Chapter 21 A New VoyageA month passed quietly amidst day after day of training and study.
On the lawn in the early morning, the three girls stood side by side, doing their final stretches.
Nami's breathing was steady and long, with only fine beads of sweat on her forehead; she was no longer panting like before.
Nojiko's movements were agile and powerful, her core stable; her sword swings even produced a faint whooshing sound.
Kaya's complexion was rosy and healthy, her eyes bright. She performed a set of gentle stretching movements with perfect form and fluidity, showing no trace of the frail figure she had been a month ago.
Luffy stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over the three, quickly assessing them in his mind.
[Nami: Significantly improved physical abilities, roughly equivalent to an average Marine soldier; Observation Haki at a basic level, able to vaguely sense a range of ten meters; Estimated overall strength increase: 8%]
[Nojiko: Proficient in basic swordsmanship, capable of handling 10 ordinary pirates; Estimated overall strength increase: 6%]
[Kaya: Physique improved from weak to the level of a healthy ordinary person; solid grasp of basic medical theory; initial exposure to physical techniques and breathing methods; Estimated overall strength increase: 12%]
A subtle but continuous sense of power flowed through his body. Although the increase each time was minuscule, Luffy knew that small gains add up.
More importantly, the boosts they could provide in the future would increase significantly. Equipping them with a powerful Devil Fruit would easily elevate their strength to the level of a Shichibukai!
If Nami's strength reaches the level of a Yonko, then Luffy would gain 16% of Nami's strength!
At the breakfast table, Luffy put down his empty milk glass and looked at the three girls: "Time to go."
Nami's eyes lit up, and she immediately put down her spoon: "Finally, we're leaving? I'm so bored!"
Nami had long been tired of the tranquility of Syrupon Village; the adventures on the Grand Line and the potential new treasures held immense appeal for her.
Nojiko glanced regretfully at the small herb garden she had tended herself outside the window: "These herbs have just finished growing..."
Kaya wiped her mouth with a napkin: "Sister, you can take the seeds and roots with you. We can make some small flowerpots on the ship. I read some books; some herbs are very adaptable and can be grown on the ship."
Nojiko's eyes lit up too: "Right! How come I didn't think of that! Kaya, you're so smart!"
Nojiko immediately began to consider which herbs would be easy to carry and transplant.
Kaya was a little embarrassed by the praise, then she looked at the villa where she had lived for over a decade, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.
After all, this was her home, the place that held all her childhood memories, though most of them were lonely.
Nami keenly sensed Kaya's emotions, put her arm around her shoulder, and shook her vigorously:
"Don't be sad! From now on, we're your family! The sea is our new home! Right, Nojiko?"
Nojiko smiled gently and nodded.
Luffy watched their interaction, and only after they had finished talking did he tap the table to bring their attention back:
"Nami, the route."
Nami immediately got into the swing of things, pulling out her sea chart and logbook from somewhere, spreading them on the table, and pointing her finger at the East Blue:
"We're here now. The usual route is southeast, past the Baratie, the sea restaurant, and then into the Grand Line entrance, Reverse Mountain."
Nami looked at Luffy: "Shall we go to the Baratie? I heard the food there is amazing!"
Nami's greedy nature made her instinctively think that a high-class restaurant might offer an opportunity to make some extra money.
Luffy nodded: "Let's go to the Baratie then, taking the usual route into the Grand Line."
...
The decision was made, and action was swift.
Kaya, as the head of the household, instructed her maids and familiar shops in the village to purchase a large quantity of easily stored food, clean fresh water, commonly used medicines, and the latest sea chart that Nami specifically requested.
The items quickly filled the villa's front hall, were neatly packed, and transported to the dock.
The news spread like wildfire. When Luffy and his companions arrived at the dock with their luggage, a considerable number of villagers had already gathered.
Their eyes were filled with gratitude and awe as they looked at Luffy, and with reluctance and blessings as they looked at Kaya.
"Miss Kaya, please take care!"
"Lord Luffy, thank you so much for ridding our village of that villain, Kuro!"
"Have a safe journey!"
Kaya looked at these familiar and unfamiliar faces, her eyes slightly red. She bowed deeply: "Thank you all for taking care of me all these years. I'll be fine. Please take care, everyone."
Kaya didn't say goodbye, because she didn't know if she would ever see them again.
Nojiko gently put her arm around Kaya's shoulder, offering her silent support.
Nami was about to urge him on when her gaze was captivated by a ship moored on the other side of the dock, her eyes instantly lighting up.
"That's…?" Nami tugged at Luffy's sleeve.
Luffy followed her gaze.
An elegantly designed two-masted sailing ship was quietly moored in a reserved berth a little further away. A charming sheep's head statue adorned its prow. The ship's lines were sleek, and it was impeccably maintained, gleaming warmly in the morning light.
Compared to the simple strait they had arrived in, this ship was nothing short of luxurious.
"It's the Going Merry,"
Kaya explained softly, walking to Luffy's side, looking up at him with sincere eyes.
"My father commissioned a skilled shipwright to build it before he passed away. He wanted to take our whole family on a sea voyage once my mother recovered… but we never had the chance."
"It's been sitting in the dock, being looked after by Kuro… under the guise of maintenance."
Kaya took a deep breath, took a bunch of old brass keys from her waist, and presented them to Luffy with both hands. The keys gleamed in the sunlight.
"Captain Luffy, please accept the keys."
A murmur rippled through the dock.
The villagers all knew about Kaya's family's beautiful ship, but they never expected their young lady to give it to a pirate she had only recently met!
Nami was practically jumping for joy, gripping Luffy's arm tightly, and whispered excitedly:
"Say yes, Luffy! It's the Going Merry! This ship is amazing! A million times better than our little wrecked boat! It can carry so much supplies and treasure!"
Nojiko also looked at the beautiful sailing ship with some surprise, then glanced at her sister's calm profile, and understood.
Kaya is using her most precious possession as a "ticket" to follow her, thus completely severing ties with the past.
Luffy looked at the bunch of keys in front of him, then at Kaya's clear yet determined eyes. He took the keys, the cool brass against his skin.
"Okay."
Luffy's words were concise and to the point, without any feigned refusal. This ship was indeed more suitable for the upcoming voyage and could accommodate more people.
Luffy turned to Nami: "Inspect the ship, prepare to set sail."
"Yes, Captain!" Nami cheered, rushing towards the Going Merry like a nimble cat. Nojiko nodded to Kaya and followed to help.
Luffy, with Kaya in tow, boarded the Going Merry amidst the villagers' complex gazes.
Stepping onto the deck, the teak floor was smooth and sturdy.
The ship was more spacious than it appeared, the main deck flat, with a mast at the fore and aft, the sails neatly arranged.
The cabin entrance was at the stern, leading down to a spacious living area, not extremely large, but enough for four or five people to live comfortably.
Further down were the cargo hold and the lower deck.
The boat's design is ingenious, balancing speed and stability; meticulous craftsmanship is evident in every detail, making it truly an excellent family adventure sailboat.
"The sheep's head...it's so warm," Kaya murmured, stroking the hull.
This boat, named after her mother "Merry," carried the unfulfilled dream of a family trip.
Luffy checked the steering wheel and navigation instruments and nodded.
The boat was in better condition than he had expected, almost ready for long-distance voyages.
"Luffy..."
Kaya suddenly pointed to a small, inconspicuous bronze emblem below the figurehead; the design was somewhat peculiar.
"Father said this mark is the mark of Mr. Tom's shipwright workshop. He said this boat is special, but I've never understood what's so special about it..."
Tom?
Luffy's heart stirred slightly. The legendary fish-man shipwright who built the ship for the Pirate King Roger?
Luffy carefully sensed the hull, his Observation Haki slowly seeping in.
A fleeting moment later, a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
The keel and key joints of this ship seemed to be made of some special wood or using some special technique, possessing an extremely resilient vitality far exceeding that of ordinary ships.
Was it because Kaya's parents' strong desire for a "family trip" was incorporated into the shipbuilding process, causing some subtle change?
Like the ship spirit that later vaguely emerged on the "Going Merry."
Interesting. This ship might really bring some surprises.
"Set sail!" Luffy stopped questioning and gave the order.
Nami and Nojiko had already worked together to raise the mainsail and adjust the angle.
Luffy took the helm, and the Going Merry gracefully turned its bow, sails billowing, slowly sailing away from the dock of Syrup Village.
Kaya stood at the stern, watching her hometown grow smaller and smaller, watching the crowds on the dock gradually blurring, tears finally streamed down her face, but a relieved smile played on her lips.
Farewell, Syrup Village.
Goodbye, past.
Nojiko and Nami stood on either side of her.
The sea breeze ruffled the three girls' hair—orange, blue, and gold—fluttering in the sunlight.
Luffy held the helm steadily, the drawstring of his straw hat swaying in the wind. He glanced at the sea chart Nami had spread out beside him and tapped it with his finger.
"Southeast heading, destination—"
"The Baratie."
The Going Merry, carrying ambition and the future, sliced through the vast blue sea, heading proudly into the distance.