Chapter 11 The Little Thief and the Captain Who Was "Voluntarily" Arrested
10,000 meters above the ground.
With Luffy held in the beak of a giant bird, he looked down at the land that was becoming clearer and clearer. Instead of being afraid, he was all smiles.
"Hehehe, although I don't know where this is, it looks quite lively!"
Luffy turned his head and glanced at the large bird that was still desperately flapping its wings, then grinned.
"I'll sit here! Thanks, Big Bird!"
"Rubber, rubber—"
Luffy took a deep breath, stretched out his hands like two pythons, and tightly wrapped them around the bird's neck and body, then squeezed hard!
"Huh?! (I'm going to die!!)"
The large bird let out a piercing scream, its mouth involuntarily opening in excruciating pain.
Goodbye!
Luffy plummeted to the ground like a meteorite.
"Waaaaah—!!"
...
Meanwhile, on the ground, on a street in Orange Town.
A girl with short orange hair and a good figure was running breathlessly.
Behind her, three pirates wielding large swords and dressed as clowns were hot on her heels.
"Stop! Hand over the treasure map!"
"Damn thief! How dare he steal our God Bucky's treasure map!"
Nami gritted her teeth, her eyes darting around as she searched for a way to escape.
Just then, a sharp whooshing sound came from above.
"boom--!!"
A figure descended from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground in front of Nami, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The ground cracked instantly, as if it had been hit by a cannonball.
The three pursuing pirates were so startled that they slammed on the brakes: "Wh-what is that?!"
As the dust settled, Luffy stood up nonchalantly, dusted off his straw hat, and shook his slightly dizzy head.
"Wow...it's so high. This is going to be an interesting trip."
Luffy looked around, his gaze finally settling on the orange-haired girl in front of him. "Hmm? Where am I?"
Nami paused for a moment, then her eyes lit up, and her face instantly lit up with surprise. She pointed at Luffy and shouted:
"Boss!! You're finally here! You're here to protect me, right?"
"Huh?" Luffy looked completely bewildered. "Boss? Who is that? I don't know you."
"Then it's up to you, boss! I'll leave these three guys to you!"
Nami didn't give Luffy a chance to explain. After saying that, she slipped away like a nimble cat, darting into a nearby alley and disappearing.
"Hey! That woman ran away!"
"It's all because of this kid in the straw hat blocking our way!"
The three henchmen of the Buggy Pirates glared angrily at Luffy, brandishing their large swords.
"There are accomplices? Since they're that woman's boss, then they should die!"
"I already told you I don't know her!"
Luffy looked at the three people rushing towards him and sighed impatiently.
Faced with the massive blade slashing down on him, he didn't even dodge; he simply threw a punch casually.
"Bang!"
The pirate at the front was blasted away along with his sword and embedded in the wall next to him.
"Wh-what?!" The remaining two were shocked.
"Rubber rubber—pistol!!"
Luffy suddenly stretched out his arms, and his fists shot out like bullets, accurately hitting the faces of the remaining two.
"Pfft!" "Pfft!"
With two muffled thuds, the two pirates rolled their eyes and collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.
Nami, who was secretly observing from above the roof, was so surprised by what she saw that she covered her mouth and stopped running away.
"Amazing... to have done it in an instant..."
She hesitated for a moment, then jumped off the roof and landed in front of Luffy.
"Um... thank you for earlier. Who exactly are you?"
Luffy picked up his straw hat from the ground and said matter-of-factly, "I am Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King."
"Pirates?!" Nami's eyes turned cold, but she quickly masked it.
"I'm Nami, a master thief who specializes in taking down pirates. Hey, you seem pretty skilled, how about we team up?"
"No," Luffy refused decisively. "I'm going to find my crew."
After saying that, Luffy suddenly went limp and collapsed to the ground like a deflated balloon, his stomach rumbling loudly.
"Ah... I flew for too long just now, and I'm so exhausted. I'm so hungry, I can't move..."
Nami couldn't help but chuckle as she watched this once-powerful warrior turn into a spineless coward.
"I really can't do anything with you. Since you saved me, I'll treat you to dinner."
"Really?! Is there delicious meat?!" Luffy's eyes instantly turned into searchlights.
...
A moment later, in an empty residential restaurant.
Luffy was surrounded by plates and was eating heartily, his cheeks puffed out like a squirrel's.
"Is this your home?" Luffy asked vaguely.
"No." Nami sat opposite her, resting her chin on her hand and looking out the window.
"The people in this town have all fled to the shelter because they're afraid of Bucky the Clown. This place is empty."
"Oh, so we're just thieves stealing food," Luffy calmly commented while eating.
"How rude of me!" Nami slammed her hand on the table, correcting her. "I already said, I'm a thief who specializes in stealing pirate treasure! This is called robbing the rich to help the poor!"
Luffy swallowed a large piece of meat with bone in it, tilted his head, and said, "But a thief is a thief, right?"
"Stop arguing!" Nami snapped, "No matter what, I'm going to earn 100 million Berries."
"One hundred million?!" Luffy's mouth dropped open in surprise. "That's way too much! What do you need so much money for?"
Nami's eyes dimmed for a moment, then she resumed her sly smile.
"That's a secret. But... with a map of the Grand Line, 100 million Berries is no longer a dream."
"A nautical chart?!"
Those two words struck a nerve with Luffy. He suddenly leaned closer to Nami, his eyes gleaming: "You can read sea charts? You're a navigator?!"
"Of course, my navigation skills are top-notch," Nami said confidently.
"Very good!!"
Luffy excitedly said to Nami, "Join my pirate crew! Be my navigator! I'm really looking for a navigator!"
As he spoke, Luffy complained with a look of lingering fear.
"You have no idea, my first mate is a guy who only knows how to sleep and daydream."
"Without a navigator, we would surely starve to death at sea!"
"No!" Nami slapped Luffy's hand away, her face turning cold. "You're a pirate, aren't you?"
"Yeah. Hehehe."
"Hmph, the thing I hate most in this world is pirates!" Nami said coldly. "I only like two things: money and oranges! Join a pirate crew? Don't even think about it!"
"You don't want to...?" Luffy didn't insist, shook his head, and continued to focus on finishing the remaining food. "What a pity."
Just then, a commotion of footsteps and shouts came from outside.
"Hey! Haven't you found that female thief yet?!"
"Where did she go? Captain Bucky is furious!"
Nami's expression changed, and her eyes turned back to Luffy, who was devouring his food.
A bold plan emerged in her mind.
"Hey, Luffy."
Nami suddenly put on a sweet smile and leaned close to Luffy's ear.
"If you do me a favor, I might consider... joining you guys."
"Really?!" Luffy looked up instantly and asked in surprise.
"Of course! I want you to come with me to meet that pirate Buggy," Nami said with a smile. "However… it will require you to do this little favor."
As she spoke, she magically produced a thick hemp rope.
Five minutes later.
Nami dragged Luffy, who was tied up, out of the restaurant.
"Why are you tying me up?" Luffy was tied up, but his expression remained calm, and he was even chewing on the meat in his mouth.
"Um...it's a special ceremony..." Nami said vaguely, "You don't mind, do you?"
Luffy thought about it and realized it made a lot of sense:
"Hmm...whatever, I'm also eager to see that Buggy. Let's go!"
Looking at the overly naive boy in front of her, Nami felt a pang of guilt, but it was quickly suppressed by her obsession with the 100 million Berries.
"I'm sorry... but I have to do this for the sake of that village."
...
Meanwhile, at the docks in Orange Town.
A shabby little wooden boat finally docked.
"Phew... We've finally arrived."
Zoro jumped onto land and stretched his body. "Where on earth is Luffy?"
Viktor stood up and straightened his collar.
He glanced at the three pirate "coolies" who were about to sneak away, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"Bang!"
Without hesitation, Victor kicked one of them in the butt, knocking him to the ground.
He looked down at the three trembling pirates.
"Hey, did I say you could leave?"
"lead the way."
Victor pointed to the huge tent in the center of town that was flying the pirate flag. "Take us to meet your... Captain Clown."
Upon hearing the word "clown," the three pirates turned green with fear and knelt on the ground, frantically kowtowing.
"Sir!! Please! I've told you, you absolutely mustn't say that word!!"
"If Captain Bucky hears this, we'll all be blown to bits!!"
Viktor smiled nonchalantly, a flash of red light disappearing from his eyes.
"It's you, not us."
"Let's go, Zoro. Let's see if our captain is causing trouble again."Chapter 12 A Grand Fire Magic
Orange Town, the Buggy Pirates' headquarters—the rooftop terrace of a bar that has been occupied.
"Oh! My men! Let's give Nami a warm welcome to our pirate crew! Hehehe!"
Bucky the clown with the red nose held his glass high, letting out a sharp, piercing laugh.
"oh--!!"
The pirates below were celebrating wildly, brandishing swords and drinking cups, creating an atmosphere as lively as a festival.
In the center of the terrace, a huge iron cage looks out of place.
Luffy was locked inside, but he showed no awareness of being a prisoner. He stretched his rubber arm out through the gaps in the bars, desperately trying to reach a plate of roast chicken on a table not far away.
"Meat...that's my meat..." Luffy drooled, his fingers just centimeters away from the plate.
Nami stood next to Buggy, a stiff, fake smile on her lips, but her mind was racing with calculations.
"Just be patient for a bit... and once they're drunk, I'll steal the chart back! And while I'm at it, I'll take that red-nosed guy's treasure that he's been hoarding for years..."
"Oh, my lads! I'm so happy today!"
Buggy suddenly interrupted Nami's thoughts, leaping onto the platform and waving his hand.
"To celebrate the arrival of the new navigator Nami, we're preparing a special—Buki bomb!!"
"Yes, Captain Bucky!"
Several strong pirates pushed a cannon painted with a clown design up with a heave.
Then, he carefully picked up a huge, bright red cannonball with a skull painted on it and loaded it into the cannon barrel.
Nami was stunned for a moment: "What... are you going to do?"
Bucky grinned menacingly: "Watch this! This is what happens to those who defy me! Light the fire!"
As the fuse burned out.
"boom--!!!"
A deafening roar instantly shattered everyone's eardrums.
The red shell roared out, leaving a terrifying red streak in the atmosphere, and struck a row of houses in the distance.
"Boom! Rumble—"
There was no flame, only pure, destructive explosion.
That entire row of sturdy brick and stone houses was instantly razed to the ground, turning into ruins, leaving not even a trace.
Nami gasped in horror, nearly dropping her wine glass.
This power... it's practically like a natural disaster!
"My men! This power is absolutely magnificent! Hehehehe!" Bucky laughed wildly, spreading his arms wide.
"Oh! Long live Captain Bucky!"
...
The other end of town.
The group of five, who were speeding down the street, stopped.
What was that noise?
The three pirate henchmen who were leading the way were so frightened that their legs went weak, and they pointed at the mushroom cloud rising in the distance, their teeth chattering.
"That, that's Lord Buggy's signature technique... the Buggy Bomb! That's a power capable of destroying towns!"
Zoro frowned and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword: "That was quite a commotion."
Viktor watched the smoke rising in the distance, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"Looks like the banquet has already begun. Zoro, quicken your pace."
"Hey, first mate."
...
On the terrace.
"Hehehehe!" Buggy pointed at the ruins and said triumphantly to Nami.
"With this Buggy Bullet, plus the power of my Chop-Chop Fruit, I'm sure I can dominate the Grand Line! Right, Nami?"
Nami suppressed her fear and nodded, her face pale, "Yes...yes, Captain Buggy."
Hey! Red Nose!
Just then, a sudden voice rang out.
Luffy, who was locked in the cage, finally gave up on the plate of roast chicken that he couldn't reach and interrupted with a dissatisfied look.
"What are you talking about? The one who will dominate the Grand Line and become the Pirate King—that's me!"
The air froze instantly.
Bucky's face, covered in paint, instantly turned a deep liver color, and veins bulged on his forehead.
Nami was terrified and quickly tried to smooth things over: "You...you stupid idiot who doesn't know what's good for him!!"
"Hahaha! The Pirate King?"
Buggy laughed in fury, his sinister gaze shifting between Luffy and Nami.
"Hey, Nami. I understand why you can't stand this idiot. In that case, I'll give you a chance to prove your loyalty."
He pointed at the still-smoking cannon and said with a sinister grin.
"I'll give you a Pakistani bomb; go and blast him to smithereens!"
"Whoa! Blast him away!"
"Do it! Do it!"
The pirates cheered and quickly adjusted their cannons, aiming the dark barrels directly at Luffy inside the cage.
"Move...move?" Nami looked at the burning match handed to her, her whole body trembling.
"Um... how about we call it a day? We've had a welcome party, so let's just have some drinks..." Nami tried to decline.
"Do it!!"
Bucky's smile vanished, replaced by a chilling murderous intent.
"This is our pirate crew's rule! If you don't kill him, you're a traitor!"
Nami swallowed hard.
She looked at Luffy in the cage, then at the menacing pirates around her, her heart pounding.
Should we really light it?
That one shot would turn that straw hat kid into ashes instantly!
"Hey, what are you shaking for?"
Looking at Nami's trembling hands from inside the cage, Luffy suddenly spoke calmly.
"You've become like this because you had this half-baked mentality and lacked awareness."
"Responsibility?" Nami whirled around, screaming hysterically, "What nonsense are you spouting! Taking someone's life so easily, is this what you call responsibility?!"
"No, it's the awareness to risk my life," Luffy said calmly.
"Hey! Newbie! What are you dawdling for!"
A burly pirate nearby finally lost his patience and snatched the match from Nami's hand.
"You don't even have this much guts? Watch closely, this is how you start a fire!"
With that, he struck another match, grinning maliciously as he held it out towards the fuse. "Die, kid!"
As the flame drew closer to the fuse, Nami's sense of reason snapped.
"No... I don't want to..."
Nami suddenly pulled two pieces of wood from her thigh and assembled them together in an instant.
"Bang!"
Just as the match was about to touch the fuse, Nami slammed the pirate hard into the back of the head with her stick!
The pirate didn't even utter a sound; he simply rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground.
The entire room fell into a deathly silence.
All the pirates were stunned.
"Oh no... my body moved instinctively..." Nami looked at the fallen pirate, her face pale.
"Nami!!" Buggy roared angrily, "What are you doing! There's a limit to how much you can fool people!!"
"I'm sorry!!" Nami instinctively bowed and apologized.
"What's the use of an apology?!" Bucky was so angry his hands trembled. "Men! She really is a traitor! Kill her in style!!"
"Kill them!!"
A dozen or so pirates wielding curved swords roared and surged toward Nami like a tidal wave.
Nami gripped the stick tightly in her hand. Looking at those hideous faces, her fear reached its peak, but she still held the stick firmly in her hand.
"I don't want to..."
Nami gritted her teeth, tears welling in her eyes, "Even if I die... I will never become one of you cruel pirates!!"
"Then die! You brat!" The pirate at the front raised his greatsword.
Just as Nami closed her eyes in despair, preparing to face death...
The temperature in the air suddenly rose sharply.
A clear voice, accompanied by complex hand seal sounds, suddenly rang out at the edge of the battlefield.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
call--!!!
An extremely terrifying heat wave erupted from the rooftop beside Nami!
A massive orange-red fireball, over five meters in diameter, swept past Nami with an aura of incineration, crashing violently into the charging pirates!
"boom--!!"
Intense flames erupt!
"Aaaaaaah!!"
"It's so hot! Help!"
"Oh no, I'm going to die!"
"What the hell is this thing! Fire?! How can there be such a huge fireball?!"
The dozen or so pirates at the forefront were instantly engulfed by flames, screaming as they scattered and fled, their once dense charging formation collapsing in an instant.
Nami felt her cheeks burning from the heat wave. She opened her eyes in shock, staring blankly at the scene before her, which seemed like magic.
"It seems... we arrived just in time."
A cheerful voice came from above.
Nami instinctively turned her head.
On the nearby wall, a black-haired boy was holding a hand seal, his crimson Sharingan eyes looking particularly eerie and captivating in the firelight.
Viktor looked down at Nami and smiled slightly.
"Beautiful lady, do you need any help?"Chapter 13 Showing off and running away
"Victor! How did you even manage to find this place?!"
Looking at the black-haired boy standing on the wall, Luffy, inside the cage, pressed his face against the bars and shouted.
"Quickly open this cage! I want to go out and beat that red-nosed guy to a pulp!"
Zoro, who was right behind him, also arrived, panting heavily.
He looked at Luffy, who was locked in an iron cage like a monkey, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"Hey Luffy, what new trick are you up to this time?"
"Hehehe! I actually think it's quite fun." Luffy showed no remorse whatsoever.
At that moment, Viktor nimbly jumped off the wall and shielded the still somewhat shaken Nami behind him.
He turned around and gave Nami his signature smile:
"Nice to meet you, Miss Nami. I am your first mate, Victor."
Nami looked at the boy in front of her who had just killed more than a dozen pirates with a single move and forced herself to calm down.
"Hey! Stop trying to get on my good side!" Nami took a half step back warily. "I never said I wanted to join you! Don't think that just because you saved me, I'll agree to become a pirate!"
"Hey!! You red-eyed brat!!"
An angry roar interrupted their pleasantries.
Baji stood on the high platform, his body trembling with rage, pointing at Viktor and cursing him.
"Who are you! Don't you know this is my territory, 'The Joker' Bucky's territory?! How dare you blow up my men!"
Victor completely ignored Bucky's impotent rage.
He maintained his smiling expression, but bent down and picked up the match that the pirate had dropped on the ground.
Then, under the horrified gazes of all the pirates, he grabbed the barrel of the massive Buggy Cannon with one hand.
"Creak—"
The cannon slowly rotated, and finally the dark barrel was pointed straight at Bucky and his gang on the high platform.
"Zoro! Forget about that cage, carry Luffy and this lady and let's go."
Victor waved to Zoro with his back turned.
"I'll be there shortly after I finish my last performance for you all."
Zoro glanced at the cannon barrel poised to fire and instantly understood Viktor's plan.
"Tch, what a reckless first mate."
Without saying a word, Zoro hoisted the heavy iron cage containing Luffy onto his shoulder and then spoke to Nami.
"Let's go! Run fast if you don't want to die!"
"Hey! What's that for?! It's loaded with specially made Pakistani bombs!!"
Bucky stared at the dark cannon barrel pointing at him, cold sweat instantly soaking his back, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets in fright.
The other pirates raised their hands in terror to stop them.
"Stop!! People will die! People will really die!"
"Oh? So you guys know you can die from being blown up?"
Viktor struck a match, the light illuminating his emotionless eyes.
"I just wanted to let everyone experience the weapon I'm so proud of. It's just... the roles were reversed."
As he spoke, he loosened his fingers, and the burning match floated down, igniting the fuse.
"Stop it!!!" Bucky screamed in despair.
The moment Viktor ignited the fire, chakra erupted beneath his feet, propelling him backward at breakneck speed.
The next second.
"Bang—!!!"
A deafening roar, even more deafening than before, echoed through the sky.
The power of a specially designed Pakistani bomb exploding at close range is terrifying.
The entire top floor of the bar was instantly engulfed in red flames, and the solid bricks turned to ashes like tofu dregs.
The skull and crossbones flag, a symbol of the Buggy Pirates' prestige, was instantly vaporized in the shockwave of the explosion, leaving not even a trace.
A huge mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
Viktor, who was retreating, glanced back at the spectacular "fireworks" and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
"Is this the power of the Pakistani bomb? I'd like to take a few back with me."
[Ding! The "Buggy Bomb" has severely damaged the Buggy Pirates.]
[Battle Rating: A (An eye for an eye).]
[Gained 200 Ninja Points.]
Upon hearing the system notification, Victor smiled with satisfaction and waved towards the ruins.
"Hehe, you're welcome. Red Nose, Captain Bucky."
After saying that, he turned around and fled the place quickly.
That "Great Fireball Technique" just now consumed a quarter of his chakra.
He's currently a low-level ninja with a shortage of mana.
It would be quite difficult for one person to take on the entire Buggy Pirates crew when they go berserk.
Viktor's rule number one: Show off and run, that's so exciting.
...
On the other side, on the streets of Orange Town.
Zoro carried the huge iron cage as if it were a sack of cotton, running wildly through the streets.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Nami chased after him, panting, "You're running too fast!"
Upon hearing this, Zoro slowed his pace slightly.
"Hey, Luffy," Zoro said, pointing to Nami behind him as he ran, "Who's that woman? Is this the crewmate you're looking for?"
"Hehehe, that's right!" Luffy sat in the swaying cage, still laughing happily. "She's Nami, the navigator we've been looking for!"
At this moment, Nami finally caught up and immediately retorted upon hearing this.
"Hey! I never said I wanted to join you guys... Hey! You with the green hair!!"
Nami suddenly pointed at Zoro and yelled.
"Huh? What?" Zoro stopped in his tracks.
Why are you walking that way? That's a dead end!
Nami pointed in the opposite direction in despair, "Weren't we trying to escape? This is the way!!"
Zoro blushed as his "directionally challenged" passive ability was triggered.
"Tch, the roads in this town are designed so strangely, I just wanted to explore the area."
Nami rolled her eyes and helplessly led the way: "Stay close to me, don't get lost!"
After running for a while and confirming that there were no pursuers behind them, the three slowed down.
"Hey, who was that red-eyed man just now?" Nami couldn't help but ask. "That ability to breathe fire, is it also a Devil Fruit?"
"That bastard is our first mate, Victor," Zoro snorted.
"Hehehe, Victor is amazing! And he's an interesting magician!" Luffy laughed loudly. "Don't worry, he'll definitely catch up."
"I already told you I won't join you! And I'm not worried about him!"
Soon after, the three of them finally arrived at the door of a pet food store that looked quite ordinary.
At the shop entrance, a small white dog was squatting, guarding the door without moving.
"Phew... We're here. It should be safe here for now."
Zoro slammed the huge iron cage down on the ground. "Let's wait for Viktor here."
Wow! It's a puppy!
Even when locked in a cage, Luffy was restless. He crawled around the cage like a caterpillar until he reached the little dog named "Cheeky".
"Hey, doggy, I'm hungry. Do you have any meat?"
"Woof!" Ququ barked fiercely.
Nami watched this comical scene and sighed helplessly. Then, as if she remembered something, she patted her head.
"Ah, speaking of which, I'd forgotten."
Nami reached into her pocket, pulled out a shiny key, and waved it in front of Zoro.
"I actually stole the key to the cage earlier."
The entire room fell silent.
Zoro stared at the key, his forehead covered in black lines, and couldn't help but roar.
"Why didn't you say you had the key sooner?! I had to carry this broken cage halfway through town!!"
"You didn't ask either," Nami said matter-of-factly, shrugging her shoulders. "Besides, the situation was so urgent just now."
"Also, don't misunderstand, I just don't want to owe that Victor a favor. Since he saved me, I'll release your captain to even things out."
After saying that, Nami casually tossed the key to Luffy.
"Next, Luffy."
"Hehehe! Great! I'm saved..." Luffy excitedly stretched out his arm to catch it.
However, just as the key traced an arc through the air and was about to land in Luffy's hand...
Ququ, who had been squatting quietly to the side, suddenly displayed amazing jumping ability.
"Awoo!"
Ququ leaped high and precisely bit the key in mid-air.
Then he landed, still maintaining that expressionless goalkeeping posture.
"..."
Luffy froze.
Zoro froze.
Nami froze.
The three of them stared at the dog, lost in a long, stunned silence.
"What fell on the ground is mine—does it think that way?!" Zoro exclaimed in despair.
"Ugh!! Damn it!!"
Luffy realized what was happening and reached out to grab Chuchu, shaking it frantically.
"That's not dog food! That's my key! Spit it out! Spit it out, you stupid dog!!"
"Woof woof woof!!"
In the midst of this chaotic and disorderly moment, a figure fell from the roof.
Viktor finally caught up with him after a frantic rush.
He watched as Luffy and the dog fought over the keys, and his lips twitched slightly.
He had already changed so much of the plot. But this key... it still got swallowed by this dog?
"Is this what they call...world correction power?"
Viktor shook his head helplessly, walked up to the crowd, and waved his hand:
"Hey, I'm back. Looks like I missed a good show?"
...
at the same time.
The former stronghold of the Buggy Pirates is now in ruins.
Thick black smoke billowed out.
Bucky sat on the ground, covered in soot and grime. His once-glorious clown costume was now tattered and torn, and his red nose was covered in black ash.
Although he avoided fatal injuries during the explosion thanks to the power of the Chop-Chop Fruit.
But the feeling of humiliation and disgrace made him tremble all over.
"Unforgivable... Absolutely unforgivable..."
Bucky's face was grim, his eyes burning with the fury of revenge.
"Those brats... they're declaring war on me! How dare they blow up my castle!"
Suddenly, a terrifying lion's roar came from behind the ruins.
"roar--!!"
A beast tamer riding a giant lion slowly emerged from the dust.
"Looks like you're in trouble, Captain Bucky."
Mochi, the beast tamer with the strange hairstyle, glanced at the devastation around him and said calmly.
"You're here, Mochi." Bucky looked up, his eyes cold.
"Can I go and get the heads of those brats, Captain Bucky?" Mochi stroked the mane of the giant lion Leigh beneath him. "My Leigh, he's starving."
Bucky picked up a broken throwing knife from the ground and slammed it into the ground.
"Go! Tear that straw hat kid and that red-eyed bastard... to shreds!!"Chapter 14 Lion Brand Can Opener
"Hey! You little brats! You're not allowed to bully Ququ!"
A powerful roar interrupted everyone's thoughts.
An old man with white hair, wearing armor and round glasses, walked over aggressively, brandishing a broom, and stood protectively in front of the little dog named Ququ.
"Huh? Who are you, old man?" Zoro asked impatiently, arms crossed.
"I am the mayor of this town, Budor!" The old man stared warily at the group. "And you, who are you? Why are you here?"
Luffy lay in the cage, pressing his face against the bars, revealing a set of big white teeth.
"I am Luffy! I'm going to be the Pirate King!"
"Smack."
Viktor, Zoro, and even Nami all instinctively covered their foreheads.
This guy really does have to promote his pirate identity wherever he goes.
"What?! Pirates?!"
Mayor Budor's expression changed drastically, and he gripped the broom even tighter.
"I knew it! They're the same as Buggy's gang! Get out of here immediately! Pirates aren't welcome here!"
"Hey, old man." Zoro sighed helplessly, "We're not like Buggy, we're just passing by, don't worry."
"I won't believe your pirates' nonsense!" Budol roared stubbornly.
Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Victor ignored the argument, squatted down, and reached out to rub the head of the puppy named Ququ.
It feels nice to the touch, it's fluffy.
"Pets..."
Looking into QuQu's determined black bean eyes, Victor's thoughts drifted into his mind as he opened the system's [Summoning Beast] interface.
How can a ninja be without a summoning beast?
However, when he saw those strings of numbers, his heart sank.
[Ninja Dog]: Price: 2,000 Ninja Points.
[Summoning Crow]: Price: 3,000 Ninja Points.
[Myoboku Mountain Toad (Medium)]: Price: 5,000 Ninja Points.
[Nine-Ra]: Price: 10,000,000 Ninja Points.
"Hmm..." Viktor looked at his pitiful three-digit balance and silently closed the interface.
Forget it, I'll just catch a sea king to use later.
At this moment, Nami also came over, gently patted QuQu's head, and then turned her head to look at Viktor.
"Hey, thanks for saving me earlier. That fire-breathing ability... you ate a Devil Fruit too?"
Viktor smiled and put a finger to his lips.
"Don't mention it, Miss Navigator. As for that... well, that's a magician's secret."
"Hmph, playing tricks." Nami curled her lip and changed the subject, "Speaking of which, what's this dog doing sitting here the whole time?"
"Watching the shop."
Perhaps noticing that Victor and Nami meant no harm to the dog, Mayor Budor's tone softened slightly.
He stepped forward and took out a bag of dog food from his pocket.
"Looking at the shop?" Nami looked up and glanced up. "Ah, this is a pet supply store, isn't it?"
"Yes, the owner of this shop is a good friend of mine."
Budor opened the shop door, skillfully took out a food bowl, filled it with dog food, and placed it in front of Ququ. "I'm here to feed Ququ in his place."
"replace?"
"Ah." Budor's eyes dimmed slightly. "The owner of this shop passed away from illness three months ago."
Nami was stunned, staring at the little dog that was eating dog food with its head down.
"Could it be... that it has been waiting for its owner to return?"
"Everyone says that. But I think that for Ququ, this store is its most precious memory with its owner, a treasure it is willing to protect with its life."
Budor looked at Ququ with eyes full of affection.
"Ah...that's really touching." Nami couldn't help but be moved.
At this heartwarming and touching moment.
"Gurgle..."
An untimely swallowing sound rang out.
Viktor turned his head and saw Luffy in the cage with his face pressed against the bars, staring intently at the dog food in QuQu's bowl, drooling all over the ground.
"It looks so delicious..."
Viktor's forehead vein throbbed, and he couldn't help but say, "Luffy, that's Chuchu's dog food..."
"Has your diet become this extensive?"
Before he could finish speaking, Viktor's expression suddenly changed.
He stood up abruptly, his brows furrowed, and his dark eyes instantly looked towards the end of the street.
"What's wrong?" Nami was startled by his actions.
"Nami, take the mayor and leave here first."
Victor's voice turned cold.
Zoro, standing nearby, also keenly sensed something, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword and a warlike smile playing on his lips.
"Ah, a murderous fellow is here. Leave the rest to us."
"The enemy?" Nami's face paled, and she immediately grabbed Budor's hand. "Quick, let's go! Mayor!"
Budor tried to pick up Ququ: "Ququ! Come with me! It's dangerous!"
"Woof!"
However, Ququ called out to the mayor and stood guard at the shop entrance, refusing to leave even a step.
"It doesn't want to leave!" Budor was sweating profusely with anxiety.
"No time!" Nami glanced at the dust rising in the distance, gritted her teeth, and forcibly pulled the mayor towards the back alley. "Victor! You're in charge!"
Just as the two had evacuated...
"roar--!!!"
A deafening roar echoed through the street.
Then, the ground shook violently.
"boom!"
A gigantic lion, as large as an elephant, descended from the sky and crashed heavily onto the ground in front of Luffy and his crew, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Wow! What a huge lion! It looks so meaty!" Even inside the cage, Luffy's focus remained peculiar.
The smoke and dust cleared.
On the lion's back sat a trainer with a fur scarf and an odd hairstyle.
Mochi looked down at the group, cracking his whip, his face full of arrogance.
"So you're that audacious red-eyed brat, and the pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro?"
"Hmph, I didn't expect you guys hadn't run away yet. That saves me the trouble of looking for you."
"An unknown nobody, yet he speaks with such arrogance."
Zoro snorted coldly and slowly drew his Wado Ichimonji. "Just because you're riding a big cat, you think you're invincible?"
"That certainly saves us the trouble of looking for you, you stupid little thing."
Mochi's forehead veins bulged: "Nameless nobody?! Hairy people?! You are utterly arrogant! I am Mochi, the vice-captain and beast tamer of the Buggy Pirates!"
"Ah! I want to eat meat!" Luffy shouted from inside the cage.
This completely enraged Mochi.
"Aaaaah! Shut up! Lich! Eat them up!"
Mochi suddenly swung his whip.
"roar!"
The giant lion named Rich let out a roar, and with a burst of power from its hind legs, its massive body soared into the air.
It opened its blood-red maw and pounced on Zoro at the front, bringing with it a foul stench!
The blow was so powerful that it even made the air crackle.
Zoro's eyes narrowed, and he prepared to dodge to the side and draw his sword to counterattack.
Excuse me.
A voice suddenly rang in his ear.
Instead of dodging, Victor used his strength to lift the heavy iron cage containing Luffy.
His chakra erupted, and his power was amplified at that moment.
"Since you're a lion, why don't you help me open this can of food?"
Viktor shouted, but instead of protecting Luffy, he threw the iron cage in his hand like a bowling ball, accurately placing it within range of Richie's attack!
"Huh?! Viktor, what are you doing?!" Luffy screamed in terror from inside the cage.
The next second.
"Bang--!!!"
Richie's enormous lion paws, powerful enough to shatter rocks, slammed down hard on the iron cage.
The once indestructible iron cage was instantly deformed and twisted by the monstrous strength of the giant beast.
It emitted a piercing metallic crack, and then—completely disintegrated!
"Uha! They're out!!"
Luffy sprang out of the broken cage, excitedly raising his hands in celebration.
"You've got it, Viktor! You're finally free!"
However.
Before he could even feel happy for a second...
Leech's claw, which had shattered the cage, didn't stop. Using the remaining force, his massive paw slammed into Luffy's face.
"Smack!"
"Whoa—!"
Having just gained his freedom, Luffy was slapped away like a fly, his entire body turning into a blur before crashing into the nearby ruins with a loud thud.
The entire room fell silent.
Mochi, riding on the lion's back, watched Luffy fly away, gave a smug snort, and slowly raised a finger:
"one."Chapter 15 Perfect Coordinated Combat
"one."
Seeing Mochi's smug pose with one finger outstretched, Viktor's forehead veins throbbed involuntarily.
He even found it somewhat amusing, a mocking smile curving his lips: "Damn, these days you think riding a lion gives you the right to act all high and mighty?"
Before he finished speaking, chakra surged beneath Viktor's feet.
Then, like an arrow released from a bow, he transformed into a black shadow and rushed swiftly towards the man and the lion.
"Hey! Don't try to show off all by yourself, First Mate."
Seeing this, Zoro also raised his Wado Ichimonji, his eyes flashing with a warlike glint, and charged forward after him.
"You're asking for it! Lich, eat them!" Mochi roared.
"roar--!!"
With a roar, Richie raised his massive lion paw, unleashing a terrifying force capable of shattering rocks, and slammed it down on Victor, who was closest to him.
Faced with this overwhelming attack, Viktor not only did not slow down, but instead revealed a cold smile.
Those dark eyes instantly turned red, and the single tomoe slowly rotated in the pupil.
The world has slowed down.
Under the Sharingan's keen observation, every muscle tremor in Richie's swift strikes was clearly visible.
"Too slow."
Viktor shifted his body slightly to the side, easily dodging the first strike.
Then, seizing the opportunity, he actually used the back of Richie's claw, which had not yet retracted, to step on it.
He leaped lightly into the air, like a nimble black cat, and landed steadily on the giant lion's head!
"W-what?!"
Mochi was terrified when he saw the pair of scarlet eyes that suddenly appeared in front of him, and his arrogance vanished completely.
"Lich! Get it down!" Mochi screamed in terror.
Leach understood the order.
It roared and raised its other paw, about to slap it on its own forehead, trying to kill the "flea".
But Victor was clearly faster.
The moment Mochi gave the order.
Viktor absorbed chakra beneath his feet, took a step forward, and instantly closed in on Mochi's side.
"Get down here, you son of a bitch!"
Mochi brandished his long whip in terror, attempting to retaliate.
Without even looking, Victor precisely caught the whip tip in mid-air with one hand, twisted his wrist sharply, and then pulled it forcefully into his arms!
A tremendous force came, and Mochi couldn't even sit still. He was staggered and pulled toward Victor.
He was met with a powerful front kick from Viktor!
"Bang!"
The kick landed squarely on Mochi's stomach.
"Pfft—Ah—!!"
Mochi's eyes bulged out, and the acid in his stomach mixed with his breakfast instantly gushed out.
He was kicked off the lion's back like a tattered sack, crashing heavily onto the hard street and rolling several times before coming to a stop.
Victor stood on the lion's head, looking down at it and extending one finger: "One."
Just then, Lich's somewhat clumsy paw whistled past his forehead.
Viktor only glanced at it out of the corner of his eye.
He then pulled out a piece of paper with runes drawn on it and slapped it onto the thick fur on the back of Richie's neck.
Then, he nimbly leaped backward, flipped in the air, and landed steadily.
"Smack!"
Unsurprisingly, Richie's powerful paw slammed hard onto his own forehead.
"Awoo..."
The slap made him see stars.
Leach shook his enormous head, staggered, and his fierce demeanor instantly crumbled by half.
"You're quite capable, First Mate!"
Zoro, who was in front, saw this scene and a smile appeared on his lips.
Taking advantage of the moment when Ritchie's defenses were wide open due to dizziness and pain, Zoro, with his swords in both hands and Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, slashed into the battlefield like a ghost.
"Three-Sword Style—"
Zoro crossed his arms, and the light from his sword flickered like will-o'-the-wisps.
"——Ghost Slayer!!"
"Pfft!"
Three sharp slashes instantly tore through the air, striking Richie's thick hind leg joints hard.
Lion's legs severed! Blood splattered!
"roar--!!"
Leach let out a piercing wail.
With his supporting leg severed, his massive body instantly lost its balance, crashing to the ground with a loud thud, convulsing in pain.
Zoro deftly sheathed his sword and glanced at the large cat rolling on the ground.
Although he often complained that Victor was an idiot, he had to admit that fighting alongside the guy was incredibly comfortable.
Viktor always manages to use flashy methods to precisely create openings for the enemy.
Let him only be responsible for seizing the opportunity and delivering the final, fatal blow.
"It's not over yet."
Victor looked at the howling lion without a trace of pity in his eyes.
He never hesitated to take action against such ruthless beasts who aided and abetted evil.
He formed a hand seal with one hand and gave a low shout:
"burst."
"boom--!!"
The explosive tag that had just been stuck to the lion's neck was detonated instantly!
A flash of light appeared, and Richie's back was instantly blown to pieces.
The immense impact prevented it from even letting out a final scream; its eyes rolled back, and it passed out completely.
"Li-Lich!!"
Mochi, lying on the ground clutching his stomach, burst into tears as he watched his beloved lion being beaten so badly.
"You...you demons! I shouldn't have come to provoke you..."
Viktor walked towards him expressionlessly, twirling the kunai in his hand, which gleamed coldly.
"No...no! Please..."
Mochi looked at the red-eyed boy and shrank back in terror, "Don't kill me..."
"You're not scared," Victor's voice was as cold as ice. "You know you're going to die."
Before Viktor could even make a move...
"Woof!!"
Ququ, who had been guarding the store entrance, suddenly rushed over. Its small body erupted with immense anger, and it bit Moqi's arm hard.
"Ouch!! That hurts so much! You stupid dog! Let go of me!"
Mochi screamed and swung his arm forcefully, sending the tiny, few-pound Ququ flying.
"snort."
Viktor reacted quickly and caught Ququ in mid-air.
He then turned around and delivered a vicious spinning kick, striking Mochi directly in the chin.
"Bang!"
Mochi flew out like a soccer ball and landed right next to the unconscious Richie, where he fell completely still.
"it's over."
[Ding! Team up with Zoro to defeat Mochi and Lichi.]
[Battle Rating: S (Perfect teamwork).]
[Gained Ninja Points: 250.]
Viktor patted Ququ's head, about to say something pretentious.
Sudden--
Zoro, who was watching the show with his arms crossed, suddenly had his pupils contract and the hairs on his body stood on end!
He stared at the rapidly approaching red dot of light in the distance and roared at the top of his lungs:
"Victor!! Run!!!"
Viktor heard Zoro's call and instinctively sensed the threat of death.
It was a sense of oppression a hundred times more terrifying than facing a ferocious beast.
He didn't have time to look back; all the chakra beneath his feet instantly exploded to its maximum.
"Walk!"
Viktor held QuQu in his arms and at the same time grabbed Zoro's arm.
He suddenly leaped to the side and backward, dragging himself and others into a small alley behind him.
Just as they fell.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
It was as if a meteorite had fallen.
The entire street was instantly engulfed by a terrifying red light!
A massive shockwave, carrying debris and heat, swept everything away!
Mochi and the giant lion Richie didn't even have time to scream before they were instantly engulfed by the flames of the explosion.
The once smooth street was transformed into a huge crater in the blink of an eye.
Ashes filled the sky, falling like black snow.
a long time.
"Cough cough cough..."
Viktor pushed aside the rubble that was pressing down on him and managed to stand up.
His clothes were scorched in several places, making him look rather disheveled.
Zoro was clearly badly injured as well, and he stood up with the help of Viktor's outstretched hand. "Damn it, it's that Buggy."
"Victor! Zoro!"
At this moment, Luffy, who had just been freed from his predicament, arrived at the scene with Nami and Mayor Buldor.
Everyone was stunned by the hellish scene before them.
"Victor! Are you alright?!" Luffy shouted anxiously.
Viktor waved his hand and wiped the dust from the corner of his mouth: "Cough... I'm fine, I almost turned into roast meat."
At that moment, Ququ in his arms suddenly struggled violently, leaped out of his arms, and rushed towards the center of the explosion without regard for anything else.
"Funny!" Nami exclaimed.
On the verge of explosion, the pet food store had its windows shattered by the shockwave, and cracks appeared in the walls.
But it still stands miraculously, maintaining the integrity of its main body.
Ququ lay on the shop entrance, letting out an angry roar towards the distance.
"Woof! Woof woof!!"
Everyone followed Ququ's gaze.
On a high ground several hundred meters away.
Baji stood next to a cannon that was still emitting blue smoke, squinting as he watched the scene.
"Tch, didn't you hit it?"
Bucky's face was horribly grim, and he gritted his teeth as he roared at his men:
"Damn bugs! What great luck! Give me another one—a special Pakistani bomb!!"
"This time, I'm going to blow the entire town to smithereens!!"