63: Chapter 63 Turning Against Each Other! Koby's CourageThe leading lieutenant colonel took a deep breath, his expression becoming extremely serious, even showing a hint of struggle: "We.we are all very grateful to you!You saved our base and this town from the tyrant Monka!As individuals, we are extremely grateful!"
He paused, his voice lowering, "But.now that we know you're pirates.for the sake of the Navy's honor.we can't just stand by and do nothing!"
His tone was full of helplessness and apology, and he even turned his head slightly away, not daring to look Luffy and Zoro in the eye: "Please.leave this town immediately."
He lowered his voice, almost whispering, "At least.to uphold our moral principles.we won't report to headquarters." This was the maximum "repayment" they could offer.
The townspeople watching outside the gate immediately erupted in uproar: "Navy!What are you saying?"
"Weren't you all afraid and forced to submit to Monka in the first place?"
"These people are our saviors!"
"That's right!That's right!We can't send them away!"
Despite the tense, worried, and resentful gazes of everyone, Luffy's smile did not diminish in the slightest.
He suddenly grinned, revealing an incredibly hearty smile, as if he had expected it all along: "Then let's go!"
He stood up decisively and bowed to the proprietress: "Proprietress!Thank you for your hospitality!The meat was delicious!"
"Big brother.are you leaving already?" Rika asked reluctantly.
"Okay!" Luffy nodded with a smile, then looked at Zoro, "Let's go, Zoro!"
The two of them tacitly carried the large bag of food that the proprietress had prepared for them and Zoro's three swords on their backs, and with their heads down, they walked step by step out of the shop through the passage cleared by the Marine soldiers.
The lieutenant colonel, looking at Koby who was still standing there dumbfounded and at a loss, asked, "You.aren't you one of their accomplices?"
Koby instinctively straightened his back and almost blurted out, "I.I am!"
But as soon as the words left his mouth, the immense fear and the cold reality immediately froze him, leaving him standing there struggling and trembling violently, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
To join the navy.or to follow his friends.his dream.his past
Watching Luffy and Zoro walk away from the store without looking back, the lieutenant colonel frowned and asked again, "Hey!What's going on with you guys?Is this guy one of your accomplices?"
Luffy, who had already reached the door, suddenly stopped.
He didn't turn around, but just tilted his head slightly, his voice coming clearly: "I know what this guy has been doing all along."
Coby jolted, turning incredulously to look at Luffy's retreating figure, a storm raging in his heart: Mr.Luffy?You wouldn't.you're going to.
Luffy slowly turned around, a mischievous smile on his face, and started gesturing loudly at Coby:
"There's a female pirate who's this fat…I think her name is 'Alvida'?" He deliberately emphasized the word "fat".
Coby's face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he cried out in despair: Luffy.Mr.Luffy!Shut up!If they find out I was on a pirate ship.I won't be able to be a Marine anymore!
Luffy, however, seemed oblivious to Coby's expression, continuing to increase his firepower and even mimicking Alvida's rude actions with uncanny accuracy.
"Always waving around that big iron bar.Hmph!And she seems to be a particularly ugly fat woman!"
That's not enough!Luffy forms hand seals: "Transformation Jutsu—"
"Bang!"
A puff of white smoke flashed by, and Luffy was transformed into Alvida, a bloated, fierce-looking woman with a face full of scars and wielding a huge spiked iron club!
In a deliberately low, poorly imitated but viciously sinister voice, he fiercely questioned the terrified Koby:
"Coby—!Who is the most beautiful woman on this sea—?Tell me—!"
Seeing the nightmare reappear before him, transformed from Luffy, Koby felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!
The fear of being dominated and the painful memories of being humiliated overwhelmed him instantly!
His face was as pale as paper, his breathing was rapid, his legs were weak, and he was about to be crushed by fear again!
All eyes were on Koby, filled with sympathy, confusion, and scrutiny from the Marines.
"Koby—!Answer me now—!"
Alvida pressed closer, her massive iron bar seemingly about to crash down.
Just as this suffocating sense of oppression reached its peak—
"Enough—!" Koby suddenly roared!
The humiliation, fear, and longing for freedom that had been building up in his heart for so long finally broke through the dam of cowardice at this moment!His eyes burned with an unprecedented anger and courage!
"I will never give in again—!"
He used all his strength to punch that disgusting face of "Alvida" hard!
"puff--!"
As the white smoke dissipated, Luffy was forced back to his original form, clutching his cheek and staggering backward, a triumphant smile on his face.
"You.you actually dared to hit me?"
Luffy, "furious," pointed at Coby and roared, "You bastard—!"
He immediately rushed forward and delivered several rubber punches to Koby's face without any hesitation!
"Bang!Bang!Bang!"
Koby was beaten black and blue, staggering backwards until he finally fell to the ground with a thud, panting heavily.
"stop--!"
The naval lieutenant commander could no longer stand it and shouted sternly, "Stop it!You're not allowed to cause trouble in this town!"
The naval soldiers behind him also stepped forward, trying to stop this inexplicable brawl.
Zoro understood Luffy's intention, sighed helplessly, and stepped forward.Grab Luffy by the collar, who still wants to "chase after" him, and drag him backward:
"Hey!That's gone too far!Let's just leave it at that!" Although his tone was impatient, a knowing glint flashed deep in his eyes.
Coby, lying on the ground, clutched the pain in his cheek.He looked at Luffy, who was being dragged away by Zoro and was still glaring at him, and then at the complicated looks in the eyes of the surrounding Marines.His sluggish brain finally realized—it was intentional!
He did it on purpose!He deliberately provoked me so I would hit him!It was to distance himself from me!It was so I could join the Navy!
A huge, indescribable, complex emotion welled up inside me: frustration, gratitude, shame, and the helplessness of being thoroughly "outmaneuvered".
Until the very last moment.I still relied on that person.Have I not changed at all?
Am I really such an idiot?
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