Chapter 172 - 30

Chapter 30"No, actually, I just want to continue to enrich myself. After all, we will have to face more complex situations at sea when we enter the Grand Line in the future, and she needs to become a more excellent Navigator.""I, I just want to study with Luffy and make progress together. We are partners, after all!""Is the point studying together, or making progress together?"Nami felt her face flushing a bit.Boom!At this moment, the sound of cannon fire rang out outside."Hmm?""What's going on? Is it pirates or the Marine?""Let's go out and take a look."A group of people ran to the deck.Luffy saw three ships in the distance exchanging fire.Huge columns of water exploded on the surface of the sea not far away, and the spray from the cannonballs even splashed near the going merry."A naval battle?" Luffy was a bit distracted; under normal circumstances, he would have already flown over there.Up ahead, a pirate ship flying a ferocious skull flag was frantically pouring cannon fire onto the other two ships.One of them was a Marine warship!Beside it was a large, elaborately decorated sailing ship. Its hull was snowy white, its masts were towering, and most importantly, the flag hanging from its masthead was the flag of the World Government, which symbolized the highest power in the world!"It's a World Government ship?" Nami exclaimed.Do the pirates in the East Blue have the nerve to attack a ship bearing the World Government flag?[Warning, please proceed to the target area immediately...]Luffy instantly connected these things in his mind.The next target he needed to stay near was very likely on that ship.Time waits for no one!"Nami, I'm going over there first!""Eh? Wait a minute, Luffy! That's a World Government ship, it's very dangerous..." Namishouted hurriedly, but before she could finish, Luffy's extended hand had already grabbed onto the mast of that ship.At this moment, on the ship flying the World Government flag.The deck was in shambles.The guards had all been defeated, lying scattered in all directions.In their midst stood an old man, nervously shielding a red-haired girl behind him."Uta, there is a secret passage in my room that leads directly to the Germa 66 submarine under the ship. I'll hold them off, you run!""No, I can't..."Uta shook her head desperately.Completely different from her image as a shining diva on stage, her cheeks were flushed with a sickly crimson, her breathing was somewhat rapid, her bright purple eyes were a bit unfocused, and her body swayed slightly. It was clear she was running a high fever and was in an extremely weak state, standing only by sheer willpower."Time... is just right!"The voice in his ear stopped, and Luffy panted heavily, patting his Straw Hat.As he expected, the so-called next target was indeed here.Luffy looked around, shaking his head, realizing he seemed to be in the middle of several groups of people.What is going on?Luffy scanned the area, and his gaze landed on the diva not far away.Their eyes met."Uta?!?"Chapter 35 I hate pirates, but I don't hate you"It really is you, Uta."Luffy looked at Uta, whose ponytail-like hair was hanging down, and opened his arms as he spoke."It's me, it's me.""Who are you... could it be, Luffy?!"Uta's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief. Her hair, red on the right and light pink on the left, suddenly stood up in excitement.She lunged forward and hugged Luffy.Uta was Shanks's adopted daughter and Luffy's childhood playmate; they were genuine childhood sweethearts.Childhood sweethearts are like enemies from a past life, and the relationship between Luffy and Uta was just like that.Back when the Red Hair Pirates stayed in the village, because Luffy and Uta were about the same age, they quickly became close friends.They explored the village together, laughed and argued, and participated in all sorts of stupid challenges.The result was that Luffy lost more than he won every time.Uta was also the first one to call him an idiot. Now that Luffy had grown some brains, he recovered from the joy of their reunion, unable to wait to show her his new self.No one is going to be an idiot forever!"Why are you here?" Uta asked with some pleasant surprise."Because I just set sail..."Luffy grinned, wanting to show off a bit. This was only human nature, just like when friends haven't seen each other for many years, they always want to show off how they've been doing.He still really wanted to win against Uta just once."Set sail to become a pirate?" The expression on Uta's face changed."...What's wrong with you?""I hate pirates." Uta said, staring at Luffy after a moment of silence.After her hit song [New Genesis] became popular, she had interacted with many fans, and their lives had all been made a mess by those detestable pirates; perhaps this was just one of the reasons.Most importantly, Uta had been abandoned by the Red Hair Pirates, whom she had once regarded as family."But I don't hate Luffy, oh." Uta suddenly smiled and reached out to tug at Luffy's Straw Hat."Does not hating mean liking?""Hehe..." Uta gave Luffy a look.Luffy pouted and said, "I don't care if you like me or not, just compete with me a few more times later."Can you eat liking for a meal?Luffy still had a strong desire to win against Uta."Cough, cough... that will, will have to wait until I recover..." Uta seemed to feel a sense of security and leaned dizzily into Luffy's arms."...Are you sick?"Luffy brushed back Uta's bangs and touched his forehead to hers. Hiss, so hot.Uta looked dazed and appeared to have fainted.Luffy picked her up.The two of them seemed to be in their own world, causing the pirates and Marines in the distance to grit their teeth."What the hell is going on? Is that guy also a pirate?""Damn, damn, damn! What is the relationship between Uta and that guy?"On this sea, as long as there are benefits, people can unite; status is the least valuable thing.Pirates and Marines can cooperate as long as they reach an agreement on benefits.Just like Captain Nezumi and Arlongs Crew.The world is not just black and white; there is an endless expanse of gray."George, as we agreed before, I'll take Uta, and the rest of the things on the ship are yours." The Marine wearing a Marine Captain's cloak said."Geahahaha, rest assured, Captain Ando. I am a great pirate with a bounty of 50 million Berries. Don't you trust this reputation of mine?"Captain Ando was a fanatical fan of Uta.So fanatical, in fact, that he wanted to possess that voice for himself; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to cooperate with pirates."Does a high bounty for pirates correlate with their reputation?"Luffy raised an eyebrow. "I don't want to be associated with your reputation."After these words, Gordon and the others were stunned for a moment, looking seriously at the Straw Hat in front of them.Devil Muscle Blade George.A great pirate with a bounty of 50 million Berries in the first half of the Grand Line.Did a wanted criminal with a 50 million Berriesbounty actually appear here in the East Blue?What a joke."You take Uta and go; I'll stop them." Gordon could only pin his hopes on Luffy. He lowered his voice and repeated what he had said to Uta, because Utahad already fainted."Go where?""These pirates and Marines...""Rubber... Giant Whip!"Luffy picked up Uta and leaped into the air. His giant foot swept across, covered in deep, pitch-black color."What?!""Damn it, it's a Devil Fruit User!"The deck was cleared instantly. Whether they were pirates or Marines, they were sent flying as if hit by a high-speed Sea Train.They screamed, spitting out blood and teeth, tracing parabolas as they fell into the seawater one after another like dumplings."Rubber, Giant Whip Double Strike!"Following the same pattern, the Marine warshipand the pirate ship that were firing cannons nearby were kicked to pieces.After a series of operations, the pirates and Marines who had just been quite threatening were all dealt with."So, so strong..." Gordon was dumbfounded.A great pirate with a 50 million Berries bounty from the Grand Line, as well as a Marine Captain, were actually dealt with just like that?"Hey, old man, don't just stand there like a fool. Get a room ready for me." Luffy said somewhat anxiously.Uta's body temperature in his arms was frighteningly high, and her breathing had become irregular."Ah! Yes! Please follow me!"Gordon snapped back to reality, immediately turned around to lead the way, and hurriedly led Luffy across the wrecked deck and into the ship's interior.The luxurious cabin corridor still showed the former elegance of the ship, but at this moment, the air was filled with the faint scent of gunpowder and blood.Gordon pushed open a door decorated with musical score symbols: "This is Uta's room."The room was spacious and comfortable, warmly decorated, and filled with quite a few musical instruments and scores.Luffy carefully placed Uta on the soft large bed in the center and tucked the quilt in for her.Uta's body had always been relatively weak. After catching a draft at sea a few days ago, she started coughing, and the ship's doctor had instructed her to rest well.Unexpectedly, she had developed such a high fever now, but the ship's doctor was dead.Isn't that a coincidence?"Old man, please go and get the ship's doctor's medicine chest. And bring more ice packs." Luffysaid quickly."Are you a doctor?" Gordon asked in surprise."...I suppose so."