Chapter 78: 300,000 Target ReachedThe pirate graveyard in the deepest part of the rainbow mist was, for Mark, a treasure trove tailor-made for him.Endless rotten wooden ships were twisted and immersed in the sea. In the pile of wreckage, one could even catch glimpses of the outlines of several warships covered in thick rust, like slumbering giant beasts.Mark's long black hair danced wildly in the mist—this was proof that he was pushing his ability to the limit.Every step he took on the broken wooden planks on the sea surface caused the planks beneath his feet to automatically extend forward by one meter, allowing him to weave through the crisscrossing shipwrecks as if walking on flat ground.With him as the center, all shipwrecks within a five-kilometer radius first weathered and peeled off at a speed visible to the naked eye, then shattered into fine, sawdust-like particles, and finally completely dissolved into the sea breeze.But just as the sea surface was cleared, wrecks from even deeper underwater emerged, like a bottomless pit that could never be filled.Fortunately, Nami didn't follow him in. If she saw the gold coins and gems hidden in the cracks of the wreckage falling into the sea, she would probably explode on the spot from anger.But Mark didn't care at all; as long as the subsequent "replacement" could succeed, everything here would be his sooner or later.He had long muted the system notification sound, and at this moment, his eyes were only on the energy value number that kept jumping on the virtual panel.Until the value steadily stopped at "200000", the surrounding five kilometers of sea surface became completely empty, and even the murky seawater became transparent, revealing fine sand grains underwater.Mark's wildly dancing long hair finally fell slowly, sticking to his sweat-dampened cheeks. He let out a long sigh, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue:"Time to rest. My Observation Haki is almost drained, and my stomach is growling with hunger!" After saying this, he turned and walked towards the direction of the going merry.On the deck of the going merry, Henzo stared at the empty sea surface, his eyes wide open, his tone full of shock and wariness:"What kind of ability is this? It was full of shipwrecks when we came in just now, how did it disappear in the blink of an eye...""It's just a very convenient ability!" Luffy squatted by the ship's rail, swinging his legs, grinning, not caring at all."Right! It can decompose things, synthesize materials, and replace useless junk!" Usopp counted on his fingers, speaking seriously.Zoro leaned against the mast, gripping the sword at his waist, his eyes sharp: "His strength is ridiculously high, and he's willing to practice swordsmanship and drink with me... Most importantly, he can help me get stronger."Robin stood to the side, covering her mouth and laughing softly, her tone carrying a hint of slyness: "And he looks very cute, especially when he wears women's clothing; he looks even more delicate than Nami.""Hey, hey, hey! If you keep praising me, I'm going to blush!"Mark had just climbed up the rope ladder onto the ship when he replied, then glared at Robin: "And you, why are you still bringing up the women's clothing thing? Can't you tone down your black-bellied nature!""Good harvest, right?" Seeing his steps were a bit unsteady, Zoro reached out to support him."So-so. I'll give you all a surprise later."Mark rubbed his empty stomach, just about to shout "Sanji, cook something," when he suddenly remembered that Sanji, Nami, and Chopper were still shopping in the town outside the mist, so he had to shrug helplessly: "Looks like I'll have to do it myself today."On the other side, the town outside the rainbow mist was already in a chaotic fight.Sanji, Nami, and Chopper each guarded one direction, with only one goal—to protect the thin fishing line left by Mark, which was the only lifeline for their companions in the mist to get out safely.The mayor was wearing a bulky flame mecha, the spray gun in his hand spitting out orange-red tongues of fire, the heat forcing the surrounding stone slabs to scorch.Sanji leaped up, stepping on the wall to avoid the tongues of fire, and raised an eyebrow as he landed lightly, his tone filled with disdain:"Playing with fire against me?" He spun his feet rapidly on the ground, his black leather shoes instantly scorched red by his own heat, and even the air distorted,"You don't know, my love is ten thousand degrees."Before the words fell, Sanji flashed, appearing instantly in front of the mayor's glass visor."Grill—Mutton Shot!"Continuous kicks fell like raindrops on the visor, and with a "crack" sound, the visor shattered completely.He didn't stop his attack, his toes passing through the fragments to stomp fiercely on the mayor's face—The sizzling sound of skin and flesh contacting the high-temperature sole rang out harshly, and the powerful force kicked the mayor directly along with his mecha, crashing into the stone wall behind with a "boom," also crushing several soldiers who were adding fuel to the mecha."Damn pirates! You hit the mayor, you have to pay a 'Hit the Mayor Tax' of 90 million Berries!"The mayor's grandson raised the mecha's electric sword to attack. The electric mecha he wore looked intimidating, but it dragged a thick power cable behind it, connected to electricity-generating bicycles pedaled by several soldiers—Turns out this electricity was all generated by human labor.Nami took three steps back, watching the incoming blue current slash, and smiled gently:"This is your limit, right?"Sure enough, the arc of the electric current fizzled out just as it reached her feet.The mayor's grandson tried to rush forward, but was jerked by the power cable behind him, stumbling and unable to take a step."Electricity, relying on nature is enough."Nami raised her hand and snapped her fingers; a dark purple thundercloud had gathered above the mayor's grandson at some point.She pulled a thunder bubble from her pocket and tossed it gently—the small bubble exploded in the air, instantly detonating the entire thundercloud."Boom!"A massive lightning bolt struck the mecha, blowing it and the electricity-generating bicycles behind it into scrap metal, while the soldiers curled up on the ground wailing.Over at Chopper's side, the battle had long been decided. He sat on the back of the mayor's son, pulling hard on the man's legs with both hands,"Crack."A crisp sound, making one's teeth ache. "Apologize to me! Say you shouldn't have called me a raccoon dog!""Ouch, ouch, ouch... I was wrong! Master Reindeer! I'm the raccoon dog! My whole family are raccoon dogs!" The mayor's son cried with tears and snot, begging for mercy repeatedly.Just as the battle outside the mist stopped, Markwalked out of the kitchen carrying a stainless steel pot.Time was short, so he cooked a large pot of braised beef noodles and steamed a cage of meat buns, a perfect carb-bomb combo, and the fragrance wafted through the windows to fill the deck."Everyone, dinner is ready!" Mark, wearing a white kitchen apron, stood on the second-floor corridor of the going merry with his hands on his hips and shouted—The large apron wrapped around his body, where he only wore a tank top; from the front, it looked like he was wearing a loose dress."Wow! It's food made by Mark!" Luffy sniffed, instantly smelling the fragrance of the meat buns and beef noodles, kicked off the ground, and jumped from the ship's rail to the entrance of the lounge, rushing faster than anyone.Zoro and Usopp also followed into the dining room. When Robin passed by Mark, she leaned close to his ear and whispered:"Little cook, the apron suits you very well."Mark's face turned red with a "whoosh," and he glared at her reproachfully, but didn't have the heart to take off the apron."Henzo, and you guys, come over and eat!" Markstood at the entrance of the lounge and shouted to Henzo and his companions,"If you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your head!""Coming!" Henzo said to the three children behind him, "Let's go, let's eat something first, we can talk while we eat."The green-clothed boy, the yellow-clothed chubby kid, and the short-haired girl had long been drooling from the fragrance, only holding back because their leader Labani hadn't spoken.Once they heard Henzo speak, the three children dragged him and ran to the lounge, completely ignoring Labani shouting from behind:"Stop! Have you forgotten why we came here? How can you eat a pirate's food!"Only Labani remained on the deck, standing there with a livid face.Usopp walked over with a plate of buns and handed it to him:"Don't force yourself, these buns are super delicious, hurry up and fill your stomach.""Slap!" Labani suddenly raised his hand and fiercely knocked over the tray.The buns rolled all over the floor, and the ceramic plate spun several times on the deck, making a "clanging" sound.Usopp's expression darkened. He bent down to pick up the overturned tray, then picked up the buns that had rolled away one by one, patting off the dust.When he reached the lounge entrance, he looked back at Labani, his tone calm but firm:"Even though you're young, you're really a lousy leader."In the lounge, Mark was full, leaning on the sofa with a toothpick in his mouth, crossing his legs and looking at the ceiling, feeling incredibly comfortable.Suddenly, the long-lost system notification sounded in his mind:[Ding! Energy value has accumulated to 300,000, meeting the activation conditions for "Space Replacement." Do you want to execute it immediately?]It turned out he hadn't been idle while cooking—he had already released his exclusive weapon, "Ink Meteor".That thing had a built-in "vacuum cleaner" feature; the shipwreck fragments and scrap metal it swallowed could be directly converted into energy, just enough to reach the number."System, is there a lot of commotion when replacing? Will the going merry be affected?" Marksat up straight and asked seriously.[Notice: During execution, the system will take over the host's body to perform space modification. All matter within the range (including gases and liquids) will be absorbed into the host's body, including living things.]"Is that so..." Mark rubbed his chin and muttered, "It can even absorb living things!""What are you thinking about?" Zoro immediately frowned, looking at him vigilantly."Nothing much, just thinking about swallowing this whole rainbow mist so no one else gets trapped in here again."Mark waved his hand and turned to everyone, "If you feel the space pulling you later, don't resist; just follow the force.""You can even swallow the mist? Such a big move?" Usopp was so shocked he almost dropped the teacup in his hand."In that case, we can get out directly, right?" A look of anticipation flashed in Henzo's eyes; he had long wanted to leave this eerie mist."So amazing! So interesting! It's like swallowing cotton candy!" Luffy waved his fists excitedly, wishing he could start right now."By the way, I will lose consciousness for a short time during the replacement. Don't come near me—The system has no emotions; if it accidentally hurts you, that would be trouble." Mark remembered the system's cold notification and gave a special instruction."Don't worry! I'll keep an eye on everyone! I definitely won't let anyone disturb you!" Luffy patted his chest, promising, his eyes extra serious.Mark walked to the deck of the going merry first, thought about it, and still felt it was inappropriate—it would be troublesome if the ship was affected.He turned and jumped onto the wooden plank in the sea. Ink Meteor had already been waiting nearby. Seeing him come over, it immediately swung its "tail" covered in pitch-black bone spurs, rubbing against his feet, just like a large dog begging to be petted, completely mismatching its ferocious appearance.Mark reached out and touched Ink Meteor's head, a cold sensation coming from his fingertips. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said in a firm tone:"System, start replacement."
Chapter 79: Time-Domain SpaceAfter the system took over Mark's body—Mark's consciousness felt like a pulled thread, plummeting into an endless expanse of pure white.There was no boundary of a ceiling, no support of a ground, and even the sensation of "existence" became blurred—yet everything in the outside world remained remarkably clear:The sea breeze brushing past his hair, the feel of the wooden planks beneath him, and even the chatting of the children not far away, all appeared in his consciousness.But when he wanted to raise his hand to point at the rainbow mist winding across the horizon, or shout Luffy's name, his body felt like a lead-filled puppet; even the act of blinking was pinned down by invisible shackles."What is that?!" Usopp's exclamation locked Mark's "gaze" onto the disturbance beneath the sea surface.The deep blue seawater surged suddenly, and a shadow as thick as a water barrel spiraled rapidly underwater, churning the sea surface into a jagged gash.The next second, the head of a snake-like Sea King broke through the water, its jaws wide open; it intended to swallow the one human and one beast on the wooden plank.Ink Meteor arched its body, its black mane bristling like a spiked ball, a low growl rolling from its throat as it prepared to pounce, but "Mark" moved first.Without any warning, his hand lifted gently, his wrist rotating with a fluidity that resembled a pre-set program.A dozen crescent-shaped white lights condensed out of thin air, moving so fast that only the whistling sound of breaking air remained, instantly slamming into the Sea King's torso."Squelch—" In the crisp sound of tearing flesh, the huge snake body was precisely sliced into several segments. Crimson blood rain splattered down, and a few warm droplets landed on "Mark's" cheek, sliding down his jawline and into his collar.He didn't even blink.The magenta in his pupils was like solidified gemstones, devoid of any ripples—no sharpness from battle, no concern for the corpse, only a deathly, dull emptiness as he watched the Sea King's remains sink into the deep sea.Immediately after, his toes slowly lifted off the ground, as if pulled by invisible threads, and his body floated horizontally into the air. His long hair danced in the sea breeze, yet there was a mechanical stiffness to him."Was that just now... Mark's ability?" Usopp shrank behind Zoro, his body trembling slightly, "Bu-but he's never been this cold before!""It's not him." Zoro rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, staring intently at the figure in mid-air, "The aura on him has changed; he's like a machine without emotions.""Should, should we move the going merry back a bit?" Usopp's voice was tearful, and he shrank further behind Zoro, "He looks... so scary right now."No one answered him. Luffy scratched his head, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Mark; Robin raised her hand to press down her hair, which had been messed up by the wind, strands sticking to her cheeks, the worry in her eyes like an impenetrable mist;—everyone's gaze was locked on the figure in mid-air, and the air fell silent.At this moment, "Mark" was lying flat in the air, a faint light shining at his dantian, like a flickering firefly in the night, slowly spreading into a white-gold halo.The aura on his body began to surge outward, causing ripples on the lake's surface, layer upon layer, carrying an invisible pressure.The calm sea surface was pressed into curved waves, the hull of the going merry swayed slightly, Robin's long hair was blown tight against her cheeks, and even Luffy's Straw Hat was tilted up.Suddenly, the faint light at his dantian burst open with a "bang"!The blinding white light instantly swallowed the entire space, as if the noon sun had been dragged right in front of their eyes.Luffy instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes, muttering "So bright, so bright"; Usopp covered his face directly, only daring to peek through his fingers; Zoro narrowed his eyes, enduring the discomfort to stare at the center of the white light—that was Mark's position, and the source of all the disturbances.The moment the white light dissipated, everyone gasped.On Mark's stomach, that faint light had vanished, replaced by a pitch-black spiral black hole, like a monster with its giant jaws wide open.The surrounding rainbow mist was pulled turbulently by an invisible force, spiraling into it; the seawater whipped up a huge vortex, emitting a muffled "rumbling" sound; the wreckage of the abandoned warship not far away was forcibly torn into pieces, and amidst the harsh sound of metal grinding, the fragments, like iron nails attracted to a magnet, plunged into the black hole all at once.The going merry was also pulled by this force, its hull slowly moving closer to the black hole, the cables groaning with a "creak, creak" sound, as if they would snap at any moment."Ah—!" The four children screamed in terror, gripping the ship's railing tightly.Labani looked at the approaching black hole, his voice tearful: "Aren't you afraid? If he fails, we'll all be torn to pieces! How can you trust him so much?"Luffy sat on the railing, swinging his legs, laughing heartlessly, and reached out to pat Labani's shoulder, causing the other to freeze: "Whether he succeeds or not doesn't matter, because he is Mark, he is my partner!"A faint smile curled the corners of Robin's mouth, her eyes as gentle as the light on the sea surface: "Mark said, do not resist the pulling force of the space."Zoro grinned, showing his white teeth, his grip on the sword hilt loosening and then tightening again: "Listen and just do as he says."Usopp swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and although his legs were still shaking, he moved out from behind Zoro, stiffening his neck as he said: "Ri-right! You little brats, don't underestimate our Vice Captain!"Labani was stunned, looking down at the ripples on the sea surface blown by the wind, then looking up at the terrifying black hole, his expression slowly changing from confusion to relief.He closed his eyes slowly, silently thinking to himself: "So this is what a partner is... trusting one's partner is what makes a true leader, I suppose."When he opened his eyes again, the going merrywas parked on the calm sea surface.It was so quiet around that one could hear the cries of seagulls, and the seawater was clear enough to see the fine sand at the bottom.Except for a wooden platform, nothing remained on the sea surface—the Sea King's remains, the abandoned warship, the turbulent rainbow mist, all had vanished.Only the rainbow mist in the distance remained as hazy as before, as if the scene of heaven-swallowing and earth-devouring just now was really just a dream.Mark opened his eyes abruptly.The magenta in his pupils faded, returning to their usual clarity.He moved his fingers, the long-lost control finally returning to his body, and a wave of relief washed over him.As he pushed himself up, the wooden plank beneath him let out a slight "creak"—this was a small wooden plank generated by the Rainbow Spaceitself.Ink Meteor had turned into a black long staff, lying quietly beside him.He stood up, tucked Ink Meteor into the back of his waist, and gazed at the pier in the distance.Three familiar figures were waving at him—it was Nami, Sanji, and Chopper."So we've already come out?" Mark muttered to himself, his heart suddenly tightening, "Right, what about Luffy and the others? Are they okay?"He hurriedly probed his consciousness into the System Space.The originally singular white space was now divided into three parts by the rainbow mist: on the left was a space with metal flooring, piled high with gold coins, food, and weapons, shining brightly in the light; in the middle space, the going merry was floating quietly, Luffy was lying on the railing looking out, Zoro was lifting dumbbells on the deck to work out, Robin was leaning against the mast reading a book, and Usopp was gesturing wildly, telling stories to the children; the space on the right was still pure white, like an empty warehouse."Thank goodness, they are okay." Mark breathed a sigh of relief, trying to cover the going merry with his consciousness as he usually did to retrieve items, wanting to "take" the ship out.But the going merry didn't budge."What's going on?" Mark's heart sank, cold sweat sliding down his temples into his collar, his voice trembling, "No way? If I can't take it out, won't they be trapped inside forever?"He forced himself to calm down, calling out that familiar voice in his heart: "System, what is the situation?"[System Prompt: The original System Space has been upgraded to a "Time-Domain Space," divided into three parts—left "Stasis Domain," middle "Deceleration Domain," and right "Acceleration Domain."][Supplementary Note: The Deceleration Domain is a space exclusively for living things, with a time flow ratio of 1:10.]"That is to say, the middle is a living thing space, where 10 days inside is only 1 day outside, and both sides are spaces for dead objects?" Mark's eyes lit up suddenly, and his heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally dropped back into his stomach.He probed into the middle living thing space again, this time not touching the going merry, only letting his consciousness explore the edges.Sure enough, hidden at the edge of the rainbow mist was a circular halo of light, the colored light flowing like a half-closed door—this was a passage that required the space owner's consciousness to open.Mark concentrated his mind, his consciousness gently pushing open that "door."The rainbow mist in front of the going merrysuddenly parted, revealing a circular halo, with colored light flowing inside, like a bridge leading to the outside world.His voice transmitted into the space: "Everyone, row the going merry out of the space!""Look! It's the exit!" Zoro was the first to spot the halo, putting down his dumbbells and pointing into the distance.Usopp's eyes lit up, and he immediately grabbed the oars: "Great! Row quickly!"From Nami and the others' perspective, a Rainbow Gate suddenly appeared on the sea surface.Immediately following, the sheep head of the going merry poked out first, then Luffy's Straw Hat—he was lying on the railing, and when he saw Markoutside the gate, his eyes lit up instantly, and he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Mark!"Mark smiled and reached out his hand towards him.Luffy also smiled, his arm stretching out with a "whoosh," the rubber arm carrying a familiar warmth, pulling him onto the deck like reeling in a fishing line."Hey—we're out!" Usopp cupped one hand to his mouth to amplify his voice, waving the other hand continuously towards the shore, his face full of excitement.A moment later, the going merry docked.Nami was the first to rush up, grabbing Mark's arm and shaking it, her eyes flashing with ＄＄: "Mark, Mark! Is there treasure in the space? Is it true what Robin said about there being countless treasures inside? Hurry up and take them out and let me see!"Sanji immediately jumped to Robin's side, holding a silver chain in his hand, maintaining a gentlemanly tone: "Miss Robin, are you alright? This is something I specially picked out for you."Chopper squatted on the ground, chewing on candy, listening intently—Usopp was gesturing wildly, telling the "adventure" in the rainbow mist, describing the black hole like a monster capable of swallowing the world, making Chopper go "Wow" from time to time.After saying goodbye to Henzo, the going merryraised its sails, carving a white wake on the sea surface, and set sail once again towards a new journey.
Chapter 80: Destination, Sky IslandThe afternoon sun spilled over the calm, ripple-free sea. The going merry was warmed by the sun, and the sails billowed gently in the breeze.—This was a rare moment of leisure on the Grand Line."Everyone, gather around! I have a big announcement!"Mark rushed out from the cabin, a rainbow ring hovering in his hand."This is the Space Gate after my Rainbow Spaceupgraded. I plan to install it on the ship. As for the specific functions... that's roughly it!"Mark shared the functions of the Rainbow Spacewith everyone to facilitate their future operations.After a few seconds of silence, the deck instantly erupted into chaos.Nami was the first to pounce over, the "＄＄" symbols in her eyes shining blindingly. She grabbed Mark's arm and shook it vigorously:"For real? How much treasure can it hold? Is it a warehouse piled full? Can I move in and live there? Mark, you're basically a walking treasure vault!"As she spoke, she rubbed her hands together, her mind already conjuring images of mountains of gold coins and herself rolling around on top of them, her mouth stretching almost to her ears.Zoro leaned against the ship's railing, reaching out to touch the wado ichimonji at his waist.He grinned: "If we could set up a gym in there, put in some wooden stakes and sandbags—ten days of training in there would only be one day out here. Mark, you're basically an ideal gym."Saying this, he jumped off the railing, unable to wait to go to the storage room to pack up his fitness equipment."And there's more! And there's more!" Usoppdragged Chopper to the front."When we encounter storms or Marines, we can just put the ship inside—wouldn't that let us avoid danger? Mark, you're basically a mobile safe haven!"Chopper nodded vigorously, his little ears flopping back and forth, as if he had already imagined the reassuring scene of avoiding danger."You guys are all missing the point."Sanji poked his head out from the crowd, still holding a frying pan, his apron dusted with flour. He walked out slowly, stroking his chin as he looked Mark up and down:"It's the time-adjustment function! It can keep meat in its freshest state, vegetables won't wilt even after a week, and it's great for curing bacon and fermenting dough—isn't this just the ideal super refrigerator?""Same goes for alcohol, it only takes one day to ferment!" Zoro walked out carrying a dumbbell and dropped it onto the deck with a "thud.""Marimo, what are you doing?" Sanji glanced at the equipment in his arms."Setting up the gym! You perverted kappa."Zoro turned and went back into the room to move his things."I know!" Luffy suddenly jumped down from the mast, landing on the deck with a "thud."He grabbed Mark's shoulders, his eyes wide and round: "We can raise Sea Kings! Put huge Sea Kingsinto the space, and when we want to eat, we can take them out and roast them! Mark, you're my ideal aquarium!" He licked his lips as he said this."Stop! Stop! Stop!" Mark's head was pounding from the noise, and he quickly raised his hand to interrupt. He rubbed his forehead helplessly:"What refrigerator, gym, aquarium... can you guys please stop giving me nicknames!"He glanced at Zoro, who was coming out with a pile of things: "Stop moving stuff, Zoro. There isn't even a place to stand in the space right now."Mark scanned the area, his expression turning serious:"I'm going to focus my consciousness into the space now to create an environment where we can stand."He paused, emphasizing his tone: "Unless it's an emergency, do not wake me up, otherwise there might be problems with the space.""Don't worry!" Nami patted her chest in assurance, her eyes full of expectation, "Make sure to build it well, let's strive to move in as soon as possible!"Mark nodded with a smile and turned to walk into the lounge.A day passed by in a flash, and in the blink of an eye, it was the afternoon of the next day."Sigh...""Sigh...""Sigh! This is truly unbelievable..."Three sighs rang out in succession, completely dispersing the leisurely atmosphere on the going merry.Sanji sat cross-legged on the deck, pulled out his lighter, and lit his cigarette with a "click."The smoke rose slowly, drifting toward the distant sea. He stared at the spark on the cigarette tip, his brows furrowed:"The Grand Line is a place where strange things are endless. Today is just ridiculously absurd.""First, a giant ship fell from the sky." Zoro was also sitting cross-legged, holding his three swords, his tone grave.Nami squatted listlessly against the ship's railing, poking at the log pose on her wrist: "Then, the log pose pointed up into the sky, it's completely unusable.""Then a group of Shoujou appeared!" Usopp stared at the sky, assuming a death-defying expression, the gauze wrapped around his nose still oozing a bit of blood."And we even encountered an Island Turtle that could easily swallow a giant ship!" Chopperclutched his hat, his voice filled with lingering fear.He looked into the distance, as if that huge Island Turtle were still before his eyes."And there's something even more absurd."Robin sat in a chair with her head propped up, her hair hanging down to cover half her face, her eyes filled with exhaustion."Finally, a monster that was dozens of times larger than the Giant Race appeared!" Luffy, for once, lacked his usual excitement. He drooped the corners of his mouth and braced his hands on the deck, not even having the energy to jump around.Just then, a strange voice suddenly rang out: "Even I was scared stiff..."The group on the deck instantly froze, all turning in unison toward the direction the voice came from."Huh?"When they saw clearly that it was the Shoujou from yesterday, the cigarette in Sanji's hand fell onto the deck with a "clatter"; Zoro's hand slammed onto his sword hilt; Luffy's eyes instantly went round."You bastard... get the hell out of here!"The three of them roared almost simultaneously, and immediately after, three powerful flying kicks simultaneously struck the Shoujou's backside.The Shoujou didn't even have time to scream before it flew into the sky like a shooting star with a "whoosh," eventually turning into a tiny black dot and disappearing into the horizon.The going merry continued to sail, finally leaving that sea area where strange occurrences happened frequently.Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves finally relaxing, and the deck returned to a bit of its usual daily routine.Usopp, with his hand on the railing, suddenly turned around and said to Chopper with a serious face:"Chopper! Actually, if I got serious, I could have defeated that kind of monster!" His expression was as serious as if it were the truth."Really?" Chopper's eyes instantly lit up, and he covered his mouth in shock."Of course!" Usopp patted his chest, his voice rising a few notches, "I once defeated ten of them! And every single one was bigger than the monster from yesterday!""Te-ten... so many?" Chopper was so shocked his jaw almost dropped."Clatter—"Just then, Nami suddenly dumped a sack onto the deck, and rusted armor, broken pottery, and ruined weapons spilled all over the ground.She rubbed her forehead in disappointment, her voice full of helplessness: "I'm telling you guys, you only found this junk?"When she saw Luffy wearing a set of rusted armor, marching back and forth on the deck while humming a strange tune, Nami finally couldn't hold it in anymore.She was so angry her face and neck turned red, and she grabbed the clima-tact and smashed the armor with a "clang."Ignoring Luffy's bewildered expression—his eyes spitting fire, his mouth open like a shark's—Namireached out and stretched his face by a meter."I wanted treasure! Navigation logs! Sky Islandcharts! Do you understand?"Nami grabbed Luffy's shoulders and shook him vigorously, then casually tossed him aside, slumping weakly to the ground, her eyes rimmed with red."What are we going to do... there isn't a single clue about how to get to the Sky Island. Are we going to be stuck here forever?""Here."A gentle voice rang out, and Robin pulled an eternal pose from her pocket, placing it gently in front of Nami.The pose had a green casing with the four letters "JAYA" carved on it, and the needle pointed steadily in one direction.Nami took the pose, instantly stunned, her eyes wide."Found it on the Shoujou's ship,"Robin smiled slightly, the corners of her eyes curving into crescents, "Although I don't know if it works, we'll have to make do for now.""Wow—Robin!"Nami instantly wept with joy, tears and snot streaming down, and she threw herself into Robin's arms, hugging her tightly and rubbing against her."Robin is the one who understands me best!""Oh my, our navigator really has it tough."Robin gently patted Nami's back, her palm stroking her hair tenderly, her voice full of comfort.Nami wiped away her tears and picked up the eternal pose to look at it carefully; the label on it was clearly visible—"Jaya."She looked up in confusion: "Is this the Shoujou's lair?""I think so." Robin nodded, her eyes carrying a bit of certainty.Just then, Luffy's excited shout came from the deck:"Look! It's not like we didn't get anything at all. Isn't there an octopus here? Sanji, let's make takoyaki!"Everyone looked toward the sound and saw Luffyholding a pink octopus, its tentacles flailing, seaweed stuck to its suckers. He swung the tentacles back and forth, his face full of expectation.Sanji, standing nearby, rubbed his forehead and sighed helplessly: "I really give up on you. You actually caught it.""Luffy, where did you get this octopus from?"Mark walked out of the lounge. He certainly wouldn't dare to casually eat an octopus that Luffybrought out.When he saw the pile of junk on the deck and the octopus in Luffy's hands, he was full of confusion."Ah! Mark, you're awake!" Luffy's eyes lit up, and he ran over holding the octopus, its tentacles nearly whipping Mark in the face."Mark, let's make takoyaki! This octopus is super fresh!""Wait a second." Mark quickly took a step back, pointing at the junk on the deck, his tone full of confusion, "What on earth is going on? I only slept for one day, how did the deck turn into a garbage dump? And this octopus, where did it pop out from?""Let me explain." Sanji spoke first, stepping on his cigarette butt to extinguish it, and began to recount yesterday's encounter, "After you went in yesterday, first a giant ship fell from the sky, almost capsizing the going merry..."Immediately after, Zoro, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, and Luffy also crowded around, adding details in a cacophony of voices.Mark listened intently, nodding from time to time. After everyone finished speaking, he stroked his chin and summarized: "So, in other words, we want to go to the Sky Island but can't find a way, so we plan to go to Jaya to gather information?""Mm-hmm!" Nami nodded quickly, her eyes sparkling—she had been looking forward to Markwaking up; whenever she couldn't make up her mind, Mark's opinion was usually the most reliable."Jaya is the Shoujou's lair; maybe someone there knows how to get to the Sky Island.""In any case, we don't have any intel right now, so going to Jaya to scout is the only way."Mark glanced at the eager Luffy and added, "Our Captain is definitely determined to go to the Sky Island; everyone knows that. So we must leave before the log pose gets magnetized by Jaya, otherwise we won't be able to reach the Sky Island.""Perfect! As expected of Mark!"Nami gave a thumbs-up excitedly, the frustration on her face wiped away, "It's just different when you're here!"Luffy stood up with a "spring," jumped onto the mast, grabbed the sail rope, swung it vigorously, and shouted loudly: "Then, brothers! Toward Jaya, full speed ahead!""Oh—!"The companions responded in unison, their shouts drifting into the distance, echoing over the calm sea.This journey full of surprises continued, and the going merry was carrying a group of passionate companions, bravely sailing toward their new destination, "Sky Island."
Chapter 81: Beating the Champion in Mock Town"Are we there yet? Usopp!" Luffy sprawled across the sheep head figurehead of the going merry, shouting at the top of his lungs towards the crow's nest.Up in the crow's nest, Usopp had his binoculars pressed to his eyes, scanning the vast sea horizon repeatedly, his tone tinged with a hint of impatience:"I don't even see a shadow of an island! Nami, is there something wrong with the eternal pose?"On the second deck, Zoro leaned against the railing, his gaze locked firmly on the horizon.Nami glanced down at the log pose on her wrist, then looked up at the fluffy cumulus clouds in the sky, muttering softly:"It shouldn't be far now, theoretically."She reached out, lightly twisting her fingertips, feeling the sea breeze gently flow through them. "We've already entered the island's climate; the temperature and humidity are just right.""Does that mean Jaya is a Spring Island?" Luffy's voice suddenly came from the bow—At some point, he had climbed to the top of the sheep head, his legs tightly coiled around the 'neck' of the wooden carving.Chopper sat by the ship's rail, his round eyes fixed on three seagulls circling the pirate flag, whispering in wonder:"Spring is so nice, even the seagulls are so relaxed... Huh?"As soon as he finished speaking, the wing of one seagull suddenly stiffened, and it plummeted straight down like a kite with a broken string, its wings still twitching slightly."It was shot down!" Chopper immediately jumped off the barrel and stumbled over to the seagull."Shall we roast it for a meal?" Luffy leaped down from the sheep head with a 'whoosh', hurrying after him, his eyes shining with anticipation."Chopper, are you saying someone shot down a seagull from a place where we can't even see the island? How is that possible?"Nami walked down the stairs, crouching to examine the charred bullet hole on the seagull's wing, her brows furrowed tightly."I saw it clearly!"Chopper carefully used his hooves to extract the black bullet embedded under the seagull's wing and handed it to everyone."Look, it's a bullet!""That's absolutely impossible!"Usopp nimbly slid down from the crow's nest, brushing the dust off his body while shaking his head repeatedly."At this distance, it's good enough just to see the seagull, let alone hit it precisely. Unless that person has eyes like a hawk! Maybe the seagull was already shot and just couldn't hold on anymore when it flew over the ship.""It was shot down by a person."A voice suddenly sounded. Mark leaned against the ship's rail, raising a hand to point at the distant horizon. "Right there—on that red roof."Everyone looked in the direction he pointed for a long time before they could barely make out the blurry outline of an island at the edge of the horizon.On a red roof in Mock Town, Van Auger was dressed in a black trench coat, wearing a trumpet-shaped wide-brimmed hat, holding a long sniper rifle in his hands.He lightly touched the trigger with his fingertip, his gaze locked onto the distant going merry through the scope, his tone as flat as if he were discussing a trivial matter:"How pitiful, it must hurt, right? The other one is quite lucky to have survived; consider it a reward for your daily flight."After speaking, he put away his gun, shouldered it, and turned to disappear into the shadows of the roof.A moment later, the silhouette of Mock Towngradually became clear—the houses on the shore were mostly white-walled with red roofs, and coconut trees were scattered throughout the town; at first glance, it looked like a leisurely resort."What a magnificent town!" Luffy pressed his hands against his Straw Hat, afraid it would be blown away by the wind."Don't you think this place looks like a resort?" Usopp and Chopper lay side by side on the railing, their eyes full of anticipation."Indeed, it looks very leisurely."Nami stretched, her face full of relaxation. "Finally, we can have a good rest. We've been drifting at sea for so long, my bones are almost rusting."However, as the going merry slowly approached the port, the smiles on everyone's faces froze instantly.On the stone pavement of the port, a burly man was straddling a long-haired man, his fists slamming into the other's back one after another, each punch accompanied by a dull thud.The long-haired man curled up his body, letting out a weak plea: "Stop hitting me... let me go..."The burly man didn't stop at all; instead, he became even more ferocious, roaring:"Who do you think I am? I am the fighting champion, Burgess!"He grabbed the long-haired man by the hair and slammed his head violently against the stone pavement. "Remember my name!""It seems... this place isn't as leisurely as we imagined." Usopp made a bitter face, the corners of his mouth drooping."I agree." Nami and Chopper nodded in unison, their expressions grave."Champion?" Luffy and Zoro squinted at the same time, their eyes filled with displeasure as they stared fixedly at Burgess."Oh? You newbies, want to spar with me?"Burgess noticed their gaze, looked up at the going merry, his tone full of provocation.He brushed the dust off his hands, stood up from the long-haired man, and stretched his neck, which made a 'crack' sound."Just as well, my hands are itching, I'll play with you.""Don't cause trouble!" Nami immediately rushed forward, grabbing Luffy and Zoro who had already rolled up their sleeves."We haven't gathered any intelligence on the island yet. If we cause a scene and get targeted, it'll be troublesome!""Let go, Nami! I will never lose in a fight!"Luffy struggled to break free, his arm swinging so hard he almost knocked Nami over.He took a step, about to jump off the ship, but his gaze suddenly fixed—Mark had already jumped onto the stone pavement of the port a step ahead.Mark nodded slightly at Burgess with a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes were curved like crescent moons:"I know a thing or two about fighting, and I would like to ask you for some pointers."Seeing this, the group on the going merrycollectively took a step back and held their breath in tacit understanding—They knew all too well that behind this kind of smile from Mark, there was often a sharp edge."A brat like you dares to ask me for pointers?"Burgess squatted down into a horse stance, grinned, revealing a mouthful of large teeth."Fine, I'll let you throw a punch to satisfy yourself, and then you can obediently go to your death.""You better think it through, don't regret it."Mark walked forward slowly, his steps very light, making almost no sound.No one noticed that when he took his first step, the fists hidden under the sleeves of his black coat had already been quietly covered with a layer of ink-colored Armament Haki—He knew that to deal with this guy, he had to finish it quickly and not give the opponent a chance to catch his breath."Stop the nonsense!" Burgess waved his hand impatiently, his eyes full of contempt. "Hurry up and make your move, don't waste my time."The next second, the gentleness in Mark's eyes instantly faded, replaced by bone-chilling coldness.He suddenly crouched down, his feet stomping on the stone slab with a 'crack', causing several cracks to appear in the stone.Immediately after, he rushed toward Burgess like a cannonball, his pitch-black fist concentrating all his strength, smashing fiercely into the opponent's ribs."Crack!" A crisp sound of bone breaking rang out. Burgess's face instantly twisted, his body curling into the shape of a shrimp, a deep fist indentation imprinted on his vest, and his whole body was lifted off the ground by the immense impact.Mark didn't give the opponent any time to react. Taking advantage of the moment Burgess's body leaned forward, he slammed his knee into his chin.With a 'crack', several of Burgess's teeth shattered, blood spilled from the corners of his mouth, and his body tilted slightly upward in the air.But Burgess was, after all, a member of the Blackbeard Pirates, and even though he was seriously injured, he still maintained a sliver of consciousness.He endured the intense pain, reached out his arms to try and hug Mark tightly, intending to crush him to death.Mark had long anticipated this move, his body twisting violently, using the'Soru' technique to instantly flash above Burgess's head.He extended his right hand and drew Ink Meteorfrom behind his waist. The staff gleamed with a cold light, and he smashed it down heavily onto Burgess's skull, as fast as Mount Tai pressing down."Bang!" Burgess hurriedly blocked with both hands, but how could his arm bones withstand the hardness of Ink Meteor?With two 'crack' sounds, the bones in his hands shattered instantly, and his wrists twisted at a bizarre angle.Before he could even scream, Ink Meteor fell again, smashing heavily onto his skull. His entire head was driven into the stone pavement, and his body twitched a few times before it stopped moving, with only his legs still kicking slightly."Tsk... a bit tougher than I thought."Mark retracted Ink Meteor, lightly flicked his wrist, glanced down at Burgess in the stone slab, and frowned slightly.He didn't linger any longer and did a backflip back onto the deck of the going merry. As soon as he stood steady, a rainbow-colored mist suddenly rose around him, instantly enveloping the entire going merry.A few seconds later, the mist dissipated, and the going merry and everyone on board had vanished—he had put them into the System Space.Subsequently, Mark stepped on Ink Meteor and turned into a streak of light, rushing toward the distant resort.In just over ten seconds, two figures arrived at the port—it was Van Auger and Doc Q.Van Auger held his sniper rifle, his black trench coat flapping in the wind. He scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes.He crouched down to examine Burgess in the stone slab, his brows locked: "The opponent escaped really fast."Doc Q was riding a sickly old horse that gasped for air with every step.He sat on the horse, coughing incessantly, covering his mouth with a handkerchief that was stained with spots of scarlet.After dismounting, he squatted beside Burgess, reached out to probe his injuries, and checked the wounds, his voice hoarse:"Three ribs are broken, one piercing the lung, the hand bones are shattered, and there's a crack in the skull—but there's still one breath left.""I'll go notify the Captain."Van Auger nodded, stood up, and scanned the horizon with his sniper scope, his eyes cold."Dare to attack a member of the Blackbeard Pirates, don't think you can escape.""Get him on the ship first. If we don't perform surgery soon, this guy will be completely ruined."Doc Q put away his handkerchief, coughed a few more times, and slowly climbed back onto his horse.Meanwhile, Mark had already arrived at a resort in Mock Town with the others.Tall coconut trees were planted in the white courtyard here, and the water in the central swimming pool was a clear blue-green.With plenty of Berries, they quickly rented a luxury villa with a swimming pool—The sofa in the living room was soft and comfortable, fresh fruit was placed on the coffee table, and as soon as the window in the second-floor bedroom was pushed open, one could see the boundless seascape.Mark stood in the center of the living room, waved his hand, and a rainbow mist condensed into a door.As soon as the door opened, Luffy and his group walked out from inside."What a spacious house!" Luffy immediately rushed to the sofa, leaped onto it, and sighed in comfort."So bouncy, so soft!""You were planning to kill him directly just now, right?"Zoro held his sword, leaning against the bedroom door frame, looking at the floor. "Those few moves of yours, every one was fatal. That wasn't 'asking for pointers' at all."Others also looked at Mark, their eyes full of confusion.Chopper was crouching on the carpet, hugging an apple and nibbling on it;Usopp was leaning on the sofa, clutching a pillow tightly, his expression nervous;Nami was sitting by the coffee table, peeling an orange, but her gaze remained fixed on Mark."I did have that intention, but unfortunately, I didn't succeed; the opponent's support arrived too quickly."Mark walked to the bar, poured himself a glass of juice, took a light sip, turned around, and leaned against the bar, admitting it frankly!"You want to know why? Because he is a member of the Blackbeard Pirates.""Blackbeard Pirates?"Usopp stood up abruptly, his eyes wide. "Could it be the Blackbeard that Ace is chasing? The guy who killed his crewmate and betrayed the Whitebeard Pirates?""Exactly. Burgess is a subordinate of Blackbeard, and his strength should not be underestimated." Mark nodded and put down the glass in his hand."Is Blackbeard stronger than Crocodile?" Luffyjumped off the sofa and leaned toward Mark, his eyes flashing with a combative light.Mark smiled, walked to the window, and pushed it open; the sea breeze surged in, carrying the scent of flowers:"To be able to kill someone on Whitebeard's ship and still escape to the Grand Line, even Ace might not be able to beat him. So, eliminating one is one less hidden danger.""Then what should we do next?"Nami handed the peeled orange to everyone and asked, "His companions will definitely be looking for us everywhere, right?""Don't worry, it won't affect our subsequent plans."Mark looked back at everyone, his smile gentle. "Even if Burgess is alive, he won't be able to wake up in the short term. Only he knows who we are!""You men, always starting a fight at the drop of a hat."Nami rolled her eyes, changed the subject, and her eyes revealed anticipation."But since we're at a resort... there's a pool outside. Robin, do you want to change into a swimsuit and go swimming? I brought an orange swimsuit that's perfect for spring.""Sure, I haven't relaxed like this in a long time. I also brought a blue swimsuit that matches the color of the sea." Robin closed her book and nodded with a smile.Soon, Nami had her hair in a bun, wearing an orange bikini, and jumped into the pool with a'splash', sending up a large spray of water. She shouted to Robin: "Robin, come quickly! The water is so comfortable!"Robin was wearing a blue one-piece swimsuit, slowly walking into the pool. The water ripples submerged her waist, and she smiled and responded: "Don't rush, I'm coming."Mark lay on a white lounge chair, wearing black swimming trunks, wearing sunglasses, holding a cup of iced coconut juice, leisurely sunbathing.Usopp sat on the lounge chair next to him, also wearing sunglasses, holding a cup of coconut juice as well, taking a sip from time to time, watching Luffy and Chopper playing on the beach.He said with a smile: "I didn't expect there to be such a comfortable place here.""Yeah, it's not bad to relax occasionally."Mark took off his sunglasses and looked at the distant seascape. The waves were crashing onto the beach in layers, making a pleasant sound."By the way, where is Zoro?" Usopp asked suddenly.Mark
Chapter 82: Those Who Mock Dreams"Hey, hey, hey! Mark!...Zoro, is he really hiding in here?" Nami pointed at the wooden sign at the tavern entrance that read 'Rum Specialty Store', her voice rising by two decibels."Listen for yourself." Mark crossed his arms and gestured inside with his thumb."Tsk, as expected of the most expensive rum... Boss, another glass, with extra ice." Zoro's cheerful voice drifted from the bar, accompanied by the crisp sound of a glass clinking against the counter. It was obvious he was already well into his cups."Great, this guy really is here." Nami rolled her eyes, rubbed her temples, and gave the tavern door a helpless look."Creak—" As soon as they entered, the figure in front of the bar with a Marimo head and three swords hanging at his waist—who else could it be but Zoro?The guy was sitting with his legs crossed, one hand supporting his chin, the other swirling his glass, looking perfectly at ease."Zoro!" Luffy leaped over in a flash and plopped onto the stool next to Zoro. "Why are you drinking here? Aren't you supposed to be sleeping at the hotel?""Oh, it's you guys." Zoro didn't even lift his eyelids, glancing at Mark and Nami following behind. "Got thirsty from wandering around.""You call this 'wandering'?" Nami rushed over in a few steps and stood before the bar with her hands on her hips. "Last time at Small Garden, you said you were 'wandering', and we couldn't find you when we set sail. The time before that on Drum Island, you said you were 'wandering' and ended up walking from the mountaintop all the way to the bottom! You green-haired idiot, can't you learn your lesson?""Alright, alright, we found him, didn't we?" Markquickly stepped in to smooth things over, rubbing his hands as he mediated between them. He said to the tavern owner, "Bring us your best wine to help our lovely navigator calm her nerves!""You're just spoiling him!" Nami picked up a glass, took a sip, and shot Mark a glare. "Next time, the job of finding Zoro is yours!""Ahem." Mark coughed awkwardly and didn't respond, his eyes drifting to the side of Luffy—where a giant of a man in a white shirt and green cotton pants was sitting, his back as broad as a door plank.Mark clenched his fists, muttering to himself: 'I wonder what my success rate would be if I ambushed Blackbeard.' Mark shook his head and decided not to take the risk!"Seriously, this crappy island is really not great." Nami sat down to Zoro's right, pouting, and rested her elbows on the bar. "All the way here, it's either fighting or killing... It's not relaxing at all.""Being able to think that way means you're still a normal person." The owner, wearing a tall hat, walked over with two cherry pies, placing one in front of Luffy and the other in front of the giant. He wiped his hands and sighed, "But in this town, normal people are actually rare.""By the way, Boss, do you know..." Nami was just about to ask about Sky Island when a sudden dull 'thud' on the bar startled her, making her swallow her words."This cherry pie is so delicious!" the giant shouted, slapping the table, his mouth stuffed full."This cherry pie is so disgusting!" Luffy also slapped the table, his voice even louder than the giant's, causing the glasses on the table to jump.The two glared at each other and simultaneously snorted, as if smoke were about to shoot out of their nostrils. Then, they both picked up their fruit juice and chugged it down."This juice is so delicious!" Luffy smacked his lips and turned his glass upside down."This juice is so disgusting!" The giant frowned, slammed his cup onto the table, and juice splashed out."Hey! Is your tongue installed backward?" The giant squinted at Luffy, his voice sounding like thunder."I think something's wrong with your brain!" Luffywasn't about to be outdone; he stood up, slapping the table and standing on his tiptoes to argue."Uh... you two gentlemen, I'm not a chef!" The owner, terrified, quickly hid behind the bar, his hands trembling. "Argue if you want, but please don't wreck my shop, okay?"Luffy shoved the empty plate aside and shouted at the owner, "Boss! Pack me 50 servings of meat!"The giant stuffed the remaining half of the cherry pie into his mouth, glanced sideways at Luffy, and deliberately raised his voice, "Then I'll take 51 servings of cherry pie, freshly baked!""Wait! I'll change mine to 52 servings of meat!" Luffysaid anxiously, holding up two fingers."Sorry, make that 53 servings of cherry pie." The giant rubbed his stomach and said slowly."54 servings of meat!""55 servings of cherry pie!""80 servings!""100 servings!""Are you damn well doing this on purpose?" Both of them roared in unison. Luffy had one foot on the stool, fists clenched, his teeth sharp like a shark's. The giant also stood up, his belly protruding like a pregnant woman's, his fists cracking loudly."Seriously, is it really worth it?" Zoro held his forehead, looking helpless. "Is it not embarrassing to argue like this over a few servings of food?""Luffy! Have you forgotten what you promised me?" Nami reached out and tugged on the corner of Luffy's shirt. "We came out to gather intelligence, not to buy supplies!""Heh, you're a pirate?" The giant suddenly turned to stare at Luffy, his eyes shining terrifyingly, like he'd spotted prey."That's right!" Luffy puffed out his chest."What's your bounty?" The giant leaned in, his breath hitting Luffy's face."120 million Berries!" Luffy said confidently."Based on you? 120 million?" The giant was somewhat surprised. "With your small frame, you're worth that much?""How is that possible!" The giant suddenly clenched his fists, his voice rising sharply. "Stop lying! I don't believe it!""I'm not lying!" Luffy was also anxious, standing on his tiptoes to meet his gaze."Gentlemen, please, stop arguing!" The owner ran over holding a cardboard box, sweating profusely. "Here are the 50 servings of cherry pie, please take them! My shop really can't handle a fight!""Hmph, over 100 million? Still feels a bit lacking." The giant took the cardboard box, glanced at Luffy, and turned to walk toward the door.When passing Mark, he specifically stopped and looked him up and down—this kid didn't look very old, but he was like a wolf, strangely intimidating.Mark smiled until his eyes turned into crescent moons, waving his left hand as if saying hello, while his right hand remained pressed against his lower back."Hmph!" The giant didn't say anything more and slammed the door as he left, brushing past a tall blond man who had just entered.The blond man was at least two heads taller than Luffy, wearing a crisp general's uniform with tassels on his shoulders. A scar ran diagonally from his eyebrow to his forehead, and he looked like he was begging for a punch.His mouth was twisted, his eyes full of disdain, the word 'arrogant' written all over his face—who else could it be but Bellamy?Bellamy walked straight into the tavern."So you're that Straw Hat with the 120 million bounty?" Bellamy walked to the bar, sat in the seat the giant had just vacated, tilted his chin toward Luffy, his tone full of arrogance."What do you want?" Luffy turned around, leaning against the bar, watching him with vigilance."Doesn't look like he's here to chat." Zoro's hand pressed silently onto the hilt of his sword, his gaze sharpening—he could feel that this guy came with ill intent."Boss, the most expensive wine, get this kid a glass too." Bellamy snapped his fingers as if ordering a lackey. "I want the best whiskey, don't try to fool me with low-quality stuff.""Yes, sir, yes, sir!" The owner dared not delay! "One moment, please, it'll be ready right away!"—Who didn't know that Bellamy was the local bully in this town?Just then, a noisy commotion came from the door, and a group of people burst in.The leader was a man with white hair, wearing orange sunglasses, his hair slicked back."Why isn't there a single empty seat?" The white-haired man took off his sunglasses, wiped them with his sleeve, put them back on, and scanned the entire tavern as if he were looking at trash."Exactly, exactly, this bar is just too cheap." A woman in yellow behind him pinched her nose, her voice as affected as could be. "It smells like cheap booze and sweat, it's disgusting.""All they have is lousy rum, not even a decent bottle of red wine, what a disappointment." Another tall, thin man kicked a nearby stool, looking disgusted.Mark moved closer to Nami without a sound, quietly shielding her behind him—these people looked like a bunch of villains.Before long, the owner came over with two glasses of whiskey, placing them carefully in front of Bellamy and Luffy. "Your drinks, enjoy.""Here, drink up." Bellamy pushed the glass in front of Luffy, a smile curling his lips. He looked quite kind, but his eyes were full of malice."Oh? You're a good guy!" Luffy didn't think twice and picked up the glass, ready to down it. Just as the glass touched his lips...Bellamy suddenly smirked, his wrist snapping violently as he swung toward the back of Luffy's head—he wanted to smash Luffy's face directly into the bar!Luffy's reaction was incredibly fast; he tilted his body and barely dodged it.With a crisp 'crack', the entire solid wood bar was crushed by Bellamy's palm, wood splinters scattering everywhere."Quick reaction." Bellamy withdrew his hand, watching Luffy, who had jumped away, his eyes full of amusement. "A bit interesting, no wonder you're worth 120 million.""Since you've started a fight, be prepared for the consequences!" Luffy clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking, his eyes becoming serious!"Wait, Luffy! Don't forget what you promised me!" Nami said, her hands pressed against the bar. "We haven't asked for information yet!""Nami, stop! They started it!" Zoro said. As he spoke, he drew his sword!The surrounding pirates instantly went wild, slapping tables and heckling: "Look, this kid is going to fight Bellamy!" "Hahaha, this kid? 120 million? I think the government is blind!" "Fighting Boss Bellamy? This kid must have a death wish!" "Go for it! Fight! Fight! I bet Boss Bellamy will knock him down with one punch!" The air was filled with taunts and instigations!"Wait, Zoro." Nami quickly turned to ask the owner. "Boss, I want to go to Sky Island, do you know any information about it?" Nami gritted her teeth, ignoring the heckling around her, and asked the owner.The tavern went silent instantly. Everyone looked at Nami, their eyes full of strangeness.A few seconds later, a deafening roar of laughter erupted, so hard that tears were almost streaming down their faces."Hahaha, this woman actually said she wants to go to Sky Island?" A bearded man slapped the table, laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up. "Did I hear that right? Sky Island? Isn't that just a fairy tale for kids?""There's nothing funny about it, because the log pose is pointing toward the sky!" Nami was both embarrassed and angry.…Silence again! A moment later— "The log pose is pointing to the sky?" Another pirate pointed at the log pose on Nami's wrist, laughing until he was rocking back and forth. "Are you stupid? log poses are prone to breaking; pointing to the sky just means it's broken!""I really give up on you guys, hahaha." Bellamylaughed, sitting on his stool. "To think there are actually people who believe in such legends."He looked at the Straw Hat crew: "There are often submarine geysers on the Grand Line, don't you even have that basic common sense? Some ships get blasted into the high sky by geysers and fall back down, and then some adventurers claim there's an island in the sky. I really give up on you guys! Hahaha."Bellamy said seriously: "Listen up, you lot. The era of pirates chasing dreams and looking for the great treasure is over! Things like the City of Gold, the City of Emerald, the great treasure One Piece—it's all stuff used to fool fools, only making people ignore the benefits right in front of them.Even those who were stronger than anyone else were played to death by these ridiculous legends. And yet, there are still people who say, 'That guy lived in the happiness of pursuing his dreams.' Isn't that just a mockery of a loser?"Hearing this, Luffy loosened his clenched fists."So, I really hate seeing idiots who chase dreams!"Bellamy rose quickly and punched Luffy! Luffy was knocked to the ground by this punch.The corner of Luffy's mouth split instantly, and blood dripped down his chin.Just as he was about to push himself off the floor to stand, a wine bottle 'clattered' onto his back, and glass shards splattered all over him.Luffy reached up and took off his Straw Hat, touched it gently, and handed it to Mark.His voice was calm, and he said word by word: "Mark, Zoro, this fight, we absolutely must not fight."Zoro's hand gripped the hilt of his sword, his teeth grinding. He looked at the injury on Luffy's face, then at Bellamy's arrogant demeanor, and finally, he slowly released the hilt.Mark clenched his fists; he actually found it hard to understand, but he still followed Luffy's order.The next few minutes became the most painful moments for Mark and Nami.Wine bottles, plates, and glasses rained down on Luffy and Zoro like raindrops. Bellamy would occasionally charge over to kick them twice or throw a few punches, cursing all the while.The surrounding pirates slapped the tables and cheered, their voices gratingly harsh.Luffy and Zoro just stood there, neither dodging nor fighting back. Their faces and bodies were covered in injuries, and blood had stained their clothes red."This trash is worth 120 million?" Bellamy kicked Luffy, and Luffy stumbled to the ground. "The World Government is truly generous, giving bounties to any stray cat or dog.""Get out! You spineless pirate crew!" Someone threw a rotten apple, which hit Zoro on the head. "Don't be an eyesore here!"Bellamy picked up a bottle of wine, walked up to Luffy, unscrewed the cap, took a big gulp, and then 'pfft', spat it all over Luffy's face.The wine mixed with blood dripped from Luffy's chin onto the floor.Then, Bellamy smashed the empty bottle hard against Luffy's head. With a 'clatter', the bottle shattered, and shards splattered all over Luffy.Luffy lay on the floor, moved his fingers, but didn't stand up."Those two women look decent." The white-haired man from before stared at Nami and Mark, licked his lips, and said in a frivolous tone, "Why not come with me? Join our crew, I guarantee you'll live in luxury, it's much better than following these two losers."Nami's face turned cold instantly: "A low-class pirate crew like yours, and you think you're worthy of me staying? Disgusting!""Yo, quite a temper." The white-haired man sneered and took two steps forward. "The whole crew is full of fools, and the women are no exception.""Take these two idiots and get out." Bellamy tilted his chin at Mark and Nami and gave a thumbs-down gesture, his face full of disdain. "While you're still breathing, don't be an eyesore here."Mark, expressionless, supported the battered Zoro; Nami also wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and helped up the Luffy lying on the ground.The two looked at each other, said nothing, and walked toward the door step by step.The mockery and cursing behind them pierced their hearts like needles, along with the sound of wine bottles smashing on the floor.Walking out of the tavern, the wind on the street blew, carrying the smell of alcohol and blood, which was particularly unpleasant.The sound of the four's footsteps echoed in the empty street. In the tavern behind them, the laughter continued, but their steps were becoming increasingly firm.(Don't be disappointed, see the next chapter)
Chapter 83: Punishing the Smirking Dragon King"Sky Island exists!"Nami was dragging Luffy by the back of his collar, and Mark was half-supporting a staggering Zoro as they walked toward the resort, when this shout suddenly exploded on the street.Both stopped in their tracks and looked at the man sitting in the middle of the road—it was none other than Marshall D. Teach, who had argued with Luffyover cherry pie in the tavern.Blackbeard was still holding a piece of cherry pie, taking a huge bite. "Crunch... crunch," he chewed with relish, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.He grinned, letting out his signature "Zehahaha": "As expected, the cherry pie in this town is the most delicious.""You're that guy from earlier..." Nami threw Luffyonto the ground, her tone still laced with lingering anger."Little girl, what are you so unwilling to accept?" Blackbeard shook the pie in his hand. "They won the fight earlier.""Eh?" Nami was stunned."But you had quite the spirit when you were yelling at them," Blackbeard suddenly pointed at her, "You're a gutsy little girl, Zehahaha."As he spoke, he turned to Mark, who was supporting Zoro. His gaze suddenly darkened. "And you, you're a man, right!—I saw killing intent in your eyes."Mark felt a jolt in his heart: Blackbeard was indeed meticulous; this man was the originator of hiding killing intent.On the surface, however, he quickly waved his hands and forced an innocent smile: "What kind of joke are you telling! I don't have the guts for that.""Zehahaha, I don't dislike people like you!" Blackbeard tilted his head back and took a large gulp of alcohol, the bottle making a "glug" sound.The next second, his eyes turned sinister. He suddenly raised the cherry pie and the bottle above his head and roared:"The 'new era' that guy talked about is bullshit! Saying the era of pirates chasing dreams is over... that's complete crap!"The mockery of passersby immediately flooded in: "Is this guy crazy? Why is he yelling so loudly?" "Maybe his brain is broken.""Duang!" The empty bottle was smashed hard onto the ground. Blackbeard stiffened his neck and roared, enunciating every word: "People's dreams... will not... disappear, right?"Luffy and Zoro, who had been listless, suddenly straightened up, brushed the dust off their bodies, and stared fixedly at Blackbeard.Passersby were still whispering: "What is he getting so excited about?" "What do people's dreams have to do with him?" The laughter was sparse.Blackbeard paid them no mind at all. He wiped his mouth and said with a self-deprecating smile: "Enduring idiots is naturally an unpleasant thing, Zehahaha.""Don't mind him, his brain is really broken!" The laughter of the passersby grew louder.Blackbeard slowly stood up, the fierceness on his body dissipating. He looked at Luffy with a hint of seriousness: "Let those fools laugh. Who among those who want to reach the summit hasn't encountered mindless provocations? Right?"Luffy's face was covered in blood, his eyes as calm as a deep pool; he didn't even hear Nami urging him to leave."Looks like I've interrupted."Blackbeard turned, picked up the packed cherry pie, walked two steps, then stopped. He turned back and added to Luffy:"I hope you can make it to Sky Island."After speaking, he swayed away, muttering to himself: "Zehahaha, today's alcohol is really good.""Let's go, Luffy."Mark called out, and only then did Luffy snap out of it. He took the Straw Hat handed to him by Mark, placed it on his head, and whispered: "That person... it can't be him!"Inside the resort room."What are you two doing? You're covered in injuries!" Her tone was full of helplessness."Don't move around, I still need to disinfect!" Chopper stood on tiptoes, carefully applying medicine to Luffy and Zoro."Let Nami tell you. I borrowed something from someone earlier, I'm going to go return it."Mark stood at the hotel entrance, smiled at his companions, and as he turned, a flash of red light flickered in his eyes.West of Mock Town, Resort Hotel (Bellamy's base)."So pathetic! They didn't even fight back after being beaten like that!"Bellamy's crew had just returned, still laughing loudly."That Marimo got hit in the face with a rotten apple I threw, and he didn't even dodge!""Should've made them bark like dogs!""Don't say that, they have a 'Sky Island dream' after all... Pfft, hahaha!"Bellamy sprawled on the sofa, laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up, and the others joined in the boisterous laughter."Boom—" The entire wall was suddenly blasted through. Amidst the smoke and dust, Mark walked out, his black hair dancing wildly in the wind, his eyes as cold as ice blades.The minions were startled at first, then looked at Bellamy and started mocking again: "What? A little lady coming for revenge?""Is it because you think your Captain is pathetic and you want to join our boss?"Mark's aura suddenly expanded, like an invisible giant wave. The minions instantly foamed at the mouth and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.Only Bellamy remained conscious. Looking at his subordinates fallen all over the floor, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his whole body tense: "Who are you? How are you so strong?""I never understood the Captain's approach," Markapproached step by step, his voice very light."Until I was lectured by Blackbeard earlier, and then I understood—" He crushed the glass beside his feet. The "crunch" sound was piercing, and Bellamyretreated repeatedly."But I'm just a small fry; I have no interest in reaching any summit."Mark stopped two meters in front of him, suddenly pressed a finger to his lips, and smiled like a harmless cat."By the way, let me tell you a secret: after killing Wapol, I found that I quite liked the feeling. I was just holding it in for fear that my companions would despise me.""You... don't come over!" Bellamy's voice trembled."Don't worry, I'll make you 'happy'." Mark smiled even more sweetly.For the next ten minutes, only Bellamy's shrill screams remained in the hotel.Mark straddled his back, grabbed his finger, and bent it backward: "What does 1+1 equal?"Bellamy was covered in blood, only one eye barely able to open, answering with a thread of breath: "2...""Crunch." The finger was bent 90 degrees, and Bellamy's scream pierced through the roof."That's not right. 1+1 equals 'King'." Mark patted his face. "Let me ask you again, does Sky Island exist?""Ah—!""Is our pirate crew pathetic?""No... no... please...""Crunch." Another crisp sound.Mark rubbed his temples, as if suddenly remembering something: "Oh right, you're called 'Hyena' Bellamy, right? Come on, bark like a dog and let me hear it."Half an hour later, Mark skipped out of the hotel. Bellamy wasn't dead, just had a few broken bones and was dislocated all over—find an old doctor to treat him, and he'd be fine soon.It's just unclear if this "Smirking Dragon King" will be able to curl his mouth up in the future.