Everyone eagerly tore open the packaging. As they stared at the sleek new phones resting inside, satisfied smiles bloomed across their faces.
Just as they began reading the instruction manual, an ill-timed voice rang out from the side.
"Huh? This phone's super tough! I can't even bite it!"
"I'm trying to bend it, but it won't budge! Amazing!"
"Bang, bang, bang, even slicing it with a knife doesn't leave a mark! Hiss… is there a robot living inside?!"
Luffy was going wild, stabbing the phone with a knife, then gleefully hurling it to the ground.
The phone's durability had completely exceeded his expectations.
It was awesome.
Watching this unfold, Nami snapped.
The aura of fury radiating off her could've burned the entire ship to ash.
"LUFFY!!!!"
Thump thump thump!
Nami charged over and delivered a full-force beatdown. Luffy's wails and repeated cries of "I'll never do it again!" echoed across the deck.
Half an hour later, Luffy's face was swollen like a balloon, bruised and battered beyond recognition.
Snap!
Nami snapped a photo. "Hmph! If any of you dare break property again, this is your future!"
Usopp and the others trembled on the spot. Even their captain got steamrolled… they didn't stand a chance.
After that, the Straw Hats began learning how to use their phones with the manual, then immediately dove into the world of video browsing.
"Look, look! So many videos! It's like a moving projector!" Luffy's eyes sparkled, glued to the screen.
"Beauties! So many beauties! Ugh… PFFFT!!"
Sanji couldn't take it. His nose erupted like a geyser and sent him flying into the air.
Wiping at the endless blood trail, he gasped.
"This… this is too much!"
"Am I dreaming?! No. It's too real. It's not a dream!"
"With this phone, I can see gorgeous women from all over the world, every day! This isn't a phone. It's heaven. If this is heaven, I'm never leaving…"
If someone asked him now what a phone was—was it just a device?
He'd light a cigarette, exhale a smoke ring, and say, "A phone? No. This… is heaven."
No one paid attention to the delirious, bleeding Sanji.
Everyone else was grinning, completely absorbed in scrolling through videos.
"There's even Navy footage! Maybe we can snoop out some intel!" Usopp said, shocked. The phone's impact on him was enormous. He was completely hooked.
"Where? Let me see!" Luffy instantly stretched his neck and crowded in beside him.
Usopp blocked the screen and glared. "You have your own phone! Why are you looking at mine?!"
"I don't know how! Usopp, teach me!" Luffy whined, holding his phone upside-down.
With a sigh, Usopp resigned himself to teaching Luffy first.
If he didn't, there'd be no peace anyway.
"You have to register a TikTok account if you want to post videos. If you're just watching, you don't need one."
"Of course I need one! I'm the captain! I have to post videos!" Luffy declared, like it was a sacred pirate duty.
With Luffy pressing hard, Usopp finally helped him register an account.
Afterward, Luffy excitedly scrolled through videos, while Usopp retreated to a quiet spot to fully enjoy his own screen time.
…
Foosha Village.
Inside Makino's bar, Dadan was pounding beers like a champ. Over a dozen bottles were already scattered on the table, and she was far from finished.
"Makino! Another one!" she bellowed.
"Dadan, what's gotten into you today? Why are you drinking so much?" Makino asked, smiling as she brought another bottle.
"Nothing big. I'm just happy. I wonder if I'll see Luffy and the others on the phone." Dadan chugged the beer. "And Ace too. It'd be great to catch a glimpse of those two kids. I miss 'em."
Makino nodded. "Yeah… who would've thought this thing called a phone would suddenly pop up across the sea? It's honestly amazing."
Suddenly, Dadan's eyes lit up. She turned to Makino, excited. "Makino, what if we film your bar and post it on TikTok?"
"Wait, really?" Makino blinked.
"Of course! Your bartending is incredible, you just need a chance to show it off. If we post your skills online, people will notice! You might even blow up!"
Makino was tempted. The idea had merit.
"Wanna give it a try?" Dadan asked.
Makino nodded, anticipation sparkling in her eyes. "Let's do it."
So, Dadan pulled out her phone and began filming Makino behind the bar.
Under the lens, Makino's hands moved with practiced grace. Liquor bottles danced between her fingers, vivid colors swirling in every glass, creating a visual spectacle.
"Makino, you're amazing!" Dadan said, full of pride.
"Haha, just years of practice. Anyone could do it," Makino replied, smiling with quiet confidence.
After the shoot, Dadan uploaded the video to TikTok and added a caption:
"Makino's Bar in Foosha Village. The best bartender on the seas! Come taste her skills!"
As the upload completed, the two women stared at the screen in anticipation.
Soon, the likes and comments poured in.
"Whoa, that bartending is insane!"
"Foosha Village bar? I'm adding that to my travel list!"
"She's gorgeous! Followed!"
Makino was instantly flustered. Am I… really that amazing?
She immediately asked Dadan to reply to the comments and thank everyone for their support.
…
Syrup Village.
In the grand mansion, servants quietly swept the courtyard.
Under the shaded pavilion, Kaya sat gracefully, not having moved for hours. The servants were starting to worry.
"Miss… is that phone thing really that magical?"
"You've been glued to it for days. You even bring it to meals now."
"You haven't read your favorite medical books lately…" Merry said gently, concern in his voice.
Kaya looked up and smiled. "Uncle Merry, I'm fine. I just want to see if Usopp's on there."
"Huh? You can see Usopp through that little thing?" Merry looked puzzled.
"Of course! These videos are posted by people all over the world. We can see anywhere just by sitting here," she explained.
Merry was stunned. "Really? That powerful?"
"Yes, Uncle Merry. You should all get phones too. They're not expensive—only 200 Berries," Kaya said sweetly. "Otherwise, we won't have anything to talk about together."
Faced with her kind smile, Merry could only nod.
"Uh… alright. I'll get one."
(To be continued.)