Chapter 21: A Major Boost in Combat Power, A New Beginning
Ten minutes later.
The port of Orange Town.
A medium-sized sailboat flying a comical clown flag is quietly moored at the shore.
Of course, it now belongs to the Straw Hat crew.
Luffy was sitting cross-legged in the VIP seat at the bow of the ship, swinging his legs and laughing heartily.
Zoro, holding the Wado Ichimonji, leaned against the mainmast and closed his eyes to rest.
On the other side of the deck, Victor and Nami were engaged in a serious calculation about the "distribution of wealth".
"It's a total of five million pegories in cash, plus jewelry and gold worth about twenty million."
Viktor held a small notebook in his hand, taking inventory of the treasure in front of him while scribbling notes with his pen.
"Except for the cost of supplies we need to purchase, ship repair costs, and future food expenses... um, and various other costs."
Viktor closed his notebook, looked up, and gave Nami, who was looking at him expectantly, a bright and dazzling smile.
"Miss Nami, given that you still owe me a huge debt and your current ability to repay is negative."
"These treasures will be temporarily kept in the custody of this first mate. Do you have any objections?"
"I have a problem with that!!" Nami clutched the largest money bag tightly in her arms.
"At least... at least leave me some! This is a reward for my hard work too!!"
Nami pointed to the empty dock not far away, her heart aching so much that tears were about to fall.
"And another thing! Why did you leave a bag of money on the shore?! There were a full five million Berries in there!"
Just before boarding the ship, she witnessed Victor casually tossing a whole bag of heavy baileys onto a prominent spot on the dock.
"Objection overruled."
Viktor ruthlessly suppressed the navigator's resistance and casually snatched the money pouch from Nami's arms.
Then, along with the treasure on the ground, they threw it all into the cabin behind them and locked it up.
"That money is reserved for the reconstruction of the town."
Viktor clapped his hands and looked at Nami with a smile.
"Of course, in exchange, the navigator position on this ship is yours."
"Free room and board, and no salary, how about that? Isn't it a great deal?"
"What a joke!!" Nami was so angry she wanted to bite someone.
Just then, a series of noisy and rapid footsteps suddenly came from the direction of the dock.
"Over there!!"
"Quick, after them! Don't let those pirates get away!"
Everyone turned to look.
Mayor Bodor had bandages wrapped around his head and was holding a chuckle in his hand.
Behind him, a large group of townspeople armed with shovels, pitchforks, and sticks charged menacingly toward the port.
"Ah! It's the mayor and the others!"
"Hey—!! Uncle—!! Did you see that? We won!!"
"Win my ass!"
Nami's face turned deathly pale as she looked at the angry townspeople.
"We're doomed! They must think we stole Bucky's treasure and they've come to arrest us!"
She clutched her hair in despair, "I knew I shouldn't have taken so much! Now I'm a wanted criminal!"
"After all, we are indeed robbing people now, so why don't we just throw our first mate back?"
Zoro, leaning against the mast, opened one eye and muttered a casual remark.
"What should we do? Should we fight?"
Luffy clenched his fist and tilted his head somewhat awkwardly, "But that's an old man!"
"No need to fight."
Victor walked to the ship's side, looked at the excited townspeople, and a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.
He knew very well that these townspeople hadn't come to arrest them.
They came to express their gratitude.
However, pirates don't need this kind of gratitude.
Moreover, if the Navy knew that the town had been "saved" by pirates, it would actually be a problem for the ordinary people who still had to live their lives.
"Since they are pirates, they should have a way of exiting the story."
A playful smile curved Victor's lips. He took a deep breath and shouted loudly to the crowd on the shore:
Listen up, everyone in Orange Town!
"We've wiped out that Buggy Pirates crew!"
"As spoils of war, his treasure and his ship now belong to our'Straw Hat Pirates'!"
Victor smiled and pointed to the treasure trove behind him.
"If you want to reclaim the treasure, then come all the way to the Grand Line! If you have the guts! Hahahaha!"
After saying that, Victor turned around and snapped his fingers at Luffy and Nami, who were still in a daze.
"Raise the sails! Set sail!"
"Oh!! Off to sea!!"
Luffy looked at Viktor with a smile.
But upon hearing the words "going to sea," he immediately jumped up excitedly, stretched out his arms, and pulled open the huge sail.
call--!
The sails were full of wind, and the ship, propelled by the wind, quickly sailed away from the harbor, leaving a white trail in its wake on the sea.
"etc!!"
When Mayor Budor and the townspeople rushed to the dock, the boat was already dozens of meters away from the shore.
They watched the pirate ship gradually disappear into the distance.
Looking at the straw-hatted boy still waving at the stern, and the black-haired figure standing on the ship's side with his back to them.
Everyone stopped in their tracks.
They found a heavy package on the dock, and when they opened it, it was full of neatly arranged pelies.
"asshole..."
Mayor Budor clenched his fists, but tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
He watched the young figures on the boat, and with all his might, roared at the sea:
"You brats...you brats...you brats!"
"Thank you!!! Pirate boys!!! Have a safe journey!!!"
He was also shouting at the pirate crew in the distance with the fun in his hand.
"Woof woof woof! Woof woof!"
The other townspeople also threw down their weapons, wiping away tears as they waved and cried as they bid farewell.
Take care!
"Thanks!!"
The sound carried by the sea breeze to the ship.
"Hehehe, it sounds like they're saying thank you."
Luffy sat at the bow of the ship, holding his straw hat, and grinned, revealing his gums.
"Ah, what a troublesome bunch." Zoro closed his eyes again, but a faint smile played on his lips.
Nami leaned against the railing, watching Orange Town shrink into the distance, and the waving crowds around her, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
She turned her head and looked at Viktor, who was tidying up the cables as if nothing had happened.
"Hey, Viktor," Nami couldn't help but say.
"Huh?" Viktor turned around, looking completely innocent.
"You...you're actually a good person, aren't you?" Nami looked him over suspiciously.
Viktor paused in his work of tidying the cables.
Then, he straightened up, wagged his finger at Nami, and put on that smug smile.
"A good person? Miss Nami, that's the biggest misunderstanding you've ever made about me."
"A good person wouldn't remind you that, including the five million you just left for the town, your total debt is now three hundred and five million Berries."
"..."
Nami's expression froze.
Three seconds later, a roar echoed across the deck.
"Victor!! You'd better die!!!"
Ignoring Nami's menacing gestures, Viktor happily found a comfortable spot to lie down.
He closed his eyes, his consciousness sank into his mind, and skillfully opened the system panel.
The battle just now was very fruitful, and now I have a huge sum of 1450 points in my hands. It's time to spend some money.
"What should we change to..."
Victor's gaze slid across the dazzling array of exchange options.
[Magic Shackles Technique] Rank B Ninjutsu. Exchange Price: 800 points.
[Shadow Clone Technique] Rank B Ninjutsu. Exchange Price: 1000 points.
[Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Technique] C-rank ninjutsu. Exchange price: 500 points.
[Sharingan Advancement: Double Tomoe] Exchange Price: 2,000 Points
He currently has the Fireball Jutsu for attack, the Illusion Technique for control, and the Stand for defense; what he lacks is more agile movement and sustained combat ability.
Ultimately, his gaze settled on a few options.
[Ding! Consumed 600 Ninja Points to exchange for Ninjutsu: Shuriken Manipulation Technique (Rank C).]
[Ding! Consumed 300 Ninja Points to exchange for the Ninjutsu: Body Flicker Technique (D-rank).]
[Ding! Consumed 300 Ninja Points to exchange for the attribute: Increased Chakra Amount (Chunin).]
[Ding! Consumed 100 Ninja Points to exchange for the attribute: Improved Chakra Control.]
[Ding! 100 Ninja Points consumed to exchange for a weapon: Uchiha Standard Longsword.]
[Ding! Consumed 50 Ninja Points to exchange for Ninja Tools: 5 Explosive Tags, and a number of Shuriken and Kunai.]
With a series of crisp beeps, warm currents flowed into Viktor's limbs and bones.
In his mind, he came up with exquisite techniques for controlling shuriken with threads, as well as the Body Flicker Technique for instantly bursting speed using chakra.
In particular, the chakra within his body, which had been somewhat depleted, had now become much more abundant.
"Phew... After working so hard all day, I'm back to square one."
Viktor looked at his points, which had instantly dropped to zero, and sadly shut down the system.
This was accompanied by Nami's continued roaring, Luffy's loud laughter, and Zoro's snoring.
Viktor comfortably adjusted his position and closed his eyes.
And so, the Straw Hat Pirates' first official sailing ship, carrying four crew members with very different personalities, set sail and braved the waves.
Sailing towards that vast ocean...Chapter 22 Chakra Control, Talent and Effort
Around noon on the second day, sunlight pierced through the thick clouds.
The golden light shone brightly on the deck of the "Straw Hat".
"call--"
Victor pushed open the cabin door, stretched lazily, and his joints cracked.
"Ah, the weather is so nice."
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at Luffy, who was sitting in the VIP seat at the bow of the ship, munching on an apple.
"Oh, good morning, Luffy."
"Ah, Viktor, good morning." Luffy waved and greeted him indistinctly, his mouth full of apple.
Nami, who was counting the few remaining supplies in the middle of the deck, heard the conversation between the two guys and her forehead instantly creased with a "well" shape.
Her face darkened involuntarily.
"It's already noon! You two idiots who only know how to sleep!"
"Glug."
Luffy swallowed the apple, core and peel included, in a few gulps and patted his belly.
"Ah, it's already noon? No wonder I'm so hungry."
Nami sighed helplessly, put down the list in her hand, looked at the boundless sea, and a trace of worry flashed in her eyes.
"Going to the Grand Line like this is too dangerous... I've heard it's the most dangerous place known as the 'pirate graveyard'."
Luffy sat cross-legged and nodded seriously.
"Nami is right. We really need to eat some meat. If we only eat apples every day, we'll lose our strength."
Zoro, who was dozing against the mast, opened his eyes at the opportune moment and interjected:
"Besides meat, we also need wine."
"Who was talking to you about food?!"
Nami was furious. She grabbed a bright red apple from the side and threw it at Viktor without even looking at it.
"call out!"
The apple traced an arc and landed precisely on Victor, who had just finished stretching.
"Smack."
Viktor caught the apple steadily and looked at Nami with a dark expression.
"Hey! Miss Nami, that was said by the green-haired girl, wasn't it? I didn't say anything! Why are you hitting me?"
"Hehehe! I hit him!" Luffy laughed heartily, clutching his stomach.
"Hmph, serves him right." Zoro smirked smugly.
Nami took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and sighed as she said:
"What are you talking about? Stop joking. That's the Grand Line..."
Nami unfolded the sea chart in her hand, her expression serious.
"There are countless ferocious pirates there. Their pirate ships are larger and their combat personnel are far greater than our small boat with only four people."
"If we just barge in like this, we can't even guarantee our own safety. Luffy, do you understand?"
Seeing Nami's serious expression, Luffy put away his smile and nodded earnestly.
"Okay, I understand!"
Luffy clenched his fist, his eyes resolute:
"We really need to find more companions! Besides the chef, we also need musicians..."
"Pfft—a musician?!"
Zoro couldn't help but burst into laughter again, "Hey, is that something that should be given priority?"
"Are you an idiot?!"
Nami finally broke down, yelling at Luffy, "You don't understand at all! The key is combat strength! It's supplies! It's a more robust ship!"
After yelling at Luffy, Nami turned her head and cast a murderous glare at Victor, who was watching the show from the side.
"Victor!"
"Yes, yes, Miss Navigator."
Viktor took a bite of the apple in his hand and mumbled something indistinctly.
"Where is the nearest island? We have plenty of money in our ship's hold. We can spend the money to build another big ship and buy some more supplies while we're at it."
Upon hearing "spending money" and "supplies," Luffy and Zoro's eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh! Time to eat meat!!" Luffy cheered, raising his hands.
"Don't forget the wine!" Zoro added.
Nami sighed helplessly and took out the sea chart again to examine it carefully.
"Let me see... If we go a little further south, there's a small inhabited island called Rolf Town."
"It's a relatively wealthy area. We should be able to get a decent ship there and replenish our supplies."
"Rolf Town..."
Victor nodded thoughtfully.
If I remember correctly, that should be the village where Usopp lived in the original story.
That is, the home of the Going Merry.
With that thought in mind, Viktor stepped forward with a smile.
While Nami was still looking at the sea chart, he secretly stuffed the apple in his hand into Nami's mouth.
"Huh?!" Nami's eyes widened.
"Alright, plan confirmed! Destination: Rolf Town. Full speed ahead to that island! Please, Miss Navigator."
"Waaaaah!!"
Nami, whose mouth was stuffed with an apple, angrily waved her fists and shouted indistinctly.
"Pah! Pah! You bastard Victor!!"
"Oh!! Full speed ahead!!"
Luffy completely ignored Nami's protests, excitedly pulling the sails and shouting loudly.
...
After the ship adjusted its course, Victor went to the stern alone.
He looked at the rolling waves at the stern of the boat, his expression slightly serious.
Yesterday, he redeemed [Chakra Control Mastery], which is the most basic skill in Naruto and an essential step towards becoming a master.
"Let's take this opportunity to experiment."
Viktor took a deep breath and slowly gathered chakra in the soles of his feet.
The feeling was amazing, like an invisible mucus had adhered to the soles of my feet.
He gripped the stern rope and carefully extended one foot into the sea.
"A dragonfly skimming the water..."
When my feet touched the surface of the sea, I didn't sink immediately as usual, but instead felt a gentle resistance.
It didn't sink!
Viktor was overjoyed and breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he boldly loosened the cable, and his other foot landed steadily on the sea surface that rose and fell with the waves.
At this moment, he was as if he were standing on flat ground, rising and falling with the waves, but never sinking an inch.
Victor stood with his hands behind his back, feeling the sea breeze, and muttered to himself with a smile:
"Well, putting the system aside, this is entirely the result of talent and hard work."
In the pirate world where everything is seawater, treading water is definitely a life-saving and practical skill.
In the future, whether it is naval warfare or escape, they will have a huge advantage.
However, just as Viktor was indulging in self-admiration...
Beneath the surface, a rather large sea fish seemed to have developed a keen interest in this "two-legged creature" standing on the water's surface.
It swam over quietly and curiously nudged the sole of Viktor's foot, which was brimming with chakra.
"Um?"
Viktor, who was in a delicate balance, suddenly felt his foot slip.
The flow of chakra was instantly disrupted.
Holy crap!
A beautiful line from a traditional Chinese poem came out of his mouth.
Viktor lost his balance instantly, as if he had been tripped, and fell headfirst into the sea.
"Thump!"
The icy seawater instantly filled my nasal cavity.
Although Victor is not a Devil Fruit user, as a typical "landlubber" otaku transmigrator, he is not a good swimmer.
"Help, help me! Glug glug..."
He was thrashing about in the water, showing none of the expert demeanor he had displayed earlier.
"Hahaha! Victor fell into the water!"
Luffy, who was lying on the side of the ship, watched this scene, pointed at Viktor's disheveled appearance, and laughed heartlessly.
"Tch, what is that idiot doing?"
Zoro, who was wiping his sword, glanced at it and complained helplessly.
Despite his initial disdain, he quickly took off his coat and jumped into the sea with a "plop".
...
at the same time.
Not far ahead, on a peaceful and tranquil island.
On the streets of Rolf, a long-nosed boy was running wildly, covered in sweat.
As he ran, he waved his arms and shouted at the top of his lungs at the empty street:
"Pirates are here!!"
"Pirates are here!!"
"Run, everyone! Terrifying pirates are attacking the village!!"Chapter 23 Usopp the Liar
On the streets of Rolf.
A curly-haired boy with a long nose was running breathlessly through the entire town, shouting at the top of his lungs as he ran:
"Pirates...are here!!"
"Run, everyone!!"
Although he was out of breath from running, it did not cause the panic that was expected.
The windows on both sides of the street were tightly closed, and occasionally a few helpless sighs could be heard.
Seeing this, the boy stopped, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. He put his hands on his hips and laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.
"Pirates... I was just kidding! Wahahaha!"
"clang!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a frying pan flew out of one of the windows as if it had eyes, and hit the boy squarely on the back of the head.
"Ouch... Damn it!"
Usopp clutched his head, tears welling in his eyes from the pain.
"You liar!! I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
"Usopp! You bastard, you're doing this again!"
"I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
As if awakened by this scream, the townspeople angrily pushed open their doors, grabbed brooms and rolling pins, and shouted at Usopp.
Faced with the townspeople's agitated anger, Usopp showed no fear; instead, he made a face and laughed heartily.
"Come on! Come on! If you've got the guts, grab me!"
"Don't run! Grab him!"
The angry crowd immediately swarmed forward.
But Usopp was clearly prepared for this situation.
Like a nimble monkey, he dodged left and right, relying on his familiarity with the terrain and his "escape skills" to successfully shake off the people chasing him.
A moment later, on a large tree on the edge of town.
Usopp lay comfortably on the thick tree trunk, watching the grumbling crowd leave in the distance, and let out a smug laugh.
"Hehe, it's still impossible for you to catch me, Usopp."
"Ah! Captain Usopp!"
Just then, two childish voices came from under the tree.
"The Usopp Pirates are here!"
Usopp sat up and looked down, only to see two little devils wearing headscarves looking at him with adoration.
"Ah, it's green peppers and carrots, you've arrived."
Usopp said, nimbly leaping down from the tree trunk and striking a cool pose. Then he looked around, puzzled, and asked:
"Huh? Why are there only two of you? Where did Onion go?"
No sooner had the words been spoken than a series of urgent shouts came from the end of the winding dirt road in the distance.
The three of them turned around.
"Ah, it's an onion!" Green Pepper pointed to the small figure running wildly in the distance.
"What is he shouting?" Carrot listened intently.
"Waaaaah, waaaaah, waaaaah!!"
As they got closer, the three of them finally heard what Onion was shouting.
"Oh no! Oh no! Pirates are here!!"
A moment later, Onion ran up to the three of them, panting.
He was covered in sweat, his face pale, and pointed behind him, saying:
"No, no! Captain Usopp! Pirates are here! Pirate ships flying the skull and crossbones flag... they're right on the North Coast!!"
"You're kidding, right? Onion."
Usopp paused for a moment, then patted Onion's shoulder with an admiring look.
"Well done! You almost fooled me. Your acting skills deserve praise!"
"It's true! It's really true!!"
Onion was on the verge of tears, waving his arms frantically, "I saw it with my own eyes! It really is a pirate ship!"
Seeing Onion's terrified expression, Usopp's smile froze.
"Really?"
He was terrified, his legs began to tremble involuntarily, and his body instinctively retreated.
"Ah... um, I suddenly remembered that I haven't fed my little turtle yet!"
With that, Usopp turned and ran, his speed astonishing.
"I have an urgent matter! I have to go back now!!"
"Huh?! They ran away!!"
The three little devils, Onion, Green Pepper, and Carrot, stared dumbfounded at their captain's retreating figure.
Onion couldn't help but shout, "Captain Usopp!! There are only four of them!! Didn't you always say you wanted to be a brave pirate?!"
"Creak—"
Upon hearing "four people" and "brave pirates," Usopp, who was running wildly, stopped in his tracks, his shoes kicking up a cloud of dust as they scraped the ground.
He stiffly turned his body, forcing out a confident smile.
"Haha... that was just a warm-up. North Coast, right? I accidentally went the wrong way."
Usopp wiped away his cold sweat and waved his hand:
"In that case, let's go take a look! Follow me! Usopp Pirates, attack!"
"yes!!"
The three little devils immediately widened their eyes and excitedly followed.
...
At this time, on the north coast.
As dusk approached, the distant sea surface seemed to be dyed with a layer of burning flames by the setting sun, shimmering in the sunlight.
"rustle..."
A sailboat adorned with a straw hat and skull flag slowly docked at the beach.
The four of them walked down the ladder.
Victor stepped onto the soft sand, took a deep breath of the earthy air, and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Phew...land is so much more comfortable."
"Yes, after all, someone can't even swim at sea. Who is it?" Nami teased from behind.
"310 million Berry."
"You bastard!"
Viktor emerged victorious in today's match.
"It's been so long since I've been ashore!!"
Luffy and Zoro were also standing on the beach, stretching vigorously, their joints cracking.
"Nami, isn't there a village up there?" Luffy asked, turning his head.
"Yes, according to the map, it's a small village called Sirob Village," Nami confirmed.
"Very good!"
Upon hearing that there was a village, Luffy's eyes instantly turned into fleshy shapes, and he immediately took off running up the slope.
"Then—meat! Meat! I want to eat meat!!"
"Luffy! Wait!"
Just then, Zoro suddenly looked at the bushes on the cliff in front of him, his brows furrowed, and his hand instantly rested on the hilt of his sword.
Luffy slammed on the brakes, stopped, and turned around: "Zoro? What's wrong?"
"There's danger," Zoro said in a deep voice, his eyes sharp.
"ah?!"
Upon hearing the danger, Nami screamed reflexively and darted behind Viktor, grabbing his clothes and peeking out half her head.
"Danger? There?"
"Don't even think about getting through here!!"
A loud shout suddenly came from above the cliff.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!"
Then a barrage of small stones rained down on Luffy.
"Wow wow wow!"
Luffy frantically dodged left and right, exclaiming, "What is that?! A bullet?"
Zoro frowned, reached out and caught one, then opened his palm and looked at it: "A small pebble?"
Just as everyone was wondering, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes above.
Immediately afterwards, skull and crossbones flags rose from the bushes, densely packed, looking as if a vast army was lying in ambush behind them.
"Wow!!"
Instead of being afraid, Luffy's eyes widened, he waved his hands, and shouted excitedly:
"Wow! So many flags!"
"Hey, Luffy, is this the time to admire me?"
Nami hid behind Viktor, staring at the single-celled organism with a dark expression.
She then noticed that Victor's shoulders were also twitching slightly, and she couldn't help but look up and angrily say:
What are you laughing at now?!
Viktor smiled and pointed upwards: "It's nothing, I just think this scene... is quite cute."
"Cough cough!"
The voice echoed again from the cliff, this time carrying a forced air of authority.
"Hey! Pirates ahead! This is the territory of the great pirate captain—Usopp!!"
A figure with a long nose stood in the middle of the flag, arms crossed, looking down and shouting:
"For the sake of your lives, I advise you to leave immediately! Otherwise..."
"Wow, that's amazing!!" Luffy was still completely oblivious, his eyes sparkling.
Nami, however, keenly sensed something.
She stepped out from behind Victor, squinted, and her gaze landed precisely on the lower body of the man who called himself "Captain Usopp."
There, his legs were trembling like a leaf.
Nami curled her lips into a devilish smile.
"Is this a lie?"
This seemingly casual remark instantly shattered the aura surrounding the cliff.
"Ah!! We've been found out?! When?!"
Usopp screamed in panic, clutching his head with both hands, looking utterly frustrated.
Nami laughed and crossed her arms: "Look, he said he was found out himself."
"Oops, I blurted it out! Damn it!" Usopp covered his mouth in annoyance.
"What?! Is it fake?" Luffy exclaimed in shock, as if he had been greatly deceived.
"You just realized?! You idiot!" Nami couldn't help but yell at him.
Seeing that his lie had been exposed, Usopp gritted his teeth and stubbornly refused to admit defeat.
He put on a fierce expression again, pointed down and shouted:
"Don't be so arrogant!! I am a man who has... has eighty million subordinates!!"
"With just one command from me, you will all be torn to pieces!"
Nami raised an eyebrow and said in a flippant tone:
"Oh? Eighty million subordinates?"
Her gaze swept over the few small heads peeking out from behind the flags.
Are there three people?
"Ah!!! I've been found out again!!"
The three little devils, Onion, Green Pepper, and Carrot, who were hiding behind the flag, screamed in fright when they heard this.
"Run! That woman is a witch!"
The three small figures instantly dropped the flags they were holding, cried out, and ran towards the village, disappearing in a flash.
"Hey! Don't run away! That's so disloyal!"
Usopp watched his fleeing subordinates in despair, his legs trembling even more violently.
Nami glanced at Viktor, who had been watching the show, then bent down, picked up a small pebble that had been shot at her earlier, and tossed it in her hand.
"After all, I've never heard of a pirate using a slingshot as a weapon before," Nami said with a smile.
Just then, Viktor, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward.
He raised his head, his dark eyes fixed on Usopp on the cliff, his expression incredibly serious.
"No, Nami, don't be careless."
"Victor said in a deep voice."
Nami paused, looking at him in confusion: "What?"
Viktor pointed at Usopp and said with a serious expression:
"What if... he really does have 80 million subordinates?"
The air froze for a second.
"Go to hell!!! This island can't even hold eight thousand people!!"
Nami's furious roar echoed along the coast, followed by a small pebble that whistled through the air and struck Viktor precisely on the back of the head.Chapter 24 Now that I've drawn my gun, I'm going to risk my life.
"Haha! You're so funny."
Seeing Luffy's meaningful smile, Usopp felt a surge of anger and embarrassment.
"Hey! You little brat, don't underestimate me! I'm the proud Captain Usopp!"
With that, he suddenly pulled back the slingshot in his hand, the rubber band taut, and aimed it at Luffy below.
"You saw it just now, right? My slingshot is more accurate than a pistol!"
"If you dare to take another step forward, I really won't be polite!"
Usopp's slingshot trembled slightly, as if he was about to shoot it at Luffy.
However, Luffy showed no intention of dodging the dark slingshot muzzle.
He simply raised his hand slowly and pressed it against the straw hat on his head. The shadow cast by the brim of the hat obscured his eyes, making it impossible to see his expression.
But his aura changed in that instant.
"Since you've drawn your gun, you have to risk your life..."
Luffy's voice was deep and calm, yet it carried a chilling undertone.
Usopp was so frightened by Luffy's sudden aura that his face turned pale, and he subconsciously took half a step back.
"What...what are you saying...what life..."
Luffy slowly raised his head, and his usually carefree big eyes now gleamed with a terrifying light.
"I mean, this thing isn't a toy meant to scare people."
"snort."
Zoro, standing nearby, instantly understood Luffy's intention.
A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth. With a gentle push of his thumb, the Wado Ichimonji was drawn an inch from its sheath, gleaming with a chilling light.
"That's right, kid. The guy standing in front of you is a real pirate."
The killing intent emanating from Zoro pressed down on the cliff like a tangible force.
"Since you've raised your weapons, does that mean you're challenging us?"
Victor, hands in his pockets, smiled at Usopp, who was covered in cold sweat.
"Oh my, this is so interesting! Is war about to break out?"
"Uh...ah..."
Usopp was covered in sweat, his hand holding the slingshot began to tremble uncontrollably, and his teeth were chattering.
These three guys... are completely different from the thugs I've seen before!
That was the aura of someone who had truly experienced battle!
It has the true aura of a pirate!
Nami, hiding behind, watched this scene, sighed helplessly, and rubbed her forehead, muttering:
"What are they all doing, one by one?"
finally.
"Clatter".
Usopp couldn't withstand the terrifying pressure emanating from the three of them.
The slingshot fell to the ground, and he collapsed weakly to his knees on the edge of the cliff, his back soaked with cold sweat.
"As expected of a true pirate, their aura is truly extraordinary..."
Seeing Usopp, who was terrified out of his wits, Luffy's tense face could no longer hold back.
"Hehehehe!!"
Luffy instantly lost his composure, clutching his stomach and pointing at Usopp as he burst into laughter.
Zoro also put away his murderous aura and leaned against the rock, laughing heartily.
Viktor looked at this classic scene from the original work and smiled nostalgically.
"Huh?"
Usopp's expression of despair froze as he stared blankly at the three people below who were laughing hysterically.
"Wh-what?"
"I just learned it and started using it!" Luffy wiped away the tears of laughter from the corner of his eyes. "That's a direct quote from Shanks, the pirate I respect the most!"
"Shanks... Shanks?!"
Usopp's eyes widened suddenly. "You mean Shanks? You know that great pirate Shanks?!"
"Of course I know him!"
Luffy proudly puffed out his chest. "Oh, right, seeing your face reminds me, your father is Yasopp, isn't he?"
"ah?!!"
The impact of those words was so great that Usopp slipped and fell off the cliff with a scream.
"Thump!"
Fortunately, it was a beach below. Usopp fell flat on his face, but he ignored the pain and scrambled to Luffy's side.
While Luffy and Usopp were getting to know each other, Nami moved closer to Victor and nudged him with her elbow.
"Hey, Viktor. Shanks, that name sounds familiar. Is he famous?"
Victor glanced at her and said casually:
"It's alright. He's one of the four emperors who stand at the pinnacle of the Grand Line, known as 'Red-Haired' Shanks."
"The Four Emperors of the Grand Line?!"
Nami's mouth dropped open in surprise. How could Luffy, who looked so silly, know such an important person?
"Is Shanks that powerful?"
Viktor stroked his chin and spoke nonsense with a straight face:
"Ah, they're only slightly worse than me."
"..."
Nami's face instantly darkened, and veins bulged on her forehead: "What nonsense are you spouting now?!"
She took a deep breath, deciding not to argue with this arrogance, and then stretched out her hand in front of Victor.
"Victor! Give me the cabin key right now! You guys go catch up, I'm going to the ship to get some Berries and also go to town to buy supplies!"
Viktor looked at the fair hand and smiled slightly. "Hmm. No."
"Huh?!" Nami was about to explode.
Although he said he wouldn't give it to her, Viktor still casually pulled out a bunch of keys, tossed them in an arc through the air, and tossed them to Nami.
"Remember to take plenty; we need to buy a lot of things." Victor turned around and waved his hand.
Nami took the key, her expression momentarily frozen.
She looked at the heavy key in her hand, then at Victor's back in front of her, and her expression became complicated.
This guy...
He knew perfectly well that I was only staying for the money, yet he still so readily gave me the key to the treasure vault.
Is he really stupid, or...?
"Ah, I understand," Nami muttered softly, gripping the key tightly.
Then, Victor looked at the group of people chatting happily in front of him and clapped his hands:
"Hey, Luffy, stop chatting. It's getting dark, let's go to the village for dinner."
Luffy's ears twitched, and he immediately jumped up with joy:
"Ah! I almost forgot about the meat! I want to eat meat!!"
With that, he took off running towards the village, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Hey! You don't even know the way, do you?!"
Usopp was shocked to see this and quickly got up and chased after it, shouting, "Wait for me! Hey! Hey! That's someone else's house!"
"Ah! Luffy, don't run so fast!" Zoro could only shout helplessly as he followed.
...
The scene changes.
Half an hour later, at a small restaurant in Xiluobu Village.
"Smack smack...Delicious! This meat is so good!"
Luffy was holding a large piece of meat with bone in his hand, his mouth stuffed full, and he was chewing it with gusto, his mouth dripping with oil.
Usopp, sitting beside him, asked excitedly:
"Really?! My dad really was on Shanks' ship!"
"Ah, of course." Luffy swallowed the meat in his mouth. "You look exactly like him, so I guessed it the moment I saw you."
"Really? That's amazing! My dad... is actually on such an amazing ship!"
Usopp was so excited that his face turned red, and his eyes shone with pride.
Over the years, he had suffered a lot of scorn from the villagers because his father went to sea to become a pirate.
But now that he knows his father is a truly formidable pirate, a huge weight has finally been lifted from his heart.
"Uh-huh..."
Zoro, standing to the side, gulped down his beer and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Phew! Good wine! Drinking on shore is definitely the best way to go."
Nami sat next to Viktor, happily eating her meal. Although she had something on her mind, she couldn't resist the delicious food in front of her.
After hearing Luffy's words, she looked up, curiously examined Usopp's face, and said hesitantly:
"Looks the same? Could it be... that Yasopp's nose is the same length?"
Luffy was reaching for the last piece of meat on Zoro's plate when he heard this and nodded:
"Ah, yes. Yasopp's nose doesn't seem to be that long... but his dad's marksmanship is really good, hehehe."
"Hey! That piece of meat is mine!" Zoro smacked Luffy's hand with his chopsticks.
"Ouch, that hurts."
"Let go if it hurts! You bastard!"
Nami watched the lively scene and couldn't help but smile with relief.
These guys, though they seem unreliable, are actually quite funny.
"Ugh, so greasy. Hey Victor, that apple over there looks pretty good..."
Nami was just about to ask Viktor to help her get some fruit from in front of him so she could freshen her mouth.
However, she hadn't finished speaking.
"Give."
With lightning speed, Viktor grabbed the bright red apple and shoved it into Nami's open mouth.
"Ugh—!!!"
Nami's eyes widened instantly, her mouth stuffed full of apples, and she could only let out protesting whimpers.
"You're welcome, Miss Navigator. Eating more fruit is good for your skin." Viktor smiled and withdrew his hand, concealing his good deed.
"Waaaaah! You bastard Victor!!"Chapter 25 The Legendary She-Devil
Nami took the apple out of her mouth with a disgruntled expression and took a big bite.
Only then did he look at the long-nosed boy opposite him.
"Hey, Usopp, I wonder if it's possible to buy a big ship in your village?"
"We need to go to the Grand Line; our current ship is far too small."
Luffy, chewing his meat, nodded repeatedly.
Upon hearing this, Usopp, who was holding a cup, froze, glancing away guiltily and avoiding Nami's eyes.
"As you can see, this is just a remote, ordinary little village. Where would a large ship come from?"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you..."
"oh?"
Nami keenly noticed the evasive look in his eyes, and a mischievous smile crept onto her lips.
She leaned forward slightly. "You're kidding, right?"
"Ah! I've been found out!" Usopp was so frightened he almost jumped up, covering his mouth with both hands, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"Hmph, just as I expected." Nami glanced smugly at Viktor beside her.
Zoro, sitting by the window, turned his head and looked through the window at the lush green hill in the distance.
"There's a huge villa on that hill over there... a place where rich people live, there must be big ships there."
"Wow, it really is!"
Nami followed the gaze and her eyes lit up instantly, as if she saw countless Berries waving at her.
She turned her head and looked at Usopp with a smile:
"Hey, Usopp, it looks like you're pretty familiar with the owner of that villa."
"Since we're friends, could we ask him to contribute some money to help us out?"
"puff."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Victor, standing next to her, nudged her with his elbow without any hesitation.
"What are you doing?" Nami turned around, displeased.
Viktor shrugged helplessly: "We have money now, we can buy it directly."
"Huh? Every little bit helps! You spendthrift first mate!" Nami was about to retort.
"Ah! Absolutely not there!!"
Just then, Usopp, who had been timid and hesitant, suddenly slammed his fist on the table and shouted.
Everyone was taken aback by his sudden reaction.
Usopp's expression changed upon realizing his lapse in composure.
Then his mouth opened wide in an exaggerated manner, and his eyes once again glanced stiffly into the distance.
"Ah... speaking of which, I suddenly remembered that I have something very important to do! For example... to hold a meeting for my 80 million subordinates!"
Usopp hurriedly stood up from his seat.
"Please help yourselves to the food and drink; this meal is on Captain Usopp! I'm off now, goodbye!"
As he spoke, he hurriedly ran towards the door and disappeared in a flash.
"Hello..."
Nami watched Usopp's departing figure with a puzzled look, resting her chin on her hand thoughtfully.
"He really loves to lie..."
"But judging from his reaction just now, he seems to be quite familiar with the owner of that villa... Why was he in such a panic?"
"Boss! Give me some more meat!" Luffy shouted, holding up an empty plate.
"Luffy!"
...
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant.
Three small figures were sneaking around in the corner, peeking out and observing the situation inside the store.
These were the three "Marine Admirals" of the Usopp Pirates—Green Pepper, Onion, and Carrot.
"Is this really the store?" Green Pepper asked nervously, lowering her voice.
"That's right!" Onion adjusted his glasses, his face full of certainty. "I saw those pirates take Captain Usopp inside with my own eyes!"
"We have to go save him!" Carrot clenched his fist.
"But... those are real pirates! They're ruthless killers!" Onion trembled slightly.
"Maybe...maybe Captain Usopp has already been eaten by them!"
"Stupid onion! Those are the fanged shrews that eat people! Pirates don't eat people!"
Green Pepper retorted loudly, and to bolster his courage, he suddenly drew the wooden sword from his waist, his face resolute.
"Gentlemen! This will be the most epic battle in the history of the Usopp Pirates! Charge! To rescue our captain!"
"oh!!"
The three exchanged glances, then charged forward aggressively and pushed open the restaurant door.
"Bang!"
"The Usopp Pirates are here!!"
The three children's childish shouts echoed throughout the restaurant.
However, the fierce battle that was expected did not occur.
The shop owner at the front desk, who was reading a newspaper, merely glanced at them lazily before lowering his head to continue reading.
Luffy, who was chewing meat, stopped what he was doing, puffed out his cheeks, and looked towards the door.
"Ah, it's pirates!" Luffy mumbled.
"Idiot, isn't that just a child?" Nami retorted speechlessly.
The three little devils looked around and, finding no familiar figure, felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
"The captain isn't here..."
The three of them mustered their courage and walked menacingly to Luffy's table. Although their legs were still trembling, their eyes were firm.
"Hey! Pirates! Where did you take our Captain Usopp?!"
"Where were they taken?"
Viktor put down his teacup, a harmless smile spreading across his face.
He stretched out his finger and pointed with a smile at the empty plates on the table that Luffy had just licked clean.
"Your captain... was just here a moment ago."
Nami looked at the empty plates and couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Victor was right; they were indeed just here a moment ago.
"Ah...what do you mean...could it be..."
"Ah! This meat is so delicious!"
Luffy patted his round belly very cooperatively, let out a burp, and said with a satisfied look:
"The meat was delicious... Your captain has already been eaten by us!"
"That's right."
Zoro, standing to the side, also put down his wine cup, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and his expression instantly turned grim and terrifying, accompanied by a deep voice:
"Not even bones were left."
"Ah!!! You shrew!!"
The three little devils were instantly terrified, huddled together, and trembled with fear.
But their terrified gazes all turned to Nami.
Why are you all looking at me?!
Nami's forehead veins bulged as she roared in exasperation, "Do I look like a man-eating shrew?!"
"It's all your fault for talking nonsense!"
Nami grew angrier the more she thought about it, and with a backhand punch, she slammed it hard into Viktor, who was standing next to her.
"Bang!"
"Huh? Why did you hit me? Luffy and Zoro were the ones who scared them, weren't they?" Victor covered his head, looking completely innocent.
"Because of you recently!" Nami said matter-of-factly.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Seeing Victor's discomfiture, Zoro and Luffy's joyful laughter immediately filled the table.
"Whoa! That's terrifying!"
The three kids were so frightened by the group of terrifying pirates who were laughing and cursing that their legs went weak and they fell to the ground.
...
The scene changes.
After the misunderstanding was cleared up, the group, led by the three kids, arrived at the vicinity of the luxurious villa located at the top of the hill.
Through the iron fence, you can see a huge, neatly manicured garden and a magnificent villa.
"Hey, Viktor, why did you give that boss so much money?!"
As Nami walked down the street, she was still upset about Viktor's extravagant spending when she paid the bill earlier.
"That meal cost at most a few thousand Berries, and you gave me fifty thousand! That's my...our money!"
Viktor, with one hand in his pocket, strolled ahead leisurely and said matter-of-factly:
"Hey, you've finally spoken the truth. Besides, isn't money meant to be spent?"
"That's way too much! You spendthrift first mate!" Nami was heartbroken and couldn't breathe.
Green Pepper, who was walking ahead, couldn't help but laugh out loud while listening to the two arguing.
"What? So the eating people earlier was just a joke? That scared me to death."
Luffy, leaning against the iron railing, stared at the villa in front of him, his mouth agape in astonishment.
Wow!! What a big house! There must be lots of meat in it!
"Hehe, since you say the captain has disappeared, then he must be here," Green Pepper said with certainty.
"Huh? What's he doing in a place like this?" Zoro asked, puzzled. "This is a rich person's private residence, isn't it?"
Green Pepper pushed up his glasses, a mysterious smile spreading across his face, and pointed to a window on the second floor of the villa, saying:
"Of course it's...to lie!"