Chapter 316: Disdain for the Logia! A Rowdy Daily Life and the Most Reliable Sniper
In the center of a pile of ordinary round fruits, inside a wooden fruit basket holding cantaloupes, lay a fruit with a peculiar appearance.
Its skin was covered in spiral patterns that resembled demon horns.
Robin, clad in a light deep-purple coat, stood gracefully before the fruit basket.
Resting her chin on one hand, she spoke softly in reflection:
"This strange spiral pattern, and this unique color..."
"Could this be Caesar's Devil Fruit?"
Upon hearing this, Usopp and Chopper, who had been peeking from behind, jumped in fright like cats whose tails had been stepped on.
The two huddled together, their legs shaking violently as if powered by motors, and hot tears gushed out like waterfalls.
"Aaaaah! Caesar's ghost has followed us onto the ship!"
The two let out pig-slaughtering screams and frantically rummaged through their bags.
In the blink of an eye, Usopp held up two cloves of garlic, while Chopper used two wooden sticks to tie together a crude, makeshift cross.
Shaking all over, they aimed the garlic and the cross at the purple Devil Fruit as if facing a great enemy, not forgetting to mumble exorcism chants.
Nami was also startled by this sudden and eerie situation.
Letting out a cry, she quickly moved her long legs and skillfully hid behind Robin's reassuring back.
Seeing the chaotic daily scene before him, Victor, standing behind the crowd, shook his head helplessly.
With a gentle smile, he strode forward and passed through the crowd.
Amidst the gasps of the Coward Trio, Victor naturally reached out and grabbed the dreaded Gas-Gas Fruit, even nonchalantly tossing it into the air.
"Don't be nervous, everyone calm down."
Victor comforted them with a light laugh, "There are no such things as ghosts in this world, let alone ghosts attached to fruit."
"This is just a natural law of the Devil Fruit cycle."
"When a Devil Fruit user dies, the devil power within them leaves the host and is reborn."
Victor toyed with the heavy fruit in his hand, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes:
"It just so happens there are so many fruits in the storage room, so it naturally 'reincarnated' here."
"It seems our Straw Hat Pirates' luck is quite good."
Law, standing to the side, was leaning against the bulkhead with his arms crossed.
Hearing Victor's nonchalant explanation, although he remained stoic on the surface, he felt a wave of speechless shock deep inside.
He thought to himself: This isn't just good; the Straw Hat Pirates' heaven-defying dumb luck is simply too exaggerated!
They just took down a troublesome Logia user, and the next second, his fruit automatically respawns in their own ship's fruit basket?!
The odds of this are even more ridiculous than being struck by lightning twice!
Law cleared his throat and spoke with a serious expression:
"Straw Hat Captain, you'd better understand the value of this thing."
"This is a Logia Devil Fruit, an exceptionally rare existence even among all fruits."
"If you were to auction it on the underground black market, it would definitely be a rare treasure that could fetch an astronomical price."
Law paused, his gaze sweeping over the Straw Hat crew: "Even if you don't plan to sell it."
"Once one of you eats it and gains the Logia ability of elementalization, which grants immunity to ordinary physical attacks..."
"...it will definitely significantly increase your crew's overall combat power in a very short time."
Hearing Law's solemn explanation, Luffy curiously leaned in.
He crouched down and extended a finger, poking the purple fruit in Victor's hand with some force.
Feeling that somewhat strange texture...
The memory of the horrific, shit-like taste from when he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit years ago instantly surfaced in Luffy's mind.
He furrowed his brows in disgust and curled his lip:
"Not selling, not selling! Although this thing tastes terrible—one bite can give you nightmares for three days..."
"...it's probably more valuable to keep it. Does anyone want to eat it?"
Since the Captain had spoken, everyone began to look at the companions around them, wondering who should own this Logia fruit that had fallen from the sky.
Currently, within the Straw Hat Pirates, the members who hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit and still maintained their non-swimmer status were:
Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, and Franky.
Zoro crossed his thick arms, a blatant smirk playing on his lips.
He tilted his head slightly, sizing up Sanji beside him with a provocative gaze, and teased sarcastically:
"In that case, why don't you just let this curly-browed cook eat it."
"Since you're in the kitchen every day, if you become a Gas Man, you won't even need a lighter to cook in the future. It would definitely be more convenient, right?"
Hearing this insulting mockery, Sanji's face, which had been relatively calm, was instantly covered in dark lines.
"What did you say?! You muscle-brained Marimo, do you want to fight?!"
Sanji roared, unceremoniously lifting his long right leg, and with the sound of whistling wind, he sent a powerful flying kick straight toward Zoro's face.
"In my opinion, since your strength was so weak in the battle just now, you should be the one to eat this fruit!"
Sanji retorted mercilessly while launching a fierce attack.
"Lest your third-rate swordsmanship drags down the whole crew in this monster-infested New World!"
"Huh?! You want to fight, you perverted curly-brow?!"
Facing Sanji's kick, Zoro didn't back down an inch.
He sneered, his hand gripping the hilt of the wado ichimonji at his waist, and he pulled out half of the snow-bright blade, glaring fiercely at his rival.
Between the flashes of the blade and the shadows of the legs, the two of them, as usual, began to scuffle with practiced and tacit "affection."
The storage room was suddenly filled with the clanging sounds of fighting and the exchange of insults.
The Straw Hat crew was long accustomed to these two bickering and fighting three times a day.
No one even had the interest to stop the fight; they collectively and silently shifted their gazes away from these two childish combatants and continued discussing the fruit's ownership.
Noticing that everyone's attention had shifted to him, Franky immediately became excited.
He slammed his forearms together, striking his iconic signature pose, and shouted with pride:
"SUPER—! Don't look at me, everyone!"
"I am a steel cyborg filled with a man's romance!"
"I am the crystallization of cutting-edge technology! I don't want to become some floaty, squishy Gas Man; that's not SUPER at all!"
Seeing Franky refuse, everyone's eyes naturally fell on Nami.
Seeing this, Nami repeatedly waved her hands in refusal.
She picked up "Futo," the special thundercloud pet and weapon that had been obediently wrapped around her waist, and said confidently and righteously:
"Hehe, don't get any ideas about me!"
"I already have Futo to help me fight, and its power isn't any worse than a Devil Fruit! And..."
Nami puffed out her chest and added with the professional attitude of a Navigator:
"As the only Navigator on this ship, I need to feel the changes in the ocean currents and wind direction at all times."
"If I were to be completely loathed by the sea for this bit of power and become a non-swimmer who can only wait for death if I fall into the water, that would absolutely not do!"
Hearing this, everyone nodded in succession, thoughtfully agreeing with the Navigator's concerns.
And so, after a round of elimination...
Everyone's gaze finally fell unanimously on the last candidate—Usopp.
Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Usopp couldn't help but swallow hard.
Sensing the expectant gazes of everyone, his heart immediately fell into a fierce struggle.
To be honest, facing the legendary invincible power of a Logia, how could this habitually timid sniper not be tempted?
As long as he ate it, he would instantly gain the ability of elementalization and would never have to run for his life whenever he encountered a strong enemy.
But!
Just thinking about the original owner's inhumane experiments with poison gas made Usopp's stomach churn.
To preserve his manly dignity as a "Brave Warrior of the Sea"...
He opened his mouth, wanting to loudly and righteously reject this evil power.
Just as Usopp was struggling frantically in his heart...
Victor chuckled and considerately tossed the Gas-Gas Fruit to Usopp like a ball, speaking casually to bail him out:
"Well, since no one wants to eat it right now, why don't we just put it away for now."
"In any case, a Logia fruit is an extremely precious and scarce resource. Our voyage is still long; perhaps it will come in handy at some critical moment."
"So, I'll leave this important treasure in your safe keeping, Usopp."
Fumbling to catch the tossed Devil Fruit...
Usopp immediately realized that Victor was giving him a way out.
This sniper, who always became radiant with just a bit of sunshine, immediately climbed up the ladder, casting aside his previous struggle and guilt, and instantly became carried away.
Holding the precious Gas-Gas Fruit in one hand and his other hand proudly on his hip, he threw his head back and let out his signature arrogant laugh.
"Ahahahaha~ I really can't do anything with you guys!"
"Since you've all pleaded with me like this, I'll reluctantly accept it!"
"After all, the most trustworthy and reliable man on this ship is none other than I, Captain Usopp!"
He even winked at Victor and made a shameless guarantee: "Victor, I completely understand what you mean!"
"Don't worry, leaving this dangerous thing in my care is absolutely foolproof!"
Upon hearing this, the Straw Hat crew, who had been somewhat expectant, all looked at the boastful Long-nose with dark lines on their faces.
Seeing Usopp finally put away the controversial fruit...
Luffy, whose head was filled only with food, finally couldn't hold back.
Rubbing his growling, empty stomach with both hands, he tilted his head back and shouted:
"Alright, alright! It's finally put away!"
"Staring at that purple thing just now almost made me sick to my stomach!"
"Everyone, stop talking about that nasty-tasting thing!"
"Sanji, I'm starving! I want to eat!"
Hearing his Captain's familiar command to eat, Chopper, who had been shivering just moments ago, immediately perked up.
He raised his furry hooves, his eyes shining like searchlights, and hopped around in excitement, cheering:
"Oh! Hooray! It's party time! I want to eat sweet cotton candy!"
In the corridor outside the storage room, Sanji, who was in the middle of a heated scuffle with Zoro, stopped as he heard Luffy's energetic call from inside.
He impatiently shoved away Zoro, who was clutching his collar, and reached out to straighten his slightly disheveled suit jacket.
Then, Sanji walked toward his beloved kitchen with elegant steps, responding lazily without looking back:
"Aye, aye, Captain. I'll get right on it."
"Marimo, don't stand here in my way while I'm making a feast. Go wait on the deck like a good boy to be fed."Chapter 317: Carnival Under the Stars! The Broken Doctor and the Uncontrollable Hatred of Meat-Theft
Night had quietly fallen, stars dotting the deep night sky.
On the calm surface of the New World, the Thousand Sunny was brightly lit and bustling with noise.
In this dangerous sea area known as the "Graveyard of Pirates," the Straw Hat crew had absolutely no awareness of being in danger.
On the deck, a grand and crazy celebratory banquet was in full swing.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! The special Sea Kings roast meat platter and deep-sea essence seafood soup are here!"
Accompanied by Sanji's energetic shout, plates of golden, sizzling, rich roast meat, along with hot soup exuding a thick, savory aroma, were placed on the long table in the center of the deck.
The enticing aroma drifted with the sea breeze across the entire deck, whetting everyone's appetite.
Brook stood on high, playing his beloved violin, the cheerful and melodious tune echoing through the night sky.
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper—those three clowns—with bamboo baskets for oranges on their heads and chopsticks in their hands, danced the funny and ridiculous chopstick dance to the beat of the music, making everyone burst into laughter.
Franky stood by the ship's rail, arms raised high, accompanied by his loud shout of "SUPER—!"
Flares of gorgeous cola fireworks shot into the night sky, blooming with colorful light.
Everything here seemed not like the crisis-ridden New World, but rather a carefree excursion.
However, in this joyful and harmonious atmosphere, one person stood out as out of place.
Law sat alone in the dim shadows at the edge of the deck.
His brows were tightly locked, and the laughter and chatter in his ears could not relax him in the slightest.
At this moment, his mind was filled with deductions and deep anxiety about the upcoming battle in Dressrosa.
Law was secretly calculating his next countermeasures in his heart.
Suddenly, with a light "whoosh" sound, something broke through the air.
A long, stretched-out rubber arm suddenly reached over from the noisy crowd without any warning.
In that hand was a large piece of roast meat on the bone, still dripping with grease, which was accurately and unmistakably shoved directly into Law's mouth just as he was about to sigh!
"Mmph!"
Law was caught off guard, his mouth instantly stuffed full by the massive piece of roast meat.
Immediately after, Luffy's grease-covered smiling face leaned in along the retracting arm.
He laughed heartlessly and patted Law on the shoulder heavily:
"Tora-o! Don't just sit there in the dark space by yourself, spacing out!"
"A banquet is only fun when everyone is together!"
"Eat up, eat up! The meat Sanji makes is the most delicious in the world!"
Law was gagging so hard on the roast meat that he rolled his eyes, almost unable to catch his breath.
Just then, a small figure approached him.
Chopper held a cup of chilled juice with cool bubbles in both hands, looking at him with sparkling eyes, as if looking at a patient in need of care:
"Law, are you choking? Quickly, drink some juice to help it go down!"
Looking at this little reindeer full of concern, facing this group of guys who didn't understand at all what "tension" meant.
The cold, ruthless image Law had maintained in the Underworld for over a decade completely crumbled at this moment.
He nodded slightly at Chopper, thanking him for his thoughtfulness, and then reached out to take the cup of chilled juice.
Upon hearing Law's thanks, two blushes instantly flew onto Chopper's cheeks.
He was immediately so happy that his whole body twisted into a pretzel, dancing his signature dance while acting tsundere and shouting:
"You bastard~"
"Even if you praise me like that, Chopper won't be happy at all~ Chopper isn't thoughtful at all~"
Watching this absurd yet heartwarming scene before him, Law sat on the deck, drinking his juice, and fell into deep questioning of his life.
Just as Law was rubbing his brow, Victor walked out of the noisy crowd with two exquisite glass cups and came into the shadows beside him.
Victor handed one of the drinks to Law:
"Juice is for kids; men should drink alcohol."
Law glanced at him, downed the remaining juice in his cup, and then took the glass Victor handed him.
He took a small sip of the spicy, mellow liquor, and under the cool moonlight, finally asked the question he had been holding inside:
"Victor, I really cannot understand."
"A man like you, possessing such terrifying power, lacks neither ambition nor capability."
"Why are you willing to be subordinate to that idiot whose brain is only filled with meat and banquets?"
Victor did not answer immediately.
He turned his head, his pupils quietly watching the center of the deck.
There, Luffy was pulling Usopp along, laughing as brightly as the sun.
After a long while, the corners of Victor's mouth slowly curled into a faint smile, and he spoke softly:
"Power can indeed conquer all tangible things in this world, can destroy countries, and can subdue the bodies of millions."
"But it, and it alone, cannot create true 'freedom.'"
Victor raised his glass, gently swirling the liquid inside:
"Luffy is very stupid yet very smart; he possesses a rare capacity that ordinary people find hard to reach."
"It is a capacity that can unreservedly draw everyone, friend or foe, into his boundless freedom."
He turned his head, looking at Law's slightly trembling pupils, his tone serious:
"In this world, already riddled with holes and corroded by the Celestial Dragons and outdated rules."
"Only his pure, unadulterated nature is worthy of becoming the Pirate King who breaks all shackles."
Victor tilted his head back and took a large gulp of the strong liquor:
"He... will bring power to those around him."
"That kind of power is stronger than any swordsmanship or Haki."
After hearing these words, the hand Law used to hold the glass tightened slightly.
He looked at the boy wearing the Straw Hat in the distance, falling into deep silence, unable to speak for a long time.
After a few rounds of drinks, the banquet paused slightly.
Law knew he couldn't let these guys mess around any longer.
He composed himself and strode to the wooden barrel in the center of the deck.
He spread out a detailed, simple map of Dressrosa, attempting to explain the severe situation ahead and the enemy's troop distribution to the main combatants of the Straw Hat Pirates:
"Listen to me carefully. Since Caesar is dead, Doflamingo has lost his most important bargaining chip; that man will definitely fall into madness."
"He will definitely deploy heavy defenses along the coastline and royal palace of Dressrosa."
"So we absolutely cannot barge in; we must first secretly find..."
Law's words were not yet finished.
"Hic—" Zoro, holding a wine bottle, let out a loud hiccup.
"Heavy defenses? Isn't that just perfect? Just right for me to test my blade. I can't wait to cut down some guys with some backbone."
On the other side, Sanji puffed out a ring of blue smoke.
His eyes instantly turned into exaggerated pink hearts, and his body twisted like a noodle:
"I heard Dressrosa is a country full of passion, dancing, and beautiful women?"
"Oh oh oh! I can't wait to go embrace those passionate ladies!"
And Luffy, having swallowed a large piece of roast meat, slammed a fist heavily onto the deck and loudly declared with righteous indignation:
"Aiya, why think so much!"
"Anyway, as long as we land on the island, we'll just beat up everyone who stands in our way!"
"Then find that guy called Doffy-something, and then beat him up hard!"
"That way everything will be solved, right!"
"Boom!"
The punch Luffy threw out of excitement kicked up a strong gust of wind.
This sudden airflow instantly swept over the barrel, blowing away the Dressrosa map Law had just spread out.
Under Law's dazed gaze, the map that carried his hard work and precise plans drifted out over the ship's rail just like that.
It eventually fell into the dark, cold sea, and disappeared in the blink of an eye with the current.
The night wind blew by, and the deck fell into a brief silence.
Law stiffly turned his neck, looking at this group of guys who only knew how to "rush in."
At this moment, he finally painfully understood a truth:
The most perfect plan of the Straw Hat Pirates is—no plan at all.
Law opened his eyes again.
His gaze crossed the barrel and locked onto Luffy, who was holding a huge piece of meat on the bone in his hand, preparing to feast.
The emotions suppressed for a long time reached their peak at this moment.
Law took a deep breath and made an abnormal move that completely contradicted his persona.
He suddenly extended his right hand and, with lightning speed, snatched the most succulent piece of meat on the bone from Luffy's hand!
Immediately after, under Luffy's completely unguarded gaze, Law opened his mouth and took a big bite directly out of that piece of meat!
The sound of chewing was exceptionally clear in the night sky.
This sudden action caused the originally noisy deck to instantly fall into a deathly silence.
The Straw Hat Pirates were all stunned.
Usopp's jaw dropped to the ground with a "clatter."
The juice cup in Chopper's hand slipped, and even the usually steady Robin slightly opened her red lips.
Everyone looked at this scene in disbelief: This gloomy surgeon actually... snatched food from Luffy's mouth?!
You have to know, on the Thousand Sunny, snatching the Captain's meat.
That is an absolute forbidden zone that even Vice Captain Victor and the devilish first mate Zoro would not dare to touch easily!
After a brief deathly silence, Luffy's eyes instantly widened like two glowing copper bells.
The veins on his forehead popped out like spiderwebs, and he instantly entered a berserk state, roaring loudly at Law:
"You guy! How dare you steal my meat!"
"That was my favorite piece! Unforgivable, I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
Luffy rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush up to fight to the death.
The Straw Hat Pirates only then snapped out of it, rushing up like a pile of arhats, desperately trying to stop their rampaging Captain.
"Luffy! Calm down! He's our ally!"
"Franky, quick! Hold him tight, Luffy is going to kill someone!"
"SUPER dangerous! How is this guy so strong!"
"Yohohoho! What a daring doctor; I'm so scared I'm breaking into a cold sweat, even though I only have bones!"
"Ah, it's just a piece of meat! Luffy, don't be so stingy!"
"Sanji, go make another piece for this idiot quickly, otherwise this ship is going to be torn apart by him!"
Amidst Luffy's impotent roars and everyone's frantic pulling and tugging.
Law, having been completely assimilated by the bizarre style of the Straw Hat Pirates, stood in place.
He chewed the roast meat in his mouth, inexplicably feeling that this meat snatched from someone else's hands seemed to have become even more delicious.
Therefore, under the gaze of Luffy's murderous eyes that seemed like he wanted to eat a person.
Law, expressionless, opened his mouth again in front of Luffy and took another big bite out of the meat on the bone.
"Aaaaaah!"
"Tora-o! I'm absolutely going to kill you!!!"Chapter 318: The thousand sunny in the Dead of Night! The Vice Captain's Daily Life in the Gentle Land
As deep night descended, the howling sea winds of the New World gradually grew gentle.
The noisy and jubilant revelry on the deck finally drew to a close amidst everyone's exhaustion and satisfaction.
Luffy, who just a second ago was shouting and screaming to snatch the last piece of bone-in roast meat, was now completely defeated by sleepiness.
With his belly stuffed round like a ball, he lay sprawled on the deck without any sense of decorum.
Thunderous snoring rose and fell with his steady breathing rhythm, and a giant snot bubble even hung from the tip of his nose, expanding and contracting as he breathed.
Looking at this troublesome Captain, Zoro let out a long, helpless sigh.
He casually placed the empty sake bottle in his hand onto a nearby wooden barrel, walked forward, and bent over.
Like hoisting a heavy sack of grain, he roughly draped Luffy over his broad shoulders.
He wobbled toward the boys' dormitory, not forgetting to mutter a low complaint:
"This heartless idiot, he falls asleep the moment he's full; he really treats this peril-filled New World like a vacation resort."
On the other side, in a corner of the deck.
Chopper trotted over to Law with his short legs, his eyes sparkling.
He looked up and enthusiastically extended an invitation to Law:
"Tra-guy! Since you can't sleep yet anyway, come sit in my infirmary!
"We're both doctors, so we must have plenty of common topics to talk about regarding medical skills and herbs!"
Looking at this little reindeer full of expectation, the hard ice in the heart of Law, who was originally accustomed to solitude, seemed to melt slightly.
A gentle smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he nodded lightly, accepting Chopper's invitation.
As the night grew deeper, the people on the deck dispersed one after another, returning to their respective rooms to prepare for rest.
Sanji nimbly finished cleaning up the mess scattered all over the floor, lit a pre-sleep cigarette, and walked toward his room amidst the swirling smoke.
Franky, carrying his toolbox, walked energetically toward the power room on the bottom floor, preparing to do routine equipment checks...
At this time, Victor, who had drunk quite a bit and was slightly tipsy, took the opportunity to reach out both hands.
He very naturally wrapped his arms around the slender waists of Nami and Robin beside him.
The three of them huddled close together, walking side by side toward Nami's private room.
On this ship of dreams, the Thousand Sunny, every crew member has their own independent and personalized private room.
But for the three of them, it had long since become a tacit habit.
As for why they always chose to go to Nami's room...
It was because back when the blueprints for this ship were being designed, the shrewd and capable Miss Navigator had "foresightedly" included some personal interests.
She had specially customized an oversized double bed for herself that was wide, soft, and reached the maximum level of comfort.
Pushing open the door that emitted a faint scent of oranges, the three of them entered the room.
Facing this private space filled with an ambiguous atmosphere, Nami and Robin's expressions appeared completely unpretentious.
Not a trace of a young girl's shyness or coyness could be seen on their faces.
During this period of time, they had jointly experienced countless life-and-death trials and long days and nights of companionship.
Their life together had long been as harmonious as an old married couple who share everything, with every look and movement revealing an unspeakable tacit understanding.
As soon as they entered, Robin and Nami worked together to help the slightly unsteady Victor lie down on the soft sofa in the corner of the room.
Nami put her hands on her hips, feigned anger, and extended a fair finger to poke Victor's forehead, complaining with a coquettish tone:
"Honestly, you're usually so shrewd when you're plotting against others outside.
"How did you end up drinking so much at the banquet today? You were practically dead weight when we helped you over just now."
Looking at Nami's "sharp tongue but soft heart" appearance, Robin let out a gentle chuckle.
She turned and walked to the table, pouring a glass of warm water at just the right temperature.
Then, she walked to the sofa, naturally sat sideways on Victor's lap, and gently brought the water glass to his lips.
"Victor, drink some warm water; your stomach will feel better."
Victor shook his head, which was somewhat groggy from the alcohol, and drained the warm water in the glass; his parched throat was finally relieved.
At this point, Nami, who had been standing all day, let out a yawn, a hint of weary sleepiness appearing in the corners of her eyes.
She skillfully unwrapped Futo, which she always wore around her waist like a belt.
She carefully placed it into a special soothing cage she had designed, allowing the little fellow to get some good rest as well.
Then, Nami began to shed her clothing with light and very natural movements.
She lazily gave a big stretch, revealing a breathtaking beauty, before turning and walking into the mist-filled bathroom to adjust the water temperature.
A moment later, the sound of pitter-pattering water came from inside, along with her clear call:
"Robin, the water temperature is adjusted, come take a bath quickly."
"I know, I'm coming right now," Robin said with a smile and a nod.
She had just straightened her body from Victor's warm embrace and was about to unbutton her coat.
Victor, who had recovered a bit of spirit after drinking the water, saw this tempting scene and a mischievous smile played on his lips.
His large hands reached around from behind quite naughtily.
Robin didn't panic; she just covered her red lips and let out a light laugh.
She reached out her jade-like hand and gently patted away his mischievous hands as if coaxing a child, then lowered her body slightly.
Those succulent red lips lightly imprinted a kiss on Victor's forehead like a dragonfly skimming the water, as she whispered in his ear with breath like orchids.
"Behave yourself~ our Lord Vice Captain~"
Having said that, she turned and walked gracefully into the bathroom, leaving a trail of fragrance behind her.
Watching the bathroom door gradually close, Victor, whose nameless fire had been stirred up, leaned against the sofa and let out a helpless light cough.
Behave?
For a normal man, in this situation, it was naturally absolutely impossible to behave.
He immediately stood up, strode to the bathroom door, and reached out to turn the brass handle with great anticipation.
The result was a dull "click"—the door was locked from the inside.
Immediately after, accompanied by the sound of splashing water, Nami's sly and triumphant laughter came from the bathroom.
"Hahaha! I knew you'd definitely try this move!"
"I guessed right, didn't I? Just wait outside obediently."
Victor stood outside the closed door. Listening to the laughter and chatter from inside, he shook his head helplessly, but a curve involuntarily formed at the corner of his mouth.
After a while, the bathroom door finally opened, and the scene in the room returned to tranquility and warmth once again.
The three of them finished washing, washing away the exhaustion from their bodies, and embraced each other with incomparable comfort and intimacy.
In this quiet night, the breathing of the three gradually synchronized, blending together perfectly.
The bright and flawless moonlight shone through the circular glass porthole, quietly spilling into this cabin filled with a faint orange scent, draping everything in a layer of silver gauze.
On the cabin wall, three shadows tightly overlapped, becoming long and lingering under the pull of the cool moonlight.
After an unknown amount of time, subtle rustling sounds began to come from the originally calm and tidy bed.
The smooth and supple silk corner of the quilt, as if unable to withstand the temperature on the bed, quietly slid down the edge of the bed onto the smooth wooden floor.
The cool night wind of the New World gently blew against the thousand sunny's towering masts, making a series of low moans.
The waves rhythmically slapped against the sturdy hull, making a "crash-crash" white noise like a lullaby.
This perfectly timed sound of the waves...
Perfectly covered the delicate moans that were deliberately suppressed in the throat within the room, as well as Robin's soft murmurs filled with a bit of mature womanly charm and indulgence.
The night gradually deepened, as if to completely swallow all the clamor in this world.
After the temperature in the cabin experienced a rise, it also slowly subsided along with the weariness.
The Thousand Sunny, carrying everyone's dreams, continued to move slowly toward an unknown tomorrow amidst this boundless tranquility and tenderness.Chapter 319: An Absurd Morning! Corazon's Past and the News That Shook the World
The morning sunlight streamed through the circular glass porthole, quietly spilling onto the soft, wide double bed inside the cabin.
Victor was the first to wake from a deep slumber.
He lazily stretched his firm, well-proportioned body, his bones letting out several crisp pops, feeling a sense of power coursing through him.
To his right, Nami was curled up deep within the warm blankets like a tired kitten.
Her eyes were closed, her breathing steady and sweet, and her long Eyelashes fluttered slightly in the morning light.
Because they had been up so late the night before, the Navigator was still immersed in a deep sleep, showing no signs of waking up.
Victor turned his head to his left, looking at Robin, who was gently rubbing her eyes with the back of her fair hand.
Seeing Robin's charming appearance—slightly languid from having just woken up, with her long hair a bit messy—a smirk slowly curled onto Victor's lips, one he didn't bother to hide.
He leaned over slightly toward Robin's ear and, in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, whispered a few rather bold requests.
Hearing Victor's blunt words, Robin's hand, which was tidying her hair, paused slightly.
A rare flush of crimson flashed across her usually calm and intellectual face.
She turned her head indignantly and gave Victor a dirty look.
That look carried the unique charm of a mature woman, and she couldn't help but whisper a complaint:
"You really are a complete pervert."
Despite her merciless verbal jab, after a brief pause, Robin obediently lifted a corner of the blanket and slowly slid underneath.
Victor narrowed his eyes contentedly, resting his hands behind his head as he leaned comfortably against the wooden nightstand, quietly enjoying this peaceful and wonderful morning.
The wide blanket began to undulate slightly, intertwining with the sound of the waves outside lapping against the ship's hull...
...
After a moment of tenderness, the time moved to mid-morning.
The scene shifted to the spacious and bright dining room of the Thousand Sunny.
The members of the Straw Hat Pirates had already finished washing up and were now gathered around the huge long table, boisterously eating the sumptuous breakfast Sanji had meticulously prepared.
Laughter and conversation, accompanied by the clatter of cutlery, filled the room with life.
The ever-disciplined Zoro had already finished his portion at lightning speed.
He was currently out on the grassy deck, drenched in sweat as he lifted a massive barbell weighing several tons, performing his unshakeable morning workout.
Meanwhile, Nami, who had recently gotten up and changed into a fresh summer outfit, stood by the railing at the edge of the deck.
Holding her binoculars and looking down at the Log Pose on her wrist, she was dutifully observing the day's wind direction and the unpredictable weather of the New World.
Inside the dining room, Sanji held a tray in one hand, placing a plate of fragrant, exquisite roasted meat in the center of the long table.
Just as he was about to turn back to the kitchen, he keenly noticed that Robin, sitting next to Victor, was merely holding a cup of bitter black coffee elegantly, quietly reading a thick book. The fine food on the plate before her was virtually untouched.
As a knight who would always protect ladies, Sanji immediately stopped and asked with a concerned smile:
"Miss Robin, is today's breakfast not to your liking?
"If you'd like something else, I'll go back to the kitchen and make a new portion for you immediately."
Hearing this, Robin gently set down her coffee cup and gave Sanji an elegant smile:
"Don't trouble yourself, Sanji. Your cooking is as delicious as ever; it's just that I happen to have a bit of a poor appetite."
However, just as she said the words "poor appetite,"
Under the table, Robin's foot, clad in a high heel, stepped firmly onto the top of Victor's foot beside her with a hint of punishment.
Victor's expression didn't change; he didn't even knit his brows.
He turned his head, meeting Robin's slightly reproachful gaze with a gentle, innocent smile.
Not only that, he naturally reached out under the table, accurately grabbing Robin's hand and interlocking their fingers tightly.
Feeling the warmth and the domineering strength from his hand, Robin turned her head away slightly, pretending to continue reading, but the corners of her mouth curled upward slightly.
Sitting across the table, Luffy was attacking his food with both hands, his face covered in grease.
He struggled to swallow a large mouthful of meat on the bone, and as if suddenly remembering something, he looked at Law at the other end of the table with a face full of curiosity:
"Oh right, Tra-guy!
"You said last night that you definitely have to beat up that guy called Doflamingo. What bad things did he do exactly?"
"Did he steal some delicious meat from you?"
Hearing Luffy's incredibly bizarre logic, Law's hand holding his knife and fork froze in mid-air.
He looked at the pure curiosity in Luffy's eyes, remained silent for a moment, and finally set down his utensils.
On this ship, infected by the incredibly relaxed atmosphere of the Straw Hat Pirates, Law's long-frozen heart seemed to let in a sliver of warm light.
He took a deep breath and, in a low, raspy voice, recounted that bloody childhood past hidden deep in his heart.
He told of the tragedy of the place known as the 'White Town,' Flevance.
He spoke of the despair and extinction brought by Amber Lead Syndrome, which the World Government had covered up, and of the cruelty and cold-bloodedness of the Donquixote Family.
Finally, his voice trembled slightly as he spoke of the benefactor who, to save a terminally ill child like him, did not hesitate to betray his entire family and take him everywhere to seek medical treatment, only to die tragically under his own brother's cold gun—Donquixote Rosinante, the man codenamed 'Corazon.'
Law's narration was flat, devoid of hysterical accusations.
But the atmosphere in the dining room grew increasingly heavy and oppressive as he spoke.
Everyone listened with furrowed brows; even the usually noisy Usopp and Chopper grew quiet, tears of sympathy shimmering in their eyes.
Robin closed her book, and after hearing about Corazon's secret identity as a Marine Commander and his originally high-and-mighty Celestial Dragon lineage, she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
Recalling the darkness she had witnessed during her life as a fugitive, she remarked emotionally:
"I didn't think... that in this already decayed world, there could actually be such a kind Celestial Dragon."
Seeing the pain and hatred suppressed in Law's eyes, Luffy put away his usual giggling demeanor.
He stared seriously at Law for a good while, as if confirming the other man's inner pain.
Then, Luffy performed the highest level of consolation he could give in his life.
He looked reluctantly at the piece of his favorite meat on the bone that he'd half-eaten, swallowed his saliva, and then generously handed it to Law with a sincere gaze:
"Here, you eat it."
Law looked down at the bone that was still dripping with oil and clearly bore Luffy's teeth marks, and he was momentarily stunned.
The veins on his forehead throbbed uncontrollably, and his eye twitched.
The heavy, oppressive mood from his memories was instantly and completely shattered by Luffy's extreme eccentricity.
Law leaned back with a face full of disgust, waving his hands vigorously in refusal as he roared:
"No thanks! Who would want to eat your leftovers! Get it away!"
"Aww, come on, eating delicious meat will make you feel better!"
Just as Luffy was being persistent, preparing to force the meat into Law's mouth,
Nami's sharp, piercing cry of alarm suddenly came from the deck outside:
"Eh?! You've got to be kidding me!!!"
This cry instantly broke the noise in the dining room.
Immediately following that, with a 'bang,' the wooden door of the dining room was slammed open.
Nami was clutching a copy of the World Economic Times that had just been delivered by a News Coo.
Her expression was full of panic as she hurried into the dining room.
She slammed the newspaper down on the dining table and shouted at the still-bickering crowd:
"Everyone, stop eating! Look at today's paper! Something huge has happened!"Chapter 320: Heavenly Yaksha's Sequential Death Trap! Road poneglyph and the Shadow of the Four Emperors
Inside the spacious and bright dining room of the Thousand Sunny, the originally relaxed and pleasant breakfast atmosphere was suddenly shattered by a loud bang.
"Slam!"
Nami, looking flustered, slammed the newspaper that had just been delivered by a News Coo heavily onto the long dining table.
On the massive front-page headline, a close-up photo of "Heavenly Yaksha" Doflamingo laughing wildly and arrogantly while wearing his red flamingo sunglasses occupied almost the entire prominent space.
The bold black headline was shocking; he had publicly declared a decision to the world that was enough to trigger a massive tsunami in the sea:
Effective immediately, Doflamingo officially resigned from his privileges as one of the "Seven Warlords of the Sea" and voluntarily abdicated the throne of Dressrosa!
If that alone was enough to shock people, the content that followed caused the entire world to break into a complete uproar.
In his statement, Doflamingo actually high-profiledly revealed his long-shrouded identity as a "former Celestial Dragon" to the entire world!
"How is this possible..."
Law stared fixedly at the newspaper on the table, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
His expression instantly turned incredibly ugly. Clenching his fists tightly, he growled through gritted teeth:
"That unreasonable lunatic Doflamingo... he actually took the initiative to break through this layer of taboo identity himself!
"What on earth is he trying to do?! This approach doesn't fit his usual calculations at all!"
Seeing Law's look of facing a great enemy and being extremely nervous, Luffy, who was sitting opposite him chewing heartlessly, cut in with a head full of question marks:
"Celestial Dragon? What exactly is that?"
Hearing his Captain's despair-inducing logic, Usopp slapped his own forehead and shouted at Luffy in exasperation:
"You single-celled idiot! Don't think about everything in terms of food!"
"The Celestial Dragons are those disgusting guys wearing transparent bubble helmets, like the one you punched flying at the human auction house on Sabaody Archipelago two years ago!"
Reminded by Usopp, a vague memory finally surfaced in Luffy's mind.
He slammed his right fist into his left palm, showing an expression of sudden realization:
"Oh! It's that ugly, snotty fat guy!"
Sitting to the side, Robin looked at Luffy's reaction and shook her head with a smile.
She put down her coffee and explained in detail to Luffy once more.
She elaborated on the absolute privileges the Celestial Dragons enjoyed on the Red Line as "World Nobles."
She also explained the terrifying rule that if they were ever harmed, the highest combat power of Marineford—an Admiral—would inevitably be deployed.
After listening to Robin's detailed explanation, Luffy nodded casually as if he half-understood.
He swallowed the last bite of meat:
"Anyway, whether it's a Celestial Dragon or a Shichibukai, I just have to send this guy called Doffy flying as well, right?"
Saying this, Luffy grinned and raised his right fist, punching down decisively.
"Bang!"
Accompanied by the dull sound of wood splintering.
Luffy's fist punched directly through the newspaper on the table, along with Doflamingo's incredibly arrogant laughing face, leaving a charred hole.
Seeing this, the veins on Law's forehead began to throb wildly. He covered his face with his hands in despair:
"Straw Hat Captain, at a time like this, can you please stop fooling around!"
The rest of the Straw Hat Pirates also exploded, criticizing Luffy for his recklessness:
"Hey! You idiot! We weren't finished reading the paper yet!"
"Damn it! Your punch destroyed all the important content on the back!"
Watching the noisy daily scene before him, Victor, who was sitting quietly to the side, took a sip of bitter coffee.
He knew better than anyone that the original trajectory of fate had completely deviated from its set course due to his forceful intervention as a butterfly.
Caesar had died early, the SAD factory was completely destroyed, and Doflamingo had been pushed to an even more dangerous precipice...
Everything following this had become like a runaway horse, increasingly unpredictable.
However, the corners of Victor's mouth slowly curled into an expectant arc, and he chuckled inwardly:
"More and more unknown variables... that makes it even more interesting, doesn't it?"
In the chaos, Nami painfully pieced together the tattered newspaper and barely managed to see the writing on the second page.
Then, she read out a heavyweight piece of news enough to drive all pirates crazy:
"Listen up! The paper says that Dressrosa is about to host a massive fighting tournament for powerhouses from all over the world!"
"And the champion's prize that has sent the entire sea into a frenzy is actually a... **'Road poneglyph'** rubbing!"
At the words "Road poneglyph," Robin, who had been maintaining an elegant smile, saw her expression turn incredibly solemn.
She looked around at everyone and explained in a heavy voice: "Road poneglyphs are different from the ordinary stone monuments that record history.
"There are only four red stone monuments left in the world, and they are the indispensable keys to finding the final island, 'Laugh Tale.'"
"One could say it is the ultimate treasure that all pirates dream of and are even willing to give their lives for."
Luffy, who had been grinning about breaking the newspaper just a moment ago, suddenly went quiet the moment he heard "Laugh Tale."
He slowly raised his hand and straightened the Straw Hat on his head.
In that instant, the original clarity in his eyes was replaced by a dazzling light of a king.
Luffy stood up abruptly and slammed another heavy fist onto the poor dining table, declaring loudly:
"The key to becoming the Pirate King? Good!
"That fighting tournament or whatever, I, Monkey D. Luffy, am definitely joining!
"That rubbing, I must get my hands on it!"
"Bang!"
The already teetering dining table suffered another heavy blow, letting out a groan of pain.
"You idiot! Why did you smash the table again!"
"Ah! Luffy! The newspaper is completely shredded! Now we really can't finish reading it!"
Inside the dining room, the frantic roars and chasing of his companions erupted once more.
Meanwhile, in the New World, Dressrosa.
Deep within the palace, in a dark and oppressive hall.
Doflamingo sat alone on a high throne, his entire body radiating a suffocating aura of tyranny.
The genius scientist Caesar was dead, meaning the supply of raw materials for the SMILE Artificial Devil Fruit factory was completely cut off.
The underground dark empire he had painstakingly built for over a decade had suffered a devastating blow in just a few days.
He was now pushed to the edge of a cliff with no way to retreat.
However, compared to the devastating retaliation that Kaido of the "Four Emperors" was about to unleash due to the supply cut...
What Doflamingo feared even more at this moment was that man in the Straw Hat Pirates.
The monster Vice Captain with a bounty as high as 2.5 billion, known as the Crimson Lotus Shura—Victor!
Thinking of the blood feud from when one of his most trusted top officers, Diamante, died a tragic death at Victor's cruel hands in Dressrosa.
Doflamingo's eyes, hidden behind red sunglasses, were filled with frenzied bloodshot veins.
He gripped the armrests of the throne tightly, swearing in his heart that he would make Victor pay in blood.
But as the King of the Underworld, Doflamingo possessed a level of rationality beyond ordinary people.
He knew deep down that with the current strength of the Donquixote Family's officers, even if they went all out, they couldn't possibly stop the Straw Hat Pirates.
Thus, Doflamingo utilized his unfathomable intelligence network.
After days and nights of relentless collection and analysis.
He finally grasped the vital information that the Straw Hat crew had formed a deadly enmity with the Four Emperors' "BIG MOM" not long ago on Fish-Man Island.
"Fuffuffuffu... Since that lunatic Kaido has already been completely offended due to the supply cut.
"Then on this sea, the only one qualified and potentially capable of protecting me from Kaido's pursuit is naturally the monster who is also one of the Four Emperors."
Therefore, Doflamingo decisively chose an extremely risky path.
He secretly dispatched his most trusted subordinate, carrying heavy gifts, to send a top-secret alliance letter to "BIG MOM" in the Totto Land waters.
In the letter, he expressed his willingness to have the entire Kingdom of Dressrosa and all remaining forces of the Donquixote Family submit and join the ranks of Totto Land.
As a condition of the exchange, he requested that Big Mom immediately send her top-tier helpers from Totto Land to Dressrosa.
To help him completely eliminate their common enemy—the Straw Hat Pirates!
Thus, Doflamingo's truly insane plan finally came to light.
The reason he had so high-profiledly resigned from his position as a Shichibukai and unhesitatingly announced his sensitive status as a Celestial Dragon was not out of desperate self-abandonment.
It was to intentionally make a scene.
To force the Marines to get involved, and even draw the World Government's direct secret intelligence agency, CP0, to descend upon Dressrosa.
He wanted to use the massive forces of the Marine Admirals and the World Government as the most perfect "smokescreen" on the surface.
To make Law and the Straw Hat crew mistakenly believe that the enemies they were about to face were only the Marines and the Donquixote Family.
Thereby perfectly concealing the Big Mom Pirates who were quietly closing in on Dressrosa!
Sitting on the dark throne, Doflamingo spread his arms and let out a frantic laugh:
"Fuffuffuffuffu! The wrath of a Four Emperor capable of destroying everything, combined with this inescapable net I've laid out with everything I have..."
"Straw Hat! Victor! Law!"
"This time, even if you really are gods, you must die here for me!"