Chapter 41: Undercurrents at Whiskey PeakThe weather on the Grand Line was never straightforward—one second it was a crystal-clear, bright sky, with a sea breeze light enough to lift the brim of Luffy's Straw Hat.The next, it was crushed under ink-black storm clouds, and the waves smashed against the going merry like mad, shaking the ship so hard that even the wooden crates on the deck were banging against the gunwales with a "thud-thud" sound.The canvas sails snapped in the wind, every fiber pulled taut, as if roaring at the untamable nature of these waters.Zoro leaned against the gunwale, his three swords slung across his waist, the sunlight falling on the blades and refracting a bone-chilling light.He closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, his chest rising and falling with steady rhythm, yet his ears, sharp as a hound's, caught something unusual—behind that old wooden door of the storage room.There were two breaths being deliberately quieted, and the "rustle" of fabric brushing against wooden crates, which, even mixed in with the sound of the waves, couldn't hide a hint of panic.He opened his eyes abruptly, his hand pressing against the hilt of his wado ichimonji, and shouted toward the bow:"Hey! Luffy, there are two little mice that snuck onto the ship!" His voice was laced with caution, his gaze locked onto the storage room door like a hawk—in that room, Zoro's Observation Haki could feel two living beings still moving stealthily.Luffy was hanging from the mast, swinging his legs, his feet nearly kicking the sails. Hearing this, he let go with both hands and slammed onto the deck like a rubber ball. He didn't care that his Straw Hat slid to the back of his head; he just reached up to scratch his messy black hair and grinned, showing two rows of white teeth: "I know!""Oh, you knew?" Zoro raised an eyebrow, his sword-like brows knitting into a faint knot—he had thought this kid's brain was only filled with "what's for the next meal," and hadn't paid attention to these details unrelated to "meat.""Who cares!" Luffy bounced over to Usopp, reached out and snatched the slingshot from his hand, tossing it back and forth in his hands, "Anyway, they aren't very strong! They must have encountered a shipwreck; Mark and I have encountered that before, and we even met Koby!"Zoro stroked his chin and thought about it, feeling it made sense—anyone Luffy judged as "not strong" could, at most, be slightly stronger than the average pirate from the East Blue.Besides, Mark was there, so he released the hilt of his sword and leaned back against the gunwale to continue wiping his blade, the "swish" of cloth against the edge especially clear amidst the wind and waves."Listen up, you little mice hiding in the storage room, you've been surrounded—" Mark leaned against the mast, cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, shouting toward the storage room.His tone was full of banter, "If you don't come out, we're going to let the 'Cat Burglar' loose. The Cat Burglar catches thieving mice, and she can even search out the Berries you've got hidden in the lining of your pants, trust me on this."Nami was crouching by the navigation chart, planning the route with a charcoal pencil. Upon hearing this, her hand holding the pencil tightened abruptly, the tip snapping directly, and she glared at the hands-on-hips Mark.Her cheeks flushed with a faint red—half from being angry at the slander about her "digging for Berriesin her pants," and half from the embarrassment of being called the "Cat Burglar": "Mark, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it!""Then don't say it." Mark replied crisply, not even lifting an eyelid, his gaze still fixed on the direction of the storage room."Thud! Thud! Thud!"Three crisp sounds exploded on the deck. Namiraised her fist and knocked three times on Mark's head with a "thud-thud-thud," the force so great that even Zoro, who was nearby, quickly moved away, fearing he might be caught in the crossfire.Mark gasped in pain, covering the top of his head with both hands as he crouched down, his face contorted, tears nearly bursting out: "That hurts! Did you learn Haki? Or is there a setting where I get a bump every time I get hit!" He touched the three bumps rapidly swelling on the back of his head, looking like he had grown three small tumors, and looked up aggrievedly, only to meet Nami's even fiercer glare, and immediately swallowed the rest of his words."Don't think just because you're the Vice Captain I won't hit you." Nami clapped her hands and continued to spread out the sea chart to study it.Just then, the door to the storage room gave a "creak—" and two figures slowly shuffled out: the woman walking in front wore a light green jacket with frayed cuffs,her ponytail stained with seaweed, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes, her eyes scanning the crowd with the panic of a startled rabbit, not daring to linger for even a second;the man behind her wore a crooked little crown, his green plaid suit as wrinkled as pickled vegetables, and the three black stripes on his face were stretched tight.His deliberately straightened back couldn't hide his trembling legs—who else could it be but Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 from inside the whale's belly?Miss Wednesday took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice, and took a small step forward, her tone as soft as kneaded cotton:"Everyone... we are residents of Whiskey Peak. I am Miss Wednesday, and he is Mr. 9. We were swallowed by a whale, and our ship was destroyed..."She stole a glance at the crowd, and seeing no one interrupted, her voice lowered even more, carrying a feigned fragility, "We can see you are good people, and we want to beg you to take us back to town..."Mr. 9, afraid of being ignored, quickly stepped forward, his voice even more urgent than hers, as if afraid he'd be left behind if he was a second late: "Yes! Please take us back! We will definitely repay your great kindness!" As soon as he finished speaking, with a "thud," his knees hit the deck, shaking the wooden crates nearby, and even his crown slid to his forehead; Miss Wednesday followed suit, kneeling cleanly and decisively...Mark watched this scene, muttering to himself: How could this princess of Alabasta kneel more smoothly than a street beggar?In his past life, he had shed tears in front of the screen at Vivi's line, "Can we still call you nakama next time we meet?" but now that he had transmigrated, it felt a bit bitter.There was even a disgust carved into his DNA, though he knew she was acting as an undercover agent—but this kneeling was too practiced; where was the nobility a princess should have?"Miss Wednesday, Mr. 9..." Zoro frowned, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the cord on the scabbard, his brows knitted into a knot, his mind turning like an old ledger, "Why is this title so familiar..."His gaze swept over the two, and suddenly paused—it seemed that three years ago, when he was a Bounty Hunter, someone in a black suit had approached him,saying they wanted to recruit him into an organization called "Ba...", mentioning at the time that everyone in the organization used "Miss" and "Mr" as codenames, but he couldn't quite remember now."Alright!" Luffy suddenly spoke, walking up to the two and bending over, his Straw Hat covering his eyes, only revealing the smile on the lower half of his face, like a blooming sunflower: "We'll take you back to Whiskey Peak!""Hey! Luffy!" Usopp hurried over to tug at his sleeve, his face as pale as paper, but he braced himself and said, "These two clearly aren't good people! Look at how they're dressed, do they look like ordinary people who are short of food and clothing? Maybe they're leading us to the island to call people to catch us!" He grew more panicked as he spoke, his eyes darting around, his hand almost gripping Luffy's sleeve.Nami also walked over, put away the navigation chart, and stood beside Luffy with her hands on her hips, her eyes sharp as knives:"Even though the Captain agreed to take you, we don't keep idlers on this ship—scrubbing the deck, organizing supplies, helping Sanji wash dishes, you'll have to do it all. Also, don't get any funny ideas," she paused, her tone turning cold, "otherwise you'll regret it. By the way, have you seen the recent newspapers?"Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 exchanged a look, their eyes full of confusion. Mr. 9 scratched his head, his tone embarrassed: "We've been busy killing the whale... finding food for the villagers, rushing around and haven't had time to read the news."Mark listened from the side, sneering in his heart—finding food? I'm afraid they were already plotting how to snatch all our supplies while in the whale's belly.He didn't speak, just crossed his arms, watching the two continue to act out this play full of holes.Over the next two days, the going merry tossed even more violently on the Grand Line. Nami was almost glued to the navigation chart, her brows never relaxing—sometimes one second it was clear skies, the next a gale with ice pellets would blow, and the waves could splash water down onto the sails.Usopp had complained quite a bit over the last two days. Nami wasn't used to the magnetic field of the Grand Line, getting them lost twice in three days, and yesterday they even circled back to the waters they had passed the day before."Don't know who it was," he muttered quietly while crouching on the deck to wipe his slingshot, his eyes darting toward Nami like a thief, "circled for three hours yesterday, and finally found out we were back in yesterday's waters..."Nami was organizing the navigation chart soaked by the rain, her ears as sharp as radar, and she heard it instantly. Her face turned bright red, and she scratched her head awkwardly:"That, that's just because the magnetic field of the Grand Line is too weird! I didn't adapt to it for a moment! I'll definitely figure out the pattern later! Haha!" She gave two dry laughs and quickly hid the navigation chart behind her back, afraid that Usoppwould keep harping on it.Two days later, the outline of an island finally appeared on the distant horizon. "Great! We finally reached the next island!" Luffy jumped up excitedly, grabbing the mast and climbing up, faster than a monkey, and when he reached the top, he waved at the island, his Straw Hat blown askew by the wind, revealing the scar under his eye: "Adventure! And meat!"Nami put away the navigation chart, held her head high, and patted her chest, her tone full of pride: "The first stage of the Straw Hat Pirates' journey is complete! Now, as long as we store up enough magnetic force on this island, we can continue deeper into the Grand Line!""Hey! You guys look at that island!" Zoro suddenly spoke, squinting at the distance, misty and rainy, looming in the fog, "Doesn't it look like a few giant cacti?"Sanji leaned against the kitchen door smoking, the smoke drifting from the corner of his mouth, dissipating quickly in the sea breeze. He flicked away the cigarette butt, crushing it with his heel until sparks flew,and when his gaze swept over the island, his fingertips unconsciously clenched into fists: "It really does... and this fog isn't right, it's clingy and wraps around the island, even the wind carries a musty smell of dampness, like a graveyard.""There's an inland river over there!" Nami suddenly shouted while holding binoculars, her tone full of surprise, "It's wide enough for the going merry to pass! We can dock once we get in!""Alright, Nami-san!" Sanji instantly switched back to gentleman mode, adjusted his suit jacket, bowed to Nami, "Your knight is at your service at any time!" After saying that, he quickly walked to the helmsman's position, held the ship's wheel firmly with both hands, and while adjusting the direction, his eyes didn't forget to glance at Nami, full of tenderness.Usopp looked at the approaching island, the white fog drifting toward the ship as if it were alive, and his old "can't go to the island" illness flared up again. He hugged the mast, his face as pale as paper, his voice trembling: "Th-there must be demons and monsters in this fog! What if we get caught as soon as we go up? Why don't we go to the next island!" He shrank back as he spoke, almost hiding in the cabin.But no one paid him any mind—Luffy was still swinging on the mast, Nami was lying on the gunwale observing the depth of the river, Zorocontinued to wipe his sword, and Sanji focused on steering.Seeing that no one responded, Usopp had to sheepishly let go of the mast, patted the dust off himself, and muttered: "I was just reminding you all... if you really run into danger, don't blame me for not saying anything..."The going merry slowly sailed into the inland river, and the buildings on both sides of the river gradually emerged from the white fog—they were all low stone houses,with green vines crawling all over the walls, the stones beneath the vines moldy, the windows tightly closed, not letting a single ray of light through.What was even more concerning was that in the open space in front of the stone houses, there stood hundreds of blurry figures, a dense mass of them, staring in the direction of the ship, not moving at all, like wooden stakes driven into the ground.Usopp panicked again in an instant, pulled a cross from his pocket, held it high with both hands, closed his eyes, and shouted, "Monsters and demons, get away! I am the brave warrior of the sea, Usopp! I will pierce your hearts with my slingshot!"He shouted at the top of his lungs, his shoulders trembling continuously, not even daring to open his eyes.Just then, with a sharp "pop!", someone pulled a party popper, and colorful confetti and smoke exploded like a blooming flower.Immediately after, cheers drifted over, wrapped in the mist: "Welcome, pirate heroes!""All the meat you can eat! All the booze you can drink!" "Consider this place your home!" The streamers in their hands were almost blurring into afterimages, and the smiles on their faces looked exceptionally warm.Luffy's eyes lit up as he watched from the mast. He let go with both hands, jumped down, and waved vigorously at the villagers on the shore, drool almost reaching his chin: "Can I eat whatever I want? You guys are really good people! Please give me lots of meat! The more, the better!"Hearing the compliments, Usopp also forgot his fear. He found a stool to stand on, crossed his arms, tilted his head back, and deliberately raised his voice: "Haha! You all have good taste! I am the legendary warrior of the sea, Usopp! I even blew up a Marinewarship last time!"He struck exaggerated poses, hands on his hips one moment and punching the air the next, his face full of pride.Sanji leaned over the ship's rail, his eyes sparkling. He sniffed lightly, and a smile curled the corner of his mouth: "Wow! It sounds like a young lady just called me handsome—'That blond chef is so stylish,' right?"He adjusted his tie, his eyes full of anticipation, already starting to fantasize about chatting with pretty girls after going ashore.Only Zoro, Nami, and Mark remained expressionless.Zoro leaned against the ship's railing, arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the villagers. He couldn't shake the feeling that their smiles were too deliberate, like they were wearing masks.Nami frowned, her fingers tracing the edge of the navigation chart, muttering to herself—how could they encounter such a welcoming island just after entering the Grand Line? There must be a problem.Mark stood in the corner of the deck, hands in his pockets, his eyes as calm as a pool of water—he knew better than anyone that this "welcome" was a trap set by Baroque Works, just waiting for them to jump in.The white mist slowly dissipated, and sunlight spilled through the clouds onto the shore. The villagers finally saw the young man at the bow of the going merry—Luffy grinned, his eyes as innocent as a child's, looking completely harmless.But in the next second, all sound ceased abruptly, like a snapped guitar string—even the "rustling" of the wind blowing past the stone houses sounded exceptionally jarring.Luffy was stunned. He tilted his head, looking at the villagers with a confused tone: "What's wrong? Hey! I'm Luffy! I want to eat meat!"His voice seemed exceptionally abrupt in the deathly silence, even a bit chilling.Usopp also opened his eyes, his proud smile freezing on his face, and he scratched his head: "Eh? Why aren't you praising me anymore? Didn't you say I was amazing just now?""Th-that's the Straw Hat crew!" A short, chubby villager stared at Luffy, his face as white as paper, his voice trembling, his legs going weak, nearly collapsing to the ground."It's the Straw Hat Luffy with a bounty over one hundred million!" Another tall, thin villager stared at Usopp, his eyes full of fear, "An-and the 'Demolition Genius' Usopp! The newspaper covered him blowing up a Marine ship last time!""Run! We can't mess with these people!" Someone shouted, and the villagers scattered like an exploded pot. Some hid in stone houses, others ran deep into the island, disappearing in an instant, leaving only a few drifting streamers and party popper shells spinning on the ground.Vivi and Mr.9 stood by the ship's railing, their mouths wide enough to fit an egg.Vivi frowned, looking at the fleeing villagers with a confused gaze, muttering quietly: "Why did they all run? Are these people very strong? We've seen pirate crews from the East Blue before, and it wasn't this exaggerated..."Mr.9 was also bewildered, scratching his head with a blank look: "Yeah... except for that swordsman, they don't seem that strong... Last time in the whale's belly, I even thought that Luffy was quite stupid..."Igaram, hiding behind a stone house, felt his heart pounding like a trapped rabbit, ready to burst. Cold sweat dripped down his chin onto his lapel, leaving dark stains: "My princess! You've brought the King of Hell to our doorstep! Three criminals with bounties over a hundred million—let alone killing them, we have to think twice before even getting close! What do we do now? Should we just kneel? At least we might save our lives!"He peeked out secretly, watching the people on the going merry, breathing as lightly as possible."I remember now." Zoro took a step forward, raising his hand to press on his scabbard. His knuckles tightened, and the blade emitted a faint "hum." His eyes were as cold as ice. "Baroque Works. When I was a Bounty Hunter three years ago, people from your organization approached me, wanting to recruit me, but I refused."His tone carried mockery: "You don't use real names; you use 'Miss' and 'Mr' as codenames. The lower the number, the higher the rank, and the stronger the strength—you two, you wanted to lure us to the island to either recruit us or kill us, right?"Vivi and Mr.9's eyes widened instantly, their faces turning from white to green, as if painted with pigments.Mr.9 took a step back, accidentally bumping into Vivi's shoulder, unable to even speak: "H-how did you know..."Vivi's lips moved, her heart filled with shock—she hadn't expected Zoro to know about Baroque Works and even see through their objective. Her brain spun rapidly, but she couldn't think of how to explain it.The going merry slowly docked, the anchor falling into the water with a "splash," the spray landing on the sandy shore, wetting a patch of ground.Luffy jumped down first, his feet hitting the sand and kicking up a small cloud of dust. He stood at the front, brow slightly furrowed, his gaze sweeping over the empty shore, his tone carrying a bit of dissatisfaction: "Why is everyone gone? Where's the meat?"Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Mark also jumped ashore. The group stood there, their aura pressing down so heavily that the whole island fell silent—even the wind seemed to slow by half a beat.Igaram knew he couldn't hide, so he steeled himself and walked out from the stone house.He adjusted his clothes and tried his best to force a smile, but the muscles on his face were trembling, sweat streaming down his forehead, and his voice was shaky:"Res-respected Straw Hat Pirates! We genuinely welcome you! We specially prepared a welcome banquet in town! Meat, there's plenty of meat! Please do us the honor of attending! By the way, the two behind me are my colleagues, please do not make things difficult for them.""Is there meat?" Luffy's eyes lit up instantly. He took a step forward, his tone full of anticipation, forgetting his earlier dissatisfaction."Rest assured!" Igaram nodded quickly, like a chicken pecking at rice, "Stewed, roasted, pan-fried—it's all prepared! I guarantee you'll have enough to eat!""Yay!" Luffy bounced forward, shouting "Meat! Meat! Meat!" not even looking at the direction, nearly crashing into a stone house nearby.On the way to the town center, Igaram, Vivi, and Mr.9 huddled close to Igaram, their voices extremely low, full of complaints: "Mr.8, the mission failed! We're short on food because we didn't kill the whale, so why are we hosting them? Wasting food is one thing, but what if the Boss asks about it?""Exactly!" A raspy voice interjected—it was Miss Monday. She had appeared out of nowhere, her build as burly as a small mountain, her fists clenched tight, "Are they really that terrifying? Isn't it just that the swordsman seems a bit strong? With so many of us, we might not lose!"Vivi didn't speak, just clutched her hem, looking back at Luffy's group with a complex gaze—Luffywas bouncing around Mark, Usopp was shouting "Wait for me" from behind, and Sanji was still telling Nami, "I'll be your escort on land."They looked no different from an ordinary pirate crew, so why were the villagers so afraid of them?Igaram quickly interrupted them, his voice lowering even further, almost pressed against their ears: "Don't be stupid! You can't mess with these people! Go notify everyone quickly, bring out the best meat, and make sure nothing goes wrong!"But they hadn't walked many steps when the wind swept through the town. The streets were empty, not even a dog in sight. Igaram panicked, his voice changing pitch: "Where is everyone? Didn't I tell you to prepare the banquet? Where did everyone go?""I don't know who spread the news that the Straw Hat crew arrived. Everyone fled; some hid in the caves behind the mountain, others hid in the cellars of the stone houses."Miss Monday frowned, her tone carrying some unease, "I went to the kitchen just now; the meat is prepared, but there's no one to cook it.""Stop acting." Zoro suddenly spoke, his gaze sweeping over the cactus mountain in the distance, a cold smile curling his lips. "Those 'cacti' on the mountain—underneath every thorn, aren't there pirates you've killed buried there? The grass on the graves is almost ankle-deep, isn't it?"Usopp looked in the direction he pointed, his face turning even whiter. He quickly hid behind Sanji, his voice trembling: "Zoro, you mean... those protruding 'cacti' are actually tombstones? Just how many pirates who just entered the Grand Line have they killed!"The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became, clutching Sanji's hem tightly, not even daring to lift his head."Nami, how long does it take for this island to charge the log pose?" Luffy suddenly asked, his tone devoid of the previous excitement and more serious."One day." Nami looked at the compass and said definitively, "If we start charging this afternoon, it will be full by tomorrow morning."Luffy's face darkened, his eyes filled with anger as he looked at Igaram: "We'll stay for one day and then leave. We won't cause you any trouble."He had heard Mr.9's words on the way—this group wanted to kill the whale and had killed so many pirates. What made him angriest was that he hadn't eaten any meat yet.Mark leaned against a stone wall, watching Luffy's angry expression, sighing in his heart—he had expected to see the famous scene of Zoro's hundred-man kill.But it turned out this group had been scared witless by the bounties, and the plot had taken a turn weirder than the currents of the Grand Line.He looked at Vivi, seeing her head bowed, wondering what she was thinking, her fingers still unconsciously tracing her hem.Mark knew clearly that Vivi's goal was to overthrow Crocodile and save Alabasta; she needed the help of the Straw Hat Pirates.But now Luffy and the others were wary of Baroque Works and only intended to stay for one day—how would Vivi ask for their help on the road ahead?And would Luffy, like in the manga, be willing to go to Alabasta to fight Baroque Works for her sake?The wind rolled fallen leaves through the empty streets. In the cracks of the stone house windows, pairs of terrified eyes were hidden—no one dared to make a sound, holding their breath as lightly as possible.Everyone knew that tonight, Whiskey Peak was destined to be shrouded in a shadow of unease and would not be peaceful.
Chapter 42: Luffy's ChoiceThe orange-red sunset slowly sank into the sea level. A molten gold hue washed over the jagged rock corners of Whiskey Peak, and even the thin mist wrapping around the mountain peaks was plated with warm light, as if trying to wrap the entire island in tenderness.But the mood of the Straw Hat was as tumultuous as the weather on the Grand Line—The terror of being enveloped by mist before entering the island, the joy of being warmly welcomed upon entering the town, and then the annoyance of realizing this was a nest of Bounty Hunter.Even Luffy, who was always carefree, was currently standing listlessly in the center of the town, his toes scuffing against the stone slabs in a daze.Seeing him like this, how could Mark not stir up some trouble? He immediately stepped forward: "Since it's our first time landing on an island, why don't we find a place to hold a bonfire party?""A bonfire party?" Luffy's head turned like it had bearings as he looked at Mark, his eyes brightening for a moment, but then his brows instantly drooped. "Is there meat?"Mark rolled his eyes, stepped up to hook his arm around Luffy's shoulder, and flicked the back of his head with his fingertips:"Think about it—we'll start a bonfire, gather around to roast meat, drink, chat, and even perform. Of course, the main point is the roasted meat, the kind where there's plenty to go around.""Roasted meat? Plenty to go around?!"Luffy instantly threw all his unhappiness to the back of his mind. He sprang up as if he had springs installed, jumping high on the stone slabs, shouting excitedly:"Great! Let's do it! Mark truly is my logistics Admiral! Admiral... Admiral... Admiral!"Every time he shouted "Admiral," he would heavily pat Mark's back. Mark could barely grin through the first one, stumbled half a step on the second, and was forced to bend over on the third, the air in his chest rushing out like a balloon being squeezed until it burst."Can you stop patting me, damn it!"Mark couldn't take it anymore, raised his hand, and delivered a set of "Fist of Love" to Luffy's head!Three crisp and loud "thuds" rang out. Luffy hugged his head and crouched on the ground in pain, finally calming down, only daring to bury his head and mutter softly: "Stingy.""Oh~ A party? Tonight is perfect for drinking refreshing beer!" Zoro rubbed the hilt of his sword, not saying much, but the corners of his mouth were split almost to his ears, and his eyes shone with anticipation."Vulgar."Sanji blew a beautiful smoke ring, flicked the cigarette butt from his fingertips with style, and muttered with his usual elegant sarcasm,"On such a romantic night, of course, red wine is the only way to go, right Nami-san!"As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately switched to his lovestruck mode, his eyes glued to Nami."Hmph! I don't want to deal with you, you perverted kappa. Mark, let's go drink beer with ice!"Zoro snatched Mark away from Luffy, climbed onto his shoulder, and walked towards the going merry, evidently having found his drinking buddy."Hey! Mark, don't drink with that moss-head, you'll catch his sense of direction disease!"Sanji was clearly unhappy that Zoro ignored him and was deliberately trying to annoy him.Nami put away the log pose and pointed to the inner side of the island. "How about we do it next to the going merry? I remember there's a beach surrounded by reefs there; the sea breeze disperses when it hits the reefs, which will be perfect for blocking the night chill.""Then what are we waiting for! I'll go clear the site first!"Usopp ran towards the open space in a flash, his soles scraping against the sand, wishing he could fly—he was terrified from the bottom of his heart by the graveyard-like gloominess of Whiskey Peak, and he felt a chill down his spine for every extra second he stayed there.By the time everyone arrived, the open space had been cleaned up thoroughly: dead branches and leaves were swept away, scattered pebbles were moved to the edges, and Usopp had even used a branch to draw a circle on the ground, specifically marking the location for the bonfire.This open space happened to be in an inner bend of the island, where the sea breeze was blocked tightly by the reefs, and even the air was a few degrees warmer than elsewhere, making it truly an ideal campsite.Next to the going merry, Sanji stood on the deck, tying his apron as he walked to the ship's rail, looking down at Mark on the beach: "I'm going to prepare the seasonings and cooking utensils. You have the ingredients in your space, right?""Of course." Mark traced his hands in the air, and fine wood particles gathered together as if they had life, instantly forming a flat wooden board two meters square. A black ring appeared out of thin air in the center of the board, and first, a whole cleaned fat sheep landed on the board with a "thud," followed by half a piece of elephant tuna glistening with freshness that slid out. "Green peppers, onions, and corn are also here. Is this enough?""Perfect!" A look of satisfaction flashed in Sanji's eyes. "Come give me a hand later; it'll be faster that way."Next, the busy work proceeded in an orderly manner. Mark and Sanji set up a simple workstation next to the open space and covered it with a clean oilcloth.Sanji's hand holding the knife was very steady. The moment the blade sliced through the elephant tuna, the fresh sea scent mixed with the delicate aroma of fat drifted out, making even the air enticing; Markwas skewering meat on the side, alternating chunks of tender red lamb, bright green peppers, and translucent onions onto bamboo skewers, arranging them row by row on white porcelain plates. Just looking at it made one's mouth water.Zoro, from who knows where, moved several half-person-high boulders over. He drew wado ichimonji, and with a flash of cold blade light and three crisp, clean "swish" sounds, the uneven boulders were whittled down until they were flat and even, with no rough edges, serving perfectly as temporary tables and chairs.He sheathed his sword, leaned against the stone table, and closed his eyes to rest, but his ears were quietly pricked up, clearly waiting for the signal that dinner was served.As for Luffy, everyone had long given up on expecting him to help—he was crouching by the bonfire, his eyes glued to the meat skewers in Mark's hands, saliva dripping down the corner of his mouth, almost hitting the sand.Being able to sit quietly without reaching out to steal meat was already considered an "extraordinary performance."Nami and Usopp built the bonfire together: Usoppran back and forth to pick up dead wood, while Nami carefully arranged the branches into a pyramid shape, even placing some dried coconut shells at the very bottom to make it easier to light.The last glimmer of the sunset disappeared into the sea, and the night sky descended like a piece of dark blue velvet. The sea was immediately studded with stars, and even the tips of the waves were stained with fragments of light.After an hour of busy work, the first flame darted out from between the dead branches, gradually burning into a roaring bonfire.The orange-red flames danced, warming everyone's faces. The roasted meat "sizzled" with oil on the grill, the fat dripping onto the charcoal and making a "crackle" sound, the aroma wrapped in heat drilling into their noses, making their stomachs drum with hunger.Sanji handed the golden-roasted elephant tuna steaks to everyone; the edges of the fish were charred and fragrant, looking tender and juicy at a glance; Mark distributed the sizzling lamb skewers to everyone, the aroma of the lamb mixed with the freshness of the vegetables making everyone's appetite soar.Everyone held beer mugs made of wooden barrels, the cold beer sloshing out foam that overflowed along the rim of the cup, feeling cool on their fingers.Luffy was so excited that he tossed his wooden cup into the air. When the cup fell vertically, he caught it with quick eyes and fast hands, not spilling even a drop of beer foam."Everyone! We have finally—finally set foot on the first island of the Grand Line!" Luffy raised his beer mug, his voice loud enough to drown out the sound of the waves crashing against the shore; even the distant reefs seemed to be echoing him."To the first step in achieving our dreams, cheers!""Oh!" Everyone shouted in unison, their wooden mugs clashing heavily together. Beer foam splattered, laughter and cheers echoed in the open space, and the sound of the waves became the best accompaniment.The party lasted until late at night, the bonfire was still raging, and roasted meat and beer were endless.Luffy had already eaten thirty super-sized lamb skewers and twenty tuna steaks, but he was still not satisfied, his eyes staring straight at the elephant tuna nose that Sanji had just roasted—that was the "top-tier delicacy" he had reserved long ago.Just as he reached out to grab the fish meat, a loud explosion suddenly erupted not far away: "Boom!"The shockwave of the explosion swept over instantly, the flames of the bonfire violently tilted to one side, and the beer mugs in everyone's hands almost fell to the ground.Immediately following, a figure flew out from a stone house in the distance, like a kite with a broken string, and "slammed" into the sand beside the bonfire, kicking up a cloud of sand half a person high.Before anyone could react, another small black dot fell from the sky,"Boom"landing next to that figure—this explosion was even more powerful, the bonfire was directly blown to pieces, and sparks and burning red charcoal flew everywhere like raindrops.Zoro reacted the fastest, instantly drawing two swords. With two "swish" slashes so fast they left only afterimages, the charcoal and sparks flying towards him were cut into dust on the spot; Sanjishielded Nami behind him, lifted his long leg, and with a "bang," kicked away a piece of rubble heading towards the two of them, his movements clean and crisp; Usopp was the farthest from the explosion point but was still scared enough to hide behind Mark.Mark sighed helplessly, raised his hand to activate his ability, and a pale blue light shimmered in front of him. The sparks and charcoal flying towards them were decomposed into fine dust and dissipated into the air before they could reach them."That, that guy who was blown over... seems to be the curly-haired uncle who took us to town earlier?"Usopp poked half his head out from under Mark's arm, pointing at the person with a trembling voice."Infighting, or retaliation by pirates?" Zoro's hand gripping the sword hilt tightened, his gaze locked on the figure walking from the distance, his tone as cold as a blade."It seems like there are people fighting over there too!"Nami pointed towards the distance, where smoke and dust were rolling, and one could faintly hear the sounds of collision and a duck "quacking."Only Luffy wasn't looking elsewhere—his eyes were firmly glued to the half of the elephant tuna nose that had been blown up. He had frozen completely, even his breathing slowing by half a beat: "My... elephant... meat..."A thin, tall man walked slowly out of the smoke, his afro hair puffy like a clump of messy grass, sunglasses sliding down to the tip of his nose, and between his light black fingers, he held a small bomb (resembling a booger).He drawled, his tone full of threats: "Sorry for interrupting your party, but I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. I am currently carrying out a special mission—to eliminate the organization's trai...""What did you do to my meat!"Before he could finish, Luffy's angry roar exploded.He kicked off the ground violently, and his whole body rushed out like a cannonball leaving the chamber, his fist wrapped in wind,"Bang,"slamming into the explosive man's face. The explosive man's face instantly caved in, and his whole body flew like a thrown sandbag, tracing an arc in the air.At this moment, an exclamation came from the air.Everyone looked up and saw a short-haired woman wearing a pink coat, holding an umbrella, and wearing a pumpkin hat, floating in the air—it was Miss Valentine, who had eaten the Kilo-Kilo Fruit.She adjusted her weight to the maximum, like a heavy boulder, and smashed down towards Vivi, who was dodging while riding Karoo.Vivi rode Karoo, dodging left and right; Karooflapped his short wings, his claws slipping as he ran, quacking in his mouth, and was almost hit several times.Just as Miss Valentine was preparing to adjust her weight again to launch an attack, the explosive man Mr. 5, who had been punched away by Luffy, suddenly flew over from the air—exactly crashing into her."Boom!" An explosion rang out, and a small mushroom cloud rose. The two of them, like two charred, tattered leaves, floated slowly down from the air and landed on the beach, motionless.Luffy didn't pay any attention to the two unconscious people, his eyes scanning around, and he quickly found the half of the elephant tuna nose that had been blown away. He ran over, picked up the fish meat, patted off the sand on it, and opened his mouth to stuff it in."Wait!"Mark was quick with his hands and eyes, grabbing the fish meat and raising his hand to activate his cleaning ability.A pale blue light swept over the fish meat, and the sand and debris on it instantly disappeared, the fish meat returning to freshness. He handed the fish meat back to Luffy: "Wipe it clean before you eat it."Luffy took the fish meat, stuffed it into his mouth in one bite, and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. The anger from just a moment ago instantly vanished, leaving only the happiness of eating delicious food, and he was like a different person from before.Having escaped danger, Vivi immediately rode Karoo over, rushing straight to the figure lying on the ground.The man with wavy hair now had his locks blown into a messy, frizzy mop by the explosion; blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were rolled back, clearly indicating he was severely injured.Up close, Karoo looked endearingly silly, and Namicouldn't help but laugh, "This duck is actually quite cute."Mark, however, rubbed his chin, his gaze fixed on its thick, sturdy thighs—he secretly mused that the meat on those legs looked quite firm, though he wondered how it would taste roasted; he didn't dare say that out loud."This woman never had good intentions from the start, and now another injured accomplice has popped up; could this be an internal conflict within Baroque Works?"Zoro sheathed his sword, his voice cold and detached, clearly still remembering being manipulated earlier."Igaram..." Vivi crouched down, her voice choked with tears as she gently shook his body.Amidst her repeated calls, Igaram finally stirred, opening his eyes weakly. Upon seeing Vivi, he struggled to sit up, "Princess Vivi, I am fine...""Oh! You can still wake up after that! You're amazing, old man!" Luffy praised him vaguely while chewing on fish meat.When Igaram's gaze followed the voice to Luffy, he suddenly seemed energized, abruptly rolling over and kneeling on the ground. Supporting himself with his hands in the sand, his head nearly touching the ground, he pleaded, "Mr. Luffy! I beg you to help our Princess Vivi and take her back to Alabasta!""No." Luffy shook his head without a second thought, spitting out the word while still chewing his fish.At these words, Igaram froze, and Vivi stopped sobbing. Nami frowned and stepped forward, her tone full of confusion, "Wait a minute! Princess Vivi? Alabasta? What exactly are your identities? Back in town, weren't you with those Bounty Hunter types? How did this suddenly involve a country?"Igaram coughed a few times, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, "We are actually not from Baroque Works... We discovered... cough, cough..." He had barely spoken two sentences before coughing violently again, unable to even straighten his back, clearly too injured to speak properly."Igaram, rest for a moment, I will explain." Vivihelped him up, guided him to the stone bench Zorohad cut, and sat him down. She then turned to face the Straw Hat Crew, her eyes heavy with gravity."Alabasta was once a peaceful, unforgettable, and beautiful great nation." Vivi's voice was choked with emotion, "It is a country enveloped by the desert, with a naturally harsh climate. The life of the entire nation relies on the water from the Sandora River, and agriculture and animal husbandry can only develop near the oases. But now, except for the capital, Alubarna, the other cities haven't seen a single drop of rain for three whole years.""No rain for three years?" Usopp couldn't help but interject, his face full of shock, "Doesn't that mean the common people have trouble even getting drinking water?"Vivi nodded, her eyes slightly red, "The drought swallowed one non-oasis city after another, the economy collapsed completely, and even basic drinking water became a struggle for the people. Everyone mistakenly believed that the drought was caused by the King secretly using the rain-inducing 'Dance Powder,' which led to a civil war—the rebels have over a hundred thousand people, and people die on the battlefield every day. The whole country is in total chaos, and the trust between the King and the people has long been shattered.""You say this is a misunderstanding, does that mean someone is pulling strings behind the scenes?" Sanjilooked at Vivi with some confusion."We investigated from many angles and discovered that all of this is the work of 'Baroque Works'." Vivi's voice suddenly turned cold, "To obtain more information, I went undercover in Baroque Workswith Igaram, using the alias Miss Wednesday. After years of infiltration, we finally obtained accurate information that all of this is being controlled by their boss, who is executing the 'Operation Utopia' with the goal of seizing power in Alabasta. So I must return immediately to tell everyone the truth... If I don't... If I don't do this..." At this point, she could no longer hold back, tears streaming down her cheeks, and her shoulders trembling uncontrollably."Using a codename to infiltrate a criminal organization; for a princess, you certainly have some guts." Sanji frowned, not even noticing that the cigarette butt at his fingertips had burned to the end, clearly holding the act of manipulating a country from the shadows in utter contempt.Nami and Usopp also showed expressions of sympathy, but upon thinking of the potential trouble involved, their expressions darkened further.Nami sighed and shook her head, "So that's it; finally, the whole story is clear. I was thinking that if there were enough Berries—say 1 billion—maybe I could take the escort job, but since it's a country in civil war, they surely have no money, and the subsequent trouble would certainly be endless."Mark mused to himself that the plot was much like the manga in his memory; he just wondered if the "iconic scene" would unfold as scheduled.Sure enough, Luffy rubbed his chin, looking at the whitening sky above, his tone casual, "Then who is the boss of Baroque Works?"Vivi's face instantly turned pale, her eyes filled with terror as she backed away repeatedly, her hands waving like a rattle-drum, "Th-this, this absolutely cannot be said! If I tell you, you will also be dragged into this, and you will die!""Don't you know?" Luffy asked, looking puzzled."I just can't say it!" Vivi said, shaking her head while backing away, her voice trembling, "He is not someone you can mess with!""Haha! Then forget it."Nami also waved her hand in agreement, "Someone who can take over a country must be a big shot that nobody can afford to offend; let's not get involved in this mess."Mark felt a stir: Is it starting? He instinctively looked up at the mast of the going merry—sure enough, an otter and a vulture were perched on top of the mast. The otter was even wearing a pair of mini sunglasses, looking eerily clever.Vivi was still hurriedly trying to persuade them, and once the words left her mouth, she couldn't stop them, "Ye-yes! That is someone you absolutely cannot beat! He is one of the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea'—Crocodile!"As the words fell, the previously somewhat noisy open space instantly became deathly quiet, as if even the sound of the waves had frozen.Mark sighed internally: She said it after all. In the manga, this was exactly how Vivi tied the Straw Hat Crew and herself together.If it had truly been an accidental slip of the tongue, that would be one thing, but he could see clearly that within her panicked appearance lay a trace of imperceptible calculation—it was like she was acting. This woman's schemes were likely far deeper than they appeared on the surface. Oh well, let's just keep watching the show."Who did you just say?" Luffy's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the deathly silence, his tone still as casual as before."And there it is, she said it," Zoro raised an eyebrow, tapping his fingers lightly on the hilt of his sword, a flash of excitement in his eyes, "So what if he is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"Only then did Vivi seem to react, abruptly covering her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide, wearing a panicked expression of "How could I have said that?", looking as if she were truly terrified.The otter and vulture on the mast had clearly heard this too. The otter with the sunglasses pulled a small brush and a piece of paper from its chest, quickly drawing a few strokes—by the looks of it, it was clearly recording. It exchanged a glance with the vulture, flapped its wings, and disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye, moving as if it were fleeing for its life. That demeanor, those actions—they were no ordinary animals; they were clearly eyes and ears for Baroque Works, sending information back.Nami immediately strode up to Vivi, grabbed her by the collar of her outer garment, and shook her back and forth vigorously, her voice full of anger, "Tell me! What is with that otter and vulture? Did you know they were there all along? Did you say Crocodile's name on purpose?"Vivi was shaken until she was dizzy, but she just kept shaking her head and apologizing, "I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to, I just... I just accidentally let it slip..."Mark, however, saw it clearly: the corner of her mouth had twitched extremely quickly—this "accident" sounded quite convincing."Accidentally let it slip, and an 'I'm sorry' is all it takes?" The more Nami spoke, the angrier she became, and a few tears couldn't be held back, streaming down her cheeks, "Why drag us into this! We've barely set sail, and now we're being targeted by one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea; what is this!""So, we've all been added to the Baroque Worksassassination list?" Sanji muttered to himself, looking at the now-vanished otter and vulture."Luffy! One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! That's a great pirate recognized by the Marine! We can't beat him at all right now!" Usopp's face turned pale with fear, and he hurriedly tugged at Luffy's sleeve, "Let's hurry up and sail away; let's not get into this huge trouble, okay?"Everyone's gaze was focused on Luffy, waiting for his answer.Luffy turned to look at Nami, his tone as calm as if he were asking what was for dinner, "Nami, is the log pose full?"Nami immediately took out the log pose—it was pointing steadily in one direction, and she nodded vigorously, "It's full! We can set sail now!"Luffy turned to Vivi, his tone still without much inflection, "If Crocodile dares to come looking for trouble with us, I'll beat him up. But you, you'd better hurry up and take that old man and leave; go back and save your country."He paused, then shouted towards the direction of the going merry, "Everyone! Hoist the sails! We're setting sail!"Zoro immediately turned and walked towards the going merry, his steps light; Sanji also put away his kitchen utensils, not forgetting to pack up the remaining ingredients before leaving; Usopphurriedly helped Nami pack things up, his movements as fast as if he were fleeing for his life.Vivi stood in place, watching the busy figures of the Straw Hat Crew, disappointment hard to hide on her face—but then, thinking about how she had caused them quite a bit of trouble from the start, she slowly let it go, though her heart still felt empty.The preparations for the going merry to set sail were quickly completed, and the horizon was gradually beginning to turn pale, the hustle and bustle of the night finally coming to an end.On the deck, Mark looked at Vivi's back and finally asked the question he had been holding inside, "Princess, when did you find out that Crocodile was the mastermind behind Baroque Works?"Vivi's body instantly stiffened, as if she had been hit by a freezing spell. She opened her mouth, her throat feeling as if it were blocked, and she couldn't squeeze out a single word for a long time—this question had clearly struck the spot she least wanted to face.Mark, at the ship's rail, did not look back at Vivi and turned to step into the rest area of the going merry.He sank into the sofa, only a silent sigh remaining in his heart: Vivi, I'm sorry. Crocodile's strength is by no means ordinary, and we cannot afford to gamble the lives of the entire crew just for an enemy who has always harbored malicious intent, based on a fleeting moment of overflowing sympathy. This is, after all, a real world of pirates; there is no such thing as a scripted fate here.
Chapter 43: Please Call Me Nico RobinThe deck of the going merry was quiet, everyone's faces showing signs of fatigue—It wasn't because Vivi hadn't boarded the ship.It was because they had been sailing all day yesterday.The bonfire party at night hadn't even ended yet.Baroque Works suddenly attacked, leading to a series of events.After all the turmoil, everyone was so sleepy they could barely keep their eyes open.Only Mark, relying on his special constitution, was in much better shape than the others.He quietly released his Observation Haki and, as expected, caught a familiar presence.It was exactly the person he had expected to appear."Hey, everyone look over there—there's someone!" Mark suddenly pointed toward the river mouth.Everyone followed his gaze.A black figure stood on the rocks at the riverbank.As the going merry slowly approached, the figure's silhouette gradually became clear.A wide-brimmed cowboy hat was pulled slightly low, with a few strands of black hair hanging beneath the brim.Her deep blue eyes resembled the water in the depths of the river mouth, shimmering with a gem-like luster in the morning light.Her sculpted nose outlined sharp, clean lines.Her tall figure, paired with denim shorts, made her long legs look particularly eye-catching.She exuded a distant, cold beauty, while also harboring an elusive sense of intelligence."Monkey D. Luffy."A cold, clear female voice drifted onto the deck with the sea breeze, her speaking pace unhurried.Luffy sat up straight suddenly and turned to look at the newcomer.With his usual carefree expression, he just tilted his head: "Huh? Who are you!"Zoro's hand instantly pressed onto the hilt of his yodo himawari.The blade was almost unsheathed.He narrowed his eyes, his gaze locking onto the woman like ice.His muscles were as taut as a drawn bowstring, and even his breathing softened.With a soft sound, the woman lightly tapped her toe on the riverbank rocks.Her body leaped up like a feather, landing softly on the railing of the going merry.The deck swayed slightly, but she stood straight.The blue eyes under the cowboy hat scanned everyone on the deck.There wasn't a hint of timidity in her gaze."Yo, looking closely, she's actually a beautiful lady!""My beautiful lady, would you like something to drink?""Orange juice or some freshly brewed coffee?""I'll go get it right away!" Sanji immediately put away his vigilance, clasped his hands together, and leaned forward, his eyes full of attentiveness."Could it be... that Baroque Works sent her to assassinate us so soon!"Usopp's voice suddenly rose, and he "whooshed" behind the mast.With only half his head showing, his legs were shaking uncontrollably."Everyone, be careful! She's waiting here for us on purpose.""She'll strike once we lower our guard!""I don't think so," Nami analyzed, frowning, her fingertips touching her chin."What kind of assassin stands openly at a river mouth waiting for their target? It's too strange."The woman heard their argument, and a faint curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.Her voice remained calm: "My codename is Miss All Sunday.""Miss All Sunday!" Usopp screamed instantly.His body shook behind the mast: "See! I told you!""She really is from Baroque Works! She must be here to assassinate us!"Zoro's hand gripped the hilt of his yodo himawaritightly.The hostility in his eyes deepened—if the woman in front of him made any move,his blade would be drawn immediately."Don't be nervous, she isn't a bad person."Mark reached out and patted Zoro on the shoulder, his tone composed.When he looked at Miss All Sunday, there was no vigilance or hostility.As if he had known she would come all along."How do you know she isn't a bad person?" Namiimmediately asked, her tone full of confusion."She admitted herself that she's from Baroque Works.""That's an organization related to Crocodile; how could there be no problem?"Mark shrugged and explained to everyone, his tone relaxed: "A stranger dares to board our ship.""Either they're here to cause trouble, or they're here to talk business. Obviously, it's the latter.""Coming alone into a den of thieves," Zoro sheathed his sword but his hand remained on the hilt."Either she's absolutely confident in her own strength, or she's certain we won't do anything to her."Miss All Sunday raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest flashing in her blue eyes.She sat lightly on the railing, her posture elegant yet still distant."I am indeed with Baroque Works.""But I didn't come here under orders; it was my own choice.""Crocodile and I are merely in a partnership.""I didn't expect you to defeat Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine so easily."She paused and scanned the group.Finally, her gaze landed on Luffy and Mark: "I came for two reasons.""First, to see what the pirate crew known as the 'East Blue Overlords' is really like.""Second, to know why you won't help that—""'Stupid woman' who, knowing her opponent is a Shichibukai, still insists on saving her country.""If we don't want to help, we don't want to help. Why ask so many whys!" Luffy said bluntly.His tone was like a hard rock; he didn't think this question was worth worrying about at all."Luffy, let me answer her," Mark looked at Luffy.A hint of inquiry in his eyes.Luffy nodded immediately: "Sure!"Mark turned to Miss All Sunday, his tone a bit more serious than before."You call her a'stupid woman'; that's an interesting take.""Vivi was wrong from the beginning.""If a country doesn't have enough military power to support itself,""even if there weren't someone like Crocodile, there would be all sorts of similar people invading.""She dared to infiltrate Baroque Works to gather intelligence, which shows she's brave.""She's willing to risk her own safety to save her citizens, which shows she's kind.""She does know about Crocodile's conspiracy now.""But can she solve the root of the problem just by going back and explaining it to the rebels?""So the reason is simply that the country is too weak."He paused, his gaze becoming profound: "I'm not mocking her courage to save her country.""On the contrary, I admire it.""But the reality is, she lacks the strength to defeat Crocodile.""Even if she gives it her all, it's just throwing an egg against a rock.""Weakness, sometimes, is the original sin.""Being smart, she wants to use us and drag us into the water to help her.""From her perspective, I can understand this 'doing anything for the country' mentality.""But we have our own path of adventure to walk.""We can't just gamble the lives of the entire pirate crew out of sympathy, right?"A flash of surprise passed through Miss All Sunday's blue eyes.Then she returned to calm, her tone holding a bit more approval."As expected of the Vice Captain of the Straw Hat Crew, your analytical skills are truly terrifying.""Indeed, she has reached the point of disregarding everything to save her country.""Dragging you 'East Blue Overlords' into the water really is a good plan for her."She paused and suddenly threw out an even more shocking piece of news."Moreover, she was able to get the boss's (Crocodile's) identity information.""Because I intentionally leaked it to her.""What?!"As soon as these words were spoken, the deck instantly went quiet; even the sea breeze seemed to stop.Usopp opened his mouth wide, and Nami frowned tightly.Luffy also stopped his pacing, clearly not expecting this twist."What is your purpose in helping her like that?" Mark immediately pressed.There was more inquiry in his eyes.Miss All Sunday smiled, her smile hiding a touch of ambiguity."Purpose? Who knows?"Mark looked into her eyes, a thought flashing through his mind.Actually, you just don't want to see a country destroyed again, right?But he didn't end up saying that out loud.Just then, Luffy suddenly stood up.He reached up and adjusted his Straw Hat.The boy's voice carried an unquestionable dominance as he looked directly at Miss All Sunday."Tell Crocodile that we aren't interested in his political schemes!""If he dares to get in the way of my adventure, I'll lead my crew and crush him completely!""As expected of our Captain! Well said!" Sanjiimmediately applauded."Daring to block our Captain, no matter if he's a Shichibukai or whatever.""He's going to get beaten up!" Nami didn't show any fear either."I just happen to need a strong enemy to break in my new blades." Zoro looked excitedly at the three swords at his waist.Usopp also poked his head out from behind the mast, his voice sounding a bit smug."That's right! I'm a pirate with a bounty, after all.""Even though the amount isn't high, only a measly 200 million Berries, I'm not someone to be messed with!""Tell him not to have any bad ideas, or we won't let him off!"Miss All Sunday watched this group of energetic pirates before her.Even a bit "ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth," she couldn't help but chuckle."Heh heh, what a fearless bunch."Her gaze became serious again, as if reminding them, or perhaps passing on information."However, you'd better learn more about Crocodile.""He was born on a small island in the South Blue in his early years.""In his youth, he once fought a fierce battle with Douglas Bullet, ending in a draw.""Later, he was named a Shichibukai only after failing a challenge against the strongest man, Whitebeard.""He is not as simple as you think.""More importantly, he is a Logia user—the Sand-Sand Fruit ability user."She said this very slowly, every word clearly reaching everyone's ears."Not only can he freely control sand,""but his body can also turn into sand, making him immune to all physical attacks.""He can also drain the moisture from any living thing or object he touches.""If you really face him, can you win?""Can we win? Hmph!"Mark let out a low hum, his right arm suddenly extending horizontally.His five fingers curled into a claw.The watchdog Ink Meteor, whose usual duty was to curl up and guard the ship under the mast,suddenly lifted its head, its mane standing on end.Its sturdy body twisted and contracted like molten iron, condensing into a six-foot-long black iron staff.The lion's head shed its flesh and blood, transforming into a black lion-headed hammer covered in sharp teeth.Carrying a bloody wind, it plummeted straight into his palm!"Hum—!"As soon as Ink Meteor was in his hand, it vibrated, emitting a low moan like a dragon's roar.An air wave suddenly exploded around Mark!His blue martial arts attire fluttered violently, and his black hair was pulled by the gale.Every strand stood on end like ink needles; his eyes were crimson as if burning.A low, angry roar rolled from his throat, and the Haki within his body surged like thunder.It flowed along the meridians of his arm into Ink Meteor—the staff instantly glowed with dark golden patterns.Humming and vibrating incessantly, as if trying to break free from his palm!"One force breaks all techniques!"The shout exploded like a thunderclap; it was Mark's trump card, his ultimate move!He gripped the end of the staff with both hands.His waist and back sank and then straightened suddenly, like a giant bow fully drawn, snapping back.Smashing all the shockwaves formed by Haki down onto the sea surface!(It wasn't that Mark had learned to project his Haki; this was a move achieved by utilizing the characteristics of his weapon.)The moment the shockwave touched the sea.A monstrous force slammed into the sea level like a falling meteorite!"Boom—!!"The explosion shook the entire ship, forcing it back toward the river mouth.The calm sea was instantly torn open, creating a ten-meter-wide rift.The deep blue seawater surged up into the clouds, transforming into a hundred-meter-tall water wall.When the water wall crashed down, it surged toward the deck like a river pouring from the heavens."Clang—!!"Veins bulged on Zoro's wrists as his three famous swords were unsheathed in an instant!His left arm gripped the crimson "fire dance" in reverse.His right arm held the pitch-black "Enma" at an angle.His most treasured "wado ichimonji" was held between his teeth.The cold blades reflected in his eyes, causing his pupils to constrict.The next second, a scarlet lightning bolt exploded in his eyes.His bandana snapped in the gale!"Three Sword Style—Fire Crow Demon Hunt!"Before the roar faded, all three swords slashed out simultaneously!The fire dance ignited with crimson flames.The wado ichimonji was wrapped in ink-colored gale winds.Enma unleashed a biting chill.The three forces of energy intertwined in the air, forming the phantom of a ferocious fire crow.Where the wingtips brushed, the air hissed from the heat.It charged fiercely toward the overwhelming wall of water!On the other side, Sanji flicked his cigarette butt away with a "hiss."Sparks traced an arc in the morning light.Then, with a tap of his toe on the deck, he leaped up like an arrow released from a bow.He landed on a rock on the shore—his right foot spinning at high speed against the rock wall.The tip of his tyrant iron shoe rubbed against the rock, spraying sparks.In an instant, it was wrapped in a layer of scorching orange-yellow flames.Even the rock was roasted red-hot!"Diable Jambe: Iron Pot Cook!"Sanji twisted his body in mid-air.His right leg spun wildly like a flaming meteor hammer.The flames surged with his movement, forming a ring of fire a zhang wide.He stomped into the void, using the force of the rotation to deliver a lethal kick.The scorching flame kick blasted out like a volcanic eruption.It collided with Zoro's fire crow phantom in the air with a massive boom!"Boom—!!"The moment the two flame forces struck the water wall.The monstrous water vapor was instantly steamed into white fog!The hundred-meter-tall water wall hit it like it had struck a red-hot branding iron.Making a "hissing" piercing sound.The water column turned into steam filling the sky before it could even fall.Only scattered droplets fell like raindrops.When the white fog dissipated, Zoro stood with his swords sheathed.Lingering flames remained on the blades; Sanjilanded back on the deck.The flames on his toe still flickered, and the two stood side by side, radiating an imposing aura.Fine droplets fell from the air.Miss All Sunday lifted her fingertips lightly.Three white "Hana Hana" hands sprouted from the wood grain of the deck.They steadily held up the wooden plank that Markhad created during the bonfire party last night.Raising it over Luffy's head and her own to serve as an umbrella.Water droplets hit the plank, the pitter-patter sound like a light melody.Telling the story of the path of the strong.Mark suddenly raised his hand, the tip of Ink Meteorpointing vaguely at Miss All Sunday.His tone held no hostility, but it possessed an unmistakable directness."Please drop the question mark."Everyone instantly came to their senses.Usopp was the first to straighten his back.The fearful look he had just moments ago was now bright, as if ignited by sparks.Nami put away her log pose and leaned firmly toward Luffy.Clenching her fists, she looked at Miss All Sunday.At this moment, everyone understood one principle.That's right! We are the Straw Hat Pirates!Our Captain is the man who will become the Pirate King.How could we shrink back in fear because of one Seven Warlords of the Sea!Luffy first stood with his hands on his hips, looking at his partners with shining eyes beside him.His mouth stretched to his ears, that pride almost overflowing from his pores.But the next second, his gaze was drawn away by the Hana Hana hands dangling from Miss All Sunday's fingertips.Like a child discovering a new toy, he reached out to grab them: "This is so interesting!""How did you do that?"Miss All Sunday's eyes curved, and she retracted her fingertips lightly.The Hana Hana hands holding the plank suddenly vanished.The two-meter-long plank fell, and it looked like it was about to smash into the Straw Hat on Luffy's head.Before anyone could even gasp.Her other Hana Hana hand had already slipped under the Straw Hat, giving it a gentle lift.The Straw Hat spun and flew into her palm.She looked down at the Straw Hat, then raised her hand and placed it over her own cowboy hat.Half of the Straw Hat's brim peeked out from the cowboy hat, revealing a touch of playfulness and cuteness."Bang!" Luffy was hit by the plank, holding his head and hopping around.He reached up to touch it but didn't feel the Straw Hat, instantly panicking.His eyes darted around.When he caught a glimpse of the Straw Hat on Miss All Sunday's head, he instantly bristled.His voice was louder than the waves: "Give me back my Straw Hat!""What are you going to do to it! That's my most important hat!"Miss All Sunday just looked at him with a faint smile.There was a hint of indulgence hidden in the curve of her eyes.Mark leaned against the ship's railing, his heels tapping the deck lightly.His gaze fell on her face: "That hat of Luffy's, those who have touched it.""Either don't end up well, or—"His gaze swept over Nami, who was checking the rudder.Nami happened to look up, and the two made eye contact.Mark continued: "Either they become our partners.""Miss All Sunday, can you tell us now?""What was your goal when you collaborated with Crocodile?""My goal?" Robin twirled the brim of her cowboy hat.After a moment of silence, she looked up at everyone, her tone frank."I am interested in the poneglyph in Alabasta.""You can read the poneglyph?" Mark raised an eyebrow sharply.The surprise in his eyes was acted perfectly, his brows raised even higher."What is a poneglyph?" Footsteps came from the side of the going merry.Usopp was still clutching the small hammer for checking the ship's hull.Nami also walked over at this time—obviously just having come up from below deck.Having confirmed that the hull hadn't been affected by the earlier shockwave."I'm not sure about the poneglyph, but I've seen records of it in navigation logs." Nami wiped the water droplets from her forehead.Her tone was serious: "The ancient text is a language that almost no one in the world can read.""It is said to hide very ancient secrets.""Let me clarify for you the weight of being able to read the ancient text.""It's much heavier than you think." Markstraightened up."The poneglyph is made of a special stone that cannot be destroyed.""It is inscribed with ancient text and cannot be destroyed or tampered with by conventional means.""It is mainly divided into three types—document steles, which record the truth of history.""Instruction steles, which record special events.""And... and..." He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing.He seemed somewhat hesitant."Yo, Mark, you have moments where you stutter too!" Usopp leaned in.Patting his shoulder: "Just how powerful is this stele?"Mark took a deep breath, his eyes darkening.His voice lowered: "You should prepare yourselves mentally first...""The remaining ones are Road poneglyphs, they are red, and there are only four in total.""And these four steles record the information regarding One Piece."This statement hit the deck like a thunderclap.Robin (still in the guise of Miss All Sunday) was also stunned in place.Her eyes were full of shock, murmuring softly: "I didn't expect that in the poneglyphs...""...there were such secrets hidden..." Clearly, this was the first time she had heard this information.At the same time, it also piqued her great interest.The hammer in Usopp's hand dropped to the deck with a "thud."Nami's hand holding the nautical chart tightened.Even Luffy forgot to ask for his Straw Hat back, standing there with his mouth agape.The deck was so quiet that only the sound of waves hitting the ship remained.The first to react was still Luffy.He jumped in front of Robin with a "thud," looking up at her.His eyes were as bright as burning flames, and his tone held no hesitation."Miss All Sunday! Become my partner!"Mark also nodded, his tone carrying a bit of confidence."That's right, you've seen our strength.""Crocodile is a Logia user, and coincidentally, so am I.""And we have the key to victory—Luffy and I are both users of Armament Haki."As he said this, he raised his hand, intending to condense his Haki.But his palm was empty, not even a bit of black appeared.Mark froze, scratched his head, and felt a bit awkward: "Oh, the previous attack used it all up.""It's fine."He raised his foot and kicked Luffy's calf lightly: "Luffy, show her quickly!"Luffy let out a grunt from the kick, but didn't complain.He immediately clenched his fist, and black Armament Haki instantly wrapped around his knuckles.Hard as a piece of black iron: "Look! This is Armament Haki!""It can hit Logia users!"Mark added: "We can become true partners.""Don't you want to explore history? Come with us to various countries.""Adventure in various ancient cities, and explore those forgotten histories.""That's better than staying by the side of a dangerous person like Crocodile, right?"When it came to One Piece, Luffy was also exceptionally serious."Be my partner! Miss All Sunday.""We will go to many places."The deck was silent for a few seconds, everyone staring at Miss All Sunday.Even their breathing lightened.She slowly raised her hand and took the Straw Hatoff her head.She gently brushed off the fine dust and handed it back to Luffy.Then she looked up at everyone, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepening.Her voice was clear and firm: "Please call me—Nico Robin.""She's a very troublesome woman.""Robin-chan, I'll go prepare a lovely breakfast for you and Nami-san right away."Sanji went to the kitchen like a whirlwind.Luffy took the Straw Hat and slammed it back onto his head.Smiling so wide that two rows of teeth were visible: "Great! Robin!"Usopp waved his fists excitedly.Nami also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth.Mark leaned back against the railing, watching the lively scene before him.He chuckled inwardly: This Haki expenditure was worth it.
Chapter 44: Daily Life of the Straw Hat CrewThe going merry sat steadily on the surface of the Calm Belt—even the waves seemed to be gently held in check.The clouds in the distance hung quietly.Even the wind was reluctant to disturb this tranquility."Hey—Nami! How long until there's wind!"Luffy hung from the crossbar of the main mast, his legs swinging like a little monkey's.His Straw Hat was lifted by the breeze, revealing a corner of his face, and beneath it were a pair of round eyes full of anticipation.His voice, wrapped in youthful excitement, echoed across the quiet deck.Nami was by the tea table on the second-floor balcony, a thick logbook spread across her knees.The "rustling" sound was filled with the navigator's efficiency.Hearing Luffy's shout, she didn't even look up.She finished drawing the final coordinate line in the logbook first.Only then did she raise her hand to tuck her long orange hair, which had fallen to her cheeks, behind her ear— "How strange!"She finally looked up and glared at the "monkey" on the mast.The tip of her pen tapped on the word "Calm Belt" in the logbook."To think the Grand Line would have such a long calm period; I have to write this down immediately.""So I don't trip up next time."As she spoke, she leaned over the navigation chart again."The ocean currents around here are very strange, the wind should be coming soon, what's the rush?""This kind of weather does happen, you know." Robin stood by her side.Her fingertips rested lightly on the edge of the navigation chart.Her gaze swept across the rowdy boys on the deck, a faint smile rippling in her eyes."Just think of it as a vacation for our beautiful navigator.""It really is a nice ship, even choosing such a comfortable place to rest.""Robin, you're clearly very beautiful too, you know!" Nami straightened up suddenly.She smiled and grabbed Robin's wrist."Come on! I'll show you the great things I picked up in Loguetown.""I have two purple dresses that would definitely suit you perfectly!"Robin was dragged by her toward the girls' quarters.After three days of traveling, the two had naturally become best friends who talked about everything.Rest was absolutely out of the question. Zoro had found a smooth, polished millstone from somewhere.He tied it securely to a heavy iron rod with thick hemp rope, using it as a makeshift bamboo sword.He spread his feet shoulder-width apart, and with every swing of the "sword."His muscle definition tightened under the sunlight.Beads of sweat rolled down his jawline and into his collar.The "clang-clang" sound of the millstone colliding with the iron rod was steady and powerful.Gritting his teeth, he said in a deep voice: "Daily training is the fastest way to become a great swordsman.""This is what life is all about—my laid-back life in the pirate world!"On the rattan lounge chair in the center of the deck, Mark lay sprawled out.One hand was slowly stroking Ink Meteor in his arms—the little one was comfortably pressing its belly against his leg.Its tail swept against his ankle every now and then.His other hand fumbled on the small table beside him.His fingertips touched an empty glass, making a crisp "ding" sound.Only then did he lazily look up and shout toward the lounge: "Hey! Sanji! Is my iced orange juice not ready yet?"The wind blew his long black hair across his cheeks, and even his voice was wrapped in a lazy warmth."I'm telling you! Don't treat me like a fan!"Zoro's "sword" swinging motion paused, and he glanced sideways at the person on the lounge chair.His voice was laced with grinding, helpless frustration—if it weren't for fear of damaging the going merry.He really wanted to let his "bamboo sword" "accidentally" slip over there."Of course I'm serving my two angels first, you guys can wait a bit longer!"Sanji's signature voice came from the kitchen doorway.He was wearing a neatly pressed white shirt, with his sleeves rolled up to his forearms.Revealing his sturdy wrists.On the white tray he was carrying, two exquisite cold drinks were emitting a trace of coolness.Even the straws were crookedly inserted into the shape of a heart.He stepped out with a light gait, and as he passed by Mark, he deliberately shook the tray.His eyes hid a mischievous smile: "Nami-chan, Robin-chan.""Your sweetheart special drinks, prepared for you by your knight of love~""Ever since Robin came aboard, this guy has been fawning over her without limit!" Mark sat up, pouting.Ink Meteor was shaken by him and let out an unsatisfied "woo-woo" sound."I misjudged you, Sanji! You bastard who values romance over friendship!""Clang-clang—Usopp Special! A fishing rod that can catch Sea Kings!"Usopp ran out of the cabin holding a silver fishing rod.The tip of the rod was adorned with a small, colorful feather pendant."How about it? This material, this design.""Catching a Sea King is absolutely no problem!""Oh—!" Luffy's eyes lit up instantly.His arm stretched out with a "whoosh," wrapping around the top of the mast like a rubber band.His body swung down and landed on the deck, not waiting for Usopp to react.He snatched the fishing rod and cast it into the sea: "Usopp! Let me see! A fishing rod that can catch Sea Kings!"The fishing line with the hook flew out with a "swish," carving a silver line across the sea surface."Hey! Wait a second, Luffy! You didn't even put the bait on!"Usopp was so anxious he was hopping mad, reaching out to grab the rod.The two of them, one pulling the butt of the rod and the other gripping the tip.Caused a huge commotion on the deck."These two idiots plus the 'Air Force Bosses,' and they still want to learn from Jiang Ziya's fishing?"Mark sprang up from the lounge chair, his hand grabbing into thin air.He pulled a pitch-black fishing rod out of the black ring—the rod body was made of titanium steel by Usopp according to his requirements.The handle was wrapped in non-slip hemp rope, and the fishing line shimmered with a fine light."It's time to show my real skills." He walked to the ship's rail.Just as he was about to pull bread from his pocket, he heard Usopp next to him clear his throat."I presume you are the one who has fished across the four seas without a rival.""The Fishing King who pulls Sea Kings out of the water with one hand—Madagascar Mark, right!"Usopp stood with his hands on his hips, his eyes wide as saucers.He even raised his voice a few notches, as if afraid others wouldn't hear."What kind of 'Madagascar Fishing King' is that? Who would admit to such a strange title?"Mark was stunned for a moment, then cleared his throat.His hand subconsciously touched the tip of his nose, but his mouth hardened: "...That's right! I am the Fishing King Mada... Mark!"He turned back and smiled, bowing to Usopp: "I presume, Your Excellency.""You are the one who uses the mortal world as bait and the seven emotions and six desires as the line.""The Fishing God who has fished alone for all eternity—Usoland, right!""Hiss—!" Usopp gasped.He thought to himself, As expected of Mark! His words have such class! This title sounds much more impressive than mine!But when it comes to fishing... I'm still confident I can beat you!He pointed at his own nose, his chest puffed out high: "That's right! I am the Fishing God Usoland!""Wow! So cool!" Luffy leaned in and grabbed Mark's arm.His Straw Hat slid to the back of his head, revealing a face full of curiosity."Mark! I want a title too! Although I like Pirate King.""It doesn't have that... that... cool feeling you guys have!""It's'Swagger'." Mark rubbed his chin, feigning profundity.Ink Meteor jumped onto his shoulder and rubbed against his cheek."Swagger?" Zoro, who had just finished practicing swordsmanship, walked over, holding a towel to wipe his sweat.Hearing the new word, he immediately stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowed tightly.As if he were pondering some profound sword technique: "Is it the same as Haki?""Is it a move that can increase strength?""No! It's aura." Mark explained quickly.Afraid that Zoro might actually mistake "Swagger" for a strength-enhancing move."Swagger, huh... there are many kinds." Mark's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly waved his hands.He didn't dare let Zoro learn this, otherwise, if he shouted it out while fighting later.He was afraid he'd be chased and beaten by Zoro's fans."Zoro, plug your ears, this is the 'Fishing Secret' between me and Usopp.""It's useless for a swordsman to hear!"Zoro frowned, but didn't actually plug his ears, just stepped back half a pace.Obviously, he was still listening."There are ones for the opening, and ones to use when shouting out moves.""Even a posture or a movement can have'swagger.' For example, when Usopp and I compete in fishing.""The opening line could be 'If heaven had not birthed me, Mark, the world of fishing would be like an eternal long night.'""What do you think, does that have swagger?""I see! You've already won in terms of aura!" Usoppclapped his hands.His eyes were full of agreement."Then what about a swordsman's opening?" Zoroleaned in closer.His eyes held a hint of seriousness—he always felt that this "swagger.""Might be able to make his sword more imposing.""Zoro... how about we just forget it!" Mark hurriedly waved his hands.His forehead was almost breaking into a cold sweat: "Your current swagger is already very high!""For example, the way you hold your sword, just standing there gives off a strong aura.""Leave some room for us little guys to survive!""Exactly, exactly!" Usopp also hurriedly chimed in, pulling Luffy back a bit."Today is the ultimate battle between the Fishing God and the Fishing King! Zoro, don't cause trouble!"Zoro frowned as he looked at them, then looked down at the sword in his hand.Finally, he curled his lip: "Boring."He wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to walk toward the lounge.He even grabbed a glass of ice water as he passed the kitchen.His back remained as straight as a pine tree."Phew—Zoro finally left." Mark breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest.Afraid that Zoro might ask again: "If I kept listening.""I'd be afraid he'd shout 'Holding the sun and moon, plucking the stars' next time he fights.""Alright, alright! Let's start!" Usopp held up his fishing rod.He had already stood on the other side of the ship's rail: "I can't wait to beat you!"Mark cleared his throat and deliberately drew out his tone.His eyes looked "sharply" at Usopp: "The outcome of this round.""Was already written from the moment you decided to compete with me, Usoland."Usopp pulled a dark, gooey ball from his pocket.A strange smell immediately wafted over."This is my specially made Sea King bait!" He shook it proudly.He hung the bait on the hook.Mark leaned in and sniffed it, immediately pinching his nose and stepping back.Even his eyebrows were scrunched into a ball: "This bait of yours... even dogs wouldn't eat it, right?""And you want to catch Sea Kings?"Usopp dug out another bait, unconvinced.Before Mark could speak, he threw it back—Ink Meteor, on his shoulder, suddenly pricked up its ears.Its body sprang and pounced over, opening its mouth to swallow the bait.It even licked Usopp's hand, making a satisfied "woof-woof" sound.Usopp raised his eyebrows and gave Mark a disdainful look.The meaning couldn't be clearer: See, even Ink Meteor loves to eat it.Mark awkwardly touched his nose and silently pulled a piece of bread from his pocket.He kneaded it into a ball.In order to keep the bread from floating, his fingertips glowed with a faint black.He gently wrapped Armament Haki around the bread ball—this was his secret weapon.The sunlight slowly slanted west, casting long shadows on the deck.Mark and Usopp sat by the ship's rail, their fishing rods dangling in the sea.Occasionally chatting about idle topics.Luffy was wandering around nearby, poking Ink Meteor's tail every now and then.And sneaking food from the kitchen.Nami and Robin came out of the room, holding some lace hair ribbons they had just dug out.Robin was helping Nami pin them into her hair.Sanji was cleaning up tableware at the kitchen entrance.Occasionally glancing toward Nami and Robin, a gentle smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.Even the sails of the going merry were swaying gently in the occasional breeze.As if keeping them company, enjoying this slow, leisurely time.Just then, a gust of wind suddenly blew over.The wind wasn't as weak as the previous air currents; it carried a gentle breeze across the deck.Blowing up Nami's long orange hair, and making Robin's purple hair ribbon flutter.It even blew Luffy's Straw Hat into the air—Luffywas quick-handed.He grabbed the Straw Hat with his rubber hand and put it back on his head."Wind! It's the wind!" Nami was the first to react, and she stood up abruptly.She walked quickly to the helm, hand resting on her forehead, looking out at the distant sea."The wind is steady! We can set sail!"Luffy jumped up excitedly, using his rubber hand to wrap around the mast.He climbed to the crow's nest with a "whoosh," standing at the top with his arms wide open.Letting the wind fill his clothes.His Straw Hat was buffeted by the wind, and his face was full of an excited smile.He shouted to everyone on the deck: "Weigh anchor! Hoist the sails! We're heading to the next island!"Mark also put away his fishing rod, and he and Usopp looked at each other and laughed.The two had fished all afternoon; let alone Sea Kings, they had only caught one small crab.And in the end, it was released by Luffy, a proper "Air Force" conclusion."As expected of the Fishing King! Your strength is truly formidable!" Usopp spoke first.Deliberately putting on a "generous" air, he patted Mark's shoulder."I'll let you off the hook this time, if it weren't for my parrot waiting for me to feed it.""I would have certainly defeated you!"Mark also cooperated with him, cupping his hands: "The Fishing God's strength is truly well-deserved!""I gave it my all and could only manage to be on par with Your Excellency.""If it weren't for my mom calling me home to collect laundry, I would have made sure you didn't return this time!""Let's fight another day!""Good! Then let's make another appointment! Until next time!""Yeah! Goodbye!"The two "said goodbye" with straight faces, leaving Nami and Robin, who were watching, to hold their foreheads.Nami rolled her eyes and quipped: "These two guys... they've probably lost their minds, right?"Robin covered her mouth first, her shoulders trembling slightly.Before long, she couldn't help but laugh out loud, her laughter as crisp as wind chimes.She looked at Luffy and Ink Meteor playing on the deck.Looking at Zoro diligently pulling the anchor, looking at Usopp tidying up the fishing rods.And looked at Nami beside her, her eyes full of tenderness: "It's truly a nice ship."The wind grew stronger, and the sails of the going merry were blown full.The ship slowly sailed out of the Calm Belt, heading in the direction of the setting sun.The laughter and shouts on the deck, mixed with the "whooshing" sound of the sea breeze.Drifted very, very far across the sea.Even the seabirds in the distance followed them, as if seeing them off.This was an ordinary day on the going merry.Yet it was as warm as candy wrapped in sunlight, sweetening everyone's hearts.(Here's another daily life chapter to transition... the upcoming plot is both exciting and interesting)