The burly man cracked his whip with theatrical flair, the sharp snap snap snap slicing through the air.
"Sorry, I'll get moving," Luffy said with an awkward smile, nodding politely at the man.
"Hurry up," the man grunted, not pressing the issue. Luffy looked strong, maybe he'd end up as a fellow worker soon enough.
That thought took the man back two months.
Back then, he was still toiling away in the fields under the sun. But now, as long as he followed the boss's orders, he could eat all the meat he wanted and sleep with any woman he liked. It had been a smart move to submit early.
Seeing that the man didn't pursue the matter, Luffy lost the urge to interfere further. He waited until he was out of sight and then resumed following the direction pointed by the Vivre Card.
Behind the scorching construction site, Luffy spotted something unexpected, a small castle.
It had all the standard features: rounded turrets, narrow windows, arched doorways, low domed roofs, and protruding lintels. Every architectural detail was present.
The stone walls shimmered subtly under the sunlight. Clearly, the castle was newly built, untouched by the wear of time.
At its entrance stood two guards. They weren't clad in armor, but they wore matching uniforms and carried identical longswords.
"Halt! Who are you?" one shouted, sword raised to block Luffy's path.
No one would have guessed these two guards were simple farmers just two months ago.
Luffy didn't bother talking. With two quick chops to their necks, they collapsed to the ground.
Even elite soldiers wouldn't pose a threat to him, let alone a couple of farmers trained only in basic posturing.
Thud, thud, the guards hit the ground.
Luffy walked right in.
Inside, the castle was surprisingly modest. The exterior far outshone the decor within.
However, what the interior lacked in luxury, it made up for in scantily clad maids. They moved through the halls in a steady flow, their revealing outfits making even Luffy, a long-time shut-in, blush.
Sometimes, being half-dressed was even more seductive than being completely naked.
"This place is a damn sin," Luffy muttered.
Ignoring the curious stares, he marched deeper into the castle.
Past the main hall, he entered a side chamber. Judging by the furnishings, it was likely a bedroom.
He reached a large door, and the Vivre Card practically leapt toward it, sticking to the wood.
No doubt about it, the person he was tracking was inside.
Luffy was curious. Why would a pirate crew carry a Vivre Card linked to a tiny nation like this? And why had no one stopped him? Only two guards had stood at the door, and he'd faced no resistance at all.
Knock knock knock.
Luffy rapped on the door politely.
"Who the hell is it?!" a voice roared from inside.
Luffy frowned. That voice sounded oddly familiar.
Knock knock knock, he knocked again, his curiosity deepening.
"Damn it!" came a muttered curse, followed by heavy footsteps.
"Who's got a death wish?!" the voice snapped as the door swung open.
Both men froze.
Luffy blinked in surprise.
The man inside stared, stunned.
Luffy broke into a sly grin as he eyed the half-naked pirate captain standing there in nothing but boxer shorts.
"Well, well," Luffy teased. "Nice place you've got here. Aren't you that infamous 130-million bounty pirate, Black Tiger Park? What happened, ran out of clothes?"
He laughed out loud. This little detour had turned out far more entertaining than expected.
Park shook his head, trying to clear the illusion. For a second, he thought he was still stuck in last night's nightmare.
He took two steps back, instinctively letting Luffy into the room.
The chamber was lavish, beautiful furniture, plush beds, tables, chairs, a couch, and a tea set on the table.
On the bed lay two beautiful women, naked except for a small towel draped across their lower halves. Their eyes were red and puffy from crying.
Luffy stepped forward. Park stepped back.
Forward, back. Forward, back.
Eventually, Luffy had chased him into a corner.
Park's head smacked against the wall with a dull thud, snapping him out of his daze. His voice trembled. "H-how did you find me?!"
He remembered that day all too well, hundreds of his men defeated by this single monster. He himself had been knocked out effortlessly, surviving only by sheer luck when he'd clung to a lifeboat's rope.
He had thought he'd never see this demon again. After all, the island had no magnetic field and wasn't on any known sea route. Unless someone blindly sailed here by pure chance…
Park had planned to rule this place as a self-made king for the rest of his life. And yet here this devil was again, so soon.
In response, Luffy simply smiled and extended his right hand.
The Vivre Card rose from his palm, drifting gently until it slapped against Park's face.
Park caught it and froze, eyes wide.
He recognized it. Back when he'd looted a treasure haul, he had hidden this piece of Vivre Card to prevent his men from stealing the ship.
He never imagined that very card would lead death right to his door.
Park stared at the card, regret and shame flooding his chest. But under the weight of impending death, those feelings quickly twisted into rage.
"You bastard!" Park screamed. "You've gone too far!!"
His body began to change, his muscles swelling, fur bristling black and thick, eyes glowing gold, teeth elongating into fangs. He transformed into a towering black tiger, sleek and powerful.
Even though it wasn't Luffy's first time seeing it, he couldn't help but murmur, "Man, that's badass."
Park's transformation was fierce. He glared at Luffy like a true jungle king, then lunged, razor claws aimed straight for Luffy's heart.
Luffy didn't even bother using Armament Haki. He slapped the paw away with his left hand, sending Park staggering.
Park quickly pivoted, crouched low, and launched another strike toward Luffy's waist.
Clang!
His claws scraped against a black surface, they couldn't even penetrate an inch.
Luffy spun around, grabbed Park's paw, and yanked him forward.
Park had no chance to resist the overwhelming strength. Luffy kicked him in the stomach, pulled his arm again, and followed with a side kick to the waist, then another, and another.
After more than a dozen brutal blows, Park's eyes rolled back, and blood sprayed from his mouth.
"Gah, cough!" Park collapsed to his knees, one hand clutching his belly, the other propping himself up. He wheezed and choked violently.
It hadn't even taken a full minute, Luffy had already beaten the fury out of him.
Luffy stepped forward.
Park quickly raised his hand, palm outward. "W-wait! Wait, please!"
Luffy stopped, curious what he had to say.
Park, ignoring the pain, dropped to the floor and kowtowed.
"Spare my life! We don't have a blood feud, right? Let me live and I'll serve you! I used to be the king's personal guard! I know how to run a palace! Spare me and you'll be the new king of this island! I'll take care of everything, you won't have to lift a finger!"
He slammed his head to the ground repeatedly. At the edge of death, pride meant nothing.
"King, huh?" Luffy said with a bemused smile.
"Yes! You'd rule over thousands, command endless treasure, women, whatever you desire!"
"That's your idea of a king?" Luffy asked.
"What?"
"Never mind."
Luffy dashed forward. His Armament Haki-covered fist grew larger in Park's vision.
BOOM!
The punch blasted Park through the castle wall.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have slain a wanted pirate. EXP +11,500. Gold +18,000.]
"Already up to 150,000 gold, huh?" Luffy muttered to himself.
He glanced at the two stunned girls on the bed but said nothing. He simply turned and walked out of the castle.
"What a waste of a cool Devil Fruit…"
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