Chapter 30: The Marine Captain Spitting BloodThe sea breeze swept across the deck, ruffling the hair on Johnny's forehead.He stood by the gunwale with his hands down, looking down at the pitch-black blade at his waist.The ship rocked slightly, but Johnny's gaze was fixed firmly on the distant coastline, where the smoke and dust of battle were faintly visible.His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was so soft it was almost swallowed by the wind:"If only... if only we were a little stronger..."The sounds of shouting and killing from the shore almost shattered his nerves.That was the commotion only found when the strong clashed, a realm they were still far from reaching.As the subordinates trusted by their big brothers, yet only able to stay and wait on the ship, this sense of powerlessness felt like a reef blocking his chest."Johnny."A hand patted his shoulder with just the right amount of force, carrying a familiar warmth.Johnny looked up, meeting Joseph's eyes, which held the same worry but were even more determined."We are helping Big Bro and the others right now."Joseph's voice was deeper than usual as he raised his hand and pointed toward the bow."Guarding the going merry and waiting for them to return is the most important thing we can do right now."Before he could finish, a muffled "Bang!" exploded from the sky, followed by a piercing green light tearing through the clouds.It hung in mid-air like a falling star, flickering on and off."It's Big Bro Usopp's signal!"Joseph straightened his back instantly, his eyes suddenly sharp."Johnny, move! The green signal means we need to sail the ship over!"Johnny snapped back to his senses and hurriedly untied the anchor rope, but his gaze froze as it swept across the direction indicated by the green light:"Wait, Joseph... isn't that where the Marine warships are anchored?"Joseph had already grabbed the helm. "Don't overthink it, we have to trust Big Bro and the others!""There must be a reason they arranged it this way!"The anchor was pulled up with a splash, and water droplets fell onto the deck.Johnny grit his teeth and turned to pull the sail ropes. The going merry's sails quickly swelled in the sea breeze, and the ship shuddered slightly.It sailed toward that stretch of sea permeating with the scent of danger.At the entrance of Cocoyasi Village, the once lush green lawn was now unrecognizable.The dark brown soil was churned up, and massive gullies spread into the distance like hideous scars.Broken trees and rubble were scattered everywhere, and the air was thick with the smell of sweat and blood.Luffy crouched on the ground, his Straw Hat pulled low to cover most of his face, with only his rapid breathing betraying his exhaustion.A few steps away, Smoker also rested a hand on his knee. White smoke rose slowly from his body, the spark of his cigar flickered at the corner of his mouth, and his chest heaved violently."That woman, that long-nose... and that signal flare."Smoker's voice carried a suppressed rasp. His eyes, usually like eternal ice, now showed a flicker of agitation."Straw Hat, what on earth are you planning?"He had never been in such a pathetic state. The strength of this pirate crew far exceeded intelligence estimates.What shocked him even more were their endless tricks and their total disregard for the consequences.There were too many uncertainties, so many that for the first time, this "White Hunter," who was used to controlling everything, felt anxious.Luffy suddenly looked up, his eyes shining brightly under the Straw Hat, his mouth splitting into an arrogant grin:"Beat you up, then run away."The answer was clean and crisp, without the slightest hesitation."Truly... arrogant."Smoker took a deep drag of his cigar, the light of the cherry brightening suddenly.In the next second, he moved, and the smoke around him instantly condensed."White Blow!"The smoke fist smashed toward Luffy with the sound of breaking air."The same move won't work!"Luffy let out a low shout as pitch-black Armament Haki instantly coated both his fists."Gum-Gum Gatling!"Countless fists with a black luster poured out like a rainstorm, forcefully blowing Smoker's White Blowapart.Seizing the moment the smoke dissipated, Luffyused..."Soru,"His body lunged forward like an arrow from a bow. His right fist, hardened with Armament Haki, whistled through the air straight for Smoker's chest!He knew very well that this smoke man had too many long-range attacks. To win, he had to close the distance and fight in close combat!However, the fist passed through Smoker's body without resistance, as if hitting a thick mist.Immediately after, a powerful suction force pulled at him. Luffy's arm was actually held tight by Smoker's elemental smoke body!"Straw Hat, you're too slow."Smoker's voice came from the smoke with a hint of mockery."By turning into elements in advance, even your Armament Haki is useless."Before he finished, the Sea Stone Jitte had already pierced through the smoke, stabbing straight at Luffy's throat!At the critical moment, Luffy jerked his head to the side, and the Jitte almost grazed his cheek."Gum-Gum Stamp!"Using the momentum of his dodge, Luffy's right leg instantly tensed, and his foot, coated in Armament Haki, kicked hard toward Smoker's stomach!But the result was the same; his foot passed through the smoke body again."I told you, it's useless."Smoker said as he raised the Jitte in his left hand again, stabbing toward Luffy's head.At this moment, one of Luffy's hands and one of his legs were held by the smoke, making it impossible to dodge. Seeing the Jitte about to fall—Luffy suddenly grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth:"Gum-Gum Pinwheel!"He violently twisted his body, using his trapped limbs to spin his entire body frantically. The powerful centrifugal force, like a top, sucked Smokerin as well.Caught off guard, Smoker was carried by this brute force and spun around in the air.For a moment, he couldn't control his body and was forced to release Luffy's hand and leg.Luffy landed using the momentum of the spin, his right fist pressed firmly against the ground. He slowly looked up, the gaze under his Straw Hatbecoming incredibly serious:"It seems I can't beat you without getting serious.""You said I'm slow?"A curve formed at the corner of Luffy's mouth. "Then next, make sure you watch closely!""Gear Second!""Sss—"Luffy's legs worked like two high-speed air pumps, pumping frantically. His skin turned red at a visible rate.Like a lobster just pulled out of boiling water, steam rose from his body, and even the surrounding air became scorching hot.Smoker's face instantly became grave. He tightened his grip on the Jitte and focused intently on Luffy, not daring to be careless.In the next second, Luffy's figure vanished from his sight!When he reappeared, Luffy was already on his left, his fist striking with a speed difficult for the naked eye to capture:"Gum-Gum Jet Pistol!"No one saw where the punch landed, only a muffled "Bang!" was heard.Smoker's face contorted violently, and he spun three times in the air before falling heavily to the ground.Kneeling on one knee, the hand holding the Jitte couldn't help but wipe the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth."Smoke Spray!"Smoker quickly adjusted his posture, his body turning into white smoke and shooting into the air. Immediately after,A massive amount of smoke surged toward Luffylike a tide, forming an airtight..."Smoke Prison.""Smoke Thrust!"The white mist instantly filled the area, interfering with Luffy's perception.Meanwhile, the Sea Stone Jitte hidden in the mist stabbed toward Luffy's throat with even greater speed!But these movements were clearly captured by Luffy's Observation Haki.He suddenly crouched, one palm forward and one fist back, firmly locking onto Smoker's position in the smoke."Gum-Gum Jet Bullet!"The fist shot out like a cannonball, with a sharp whistle that tore through the air.With a crisp "Crack," Smoker's Jitte was actually cracked by the force and then shattered piece by piece!Smoker, having lost his Jitte, showed a flash of panic in his eyes and instinctively changed his move:"White Vine!"Countless white smoke vines reached out like living things toward Luffy, trying to trap him in place.How could Luffy let him succeed?With a flicker, he arrived at Smoker's feet, his hands clenching into palms, concentrating all his strength:"Gum-Gum Rhino Cannon!"His palms, carrying the extreme speed of Gear Second, slammed hard into Smoker's stomach!The speed was too fast; Smoker had no time to react. He was hit as if by a giant hammer.He was sent flying instantly, smashing heavily into a large rock dozens of meters away."Boom!"The boulder cracked upon impact, and Smoker slid to the ground from the pile of rubble, his head hanging low as he spat out a large mouthful of blood."H-How can this be... Captain Smoker was sent flying?!"The two Marine soldiers standing by were dumbfounded and hurriedly stumbled over."Captain Smoker!"The two carefully helped Smoker up. He was still conscious, but his injuries were severe, and he could barely stand even with their support.Luffy wasn't doing well either. The backlash of Gear Second surged like a tide.The strength in his entire body seemed drained. He swayed, looking like he was about to fall backward.A hand covered in blood and dirt caught him just in time.Luffy looked up and saw Zoro's face, equally disheveled yet still possessing a sharp edge.Zoro had just finished off a hundred Marine elites. His body was covered in wounds, mostly superficial,but the exhaustion deep in his bones could not be hidden. Catching Luffy was already his limit."Zoro?"Luffy smiled weakly, his eyelids so heavy they were almost stuck together."Sorry... I'm a bit of a mess.""Captain, well done."Zoro's voice was raspy, but he returned the smile.The two smiled at each other, their gazes simultaneously turning toward a massive black sphere woven from black iron bars in the distance.Inside the black sphere, Mark was panting heavily. His clothes were in tatters, with only a few scraps of cloth barely covering him.Beads of sweat on his face fell like broken pearls, dripping down his jawline.A hideous blood hole on his shoulder had stopped bleeding; his powerful recovery was slowly repairing the wound.He looked at Hina, who was also swaying on the opposite side, and asked:"Sister Hina, do you still want to fight?"Hina was using a Black Spear to support her body, barely keeping herself from falling.Her once bright and beautiful face was now covered in scars, with blood seeping from the corners of her eyes and mouth.Her uniform had long since been shredded by Ink Meteor's attacks, leaving only the vest underneath somewhat intact.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteMark's words left her silent.Her Haki exhausted, her stamina depleted, this iron-barred black sphere woven from her ability was her final act of stubbornness—She did not want Smoker to see her in such a pathetic state, nor did she want her subordinates who trusted her to see it.But she really... had no strength left.Tina gritted her teeth and struggled to spit out three words:"I am defeated."These words seemed to drain the last of her strength. As her voice faded,the black sphere enveloping them shattered with a 'crack' and completely collapsed, revealing the stance of the two people inside—The outcome was clear at a glance.Tina was hunched over, looking utterly disheveled;while Mark stood tall and straight, the sea breeze blowing through his black hair,Beside him, Ink Meteor's golden pupils flashed with a vigilant light; if Tina made any sudden moves, it would pounce immediately.Mark gently stroked Ink Meteor's mane:"Let's go."He walked slowly toward Luffy and Zoro, and Zoro, supporting Luffy, walked toward him as well.The three met, exchanged a smile, and Mark and Luffy simultaneously extended their fists and bumped them gently.No words were needed; this was the tacit understanding they had cultivated after fighting side by side for so long."Hey! Did you forget about me!"A weak voice came from the ground not far away. A man wearing a tattered suit lay there, covered in wounds—it was Sanji.He had also taken out over a hundred Marine elites, but because he hadn't awakened Observation Haki,he was in much worse shape than Zoro, with wounds on his chest and back deep enough to see bone, and clearly some broken bones."Sanji! It's Sanji!"Luffy immediately grew anxious, struggling to break free from Zoro, "Mark, hurry and help him!"Without needing Luffy to say more, Mark had already walked quickly to Sanji's side and carefully helped him up.Sanji gasped in pain, cold sweat instantly soaking his forehead."Ink Meteor." Mark called out.Ink Meteor ran to him in a few steps and obediently lay on the ground.Mark gently placed Sanji on Ink Meteor's back, letting it carry him, before returning to Luffy's side.Mark looked around and couldn't help but click his tongue.The entire battlefield looked as if it had been ravaged by a natural disaster; it was devastated.Marine soldiers were strewn across the ground; some were unconscious, some were groaning in low voices,and those who could barely move were supporting each other, looking utterly disheveled.All of this was silently declaring:This chaotic brawl was won by the Straw Hat Pirates.His gaze finally landed on Smoker.Smoker was being supported by two soldiers, his eyes still fixed on them as if he wanted to eat them alive.At some point, Tina had walked over to Smoker's side. She had originally thought she was pathetic enough,but seeing Smoker needing help just to stand steady, she felt inexplicably more at ease—at least she didn't have to worry about being mocked by him.Luffy and the others ignored Smoker's gaze, which seemed almost ready to spit fire."Let's go."Zoro supported Luffy, Ink Meteor carried Sanji, and Mark walked at the back to cover them.As they passed by Smoker, his hands clenched until they creaked. He used all his remaining strength to roar at their retreating figures:"I will not let you go to the Grand Line!"Mark didn't even turn his head; he just waved his hand, a farewell gesture.A moment later, on the going merry."Luffy! Mark! Zoro! Sanji! Over here!" Usopp stood at the bow, waving and shouting toward the shore.As Mark and the others approached, Usopp saw their appearance clearly and his eyes widened immediately:"Hey! What... what happened? How did you get so injured? Even you, Mark, look so disheveled!"Hearing Usopp's words, Mark looked down to examine himself.His body was covered in blood, grime, and dirt, and his clothes were tattered; it was indeed the most pathetic he had ever looked.A thought crossed his mind, and he activated his Devil Fruit ability; a pale blue halo enveloped everyone.As the light flowed, although the wounds were still gruesome, at least their torn clothes were much cleaner, and they didn't look quite as disheveled.On the other side, at the entrance of Cocoyasi Village."The commotion was so loud, why didn't anyone from the warships come to support us?" Tina asked, looking at Smoker.Smoker's expression changed, and he suddenly realized:"Bad! Get back to the warships! Leave the seriously injured soldiers on the island to recover, and everyone who can move, come with me!"After a few minutes of rest, Smoker was able to stand on his own, albeit barely.Marine soldiers quickly boarded their respective warships, only to find people strewn all over the decks."How is it?" Smoker asked in a deep voice.A soldier stepped forward to check the breathing of one of them and replied with confusion:"Report, Colonel... they seem to be asleep...""Those idiots!"Smoker cursed under his breath, "Where is Tashigi? Go find her!"Inside the watchtower, Tashigi's eyebrows twitched, and she slowly opened her eyes.She shook her head in a daze:"How did I fall asleep on the floor? Is my cold that bad?"She subconsciously reached for her glasses, but found everything blurry before her eyes."Where are my glasses?"Without glasses for her nearsightedness, the whole world was hazy.She fumbled around blindly, and her fingers suddenly touched two cold glass shards that looked a bit like eyeglass lenses.Tashigi brought the glass shards before her eyes and squinted to look—"Ah—!"A scream rang out across the entire warship.Tashigi discovered in horror that her uniform had disappeared at some point, revealing large swaths of skin...(Some parts omitted here; surely readers wouldn't like to see that. Hmm, I, the author, will just have to suffer... Hehe... nosebleed o＞_＜o)On the going merry.Zoro leaned against the ship's railing, carefully wiping the sword in his hand—the one Nami had shoved into his hands just a moment ago.He gave it a gentle swing, and the blade hummed slightly as it cut through the air. A look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes:"Good sword."Luffy lay sprawled on the deck, gnawing happily on a large piece of meat, humming indistinctly.Usopp checked his pocket watch every now and then, nervously glancing at the distant Marinewarships, his hands rubbing together incessantly.Nami was carefully bandaging Sanji's wounds, frowning and scolding him from time to time, but her movements were very gentle.Johnny and Joseph worked in perfect sync, one at the helm and one adjusting the sails, and the going merry sailed smoothly under their control."It seems these Marines didn't gain any advantage on land and intend to clash with us at sea."Mark leaned against the railing, watching the two warships gradually closing in, and spoke calmly.The two Marine warships approached the going merry in a pincer formation.While they were still far away, Smoker's roar came through a broadcast:"Straw Hat! Don't think you're something just because you won one fight! On the sea, it is ultimately the world of us Marines..."Before he could finish, a girl with a tearful voice grabbed his microphone, and her voice suddenly rang out:"Give back my 'shigure'!"This sudden sound stunned everyone.Only Zoro reacted, looking down at the sword in his hand, a playful smile curling the corner of his mouth:"So your name is shigure. Once you're in my hands, you're mine. After all, I am a pirate.""Hey! Marines, I advise you to find a safe place to take shelter!"Usopp leaned over the railing and shouted toward the warships.On the warship, Smoker was so angry he was smoking all over, absolutely furious.Tina had also adjusted the cannons, aiming at the going merry, her eyes cold; she clearly intended to sink the going merry directly.Just then, Usopp began to count down loudly: "10! 9! 8! 7!..."Smoker and Tina were both startled, suddenly sensing that something was wrong.Tina's Observation Haki instantly spread out, clearly sensing a strong aura of danger coming from the command room and the ammunition depot!"Quick! Everyone, jump off the ship immediately!"Tina made a split-second decision; while shouting, she grabbed an empty wine barrel nearby and threw it into the sea,then leaped out herself, nimbly diving into the barrel in mid-air, and with a 'bang', sealed the lid tight.Seeing their commander jump, the other Marines didn't stop to think and followed suit, jumping into the sea like dumplings.Smoker's reaction was not slow either; he grabbed a wooden barrel and jumped down as well.Just as they hit the water, Usopp's countdown reached its end: "0!""Boom—!!!"A deafening sound erupted, and the two warships were instantly swallowed by a massive explosion of light and thick smoke,and the shockwave from the explosion even made the going merry in the distance sway.The firelight illuminated the faces of everyone on the going merry, turning them bright red.Nami was stunned for a moment, then reacted; she grabbed Usopp by the collar and roared with wide, angry eyes:"Usopp! Is this what you called 'flipping the deck a little'?!""S-sorry, sorry!"Usopp shrank his neck, looking at the wreckage of the warships floating on the sea and the Marines struggling in the water clutching planks, saying with an innocent and shocked expression,"I didn't know the power would be this big..."Mark stood at the side of the ship, watching the sea of fire, and suddenly remarked:"Art is an explosion."Luffy, gnawing on meat, chimed in indistinctly: "Yeah! So cool!"Zoro wiped the shigure in his hand, a smile playing on his lips.Sanji lay on the deck, and although he was grimacing in pain, he still didn't forget to wink at Nami:"Nami-san... is there anything you want to eat? I'll make it for you...""Sanji, I have to hand it to you."Mark looked at the dying knight... and mentally gave Sanji a score: In the world of flirting, I would call you the strongest!The going merry slowly turned in the sea breeze, sailed away from the smoke-filled waters, and continued forward toward the next destination!(Bounties are coming soon ←_← guess how much?)
Chapter 31: Usopp is in Big Trouble"Purupuru... purupuru... purupuru—"The round transponder snail lay on the cold metal tabletop, emitting a rhythmic hum."Clack."With a soft click, the transponder snail's eyes snapped open, its black pupils quickly focusing, and its face even took on a serious expression similar to the caller."Moshi moshi, Smoker?"A steady male voice came from the transponder snail, carrying the majesty unique to high-ranking Marine officials.The transponder snail's eyes narrowed into two thin slits, perfectly replicating the caller's current expression.Hearing the question, Nami took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound steady:"Vice Admiral Momonga, hello. I am Colonel Smoker's assistant, Tashigi."She deliberately lowered her voice, "The Colonel is currently on the island capturing the Straw Hat and Arlong, and cannot speak with you at the moment."There was a moment of silence on the other end, as if confirming the information.Nami could feel her heart drumming in her chest.She didn't dare imagine what would happen if her identity were exposed and the Vice Admiral came in person."Give Smoker a message."Momonga's voice rang out again, this time with a bit more unquestionable solemnity,"That long-nosed one in the Straw Hat, named Usopp, has a special gunpowder formula in his possession.He must be captured and brought to justice; this thing must be held in the Marine's hands and must never leak out.""Yes! I guarantee the message will be delivered!" Nami straightened her back and responded loudly."Clack."The transponder snail's antennae drooped again, its eyes closed, and it fell completely silent.Nami let out a long breath and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her heart still pounding.She looked at the transponder snail in her hand that she had "borrowed" from the warship, her brow furrowing involuntarily.Meanwhile, Marine Headquarters, Marineford.In the massive monitoring room, several projection screens hung on the walls, one of which clearly displayed—Usopp stopping in his tracks, taking a deep breath, and suddenly pulling back the slingshot's rubber band!The black iron ball, whistling in the wind like a shell from a cannon, accurately struck the base's main building!"Boom—!"A world-shaking explosion rang out, and a massive mushroom cloud rose into the air!The base's main building collapsed instantly, with rubble and flames soaring into the sky!The frame froze right at the moment the fire from Usopp's "Supernova" soared into the sky.Vice Admiral Momonga stood before the screen, hands behind his back, staring sharply at the ball of fire.He wore a crisp Marine Vice Admiral uniform, the Justice cloak on his shoulders swaying gently in the breeze from the fan.His fingertips unconsciously tapped the tabletop rhythmically, making a "thump-thump" sound, his expression grave."Special gunpowder?..."Momonga muttered to himself, "To be able to blow up a branch base like this, its power cannot be underestimated. I must get my hands on it."He turned around and said to the messenger behind him, "Keep a close watch on Smoker's movements and report this video immediately.""Yes! Vice Admiral!"...going merry, lounge.Nami carefully placed the transponder snail on the table.Her tone carried obvious guilt: "To be honest, I feel a bit sorry for that Marine Female Sergeant.""I stripped her clothes, took her sword, and now I'm using her identity to send fake messages to headquarters... She'll probably be furious when she wakes up.""Forget about her being angry!"Usopp's voice suddenly rose, filled with obvious panic.He paced around the table in the small lounge, clutching his signature long nose, his voice trembling:"The point is! I've been targeted by Marine Headquarters! Mark, think of something, save me!"He stopped abruptly and looked at Mark, who was sitting in the corner, with a look of despair:"That's a Headquarters Vice Admiral! It's terrifying, okay?!I'm just a man who wants to become a brave warrior of the sea, I don't want to be targeted by such a big shot!"Mark leaned back in his chair, legs crossed on the edge of the table, counting on his fingers:"Usopp, if you count it up, you've done quite a few big things lately.""First it was Fullbody's warship, then Colonel Hina's warship,then Smoker's warship... three warships plus the East Blue 16th Branch base,all blown to bits by you with your 'babies'."Mark counted on his fingers, his tone flat, but it made Usopp's face grow paler and paler."Stop counting, Mark!"Usopp wailed and squatted down, hands buried in his messy hair,"I should be very happy about this glorious record, I could even brag about it for a year!But!I don't want to be targeted by a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral because of this! That's a Vice Admiral! You heard it too, 'Must be captured'!"Zoro leaned against the sofa, his upper body covered in thick white bandages,a black coat draped loosely over him, collar open to reveal his neck, which was also bandaged.He seemed to have just woken up, letting out a big yawn without even lifting an eyelid, his tone lazy:"Congratulations, Usopp.""Congratulations? Congratulations on me being targeted by a Vice Admiral?!" Usopp looked up in grief and indignation."No," Zoro slowly opened his eyes, a trace of imperceptible teasing flashing in them,"Congratulations, you're the first'star' in our group to be targeted by Headquarters."He paused and added:"By the way, I should probably get a bounty this time too, right?"He recalled the melee this morning, "After all, I cut down so many Marine elites, I should be worth quite a few Berries, right?""Big Brother Zoro, there will definitely be a 5 million Berry bounty this time!"Johnny immediately stood up to express his thoughts, "No,just based on Big Brother cutting down 100 Headquarters Marine elites with a single blade, it should be 10 million Berries," Joseph immediately corrected."Bounty?"Sanji, lying on the opposite sofa, suddenly chimed in. His condition was much worse than Zoro's,covered in bandages from head to toe like a mummy, with only his eyes and mouth exposed.Even so, he didn't forget to act cool while speaking, his tone carrying a bit of pride:"A bounty poster... it seems my handsome face can't be hidden after all... how distressing!""Don't move, you mummy, or you'll fall apart." Zoroglanced at him with his usual mockery."You damn lost-way! What do you know! This is a man's charm!"Sanji immediately retorted, his voice squeezed out from the gaps in the bandages, somewhat muffled."Pervy Kappa! I wonder who was carried back by Ink Meteor.""Marimo! Say that again.""Mummy! Pervy cook.""Lost-way swordsman!"Seeing the two about to argue again, Namislammed the table with a "thud" and glared at them:"You're both injured like this and still have the energy to fight? Can't you have some sense of crisis?"She looked around, and her stomach suddenly growled inappropriately.Nami was stunned for a moment, then rubbed her stomach awkwardly, her tone softening:"Besides, at this hour, aren't you hungry? I don't think we've eaten anything today.""Nami-san!"Hearing Nami's voice, Sanji was instantly revitalized, pushing himself up halfway from the sofa,his bandages nearly snapping, "I'll go make it now! Even if I only have a mouth left, I'll serve Nami-san the most perfect dinner!""Don't move!"Usopp quickly pressed him down, "I just set your bones back. If you move and they break again, watch out or you'll become a cripple!By then, never mind cooking, you might not even be able to stand steadily!"Sanji struggled a few times but finally gave up, only able to look at Nami affectionately with his exposed eyes, his tone aggrieved:"But... Nami-san will be hungry...""I'll handle dinner."Mark, who hadn't said much, stood up, used a Cleansing Technique to clear the dust off himself, and walked toward the kitchen."Dinner?"These two words were like a key, instantly prying open the eyelids of a certain sleeper.Luffy, who had been curled up in the corner of the sofa and fallen asleep at some point, suddenly sat up,his eyes still carrying the confusion of just waking up, and unconsciously rubbed his growling stomach.He looked at the bandaged-mummy Sanji, who couldn't move,then turned to look at Mark walking toward the kitchen, his eyes instantly lighting up."Mark!" Luffy shouted loudly, his voice full of expectation,"I want roast meat tonight! The super big kind! And a large portion of beef noodles! Extra beef! The more the better!"Mark's footsteps paused, he looked back at him, smiled, and shook his head:"You guy, do you think I'm running a restaurant? So many requests.""Hehe, who told you to be my Logistics General!"Luffy scratched his head and grinned, showing two rows of white teeth."Everyone, tell me your requests, I'll make them all together.""Mark, I want chicken soup noodles, no cilantro."Nami sat at the table, looking at Mark and speaking with a firm tone.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteAfter going through so much, a steaming bowl of clear noodle soup might be the best comfort."I want ham fried rice, extra ham!"Usopp hurriedly raised his hand, afraid that if he was late, he wouldn't get any. "Add super, super extra ham!""I want ham fried rice too," Johnny said, copying Usopp by raising his hand."Ham fried rice +1," Joseph said, following suit and ordering his meal.Mark pulled a small leather notebook and a pen from his apron pocket. The tip of the pen scratched against the paper, making a "rustling" sound:"Barbecue, chicken noodle soup, ham fried rice..."After finishing, he turned to look at Zoro and Sanjion the sofa, added a few more notes, and then gestured to Zoro with his chin:"I'll stir-fry some spicy chicken tonight, and we can have a drink."Upon hearing this, Zoro's eyes lit up. His previous laziness vanished, replaced by high spirits."Good!" He paused, then added, "Let's have orange wine with ice.""No problem." Mark nodded.Then, he looked over at Sanji. Considering his injuries, he said:"You need to watch your diet. I'll stew some old chicken soup with angelica root and goji Berries to help you recover."Although Sanji felt a bit regretful about not being able to eat delicious cuisine, hearing that it was for his recovery and that Mark was making it himself,and glancing at Nami nearby, he immediately nodded:"Sure! Thanks for the trouble, Mark. I just hope I can get better quickly.""We've known each other the longest, don't be so polite." Mark waved his hand!Everyone grinned and nodded; no one had any objections. Mark rolled up his sleeves, revealing his clean arms, and the substitute chef officially went on duty....On the other side, on the coast of Cocoyasi Village.The night deepened, and the sea breeze made the campfire on the shore crackle.The dancing flames illuminated the gloomy or pained faces around it.Smoker sat on a pile of rocks, a cigar in his mouth, the ember glowing intermittently between his lips.Hina sat beside him, holding a few oranges and peeling them slowly and methodically.She put the peeled orange segments into her mouth, the sweet and sour juice bursting in her palate,and then tossed the orange peel into the fire. The peel curled up immediately upon hitting the heat, making a faint "crackle" sound.The "stools" the two of them were sitting on were a bit special—Arlong and Colonel Mouse were tied into a bundle with thick chains, lying face down on the cold sand,their wounds rubbed by the grit, causing them to wince in pain, but because they had been beaten up—they were weak all over and didn't even dare to groan, forced to endure it in humiliation.Usopp's "Super Explosive Star Time Bomb" had completely wrecked Smoker and Hina's warship.The subordinates had desperately paddled a few wooden barrels to finally return to the coast to seek help,but the villagers of Cocoyasi Village, due to the previous oppression by Mouse and Arlong,didn't have a good attitude toward the Marine to begin with, and besides, this group of Marine had come to arrest their saviors!They watched coldly from the sidelines; no one was willing to help.Smoker's jitte had shattered during the fight with Luffy, and the warship and transponder snail were both gone.Not only had the mission to capture the Straw Hatfailed, but he had also been injured by that rubber boy, and now he didn't even have a place to stay...When had he, Smoker, ever suffered such grievances?With a belly full of anger and nowhere to vent it, Arlong and Mouse, the two culprits, naturally became the objects of his wrath."Report!"A soldier in a Marine uniform ran over, panting, his face covered in mud and sand, clearly having just come up from the sea.Smoker took a deep drag of his cigar, forcibly suppressing the irritation in his heart, blew out a smoke ring, and asked in a hoarse voice:"How is it? Did you find the transponder snail?""We didn't find it,"the soldier lowered his head, not daring to look into Smoker's eyes,"The guys dived into the sea and searched carefully, but we didn't even see a shadow of the transponder snail.It's likely destroyed by the explosion or sank to a deeper place."Smoker's brow furrowed even tighter.Without the transponder snail, they couldn't contact Marine Headquarters or request reinforcements.Now they were like they had been abandoned on the coast of Cocoyasi Village.He turned his head to look at Hina beside him and asked, "You didn't bring your transponder snail?""Nope,"Hina shrugged, looking matter-of-fact. "Who would keep that slimy thing in their pocket?""This is troublesome..."Smoker pressed the cigar in his mouth into the sand beside him and twisted it hard until the spark went out.He habitually reached for another cigarette, but when his hand reached his pocket, he realized the cigarette case was empty.He irritably placed the half-extinguished cigar back behind his ear and cursed under his breath.In such a fucked-up time, you can be without anything, but you can't be without cigarettes!As if to refute his thought, his stomach suddenly growled, the sound appearing exceptionally clear on this quiet coast.Smoker's face darkened even more. His gaze swept over Tashigi not far away—that unlucky Female Sergeant was squatting on the ground,holding a wooden stick skewered with sea fish, the fish on it having turned into a fish-shaped charcoal glowing red;she was completely oblivious, staring blankly at the distant dark sea, muttering repeatedly:"Give me back shigure... give me back my glasses..."shigure was the famous sword she treasured, and her glasses were her reliance for seeing the world clearly,and now both items had been taken by that imposter "Tashigi"—which was Nami, causing her to almost break down.Smoker's gaze finally fell on the remaining few oranges in Hina's hand, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he said stiffly:"Do you have any more oranges? Share one with me."The atmosphere on the coast was, for a moment, dull and awkward, carrying a bit of the dishevelment of wilderness survival....In stark contrast to the embarrassment on the coast, the atmosphere on the going merry was warm and lively.Beside the dining table, Luffy had completely let himself go.He held barbecue in his left hand and chopsticks in his right, quickly stuffing noodles into his mouth, his cheeks bulging, shouting indistinctly:"Delicious! This meat is super delicious! The noodles too! Mark, give me ten more servings! No, twenty!""Go serve yourself, you idiot Captain!"Mark smiled and lifted his foot, gently kicking the leg of Luffy's chair.He himself held a glass of orange wine, clinking glasses with Zoro from time to time, enjoying the spicy, satisfying chicken with sips of wine, eating with great relish.Mark casually tossed a chicken bone into the air, and Ink Meteor leaped lightly,catching it precisely in its mouth, swallowing it in a few bites, then wagging its tail,looking longingly at Mark, waiting for the next "reward."Zoro tilted his head and downed half a glass of iced orange wine, the cold liquid sliding down his throat,carrying the fresh fragrance of oranges and the spiciness of the alcohol, making him shiver involuntarily.He slammed the wooden cup onto the table, smacked his lips, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face:"Refreshing! This spicy chicken is deliciously spicy! Orange wine with ice—only you could come up with this recipe, Mark.""Drink more if you like it." Mark smiled and filled his glass."Brother Mark, give us a glass too, it's too delicious!" Johnny and Joseph scratched their heads awkwardly!"This time it's thanks to you two for protecting the going merry. You two great contributors must drink a few more cups.""We aren't as great as you say, Brother," both of them said, blushing.Nami sat beside Sanji, carefully using a small spoon to scoop up some boiling hot chicken soup, blowing on it, and then directly bringing it to Sanji's mouth.Completely ignoring his lips, which were scalded like sausages, she just poured it in...!Sanji's eyes narrowed into heart shapes, staring unblinkingly at Nami through the gaps in his bandages, muttering indistinctly:"Nami-san's palm temperature is truly scorching... To be fed by Nami-san like this, my dream... my dream has come true...""Isn't your dream to find the All Blue?"Usopp, his mouth stuffed with ham fried rice, spoke with a bit of a lisp, but still didn't forget to tease him,"And that's not palm temperature, it's just that the chicken soup hasn't cooled down yet!"Sanji completely ignored him, just giggling, with happy drool even flowing from the corner of his mouth.Outside the window, the bright Moonlight shone through the porthole into the cabin, casting mottled light and shadow on the floor.The crisp sound of cups and plates clashing, the laughter of everyone, the sound of Luffy wolfing down his food, the clinking of glasses between Zoroand Mark... intertwined to form a movement filled with the warmth of life.The going merry swayed gently, carrying a ship full of warmth and laughter! Quietly anchored on the sea!
Chapter 32: The Headquarters' Wrath"What! No more meat—?!"Luffy's entire jaw hit the teak deck with a "clatter."His rubber neck drooped like an unwound toy, and his hands hung down to his knees.His eyes were fixed on Mark and Sanji, who were discussing the supply situation."Shut up!"Sanji had a cigarette in his mouth, an empty iron bucket in his left hand, and his right hand on his hip.After five days of recuperation, Sanji had basically recovered.His quick recovery was partly due to Mark's care with his diet.On the other hand, his constitution was naturally strong, so Sanji had started cooking by the fourth day!Mark flipped through the inventory list in his hand, the pages rustling in the sea breeze, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper."Ten crates of cabbage; plenty of fresh water.""Fifteen crates of carrots... three crates of tomatoes left, with two crushed at the corners..."He paused, tapped his finger on the "Meat" column, and looked up at Luffy, who was holding his breath."Three packs of smoked bacon left, only three bags of dried fish remaining, and as for the ham hocks..."Mark's Adam's apple bobbed. "They were completely exhausted after dinner yesterday.""Wha—at?!"Luffy sprang up from his chair like a "whoosh," his rubber arm slapping the table with a "thwack.""As the Captain, I have to say, you guys have no sense of planning. We have such a long journey ahead; can't you be a bit more frugal?"Hearing this, Sanji and Mark were fuming. They jumped over and gave him a thorough beating—ping, pang, pong."Planning?""Frugal?""Do those two words even exist in your dictionary, Luffy?" Mark was livid at hearing those words.He kicked the empty iron bucket nearby, which let out a "clang.""You devoured all ten pounds of beef that Sanjispent half a month smoking with pine branches!""You also snatched the six sea bass Usopp caught—and fed three of them to Ink Meteor!""Who was the one shouting back in Cocoyasi Village, 'How can we have a banquet without meat'?!"Mark stood with hands on hips, a vein throbbing at his temple, firing on all cylinders."You knew we hadn't had time to gather supplies on the island before Smoker and the others attacked. But you—""Demanding meat every day, and even feeding it to Ink Meteor—for the next few days, eat more vegetables and less meat. You can get full on cabbage too."Luffy bit his lower lip so hard his gums left white marks, and his eyes reddened slightly, looking like a child whose candy had been stolen.When Mark said "eat more vegetables and less meat," he suddenly looked up.Veins bulged on his neck, and his voice cracked:"Don't underestimate meat!""This idiot Captain..." Mark held his forehead, sighing helplessly.Despite the complaining, seeing Luffy looking so despondent, Mark eventually softened. Who else could be their Captain?"Nami,"He turned to the navigator studying the sea chart. "Where's the nearest island? We need a place to resupply, especially for meat."Nami was carefully searching the sea chart with a magnifying glass. Hearing this, she looked up, her finger tracing a spot with a spired church icon."Here. The closest one is a large town called 'Loguetown'.""Loguetown?"Usopp was tinkering with gunpowder, pouring the Mutated Sulfur Powder and Synthetic Carbon Powder provided by Mark into a ceramic jar in specific proportions. He paused, his expression changing slightly."Isn't that Smoker's territory?""More than that."Zoro leaned against the bulwark, wiping his wado ichimonji. He suddenly stopped and turned to speak."That's the hometown of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and the place where he was executed."Johnny and Joseph folded their arms, leaning against the mast, and added with solemn faces:"That's the 'Town of Beginnings and Endings,' and the destination we brothers were aiming for!""It's very close to the Grand Line. Because it's the Pirate King's hometown, many pirates go there out of admiration. I heard there's even a tavern specifically for pirates in town."Nami looked at Luffy: "So, do you want to go check it out?"Luffy reached up and pulled his Straw Hat down, covering half his face, revealing only his tightly set mouth and twitching jawline.A few seconds later, he snapped his head up, eyes flashing with excitement, and his rubber fist slammed onto the deck with a "thud.""It's decided! Next stop, Loguetown! I'm going to see Roger's execution platform!""Wait,"Usopp frowned, his gunpowder spoon clinking against the rim of the jar."You seriously injured Smoker, and I 'lightly' blew up his warship.""Going to his territory now... is it really okay?""You're just worried about exposing yourself, aren't you?"Mark grinned, unconcerned, and patted Usopp on the shoulder."Don't worry. Nami swiped their transponder snail. They're probably still playing'Survivor' in the wilderness of Cocoyasi Island right now, hahaha!"Usopp laughed along, though his laughter sounded a bit hollow."That's true.""Who—who says I'm scared!" Usopp suddenly raised his voice, neck stiff as he shouted."I am Sogeking Usopp! Would I be afraid of a Marinepursuit? What a joke!""Then take that mask off your face first."Zoro glanced at him, the blade reflecting the ridiculous pattern on Usopp's mask, his tone full of disdain.Usopp was instantly stumped. He silently pulled the mask—which featured a grinning clown face—and had a bit of uncleaned gunpowder ash on the nose, up a bit further, covering half an eye.Mark's earlier analysis actually had a significant oversight.He never expected that Garp, who was on vacation in Windmill Village, would suddenly receive a call from Sengoku."Garp! That brat of yours was caught by Smoker in Cocoyasi Village. Go back him up immediately!"Sengoku's booming roar came through the transponder snail, making Garp's ears ring.The senbei in Garp's mouth fell to the ground with a "clatter," crumbs sticking to his graying beard.For the first time, tension appeared on his seemingly nonchalant face as he scrambled to grab the transponder snail."That brat... Got it!"Hanging up, he immediately jumped onto his dog-headed warship and roared at the crew:"Full speed ahead! Destination: Cocoyasi Village! If we're late, you'll be eating my Iron Fist every day!"Thus, on the morning of the fifth day after Mark and the others left Cocoyasi Village, Garp's warship arrived in the sea that had just experienced turmoil.On the island's shore, the scene was somewhat unexpected.There was no smoke as imagined, nor any standoff between the Marines and the villagers.Instead, a group of people in Marine uniforms were seen carrying timber and moving stones, working busily and enthusiastically.One smoke-shrouded figure was particularly prominent—Smoker was using smoke to coil around a heavy log, slowly handing it to a villager below, muttering:"This cigarette money isn't easy to earn!"Over the past few days, his relationship with the villagers had undergone a subtle change.At first, the villagers were full of wariness toward the Marines, and the children hid when they saw them.But Smoker was fundamentally very close to the people; after all, he was the kind of man who would say, "My pants just ate your ice cream."He commanded his subordinates to help the villagers repair the houses destroyed by Arlong's crew.Hina was leading people in digging and planting orange trees in the clearing.The sound of shovels hitting the dirt mixed with the villagers' thanks.They were trading labor for wood and food, intending to build a wooden boat to row back to Loguetown."Quite capable, aren't you, Smoker?"A booming voice suddenly rang out. Smoker froze.The smoke paused for half a second before he snapped his head around. There stood Garp on a nearby reef.His dog-head hat was crooked on his head, and he grinned, showing two rows of white teeth, his Justice cloak fluttering in the sea breeze."V-Vice Admiral Garp!"Smoker immediately snapped to attention, his right hand performing a crisp, standard military salute, wisps of smoke drifting from between his fingers.His soldiers were first dumbfounded, their tools dropping to the ground with a "clang."Then, one after another, they put down their work and stood at attention to salute in unison.Their eyes were filled with admiration for this Navy Hero.Garp nodded, his gaze sweeping around and landing on the somewhat faded rooftops."Mm. Where's Hina?"Hearing the commotion, Hina ran quickly out of the orange grove, mud on her boots and an orange leaf caught in her hair. She stood behind Garp.Her head was bowed, fingers twisting the hem of her uniform, her boots grinding a small pit into the muddy ground.Her voice carried an unmistakable sense of grievance: "I'm sorry, Vice Admiral Garp... I have brought shame upon the Marines."As she spoke, her eyes reddened.She had never been so disheveled. Now, before Garp, who usually looked after her, she could no longer hold back her pent-up emotions.Garp looked at the dejected pair, waved his hand, and pointed to a nearby wooden stool."Tell me all about it. What exactly happened? Sit down and talk; standing is exhausting."Smoker took a deep breath and recounted everything from the moment they met the Straw Hat crew—From the crimes of Arlong and Nezumi conspiring to oppress the villagers, to Luffy and his companions' sudden appearance,to the clash of rubber fists and smoke in that chaotic battle, and the towering flames when the warship was destroyed...After listening, Garp suddenly burst into a fit of laughter, slapping his thigh.The wooden stool creaked from the vibration."Hahahaha! As expected of my grandson! He's got potential!"Smoker and Hina were both stunned. They exchanged a look, their eyes full of "just as I thought" helplessness.Garp patted Smoker on the shoulder with enough force to make him stagger, his tone carrying a hint of pride."It's no shame to lose to those two. After all, they're boys I trained personally.""I originally wanted to raise them to be elite Marines!"Smoker complained wildly in his mind:You trained them well; just please never train anyone else again!How are they elite Marines? The last one was already an elite pirate (Ace)!Hina couldn't help but ask: "Then their Armament Haki and Observation Haki... were those also taught by you?""That's right."Garp rubbed his chin, suddenly feeling a bit nostalgic, a smile curling his lips."Speaking of which, I really miss the breakfast Markmakes. That kid's Soy Milk with Youtiao, Moon Cake, Xiaolongbao...! It's much better than the cooks at the Marine cafeteria."Meanwhile, at Marineford, the Fleet Admiral's office.Sengoku's voice, suppressed with rage, came through the transponder snail, nearly burning through the receiver."You're saying the Straw Hat crew not only defeated you and two elite squads but also destroyed your warship?""Smoker, Hina, you truly are Zephyr's fine disciples!" He spat out the last few words with extra weight.Smoker stood in the command room of Garp's warship, gripping the transponder snail tightly, his face so dark it could drip ink.Facing Sengoku's scolding, he could only endure it in silence.After all, everything the other said was true. Failure was failure; making excuses was pointless."Fleet Admiral Sengoku,"Smoker explained in a low, slightly raspy voice."The Straw Hat crew's navigator is the East Blue's famous 'Cat Burglar' Nami.""It's possible... she stole our transponder snail, leading to the previous misunderstanding.""Curses on that Straw Hat crew! They played us for fools!"Sengoku's voice grew even angrier. The glass chandelier in the Fleet Admiral's office shook, and the bulbs were pressed against the casing by the air pressure of his rage."Put Hina on the line!""Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hina is listening."Hina's voice carried a hint of tension as her fingers pinched the cuff of her uniform."Fine!"Sengoku's tone softened slightly. "Now, bring Arlong and Nezumi directly to Headquarters. I want to interrogate them personally to see if I can get any information on that gunpowder.""Yes, sir!""Furthermore,"Sengoku added, "That long-nosed kid has been confirmed as the son of Yasopp, an officer of the Red Hair Pirates—Usopp.""He has the source of the high-explosive gunpowder. Go collect information on him. Keep it confidential; don't alert the target.""Understood!""Those guys will likely resupply at Loguetownbefore entering the Grand Line.""You probably won't catch them, but go check it out if it's on your way.""Yes! Mission guaranteed!"Hina paused, twisting the transponder snail cord with her fingers, and said hesitantly."Um... Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there's something I don't know if I should say...""Say it! Don't be so wishy-washy!"Sengoku barked, "You are a Marine, an officer. No matter what happens, you must maintain a calm and unruffled state of mind!""Hesitating over a small matter—how can you set an example for your subordinates? You need to learn from me in this regard.""Yes! Fleet Admiral, I was wrong!"Hina took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind."Mark of the Straw Hat crew asked me to pass a message to you.""Since when did the Marines become messengers for pirates?" Sengoku's voice was full of mockery.Sengoku thought for a moment. "Go ahead and say it. I want to hear what this kid, who dares to fight Hawkeye and can defeat you, has to say.If it's about compensation for the villagers, don't bother; I've already approved it."Hina braced herself and repeated word for word:"Mark's exact words were—""'Old Geezer, if you've got the guts, come and catch us yourself! Don't send your lackeys as errand boys! If you let us enter the Grand Line, we'll tear down your Fleet Admiral's office sooner or later!'""Pfft—"An unrefined sound of someone spitting water came from nearby.Vice Admiral Tsuru, who was drinking tea, sprayed it all over the documents. She hurriedly wiped them with a handkerchief,while trying to remain calm: "We are professionally trained. No matter how funny something is, we won't laugh...""Unless we can't help it, right? Hahahaha! 'Old Geezer'!"Almost simultaneously, on the dog-headed warship in the East Blue, Garp also erupted into ear-splitting laughter, slapping his thigh,startling the nearby signalman. "Hahahaha! This brat! He's got guts! As expected of my grandson... cough cough!"Throughout the Fleet Admiral's office, except for Garp and Tsuru listening through the transponder snail, everyone else was too scared to even breathe, for fear of provoking the Fleet Admiral.The ceramic cup in Sengoku's hand "cracked" and was crushed into powder, fine porcelain shards mixing with tea stains as they fell onto the carpet.Veins bulged on his forehead, and his skin faintly glowed with a golden hue, like a lion about to explode in rage. He was clearly furious to the extreme."Straw Hat crew... those brats..."His voice was low, like the calm before a storm, each word squeezed out from between his teeth."The Grand Line? Then I'll let them come! I want to see just how much capability they have to dare say such things!"Vice Admiral Tsuru finally stopped laughing, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes, and looked at Sengoku, shaking her head, though a smile still lingered on her lips."That provocation was quite successful."Meanwhile, on the Going Merry, Luffy was lying on the bow, his legs swinging in the air,looking at the distant horizon, he shouted excitedly:"Loguetown! Here I come!"Mark leaned against the mast, looking at the Captain's back, rubbing his chin and thinking to himself:Buggy and Smoker aren't in Loguetown, so the plot where Luffy almost gets his head cut off shouldn't happen, right? That's good; it saves a lot of trouble.Zoro wiped his blade, his eyes sharp:"There should be some good swords in Loguetown, right? I'm a Three Sword Style user; having only two doesn't feel right."Nami sat on a wooden crate at the stern, her finger tracing the Loguetown mark on the sea chart, a smile curling her lips:"No matter what kind of place it is, I need to buy some nice clothes first. I've been dressing like a fisherman these past few days."Usopp held up his binoculars—without even opening the lens caps—and scanned the sea with feigned composure:"Hmph, what's Loguetown? As long as Sogeking is here, no Marine is a match for me!"Sunlight spilled across the deck, reflecting the expectant faces of the Straw Hat crew.They didn't know yet that they had completely ignited the Fleet Admiral's wrath, and a greater storm was quietly brewing in the distance."The Town of Beginnings and Endings," huh?Luffy clenched his fist, his eyes shining under the Straw Hat.A new adventure was about to begin.(If this content made you happy, please give it 5 stars.)
Chapter 33: Zoro Buys a SwordThe dull thud of the anchor hitting the sea had not yet faded when Luffy leapt onto the dock like a cannonball.He looked up at the undulating houses, his gaze sweeping over the shops draped in flags."Wow—this town is huge!"His eyes widened like copper bells, and he pointed at the clock tower in the distance that stood half a head taller than the surrounding buildings."Nami, Nami, look at that tower! It's even taller than the lookout tower at Arlong Park!"Nami jumped off the ship, carrying her nautical chart, a knowing smile curving her lips."This is the busiest supply port on the outskirts of Loguetown; every pirate in the East Blue looking to enter the Grand Line docks here."She tapped the map with her fingertip. "See that main street? From ingredients to weapons, from ship parts to the latest fashion, as long as you have the money, you can basically find anything.""Come on, come on! Time for payday!" Mark's voice came from behind. He was carrying a heavy cloth bag, which he opened in front of everyone—the green gleam of the Berries was dazzling in the sunlight."Two million for each of you. Don't hold back; we aren't short on cash."Nami was the first to rush over, her fingertips rapidly counting the pile of cash, her eyes shining as if she had two Berries hidden inside. "So much money! We're rich! And you, Mark, why do you spend money so recklessly whenever you get your hands on some?""What, you don't want it? Right, right, right, I forgot you're the little rich girl of our ship; your secret stash probably exceeds ten million. How could you look at my measly two million Berries?"Nami was left feeling quite awkward by Mark's question; her secret stash was definitely more than ten million!"I mean, I'm the only girl on the ship, so I need an extra million to buy pretty clothes and sailing equipment," Nami said, pretending to be shy."Nami-san, you must look beautiful every day! I'll give you one million of my share!" Sanji fawned over Nami, eager to please.Before Nami could answer, Mark handed Sanji an even thicker stack of Berries. "Stop fawning. You're responsible for buying the meat and seasonings, so buy plenty. Let me know when you're done, and I'll come help carry it."Zoro was leaning against the ship's rail, cleaning his sword. Mark tossed him a stack of money. He reached out and caught it, weighing it for a moment. "Enough for a good sword, and a few barrels of good booze." He tucked the money into his clothes and said nothing, though the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.Usopp stood on his tiptoes to peek over. Seeing his stack of money, he suddenly jumped back and struck an exaggerated pose. "Wow—this is so much! It's enough to buy a ton of gear, plus a pair of the latest goggles! With these, I'll truly fit the aura of the Sogeking!"Finally, there was Luffy. He had been drooling over the pile of money the whole time. When Markhanded it to him, he snatched it up and jumped for joy. "Yay! I can buy meat! And I'm going to see the execution platform of Gol D. Roger!"Luffy shouted suddenly, and before the words had even faded, he had already darted away."Hey! We haven't decided on a meeting place yet!" Usopp shrugged; dealing with such an impatient Captain was just hopeless.Usopp pushed up the glasses on his nose—which didn't actually have any lenses—and cleared his throat. "Ahem, in order to deal with the unknown dangers of the Grand Line, the Straw Hat Crew's Sogeking must be equipped with the finest gear!"He put his hands behind his back and, pretending to be calm, strode toward the direction of a sign that read "Blacksmith Shop." But after only two steps, he couldn't help but start jogging. "A store specializing in warrior equipment? Isn't this place practically made for me?""I'm going to go scout the food situation over there. Beautiful ladies, here I come!... Yo! Delicious dessert ladies... and... and... Wow, is this the main course?"Nami clutched the Berries in her hand. When she looked up, her eyes had already curved into crescents. She slung her canvas bag over her shoulder and turned to leave. "My shopping trip as a fairy princess begins now!""There should be a sword shop around here, right?" Zoro turned to look at Johnny and Joseph behind him. Both of them immediately straightened their backs and followed behind him like two door gods."Yes, there is, Big Brother Zoro! I'll take you!" Johnnypromised, patting his chest. Joseph nodded along. "If anyone without eyes dares to cause trouble, leave them to us for some practice!""Wait a second." Mark counted out a few more stacks of Berries from his bag and stuffed them into Johnny and Joseph's hands. "I'll go with you. Two million is nowhere near enough to buy a good sword. After you pick out a blade, the four of us will go to a tavern for a drink—my treat."Johnny and Joseph originally wanted to refuse the money Mark was giving them, but Mark said, "If your big brother gives it to you, take it; that's what a qualified underling does." The words they had ready in their throats were forced back down.Zoro raised an eyebrow, and the corners of his mouth curled up in a rare smile. "Hmm! That's not a bad idea. I just don't know if the liquor in Loguetownis as good as the orange wine in Cocoyasi Village."The four of them walked side-by-side on the cobblestone road, with Johnny and Joseph following close behind. As they were talking and turning a street corner, they suddenly heard a rough shout, mixed with the crisp sound of shattering porcelain."Listen up, boys! I got word that Smoker went off to chase down the Straw Hat Pirates. Today, Loguetown belongs to us! Boys, loot everything! Don't leave a single potato for this bunch of scum!"A man wearing a wide-brimmed cowboy hat kicked over a roadside vegetable stall, sending golden pumpkins rolling everywhere. "This is the capital for me, Lord Mikazuki Gali, to become the Pirate King! If anyone dares to resist me, I'll tear down your houses and burn them as firewood!"More than thirty pirates were surrounding several vendors, looting. Some carried barrels of salted fish on their shoulders, some stuffed bread into their shirts, and one tall, thin pirate even grabbed a stack of Berries and shoved them into his mouth. When the vendor grabbed his sleeve, he punched the man directly in the face, knocking out his teeth.The leader, Mikazuki Gali, had his handlebar mustache curled high, his silver-gray beard almost dragging to his chest. He kicked away an old man who tried to stop him, his scimitar flashing with a cold light in the sunlight.Mark's footsteps halted, his fists clenching unconsciously. Zoro narrowed his eyes, his hand already resting on the hilt of his wado ichimonji. The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the same chill in the other's eyes, and then they walked straight toward the group of pirates.Mikazuki Gali caught a glimpse of the two uninvited guests out of the corner of his eye, especially when he saw the sword at Zoro's waist. A sneer of surprise appeared on his lips. "Want to meddle in other people's business? Are you brats tired of living? Hey, belly-warmer guy, I've taken a liking to your sword. Lend it to me to play with for a few days!""Yo! Where did this idiot come from? Pretty arrogant, aren't you?" Johnny stepped forward, his knuckles cracking. "Do you know who you're talking to? Do you have any idea who my Big Brother Zoro is?""Exactly!" Joseph shouted, sticking his neck out. "For scum like this, my Big Brother could crush you with one finger—oh, wait, no, just a single look, so as not to dirty his hands!""Where did you bumpkins come from? Boys, stop moving the goods!" Mikazuki Gali slammed his scimitar into the ground, the blade vibrating as it wedged into a crack in the cobblestones. He tilted his head, eyeing Zoro, spitting all over the floor. "Looks like if I don't show you some color, you won't know the power of Mikazuki Gali, with a bounty of 500,000 Berries! Brothers, drop the stuff, and chop these suicidal fools into mincemeat to feed the dogs!"The pirates swarmed over, some raising rusty axes, others brandishing spiked iron clubs. Johnny and Joseph exchanged a look and drew their swords simultaneously—though their blades looked dark and dull, no one knew how sharp they really were.Johnny ducked, dodging an incoming axe, and backhanded the hilt of his sword into the opponent's stomach. Taking advantage of the moment the man bent over, he pressed his blade against his throat. Joseph was even more direct; with a flash of his blade, he severed the iron club in his opponent's hand, then lifted his leg and kicked the man behind the knee. With a crisp "crack," the pirate curled up on the ground, clutching his leg and wailing.In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, over twenty wailing pirates were lying on the ground. The remaining few, holding broken weapons, had trembling hands, and no one dared to take another step forward.Looking at his men strewn across the ground, Mikazuki Gali's face turned from red to white, then to green. Suddenly, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he charged toward the crowd like a cornered wild dog. "No!" a shrill scream rang out.He grabbed a little girl from the arms of a woman nearby. The child was only three or four years old, wearing two pigtails, still clutching a half-eaten cookie in her hand. Startled by the sudden turn of events, she burst into tears. Mikazuki Gali's scimitar instantly pressed against the girl's delicate neck, the chill of the blade making her cry even harder."Want to be heroes, huh? I'm going to make you act like cowards instead." He panted heavily, his eyes sweeping fiercely over Zoro and the others. "Back off! If you take one more step, I'll bleed this brat dry!"The girl's mother fell to her knees with a thud, her beige apron covered in dust. She pressed her hands together and kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead quickly bruising red. "Please, let my daughter go! I'll give you money, I'll give you everything in my house! Please, I beg you..."Johnny and Joseph's footsteps halted, their faces full of anger but afraid to act. Seeing them stop, Mikazuki Gali wore a triumphant, sinister grin and began to back away slowly, holding the girl hostage.Watching the blade at her daughter's neck, the mother's tears fell like beads from a broken string. Suddenly, she crawled over like a madwoman, clinging tightly to Gali's calf. "Let go of my daughter! You beast! I'll fight you to the death!""Get lost!" Gali lifted his foot and kicked the woman hard in the chest. Once, twice, three times—the woman groaned, coughing up blood, but gritted her teeth and refused to let go. The girl in her arms was crying her heart out.Gali was burning with rage from being entangled. "Damn you, you stinking woman!" he cursed, raising his scimitar to slash at the woman's back! The cold light suddenly became blinding. Mark's gaze froze, his pupils reflecting that descending blade of light.He did not move, not even lifting a finger, yet the air around him seemed to be sucked dry in an instant—an invisible pressure exploded outward like a tsunami.The few low-level pirates closest to him collapsed with muffled groans, their faces pale as paper; those slightly further away huddled on the ground, clutching their heads, trembling uncontrollably.The blade held by San-Rizue Gali stopped in mid-air, his arm stiff as stone.The savage grin on his face froze, his eyes widened, white foam slowly spilled from the corners of his mouth, and the next second, he fell backward, stiff as a board.Almost at the same instant, a flash of silver blade cut through the air.Zoro's figure was so fast it left only a blur, the blade of shigure carrying a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air.A soft "Puchi" sound, like slicing through a piece of tofu.By the time the crowd saw clearly, San-Rizue Gali's head had already rolled to the ground, his eyes still holding the terror from before his death, and a column of blood sprayed half a foot high from his neck, splashing onto the nearby vegetable stall and staining several rolling tomatoes red.No one saw how Mark moved.When the crowd came to their senses, the little girl who had been held hostage was already in his arms, his small palm gently covering the child's eyes.The girl's crying gradually subsided, likely soothed by those steady arms, though she was still sobbing, her small hands clutching tightly to Mark's lapel.The woman stood stunned for a long while, looking at the corpse on the ground and then at her daughter in Mark's arms, before suddenly letting out a sob and scrambling over on her hands and knees.Mark carefully handed the child to her, and the moment the woman took her daughter, she hugged her tightly, tears and snot smearing onto the child's hair, as she kowtowed repeatedly to Mark and Zoro, her forehead hitting the stone floor with muffled thuds: "Thank you! Thank you both! This grace of saving my life... I will never forget it in this lifetime..."Mark bent down to help her up: "No need to thank me, I just took out the trash."Zoro was shaking the blood droplets off his blade, the crimson liquid dripping onto the ground and blooming into little flowers of blood.He casually tossed shigure into the air; the blade made a beautiful arc in the sunlight before falling steadily, hilt-first.As he walked past, the blade slid back into its scabbard with a precise "click," the movement so fluid it seemed as if it had been practiced a thousand times; in short, it was cool.The surrounding crowd automatically cleared a path, and no one dared to speak.The street, which had been noisy just a moment ago, became deathly silent, with only the rustling of flags in the wind and the faint sound of bells from the distance.In the shadows of the street corner, a boy with a rooster-comb hairstyle was clutching the crack in the wall so hard that dust from the brickwork showered down.He was wearing a green vest with a skull pattern, the muscles on his exposed arms taut, his eyes wide as if they were about to pop out of their sockets—that flash of the blade, that suffocating aura, and the side profile of that green-haired man when he sheathed his sword, were all branded onto his retinas like a red-hot iron."Cool... so damn cool..."Bartolomeo covered his mouth, making wheezing sounds in his throat, his whole body trembling like a sieve, not from fear, but from the excitement of seeing a powerhouse.He watched the backs of Zoro and the others disappear into the alley, then suddenly clenched his fists: "Who on earth are these big shots... No, I have to follow them!"The wooden door of the weapons shop hung with a paint-peeling sign, where the two characters for "Precious Sword" were eaten away by insects until only their outlines remained.The owner was a scrawny old man, dozing on the counter, with drool dripping down his gray beard onto the ledger."Owner, I'm buying a sword."Zoro's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a calm pool of water; the old man jolted awake, his glasses sliding to the tip of his nose."Huh? Oh! Welcome!"He hurriedly straightened his glasses, and when he saw the sword at Zoro's waist, his eyes lit up, and he quickly rubbed his hands together and came out from behind the counter, "Are you looking to pick out a sword, sir? We have some great new arrivals, feel free to look around, if you find one you like, I'll give you a twenty percent discount!""Bring out all the best swords."Zoro scanned the shop's display; most of the swords hanging on the walls were wrapped in cloth strips, with a thin layer of dust on the scabbards.Mark leaned back in a chair, arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the edges of those blades—most were just ordinary iron, not even reaching the level of "Grade Sword." The good stuff must be in the back of the shop!The owner carried out a mahogany tray from the back room, lined with black velvet, on which three swords were displayed.He picked up the one on the far left, with a shark-skin scabbard: "Take a look at this one, sir, 'Wave Cutter,' it can slice through water currents when you swing it!"Zoro reached out and took it, his thumb pressing against the tsuba and pushing gently; with a "shing" sound, the blade unsheathed three inches.The blade shimmered with a pale blue light, the edge was fairly smooth, but there was a tiny nick near the tip.He flicked his wrist, the blade carving an arc in the air, the wind it stirred up sending the dust on the counter into a swirl."It's okay, not trash." He slid the sword back into its scabbard and set it down by the tray.The smile on the owner's face stiffened, and he picked up the middle one: "Then you'll surely like this 'Rock Breaker'! The blade is thick and can withstand axes, last time...""No need to introduce it." Zoro interrupted him, tapping his fingertip on the scabbard, "Better than an ordinary sword, barely counts as a Grade Sword."The old man's face completely fell, and just as he was about to say something, he saw Zoro's gaze pass over him and land on the wooden barrel in the corner piled with defective swords. "I sense an eerie aura."Zoro walked straight over, bent down to push aside the defective items on top, and his fingers suddenly paused.He pulled a sword from the bottom of the barrel; the dark red scabbard was wrapped in black cord, and the lacquer at the edges had peeled off, revealing the dull wood underneath."Shing—" The moment the blade left the scabbard, the temperature in the shop seemed to drop a few degrees.The blade was slightly more curved than a standard katana, showing a dull red-black color, and the wavy hamon pattern looked like dried bloodstains, extending from the tsuba all the way to the tip.Most eerie was the circular tsuba, with a three-comma pattern engraved in the center, glinting with a ghostly light in the dim surroundings."This is..." The owner's face went pale in a "whoosh," and he backed away repeatedly, crashing into the shelf behind him, causing empty scabbards to clatter to the floor, "No, no! This sword cannot be sold to you!""A cursed sword?"Zoro turned the hilt, feeling the faint vibration coming from the blade, as if something were roaring inside."That's right! It's sandai kitetsu!"The old man's voice trembled as he pointed at the sword, "The previous owners all met with untimely deaths... This sword is very evil, it will devour its master!"But Zoro smiled, grabbing the scabbard with his left hand and lightly running his right index finger along the blade, without getting cut.He suddenly tossed sandai kitetsu into the air; the blade spun in the light, the red-black body like a twisting snake, emitting a "humming" sound."A cursed sword chooses the strong."He extended his left arm, closed his eyes, and the aura around him changed abruptly—it was an aura that confronted the malice within the blade, as steady as a mountain rock, yet as turbulent as a tsunami."If it cuts me, it just means I'm not strong enough yet.""Don't do it! This sword is very fast!" The owner covered his eyes in terror, his voice choked with sobs, "Your arm will be severed!"Outside the door, Bartolomeo was clutching the door crack, his heart about to jump out of his throat.He saw that cursed sword spin in the air once, twice... a full ten times, falling toward the green-haired man's arm with a sharp whistling sound that cut through the air."Shing—" A crisp sound suddenly exploded; it wasn't the dull thud of flesh being sliced, but the blade grazing past the arm and piercing precisely into the wooden floorboards beneath his feet.The owner's fingers, which were covering his eyes, tightened abruptly, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks in that flash of silver light.He froze for a moment, even forgetting to breathe, until his eyes were stung by the cold glint of the blade, and he snapped back to reality, his mouth opening into an "O" shape, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a breathy sound from his throat: "You, you wait a moment!"Before the words had even finished, he had already stumbled and pushed through the curtain of the back room, his footsteps clattering as they disappeared inside.Bartolomeo outside the door had his back against the wall. His throat felt like it was blocked by a ball of fire, and he wanted to shout "So cool!" several times!When the curtain was lifted again, the owner came out holding a long cloth bundle.His hands shaking, he untied the knot, and the cloth slid to the floor, revealing the sword inside—the silver-white blade shimmered with a pale cyan cold light, the hamon pattern was a straight line as if ironed by Moonlight, and the tsuba was a simple cross shape."This is called yuki, one of the 50 Skillful Grade Swords."The owner's voice was deeper than before, "A famous sword must follow a strong master so it won't be tarnished."He pushed yuki toward Zoro, and the sandai kitetsuwrapped in cloth was placed next to it: "I'm giving them to you, take them both!"Zoro picked up yuki; the edge was sharper than wado ichimonji, and the curve was straighter, as if born for high-speed strikes.He looked down at the sandai kitetsu in his hand, then raised his eyes to look at the owner, the corners of his mouth lifting imperceptibly: "Thanks."He pulled out a bulging money bag and "slapped" it onto the counter. Two million Berries, gleaming green in the light: "You gave me your shop's treasures, I'm giving you all my worldly possessions."The owner looked at the money, then at Zoro, his Adam's apple bobbing, and he asked softly: "Can you tell me your name?""Roronoa Zoro."The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a rock smashing into Bartolomeo's heart. He silently repeated the name outside the door—a name he would never forget for the rest of his life.