A few days later, deep in the forest, Sandy said with disdain, "Eating this unseasoned grilled meat every day is truly indescribable."
Luffy chuckled. "You also think it's so delicious it's indescribable? I told you, meat is the best!"
Sandy rolled his eyes. "That's not what I meant. By the way, why are you so dead set on becoming the Pirate King? Is it just for a promise?"
Luffy shook his head. "A promise is a promise, but wanting to be the Pirate King is my own dream. Ace and I agreed—we're going to be the freest people on this sea!"
"The freest people, huh…"
Sandy couldn't help but sigh. Everything in the world is a balance of opposites. Where does absolute freedom even exist?
[ Ding! Congratulations to the host for comprehending the truth. Conqueror's Haki has been upgraded by one level. ]
Despite his Conqueror's Haki leveling up, Sandy wasn't exactly thrilled. Eating the same bland grilled meat every day made him want to puke.
Then an idea sparked in his mind. "Hey, Luffy, want to eat something good?"
As soon as he heard the word "good," Luffy's eyes lit up. "Of course I do!"
"Then follow me," Sandy said. "We'll head to the other side of the junkyard. There's a feast waiting for us there!"
Luffy frowned. "But stuff over there's expensive. Do you have any Belly?"
Sandy scoffed. "Did you forget my ability?"
Luffy gasped dramatically. "Sandy! I didn't expect you to be that kind of person!"
Soon, the two were walking arm in arm toward the district opposite the junkyard—where the nobles lived.
The prosperity there was on a completely different level from Windmill Village. Luxurious shops lined the streets, all backed by the nobles themselves.
Sandy, of course, felt zero guilt about robbing them blind.
A few minutes later, a furious shout rang out from the street behind them.
"You two bastards! Stop right there!"
Luffy ran ahead, holding meat in both hands—snatched straight from another customer's plate—and shouted back, "Who's gonna listen to you, idiot?!"
Sandy ran beside him, yelling ahead, "Move aside, or you'll get trampled!"
The nearby residents stared in confusion as the shopkeeper chased after them, yelling, "Those two thieves ate and ran! Stop right there!"
Luffy shouted, "When I become the Pirate King and find One Piece, I'll definitely pay you back!"
Sandy added, "That's right! I'll pay you back ten times—no, a hundred times!"
The shopkeeper's face twisted. "You think I'm an idiot?! Pay up right now!"
Sandy smirked. "You actually know who we are? Bah! You dare disrespect the future Pirate King? You've got guts!"
Luffy grinned. "Yeah! You've got guts, hehehe…"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Sandy and Luffy knocked on Dadan's door, their bags filled with food.
A grumpy voice came from inside. "Who the hell's disturbing my rest again?!"
When Dadan opened the door, she saw the two idiots standing there. "What do you two brats want now?"
Before Luffy could speak, Sandy sighed. "It's almost dark, and you're still sleeping? Here, take some food."
Dadan froze. "You brat… you didn't—"
Sandy handed over the bag and gave her a knowing look. "Eat quickly. We're leaving."
Luffy laughed. "Hahaha! Dadan, this is from the nobles' kitchen—"
Before he could finish, Sandy clamped his hand over Luffy's mouth and dragged him away. "Didn't you promise not to tell anyone?!"
Luffy mumbled incoherently.
Sandy nodded seriously. "Not even Dadan. Otherwise, I won't take you next time."
"Mmmph!" Luffy nodded again.
Dadan stood there with a dark expression. How the hell did that bastard understand what Luffy just said?
And judging from their conversation, they'd clearly gone to the nobles' district, eaten and run, and even brought food back home?!
Dadan quickly peeked outside, shut the door, and muttered, "Whatever. Time to eat before anyone finds out…"
The next day, somewhere in the forest.
After another sparring session, Sandy found himself sweating. Even though he couldn't beat Luffy without using his abilities, his technique was miles ahead.
After all, Sandy was a transmigrator—he'd seen every special move in One Piece and had modern-day knowledge to boot.
"Luffy," Sandy said, "you're wasting way too much stamina when you fight. Remember—you're rubber. Use that. And seriously, we've been training for so long, don't you have any finishing moves?"
"Finishing move?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion.
Sandy groaned. "It's your trump card. When someone's trying to kill us, you'll need a special move to turn the tide!"
Luffy shook his head blankly.
Sandy sighed. "Okay, what about an escape move? Something for when you're about to get wrecked?"
Luffy shook his head again.
That was the last straw.
Sandy took off his slipper, marched over, and smacked it across Luffy's face.
"You don't know shit, and you're still talking about being Pirate King every day! I'll knock some sense into you, you stupid Straw Hat!"
"Damn it…" Luffy yelled, clutching his cheek.
And so, day after day, Sandy and Luffy continued to train, spar, and grow stronger—preparing for the day they would finally set sail.
Garp, meanwhile, had no idea that the guy he brought in to "keep Luffy company" would become one of his biggest future headaches… and, perhaps, his grandson's greatest stroke of luck.