Chapter 323 - 34-46

In Cocoyasi Village, late into the third day of the banquet, as one person collapsed from exhaustion, everyone around them followed suit, falling into a deep sleep.

Lake, seeing this, couldn't help but sigh, "Three whole days! Are these guys only feeling tired now?"

Suddenly, Nami appeared beside Lake and said, "Everyone's been holding back for too long; this is a good way to let loose."

Lake turned to look at Nami, his gaze quickly drawn to the tattoo on her shoulder, because Nami's tattoo was no longer the one of Arlong's crew.

Instead, it was a tattoo that looked like a windmill. Nami noticed Lake's gaze and said, "I had the doctor re-tattoo it; it's an orange and a windmill."

Lake smiled and said, "An orange and a windmill...it suits you quite well."

Nami smiled back and said, "Thank you."

Lake naturally understood the multiple meanings in Nami's gratitude. He simply waved his hand and said, "When are you planning to leave?"

Nami thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow morning, I don't want everyone to know."

Lake immediately shattered Nami's plans, saying, "Your wish is going to be dashed, because the treasure here hasn't been found yet."

"Treasure? How could that be? I've been in Cocoyasi Village for so many years; if there's treasure, I couldn't possibly not know," Nami said doubtfully.

Lake, with a mysterious air, said, "It's the treasure you know about. We'll keep it a secret for now; we'll tell you tomorrow when everyone's here."

Nami, still confused, couldn't understand Lake's meaning. Seeing that he wouldn't tell her, she could only mutter under her breath, "You're so stingy!"

...

The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, the entire Straw Hat crew was 'gently' woken up by Nami. Luffy, with a head full of bumps, was completely bewildered when he was dragged to Nami's orange grove.

The rest of the crew woke up and followed Lake. At this point, Nami finally understood what Lake meant.

She hadn't expected that even the treasure chest she had bought earlier could be considered a treasure. Lake had explained his conditions for finding treasure before.

Upon closer inspection, the money she had buried could indeed be considered a treasure, so Lake skipped the explanation altogether.

Nami gave everyone a brief explanation, and Sanji was the most unsettled after hearing it, even though he had already learned about Lake's abilities through questioning.

But how could Lake affect a treasure chest whose contents were already known? It was too unbelievable. Even Zoro and Usopp, who had witnessed Lake's abilities, were somewhat skeptical.

Luffy, now fully awake, jumped up excitedly upon hearing about the treasure and immediately clung to Lake, saying, "Lake! Lake! You promised, you'd give it to me this time!"

Lake quickly pulled Luffy away, saying, "Okay, okay, if there's something suitable, I'll definitely give it to you."

Luffy didn't understand the hidden meaning in Lake's words; he only knew that Lake had promised him, and the joy on his face was even greater than when he found the melon and ham.

Because she was worried about damaging Nami's orange grove, Nami personally dug up the buried treasure chest this time, and it looked rather old.

At this moment, Lake's system voice rang out after a long absence.

"Treasure discovered! Grade confirmed... Lucky Partner +6 bonus in progress... Congratulations, host, you're blessed with incredible luck! The treasure's grade has been upgraded to the highest level, red!"

A red one! Another red one! Lake himself was extremely excited, and Luffy, seeing the red light emanating from the treasure chest, shouted excitedly.

"Red! Lake, I remember you said red was the best one, right? The one we got in Windmill Village was red!"

Lake, surprised that Luffy remembered, nodded and said, "That's right, we were really lucky this time!"

Nami, intrigued, asked, "So what treasure did you get from the red treasure chest?"

Hearing this, the remaining crew looked at Lake. Before Lake could explain, Luffy blurted out, "It's Lake's incredibly magical eye! Oh, and that incredible ring!"

"Hiss~"

What Luffy said was definitely true, but this honest answer left the crew somewhat bewildered.

The most amazing thing about Lake right now was his mysterious spatial ring, said to have a large space filled with treasure, something Nami had always coveted.

Another thing was Lake's eye. They still vividly remembered their battle with Lake and Hawkeye, and the memory still terrified them.

The reason Lake possessed such power was because of his eyes—the eyes called Divine Vision. Unexpectedly, both of these were obtained from the red treasure chest.

Now his companions were anything but calm. There was a red treasure chest right in front of them! Seeing their expectant looks, Lake simply reached out and opened it.

As the blinding red light dissipated, Lake casually waved his hand, storing various priceless gems into his spatial ring—a habit he'd developed.

Nami, witnessing this, gritted her teeth in anger, as that chest contained the treasures she had painstakingly collected over the years.

Lake, however, completely ignored Nami's murderous glare and focused his attention on the remaining items, because these were the main attraction.

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining the Staff of the Great Elementalist: The wielder will become the embodiment of the elements, mastering the power of ten elements. In battle, the wielder can transform into any elemental form, the strength and number of transformations varying depending on the wielder's strength."

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining the Hybrid Saiyan Bloodline: After use, the wielder will gain Saiyan-exclusive talents and abilities, including near-death resurrection with increased strength, explosive growth of S-cells, and potential talent enhancement, with a chance to transform into a Super Saiyan."

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining the Basic Haki Awakening Device: Activated after binding to a location, it only works within the host's faction. Touching the device will awaken all three types of Haki according to the wielder's talents."

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining the Demonic Power: One of the powers from Hell. After use, the wielder can connect their energy with hellish demons, gaining powerful demonic power. The strength of this power depends on the user's strength."

"Congratulations, host, you have obtained a red-themed exclusive treasure: Naming Magic. Any move you currently name, regardless of its strength or existence, can be used as a new move. PS: The bigger your imagination, the stronger your moves! Be a youth who defies definition!"

Exploded! This treasure is absolutely amazing!

Chapter 35: Nami, the Great Elementalist! Luffy, the Saiyan!After recovering from his initial surprise, Lake, as usual, immediately swept everything away with a wave of his hand.

However, the happy look on his face was impossible to hide, and his companions, seeing Lake's expression, naturally guessed that there must be something good.

So, one by one, suppressing their curiosity, they eagerly ran towards the Going Merry, because, according to Lake's habit,

he usually wouldn't announce finding treasure, good or bad, right away; he would usually make arrangements after returning to the Going Merry.

Seeing his companions running faster than him, Lake was amused and immediately sped up to catch up.

A moment later, the group arrived at the shore where the Going Merry was docked. By then, a crowd had gathered on the shore, all there to see Lake and his companions off.

Most of them were from Cocoyasi Village, and Nami was taken aback by the sight, but then she smiled and spoke.

"Everyone, don't stop! Anyone who falls behind will be left here!"

Everyone except Luffy understood Nami's meaning, but seeing everyone's excited expressions, Luffy assumed Nami wanted a race.

So he excitedly responded to Nami, and then the Straw Hat crew ignored the villagers on the shore, dodging and weaving their way onto the Going Merry.

This scene left the villagers who came to see them off completely bewildered, but by the time they came to their senses, the Going Merry had already sailed away.

The villagers, realizing what was happening, initially laughed and cursed, but as the Going Merry sailed further away, their words turned into gratitude and farewell.

Nami also waved goodbye to everyone at the stern. Given Nami's personality, a tearful farewell was completely out of place for her; this was much better.

But the truly exciting part was yet to come. Lake called everyone over, because he was going to distribute the treasure.

After careful consideration, Lake realized that the system understood nurturing. Although the red treasure chest had been a huge explosion, the distribution of the treasures was perfectly tailored to the three people who hadn't received much help from Lake before.

While Usopp's Destruction and Zoro's Legacy were both obtained from gold treasure chests, the red treasure chest was clearly of lower quality.

Lake believed the reason was that increasing the quantity would ensure everyone received his benefits, thus eliminating concerns about uneven distribution.

Everyone quickly gathered around, and Lake began distributing. First, naturally, was his little Nami. Lake took out the Great Elementalist's Staff from his spatial ring.

Its shape was quite unique, with the handheld part in the center and two golden, six-pointed star-like ends, radiating a peculiar glow.

After handing it to Nami, Lake began to explain, "This is called the Staff of the Great Elementalist. It's a weapon that suits you, and it's extremely powerful."

Nami's eyes lit up at Lake's words. She examined the strangely shaped stick in her hand with obvious delight. Lake smiled and continued,

"However, you'll need to figure out its specific uses yourself, as its abilities are rather unique and somewhat complex, but I believe it won't be a problem for you."

Nami nodded, carefully examining her future weapon. Luffy, his eyes practically red with envy, despite his less-than-stellar memory.

He remembered these things very clearly; he'd been envious for a long time of Nami's ability to fire a gun with her fingers.

Now Nami had gotten something new again. Although it didn't look particularly appealing, it sounded incredibly powerful according to Lake's description.

This was Luffy's current thought. Seeing Luffy's expression, Lake was afraid he'd suddenly rush at him and tear off his clothes, so he immediately took out another treasure.

It was a small test tube filled with a bright red liquid—the blood of a half-Saiyan. To Lake's surprise, his crewmates all showed uncomfortable expressions as soon as he took it out.

Lake, however, didn't react at all, so he directly asked Zoro, who was frowning. Zoro shook his head and said...

"I don't know what's wrong, but that thing in your hand feels really oppressive."

Sanji chimed in, "It's like, it's like there's a really powerful guy standing in front of me, it makes me feel uncomfortable."

Lake listened to his crewmates' reactions and pondered for a moment. To be honest, he really wanted to drink it himself; after all, drinking it would make you the only Saiyan in the world.

Not only would your talent and potential be greatly enhanced, but you might even become a monstrous Super Saiyan in the future—a true cheat code.

After thinking for a while, Lake decided to give it to Luffy. He opened the bottle and told Luffy to open his mouth. Luffy opened his mouth wide without hesitation.

Lake poured the liquid directly into Luffy's mouth. After swallowing, Luffy licked his lips and said, "Ugh~ What is this stuff? It doesn't taste good~"

Seeing no excessive reaction, Lake was relieved and explained, "This is a special bloodline called Saiyan. You can think of it as another race."

Usopp exclaimed in shock, "So Luffy isn't human anymore?"

Luffy exclaimed in surprise, "Then will I become a monster?!"

Lake thought carefully and nodded, saying, "You two are right... Luffy is indeed no longer human, but a member of a race called Saiyan. As for whether he'll become a monster, look behind you."

Everyone looked behind Luffy, then gasped in surprise.

"A tail?!"

Luffy only then noticed that he had grown a tail. His feelings were quite conflicted; on one hand, he was worried about becoming a monster, but on the other hand, it looked really cool.

Lake, quite calmly, began explaining the advantages of the Saiyan race. After his explanation, everyone understood except for Luffy, who had become a Saiyan.

Zoro: "I never thought there was such a monstrous race... They become even stronger after near-death experiences."

Sanji: "Does that mean this guy's appetite is going to increase again! He's already a monster even without transforming."

Nami: "He might go berserk when he sees the moon... But thankfully, Luffy is only sleeping at night."

Usopp: "Super Saiyan! That sounds so cool! If Luffy really transforms, will he become Superman?"

Luffy: "Huh? What are you guys talking about? Will I become a monster or Superman? But... hehehe! I'm excited no matter what I become!"

Chapter 36 Devil Sanji, the Straw Hat Crew's Exclusive PerkOn the Going Merry, Luffy and Usopp were dancing a dance they'd learned from somewhere, excitedly imitating gorilla roars. Seeing this, Lake wasn't worried anymore.

Next came the final act. Lake called Sanji over, who was stunned when Lake summoned him, as he was the newcomer.

Although he knew of Lake's extraordinary abilities, he didn't believe that someone who had just joined could get such amazing treasures from Lake.

Little did he know, Lake had long understood his personality; distrust was impossible on this ship.

Seeing Lake produce more amazing items, the crew immediately gathered around, even those that weren't theirs were very interested.

After all, Lake always produced unheard-of amazing treasures, and while the treasures Lake had produced before were at least tangible...

This time, it was the most abstract: a ball of green light. Since this was for Sanji, Lake needed to explain the pros and cons before letting Sanji decide.

If it were for Luffy, Lake would have simply given it to him first and then explained—that's the captain's position on the ship.

"It might sound a bit far-fetched, but this thing is a power from hell, demonic power!"

Lake's words caused everyone to gasp again, waiting for him to explain further. Lake didn't mince words because he didn't know the specifics either.

He could only give Sanji a heads-up, like when he passed on his power to Zoro, since he didn't know what would happen after using it.

Then he'd let Sanji decide. Faced with this unknown thing, and the terrifying-sounding demonic power at that, Sanji hesitated.

Just then, Zoro spoke up sarcastically, "If you're so conflicted, just give it to me. Hell or demon, I'll take any power you want. You should just stick to being a cook; fighting isn't for you."

Zorro's words were laced with arrogance and mockery. Sanji, whether provoked by Zoro or having made up his mind, didn't know.

He took the green orb of light from Lake and said, "I'm a cook... but to uphold and protect my chivalry, I need greater power to protect all the ladies in the world!"

With that, Sanji unhesitatingly brought the orb of light close to his heart. This kind of power, which sounded like something from the underworld, would undoubtedly come at a price.

Sure enough, the next second Sanji collapsed to the ground, his entire body engulfed in blue flames resembling will-o'-the-wisps. Then his appearance began to change.

His skin turned pitch black, the whites of his eyes became completely black, his pupils turned red, and a horn even grew from his forehead. These were just the physical changes.

Sanji appeared to be in immense pain, his entire body trembling uncontrollably, beads of sweat pouring down his forehead.

His companions all looked worried. Lake frowned at the sight; he was the one who had given him the item, and if something were to happen, how would he handle the situation?

Having grown accustomed to the group's carefree adventures, Lake had never considered the consequences of someone dying on board, and he dared not even think about it.

So, Lake mentally voiced his dissatisfaction to the system. Surprisingly, the system, which usually only responded when discussing treasure, actually answered him this time.

"Due to an unexpected error in the system's description, the system has been corrected. As compensation, the host will receive a random treasure map. Would you like to claim it?"

Lake himself was surprised that his simple complaint had actually elicited a response from the system. He felt he had struck gold this time. However, seeing Sanji lying on the ground in pain, Lake immediately blamed the system.

After some time, Sanji's condition gradually returned to normal. The flames on his body began to fade, and Sanji's expression improved considerably.

Seeing that everything seemed normal, Lake finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sanji quickly returned to his original form, and Luffy and Usopp immediately rushed forward to inquire about the changes.

Sanji, as if waking from a dream, checked his body and then laughed, saying, "Excellent, I feel a very strong power within me."

At this moment, Zoro's taunt reappeared: "Oh, really? Looking at you, I thought you were about to die."

Sanji turned to Zoro with a disdainful expression and started arguing. Their bickering was a daily occurrence, and everyone was used to it.

However, this time, the two seemed serious. Zoro gripped his Wado Ichimonji, his eyes sharp, and an invisible gust of wind seemed to surround him.

Sanji's pupils turned red, and faint blue flames seemed to ignite beneath his feet. The next second, the two attacked simultaneously.

"One-Sword Style: Tornado Flash!"

"Diable Jambe: Level 1 Meat Grinder!"

A terrifying sword aura, like a tornado, collided with Sanji's continuous blue flame kicks, clashing for a moment before exploding simultaneously.

Boom!

The force of the blow even cracked the railing of the Going Merry. Although both men were holding back, they couldn't escape a beating.

As expected, just as the two were exchanging sarcastic compliments, Nami teleported behind them and delivered a fatal punch to each of them.

This scene made Lake wonder if Nami had some kind of rule when it came to her own people. Nami, who hadn't even mastered Armament Haki, had managed to beat Luffy black and blue; Lake had had this question ever since.

Now it seemed Nami did indeed have some special rules when disciplining her own crew. Luckily, he had a good relationship with Nami and had hardly ever been beaten up since joining the crew.

Now that all the treasures had been distributed, Lake still had one big one to show off. So, striking while the iron was hot, Lake immediately took out the basic Haki awakening device from his spatial ring.

This thing looked like a simple stand with a round sphere fixed on it. If the sphere had some patterns on it, it could be used as a globe.

Seeing there were still some good items, everyone naturally crowded around again. Lake coughed twice, as if auctioning off something, and then proudly announced:

"Please allow me to introduce our Straw Hat crew's exclusive perk for the future: a beginner-level Haki awakening device!"

Lake had already explained the theory of Haki to everyone beforehand; in fact, it was a rule he set—the first thing to do upon boarding was to learn and broaden one's horizons.

So when they heard Lake introduce the name of this thing, everyone was once again utterly astonished. After a moment, they even began to question whether they should be surprised, because they were completely stunned.

Chapter 37: Queuing Up to Awaken Haki, Lake's Self-AwarenessWithout hesitation, Lake installed this thing on the Going Merry. The user-friendly system told him it was a recyclable item, primarily bound to an organization associated with him.

No introduction needed; everyone lined up to experience it. First up was Sanji, who hadn't awakened any Haki yet. The moment he touched the black sphere...

Sanji's eyes brightened considerably. After a moment of stunned silence, he turned to Lake and asked, "Is this Haki?"

Lake smiled and nodded. He didn't know why Sanji asked, but who cared? He'd just pretend.

However, after sensing it, Lake realized that Sanji had awakened both Observation Haki and Armament Haki, and to a considerable degree.

It seemed this thing was indeed related to talent. Unfortunately, he hadn't awakened Conqueror's Haki. Next up was Luffy, who cut in line.

Well, everyone spoiled him. Luffy excitedly placed his hand on it, and the next second, a terrifying burst of Haki erupted from him.

Lake had anticipated this, so he immediately unleashed his Conqueror's Haki to disperse it. Luffy, still bewildered, could only look at Lake with confusion.

Lake explained, "That's Conqueror's Haki. Congratulations, Luffy, you've awakened Conqueror's Haki! No wonder you're destined to be the Pirate King."

Although Luffy still didn't quite understand, he smiled and scratched his head upon hearing Lake's praise, saying, "Hehehe! I don't know what happened, but I feel like I've become stronger."

Next was Zoro. Following the same steps, sure enough, an invisible power erupted after Zoro touched it.

However, compared to Luffy's pure Conqueror's Haki, Zoro's Haki was rather weak and somewhat strange.

Seeing Zoro's furrowed brow, Lake knew he himself didn't understand what was happening, so he changed the subject, asking, "How are you feeling, Zoro?"

Zoro had always been the most diligent person on the ship. Ever since Lake helped him awaken Observation Haki, Zoro had been constantly studying and improving it.

Therefore, if he had become stronger, he would have felt it very deeply. Hearing Lake's words, Zoro immediately closed his eyes, then opened them after a while and said,

"My Observation Haki and Armament Haki have both improved. This thing is amazing..."

Lake nodded in satisfaction. Initially, he thought this thing only helped awaken Haki, but would it also improve someone who had already mastered basic Haki?

Now it seemed there was indeed an improvement, but the system's previous introduction was a simplified version, and Lake himself didn't know many of its functions.

Next was Usopp. Usopp, who already possessed a special talent for Observation Haki, also gained a lot this time, his Observation Haki surpassing Luffy's and approaching Lake's level.

Keep in mind that this was without using Destruction. If Destruction were used, Usopp's Observation Haki would even surpass Lake's current level.

However, his Armament Haki was rather pathetic. He had definitely awakened it, but the level of mastery...

Lake had Usopp try to gather and use it, but all he managed to do was create a black hand, a sight that gave Lake a headache.

Awakening is possible, but the degree of awakening depends on talent. Clearly, Usopp's talent in Armament Haki is lacking.

Nami, following closely, is similar to Usopp; her Observation Haki has improved, but her Armament Haki can't even produce a Black Hand.

Finally, only Lake is left. This opportunity for improvement only comes once, so naturally, he can't let it slip by. Therefore, Lake goes straight to the black sphere.

The instant his palm touches it, Lake clearly feels the three forces within him being drawn and erupting. This feeling directly raises all three types of Haki by a small level.

The instant his Conqueror's Haki increases, his companions around him feel the pressure. Only then does Lake understand why this awakening device is so powerful.

It feels like the power hidden within you has been instantly found and pulled out by this thing.

It's like being fed food right in front of your mouth; if you don't know how to eat, that's unreasonable. That's the ability of this device; it's incredibly powerful.

Now that all the treasures have been distributed, the crew has returned to normal. Sanji went back to the kitchen, Luffy and Usopp continued their playful antics, Nami went back to her room to study the sea chart, and Zoro did handstand push-ups.

Lake also began to reflect on his current state, starting with his greatest trump card: Motion Vision, which allows him to face even the strongest opponents without fear.

The adventures of this period have allowed Lake to basically master the conditions for using Motion Vision. It can be said that there are very few restrictions, but not none at all.

For example, if Lake wanted to use Luffy's ability, Motion Vision could, but he could only mimic the characteristics and techniques, not possess the same power.

This means that if Lake were in battle and used Gum-Gum Gatling, he could perfectly utilize the properties and appearance of the rubber, but the power would be less than Luffy's.

This is because at this moment, the power of the technique used by Lake is tied to himself. However, if Luffy were fighting alongside him, or if Luffy were the one fighting...

Therefore, when Lake uses Luffy's techniques, the effect becomes greater than the sum of its parts (1+1>2). Lake will not only possess the same power as Luffy but also gain his own strength.

This is why it's said that Lake won't lose against any enemy, no matter how strong. Of course, there's another prerequisite for all this: his stamina.

When facing an opponent with a greater power imbalance, copying their abilities consumes more stamina, and Lake's solar magic is his foundation.

During his previous fight with Hawkeye, Lake roughly estimated how long his solar magic could currently provide him with maximum stamina. These two are his biggest trump cards.

The rest, whether it's Asahi, Ebony, or Ivory, are still in the development stage. Only when Lake fully masters them will they truly become his power.

Now, his crewmates have all been modified by Lake, making them several levels stronger than they were at this point in the original storyline.

This also means that many things that will happen in the future will deviate from the future that Lake knew in the original storyline—this is the butterfly effect.

From the moment Lake, an element not belonging to this world, appeared, the butterfly effect began, and this impact will only grow larger with Lake's increasing activity.

In the end, everything may exceed Lake's imagination, so in order to face the altered future, and to protect the only friendship he has in this world, he must become stronger!

Chapter 38 The Bounty for Everyone Arrives, My First Time in Fame"Another price increase? You're getting more and more expensive! If you raise the price again, I won't buy it!"

Nami reluctantly slipped Chopper's money into the seagull delivering the newspaper. The seagull took the money and flew away as if fleeing.

Lake, seeing this, found it somewhat amusing and went over to Nami, saying, "It's just a newspaper..."

But before he could finish, Nami raised her little fist at Lake and said, "This is something I buy every day! Little by little, it adds up, you know!"

Lake immediately shut up. Nami snorted and started flipping through the newspaper, but a stack of wanted posters flew out as soon as she opened it.

Lake quickly caught them all and laid them flat on the deck. Seeing who was on the wanted poster, Lake smiled proudly.

Straw Hat Boy, Monkey D. Luffy, Bounty: 30 million Berries! Luffy's wanted poster photo was unsurprisingly unchanged, showing him as a sunny and cheerful young man.

Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro, Bounty: 17 million Berries! Zoro's photo showed him right after defeating Hachi, with a cool expression.

Black Leg, Sanji, Bounty: 10 million Berries! Sanji's photo was a bit outrageous; it only showed his back, completely obscuring his face—who was he to have a bounty on?

Sniper, Usopp, Bounty: 6 million Berries! This is probably the first time Usopp has become famous for his face; in the photo, he's standing with his hands on his hips, looking incredibly proud.

Cat Burglar, Nami, Bounty: 3 million Berries! Nami's photo is still irresistible; it seems she was tricked into posing in a sexy way for a photoshoot.

Demon, Lake, Bounty: 44.44 million Berries! Lake in the photo lives up to the Navy's nickname—his fierce expression is terrifying. This is him threatening a rat.

Because of Lake's instigation, the entire Straw Hat crew has bounties on their heads before even entering the Grand Line. Even Nami, who hasn't had any outstanding achievements, is now wanted because she's with Lake.

While the bounties aren't very high, they're quite good for a rookie pirate crew that's just set sail. And Lake's bounty clearly shows the rat's interference.

At least the result was good. The Straw Hat crew is now famous, at least in the East Blue. And the crew members, seeing their bounties, started causing a ruckus.

Luffy: "Hehehe! Thirty million Berries! Great! But why is Lake's bounty higher than mine? I'm the captain! I don't care, Lake, I'll surpass you next time!"

Zoro: "Only seventeen million? Far from it! I'll make my name resound until heaven hears it!"

Sanji: "Why! Why! Why did my picture only show my back?! All the ladies in the world missed my handsome face!"

Usopp: "Ah! I got a bounty! I'm doomed, I'll be targeted... But how did they know I'm a sniper? They really have an eye for talent! Hahaha..."

Nami: "What?! It wasn't a photoshoot after all! I posed for ages, seriously!"

Lake: "That 'demon' thing is awful! How could the Navy slander a kind and gentle boy like that? No way! Next time, they have to change it!"

While the Straw Hat crew was still oblivious to their bounties, things were in chaos outside.

A pirate crew that hadn't even entered the Grand Line, and was still in the East Blue, had managed to have all its members with bounties—this was a huge shock within the entire pirate crew.

Immediately, many people began secretly investigating, and the Navy also investigated before issuing the bounties.

The results were astonishing. They hadn't expected that this group, in such a short time, had defeated so many established pirates.

Even more outrageous, they discovered that Lake had fought Hawkeye, and supposedly even injured him?! This news immediately made the Navy uneasy.

They immediately contacted Hawkeye to confirm, and to their surprise, it was indeed true. This series of events, coupled with Colonel Rat's extremely cruel description of the Straw Hat crew, had led to…

Lake was even portrayed by Rat as a ruthless villain, prompting Marine Headquarters to issue bounties on the entire Straw Hat crew.

Lake was being closely monitored, as evidenced by his bounty. It wasn't just Rat; the Marines wanted this unpredictable element dead as soon as possible.

Marine Headquarters, Windmill Village, Isshin Dojo, Syrup Village, the Baratie, and Cocoyasi Village all experienced minor incidents due to the bounty notices.

Only poor Lake, alone and without family in this world, received attention from those who wanted him dead; no one was truly happy for him.

Back on the Going Merry, aside from Luffy and Usopp still singing and cheering with their arms around each other, everyone else was busy with their own affairs.

Sanji was preparing dinner in the kitchen, Nami was reading the newspaper on a deckchair, Zoro was dozing off at the stern, and Lake, bored, sat on the deck, propping his chin up with his hands and watching Nami.

His gaze gradually drifted, and those two small, white feet quickly occupied Lake's mind. Some time passed like this.

When Lake came to his senses, he looked up and found Nami looking at him with a half-smile. Lake's face flushed red, and without hesitation, he slapped himself and cursed.

*Slap!*

"All that talk about jade feet will only ruin you! Wake up!"

Of course, these words were directed at himself. After saying that, he quickly left. Nami breathed a sigh of relief when Lake left, a faint blush appearing on her face.

After dinner, Lake shamelessly approached Nami again, pretending nothing had happened. This time, he came to ask about something important.

Their next stop was crucial, as it was the last stop before entering the Grand Line, and also the most famous place in the East Blue.

Loguetown, also known as the "Town of Beginnings and Ends," is where the Pirate King Gol D. Roger was executed, and Luffy has always cherished this place.

Lake was also quite concerned, after all, there was still a gatekeeper waiting for them. In the original storyline, only Luffy had a bounty, and Smoker made a big fuss about it.

Now, it goes without saying that the gatekeeper would be waiting for them as soon as they arrived in Loguetown. Of course, this wasn't a big deal.

You have to understand that the Straw Hat crew's strength is among the top in the first half of the Grand Line; dealing with a mere Smoker would be a piece of cake.

Chapter 39: Not a single normal person on the ship; arrival in Loguetown."We can see the coastline!"

"How many people?"

"No Marines in sight, but quite a few pirate ships."

"Looks like the news hasn't reached us yet. That's good! Keep observing."

"Roger!"

After ending his conversation with Usopp, Lake looked at his serious-faced companions and smiled helplessly.

"Don't be so tense. It seems the Marines haven't received the news yet. We're in a pretty good situation right now. Learn from Luffy and relax."

The companions all looked at Luffy again, who was blankly picking his nose. Instantly, no one was tense anymore.

Seeing everyone relax a bit, Lake said, "Although we're both wanted now, the news shouldn't spread that fast. Just be careful not to cause too much of a commotion, understand, Luffy!"

As he spoke, Lake saw Luffy trying to get some boogers on his clothes, so he gave him a murderous glare.

Seeing he'd been discovered, Luffy immediately sat up straight, pouted, and glanced to the side, saying, "Ah~ I know."

Lake, already used to Luffy's loot-hunting antics, sighed and addressed everyone again, "This trip to Loguetown is mainly for the final gathering. Everyone, buy everything you need and what you need on the ship at once. Then, meet on the Going Merry, and we'll set off for the Grand Line!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, except for Luffy, who completely ignored Lake's words. He just wanted to get to the place where the Pirate King was executed.

Lake didn't care. Luffy was incredibly lucky; even if Lake himself died, Luffy wouldn't be in any danger. Besides, Luffy's father was still in Loguetown; there was no need for him to worry.

Next came the money collection, but this part inexplicably shifted to Nami. Although Lake had suggested the plan, everyone's eyes turned to Nami as soon as money was mentioned.

Nami's attempt to slip through the cracks failed, and she could only tearfully distribute a bag of Berries to everyone—a surprisingly generous amount.

While Nami was reluctant to do things that concerned the overall interests of the crew, she knew her limits. However, when it was Lake's turn to receive his share, Nami immediately protested.

She grabbed Lake's ear and yelled, "You dare ask me for money! Lake, you're asking for trouble!"

Seeing this, the crew members all obediently backed away and left the cabin. Only Sanji kept turning back, gritting his teeth and shouting, "Damn it! Why does Lake get Nami-san's special treatment? I'm so envious!"

Zoro, hearing Sanji's words and glancing at Lake being scolded by Nami, couldn't help but shudder, thinking Sanji had some peculiar hobby.

This time, Sanji noticed too, and the two started arguing again, their argument escalating until they threatened to fight outside.

Luffy and Usopp, always eager for a good show, followed him out arm in arm, wanting to watch the spectacle. A while later,

Lake, his face swollen like a pig's head, proudly emerged from the cabin, followed by a blushing but furious Nami.

Lake's expression stemmed from his unexpected windfall. While Nami was dealing with him, she tried to steal his spatial ring.

Caught red-handed, Lake retaliated, attempting to teach Nami a lesson. Nami, not to be outdone, also went for it. Their faces got so close that, somehow, Lake kissed her.

Both were stunned. Recovering from her shock, Nami slapped Lake hard, sending him flying through the air before crashing to the ground.

This explains Lake's proud expression despite his beating. Meanwhile, the others on deck weren't idle either.

Luffy and Usopp, who had initially come to watch the spectacle, became too brazen and arrogant, prompting Zoro and Sanji to turn their attention to them.

A chaotic brawl ensued, with Usopp inevitably getting punched. The final result was...

Zoro and Sanji both had varying degrees of "minor injuries," Luffy looked happy but his head was covered in bumps, and Usopp was the worst off, sprawled on the deck, oblivious to his fate.

Nami, watching the restless group outside, helplessly patted her head. Even in his condition, Luffy couldn't resist mocking Lake's swollen face.

This resulted in another beating from Lake. Finally, Nami shouted that they were there, and Lake let Luffy go. No matter how much he was beaten, Luffy remained completely unrepentant.

Thus, the Straw Hat crew didn't need any special disguise and swaggered into Loguetown, because everyone except Nami had been forced to wear makeup.

After everyone dispersed, Lake rubbed his face, recalling the scene from earlier, and a smug smile returned to his lips.

This scene was witnessed by passing sailors. Noticing Lake's strange behavior, they immediately surrounded him and questioned him.

"Who are you! Why are you at the port? These are extraordinary times; don't you know the port is restricted to entry and exit?!"

Lake, hearing this, replied, "Excuse me, young sailor, I'm new here on business and don't know the situation yet. You see…"

As he spoke, Lake pretended to approach and discreetly handed a heavy bag to the man who had questioned him. The man, not to be outdone, accepted Lake's bribe without batting an eye.

The man then coughed twice and said, "Let it go this time. Hurry up and go inside. Don't show your face on the shore again. If Colonel Smoker finds you, it won't be so simple."

Lake, of course, wasn't going to leave so easily. He had paid for this; he'd be missing out if he didn't get some information out of him. So, Lake smiled obsequiously and asked…

"Hey Navy buddy, I just got back. What's going on in Loguetown lately? Everything was fine when I left, why is the coast suddenly sealed off?"

The other man wasn't impatient with Lake's question, having already received a bribe. He explained directly, "Recent intelligence indicates a large number of pirates have gathered in Loguetown, seemingly plotting something. Captain Smoker plans to wipe them out, which is why he ordered the coast sealed off."

Upon hearing this, Lake began to ponder. This didn't seem to be part of the original storyline; it appeared the butterfly effect had caused changes again.

Seeing Lake still wouldn't leave, the Marines started shooing him away, shouting, "If you know that, hurry up and leave! Stop dawdling, we still have patrols to do!"

As they spoke, the Marine tried to move Lake, but found he couldn't budge him at all. Just as he was about to lose his temper, he suddenly lost consciousness.

Chapter 40 The Bar Owner of Loguetown, Lake's Witness"This seems to be the place? It's really hard to find." Lake wandered around Loguetown before finally finding the small shop in a back alley.

It was dilapidated and pitch black, looking like a run-down shop. If it weren't for the Gol D. Roger sign above the door, Lake would have doubted he'd come to the wrong place.

He scanned the shop and only spotted an old man, who looked quite elderly, but the man was anything but friendly.

His first words to Lake were: "Get lost! This isn't a place for a brat like you."

Lake didn't mind, walking straight to the old man, pulling out a stool, sitting down, and then picking up another glass of wine from the table and drinking.

Seeing this, the old man didn't say anything more. After drinking another cup, he said, "Hurry up and leave after you finish, this shop is about to close."

Lake looked at the old man and asked, "Is it because there are no customers?"

The old man snorted coldly, then turned and walked towards the counter, saying as he went, "It's because I'm not planning to open it anymore."

At this point, the old man suddenly looked at Lake and asked, "Kid, are you a pirate too?"

Lake nodded and said, "Sort of."

The old man then let out a disdainful sound and said, "Ever since Roger was executed here 22 years ago, the Great Pirate Era began. Anyone with a bit of skill has gone off to become a pirate, even a brat like you."

Lake didn't mind the old man's sharp tongue, laughing as he said, "So what? Going to sea is all about freedom, isn't it? Nothing's more desirable than freedom, isn't it?"

The old man froze, stunned by Lake's words. After a moment, he chuckled and said, "I never thought I'd hear that from a kid."

The old man then looked at Lake and asked, "Kid, is your dream to become the Pirate King?"

Lake shook his head, denying it. "That's my captain's dream. I just want a free life and to do my best to change things."

"I see. To have such awareness at such a young age... but someone who can earn your approval to be captain must be extraordinary."

"That guy... hahaha, certainly extraordinary."

After that, for some reason, Lake started chatting with the old man, telling him everything without any reservations.

Although surprised, the old man quickly accepted it and told Lake his name: Dodd Len.

This was a name even Lake, a die-hard fan of the original story, had never heard of. Upon learning that Lake and his crew were preparing to travel to the Grand Line, the old man became quite excited.

Finally, Lake received an unexpected bonus from him: besides the various fine wines he had purchased, he also received a nautical logbook.

Although unsigned, judging from the old man's expression, it must have been quite valuable to him. Just as Lake was about to leave, another customer entered the shop.

Short silver hair, a white coat, a uniquely styled weapon slung across his back, and two cigars always dangling from his mouth—it was unmistakable who Smoker was.

Lake ignored him and walked straight outside. Smoker, though a little puzzled by the man, wasn't one to cause trouble and didn't think much of it.

The old man immediately gave Smoker a sour look, but Smoker didn't seem to mind and simply sat down to drink.

Suddenly, a Marine pushed open the door and shouted rudely, "Hey! This is a new bounty poster! Post it somewhere conspicuous!"

Before he finished speaking, the Marine saw Smoker and immediately saluted, saying, "Captain Smoker! My apologies!"

However, Smoker had no time to pay attention to him, because he saw the bounty poster lying on the ground: "Demon Lake, Bounty: 44.44 million Berries."

"That kid just now... immediately notify everyone to assemble! The Straw Hat crew has appeared in Loguetown, search with full force!"

"Yes, sir!"

Smoker quickly left after saying that, while the old man silently picked up the wanted poster on the ground, smiled when he saw the photo on it, and said,

"Hahaha! What did he do to shame the Navy to be hated like this?"

He then posted the wanted poster on the pillar in the middle of the shop, saying, "Looks like this shop can't close yet, kid. Let this old man see what kind of storm you can stir up on this sea."

Lake, of course, was unaware of all this. He was currently searching for his crewmates everywhere, and Smoker's appearance meant that the guy was about to start making arrests.

At this time, those troublesome guys were still out there fooling around. If they got caught, it would be a real problem, so Lake didn't dare to delay and began searching for his crewmates in Loguetown.

Not long after, he saw Nami coming out of a clothing store, followed by Usopp carrying a huge pile of clothes. Lake immediately told them to return to the Going Merry and prepare to depart; it was no longer safe here.

Nami and Usopp didn't ask any questions and immediately ran towards the shore. Lake searched around for the rest of them but couldn't find them. Just as he was about to head straight to the execution platform to find Luffy...

They bumped right into Zoro as he emerged from the Marine base, carrying a mop. Zoro, caught off guard by the unexpected encounter with Lake, was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to explain his current state.

Lake, exasperated, grabbed Zoro and dragged him away, heading straight for the execution platform. Letting Zoro return to the Going Merry alone would almost certainly lead to trouble.

Just as they reached the platform, they ran into Sanji carrying a giant fish. Lake immediately recognized it as his prize.

Without further ado, he stored the entire fish in his spatial ring and told the two, "Once you find Luffy, head straight back to the Going Merry. I've already informed Nami and Usopp."

Seeing Lake's serious expression, Zoro and Sanji nodded. The three were still searching for Luffy when, as they approached the execution platform, they looked up and witnessed a truly classic scene.

Yes, it was that man again, Buggy the Clown with his lucky-colored Haki, while their clever captain was held captive on the execution platform, unable to move.

Seeing this, Zoro and Sanji were about to act rashly, but Lake stopped them, saying, "Wait... something's not right."

Sure enough, the next second, a large number of Marines suddenly appeared and surrounded the area. Smoker, leading the way, and Tashigi, holding a sword beside him, slowly walked towards the execution platform.

Chapter 41 Smoker, repeatedly struck downLake surveyed the situation and decided to rescue Luffy immediately, then make his escape without waiting for Luffy's father to intervene.

Any further complications would be disastrous, so Lake gave Zoro and Sanji a knowing look, and they immediately understood.

The next second, chaos erupted. Buggy, who had initially hoped to be watched as he executed Luffy, was now ready to do so.

However, just as he raised his sword, a figure suddenly appeared before him, delivering a powerful kick without a word.

Bang!

With a loud thud, Buggy was sent flying by Lake's kick, and Lake immediately dismantled the restraints holding Luffy in place.

A rescued Luffy, still carefree, said, "Thank goodness, Lake! Thank you for saving me."

Lake, exasperated, punched Luffy and cursed, "I really don't know how you got caught. Turns out your Observation Haki has awakened!"

Luffy, showing no remorse, scratched his head and chuckled, "Hehehe~ I was just watching the execution platform, didn't notice. Oh well, don't mind!"

Just as the two were talking, a voice suddenly rushed towards them: "Demon Lake! Straw Hat Luffy! That's enough!"

Lake turned around and saw Smoker, but just as he was about to attack, Luffy beat him to it: "Smoke Man! I won't let you hurt my crewmates!"

"Armament! Gum-Gum Hawk Gun!"

Smoker, transformed into smoke, was completely unprepared for Luffy's Armament Haki and took the hit head-on, being knocked back to the ground clutching his chest.

Seeing this, Lake was somewhat surprised and asked Luffy, "Luffy, have you seen him before?"

Luffy, beaming with joy at having defeated Smoker, replied, "Yeah, I ran into this guy when I was lost. He tried to grab me right away, but I couldn't hit him no matter what I did, and he gave me a lot of trouble. Now I've finally gotten my revenge!"

Upon receiving Luffy's answer, Lake understood why Luffy had immediately attacked Smoker with Armament Haki—he'd already been taught a lesson.

At this moment, Smoker's physical pain paled in comparison to his astonishment. This was the East Blue, where Logia-type Devil Fruit users were practically invincible; knowing Haki was impossible.

Even he, a top student graduated from Marine Headquarters under Zephyr, didn't know it, partly because he'd become complacent since eating his Devil Fruit.

But this newly famous small pirate crew actually knew Haki, and judging from that attack, the Straw Hat Pirates' mastery of Haki was quite impressive.

Having summarized the situation, Smoker immediately issued orders: all Marines abandoned the pursuit of the escaped pirates and assembled to surround the execution platform.

Having anticipated this outcome, Zoro and Sanji were already prepared, showing no fear in the face of the overwhelming number of Marines.

"Hey, Curly Eyebrows, wanna see who takes down more?"

"Hmph, perfect timing. Just hope you don't get killed, Moss Head."

As he finished speaking, pale blue flames ignited beneath Sanji's feet, transforming him into a flickering black shadow as he charged into the Marines.

"Diable Jambe - Banquet Table Spin Kick!"

*Thud! Ah! Uh…*

Screams erupted from the Marines as they collapsed in droves, their attacks failing to even touch Sanji.

Zoro, meanwhile, donned his bandana, a Wado Ichimonji clenched in his mouth, and wielded the Sando Kitetsu and Yubashiri, one of the Fifty Great Swords he'd acquired earlier from the weapon shop.

Facing the horde of Marines charging towards him, Zoro calmly assumed his stance and chanted:

"Three-Sword Style: Gale Tornado!"

Whoosh!

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle…

A massive, silver-white tornado appeared before Zoro, its immense power blasting away the surrounding Marines who were powerless to resist.

The Marines within the tornado screamed in agony, blood splattering everywhere. In just a few moments, the Marines had suffered heavy losses; their terrifying strength deterred the remaining Marines from approaching.

Smoker, witnessing this, was astonished. To minimize Marine casualties, he transformed into smoke and charged towards the two, only to be struck by the tornado once more.

He was detected the moment he reached Zoro and Sanji, confirming Smoker's suspicions that both of them possessed Observation Haki!

Despite his shock, Smoker trusted his Logia-type abilities and charged towards them. Zoro and Sanji immediately attacked him as well.

The next second...

*Sizzle! Thud!*

"Ugh... Ah!"

Caught completely off guard, Smoker was nearly slashed by Zoro's sword. Fortunately, he dodged the attack at the last moment, but then Sanji kicked him away.

The series of blows left Smoker questioning his existence. Ignoring the pain, he struggled to his feet and shouted, "Tashigi! Go request backup! Have all the Marines retreat! I'll hold them off alone!"

Tashigi was also stunned. Smoker's condition had shocked her, but hearing him shout finally brought her back to her senses.

Excitedly, she shouted to Smoker, "No! Colonel Smoker! It's too dangerous! And you're already injured, I..."

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside Tashigi, chuckling, "I think this Marine lady is right. Why don't you stop? What do you think?"

Smoker, glaring at the familiar face, gritted his teeth and said, "Demon Lake... I didn't expect you guys to be so strong. Besides Straw Hat Luffy, those two also mastered Haki, so you must be too... What exactly is your purpose?!"

Lake shook his head helplessly and slowly walked towards Smoker. Seeing this, Tashigi immediately drew her sword, Shigure, one of the Fifty Great Swords.

However, Lake didn't even glance at her, directly drawing his Asakasa and disarming her with a single strike. Even without using Hollow Eyes, Lake's swordsmanship was already comparable to Zoro's.

Tashigi was no match for Smoker, who was instantly defeated and dealt another blow. Enraged, Smoker immediately attacked Lake.

But what happened next was a scene he would never forget: Lake's body turned into smoke, exactly like when Smoker used his ability.

Before Smoker could even register his shock, Lake's smoky hand gripped his throat, slamming him against the wall. Smoker tried to break free using his elemental powers.

But then he saw that Lake's hand was completely black. At that moment, Smoker gave up entirely and said,

"I lost...kill me!"

Chapter 42 The Dragon Appears, Good, Good, Good~ You're a riddle solver too.Lake chuckled at Smoker's words, immediately releasing his grip and reverting to his original form. "No, no, it's not that serious. Besides, you guys attacked first. We were acting in self-defense. If there's nothing else, we'll be off. See you again, Smoker, bro~"

Lake's casual demeanor stunned Smoker. His reports described the Straw Hat crew as ruthless thugs.

Especially this man. Yet, Lake's behavior even sparked a desire in Smoker to befriend him, a thought he quickly dismissed.

After struggling to his feet again, Smoker approached Tashigi and said, "If you feel resentful, then work even harder! How can you stand on your own if you're so discouraged by a little setback? Get up, Tashigi!"

Encouraged by Smoker's words, Tashigi finally stood up and calmed down considerably. Wiping away her tears, she asked, "What do we do now, Colonel Smoker?"

Smoker watched Lake and his crew depart and gritted his teeth, saying, "Notify headquarters, I'm going back. I must personally inform the Fleet Admiral about the Straw Hat crew."

After dealing with the Marines blocking their path, Lake, along with Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, headed towards the coast. Halfway there, Lake suddenly stopped.

Before his companions could ask, Lake turned and said, "You guys go first. Looks like someone wants to talk to me. Don't worry, I'll catch up soon."

Luffy was silent for a moment before saying, "Lake, you have to hurry and catch up! Zoro, Sanji, let's go!"

After responding, the three continued towards the coast, while Lake stood still, chuckling, "Do all you big shots like to play this game?"

"Looks like he's not simple after all. He must have already spotted me." A voice suddenly came from the sky.

Then a man wrapped in a green robe appeared, his face bearing a slipper print... a tattoo, confirming his identity.

Luffy's father, known as the world's most dangerous criminal, Monkey D. Dragon. He truly lives up to his reputation as a big shot; even his entrance is accompanied by special effects.

The current inexplicable weather in Loguetown is probably his doing. When Lake was searching for someone, it was sunny, but by the time Luffy was on the execution platform, the weather had changed to this—dark clouds gathering, and a downpour was imminent.

Lake didn't try to hide anything and said directly, "I noticed you when I left the tavern, but you look familiar, sir."

Lake certainly couldn't reveal Dragon's identity directly. He had to feign ignorance, otherwise, if he aroused the suspicion of this powerful figure, who might threaten his son and try to silence him, he'd be finished.

Dragon didn't answer Lake but scrutinized him carefully before saying, "I am Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army. Are you interested in joining the Revolutionary Army?"

Lake was shocked by Dragon's words and asked doubtfully, "Are you alright, sir? I'm a pirate; I have absolutely no interest in the Revolutionary Army."

Dragon's face remained expressionless as he spoke again, "Your ideals will ultimately clash with Luffy's path."

Lake frowned upon hearing Dragon's words. He didn't understand why Dragon would say such things to him. Just as he was about to say something, Dragon spoke again.

"Alright, things might turn out differently. Luffy, I'm counting on you. Hurry up, your crew must be getting impatient. Let me give you a ride."

Wow, he's practically silencing him and telling him to leave! Lake was speechless, but thinking about it now was pointless.

So Lake stood up and said, "No need, I'll go myself."

As he finished speaking, a red six-pointed star appeared in Lake's eyes, and the next second, Lake vanished, actually turning into a gust of wind.

This scene shocked Dragon, who had been so arrogant just moments before. He stared in the direction Lake had left and muttered to himself, "Those eyes..."

Lake's actions were purely for show, having gotten this guy to spout a bunch of incomprehensible nonsense right off the bat.

Lake, now a gust of wind, quickly reached the coast, picking up Zoro along the way, though he didn't want to ask why.

On the Going Merry, the crew only saw Zoro being carried back to the ship by a gust of wind, though his appearance was rather unsightly. Luffy even thought it was a new technique Zoro had used.

The next second, Lake suddenly appeared on the ship, while Zoro crashed onto the deck. Seeing Lake, Zoro immediately pointed at him and shouted,

"I knew it was you! Lake, you suddenly swept me away, I thought it was some kind of monster!"

Lake rolled his eyes at Zoro and said, "You have the nerve to say that? I told the three of you to go first, why were you running back alone through such a remote alley!"

Zoro, still incredulous, shouted at Lake, "What! Impossible, I was definitely running towards the shore!"

Lake, too lazy to argue with him, ignored him and went to Nami, saying, "Prepare to set sail, take advantage of the weather and head straight for the Grand Line."

Nami nodded and began giving orders, and the crew busied themselves. The Going Merry set sail again.

At the port of Loguetown, Dragon stood on a rooftop, watching this scene and smiling, saying, "Go! If this is the path you've chosen, we will surely meet again someday."

...

On the Going Merry, on the turbulent sea, they were heading towards their next goal, but a ceremony was needed beforehand.

Lake, of course, wouldn't forget this scene, but he never imagined he would one day be part of it.

Sanji found a barrel and, first, put his feet on it, declaring, "I will find the All Bullet!"

Then the crew members followed suit, each stating their goals and dreams.

Luffy: "I will become the Pirate King!"

Zoro: "I will become the world's greatest swordsman!"

Nami: "I will draw a map of the entire world!"

Usopp: "I...I will become a brave warrior of the sea!"

Only Lake remained. Everyone looked at him. Lake smiled sincerely at the scene before him, then stepped forward and said...

"I will protect each and every one of you, all the way to the very end!"

After arriving in this world, Lake was alone and had no family. These companions were the people he valued most in this world.

Therefore, he would do everything in his power to protect everyone; that was his goal, now and forever, even at the cost of his own life.

Everyone smiled upon hearing Lake's words. Finally, together they trampled the barrels beneath their feet and set sail against the wind towards the Grand Line

Chapter 43 The Giant Whale and Princess Vivi (Bonus Chapter)The Going Merry, speeding along under Nami's command, perfectly navigated Reverse Mountain, giving the group a thrilling roller coaster ride.

However, the descent was anything but smooth. A gigantic monster appeared before them—a whale!

Because the Going Merry was going too fast, even the control levers snapped and couldn't stop it. Just as they were about to crash, Lake threw Luffy out.

Then, he positioned himself near the goat's head and activated his Hollow Eyes. The next second…

"Gum-Gum Double Gum Pad!"

Duang~

A perfect decision! Not only was the Going Merry undamaged, but the giant whale before them was also avoided. Recovering, Lake frowned and panted.

"Becoming rubber is really uncomfortable."

"Ahhhhhh!"

Lake once again stretched out his arm and pulled Luffy back from the brink of falling into the sea. Back on the ship, Luffy said unhappily to Lake.

"Lake! You didn't even tell me beforehand! I don't care, next time the treasure comes first!"

Lake laughed at Luffy's words. He hadn't expected the simple-minded Luffy to be so cunning. But did he even have any cunning?

Lake comforted Luffy like a child, and Luffy immediately forgot about what had just happened. His attention was now entirely focused on the giant whale.

The Going Merry quietly prepared to circle around the whale. Since the Going Merry was intact, Luffy didn't want to provoke the whale. However, an unexpected incident still occurred.

Bang!

A sudden cannon shot drew everyone's attention. The target was the whale right in front of Lake and his crew.

And it was aimed at its most vulnerable spot—its eyes. Lake immediately looked towards the source of the attack and saw a man and a woman standing smiling on a small boat, each carrying a small rocket launcher on their shoulders.

Lake was quite helpless and could only warn them in advance, shouting, "Everyone hold on tight! Don't fall in!"

As soon as Lake finished speaking, the giant whale's roar began.

Roar!!!

Because the Going Merry wasn't far from the creature, Lake felt his head spin, and before he could react, they were swallowed whole.

When everyone came to their senses, the Going Merry had already drifted into the whale's belly. Thinking they were doomed, the group was surprised by what they saw next.

Usopp thought he was hallucinating, but Lake slapped him mercilessly on the head. With a bloody nose, Usopp concluded they were still alive.

However, the place was indeed quite surreal. Although they were inside a whale's belly, they saw blue skies and white clouds, and the Going Merry was still on the surface of the sea.

However, a closer look reveals that the blue sky and white clouds overhead are not moving; they were clearly painted on. Furthermore, the sea the Going Merry was in wasn't actually the sea.

It's clearly green and corrosive—it's stomach acid! So they're still inside the whale's stomach.

After Lake finished his analysis, everyone finally came to their senses, but they were still full of questions. Lake naturally wouldn't tell them directly, otherwise he wouldn't be able to explain it himself.

He could only go along with it, pointing to a small floating island not far away, saying, "There seems to be someone over there. Let's go ask him and we'll know."

The Going Merry then led everyone to the island, where they saw an old man named Sunflower, Crocus. This guy's identity wasn't simple either.

Faced with such a powerful figure of uncertain strength, Lake naturally wouldn't easily provoke him; he could even try to gain some goodwill.

Just as Luffy and the others were talking to Crocus and asking about the situation, Lake suddenly disappeared. At that moment, two people were sneaking out through a passage.

"Alright, we've successfully infiltrated this area. Listen up, Miss Wednesday, the stomach is on the other side of the door. That old man is probably in that spot. We have to take him down! It's all for the whale!"

"Of course, Mr. 9, for our town, this whale is a vital dessert."

"Do the people in your town have such big appetites? They can even eat an island whale?"

"Of course, our town has... wait, Miss Wednesday, is that you speaking?"

"Mr. 9... look behind you..."

Green clothes, sexy mustache, blue hair, high-value looks—this is our Princess Vivi's dark history! Mr. 9 turned around and saw Lake, immediately retreating in fright.

Vivi, the seductive, dizzying perfume dance

Just as she was about to draw her weapon, the next second...

"Pfft!"

Lake's fist, accompanied by a puff of white smoke, flew towards him like a spray, knocking him unconscious with a single punch. Vivi, witnessing this, was completely terrified.

However, the moment Laker looked at her, she reacted instantly, hoisting her small rocket launcher and aiming at him, trembling as she said,

"You...who are you...don't move! I've already aimed at you!"

Just as Vivi finished speaking, Laker's voice appeared behind her, chuckling, "Are you sure you're really aiming at me?"

This startled Vivi so much that she fell to the ground with a thud, even forgetting to pick up her weapon as she stumbled backward. Laker chuckled and shrugged.

"Scared already? Okay, enough playing around. But you'd better come with me first, Princess Vivi."

Hearing Laker's words, Vivi completely lost her composure, forgetting even her fear. She immediately stood up and warily shouted at Laker, "What are you talking about! I don't know!"

Laker said indifferently, "Alright, alright, whatever. At times like this, you need a professional to talk to you. Come with me."

Lake knew that Vivi's emotions were very unstable right now, and it was practically impossible for him, the one who had just frightened her like that, to communicate with her. So Laker decided to have Nami do it.

However, Vivi reacted very strongly when she saw Lake approaching her, even threatening to die if he came any closer.

Lake hadn't expected this girl to be so headstrong, but whether she went with him or not wasn't up to her. Lake activated his Divine Vision and vanished on the spot.

The next second, a strange gust of wind appeared, lifting Vivi into the air. A shocked Vivi had no idea what was happening.

They flew like this, all the way to above the Going Merry. Her companions were all astonished, while Zoro looked like he'd just realized something and was having a toothache.

When Sanji saw that it was a beautiful woman in the sky, he immediately transformed into a lovesick fool, his eyes sparkling with hearts as he struck a pose.

"Ah~ This must be God's guidance, bringing you to my side! Come on! Fall into my arms!"

Vivi, watching from above, showed a look of disgust. Even Lake, now transformed into wind, couldn't help but feel embarrassed, and naturally, she wouldn't let Sanji succeed.

Chapter 44 One slip and the mast is gone?*Thump!*

Vivi landed perfectly, stepping on Sanji. Sanji, sprawled on the ground, still had heart-shaped eyes, believing it to be a shock of love.

Vivi immediately retreated to the edge of the ship after reaching the shore, even preparing to jump overboard, but the next second, Lake appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her wrist.

Vivi was overwhelmed with fear upon seeing Lake again, but before she could do anything, Lake tossed her to Nami's side.

Nami, caught off guard, instinctively caught Vivi. Vivi's wariness lessened considerably upon seeing an orange-haired girl beside her.

Lake then said to Nami, "Nami, take her to the cabin to talk. Girls should be able to communicate better."

Nami, though confused, obeyed Lake's words and pulled Vivi into the cabin, giving Lake a warning before going inside.

"You better explain where this girl came from, or you're dead, Lake!"

He slammed the door shut. Lake swallowed hard, pretending nothing had happened. His crewmates gathered around, asking what was going on.

Zoro: "What kind of terrifying ability did you copy? You can actually turn into wind!"

Sanji: "What! So you were dragging that pretty girl along the whole time… Ah! Lake, I challenge you to a duel!"

Usopp: "Hey Lake, who was that person? She seemed really scared of you."

Luffy: "Where did Old Man Himawari go?"

As expected, Luffy wasn't on the same wavelength as the rest of the group. Lake, ignoring the excited Sanji beside him, spoke up.

"She's one of the people who attacked the whale and caused us to be swallowed. I've already dealt with the other one."

"What?!"

The crew exclaimed in unison. Luffy, however, feigned realization and said, "So she was a bad guy!"

Lake shook his head and continued, "But her identity is a bit special. If I'm not mistaken, she should be the princess of Alabasta. I've seen her in the newspapers before."

"Princess?!"

The crew exclaimed in surprise again. Luffy, feigning understanding, said, "What? A good guy?"

Lake continued explaining, "Although I don't know why a princess would be here, the guy with her, we found out, is an agent from an assassin organization."

Before the crew could react, Luffy spoke up again, feigning anger, "So he's still a bad guy after all!"

Zoro, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward and said to Luffy, "You'd better not say anything!"

Lake couldn't reveal too much information, so he'd say this much and wait for Nami to talk things out with Vivi so she could explain.

Next, they needed to leave this place quickly, since the sea was full of stomach acid, and staying too long would corrode the Going Merry.

Usopp immediately found the old man, Sunflower. He had gone to give the whale a sedative, and when the old man returned, he had taken the Going Merry out of the whale's body.

Upon arriving at his dwelling place, a place called Twin Straits, his name was Crocus, and the whale's name was Laboon.

Because Luffy was very interested in this whale, Crocus told everyone Laboon's story.

Long ago, there was a pirate crew called the Rumbar Pirates. They decided to venture into the Grand Line, and Laboon was one of their companions, brought along along the way.

However, because the Grand Line was too dangerous, and Laboon was too young at the time, the Rumbar Pirates had to leave Laboon at Reverse Mountain, entrusting him to Crocus.

They told Laboon to wait there a little while, leaving behind the words, "We'll meet again when we return after circling the world."

In the end, little Laboon stayed behind with tears in his eyes, waiting for the Rumbar Pirates' return on this side of the Red Line. However… that wait… lasted 50 years.

Countless changes occurred over the years, and the small whale had grown into a whale larger than an island, even containing an ocean within its body.

Everything in the world has changed, but Laboon remains on this side of the Red Line, waiting for its master's return.

Despite its longing to see its master, for decades it has relentlessly rammed its head against the unbreakable Red Line, leaving itself battered and bruised, emitting mournful cries.

This enormous whale, as large as an island, spends its days in sorrowful waiting, while Crocus helps Laboon search for news of the Rumbar Pirates.

But the final result is that the Rumbar Pirates have long since left the Grand Line and will never return.

Lake knows that this result is a white lie Crocus fabricated to spare Laboon's grief; the real reason is that the Rumbar Pirates perished in battle on the Grand Line decades ago.

And the only survivor is the "dead" Brook. The long wait has come to nothing, a wait that seems endless.

Lake sighed, glancing at Laboon, who had only calmed down after being injected with a sedative. But as he watched, something felt off.

Suddenly remembering something, Lake whirled around and saw that the Going Merry's mast was gone, and Luffy, that idiot, was charging towards Laboon, clutching it.

Lake slapped his forehead, blaming himself, "How could I forget that, Luffy!"

Usopp was completely dumbfounded, and his crewmates were embarrassed, because they had no idea what Luffy was going to do. Soon, Luffy and Laboon were fighting.

The mast was practically piercing Laboon's forehead when, to everyone's bewilderment, Luffy suddenly stopped and made a new promise with Laboon.

At that moment, Luffy's emotional intelligence was off the charts. Laboon, with tears in his eyes from the new promise, excitedly let out a joyful sound, and then Luffy used his masterful artistic skills...

He drew his crooked flag on Laboon's head and said, "This is the symbol of our agreement. You absolutely can't take it off before I get back, understand?"

That way, Laboon won't ram his head into the Red Line anymore. Lake smiled with satisfaction as he watched Luffy laughing on Laboon's head.

The crew was satisfied with the result, but despite his satisfaction, Usopp immediately went to do the repairs, even though he wasn't a professional.

However, all the repairs on the ship now fell to him, and Lake, seeing this, volunteered to help. While Usopp was repairing, Lake glanced around at the Going Merry.

The pristine state he remembered was now a thing of the past. Although Lake had done everything he could to protect the Going Merry, the trials of the sea were still unavoidable.

Chapter 45: Rest and Recuperation Completed, Farewell to the Twin StraitsAt the Twin Straits, Usopp was repairing the mast, Luffy and Laboon were having a great time, and Sanji was dealing with the large fish he'd won from Loguetown.

Zoro, who spends his time either sleeping or training, was currently on the shore, swinging his sword at the sea, while Lake and Crocus were locked in a silent staring contest.

Neither of them spoke, just staring at each other. Lake, finally losing his temper, started arguing with Crocus, and after what seemed like an eternity, Crocus finally gave in.

Rubbing his sore eyes, he chuckled and said, "Hahaha! You're quite something, kid. I've been here for so long, and this is the first time I've met someone this strong right after entering the Grand Line."

Lake quickly blinked hard and replied with a smile, "You flatter me. Compared to the Pirate King's crew, my strength is nothing."

Crocas was taken aback by Lake's words, then said with relief, "Looks like you really didn't want to meet me, kid. Even the government might not be able to find out my identity."

Lake didn't hide his identity, hoping to gain the other's trust and goodwill, as he was hoping to get some benefits from him.

After all, he was a member of the Pirate King's crew, so he must have a lot of good stuff. After a few more casual words, Lake got straight to the point.

"Mr. Crocus, do you have any treasure maps or anything like that?"

Crocus hadn't expected Lake to be interested in this. Lake, seeing the look in Crocus's eyes, knew what he was thinking and quickly explained his identity again.

However, Crocus was clearly skeptical of Lake's identity as a treasure hunter. After all, even someone as experienced as him as an old-timer had never heard of such a thing.

Despite his suspicions, Crocus did give Lake a treasure map. However, according to Crocus's description, the location of the treasure was extremely vague, practically impossible to find.

This was something left behind by the Rumbar Pirates. Lake exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, this thing is even older than Roger!" and quickly took it to examine it.

After a quick look, it was indeed almost impossible to make out many things on it, but Lake wasn't worried at all because he had a system.

The system would tell Lake the approximate location of the treasure map, and to Lake's surprise, both treasure maps were in the same place—the small garden.

This result greatly pleased Lake, and his mood improved significantly. He continued chatting with Crocus, and a while later...

Sanji finished cooking, and Lake went to Nami's room to call her. The rest of the crew were already seated, and even Crocus was preparing to eat without any hesitation.

Lake always just pushed open the door to find Nami; he didn't have the habit of knocking. But this time, he seemed to have gotten into trouble, and Lake naturally pushed open the door and said,

"Nami, get ready to eat...eat..."

Before Lake could finish speaking, the scene before him stunned him, and a warm stream uncontrollably flowed down his cheeks.

Nami's comforting efforts were successful. Vivi confided in Nami, and in the end, she cried all over Nami. When Lake entered, Nami was changing clothes.

And he was completely naked, so Vivi, who was only wearing underwear, hadn't expected Lake to just barge in.

She blushed instantly, completely flustered. Nami, needless to say, was already at her limit; now, enjoy Lake's rocket launch.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Bang!

The cabin door slammed shut again. Lake had long since disappeared, eventually being dragged back by Laboon, only to find a fist mark on his face.

Everyone was finally there, and it was time to eat. Vivi sat next to Nami, looking very reserved. Nami hadn't recovered from her earlier embarrassment and anger.

Her blush hadn't faded, and her gaze towards Lake held a hint of murderous intent, which made Lake obediently sit to the side with his bowl of rice.

Usopp and Zoro, being quite perceptive, didn't dare provoke Nami. They swallowed hard and focused on their food, while the oblivious Sanji continued to fawn over Vivi, hovering near Nami.

The result was predictable: like Lake, he was launched into the air, only to be dragged back by Laboon a while later, seemingly having flown an even greater distance.

Crocas was quite pleased with the scene, as the Twin Straits hadn't been this lively in a long time. After a heart-to-heart talk and some special events, they began discussing business.

Before that, Nami gave everyone a detailed account of Vivi's situation, based on their earlier conversation and some special events.

Now that they were best friends, Vivi's troubles were their troubles. No one on the ship dared disobey Nami.

Everyone agreed without question. Vivi, though still a little uncomfortable, thanked them, though her gaze towards Lake was somewhat strange.

Whether out of fear or shyness, Nami's behavior aroused Sanji's jealousy, while Nami repeatedly glared at Lake with murderous intent.

This made Lake feel uneasy, so he quickly changed the subject and started asking Crocus for information about the Grand Line. Crocus readily shared all his knowledge.

He even gave Nami a Log Pose and explained its use; once they entered the Grand Line, it would be their beacon.

It would be the only thing they needed to trust on their journey, because the islands of the Grand Line possess a unique magnetic field, rendering compasses useless.

The Log Pose is used to record the magnetic fields between the islands of the Grand Line, an essential tool for correctly guiding people to the next island.

Since the magnetic field of each island is different, the Log Pose needs to record for a period of time in each island to accumulate enough magnetic field before pointing to the next island.

If they arrive at another island instead of the one indicated by the Log Pose, the magnetic field will be replaced.

Some islands take too long to fully accumulate magnetism. If you don't want to wait, you need to use something else: a permanent Log Pose.

A permanent Log Pose always points in the same direction, no matter where it is, but Crocus doesn't have one.

This is some basic information about the Log Pose and the islands of the Grand Line. After learning this, Nami was very grateful to have met Crocus.

The consequences of entering the Grand Line directly like this were unimaginable. Nami consulted Crocus further to learn more about the Grand Line, and the group prepared to set off.

Things here were all settled. Lake even gained a treasure map, a pleasant surprise. After saying goodbye to Crocus and Laboon, they continued their journey.

"Wait… did I forget something? Mr. 9 was only knocked unconscious? Oh well… let him fend for himself."

Chapter 46 This sword is called, Moon Slayer!"Ugh! I've had enough! What kind of awful weather is this?!" Nami complained in frustration on the Going Merry.

Lake, looking at Zoro who was completely buried in snow and still sleeping, was speechless. He shook the snow off himself and looked up, muttering to himself.

"I expected some ridiculous weather, but I never imagined it would be this ridiculous."

Lake said this because their voyage these past few days had been like seeing a ghost. Gale-force winds, torrential rain, heavy snow, and hail were the norm.

One second it might be sunny, the next it would start snowing heavily, and before the snow stopped, it would start hailing, and then suddenly a gale would blow.

They'd experienced all sorts of absurd weather, but what Lake found most ridiculous was Zoro. This guy was a true slumbering man, except in dangerous situations.

He slept like a log, and because everyone was busy, they hadn't really noticed Zoro sleeping soundly in the back, until the next day when the weather finally cleared up.

Everyone lay down on the deck, including Lake, who had been the most exhausted during this time, having spent the entire day using his abilities to help the Going Merry.

Without the replenishment of solar magic, he was completely drained. Yet, Zoro woke up in this state and immediately said,

"Even on a sunny day, you guys are so lazy!"

Lake wanted to punch him, but he was truly too weak. But no matter, Nami was there. Nami, brimming with anger, came up behind Zoro.

"How dare you say that! No matter how I called you, you wouldn't wake up, and now you're comfortably up… Go to hell!"

"Ah!"

Zorro, who had been punched, didn't get up. In the end, he was crouching on the ground, clutching his head full of bumps in pain. This kind of playful fighting was already commonplace on this ship.

Feeling he couldn't take it anymore, Lake closed his eyes and fell asleep. In the darkness, his consciousness seemed to drift into another dimension.

The place was empty, yet its presence was palpable. Lake, puzzled, wanted to explore further.

But to his surprise, he found someone who utterly shocked him… himself! Or rather, another version of himself.

Embroidered entirely in white, but looking exactly like him, Lake immediately recognized him and knew his own name.

The other smiled upon seeing Lake and said, "I thought you'd come much earlier. It seems you don't take this power to heart."

Lake didn't answer, but silently observed him for a moment before speaking, "You are… Zangetsu."

Zangetsu nodded and continued, "It seems you know a great deal about me. I was terrified when I first sensed the power within you! I've already decided that following someone like you might mean little opportunity to shine, but I couldn't resist!"

Lake, observing the other's conflicted and frantic expression, calmly said, "So you brought me here."

Zangetsu watched as Lake raised his Asaka (a type of ancient Chinese weapon), then said, "From this moment on, I hand over my power to you without reservation. Call my name if you need anything."

Lake understood what Zangetsu meant. The reason he hadn't changed anything since receiving the Asaka was because this arrogant guy had always refused to give him his power.

He had sensed the strange and terrifying power within Lake that he had never seen before, which had been a blow to him. Previously, Zangetsu had always appeared as a protector, but this time he was merely a dispensable character, which deeply affected him.

However, he had now come to terms with it. Someone possessing such power would undoubtedly face incredibly powerful enemies in the future, ultimately rising to the top. How could he not participate in such an experience?

Lake smiled, and an Asaka appeared in his hand as well, which he also raised, saying, "You're currently the only one with independent consciousness. I'll have to take care of you from now on, Zangetsu!"

The moment he finished speaking, Zangetsu smiled contentedly. With a flash of white light, Lake left that world and returned to reality.

And his sword was no longer a simple katana; it was a massive, cleaver-like weapon called Zangetsu.

With his newfound power, Lake's previous exhaustion vanished. He slung Zangetsu over his shoulder and strode confidently through the door.

On the deck, his companions had mostly recovered. It seemed Lake had been asleep for a while. Everyone greeted him with smiles as he emerged.

However, their attention was quickly drawn to the massive sword on Lake's back. Zoro reacted most strongly, immediately approaching Lake to examine it closely before asking, "Where's your old sword?"

Lake took the massive Zangetsu from his back and said, "That's it. It didn't have a name before, but now that I know its name, it became like this."

Zoro listened intently and then continued, "The sword's name... what's it called?"

"Zangetsu!" Lake's tone became much more proud as he uttered those two words.

Zoro was already itching to spar with Lake, but Lake quickly stopped him from this dangerous idea.

After all, the Going Merry couldn't withstand their combined damage. Lake currently had no way to save the Going Merry, so minimizing its damage was crucial.

Luffy and Usopp, the two curious kids, had already gathered around. Upon hearing that Lake's massive sword was called Zangetsu, Usopp immediately started boasting.

Luffy also thought it was cool; in his eyes, something that big must be incredibly powerful. Nami only glanced at Lake; she was more concerned about his health than the sword.

Vivi, on the other hand, felt that Lake looked even more terrifying with that sword. During this time, Vivi had basically integrated into the Straw Hat crew and learned that they were all wanted criminals.

This surprised Vivi. Seeing Lake's bounty and his appearance on the wanted poster, Vivi couldn't help but feel a surge of fear.

However, after getting to know them, she discovered that their true personalities were nothing like those of pirates; they were more like a family on an adventure together.

Vivi really enjoyed this atmosphere. She had already openly told them about their next destination, Whiskey Mountain, and the true nature of that place.

Lake had already devised a plan. Since those people were honestly too weak, they would simply play along, eat and drink as they pleased, and then wipe them out.