Chapter 34: You're Amazing, You're So Noble."Gol D. Roger?"Luffy tilted his head and poked his chin with his finger. "Isn't this shop name way too weird? Who would use the Pirate King's name for a shop name?"He stood there, completely forgetting that he had been dizzyingly turned around by the magnificent architecture of Loguetown."Big Brother Zoro, look! It's Big Brother Luffy!"Johnny's voice suddenly rang out. He was following behind Zoro and Mark, and his gaze inadvertently swept across the alley entrance, immediately recognizing that iconic Straw Hat.Zoro looked in the direction he was pointing, his eyebrows instantly arching. "Didn't he go to find the execution platform? How is he here?"Mark looked over and saw Luffy tilting his head back, studying the wooden sign. He couldn't help but curl his lips into a helpless smile. "I guess he couldn't find the way.""Hey, Luffy!" Zoro called out, his voice echoing in the alley.Luffy turned his head sharply, his Straw Hat nearly sliding off his head. Seeing Zoro and Mark, he immediately waved excitedly. "Huh? Zoro! Mark! Why are you guys here? Did you buy the swords?"Zoro patted the two new swords at his waist, the scabbards clinking together with a crisp sound."Huh?" Luffy's eyes went round, as if he had discovered a new continent. "Then haven't you become a Four Sword Style user?""Idiot, it's still Three Sword Style." A vein twitched on Zoro's forehead as he explained irritably. (No detailed explanation in this chapter.)"By the way," he changed the subject, his gaze sharp as he looked at Luffy, "I wanted to ask you that too. Didn't you go to see the execution platform? How did you end up here?""I got lost.""How can you say that with such a straight face? Have you been possessed by Zoro? You get lost too?"Mark crossed his arms and looked Luffy up and down!"What does that have to do with me? When have you ever seen me get lost?" Zoro felt like he'd been shot while just lying down."Often."This synchronized response was a mental critical hit to Zoro!"Johnny, Joseph, even you guys...""Don't worry about it! Look here!"Luffy pointed to the wooden sign behind him, the confusion on his face replaced by curiosity. "This town is too big! But look at this bar, it's called 'Gol D. Roger Bar.' Let's go in and take a look!""It's definitely worth checking out. It looks like a tavern."Zoro and the others were just looking for a place to drink; wasn't this like having a pillow handed to you when you were sleepy?He also wanted to know what kind of person would dare to use Roger's name as a shop name.The group walked toward the bar. At the entrance, there were stone steps leading down to the basement.The damp air was mixed with a faint smell of alcohol and the musty scent of aged wood.When they reached the corner, Mark, who had been keeping an eye on the surroundings, suddenly stopped. His gaze calmly watched the murky air in front of him, but his voice seemed directed at the person behind them: "Hey, you with the rooster hair, you've been following us the whole way. What exactly do you want?"In fact, from the moment they left the weapon shop, Zoro and Mark had sensed someone following them.That guy's presence wasn't exactly hidden; it carried the restlessness typical of a young person, and there was no malice at all. He didn't look like a Marine or a Bounty Hunter, so the two had intended to ignore him, but they hadn't expected the other party to follow them all the way here.A short exclamation came from the shadows, and then, a youth with spiky hair stumbled out.He was wearing a gaudy shirt, his face full of nervousness. He didn't know where to put his hands and feet, and his speech was stuttering: "B-Big Brothers... may I call you Big Brothers? I saw you cut down that evil pirate on the street earlier to save the child being held hostage, and Big Brother Zorotesting the yodo himawari with his hand at the weapon shop... I was... overwhelmed by your aura... I... I... followed you without realizing it... I really don't have any bad intentions!"The youth's eyes sparkled with sincere adoration, and his cheeks were flushed red from nervousness."Is that so." Zoro nodded, his tone softening slightly. "Are you a local?""Yes! A born and bred Loguetown local!" The spiky-haired youth immediately straightened his back, as if he had found an opportunity to show off, and patted his chest in assurance. "Wherever you Big Brothers want to go, I can lead the way! There isn't a place in this town that I, Bartolomeo, am not familiar with!"Zoro looked at the confused Luffy: "Didn't you say you couldn't find the execution platform? Just let this... O...""Bartolomeo! Big Brother, my name is Bartolomeo!" The youth hurriedly interrupted him, fearing the other party wouldn't remember his name, his voice filled with a hint of urgency."Just let Bartolomeo take you." Zoro finished, his tone devoid of emotion."It's great that you're willing to show me the way, Bamio! You're a good guy!" Luffy immediately stood at the front and flashed a brilliant smile at Bartolomeo."Th-thank you for the compliment, Big Brother!" Bartolomeo was caught off guard by this sudden praise. His face turned even redder, and he hurriedly scratched his head with a sheepish laugh."I'm Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King." Luffy patted his chest and began to introduce the people around him. "This is the Three Sword Style swordsman Zoro, this is my logistics general Mark, and these two are Johnny and Joseph, who are very impressive Bounty Hunters.""Pi-Pirate King..." When Bartolomeo heard these three words, his eyes instantly widened like copper bells, his mouth slightly agape, unable to close for a long time. "So-so amazing!""I don't like taking on underlings. Just call me by my name." Luffy waved his hand, not caring at all about these titles."Th-then... Senior Luffy!" Bartolomeo thought for a moment and felt that using "Senior" better expressed his respect and matched his excited mood at the moment.Luffy didn't dwell on the address anymore and turned to push open the wooden door of the bar.The brass bell on the door let out a crisp "ding-a-ling" sound, breaking the silence in the basement.The interior of the bar was more spacious than it looked from the outside. The lighting was somewhat dim, and several wooden tables and chairs were neatly arranged.An old man wearing small, round sunglasses was sitting on a chair in front of the bar counter. His back was slightly hunched, and his face was covered in age spots of varying shades, but he was exceptionally spirited. He was fiddling with a glass filled with half a drink."Excuse me, is the owner here?" Luffy walked to the counter in a few steps and pointed to the wooden sign outside, asking curiously, "That 'Gol D. Roger' outside, is that the shop name?"The old man slowly raised his eyelids and sized them up through his lenses. He took a sip of the drink in his glass, his voice raspy and aged: "A bunch of brats. This isn't a place for you to be. There's no alcohol for you to drink here. Besides, it's closing tomorrow.""Old man, do you know who I am? You dare speak to the seniors like that? Aren't you afraid I'll wreck your shop?" Seeing this, Bartolomeo immediately stiffened his neck and shouted. He felt that he had to appear tough in front of his idols so as not to lose face.The old man glanced at him, his tone flat but carrying an understanding that saw through everything: "Bartolomeo? Wandering the streets all day, and last time you even secretly took your grandmother's money to buy a pop star's poster. Do you want me to go tell your grandmother right now?""Th-this... Old man, I was just joking with you! Don't take it seriously. Haha." Bartolomeo's momentum instantly collapsed. He hurriedly scratched his head with a sheepish laugh, his eyes darting away, not daring to look at the old man again."Be polite to the elderly." Mark said softly. His tone wasn't heavy, but it carried a power that made it impossible to refute."Yes, Senior Mark!" Bartolomeo immediately replied and obediently stepped aside."We were just curious about the shop name and came in to take a look." Luffy leaned against the bar counter, blinking his eyes as he asked the old man, "Is the business not doing well?""That's not it! I'm closing it myself!" The old man retorted, his neck stiff, like a stubborn child. "I close when I want, I open when I want. None of your business!""Ah! What's that? A skull? It's so big!" Luffysuddenly pointed to the skull on the bar counter, his eyes widening, his tone filled with wonder.The group looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a huge skull hanging on the wall. It was twice as large as a normal human skull, its empty eye sockets facing the door, exuding a chilling aura.What was most eye-catching was a knife scar on the forehead of the skull that was deep enough to reach the bone. The edges were exceptionally smooth, clearly caused by a single strike from a sharp weapon.As soon as this skull was mentioned, the old man seemed to instantly become several years younger, his energy levels immediately rising.He put down his glass and tapped the skull gently with his finger, producing a muffled "thud-thud" sound: "This is the skull of the 'Giant Killer' pirate. Back in the day on the Devil Sea, this guy was a ruthless character. With a giant sword in his hand, he hacked down a hundred pirates. Even the Giant Race suffered at his hands. Impressive, right?""Mm-hmm!" Luffy nodded repeatedly.He paused, his tone carrying a hint of reminiscence and admiration: "But in Roger's hands, he didn't even last one move. The outcome was decided in a flash of lightning. However, he could be considered a man. Before he died, he said, 'Roger, I concede to you. May the pirates live on forever in glory'.""So cool!" Luffy clapped his hands and feet while sitting on the bar stool."How about it? Do you want to hear more?" The old man scanned the group with his eyes.Luffy nodded repeatedly, trembling with excitement! "Tell me the story of Roger, Boss!"The old man pointed to the knife scar on the skull's forehead with his finger: "See this cut? That's when it was left. Many vicious pirates were like babies in front of Roger. Roger was the only man from that era... no... even now, who wasn't afraid of that Devil Sea... Later, when I heard that Roger had conquered that Devil Sea, I was so excited I forgot my age. I was so excited I didn't sleep all night."His eyes gradually became distant, as if immersed in distant memories: "But that's all in the past. Twenty-two years ago today, right there on the execution platform in the center of town, he ended his myth with a smile. Back then, any young person with a bit of guts rushed to the sea like crazy. That's how the Great Pirate Era began...""He was about to be executed, and he could still smile?" Zoro expressed his confusion."Who knows? Maybe he saw the young people who would rush to the sea in the future!" The boss waved his hand. He didn't know either why Rogerhad smiled during his execution!The old man sighed, his tone carrying a hint of loneliness: "But so what? There aren't many young people these days with that kind of guts... Sigh, it's all that brat Smoker's fault for capturing almost all the pirates on the island. Now, there are fewer and fewer people who can come and listen to me tell these old stories, so I'm planning to close this bar.""I'm going to conquer the Grand Line too!" Luffysuddenly spoke up. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples in the dim bar.He slightly pressed down on his Straw Hat, the shadow of the brim covering his eyes. "That's really great. As expected of Gol D. Roger! So I set sail too. I'm going to conquer that Devil Sea, and then find the One Piece. I'm going to become the Pirate King!"The old man jerked his head up, his small round sunglasses sliding to the tip of his nose, revealing a pair of cloudy yet exceptionally sharp eyes, staring fixedly at Luffy.In those eyes, there was no mockery, no disdain, only a hint of deep surprise, as if, through the youth wearing the Straw Hat before him, he saw that towering figure from more than twenty years ago, in the same town, in the same bar.After a long while, the old man suddenly burst into a hearty laugh: "Hahaha... That's really arrogant, kid! And you say that in this very bar! Interesting brats, how about a drink? It'll be the last few drinks before my old shop closes.""Oh? The boss actually has customers? That's rare." Just then, a calm and powerful voice came from the door, breaking the atmosphere in the bar.The group turned their heads at the sound and saw a silver-haired old man pushing the door open and entering.He was wearing a simple white shirt with a dark cloak loosely draped over it. He was tall and sturdy. Although his hair was gray, his back was straight, showing no signs of aging; instead, he exuded a toughness tempered by the passage of time.He wore round glasses, and the eyes behind the lenses were as sharp as an eagle's, as if they could pierce through people's hearts. A fathomless aura emanated from his whole body, making the air feel heavy.Luffy, Mark, and Zoro stood up almost at the same time, subconsciously stepping back half a step and adopting a defensive stance.That was a reaction stemming from the instinct of strong individuals. The invisible pressure emanating from the other party was like a giant boulder pressing on their hearts, making them not dare to be the least bit careless."This old guy... gives me a feeling like Grandpa." Luffy frowned and muttered in a low voice. When Garp was angry, he also emitted a similar aura that could freeze the air.Mark's heart "thudded," and a storm was stirred up within him. What's going on? This person... it seems to be Silvers Rayleigh?! By all logic, he should be in the Sabaody Archipelago right now, relying on coating ships or occasionally "selling" himself to earn money for alcohol and gambling.How could he appear in Loguetown? The manga never mentioned this part!Could it be that my own existence as a variable has triggered some unknown change?"Don't be nervous."The silver-haired old man took off his cloak and waved his hand casually, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather, "I'm just an ordinary old man here for a drink.""Oh, Rayleigh."The old man behind the bar seemed to know him; he set down his glass and asked casually, "Didn't you usually come a few days later in previous years?""Rayleigh?!"Mark's pupils contracted sharply. It really was him! The Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates, known as the "Pluton," Silvers Rayleigh!Rayleigh's gaze swept lightly over Luffy and his group, finally landing on the old man behind the bar, and he said slowly:"In previous years on this day, the Marine would surround the execution platform so tightly that not even a fly could get in.I heard a while ago that that brat Smoker had mobilized the elite Marine in town to catch the Straw Hat Pirates, so I came over to take a look."He paused and added,"Since you little ones are here, it means that brat Smoker will be back soon, right?Looks like I need to hurry today. The usual: a glass of vodka, and prepare a bottle of rum to go.""Old man, how did you know Smoker was coming for us?"Luffy couldn't help but ask; he was full of curiosity about this old man who gave him a familiar feeling.Rayleigh smiled, his gaze falling on the Straw Haton Luffy's head, a flash of complex nostalgia in his eyes:"That Straw Hat, I am more familiar with it than anyone.""Ah! Do you know Red Hair Shanks?"Luffy's eyes instantly lit up, as if he had found a kindred spirit, his tone full of pleasant surprise.Mark stepped forward, suppressing the shock in his heart, and said in a deep voice:"If I'm not mistaken, I'm afraid that even if Red HairShanks saw you, he would have to respectfully call you 'Vice Captain'.""Wh-what?!"Bartolomeo, Johnny, and Joseph instantly opened their mouths wide, their faces filled with disbelief, as if they had heard something absurd.They looked at each other, seeing deep shock in each other's eyes—the seemingly ordinary silver-haired old man in front of them was actually the Vice Captain of a legendary pirate crew?The legendary figure who fought side by side with the Pirate King Roger and conquered the Grand Line?Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, looking at Mark with some surprise, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes behind his lenses:"You're an interesting kid. You're young, but your Observation Haki is quite sharp.I didn't reveal my identity, so how did you know?""It's not hard to guess."Mark met his gaze calmly, his tone calm but clear,"The pressure coming from you is something I've only felt from Old Man Garp, which means you are also a person of that level.Combined with the fact that you chose to come to Loguetown today, obviously to pay respects to the late Roger, and that sword at your waist... all signs point to one person—Silvers Rayleigh.""Garp, huh..."Rayleigh took a sip of the vodka that had just been handed to him, a flash of distant nostalgia in his eyes,a complex smile tugging at the corners of his mouth,"Back in the day, Roger and I suffered quite a bit at the hands of him, Sengoku, and Tsuru."He set down his glass and looked at Luffy, Zoro, and Mark, his eyes becoming gentler:"You guys are not bad. Come have a drink with this old man?""Drinking? I've been thirsty for a while!"Zoro's eyes lit up, and he walked to the bar without hesitation, picking up an empty glass and placing it in front of him,clearly full of anticipation for this legendary powerhouse and the good liquor he might bring."Boss, do you have juice? I don't drink alcohol."Luffy scratched his head and asked with a sincere face.Upon hearing this, the old man behind the bar took a bottle of milk from under the counter, poured a full glass, and handed it to him, fine water droplets clinging to the glass:"No juice, but there is milk."Bartolomeo, Johnny, and Joseph were still frozen in place, their bodies stiff as if hit by a petrification spell.They looked at Rayleigh, then at Luffy and the others, their minds blank.Drinking at the same table as "Pluton" Rayleigh? If this were to get out,I'm afraid every pirate and Bounty Hunter in the East Blue would have their jaws drop; this is basically bragging material for a lifetime!"The first glass, to our great Pirate King, Roger! Cheers!"The old man behind the bar raised his glass first, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible tremor,as if the name itself contained infinite power."Cheers!"Rayleigh raised his glass and clinked it gently against his. The crisp sound of the collision echoed in the dimly lit bar,as if crossing twenty-two years of time, corresponding to that legendary era from afar.Luffy held his milk glass and raised it as well, saying seriously:"Cheers!"Zoro and Mark also raised their glasses, the liquor gently sloshing in the cups, reflecting the faint light coming in from outside the door.After a round of drinks, Rayleigh glanced at the three of them—Bartolomeo, Johnny, and Joseph—who were still nervously at a loss,and said to Luffy and the others: "My identity is special, so it's best not to spread the word about today's events.""Don't worry, Uncle Rayleigh, we will keep it a secret, right Mark, Zoro?"Luffy patted his chest to guarantee, his tone incomparably serious.Mark and Zoro both nodded. They understood that once Rayleigh's identity was exposed here, the entire Loguetown would likely be immediately surrounded by heavy forces from Marine Headquarters."Us too! We didn't see anything and didn't hear anything today!"Bartolomeo and the other two quickly raised their hands in agreement, nodding like bobbleheads, fearing they might displease this legendary figure."There's no need to be so cautious. I just want to avoid trouble, that's all."Rayleigh smiled, his tone relaxed, seemingly not taking the Marine pursuit seriously."Uncle Rayleigh, you don't need to worry about Smoker either; he won't be back for a while." Marksuddenly spoke up."Oh? How so?" Rayleigh looked at him with some curiosity.Mark then picked out the key points and briefly recounted how they had defeated Arlong and destroyed the 16th Branch, how Marine Headquarters had sent Hina and Smoker to pursue them, how they had won against them in battle, and how they had stolen the transponder snail and blown up the warship."I see."Rayleigh nodded after listening, a flash of approval in his eyes,"A little clever, not bad."He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and changed the subject:"However, I did get some news—that old guy Garpis vacationing in Windmill Village recently.""What?!"Luffy and Mark shouted almost in unison, their expressions instantly turning terrified, as if they had heard the most terrifying thing."Mark, let's retreat quickly!"Luffy grabbed Mark's arm and rushed toward the door, his tone filled with unprecedented urgency,"If we go up against Grandpa, with our current strength, we're just serving ourselves up on a platter!""Grandpa? Who?"Zoro frowned, looking at Luffy, his eyes full of confusion,"Luffy, are you talking about the Navy Hero Garp?""Sen-senpai... Luffy-senpai is actually Garp's grandson?"Bartolomeo felt his brain was about to crash.There was just too much shocking information received today; his worldview was crumbling,"So, so amazing!""Yeah, Mark and I both call him Grandpa. You don't know how miserably we get beaten every time."Luffy said without looking back as he dragged Markoutside.Zoro's gaze immediately turned to Mark, his eyes full of inquiry."Luffy is his biological grandson; I'm the grandson he picked up." Mark explained briefly."Don't panic... Even if they contacted them, Luffy, it's impossible for them to arrive in such a short time." Mark grabbed Luffy."I see."Rayleigh watched their hurried backs thoughtfully, a meaningful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth,"With an old man like Garp training you, your strength makes sense."He stood up and straightened his cloak: "Then I need to hurry and act before Garp and the others arrive."...Meanwhile, in a stretch of blue sea far from Loguetown, a giant dog-headed warship was breaking through the waves, advancing at full speed.On the deck of the warship, the sea breeze whipped, fluttering the Marine flag.A burly, gray-haired man wearing a Marine Vice Admiral's uniform was sitting on a chair,holding a bag of senbei in his hand, stuffing them into his mouth continuously,the "crunch, crunch" chewing sounds ringing out intermittently in the sea breeze.He was none other than the man hailed as the "Navy Hero," Monkey D. Garp."What? That brat really went to Loguetown?"Garp's mouth was stuffed with senbei, making his speech somewhat slurred. His tone sounded casual,but if one looked closely, one could see the muscles at the corners of his eyes tightening, and his fingers gripping the senbei bag tightening slightly.Standing behind him was a man wreathed in white smoke.He had short, silver-gray hair, disheveled by the sea breeze,and a cigar clamped in his mouth. The smoke swirling in front of his face could not hide the coldness and anger in his eyes.He was none other than the Marineford Commodore stationed at Loguetown, Smoker."To dare to be so arrogant, blowing up my warship, stealing my transponder snail, and then actually daring to swagger into my territory!"Smoker clenched his fists,"I will definitely catch them this time!"He took a fierce drag of his cigar, his tone laced with gnashing hatred,"When I get back, I'll make sure that Straw Hattastes the power of my jitte!"Then he touched his back... it was empty!Just then, the transponder snail at Garp's waist suddenly rang out, making a "brrr-brrr" sound.The head of the transponder snail even simulated a serious and dignified face, which was none other than the Fleet Admiral Sengoku."Intelligence confirmed, the Straw Hat Piratesarrived in Loguetown this morning."Sengoku's voice came through the transponder snail, carrying his usual dignity and unquestionable tone,"In order not to alert the enemy, the remaining Marine have not acted yet. How soon can you arrive in Loguetown at the fastest?""Three days."Garp blew the senbei crumbs off his mustache, his voice deepening, and his eyes becoming sharp, "If the warship advances at full speed, we can arrive in three days.""Three days..."The transponder snail simulated Sengoku frowning, his tone carrying a hint of gravity,"A bit tricky. We must find a way to make them stay in Loguetown for three more days."Sengoku paused, seemingly conversing with someone beside him.A moment later, another steady and calm female voice came from the transponder snail; it was the Marineford staff officer, Vice Admiral Tsuru:"Are you saying you want me, a Marine Grand Staff Officer, to design a plan to deal with a group of rookie pirates who just set sail?Are you kidding me?""If this group grows up, they will be a huge threat to the Marine! Tsuru, this is not the time to be willful!"Sengoku's voice carried a trace of imperceptible impatience."Didn't you say yourself that we should let them enter the Grand Line to see what kind of waves they can make?"Tsuru's voice was unhurried, yet it hit the nail on the head.Sengoku was instantly rendered speechless, and the other side of the transponder snail fell into a brief silence, with only faint breathing audible."Or do you think that I also need to be labeled an 'old hag' by that kid Mark for you to feel balanced?"Tsuru's tone carried a hint of faint mockery."Fine, fine, fine! So you're playing me like this, huh! You're amazing! You're so high and mighty!"Sengoku's voice carried a touch of exasperation, clearly stung in a sore spot,"Does the world stop turning without your ideas, Tsuru? Don't forget I'm the Fleet Admiral!"He took a deep breath, seemingly having made up his mind, his tone becoming tough:"Send an order to the Loguetown Branch, tell them to find a way to destroy the Straw Hat Pirates' ship! I want to see how they set sail without a ship!""Just this?"Tsuru's voice was full of disdain, "Forget it, I can't be bothered with you."The transponder snail was hung up, leaving the deck in silence.Garp looked at the undulating horizon in the distance, his brows furrowed, not knowing what he was thinking.Meanwhile, Smoker fiercely threw the cigar from his mouth onto the ground and crushed it with his foot, the murderous intent in his eyes intensifying—he couldn't wait to return to Loguetown and personally capture that daring group of pirates.In the bar in Loguetown, Luffy was still pulling Markhard toward the exit, with Zoro and Rayleighfollowing behind, and Bartolomeo and the other two following dizzily at the end.
Chapter 35: Usopp vs. Daddy"Hey! Have you heard? Someone is going to duel with Daddy the Child-Bearer!""Daddy the Child-Bearer? You mean the former Marine Captain who now specializes in hunting bounty criminals, Masterson?""Who else could it be? They're at the open space by the port, and a huge crowd has already gathered! Let's go, let's see which poor sap it is!"The conversation between the two was like a spark thrown into a frying pan, exploding with a "crackle" all around.People nearby, drinking tea or mending fishing nets, stopped what they were doing. Curiosity and excitement mixed in their eyes, and their feet began to shuffle toward the east involuntarily."Daddy the Child-Bearer?"Outside the crowd, Zoro, who was looking around, raised an eyebrow at the words, as if something had caught his attention."What, do you know him?" Luffy asked, gnawing on a large bone, speaking indistinctly."I've heard of this guy back when I was a Bounty Hunter. He's a colleague," Zoro said.Johnny chimed in: "He used to be a genius sniper for the Marine. I don't know why he became a Bounty Hunter later. They say no one has ever escaped from his gun."Bartolomeo ran to the front and said obsequiously: "He is a celebrity in our Loguetown. He specializes in targeting pirates with bounties. Many arrogant people have come to duel him, but they all died under his gun.""A duel? Sounds interesting."Luffy swallowed the meat in his mouth, pulling the brim of his Straw Hat low, revealing only a pair of shining eyes."Rayleigh—Uncle—" He originally wanted to say, "Uncle Rayleigh, do you want to go see it together?" but..."Shh!" Mark's hand was lightning-fast, covering his mouth, lowering his voice, and glancing at the square not far away."Don't speak so loudly. I've already spotted several Marines acting suspiciously today."Rayleigh, spinning an empty wine bottle in his hand, smiled and waved his hand upon hearing this:"You guys go ahead. I'm also curious about what these Marines are up to. I'll go gather some intelligence."The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes held smiles, as if they contained countless stories of the past."See you at the center of the square later.""Alright!"Luffy pulled Mark's hand away, full of excitement in his voice, and turned to grab Zoro and dive into the crowd.Zoro's scabbard tapped against the stone road with a "clack-clack" sound, accompanied by muttering.Mark shook his head helplessly and followed—he always felt that wherever Luffy was, there was never a lack of "excitement."The crowd was like an impenetrable wall, with bobbing heads and stretched necks everywhere.Nami, carrying a bulging cloth bag filled with fashionable clothes she had just picked up, was tiptoeing to squeeze forward.Hearing the word "Daddy," her movements paused abruptly, and then she squeezed even harder:"I want to see which blind fool dares to provoke the East Blue's top gunman..."After finally sticking her head out from the gaps in the crowd, Nami froze instantly.Two people stood in the center of the clearing.On the left was a burly man holding a polished pistol, and standing in front of them was a little girl with pigtails—it was Daddy's daughter.And on the right, with his hands behind his back and his legs trembling, was the long-nosed man—who else but Usopp?"Usopp?!"Nami's voice rose an octave like a cat whose tail had been stepped on."So you're the poor sap! Why are you dueling with Daddy? Do you think you've lived too long?!"Usopp didn't look back; his shirt was already soaked through with cold sweat.Daddy's little daughter was looking up, counting in a voice as crisp as wind chimes: "Seven—"With every number, Usopp's heart skipped a beat. His hand had unconsciously reached into the bag at his waist, gripping a smoke bomb inside.His heart was beating as if it would shatter his ribs. How did it come to this?He just wanted to buy goggles at the general store, why did it turn into a life-or-death duel?Daddy is a legend in the sniping world, and himself? Just a "Captain" who only knows how to brag.Run, while there's still a chance—Throw the smoke bomb, duck into an alley, and disappear. No one would laugh at someone who cherishes their life."Eight—"The little girl's voice was like a needle, piercing his hesitation.Usopp's peripheral vision swept across the crowd and suddenly collided with several familiar eyes—Luffy and Zoro were standing to the side with their arms crossed, Mark's eyes held worry, and there were Johnny, Joseph... they were all watching him.The image of Mark patting his shoulder surfaced:"Usopp, I understand you. If it wasn't for constant practice, I might not be as good as you. You are the one who can create miracles. I believe in you."The image of Luffy saying, "Usopp is super amazing! Usopp is not weak at all!"Nami with her hands on her hips, counting the bills:"With your long-range attacks, we finally don't have to fear those guys hiding in the dark—Our CaptainUsopp is the most reliable man in the Straw Hat Crew!"And Zoro's silent nod, Sanji humming a tune while handing over grilled meat...The girl lying in the hospital bed always said:"Usopp, when you become a brave warrior of the sea, you must come back and tell me adventure stories."Usopp's fingers slowly released the smoke bomb.Amidst the rustle of fabric friction, he could hear his breathing gradually steadying.The panic in his eyes receded like the tide, revealing the hard reef underneath little by little.I can be afraid, I can shrink back, I can even be laughed at as a coward, but I cannot let these people who believe in me down."Nine—""Pat."Usopp gripped the leather pouch of his slingshot.He raised his head, gazed into the distance, and stepped out the ninth step with firm determination.The stone slab made a slight sound under his feet, but it felt like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart.Even if I die here today, I cannot embarrass the Straw Hat Crew.Someone like me should be worthy of being your partner, right, Luffy? Future Pirate King.Mark's palms were full of sweat.No, this isn't right—the plot in the manga isn't like this!Usopp should have thrown the smoke bomb at the eighth step, Daddy would have shot his gun away, and later, because of Yasopp's connection, they would have a rematch, and finally, Usopp would win respect by shooting the weathercock on the church roof... But the Daddy now clearly had killing intent in his eyes!Just as he took half a step forward, his wrist was grabbed by a warm hand."This is Usopp's duel."Luffy's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone soaked in molten iron, heavy and carried undeniable power."No one can interfere, including you, Mark."Mark met his eyes and was suddenly stunned.In those eyes that were always smiling, there was an unprecedented seriousness, like a bottomless sea.He took half a step back—Is this the man who will stand at the pinnacle of pirates in the future?Even he was flustered because of the "plot," but Luffy saw it more clearly than anyone.Mark raised his hand to pat his hot cheeks and took a deep breath:"Sorry, Luffy, I was too impulsive."Luffy grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and turned his head to look back at the field."Ten—"As the little girl's voice fell, two crisp sounds tore through the air almost simultaneously:"Bang!""Boom!"Time seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand.Usopp's body fell backward violently, and a dazzling red burst on his chest, like a flower of blood blooming suddenly.His eyes rolled back, but the corners of his mouth were strangely upturned, as if he were smiling."Usopp!""What did you do to my partner?!"Two roars exploded at the same time, like two claps of thunder in the clearing.Two invisible pressures erupted from Luffy and Mark, sweeping out like a tsunami—People nearby instantly fell to the ground clutching their heads, foaming at the mouth;The stalls in the distance were overturned, and wooden boards smashed to the ground with a "clatter";Even the dark clouds in the sky seemed to be churning, and the sea breeze suddenly became biting.Over at the square, Rayleigh had just bought a new bottle of wine. Hearing this, he looked up at the sky and smacked his lips.Dark clouds were surging rapidly from the horizon, as if being stirred by something.He shook the wine bottle, the liquid swirling inside:"Double Haoshoku, huh... It's a bit like Roger and me back then."After saying that, he took a big gulp from the bottle, and the wine dripped into his collar along his chin.At the edge of the clearing, Zoro, who had just pulled out half of his sword, suddenly stopped.That power... it was like it would shatter a person's soul.He frowned and looked at Luffy and Mark, his eyes filled with a bit of inquiry.Bartolomeo opened his mouth wide, enough to fit his own fist, and his eyes bulged as if they were going to pop out.Johnny and Joseph were even more so, slumped on the ground, unable to recover for a long time.As the dust settled, Daddy slowly moved his hand away from his forehead, where a large purple-blue bump had swollen, like a funny horn.He looked at Usopp, who was lying on the ground, and suddenly laughed lowly, the laughter getting louder and louder:"Deserving to be Yasopp's son... I lost this duel."Lost?Nami was about to rush over when Usopp on the ground suddenly moved.He struggled to prop up his upper body, scratched his head, and his voice carried a bit of embarrassment:"Um... I mean, if I say I didn't die, would it ruin the current atmosphere?"The clearing was so quiet that one could hear the sound of the sea breeze passing through the alley."Usopp, you bastard!"Nami was the first to react, picking up a rotten apple from the ground and throwing it at his head,"Give me back the tears I just shed!"Mark walked over with clenched fists, his knuckles making a "cracking" sound:"The atmosphere was built up to this point, you couldn't even pretend to be dead a little longer? Do you owe it to the uncles and aunties around? Do you owe it to the audience?""Don't, don't hit me!"Usopp quickly protected his face with his arms,"Daddy's bullet was a stage prop bullet! It wasn't real blood, I was really scared unconscious at the time... I originally wanted to... Ah—don't hit my face!"After a flurry of chaos, Usopp, sporting two panda eyes, looked at Daddy cautiously:"Uncle, what exactly is going on?"Daddy's eyes softened a lot. He touched his daughter's head and spoke slowly:"Many years ago, I had a duel with Yasopp of the Red Hair Pirates.I lost. He could have killed me, but seeing the photo of my daughter hanging on my chest, he put away his gun.""He said, 'I am an irresponsible father, drifting outside all year round, and I almost can't remember what my son looks like'." Daddy's voice lowered,"He described you to me. I recognized you at a glance just now. I originally wanted to repay the favor from that year, but... sigh."He pointed to the bump on his forehead:"I used a prop bullet. It wouldn't be fatal if it hit the chest, but you dodged the vital parts.And your slingshot..." Daddy smiled, "If it wasn't for using mud pellets, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stand up right now.""Why?" Daddy asked suspiciously.Usopp scratched his head, the sunset light falling on his face, making his expression particularly serious:"Children who don't have a father by their side need to rely on lying to protect themselves.There is only one 'Liar Usopp' in this world, and that's enough." He paused, his voice softening, "And what I wanted to win was never you, but that cowardly self."Daddy was stunned, and then laughed loudly, the laughter rustling the surrounding leaves:"Lost, I completely lost! Whether it's marksmanship or this heart!"He bent down to pick up his daughter, "Baby, let's go."The little girl with pigtails poked her head out from her father's arms, handed the goggles in her hand to Usopp, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito's:"This... is for you, Brother Usopp." After speaking, she buried her head in Daddy's neck.Usopp took the goggles, watching the father and daughter walk away, and suddenly felt his eyes get a little hot."Yo, you guys are quite lively here."A lazy voice intervened.Sanji walked over carrying a sea fish taller than himself, with a red silk ribbon hanging on the fish, on which was written "Cooking Competition Champion."He raised his eyebrows and scanned the messy scene, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "Looks like I missed a good show?"The Straw Hat Crew was finally gathered."Give me the stuff."Mark said, raising his hand to press lightly on the large bags on the ground.The cloth bags seemed to be swallowed by an invisible mouth, and disappeared from the spot instantly.Nami clapped her hands: "I always feel that the weather is wrong, I'm afraid there will be a super storm... The going merry is still in the port, I don't know if it can hold up.""Don't worry, it won't come for a while."Mark comforted, his Observation Haki already sensing the rooftop of the clock tower in the distance.A man in a green cloak stood there, his figure swaying slightly in the wind—Monkey D. Dragon, Luffy's father. This storm is not a natural phenomenon at all."I see, then I'm still going to the execution platform to see." Luffy grinned and said, his voice carrying a strange excitement."We're all going." Mark replied.Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji all nodded."Seniors, I'll lead the way!"Bartolomeo immediately leaned over, his face filled with admiring smiles, talking incessantly as he walked forward,"That one ahead is the clock tower of Loguetown, built in 1480 of the Marine calendar.It is said that the whole town can hear it when it tells the time... The one on the left is the Marinebranch, the one responsible for executing Senior Roger was..."A veritable competent tour guide.The group walked through the gradually deserted streets and soon arrived at the foot of the execution platform.Rayleigh was already waiting there, leaning against the steps and resting with his eyes closed.Sanji, Nami, and Usopp, after being introduced by Luffy, also knew that this uncle was Roger's Vice Captain, Pluton—Rayleigh, and they were all shocked.Mark, however, seemed to have expected it, took a few small pottery cups from his bag, poured wine, walked into the shadow of the execution platform, and slowly poured the wine on the ground.The wine seeped into the dark green stone slab, making a faint "hissing" sound, as if talking to the bloodstains from many years ago.Luffy took off the Straw Hat on his head and pressed it tightly against his chest. The brim of the Straw Hat was already a bit worn, a gift from Shanks.Zoro closed his eyes, Nami looked down at the ground, Usopp gripped the goggles in his hand tightly, and Sanji's hand gently rested on the knife at his waist.No one spoke. In the three minutes, only the sound of the wind sweeping across the execution platform could be heard, whimpering, as if telling that clear morning many years ago—a man wearing a Straw Hat stood here, smiling and saying the last sentence, and then turned the whole world upside down.A ray of sunlight leaked through the gaps in the dark clouds, shining on Luffy in front of the execution platform, leaving a sacred light and shadow.Mark looked at the light and shadow of Luffyholding the Straw Hat tightly, and suddenly felt that the protagonist is different, having exclusive special effects artists.(Let's add a chapter today! Loguetown originally had a lot of plot designs, such as Tsuru designing to let the Straw Hat Crew stay, and then Garp, Dragon, Rayleigh... In the original work, Loguetown was just a transition chapter, so I also respect Oda-sensei's setting. I wrote this book because I really like reading One Piece fanfiction, but I actually saw a lot of people opening harems in the One Piece world... I just want to say that there are no mothers in the original One Piece world, because if you have the ties of a mother, you can't be a pirate, so I also want to write one, a One Piece world of pure friendship. Also, thanks to the book friend for the update talisman o＞_＜o)
Chapter 36: About to Have a Bounty"Drink up, drink more! I haven't been this happy in a long time. Today's drinks are on me!"The tavern owner raised his glass and downed it in one gulp, the liquor dripping down his stubble. He slapped the table and laughed, "If more little guys like you came around, I wouldn't mind if this run-down tavern stayed open for another hundred years!"Mark slammed his half-empty glass onto the oak table, splashing a few drops of orange liquor that spread into shallow circles on the surface.He wiped his mouth, his Adam's apple still bobbing, his eyes shining: "Uncle Rayleigh, how is this orange wine? It's a specialty from Nami's hometown!"Rayleigh rubbed the rim of his glass with his fingertips. He gently swirled the cup and said slowly, "It's not bad, it has the refreshing kick of oranges. Though, for an old bag of bones like me, it's a bit light.""Don't be so humble, Uncle."Mark leaned forward, the legs of his wooden chair scraping against the floor with a harsh screech, "If you hadn't retired, the threshold of Marine Headquarters would have been worn down by you long ago, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku's scalp would have been scratched raw by you."Rayleigh laughed, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bunching into deep grooves, and raised a hand to knock on Mark's head: "You brat, all you know is how to spout nonsense."He tilted his head back to take a swig of wine, his voice dropping a bit, "If this vast world is to change, it must be pushed forward by the era. We remnants of the old era—Roger was like this, and Whitebeardis the same... No matter how great, there comes a time to leave the stage to the young."His gaze swept over the rowdy crowd in the tavern and finally landed on Luffy, who was devouring a roasted chicken leg, his eyes filled with warmth, "You little ones are the protagonists of this current era.""Coming back to Loguetown this time, I meant to pay respects to an old friend quietly, but I didn't expect to run into you interesting little ones."Rayleigh sipped his wine, his tone laced with a hint of emotion, "When you and Zoro were taking care of those pirates on the street, I intended to step in, but you beat me to it. To be honest, if you want to stir up trouble in these muddy waters now, you still need to build up your strength."Mark opened his mouth, curled his fingers under the table, but ultimately swallowed his words.He glanced at Luffy, who was gnawing the chicken leg down to the bone, and muttered to himself: It's too early to say these things now; there will be plenty of chances to meet later anyway."By the way,"Rayleigh changed the subject, his eyes darkening, "I heard some Marines chatting in the square just now, saying they want to 'keep' you in Loguetown. I'm not sure what their specific plan is, but you must be careful—Marine schemes can sometimes be trickier than open combat.""Oh, got it."Luffy responded vaguely, threw the clean-picked bone onto the table, and shouted toward the kitchen: "Sanji! Another serving of meat! The biggest piece you've got!""Hey! Luffy!"Usopp was so angry his hair was almost standing on end, and he slapped Luffy on the back, the force causing Luffy to yelp, "Are you even listening to Uncle Rayleigh? The Marines are setting a trap for us!"He gritted his teeth, looking just like a ruffled rabbit."Exactly, Luffy,"Nami also frowned, her fingers tapping rapidly on the bar, "I think we should set sail immediately, lest things get complicated."Luffy rubbed his sore back and waved his hand dismissively: "What's there to be afraid of? Aren't Mark and you here?"Nami was stunned for a moment, then her cheeks flushed slightly. She walked over and reached out to pull Luffy's face: "You guy... sometimes you say the sweetest things.""Sigh,"Mark watched Luffy's devil-may-care attitude and couldn't help but sigh, "I really don't know what kind of luck Luffy has as a Captain, not having to worry about anything."Rayleigh laughed upon hearing this and clinked his glass with Mark's, the crisp sound jumping through the noise: "Now that you mention it, it reminds me of Roger. He was the same way back then."The two looked at each other and smiled, downing the wine in their glasses."Seriously,"Mark put down his glass, his expression becoming more serious, "If the Marines want to keep us, they will definitely target our weaknesses.""For example, holding a meat-eating contest...""When?!?"Luffy's eyes instantly went round, and he nearly jumped off his chair, "I want to participate! Mark, you come too! Didn't you win a championship before? Let's settle it this time!""Cough, cough!"Mark was choked by him and quickly waved his hand, "Don't interrupt! I'm not done yet. For another example, holding an East Blue Beauty Pageant or something...""Beauty?!?"The kitchen door banged open, and Sanji rushed out with a plate, hearts in his eyes, spinning around the table, "Where? Where? Where is the beauty pageant being held?"The tavern went quiet instantly, and everyone stared at him with looks reserved for an idiot.Sanji paused, realized he had overreacted, coughed twice to pretend to adjust his tie, and sheepishly retreated to the kitchen."It's also possible,"Mark cleared his throat and continued, "they auction off Roger's relics, or hold a famous sword appreciation convention..."Zoro was drinking with Johnny and his crew, and upon hearing this, he put down his glass, his eyes immediately hooked by the word "sword," shining as if quenched in light."The most shameless thing is,"Mark's voice lowered, "they might kidnap our family or partners to threaten us.""Huh?"The meat in Luffy's mouth nearly fell out, and he rubbed his hands nervously, "If my family were kidnapped...""Stop!"Mark quickly interrupted him, rolling his eyes in frustration, "Luffy, I didn't even count you in that.""In any case, the Marines will definitely set traps based on our preferences, wanting to trap us on the island to wait for them to catch us. Especially you, Luffy. You're the Captain, and everyone listens to you, so don't stupidly fall into the pit."Mark looked at Luffy, his tone full of exhortation."But then again," Mark scratched his head and laughed it off, "There shouldn't be any idiots who want to try and destroy our ship, right?"Rayleigh's words, which had reached his lips, stopped abruptly. His fingertips turned halfway around the rim of his cup, and when he raised his eyes to look at Mark, his brows raised slightly, and his eyes brimmed with a mix of amusement and exasperation—this kid, he really knows how to hit a sore spot."If... I'm saying, hypothetically,"Rayleigh decided to say it anyway, "the Marines go to destroy your ship at this time, what will you do? Without a ship, you can't go to sea.""Oh, then I can only wish them good luck."Nami didn't even look up, her tone as relaxed as if she were talking about the weather."Delicious! Sanji, another plate!" Luffy's voice came from the other end of the table."Come on, Brother Zoro, let me toast you! To your new sword!" Johnny raised his glass to Zoro, and Bartolomeo was adding drinks for everyone on the side.Rayleigh looked at this group of people, unable to fathom their calmness: "You... aren't you worried at all?""Hehe, Uncle Rayleigh, you don't know, right?"Usopp proudly puffed out his chest, "Mark's weapon is still on the ship! To touch the going merry, they'd at least need to send a Colonel from Headquarters. Now that Smoker from the Loguetown branch isn't here, with Ink Meteor there, the going merry is perfectly safe!""Weapon? Guarding the ship?"Rayleigh was stunned. He couldn't twist these two terms together in his mind. He had traveled the seas for so many years and had seen all kinds of weapons, but he had never heard of using a weapon to guard a ship.Meanwhile, at the port of Loguetown."Is that the ship?"A Marine pointed to the small sailboat moored not far away, the Straw Hat jolly Roger on the sail particularly striking in the night."That's right, just look at the pirate flag, it must be the Straw Hat crew's ship!"Another soldier held binoculars, his tone mixed with excitement and nervousness."Go! Let them see the might of our Loguetownbranch!"The leading squad leader waved his hand, lowering his voice, "Headquarters said to conduct a secret operation, otherwise a few cannonballs would have solved it. Did you bring the kerosene?""Brought it, brought it. This is the highest purity kerosene, guaranteed to turn this piece of junk into ashes in minutes!"A soldier patted the oil bag on his back."Why are you still throwing the grappling hook? Can't we just light it and throw it on?" Someone asked, confused."Did you forget? Headquarters also wants us to retrieve the transponder snail and 'Berries' from their ship!"The squad leader glared at him, "Did your brain rust from drinking too much yesterday?""Hehe, remembered, remembered."The soldier scratched his head, "We'll have to set aside some 'Celestial Tribute' to buy drinks for the brothers.""No problem. You guys provide support from below, I'll go up and scout the path first."The squad leader said, throwing out the grappling hook. The iron claw "clanged" and hooked onto the rail of the going merry. He grabbed the rope and climbed up silently.Crawling to the rail, he flipped over and jumped up. His feet had just landed when he heard a "clank"—as if he had bumped into something hard."Bad luck." The squad leader cursed, rubbing his foot, a sudden inexplicable chill rising in his heart.His back felt cold, as if something was staring at the nape of his neck. He swallowed, and slowly turned around.In the ink-black night, two golden pupils suddenly lit up, like cold stars embedded in the ship's rail, locking tightly onto his throat. By the time he saw what it was, it was already too late."Awoo—"With a low roar, Ink Meteor swiped a claw at his chest.The squad leader didn't even have time to scream, his whole body flew out, falling into the sea with a "splash," and was rolled back to the shore by the waves."What's going on?"The Marines below heard the commotion and hurried over, "An ambush? Didn't they say all of them went ashore?""Number Five! Are you okay?"Someone helped up the squad leader who had been knocked away, only to see his chest caved in, and blood bubbling from his mouth."Quick... run... there's a mon... ster..." Number Five said with his last bit of strength, his head lolling to the side as he died.Everyone froze, looking up at the going merry in the darkness in unison.At the rail, those golden eyes were still lit, like two ghost fires, emitting a daunting light in the night—that was clearly the "monster" Number Five spoke of."What's there to be afraid of!"A soldier forced himself to remain calm and raised his gun, "It's just a beast! We have so many people and we're armed, are we really afraid of it? Line up!""First squad, fire!""Bang, bang, bang—"Bullets whistled toward the going merry, but only sparked with a crisp sound like hitting steel."W-what's going on?" The soldier's face turned pale, "Is this monster made of iron?""I don't believe it! Second squad, third squad, shoot together!"This time, there wasn't even a crisp sound; the bullets disappeared like stones into the sea.Ink Meteor swallowed the bullets and flickered, hiding in the shadows of the rail.From the Marines' perspective, two beams of golden light dragged long tails as they pounced on them.Immediately after came screams and the dull sound of bones breaking. In just a moment, the battle was over.On the coast, only two people were left scrambling away into the distance, while the others were piled into a crooked "human meat arhat."Ink Meteor stood on top, its golden eyes flashing with cold light in the dark, looking awe-inspiring.In the tavern, Mark was explaining Ink Meteor's origins to Rayleigh."...That's how it is. Ink Meteor can animalize; it's perfect for guarding the ship when there are no strong enemies.""So that's it." Rayleigh realized, a flash of amazement in his eyes, "This weapon is truly special. Roger and I saw living weapons back in the day, but one that can fully animalize is a first for me."He paused and laughed, "When you set sail, I'll come to see you off and, by the way, get a look at this legendary weapon.""Huh? Uncle, aren't you coming with us?" Luffyasked while gnawing on meat."It's rare to come back once; if I don't gamble a few rounds here, I feel like I've come for nothing." Rayleigh shook his glass, a crafty light shining in his eyes."Alright then." Luffy nodded and continued to struggle with the meat on his plate.Meanwhile, at Marineford."What did you say? The mission failed?!?"Sengoku slammed the table, and the transponder snail on the table shrank into a ball in fear, "A bunch of trash! You can't even handle a broken ship!""Fleet Admiral, it's not that we are incompetent!"A soldier's tearful voice came from the transponder snail, "There's a monster on that ship! It looks like a lion, with ram's horns on its head, and its strength is immeasurable! Our fifty-some men were easily dealt with by that monster! It's terrifyingly fast, and its body is as hard as steel; bullets are useless against it!""Alright, I know."Sengoku took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and hung up the phone, turning to the messenger, "It seems the branch can't hold that group. Hold a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss the bounty plan for the Straw Hat crew.""Yes, Fleet Admiral!"Hanging up the phone, Sengoku rubbed his temples irritably: "It seems we can only find a way to catch them on the Grand Line... Garp, you bastard, this is the good grandson you taught!"On the going merry.As soon as Mark and his group returned to the ship, Ink Meteor pounced over with an "awoo," rubbing its big head against Mark's legs, its claws hugging his ankle, whining and refusing to let go."Alright, alright, I know." Mark stroked its head helplessly, "Those people broke your rice bowl, right?"Ink Meteor nodded quickly, its golden eyes full of grievance. Its "rice bowl" was actually a half-meter-tall ceramic rice jar Mark found in the kitchen, which it usually used as a food bowl."I'll get you a new one, a 'bowl' made of tyrant iron, guaranteed to be sturdy." Mark said with a smile.If he couldn't communicate telepathically with Ink Meteor, he really wouldn't understand what this big guy was whining about."Ink Meteor is so amazing, actually beating away so many bad guys!"Nami squatted down, reached out to touch Ink Meteor's mane, "Come, let's cuddle!""My turn, my turn!" Luffy also Collect over, opening his arms to hug Ink Meteor."Luffy, how old are you?" Mark pulled him back, "Stop messing around.""By the way, Nami," Mark suddenly remembered something, "When you were picking pockets earlier, did you get a photo-taking transponder snail?""Oh... let me look, I grabbed a bunch of transponder snails last time."Nami rummaged through her bag, "Some are kept in the orange orchard; they can even help weed.""This seems to be it." Nami took out a transponder snail with sparkling eyes and handed it to Mark."Thanks, Nami." Mark took the transponder snailand gestured with his chin to Luffy, "Let's go, Luffy, let's record a video message for the old man. Can't let him come for nothing."Luffy got excited as soon as he heard it: "Okay, okay! What should we say?"Mark looked at the photo-taking transponder snail, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "Just say..."
Chapter 37: Setting SailDawn broke, and the pale golden sunlight, like melted honey, slowly flowed across the coastline of Loguetown.The going merry was moored quietly at the shore; although the sails had not been fully unfurled, it was already poised for departure.The Straw Hat crew was all on deck. Luffy stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the two people on the shore.His tone carried his usual straightforwardness and a hint of imperceptible reluctance:"Are you really not coming with us?"Johnny and Joseph stood together, their eyes red. The bits and pieces of their time with their big brothers surged into their hearts like the tide—those laughs, those crises, that unconditional trust and support had long since left deep marks in their hearts.Joseph sniffed, his voice choked with emotion:"Thank you for taking care of us during this time... We will never forget this kindness for the rest of our lives!"Johnny nodded vigorously, straightening his back:"We will stay in the East Blue and guard everyone's hometown! As long as our big brothers have any orders, we two brothers will go through fire and water without hesitation!""And me!"An excited and fanatical voice rang out. Bartolomeowaved his hands excitedly, his face full of worship."Luffy-senpai, and everyone else! I, Bartolomeo, will always be your number one fan! No matter where you go, my heart will follow you!"Rayleigh stood to the side, his silver-white hair glowing softly in the morning light. He smiled and waved his hand."Take care, you little ones.""Hehe!" Luffy grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, and waved vigorously."Old man, Johnny, Joseph, Bartolomeo, you take care too!"He turned around and shouted loudly to his companions on the deck:"Brothers, set sail! Destination—the Grand Line!""Ooh—!"Everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with passion and anticipation, echoing over the coastline.Just as the sails of the going merry were slowly raised, a sudden gust of wind rushed in.As if an invisible giant hand was pushing from behind, the going merry suddenly accelerated.The ship tilted slightly forward, cleaving through the waves and speeding toward the vast ocean.The sunlight spilled onto the sails, making the Straw Hat logo exceptionally clear.The people on the shore watched the gradually shrinking ship until it turned into a black dot and finally disappeared at the end of the horizon before slowly looking away.On a rooftop in Loguetown, a man wearing a green cloak stood quietly.The morning breeze blew up a corner of his cloak, revealing the tattooed face.He looked in the direction where the going merryhad disappeared, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful arc as he whispered to himself:"Go... if this is the path you have chosen."He looked up, feeling the wind on his face, his eyes flashing with sharp light."The wind of fate is blowing. This era... is waiting for our answer."On the shore, Johnny was still feeling unsettled by the departure, but Joseph suddenly slapped his thigh, his eyes lighting up:"Johnny, Bartolomeo, why don't we three form a club! Let's name it after our names—the JohnJoseBart Club!""Let's change the name!" Johnny immediately retorted, shaking his head with a frown."It sounds unprofessional.""Then... how about calling it the Straw Hat Guard?"Joseph thought for a moment and suggested, his tone carrying a bit of solemnity."Although we cannot be by our seniors' side, we can guard everything related to them here and be their strongest backing!""That works!"Johnny's eyes lit up, and Bartolomeo immediately nodded in agreement:"Good idea! Let's call it the Straw Hat Guard! We will let everyone know that we are the guards of the Straw Hat crew!""With your strength, you want to be the Straw HatGuard?"Rayleigh's voice came from the side, carrying a hint of teasing, "That's a bit lacking."The three of them looked embarrassed, and Bartolomeo scratched his head:"We will work hard to become stronger!"Rayleigh smiled and walked over slowly:"I will stay in Loguetown for another week. During this time, I will give you some pointers.""What?!"The three of them widened their eyes instantly, their faces full of unbelievable ecstasy."Great senior, you... you are going to guide us personally?"Rayleigh raised an eyebrow: "What? You don't want to?""No, no!"Johnny waved his hands quickly, his voice trembling with excitement, "That's great! This is a godsend! Should we... should we kowtow or something?"Rayleigh stretched out his hand, flattened his palm, with a hint of cunning in his smile.The three looked at each other, puzzled:"Great senior, this... what does this mean?""You have to pay." Rayleigh was concise.Johnny and Joseph were stunned, and Bartolomeoblinked, muttering softly:"You wouldn't be... out of gambling money... so you...""Don't talk nonsense."Rayleigh put away his smile and urged them with feigned seriousness, "Hand it all over, and watch how I win it back."The three realized, hurriedly fumbling through their pockets, laughing while doing so, though their hearts were filled with gratitude and anticipation.On the going merry, the sea breeze was strong, and the ship sailed steadily on the sea."Whoosh...!"Luffy lay on the gunwale, feeling the wind coming toward him, and sighed with some confusion,"What a strange wind, it got stronger suddenly."Usopp stood beside him, holding binoculars, and lifted his chin proudly:"You don't understand that! Even the heavens are helping us set sail. This is a good omen! It means our adventure will definitely go smoothly!""Alright, the wind direction is stable now, the weather won't change for a while."Nami put away her nautical chart and said to everyone,"You guys take the helm, I'm going to count the loot from Loguetown. I can't have a single treasure missing.""Nami-san~"Sanji bowed slightly, a gentle smile on his face, "I'll go make you a cup of delicious coffee so it's ready for you to drink when you're done counting."With that, he turned and walked toward the kitchen."Usopp, let's go fishing!"Luffy suddenly became interested and pulled Usopp's arm."Okay!"Usopp responded immediately, rummaging through the cabin for a fishing rod and a small jar, saying mysteriously,"Watch how I, Usopp, use the Usopp special bait today to catch a giant sea monster!""Ah! That's amazing, Usopp!"Luffy's eyes lit up, and he leaned over, "I want it too! I want to use the special bait too!"In the lounge, the light was relatively soft. Zoro was sitting in a chair, the scabbard at his waist swaying gently.Mark looked at him and asked: "Have you made up your mind?"Zoro nodded, his eyes firm: "Yeah! Let's start!"Mark placed Zoro's four swords on the table: wado ichimonji, shigure, yuki, and the sandai kitetsu that emitted an ominous aura.He reached out and picked up the sandai kitetsu. As soon as he touched it, a bone-chilling coldness came from his fingertips, making him frown."What a strange sword." He said in a low voice, then looked at Zoro,"Then I'll start. If it fails, the sandai kitetsu will be completely ruined."Zoro's eyes did not waver, and he said decisively:"Start!"Mark handed the sandai kitetsu to Ink Meteor, watched it swallow it in one gulp, and then both Ink Meteor and Mark closed their eyes.A series of subtle prompt sounds rang in Mark's mind:[Ding! Special energy detected: Demonic Qi.][Ding! Special energy detected: Ghost Qi.][Do you choose to decompose?]"Yes."Mark thought to himself.[To decompose a complete item, the owner of the item must discard it automatically. Detecting...]Mark opened his eyes and looked at Zoro: "Zoro, are you willing to give the sandai kitetsu to me?""I am." Zoro did not hesitate at all.Mark nodded, closed his eyes again, and said in his heart:"Now, the sandai kitetsu is mine. I am now discarding the sandai kitetsu."[The item is detected as discarded and judged as trash, which can be decomposed. Do you want to decompose?]"Yes."[Decomposing...][Decomposition successful. Obtained 10,000 Energy Points, 20 units of Demonic Qi, and 400 units of Ghost Qi.][Demonic Qi can be synthesized into Demonic Power, Ghost Qi can be synthesized into Underworld Qi. Do you want to synthesize?]"Yes."[Synthesis requires 20,000 Energy Points. Do you want to consume them?]"Yes."[Synthesizing... Congratulations, synthesis successful.]Mark slowly opened his eyes and smiled at Zoro:"It's done."Zoro's face instantly showed excitement and agitation. He clenched his fists tightly, and his suspended heart finally fell.Mark picked up the shigure on the table and introduced:"This sword is a Ryo Wazamono, one level lower than wado ichimonji."He also fed the shigure to Ink Meteor (replacing poor materials with better ones does not require the owner's consent).He gave the instruction in his heart, let Ink Meteorreplace the blade body with tyrant iron, replace the blade edge with sword stone, and then injected the newly synthesized Demonic Power into it.A moment later, Ink Meteor opened its mouth and spat out the modified shigure.The blade was deep black, as if it contained endless power, while the blade edge shimmered with an eerie red light, like a burning flame.Zoro reached out and took it, feeling a bit of warmth. He tried to inject Observation Haki into it, and the blade instantly covered with a layer of pale yellow flames, looking extremely eerie.But soon, a strong sense of discomfort came from his head, forcing him to stop the injection."It seems this consumption is a bit high."He said in a low voice, then his eyes lit up,"It's not appropriate to call it shigure anymore. Your name from now on will be Yodo—fire dance!"Then, Mark picked up the yuki and did the same, only this time he injected Underworld Qi.(The sandai kitetsu was originally just a Wazamono sword. It was because it had Demonic Power and had killed too many people and was stained with Ghost Qi that it became difficult to control. Now that both the Demonic Qi and Ghost Qi are extracted, it is naturally useless.)The modified yuki also changed dramatically. The originally white sword body had many black cloud patterns,Like lightning in the dark night, the blade edge shimmered with a faint blue light, and the whole body was shrouded in white mist,The temperature of the surrounding air seemed to drop a few degrees, carrying a chilling coldness.Zoro took the yuki, felt the power contained within it, pondered for a moment, and said:"I'll call you Ghost Sword—Netherworld!"Now, Zoro's three swords were wado ichimonji, yodo himawari, and the Ghost Sword—Netherworld.He stroked these three swords, his face full of undisguised joy. The repression of this period seemed to be swept away, and he felt exceptionally comfortable."Hey, Sanji!"Zoro shouted toward the kitchen, "Make a few more side dishes for lunch. Mark and I are going to have a drink!""Hmph, Marimo, all you know is drinking."Sanji's voice came from the kitchen, with a hint of disdain, but he replied,"Got it, I'll make them for you, just don't get drunk and fall into the sea."Three days later, Loguetown.A dog-headed warship docked slowly at the port, the Marine logo on the hull clearly visible in the sunlight.Inside the 16th Branch, Hina was wearing a neat Marine uniform, directing soldiers to transport supplies. Her tone was serious and capable:"Is everything ready? If it's ready, move it quickly! Our main purpose of landing on the island this time is to resupply quickly, and then escort the criminals to Impel Down. Be quick!"Garp stood to the side, holding a huge meat bun, took a big bite, and said indistinctly:"Those brats ran really fast! Otherwise, I would have made those two guys taste my Fist of Love!""Vice Admiral Garp,"A soldier walked over quickly and handed over a transponder snail, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku is calling, he wants to ask you something."Garp took the transponder snail and pressed the switch.The transponder snail immediately imitated Sengoku's serious face and voice:"We can't find the background of that kid named Mark. What do you know? Tell me."Garp chewed the bun and said casually: "He is also my grandson, Monkey D. Moxing.""Stop screwing around with me!"Sengoku's voice rose instantly, with obvious anger,"Do you know something? Don't try to hide it from me!""If you want to put a bounty on him, just write his name like that."Garp avoided Sengoku's question, his tone still casual.Sengoku was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone, sighed helplessly:"Fine, suit yourself. However, if he causes any trouble, I will hold you responsible!""Hahaha, don't worry, he is just like Luffy, they are both my good grandsons!"Garp laughed and hung up the transponder snail.He looked at the scene of the port outside the window, the smile on his face gradually faded, and he thought silently:"Mark kid, grow up quickly... Your identity is even harder to handle than Ace's..."At this moment, a soldier walked in and reported:"Mr. Garp, the owner of the Gol D. Roger tavern called you over, saying someone left something for you.""Oh~ that old fart is not dead yet?"Garp was stunned for a moment, then showed a look of nostalgia, "It's really nostalgic, I'll go take a look."In the tavern, the light was a bit dim, and the air was filled with a faint smell of alcohol.Garp pushed the door open. The owner, who was tasting orange wine on a chair in front of the bar, raised his eyelids.His gaze stayed on him for a moment and then moved away. He pointed to the bar in a flat tone:"It's there.""Still so cold, old fart."Garp walked over with a smile, picked up a transponder snail on the bar, and pressed it.There was a rustling sound in the transponder snail, followed by Luffy's noisy voice:"Are you ready? Come here quickly!" Then there was a coughing sound.Soon, Luffy's face was "pasted" directly in front of the transponder snail, his voice full of pride:"Grandpa! I'm running away, you're going to make a wasted trip this time! Okay, take care!" After speaking, there was no sound.There was another coughing sound, this time replaced by Mark's voice, gentle and clear:"Long time no see, Grandpa Garp. Luffy and I have probably let you down, you must be very sad. But you know, Luffy and I don't like being restricted by the rules of the Marine, so being a Marine really doesn't suit us.""That guy Luffy, how can I rest assured letting him go to sea alone? So, it became like this... Grandpa Garp, next time we meet, I hope you can go easy on me when you hit me!""o＞_＜o... Your fist really hurts too much π_π."Mark's voice paused, with a hint of warmth:"By the way, I made some food you like, and a few barrels of orange wine, all left with the tavern owner... I hope this will make you less angry.""That's it then, thank you for your guidance for so long. The weather is getting cold, put on another piece of clothing, don't catch a cold. So, goodbye."The sound in the transponder snail disappeared. Garp held the transponder snail, and after a long while, he hummed in a low voice:"Stinking brat, does this old man even know what a cold is!"However, the corners of his mouth rose involuntarily, with a bit of relief and complexity in his eyes."This is a grandson... That guy Luffy, next time I see you, watch me beat your butt into a flower!"