Sanji, his gaze passing over his shoulder toward the second floor of the Baratie. "Aren't you going up to say goodbye?"Sanji's gaze drifted over as well. The restaurant windows were tightly shut, and no figures could be seen inside.He was silent for a few seconds before finally shaking his head, his voice a bit raspy. "Forget it.""Sanji!"An old but powerful voice suddenly came from the second floor—"The sea wind is strong, don't catch a cold."Sanji's body trembled as he spun around to see Zeffstanding there, holding onto the railing.The old man didn't have his usual fierce expression, only a face full of kindness, his eyes misted over.The gratitude, guilt, and reluctance stuck in his throat suddenly surged up like a bursting dam.Sanji fell to his knees with a "thud," his forehead striking the cold deck heavily with a dull sound:"Old man Zeff... thank you... thank you for taking care of me these past eight years...""Idiot."Zeff turned his face away and haphazardly wiped it with his sleeve, his voice choking up slightly,"What kind of man is so sentimental during a farewell? Get out of here and go find your All Blue!"The restaurant door swung open with a "clatter," and all the chefs of the Baratie swarmed out, leaning over the railing and waving vigorously:"Sanji! Safe travels!""Remember to send us photos of the All Blue!""If you get bullied, come back! We'll help you beat them up!""Don't be a picky eater anymore, you brat!"Sanji waved his hand forcefully until the silhouette of the Baratie became a blurred speck on the horizon and could no longer be seen.The going merry raised its sails, carving a white wake across the azure sea.Sailing past noon, the sunlight became scorching, making the deck hot to the touch.Everyone sat in the shadows by the gunwale. The sea breeze blew Nami's orange hair, revealing the clear tattoo of the Arlong Pirates on her shoulder—It was her shame. She took a deep breath. "Mark, can this be removed?"Mark shook his head. "My ability can only clean the surface; I can't go deep into the skin yet."With a voice trembling from long-suppressed emotion, Nami laid out the story buried in her heart for eight years before her companions."I was born in Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue,"She gazed at the shimmering surface of the sea, her eyes seemingly trying to pierce through the water toward her distant hometown."I was abandoned on the shore when I was very young, and Mama Belle-Mere picked me up.She used to be a Marine. After retiring, she lived in a small cottage on the edge of the village with me and my older sister, Nojiko, growing tangerines..."Nami's voice gradually grew softer. "Mama Belle-Mere always said that girls should live like the sea—free and vast.She also said that when I grew up, she would give me a ship so I could draw sea charts of the whole world..."At this point, her voice trembled, and her eyes reddened."Until the day the Arlong Pirates came—That saw-shark Fishman led his subordinates to occupy the village, saying they were going to build some 'Arlong Park' and forcing everyone to pay high protection fees...""To protect Nojiko and me, Mama Belle-Mereinsisted on announcing that we were her daughters, even though we were poor.Her money was clearly only enough to pay the survival fees for two people, yet she insisted, 'They are my daughters,I can't give up on either of them,' and refused to pay.Hatchan, an officer of the Arlong Pirates, suggested a few days' grace, but Arlong felt Belle-Mere's attitude was a 'provocation.'He shot her dead on the spot... right in front of Nojiko and me..."A tear splashed onto the sea chart. Nami wiped her face hard and continued:"Arlong saw my map-making skills and said that if I drew sea charts for him and collected 100 million Berries, he would return the village to us.I believed him and endured it for eight years... drawing every day and saving money!But I knew he never intended to return the village. Still, I had no choice but to do it. If I had no value to him,Arlong would be even more brutal to the villagers. He's a shameless bastard!""That bastard Arlong!"Luffy snorted white steam from his nose, his fists clenching until they cracked.Sanji's face was so dark it looked like it might drip ink. The cigarette between his fingers was crushed to powder. He couldn't say a word, only gritting his teeth until his jawline was taut.Zoro leaned against the mast with his eyes closed, seemingly calm, but the veins on the hand gripping his scabbard were bulging.The wado ichimonji hummed slightly in its sheath, as if echoing its master's rage.Usopp bit his lip, his eyes as red as a rabbit's. He stole a glance at Nami before quickly lowering his head and tightening his grip on his slingshot."I know their background,"Nami took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Now, I'll tell everyone the intel.""Arlong, the saw-shark Fishman,"Nami said each word deliberately, as if squeezing them through her teeth."He's the Captain of the Arlong Pirates. He used to be with the Sun Pirates before striking out on his own.He utterly despises humans and thinks fishmen should rule over them. He's cruel and arrogant, but he trusts his fishmen subordinates.His most powerful weapon is that serrated nose; his teeth can crush steel and rock, and he knows Fish-Man Karate. His speed in water is incredible."She paused and continued:"He has three main combatants. Kuroobi, a hammerhead shark Fishman, is a master of Fish-Man Karate, especially skilled in underwater combat.His personality is as cold as ice, and he loves to use karate to torture his opponents. His '1,000 Brick Fist' can easily punch through walls.""Then there's Chew, a kissing gourami Fishman. He's a sniper with a devious personality who loves sneak attacks from behind."AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite"He can shoot high-pressure water cannons from his mouth; the range is long, and the power is great enough to pierce through a human body.""Finally, there's Hatchan, an octopus Fishman who uses the Six-Sword Style, holding one sword in each of his six hands.He... he is the dumbest but also the kindest one among them. Although he is a Fishman, it seems he doesn't hate humans..."Nami's tone softened slightly when mentioning Hatchan."They not only exploit the villagers but also collude with the Marine," Nami added, her eyes full of disgust, "That Marine Colonel named Nezumi splits the extorted money with Arlong and doesn't care about the villagers' lives at all!I suspect that Belle-Mere's death back then had something to do with Nezumi.""Hmph, a shark Fishman, huh?" Mark snorted coldly, his eyes becoming sharp, "A shark's sense of smell and electroreceptors are extremely sensitive, almost equivalent to having innate Observation Haki,allowing it to perceive movements and hostility in the surroundings. Its strength cannot be underestimated."He stood up and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention:"Although the Fishman physique is formidable, you don't need to worry too much; I have prepared some things for you."As he spoke, he took several thread-bound books from his spatial backpack and distributed them to everyone:"These are my notes and Luffy's on cultivating Haki. If you want to become a top-tier powerhouse, Hakiis a required course."Everyone took the manuals and flipped through them curiously. The densely packed handwriting and illustrations looked profound and mysterious."Besides this, there is equipment." Mark smiled slightly and snapped his fingers, "Ink Meteor, come out."The pitch-black weapon at his waist suddenly emitted a faint blue light and "hummed" as it levitated into the air.Following Mark's command, the light grew brighter and brighter, and the weapon's form began to change, eventually transforming into a majestic exotic beast—its body as robust as a lion, covered in black mane, with a pair of curved goat horns on its head, and golden eyes flashing with the light of wisdom."Whoa! What is this! So cool!"Luffy was immediately attracted, eyes wide, circling the beast, wanting to reach out and touch it but not daring to."Ink Meteor is a special weapon that ate the Devil Fruit Mythical Zoan-type Sheep-Sheep Fruit—Taotie form,"Mark explained, petting the beast's head, "The first ability is the animalized 'Taotie' form, which can fight enemies independently in the future.The second is more practical; it can substitute materials."Actually, there was a third ability, but Mark didn't mention it—it was truly a bit shocking."Nami, give me your weapon."Nami pulled out her three-section staff and handed it to Mark, who then threw it to Ink Meteor.The beast opened its mouth and swallowed it, its throat moving slightly, emitting a soft metallic rubbing sound.About ten minutes later, it opened its mouth and spat out a pitch-black three-section staff, much more refined than the original."Zoro, try it," Mark said.Zoro nodded and drew the wado ichimonji. The blade cut through the air with a cold glint, and with a crisp "clang," it vibrated enough to make one's eardrums numb.Everyone held their breath, only to see that there wasn't even a white mark on Nami's three-section staff."So amazing!"Nami took it back in surprise. It felt half as light as before in her hand. She couldn't help but swing it a few times, the three-section staff tracing smooth arcs in the air,"What material is this made of?""tyrant iron, extremely rare!"Because the material itself contains Armament Hakienergy, it can touch Logia Devil Fruit users,and it can also be imbued with Observation Haki. The longer it is used, the more it can harmonize with the user's intentions. For example, this—As soon as he finished speaking, the beast flashed with light again, turning back into the form of Ink Meteor, and "whooshed" back into Mark's hand. "Use Observation Haki to move the weapon!""So cool!"Usopp stared, eyes glazed, "Mark, can my slingshot be upgraded too?""Usopp, wait a moment."Mark looked at Zoro:"Your swords cannot be replaced for the time being; my ability is to substitute materials, not to forge swords,moreover, sword-stone materials must be incorporated into the blades to unleash the user's full potential."Zoro's eyes lit up, and he gripped his swords tightly:"So the next step is to find two swords and then replace the materials?""Exactly."Mark smiled, "When you fight, you can shout'Sword, come!' Imagine that scene; doesn't it have the air of a great swordsman?"The corner of Zoro's mouth hooked into an expectant smile: "Sounds good. Looks like I need to master Haki as soon as possible."Nami held the new three-section staff, caressing it fondly: "How about we give it a name... let's call it...?""No rush yet. You can communicate with Usopp to see if it needs an upgrade."Mark took out another booklet and handed it to her, "These are some staff techniques I compiled, incorporating the variations of the Bagua staff. You can use them for reference.Additionally, your Observation Haki seems particularly sensitive to airflow, which is very suitable for sensing changes in the air. You can start your training from this aspect.""Is this the staff technique you used when fighting Hawkeye?"Nami took it in surprise, her eyes sparkling,"That's amazing! Thank you, Mark, I will definitely practice hard!"Mark turned to Usopp and took a blueprint out of his bag:"Usopp, this is the blueprint for the compound slingshot I designed for you."Usopp took it curiously. The blueprint depicted a slingshot with an intricate structure, with detailed parameters marked on the side."I plan to use tyrant iron mixed with titanium steel to make it,"Mark explained, pointing to the blueprint, "This way, the bow body can be both sturdy and lightweight, and the elasticity will be strong enough.I also designed a telescopic structure that can adjust its size according to the situation.A pulley system is installed in the grip, which saves four times the effort when pulling the rubber band. Usually, the rubber band is hidden in the grip and pulled out when fighting.The rubber band is made of a special material soaked in Armament Haki, and I don't even know what terrifying level its rebound force can reach."He paused, his tone becoming serious:"However, it also has drawbacks; it requires strong arm strength and Haki to drive it better.So you must train hard and have the perseverance to endure hardship to unleash its power.Remember, all fear comes from a lack of firepower. When your slingshot is strong enough, there will be nothing to fear."Mark actually understood Usopp very well. Back then, he could only use bluffing to fight,and in order not to hold everyone back, his training over the next two years could be said to be life-risking!Usopp held the blueprint, tears suddenly "pitter-pattering" down:"I... I have always been afraid... afraid that I am too weak and will hold everyone back, afraid that Luffywill think I am useless... and drive me away..."He choked up, suddenly lunging forward to hug Mark,"But I really like everyone... Mark, thank you... thank you for being willing to believe in me... and being willing to help me""Hey! Get away from me!"Mark tried to push him away with a look of disgust, but was held even tighter,"Hey! Your snot is rubbing off on me! Let go, you idiot!""Usopp isn't weak at all!"Luffy suddenly laughed loudly, patting Usopp on the shoulder,"You are very strong! Without you, without everyone, I could never become the Pirate King!"As he said this, he also mimicked Usopp and lunged forward to hug Mark,"So Mark, I want a weapon too! I want a cool weapon too!""Bang! Bang!" Two dull thuds sounded as Mark gave both of them a knuckle on the head, and two large bumps immediately swelled up on their foreheads."Behave yourselves!"The two covered their foreheads and finally calmed down.Mark also upgraded Sanji's leather shoes, covering the outside of the shoes with tyrant iron—although they were heavier than before, the power of Sanji's kicks also increased significantly.He also gave Sanji two weighted sandbags, which could be tied to his feet to train his leg strength at any time!Sanji's strongest point is his lineage factor, but Markwas also confused about this and had no idea how to proceed!Watching his companions all receive new equipment, looking elated, Luffy scratched his head with a bit of grievance:"Then what about me? Don't I have a weapon?"His attacks relied entirely on his fists, and his rubber body could deform at will, so it was indeed difficult to find a suitable weapon.Mark patted him on the shoulder:"Your fists are the best weapons. Once you practice Armament Haki until it can flow, your fists will be more powerful than any weapon."Luffy thought about it and immediately became happy again: "That's right! My fists are the strongest!""Alright," Mark's expression became serious as he looked around at everyone,"Although we have new equipment and Hakimanuals, we cannot take it lightly.Our Captain is determined to become the Pirate King, and with our current strength, it is far from enough. What we lack most right now is time"He paused and continued:"The enemies this time might not just be the Arlong Pirates. That Marine named Fullbody was beaten up by us, and based on that guy's personality, he will definitely go back to bring reinforcements.Therefore, we must make a quick decision, resolve Arlong as soon as possible, and conserve our strength to deal with the Marine pursuit.""So, the first combat meeting of the Straw Hat Pirates ends here." Mark looked at Luffy, "I invite the Captain to speak."Luffy stood up, and his stomach "growled." He rubbed his stomach and announced loudly:"Sanji, let's eat!"Everyone was stunned for a moment, then started laughing.The sea breeze blew their laughter, carrying hope and determination, drifting towards Cocoyasi Village.The sails of the going merry shone brightly in the sunlight, as if foreshadowing an imminent fierce battle and a brand new beginning.
Chapter 26: Sinful DestructionMarineford, Marine Headquarters.The air in the Council Chamber was so heavy it was almost suffocating."Is the intelligence reliable?"He spoke again, his voice grave, his gaze turning toward Vice Admiral Momonga beside him.Momonga's cap was pulled low, the shadow of the brim obscuring most of his face."Fullbody personally led a team to the East Blue to verify it three times," Momonga said in a low voice."Buggy the Clown, Kuro of a Thousand Plans... even Krieg, who called himself the 'Overlord of the East Blue,' were all instantly defeated by an unknown pirate crew!The traces at the scene show that the battles were almost completely one-sided slaughters."The Council Chamber instantly fell into a dead silence. The several Rear Admiral-level officers present exchanged shocked glances—These names might cause a stir in the East Blue, but to Marine Headquarters, they were nothing more than minor clowns.But the word "instantly defeated" coming from Momonga's mouth carried an entirely different weight."Furthermore, the remnants of Krieg's crew captured by Fullbody confessed..."Momonga paused, his Adam's apple bobbing. "They say that among this group, there's a swordsman named Roronoa Zoro,""And another who is said to be the Vice Captain, a guy named Mark... They actually fought Hawkeye!""What?!"A young Rear Admiral cried out in surprise, then quickly realized his loss of composure and shut his mouth, though he couldn't hide the horror in his eyes.Hawkeye Mihawk was the World's Greatest Swordsman, someone who could spar on equal terms with the Four Emperors' Red Hair Shanks. How could he be involved with some small-time pirates from the East Blue?"Roronoa Zoro was heavily injured, but Hawkeyehighly acknowledged him,"Momonga ignored the reactions of those around him and continued, the disbelief in his voice growing even stronger."And that Mark fought Hawkeye for a full two hours before being defeated! This... has already been confirmed by Hawkeye himself through an encrypted channel. It's absolutely true!""Two hours..."Sengoku's fingers tightened. He knew Mihawk's strength all too well; even the top Vice Admirals of Marineford couldn't last ten moves against him.A pirate from the East Blue could fight Hawkeye for two hours? This could no longer be described as "genius"—it was monstrous!"The Captain's name is Monkey D. Luffy..."Sengoku held his forehead and took a deep breath, his voice filled with exhaustion and a headache."Another Monkey D... What is wrong with that family?""Where is that old geezer Garp!""Vice Admiral Garp... is currently on vacation in Windmill Village," an adjutant nearby reminded him in a low voice."Vacation? Tell him to get his ass back here!"Sengoku slammed the table. "Before they grow any further, we must crush these guys in the East Blue!They must not be allowed to step foot into the Grand Line!"He stood up abruptly, the hem of his military coat fluttering without wind."Immediately contact the nearest Marine base!""According to the latest intelligence... the East Blue's 16th Branch is closest to their current position,""followed by the Loguetown Branch, led by CaptainSmoker." Momonga immediately pulled up the coordinate information."The bunch of good-for-nothings at the 16th Branchcan't be relied upon!" Sengoku flatly rejected."Smoker might have a foul temper, but his strength and sense of responsibility are acceptable.""Have him immediately mobilize the elites of Loguetown. Headquarters will also send an elite unit for support, led by Hina."Make sure to completely crush the Straw Hat Crewbefore they reach Loguetown!""Yes, sir!"Momonga stood at attention, saluted, and left quickly.Sengoku looked at the "East Blue" region marked on the sand table, his eyes dark and unreadable.Monkey D. Luffy... Roronoa Zoro... Mark... these names.Like stones thrown into a calm lake, they stirred ripples in his heart.He had a premonition that this pirate crew emerging from the weakest sea might become a major problem for the Marines in the future.On the going merry, a sea breeze blew gently."Sanji, is the food ready yet? I'm starving!"Luffy's loud voice broke the silence on the deck.He was wearing a pair of specially made Sea Stone handcuffs, holding a standard horse stance with his fists clenched.A layer of dark Armament Haki covered his fists, and sweat slid down his chiseled cheeks like broken beads,Clearly, maintaining Armament Haki while performing weight training was exhausting his physical strength significantly.Beside him, Usopp was also in the same horse stance, but his goal wasn't to temper Haki; it was the slingshot in his hand, designed by Mark and modified by him.The rubber band of that slingshot was a special rubber infused with Armament Haki energy.Normally, he could easily pull it back to his ear, but now his face was flushed red and veins bulged on his forehead, yet he could only pull it a mere ten centimeters.This was even after installing four pulleys for mechanical advantage; even so, those ten centimeters were so heavy it felt like they would tear his arms off.But with just this short stretch, firing a normal steel ball could easily penetrate three layers of thick ship planks—If a normal person were hit, they would definitely have a hole punched through them."Huff... huff..." Usopp gasped for air, his arms shaking like a sieve."I can't... I can't... Mark, what on earth did you put into this rubber band..."Zoro was meditating with his eyes closed on the other side of the deck, sitting cross-legged, his body still bearing the scars from his fight with Hawkeye.Mark held a wooden stick as thick as a wrist, slowly waving it above Zoro's head with focused eyes.Suddenly, his wrist dropped, and the wooden stick whistled through the air, unexpectedly striking down toward the top of Zoro's head!Thud! With a dull sound, Zoro lunged forward, his forehead slamming hard against the deck with a muffled thud, and blood immediately seeped from his temple."Zoro, are you sure your injuries are okay?"Mark withdrew the wooden stick and asked calmly.There was no hint of apology in his eyes, only strict demands for his companion's strength.Zoro propped himself up and wiped the blood from his temple with the back of his hand, his voice not wavering in the slightest:"I will become the greatest swordsman."He sat back down, adjusted his breathing, and closed his eyes again. This time, however, his senses became sharper, picking up the slight movements of the surrounding air,the breathing of his companions, and even the sound of distant seabirds flapping their wings.Nami stood by the helm, skillfully steering the going merry smoothly across the sea.She caught sight of the scene on the deck out of the corner of her eye, her heart filled with mixed emotions.For her sake, and to establish a foothold in this cruel sea, these people were training with near-desperate effort.Even Usopp, usually the most cowardly, was gritting his teeth and persevering.She took a deep breath and gripped the helm—she was the navigator of this ship, and she must not hold everyone back."Dinner's ready, everyone!"Sanji's voice came from the cabin, carrying a hint of exhaustion but still maintaining its elegance.He walked out slowly carrying several steaming plates of food, each step as heavy as lead. The outlines of black iron sandbags were faintly visible beneath his trouser legs—They were made by Mark using special ores mixed with high-density iron sand, with one defining characteristic:They were heavy, ridiculously heavy. Just walking with these iron sandbags was equivalent to carrying hundreds of catties."Ah! Finally, food!"Luffy seemed to instantly forget all his exhaustion.With a click, he unlocked the Sea Stone handcuffs, turned into a yellow flash, and whoosh, dashed into the cabin."Everyone, come eat! There's no rush to train right now! If we don't go, Luffy will literally lick the plates clean!" Nami shouted with a laugh.Usopp dragged his body, which felt like it didn't belong to him, following step by step while shouting at Luffy's back:"Hey! Luffy! Don't touch my portion! I earned that dinner with my blood and sweat!"Zoro also opened his eyes, his gaze shifting slightly. "I think I felt it..."He turned to Mark and said with a hint of excitement, "Care for a drink?"Mark smiled and nodded."The future Greatest Swordsman is about to touch the threshold of Observation Haki. We definitely should have a drink to celebrate."At the dining table, the aroma of food wafted through the air.Mark looked at Sanji, who was devouring his food, and said:"After dinner, you should also start training your Observation Haki. I'll handle tomorrow's dinner."Hearing this, Sanji paused. Seeing Zoro's slightly smug face because he was about to awaken Observation Haki, his competitive spirit flared up.He straightened his slightly messy tie and raised an eyebrow."Fine! Being laughed at by that Marimo is worse than eating shit!""You're acting pretty tough, you bottom-feeder.""Ah! You Marimo, do you want to die?""Shit-eating Perverted Kappa.""Don't talk about shit while we're eating. Navigator's Sanction!"A bump appeared on each of their heads...."Wow! Great! I get to eat Mark's cooking again!" Luffy slapped the table, his mouth stuffed with bread, shouting indistinctly."Mark, I want Braised Beef Noodles! The extra-large bowl kind!"Mark gave an affirmative response, but the smile on his face faded slightly. He put down his chopsticks and said gravely:"I'm sorry, everyone. I didn't think things through before.I challenged Hawkeye on an impulse, exposing our potential prematurely...I'm afraid we've become a thorn in the Marines' side. They will surely do whatever it takes to crush us.Our path ahead will be much harder than expected.""What are you saying, Mark!"Luffy swallowed the food in his mouth and said as if it were obvious,"As the crew of the Pirate King, isn't being hunted by the Marines normal?Besides, if you're a pirate and afraid of fame, why even be a pirate!""On this point, I actually agree with the idiot Captain."Sanji straightened his tie. "Once I'm famous, I wonder how many girls will be captivated by my charming, handsome face on my bounty poster!Miss Nami, will you be infatuated with me then?"While he was talking sleazily, Luffy suddenly reached out and snatched the last piece of beef from his plate with lightning speed."Idiot Captain! Eat your own! You bastard!"Sanji instantly flared up and landed a precise blow on Luffy's head.Zoro downed a glass of wine and snorted:"You're apologizing? Then what does that make me?Overestimating myself?It's perfect. Only stronger enemies are worthy of testing my blades. Hawkeye... I'll challenge him again sooner or later.""Don't worry, Mark!"Usopp puffed out his chest. "With the great CaptainUsopp here, the Marines will be shaking in their boots when they hear my name!I'm a man who once sank ten Marine battleships!"Nami leaned against the cabin wall, crossing her arms and smiling."Escaping is this Cat Burglar's specialty. If they want to catch my going merry, they'll need another ten or twenty years of practice!""Everyone... thank you."Mark looked at his boisterous companions, his voice a bit raspy.In his heart, there was gratitude for being understood, but also secret self-reproach for his recklessness—This was still only Paradise. By exposing the potential of the three types of Haki so early, the Marines would never just sit idly by.But what's done is done; there was no use overthinking it.Mark clenched his fists, his gaze sweeping across each young but determined face.He could only give it his all. He had to do everything possible to make everyone stronger—strong enough to carve out a place for themselves in this vast sea.Two days later, the bay outside Cocoyasi Village.The going merry slowly sailed into the familiar bay. The branches of the orange trees on the shore were laden with golden fruit, a scene of a bountiful harvest.However, this vibrant scene only served to contrast with the dead silence of the entire village. No villagers could be seen working, and no children's laughter could be heard.Nami stood at the bow, her body trembling slightly.On the outer walls of these familiar houses, the ugly graffiti of the Arlong Pirates still remained, like unhealed scars.When a few villagers happened to see Nami and then the prominent Straw Hat Jolly Roger on the sail,deep fear instantly welled up in their eyes. Before Nami could speak, they fled back into the village in a panic.Deep in the village, inside a simple house, Gen was pacing anxiously.A young villager ran in, panting. "Uncle Gen! Nami... Nami is back!She brought a group of pirates with her, right outside Arlong Park! There's a Straw Hat Jolly Roger on the sail!""Nami is back?"Gen stopped abruptly, a flash of joy in his eyes, which was immediately replaced by worry."Are you sure? Do they... do they have bad intentions?""It doesn't seem like it," the young villager recalled. "The few people I saw were even smiling and waving at me...""I see..."Gen pondered for a moment, his gaze becoming determined."I'll go sneak a look at the situation! You stay here and don't do anything rash."Arlong Park was once the place of nightmares for the villagers of Cocoyasi Village.The massive entrance gate was decorated with whale vertebrae and colorful coral,with the words "Arlong Park" carved upon it.Two Fishman guards at the gate, long swords slung across their shoulders, scanned the surroundings with contemptuous eyes.The main building in the center was shaped like a giant shark, symbolizing Arlong's identity as a Saw-shark Fishman.The entire complex was much taller than the houses in the surrounding villages, demonstrating Arlong's absolute rule over this land.In the center of the park was a large swimming pool. In the clear seawater, several Fishmen were frolicking and playing, letting out arrogant laughter from time to time.Beside the pool stood a massive stone monument with the words "Arlong Empire" carved on it, followed by a list of the twenty villages under Arlong's rule,along with the "protection fee" each village was required to pay. The cold numbers hid the blood and tears of countless villagers.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteUnder a parasol by the pool, Arlong and Colonel Mouse sat opposite each other.Arlong was tall with blue-gray skin, sharp teeth bared, his arms crossed over his chest, and an arrogant look in his eyes.He pulled out a thick stack of Berries, pushed them in front of Colonel Mouse, and said in a raspy voice:"This is this month's tribute."Colonel Mouse had a face like a rat, with shifty eyes that gave him a treacherous air.Seeing the Berries, his eyes lit up.He picked up a stack of Berries, weighed it, and laughed, "Mr. Arlong, you are as punctual as ever.""After all, I am quite committed when it comes to money."Arlong curled his lips into a mocking smile, "Unlike humans, who only know how to play petty tricks."Colonel Mouse gave two dry laughs, quickly counting the Berries, the smile on his face growing brighter:"The money this month is even more than last month!""Hmph, the tangerines ripened this month, so those scumbags sold a bit more."Arlong snorted disdainfully, "Although I hate humans, I do 'like' shrewd people like Colonel Mouse."As he counted the money, Colonel Mouse cursed inwardly:If it weren't for the money, who would want to sit with you filthy Fishman!Once I've made enough, I'll round up you monsters sooner or later!"We Fishman will rule this world sooner or later."Arlong suddenly stood up, spread his arms, and said in an arrogant tone,"We are born with the ability to breathe underwater, and our strength is ten times that of humans. This is an advantage bestowed upon us by heaven!Humans? They are nothing but lowly ants!""One Sword Style: Iai!""Mutton Shot!"Two loud bangs rang out almost simultaneously!The sturdy entrance gate of Arlong Park collapsed with a crash, and wood chips flew everywhere!A clear voice came through, filled with undisguised mockery:"Humans are the lowest? Haha!As far as I know, Fish-Man Island is still struggling to allow Fishman to live on the surface like humans, right?"Mark walked in slowly, followed by Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami.He looked at Arlong with a cold gaze:"As a race that was once enslaved by the Celestial Dragons, you dare not go to the Sabaody Archipelago to seek revenge on the Celestial Dragons,but instead run to the East Blue, the weakest sea, to throw your weight around? You really are a disgrace to Boss Jinbe!"Arlong's expression changed suddenly, and the few Fishman officers beside him also stood up, hands on their sword hilts, their murderous intent exposed."Who are you? How do you know so much?"Arlong's voice deepened, carrying heavy murderous intent."Your reign ends today."Nami stepped forward, standing beside Mark. Although her voice still trembled slightly, her eyes were exceptionally firm.Seeing Nami, Arlong was stunned for a moment, then revealed a mocking smile:"Yo! Isn't this Nami, the most 'capable' member of our Arlong Pirates?What? Are you trying to betray me? Aren't you afraid I'll slaughter the entire village?"Hearing this, Nami subconsciously took a step back. The fear Arlong had instilled in her could not be erased in a day or two.Luffy reached out and pressed his hand on Nami's shoulder, shielding her behind him. He stepped forward and looked at Arlong with sharp eyes:"I heard you're a good fighter?""Average."Arlong smiled contemptuously, "To deal with you lowly humans, I don't even need to use my full strength!""Nami is my crewmate."Luffy's tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable power,"You made her cry, so you must be prepared to be destroyed!"An invisible aura radiated from him. Although not as overbearing as Conqueror's Haki, it still made the surrounding Fishman feel a palpitation.Zoro drew wado ichimonji with a "swish," the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.Sanji also stubbed out his cigarette with the tip of his shoe, his eyes cold, and the air pressure around him dropped a few notches."Pirates? Hahaha!"Arlong acted as if he had heard a huge joke, "Hey! Did you brothers hear that... Nami actually joined the pirates?Don't you know that stupid mother of yours died at the hands of pirates?"He leaned in close to Nami, his voice vicious, "It was me, I did it myself! Hahaha!""Gum-Gum Pistol!"Luffy's roar rang out! His right arm instantly stretched, his fist covered in jet-black Armament Haki, and with a whistling wind, he smashed it hard into Arlong's face!"Bang!"With a dull thud, Arlong slammed into the wall behind him, making a huge noise.He struggled to stand up, spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, with several bloody teeth mixed in.He viciously reached into his mouth, grabbed his own gum line, and ripped out all the remaining teeth!Blood flowed from the corners of his mouth, but soon, a new row of even sharper teeth grew from his gums!"See that? Lowly human!"Arlong licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes wild, "This is the regenerative power of our noble Fishman race!""Armament Haki: Hardening! Gum-Gum Revolver!"Luffy didn't hesitate for a second. He stretched his left arm back, his body like a taut spring, and with the power of rotation, he smashed it toward Arlong's face!This time Arlong was prepared, crossing his arms to block above his head."Boom!"The massive impact caused the ground under Arlong's feet to crack in several places. He grunted, grimacing as he shook his arms, the sound of bone cracking clearly audible."Did it break?"He was shocked, but soon, a tingling sensation came from his arms, and the broken arm bones began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye—Sharks are cartilaginous animals, and their regenerative ability is already astonishing."Interesting!"A flash of excitement crossed Arlong's eyes, and he launched an offensive, his body shooting toward Luffy like an arrow off a string, using the serrated spike on his nose to stab hard at Luffy's fist!"Clang!"A sound like metal clashing rang out!"What a hard fist!" Arlong thought, secretly shocked."What a hard nose!" Luffy was also a bit surprised.The two instantly tangled together, trading blows, every collision emitting a dull thud, the surrounding ground constantly being destroyed, gravel flying everywhere.On the other side, Zoro's opponent was Hatchan. Hatchan was an octopus Fishman, with eight tentacles on his head, each holding a sword, looking quite imposing."I have six swords, and you only have one. You are no match for me!" Hatchan waved his swords, his tone arrogant.Zoro snorted coldly, his eyes as sharp as blades:"In my eyes, you aren't even worth a decent sword!""Don't underestimate me! Watch my Raging Tornado!"Hatchan roared, waving all eight tentacles simultaneously, his body spinning rapidly, forming a huge sword-wind that, with a whistling sound that tore through the air, attacked Zoro!Zoro's eyes narrowed, gripping his sword with both hands, resisting with all his might.The sword-wind collided with the blade, emitting a harsh screeching sound."Seems this move has something to it," Zorothought, "but it's not enough!""Johnny! Joseph!" Zoro suddenly shouted."Big Brother, catch!" Johnny and Joseph, not far away, immediately threw their swords over.Zoro leaped, catching both swords in mid-air, biting wado ichimonji in his mouth, holding one sword in each hand, and assuming the stance of Three Sword Style."Tornado? You're not even close! Let me teach you what a real slashing storm is!""Three Sword Style: 36 Pound Cannon!"Three fierce slashes wove together, forming a slashing storm faster and stronger than Hatchan's tornado, instantly tearing Hatchan's sword-wind apart! Zoro had awakened Observation Haki, so he could naturally feel the "breath" of all things. Now, Zoro was no longer just a swordsman."Pfft!"Hatchan's rotation came to an abrupt halt, all the swords on his eight tentacles shattered, his body was swept into the air by the slashing storm, then slammed heavily onto the ground, passing out.Sanji's opponent was the Fishman Karate master Kuroobi.Kuroobi was tall and thin, with blue skin, wearing white gloves on his hands, and had a sinister gaze."Are you bastards the ones who made Miss Namicry?"Sanji's voice was cold, carrying suppressed rage.Before he finished speaking, he had already moved! His figure approached Kuroobi like a ghost, and he raised his leg for a kick, "Shoulder Meat!""Bang!" Kuroobi was caught off guard, kicked in the shoulder, and his body staggered.Sanji's leg techniques unfolded like a storm, "Breast Meat!" "Leg Meat!" "Loin Meat!"Various kicking techniques poured out one after another, each kick carrying immense power, striking Kuroobi and emitting dull sounds.But Kuroobi's Fishman physique was truly tough, and he forcibly withstood Sanji's round of fierce attacks.He seized an opening, grabbed Sanji's ankle, and shouted, "Fishman Karate: Back Throw," slamming Sanji hard onto the ground!"Boom!" The ground was smashed into a shallow pit.Kuroobi immediately followed up with a water bullet kick toward Sanji!"Sshh!"The water bullet hit the spot where Sanji had just fallen, and the hard bricks instantly shattered!Sanji did a forward roll to dodge the attack, thinking to himself:"It seems training Observation Haki these past few days was useful, otherwise if that had hit me, it would have been trouble.""Your leg techniques are not bad, but your speed can't keep up with us Fishman!"Kuroobi steadied himself and sneered, "You are no match for me. Next, I'll let you witness the terror of Fishman Karate!""Speed, huh?"Sanji brushed the dust off his body, a mocking smile curling at the corners of his mouth, "Seems like it's time to get serious."Just as Kuroobi attacked again, Sanji suddenly untied two black bags from his pant legs and tossed them aside.The bags hit the ground with a "thud," and even the hard floor tiles were cracked—These were the weighted iron sand bags Sanji used for training, each weighing hundreds of pounds.The moment he lost the weight, Sanji's figure seemed to turn into an afterimage, leaving a faint trail in place.Kuroobi only felt a blur before his eyes, and he lost track of Sanji."Above!" He subconsciously looked up.Sanji's figure had already appeared above his head, his right leg raised high, and with a sound of tearing air, he smashed it down onto Kuroobi's head!"Crack!"It sounded as if bones were shattering; Kuroobi's head was kicked out of shape.Sanji didn't pause; after landing, he unleashed a series of kicks, "Mutton Shot!" "Spare Ribs!" "Mince Meat!"Kuroobi didn't even have time to scream before he collapsed on the ground, covered in blood, and stopped breathing entirely.Sanji took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and looked at Kuroobi's corpse with complex eyes.The anger in his heart seemed to dissipate a little.On the other side, the Fishman sniper Choo hid in the pool, revealing only his eyes, cautiously observing the battle.He saw Kuroobi defeated and saw Sanji was injured, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes.He quietly aimed at Sanji, preparing to launch a fatal blow.Just as he was charging up to fire a water cannon, a steel ball flew in like a meteor, accurately hitting his head!"Pfft!"A bloody hole appeared in Choo's head, and his body sank softly into the pool."Special Attack: Piercing Star!"Usopp's voice came from the grass in the corner.He had been hiding there the whole time, eyes fixed on the water surface, his special slingshot already fully drawn.This was the division of labor they had agreed upon beforehand; his opponent was "Choo," who was also skilled in sniping.At this moment, Usopp's heart was still pounding, but his face carried a hint of excitement."Hmph, piece of cake..."He muttered to himself, while calculating in his mind:"After the battle, I must brag about this! I'll say I only used one bullet to take down a powerful Fishmansniper! Yes, that's what I'll say!"On the battlefield, only the fight between Luffy and Arlong continued.Arlong rushed out of the pool, accelerating in the water, shooting toward Luffy like an arrow off a string!Luffy dodged to the side, and Arlong's body slammed into the wall behind him, making a huge noise as the wall instantly collapsed.Arlong used the momentum to bounce back, lunging at Luffy again, his speed as fast as lightning!"Gum-Gum: Armament Haki Gatling!"Luffy let out a low shout, his arms spinning rapidly like windmills, his fists covered in Armament Hakiraining down on Arlong!"Bang bang bang bang bang!"Arlong happened to crash into the storm of fists, countless fists hitting him densely, every strike carrying tearing pain.The bones in his body made "crack crack" sounds of breaking, and his whole body was beaten out of shape."Gum-Gum: Bazooka!"Luffy unleashed his final punch, sending the dying Arlong flying away, like a fired cannonball, shooting into the sky.The surrounding Fishman minions had already been cleared out by Mark and Nami.At this moment, Nami stood at the entrance of Arlong Park, in front of her were Nojiko and the villagers who had rushed over upon hearing the news.Nami looked at the familiar faces, her eyes reddened, and she stepped forward quickly, hugging Nojiko tightly."Sister, everyone...""It's all over, Nami."Nojiko patted her back, her voice choked with sobs, "Today, Arlong's reign has ended."Nami looked up, watching the surrounding villagers, her voice trembling slightly, yet exceptionally clear:"Everyone, I'm home.""I've brought reliable comrades. From now on, no one will ever be able to bully us again!"A villager suddenly pointed at the sky and exclaimed, "Look up!"A black shadow in the sky was growing larger; clearly, something was falling from a great height. The villagers hurriedly scattered to both sides."Boom!"With a deafening crash, the ground was smashed into a massive crater.Lying in the pit was none other than Arlong.But at this moment, apart from his broken serrated nose, he was completely unrecognizable—covered in blood and on the verge of death."Is... is this really Arlong?" a villager asked in disbelief."Look at that nose, it's him!""Father! Waaah... Arlong has finally been defeated! You can rest in peace now!"A young villager knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, and many of the surrounding villagers also began to wipe away tears.The years of suppression and pain were finally released at this moment."Nami, that's wonderful! You've saved our entire village!"Gen stepped forward, his eyes reddened."If Belle-Mere knew, she would definitely be proud of you!""Yo!" Luffy jumped over, landing in front of Nami, and grinned. "Done."Nami looked at Luffy, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes. She reached up and took off the Straw Hat she had been wearing—That was the promise she had made with Luffyearlier! She gently placed the Straw Hat back onto Luffy's head."Understood, Captain."This scene marked the fulfillment of the Straw Hat Crew's promise and signified that she had officially become a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. (Applause)"Is it done, Luffy?"Mark walked over, dragging the bruised and swollen Colonel Nezumi. Nezumi had been beaten until he looked like a pig's head, whimpering and groaning."Of course!"Luffy patted his chest and then pointed at Nezumi."This guy, is he the Marine who was colluding with Arlong?""That's right."Mark nodded. "I won't participate in the cleanup work here. I'm going to his base to make him cough up all the money he's extorted and return it to the villagers.""Oh? Going to the Marine base? Do you need help?"Zoro asked, wiping the blood off his sword."No need."Mark shook his head and glanced at Nezumi."When even the Colonel is this kind of trash, what do you think his subordinates are like?""Stop bragging, Usopp! Let's go!"Mark grabbed Usopp, who was busy boasting to the villagers about his "heroic deeds," and dragged him toward the Marine base by the sea."Why me?!" Usopp wailed.Mark said without looking back:"To train your courage. Most importantly, you are the 'Child of Miracles,'and in case of any accidents, you can turn the tide, right?"Usopp: "..." Although it sounds like a compliment, I get the feeling something isn't quite right.——Outside the 16th Branch Marine base, the windmill was docked steadily at the shore.Colonel Nezumi was thrown to the ground by Marklike a chick. He scrambled to his feet, bowing repeatedly to Mark and Usopp:"My lords, please spare me! It was all Arlong forcing me!I can give you all the money! That money... that money was originally meant as tribute for the Celestial Dragons. If you aren't afraid of the trouble, you can take it all!""Don't try to use the Celestial Dragons to intimidate us."Mark said coldly, "We can rob those pigs with a clear conscience."Inside the East Blue 16th Branch base, Markescorted Colonel Nezumi, swaggering down the corridor."Put down your weapons! Can't you see I'm a hostage?!" Colonel Nezumi roared, his bluster masking his fear.The surrounding Marine soldiers looked at each other. Seeing their Colonel firmly controlled by Mark, they hesitated before putting down their guns one after another.Mark and Usopp arrived at the vault door without any obstruction.Mark threw Nezumi in front of the door and said coldly, "Open the vault door."Colonel Nezumi scrambled up from the ground, his face immediately plastered with a flattering smile."Yes, yes, sir, I'll open it right away."His hands fumbled with the combination lock, but a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes.Suddenly, he slammed his foot onto a floor tile!"Click!"The floor beneath Mark and Usopp instantly collapsed, and a pitch-black hole appeared under their feet. Caught off guard, both of them fell in!"Haha! Did you think we wouldn't have any precautions for a place like the vault?"Colonel Nezumi's manic laughter came from above. "Did you really think I was afraid of you? Stay down there!""Thud!"Mark and Usopp landed heavily on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.This was a secret room filled with iron cages. Many people were imprisoned inside—young men and women—all of them sallow and emaciated, with numb expressions.The commotion caused by Mark and Usopp made everyone in the cages look up, a flicker of light appearing in their numb eyes."Are you... also captured by the Marines?" a weak voice asked."In a way!"Mark stood up, cast a Cleaning Spell on himself, and looked around. "Why were you captured?"He looked at a girl who appeared to be only about 16 years old. She was wearing tattered clothes and her face was dirty, but there was a hint of stubbornness in her eyes.The girl said timidly:"The Marines said my parents were colluding with pirates and brought me here for questioning, so they captured me.But... but my parents are just small merchants in the village; how could they be colluding with pirates!""We were all framed too!""They said I resisted paying protection money, so they locked me up!""I was just passing through, and they grabbed me to use as forced labor!"The people in the cages spoke up one after another, recounting their experiences, their voices filled with grief, indignation, and helplessness."It seems this 16th Branch is truly filthy." Mark's eyes turned cold. "To think they dare to engage in human trafficking!""Ink Meteor, come out."As Mark's words fell, the Ink Meteor behind his waist suddenly transformed into a beam of black light,condensing in the air into an imposing, massive Taotie. It was huge, with fangs bared and a fierce gaze."Go."Mark commanded calmly.Receiving the order, Ink Meteor raised its massive claw and swiped at the iron cage next to it!"Rip!"The sturdy iron cage was like paper; it was easily torn open, leaving a large hole.The edges were smooth, as if cut by a sharp blade.Ink Meteor carefully avoided the people inside the cages. Soon, all the iron cages holding the prisoners were broken open one by one."Thank you... thank you..." The people walked out of the cages and thanked Mark repeatedly, their voices choked with emotion."There must be Marines all over the outside of this passage."Mark looked up at the hole in the ceiling that had been closed. "I'll go out from above."Usopp looked at the elderly, weak, women, and children, and said with some concern:"But it's so high, and we have so many people with us, how are we going to escape?""Escape?"Mark shook his head. "You wait here. I'll go out and deal with the Marines.Usopp, you take them out through the passage. I'll draw the Marines' fire from above; there shouldn't be many guards in the passage."Without waiting for Usopp to reply, Mark mounted Ink Meteor's back.Ink Meteor let out a low roar and leaped upward violently, its massive claws gripping the wall.Using the momentum, it leaped again. After three consecutive jumps, it had already reached the ceiling at the top.Ink Meteor transformed back into its weapon form and was gripped in Mark's hand.Mark took a deep breath, infused Armament Hakiinto Ink Meteor, and slammed it down toward the ceiling!"Boom!"With a deafening crash, the floor at the top of the base was blasted wide open!Rubble flew everywhere, and Mark's figure leaped out of the hole, landing steadily on the ground.Colonel Nezumi, who was in the middle of calling for reinforcements from his superiors, was startled. Seeing Mark, his expression changed drastically. He quickly picked up the transponder snail and shouted into it:"Send reinforcements quickly! He's escaped! He's right at the vault entrance!"Hanging up the phone, he roared into the intercom:"All forces, concentrate at the vault entrance! Take down the pirate Mark!"Soon, a continuous stream of Marine soldiers poured in from all directions, holding rifles and surrounding Mark, their dark gun barrels aimed at him.Mark's Observation Haki expanded instantly, clearly capturing Colonel Nezumi's location—It was in a control room not far away."Annoying."Mark's eyes narrowed, and a wave of invisible Conqueror's Haki burst forth!"Urgh!"The Marine soldiers surrounding him who were weaker instantly foamed at the mouth and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.The remaining soldiers were also pale and dizzy, their guns almost slipping from their hands.Mark took a step forward and kicked the door of the control room to pieces!"You like to play games, huh, you little brat."Mark walked up to Colonel Nezumi with a grim face. Before the latter could react, he slammed a fist into his face!"Crack!"Colonel Nezumi's teeth were instantly knocked out, blood streamed from his nose, and he collapsed to the ground like a broken sack, groaning in pain.This was only because Mark had held back; otherwise, he would have long since been reduced to a pulp.Mark grabbed Nezumi by the collar and dragged him to the vault door, saying coldly:"I'll give you ten seconds to open the door. If you're a second late, I'll break a finger. Of course, you're welcome to try any tricks."Looking at the soldiers collapsed all over the floor, Colonel Nezumi was scared out of his wits and dared not play any tricks. Trembling, he quickly entered the password."Creak—"The heavy vault door slowly opened, revealing several large crates stacked with Berries, as well as all sorts of gold and silver jewelry, dazzling to the eye. The total value was estimated to exceed 200 million Berries!"Not a bad haul."A hint of satisfaction flashed in Mark's eyes. With a thought, he used his system space and collected all the treasure.He dragged the dying Colonel Nezumi and headed toward the harbor.At the harbor, Usopp was already waiting there with the dozen or so rescued prisoners.Seeing Mark, Usopp immediately went up to meet him: "Mark!""How is it?" Mark asked.Usopp's expression was heavy. "Many of these people's families have been killed... I saw a crematorium in the passage.There were also a few unprocessed bodies, and one of them was that little girl's father..."He gritted his teeth. "This group of Marines is truly disgusting!"Mark's eyes turned completely cold. He looked at the 16th Marine Branch base not far away and said to Usopp:"Usopp, destroy it for me."Usopp was stunned for a moment, then his eyes became determined. He nodded and took the slingshot off his back.He took out an egg-sized black iron ball from the bag on his back and carefully wrapped it in the leather pouch.He walked toward the Marine base step by step, each step feeling exceptionally heavy.He did not notice that in a corner of the base, a video transponder snail was aimed at him, clearly transmitting his figure to a certain place."This filthy place... be destroyed!"Usopp stopped, took a deep breath, and pulled back the elastic band of his slingshot violently!"Special Move: Special Usopp Super Explosive Bomb!"The black iron ball whistled through the air like a cannonball and struck the base's main building with precision!"Boom!"With an earth-shattering roar, a massive mushroom cloud rose into the air!The base's main building collapsed instantly, and rubble and flames shot into the sky!Immediately afterward, Usopp fired three more super explosive bombs!"Boom! Boom! Boom!"After the continuous explosions, the entire 16th Branch Marine base was completely reduced to ruins!Mark walked over and patted Usopp on the shoulder."Well done."He threw Ink Meteor into the air above the ruins. Ink Meteor transformed into its Taotie form in the sky, opened its massive mouth, and activated its devouring ability.A moment later, all the rubble, flames, and debris on the ruins were swallowed up completely.The entire base had truly turned into a flat piece of land, as if it had never existed."Let's go," Mark said.The two arrived at the harbor. With a thought from Mark, a large, flat wooden platform generated on the surface of the sea. Usopp skillfully secured the platform to the windmill.The windmill, carrying this group of persecuted people, slowly sailed away from the harbor, heading in the direction of Cocoyasi Village.Mark stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the distant horizon with a determined look in his eyes.(⊙﹏⊙ I ended up writing so much without realizing it)
Chapter 27: The Straw Hat BanquetThe night fell like a piece of velvet soaked in ink, gently covering the sky over Cocoyasi Village.But tonight, this village, which usually sank into silence or even oppression at night,was like a lit bonfire; every inch of land throbbed with fervent joy.The sea breeze was no longer thick with the arrogance of the Arlong Pirates; instead, it carried the aroma of food—the crackling sound of fat from sizzling roasted meat dripping onto the charcoal;thick soup bubbling in large pots, its rich fragrance wafting halfway down the street.Some of this food had been unearthed by the villagers from their hidden reserves,precious ingredients they usually couldn't bear to eat, perhaps saved carefully to pay Arlong's exorbitant taxes;while the rest had been brought out from Arlong Park, the symbol of oppression and plunder.Now, these supplies, stained with the blood and tears of the villagers, had finally returned in the most celebratory way to the people they were meant to nourish.The square was crowded and brightly lit. Torches were wedged into stone crevices, illuminating faces that once bore the marks of misery but were now beaming with smiles.Children scurried through the crowd, some listening to Usopp tell the tale of his battle against ten Sea Kings.The adults were busy bringing out plates and bowls of carefully prepared delicacies, stuffing them into the hands and mouth of the most prominent figure.That figure was, naturally, Luffy.The Straw Hat boy had already eaten until his belly was as round as a balloon, his mouth stuffed with food as he mumbled "delicious."Yet the food before him showed no sign of diminishing; instead, it seemed to be piling up even more.A plump auntie brought over a large bowl of seafood porridge and, without a word, shoveled a spoonful toward his mouth;a bearded uncle who had just finished grilling a large skewer of takoyaki blew on it to cool it down before thrusting it into his hand;even the shyest little girl gathered her courage to place a freshly made fruit tart within his reach."Mr. Luffy ate the grilled fish I made!"A man bragged proudly to those around him, drawing looks of envy."Hmph, Mr. Luffy just ate three of my meat buns!" a woman nearby countered, refusing to be outdone."To be able to feed Mr. Luffy and his friends is the blessing of Cocoyasi Village!"A highly respected village elder leaned on a cane, watching the scene with tears glistening in his cloudy eyes.To the villagers, Luffy's appetite was not a burden but rather the greatest form of affirmation.This youth, who had sent Arlong flying with a single punch and shattered their years-long nightmare, was accepting their gratitude in his most pure-hearted way.If Luffy ever ate one bite less, the entire village would probably worry that their cooking wasn't good enough or that Luffy was unsatisfied.Thus, Luffy's binge-eating mode actually made the villagers smile even more brightly.In the very center of the square, incongruous with the festive atmosphere, stood two massive crosses.The culprits, Arlong and Captain Nezumi, were bound tightly to them with iron chains as thick as a child's arm, unable to move.Arlong's former ferocity was gone, replaced only by humiliation and resentment.Captain Nezumi was scared out of his wits; tears and snot flowed down his "fleshy" face, and his body was covered in filth, emitting a foul odor.Passing villagers, regardless of age or gender, would stop when they saw them.At first, they might have been hesitant, but when the first person spat at Arlong,immediately after, a rain of spit, rotten vegetable leaves, stones, and even hoarded rotten eggs began to pelt the two of them."It was you, you bastard! You stole the money I saved for my mother's medical treatment!""Nezumi! You scum! Colluding with pirates and bleeding us dry of our hard-earned money!""Big Sister Belle-Mere was killed because of you!"Angry curses rose and fell; had Mark not specifically instructed beforehand to "keep them alive and don't kill them,"these two villainous wretches would likely have been dragged down and torn apart by the emotional villagers long ago.The villagers' hatred for them was a volcano that had been building up for far too long, and now it had finally found an outlet,yet they barely maintained their final shred of reason because of Mark's order.At the edge of the square, by a temporary wooden table, Zoro held up a clay cup toward Mark."Gulp, gulp, gulp..."Zoro tilted his head back and downed a large gulp, smacking his lips with a satisfied expression."Wow, this wine has a real kick. I never thought wine made from tangerines would be so delicious!"He glanced at the two pathetic figures in the center of the square, his brow furrowing slightly."I say, Mark, what's the use of keeping those two pieces of trash? It'd be cleaner to just cut them down."Mark also held a cup of wine, swirling it gently; the liquid shimmered with an orange glow under the firelight."Arlong is worth a bounty of 20 million Berries,"he said calmly. "Handing him over to the Marines will be enough to improve the villagers' lives for a long time; that's no small sum."He paused, his gaze turning to Captain Nezumi, his eyes growing colder."As for Nezumi, his crimes are even more serious. As a Marine, he not only colluded with pirates but also engaged in human trafficking.""A piece of scum like him can't be let off so easily. The Marines must be forced to face his crimes and give those he persecuted,""as well as the villagers of Cocoyasi Village, an explanation and compensation for their losses."Zoro raised an eyebrow, somewhat skeptical."What if the Marines, to cover up the scandal, refuse to compensate and choose to silence everyone instead? They're capable of that.""They won't, and they won't dare to."Mark shook his head with certainty and explained,"First, these victim mostly consist of civilians with no powerful backing, so their influence would normally be small.""But if things really blow up and the reputation of 'Marines shielding scum and oppressing civilians' spreads, it would be a huge blow to their credibility. Second..."Mark flipped his palm, and a bundle of letters and papers tied with rope appeared out of thin air."These were found in the study at Arlong Park.""It seems that old fox Arlong kept a backup plan, recording his dirty dealings with Nezumi and even some other high-ranking Marine officials."He weighed the items in his hand, a cold smirk playing on his lips."If these documents fell into the hands of sharp-nosed reporters, or were simply handed over to the Marines' enemies, like the Revolutionary Army...""Do you think the Marine high command would find it worth the risk?"Zoro nodded in understanding and stopped speaking, downing another large gulp of wine.With these things in hand, the Marines would indeed be wary of taking reckless action.Just then, two figures walked over quickly; it was Johnny and Joseph.With expressions of excitement and respect, they bowed to Mark and Zoro."Big Brother Mark, Big Brother Zoro! We've followed your instructions,""and anchored the going merry in that hidden bay to the east. It's very safe!"Mark nodded with a smile, picked up the wine jug on the table, and poured a bowl of wine for each of them."Good work. Come, have some wine and meat to celebrate.""Thank you, Big Brother Mark!"Johnny and Joseph, flattered, took the wine bowls and drained them in one go, their faces instantly flushing red."It is our honor to serve Big Brother Mark! Haha!"Mark looked at them and suddenly said,"Since you two have acknowledged us as your bosses, I can't let you do it for nothing."His gaze fell on the sabers at their waists. "Give me your swords."Johnny and Joseph's expressions changed; they looked at each other, both seeing panic in the other's eyes."Boss Mark... You, you're not going to..." Johnnystammered."Wasting a weapon upgrade on people like us is too much... No, no, no, it's too precious; we can't accept such a thing from you, Big Brother Mark..."They naturally knew how powerful the weapons upgraded by Mark were after seeing them on the ship—they were existences that could rival the wado ichimonji."Hand them over."Mark's tone left no room for doubt, carrying a hint of majesty. "What, your big brother's words don't carry weight anymore?""We wouldn't dare!"Johnny and Joseph didn't dare say more. Despite their feelings of unworthiness, they respectfully unbuckled their sabers,holding them in both hands and offering them to Mark, struggling to hold back their tears.Mark took the two swords and gave a casual wave.From behind his waist, "Ink Meteor" suddenly transformed into a streak of light and flew to the nearby open ground.The villagers were drawn by the commotion and looked over, letting out low gasps of surprise.But seeing it was Mark and the others, they quickly quieted down, merely watching with curiosity.Mark tossed Johnny and Joseph's two swords toward Ink Meteor.The ram-headed lion opened its mouth and swallowed the two swords, followed by a distinct chewing sound, as if it were gnawing on something hard.Johnny and Joseph watched, their hearts racing and their faces flushed with excitement.A moment later, Ink Meteor stopped chewing and, with a "retching" sound toward Johnny and Joseph, spat out the two swords.The swords still had the same shape, but they had turned a deep, profound black.A cold luster flowed along the blades, faintly emitting an unparalleled sharp aura. These were unexpectedly two Black Blades!Zoro, who had been watching coldly from the side, suddenly widened his eyes, his grip on his wine cup tightening.He was someone who knew his blades; the quality of these two swords, after being "processed" by Ink Meteor, had undergone a world-shaking transformation!Had he not known that the original feel and compatibility of these swords weren't for him, he would have almost been unable to resist stepping forward to snatch them and try them out!With trembling hands, Johnny and Joseph solemnly took their respective Black Blades.They felt cool and heavy to the touch; the hilts seemed to fit their palms perfectly, and an unprecedented sense of power surged in their hearts.They could no longer hold back, and tears burst from their eyes as they knelt before Mark with a "thud.""Big Brother Mark! You are like parents reborn to us!""No... from now on, we are your... wait, no... Anyway, the lives of us two brothers belong to you from now on!"Johnny spoke through sobs, while Joseph nodded vigorously beside him, too emotional to speak.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite"Alright, alright, stop with that."Mark waved his hand with a smile, "These two swords are a gift for our first meeting.""Work hard on your training in the future. Don't let these swords down, and don't let yourselves down either. Strive to make a name for yourselves in the East Blue.""Yes! We will definitely live up to the expectations of Big Brother Mark and Big Brother Zoro!"Johnny and Joseph wiped away their tears and nodded vigorously, their eyes filled with unprecedented determination."We will train hard. In the future, we won't just get stronger; we will protect this place and protect everyone's hometown!""Oh? That's not a bad idea." Zoro offered a rare word of praise.Mark also nodded, pondering to himself.Although these two kids, Johnny and Joseph, didn't have top-tier talent, they had the advantage of being simple, loyal, and knowing how to be grateful.It would be a real pity if they just drifted along with the tide.If they could grow with the help of these two black blades, they might well become a decent fighting force in the future.Even if they didn't end up as top-tier powerhouses, relying on these two swords to act as reliable bodyguards or escorts in the East Blue would be enough to make a living.Hmm, this idea of his was truly good—it was simply genius! Mark felt a little smug inside."Zoro, you keep drinking. I'm going to go taste the villagers' cooking. It's said that tonight's feast is unparalleled."Mark set down his wine glass. His body suddenly rippled and transformed into a semi-transparent Slime Form about the size of a soccer ball. With a gentle leap, he hopped onto the head of Ink Meteorbeside him.He whispered a few words to Ink Meteor, and the majestic lion with a ram's head began to shrink.It quickly turned into a cute creature the size of a husky, looking fluffy and a bit like a small lion dog, though it still kept its small ram horns on its head, making it look exceptionally playful.This way, there was no need to worry about scaring the timid villagers and children."Yo, Sanji!"Mark, controlling his Slime Form and sitting on the mini Ink Meteor, sauntered over to Sanji's barbecue stall."Give me five skewers of barbecue! Add plenty of sauce and some chili. The spicier, the better—I love spicy food."Sanji was busy working up a sweat. Hearing the voice, he looked up and was momentarily stunned, then the corners of his mouth curled into his signature smile.He deftly picked up five sizzling, oily skewers and sprinkled a thick layer of chili powder and special sauce on them:"Coming right up! But speaking of which, Mark, with that Slime Form of yours... can you actually taste anything when you eat?""You don't understand. This is my exclusive foodie form. I break it down as I eat, and the flavor goes straight to the top of my head."Mark spouted nonsense with a straight face, took the barbecue, and handed a skewer to the little Ink Meteor beneath him. "Ink Meteor, you have one too."The mini Ink Meteor let out a "Woof" (seemingly to match its new look), wagged its little tail, and held the skewer with its two front paws, nibbling at it in small bites. Its eyes narrowed into slits as it ate, and it looked extremely satisfied.Sanji watched, dumbfounded, nearly dropping the skewers in his hand:"This... feeding barbecue to a weapon?...Should I... start preparing a portion for Ink Meteor whenever I cook in the future?"Mark said indistinctly:"I really hadn't thought that far ahead. Just treat Ink Meteor like a pet on the ship; giving it some snacks occasionally will do."He finished a skewer in a few bites, his eyes lighting up. He pointed in the direction where Luffy was wolfing down food not far away,"Let's go, Ink Meteor! That pumpkin meat Luffy is eating over there smells a bit special. Let's go try it!"With that, the human and his "pet" vanished like a puff of smoke in front of Sanji.Sanji gazed at their retreating figures, rubbed his chin, and muttered to himself:"He knows food, his strength is outrageously high, and he's smart too... such a perfect person, why does he have to be a boy... *Sigh*!"On the other side, Luffy was holding a huge pot of pumpkin stew, enjoying it immensely.Seeing a blob of slime riding a fluffy little creature running towards him, his eyes instantly lit up."Whoa! Mark!"Luffy tossed the pot aside and jumped up in excitement,"You look so cool like this! I love it! This is your exclusive weapon Ink Meteor, right? How interesting!"He circled the mini Ink Meteor twice, then suddenly slapped his thigh,"I officially declare that Ink Meteor is also a member of the Straw Hat Pirates! Now, Mark, get down and let me, the Captain, have a ride!"The mini Ink Meteor proudly turned its head away, presenting its backside to Luffy, clearly not wanting to pay attention to this childish guy.Mark rolled his eyes helplessly: "So that was your plan all along...""By the way, where's Nami?" Luffy suddenly remembered something and looked around. "How come I don't see her?"Mark sensed for a moment, then extended a "finger" to point towards the mountain behind the village: "Over there, on the cliffside of the mountain."At this moment, on the cliffside of the mountain behind Cocoyasi Village, the Moonlight shone brightly, casting its light upon a simple tombstone.There were no flowery words on the tombstone, only the inscription "Tomb of Belle-Mere."Nami and Nojiko stood side by side before the grave, holding freshly picked flowers."Mama!" Nami spoke softly, her voice choked with a hint of emotion, yet filled more with relief and determination."You were right. Not everyone is a bad person, and not every place is filled with darkness. I have found my own place to belong now—a group of companions who might be a bit strange, but to whom I can entrust my back. Being with them, I am happy every day."She took a deep breath, as if laying down a burden she had carried for years: "From now on, I will set sail with them to fulfill my dream. Once I have finished drawing all the maps of the world, I will definitely come back to visit you."Nojiko gently patted her shoulder, a gentle smile on her face: "Go ahead, Nami. Go see the world you want to see.""Nojiko," Nami turned her head, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Do you want to come with me? We can see the outside world together."Nojiko shook her head, her gaze fixed on the brightly lit village below the mountain: "No, I just want to stay here for now, take good care of those orange trees, guard this home, and enjoy this hard-won peaceful life. Don't worry, I will take good care of everything here and wait for you to return.""Nami, I see... Alright then." Although Nami felt a little disappointed, she understood Nojiko's choice.Just then, a familiar voice drifted up from the foot of the mountain: "Hey! Nami! Do you want some barbecue? The barbecue Sanji made tonight has extra special ingredients—it's super delicious!"Nojiko smiled: "It seems your companions have come to find you. Nami, look, you are very important to them."Nami wore a slightly tsundere smile on her face and clenched her fist: "Of course! On the ship, I, the navigator, am the one you least want to offend!"She turned and waved to Nojiko: "I'm heading down then!""Go on."Nami walked quickly down the hillside and soon saw that unique combination—a blob of slime riding on a fluffy little creature."Mark?" Nami opened her eyes wide in surprise. "You can actually shrink to this size in this form? And... is this Ink Meteor?"She looked at the mini Ink Meteor, stars in her eyes. "It's so cute! I really want to ride it!"Mark jumped off Ink Meteor and returned to his human form. He snapped his fingers at Ink Meteor.The mini Ink Meteor shifted, instantly returning to its previous majestic lion form with a ram's head, though its size was controlled to be just right for someone to ride.It lay down tamely and let out a low call to Nami."Princess, please board." Mark's voice was filled with amusement."Wow! This is amazing!" Nami jumped excitedly onto Ink Meteor's broad back and gripped its thick mane tightly."Ah! Mark, this isn't fair! Why can Nami ride it and I can't?! No, I want to ride it too! Mark! I want to ride it too!"Luffy, who had just caught up, saw this scene and immediately got anxious, jumping up and down behind them and shouting.Mark completely ignored his childish Captain.He knew that everything that happened today had a massive impact on Nami. Being liberated from years of enslavement and hatred required an outlet to release her emotions.This moment was the perfect opportunity for her to completely relax.He gently patted Ink Meteor's neck. Ink Meteorunderstood and let out a cheerful roar, lifting its four paws and dashing towards the center of the village with Nami on its back, like an arrow released from a bow.The wind whistled past her ears, blowing away all the gloom and heaviness.Nami hugged Ink Meteor's neck tightly, feeling the lightning-fast speed. The grievances, pain, and repression that had been pent up in her heart for years seemed to be left completely behind at this moment.She couldn't help but burst into laughter. The laughter was crisp, sweet, and filled with unprecedented lightness and joy, echoing through the night sky like a string of silver bells, spreading across the entire Cocoyasi Village.The villagers in the square heard this laughter, stopped what they were doing, and wore gratified smiles on their faces.Luffy was still chasing behind, shouting, "Wait for me!"Zoro held his wine glass, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.Sanji leaned against the barbecue grill, looking in the direction where Nami had gone, and nodded.Tonight, Cocoyasi Village was destined to be sleepless.This was a carnival belonging to freedom, a prologue to a new life, and a heartwarming footnote to the Straw Hat's new journey.And this joy would travel with the sea breeze, blowing towards the vast ocean.