At that moment, Ronan, Zoro, and Chopper slowly emerged from the shadows of the shipyard.
"So, you're still the same crybaby, huh, Koby?"
Zoro rested a hand on the hilt at his waist, a teasing smirk hanging at the corner of his lips.
Looking at the two men standing before him, Koby couldn't help recalling the hellish training he had endured these past months.
To master Soru, he had worn through countless pairs of boots.
To awaken Observation Haki, he had repeatedly thrown himself onto the brink of death.
Yet just moments ago, during that simple exchange with Luffy, he had felt an overwhelming helplessness—as though facing an endless abyss.
"Luffy-san… Zoro-san… I'm really glad I got to see you both today!"
Koby could no longer suppress himself. He suddenly dropped to his knees amid the rubble, tears pouring down like a broken dam.
It was hatred toward his own weakness, mixed with the joy of reunion.
Inside, he screamed silently:
"Trying to catch up to people like them… it's really… so difficult!"
But soon, he fiercely wiped away his tears. His gaze sharpened once more as he rose abruptly to his feet, letting out a roar from the depths of his soul:
"We'll become stronger too! We absolutely have to meet again in the New World!"
Without looking back, Koby sprinted toward the shore. Helmeppo, left behind, hurried after him while shouting toward Ronan's group:
"Oi! You guys better prepare yourselves! One day we'll shock all of you! Koby, wait for me!"
Luffy silently watched their figures disappear into the distance.
"Looks like you've gained another troublesome enemy, Luffy."
Zoro folded his arms, amusement flickering in his eyes like he was enjoying a show.
"Koby's a capable guy. I know that much."
Luffy turned toward Ronan.
"What do you think, Ronan?"
Ronan looked at Luffy with a gaze both crystal clear and cruelly honest.
"Luffy, what I'm about to say might upset you. But I have to tell you the truth."
His long spear rested horizontally in his hands, the spear tip scraping across the ground with a sharp metallic hum.
"From what I can see, Koby is still far too far behind to compare with us."
"Now or in the future, whether it's talent, opportunities, or so-called effort… he and us… exist on entirely different dimensions."
Ronan's voice remained calm, as though simply describing an unchangeable law of nature.
"Effort is the cheapest thing in this world."
"At Marine Headquarters, tens of thousands of people train desperately every single day. Yet only three can become Admirals."
"Even if Koby possesses sincerity, he doesn't have our 'path.'"
"Even if he walks far, he'll ultimately be crushed by us in a single blow. That's reality."
Luffy's expression stiffened slightly before he suddenly grinned again.
"Who knows what the future holds? But right now, we really are getting stronger crazy fast!"
"Forget about that."
Zoro turned around and looked toward the distant Red Line hidden beyond the seas, ambition blazing in his eyes.
"What truly interests me now is that 'New World.'"
Sunlight streamed through Dock One, dividing the earth into an intricate black-and-white checkerboard.
Far away, giant waves battered the breakwaters of Water Seven, each thunderous crash echoing like the pulse of this era itself.
"That's the sea where our dreams can truly run wild."
…
On the dog-headed Marine warship leaving Water Seven, heavy waves slammed against the hull.
Koby and Helmeppo leaned side by side inside the cabin. The sun was setting, yet neither of them looked relaxed.
"Luffy-san and the others… still looked so full of energy. That's really good."
Koby gazed toward the fading horizon, worry lingering in his voice.
"But I wonder if they truly understand how the world will view the Enies Lobby Incident now. That was an open declaration of war."
"Tch, they completely sank the Government's judicial island."
Helmeppo lowered his voice, his expression grave.
"But the Government will probably bury the matter of CP9's commander being killed."
"After all, if the defeat of their secret intelligence agency got out, it would only disgrace their justice."
Koby nodded.
"That's only natural. But I heard the higher-ups are absolutely furious about it."
Just as the two were speaking, Vice Admiral Garp's wrinkled face suddenly appeared outside the cabin window, practically pressed against the glass. Picking his nose, he roared loudly:
"What are you two brats yapping about?! If you think you can waste time lounging around like this, you're a hundred years too early! Neither of you are eating for an entire week!"
"Y-Yes! Vice Admiral!" The two nearly lost their souls in fright and instantly straightened up.
Meanwhile, back at Dock One, beside the bright-blue employee swimming pool of the Galley-La Company—
Charcoal crackled noisily atop the barbecue grill while the rich aroma of roasting meat drifted freely through the breeze.
Wearing a chef's hat, Sanji darted gracefully between the grills like a nimble black swallow, seasoning bottles dancing in his hands.
"Nami-saaaan! The finest barbecue has reached absolute perfection! Please come taste the flavor of love!"
In the water, a graceful silhouette was approaching.
Pink hearts already burned within Sanji's eyes. In his imagination, that silhouette belonged to Nami's dazzling, pearl-like beauty in a swimsuit.
However—
Splash!
A gigantic fish tail wearing a shell bra suddenly burst from the water.
Kokoro twisted her enormous mermaid tail and charged toward the shore with overwhelming momentum.
Laughing heartily, she snatched the grilled meat from Sanji's hands, her yellow teeth flashing brightly.
"Delicious, handsome boy! Your cooking's incredible!"
At that instant, it felt as though the evening sunlight itself had gone dark.
The cheerful music in Sanji's mind transformed into a tragic funeral dirge.
Still frozen in the pose of offering the meat, Sanji seemed to weather away like stone before collapsing face-first onto the tiles with a heavy thud, hammering the ground wildly with both fists.
"My dreams… my mermaid fantasy… it's shattered! Completely shattered into pieces!!"
Meanwhile, the atmosphere around the long table beside the pool was extremely lively.
Luffy, Ronan, Zoro, Usopp, and Chopper sat together, engaged in an eating competition fierce enough to rival a battle.
"So good! This is insanely good!"
Luffy's arms stretched wildly across the table like spinning windmills, sweeping through plate after plate.
Ronan bit into a chunk of juicy grilled meat, feeling the overflowing energy transform into warm currents of internal energy flowing through his body as he laughed.
"Sanji, make more. This isn't even enough to fill the gaps between Luffy's teeth."
Zoro gulped down strong liquor while glancing sideways at the depressed Sanji sprawled on the floor.
"Oi, curly-brows, why're you crying? You look pathetic."
"Shut up, moss-head! The smoke got in my eyes!"
Sanji instantly leapt up roaring before changing expressions at light speed and turning toward Robin with utmost gentleness.
"Robin-chan, I specially prepared these seasonings just for you. How's the taste?"
"It's very delicious, Sanji-san."
Robin elegantly sliced through the meat on her plate, a rare tranquility lingering in her eyes amid all the chaos.
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