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Chapter 39: Landing at Cocoa Village
"So you failed because you weren't prepared?" Luffy tilted his head, asking with interest.
He was curious about everything related to the Grand Line.
"No, it's all that man's fault!"
Gin walked over and stood beside Krieg. As he spoke, his lips trembled, as if contemplating a terrifying scene.
"The man with eyes as sharp as a hawk's appeared... Before we could figure out what was happening, the ships in our fleet sank one after another. It was a terrifying sight we couldn't believe was real!"
"One person... defeated all of you?" A cold sweat broke out on Luffy's brow upon hearing this, and he subconsciously turned to look at Zoro.
Is this the man you want to challenge?
"Ah, it must be him, the world's number one... I see, he's certainly amazing."
Zoro smiled in relief, his eyes seemingly burning with fire.
He was now completely convinced that the "opportunity" Ganyu had mentioned last night was referring to today.
The man he had been searching for was finally going to appear!
"Alright, enough fooling around!"
Krieg's rough roar interrupted everyone's thoughts. He took a few heavy steps forward, looking down on Luffy and Zoro from his superior height.
"I came here for food and a ship. I'm not interested in fighting other pirates. If you don't want to be blasted to bits by my weapons, then get lost right now!"
Luffy didn't answer, standing quietly, seemingly lost in thought.
Seeing him like this, everyone in the hall thought he was too afraid to speak because of Krieg's power.
Krieg thought he had backed down, chuckled lightly, then turned to look at Zoro.
For some reason, this man looked a little familiar.
It seems to be...
"What you do has nothing to do with us, and whether we leave has nothing to do with you."
Before Krieg could recall who the man was, Zoro spoke calmly.
He didn't want to fight anyone before Hawk-Eye arrived.
Of course, the most important thing was that his captain beside him hadn't given the order to start a war.
"Hmph!"
Krieg snorted coldly, ignoring Luffy and Zoro, and turned to look at the restaurant staff and chefs who were gradually emerging from the kitchen, his eyes turning cold.
"Prepare food for one hundred people immediately! Then, all of you, get off this ship!"
"You...!"
Hearing this, all the employees at the Baratie turned pale.
Not only did this man want to rob their restaurant, but he also wanted them to prepare food for the robbers?
How could they possibly agree to such an unreasonable request?
"We can't possibly prepare food for enemies who attack us!"
"That's right! If you don't have money, we won't provide any service. That's the rule of the Baratie!"
The crowd was indignant and refused loudly.
"Oh? You refuse me... It seems you've really misunderstood."
Krieg slowly raised one hand, and at the same time, the gun barrels and cannons all over his armor seemed to come to life, swiveling in unison, their cold metal glinting as they pointed at everyone present.
"I'm not looking at a menu and ordering... This is an order! No one is allowed to defy my orders!"
After he finished speaking, the hall fell deathly silent.
Everyone had witnessed the power of Krieg's armor and weapons, and under this absolute deterrence, no one dared to say a word in rebuttal.
Luffy and Zoro showed no sign of intervening, just stood by and watched silently.
However, Luffy's gaze remained fixed on the kitchen entrance, as if expecting someone to appear.
Clack, clack, clack.
Soon.
A man in a crisp black suit, his blond hair neatly combed, and a lit cigarette dangling from his lips, walked out of the kitchen with a blank expression.
He casually carried a huge, bulging sack in one hand, almost half as tall as he was. He walked up to Krieg and unceremoniously dropped it on the ground with a thud.
"Here's enough food for one hundred people. You can take it."
He blew out a ring of smoke, as if no one else was around, without even sparing Krieg a glance.
"Sanji!"
When everyone saw who it was, they gasped in surprise, their faces filled with confusion and worry.
"He's finally out."
Conversely, Luffy and Zoro smiled at the same time, anticipating that a good show was about to begin.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the sea.
After sailing through the night, the Going Merry finally approached the coastline of Cocoa Village.
"Most of this area is under the control of Arlong's gang, there aren't many safe places for us to land."
Nami served as the guide, directing Usopp at the helm. She led the Going Merry halfway around the island, finally docking in a secluded bay.
This place was located at the westernmost tip of the island and was rarely visited.
The coastline was flanked by dense forests, adjacent to steep cliffs facing the sea. You could jump directly from the deck of the Going Merry onto the cliffs.
Nami, Ganyu, Usopp, and Johnny and Yosaku, who had unexpectedly joined their team, disembarked one after another.
This morning, Ganyu had found Johnny and Yosaku half-asleep in the cabin.
She woke them up with two slaps, just as Zoro would wake up Luffy, and then told them everything.
Upon learning that their savior Nami's hometown had been occupied by pirates, they joined the fight without hesitation to repay Nami's kindness.
"Will there be any wild beasts hiding here?"
Usopp looked at the woods and couldn't help but shrink back.
Nami was the first to step into the forest. "What beast could be more terrifying than a Fish-Man? This is the safest landing spot."
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged a glance, then mustered their courage and followed.
They had only recently learned that Nami's hometown had been occupied by that group of Fish-Man pirates.
But Nami and Ganyu had cured Yosaku's scurvy with orange juice, and to repay their kindness, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and press on.
"With only the five of us, and without Zoro and Luffy, isn't it a bit dangerous to land on this island?"
Johnny glanced at Nami, Usopp, and Ganyu beside him.
Including him and Yosaku, there were five of them. Even if the four of them teamed up, they probably couldn't even beat one Fish-Man officer.
Only this blue-haired girl, whom even Big Bro Zoro didn't dare to provoke, seemed to have considerable strength.
"It is indeed very dangerous."
Usopp immediately proposed what he thought was the safest solution.
"It's best if we find a place to hide on the island for now and wait for Luffy and Zoro to arrive before making further plans, right?"
With the two main combat forces absent, their best option was to stay on the island and bide their time.
Nami nodded slightly, agreeing with Usopp's plan. "I'll take you to see my sister, Nojiko, first. You can stay there and wait for Luffy and Zoro."
"Big Sis Nami's house? That should be a safe place."
Usopp secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but then realized Nami's words hadn't included herself, so he asked, "It sounds like... you're not planning to stay with us? Do you have other plans?"
Hearing this, Nami fell silent for a moment.
Then.
Under the surprised gazes of the others, she slowly raised her hand, rolled up the cuff of her short-sleeved shirt on her left arm, and revealed the conspicuous blue tattoo on her fair skin.