Everyone's eyes lit up instantly, even Sanji, who was smoking, nearly choked on his cigarette.
"That's right!" Usopp jumped up suddenly, his long nose nearly poking Zoro in the face, "We have phones now! We can video call!"
Nami immediately pulled out her phone, which was covered in gems, and swiped her fingers rapidly: "I'm searching for 'Pluton Rayleigh's' TikTok account right now... Got it! 'Pirate King's Right Hand - Rayleigh', 12 million followers!"
Luffy used a Gum-Gum slingshot maneuver to get close to the screen, his eyes shining with excitement: "Wow! Is this the master who is going to teach me Haki? He looks so awesome!"
In the video, Rayleigh was holding a wine bottle, laughing heroically at the camera: "Little ones of the new era, if you want to learn Haki... *hic*... remember to follow!"
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke and couldn't help but complain: "Is this disrespectful old man really the legendary 'Pluton'?"
"Is Haki just taught to anyone?"
Nami followed the account without hesitation, then found the private message chat and pressed the "Video Call" button. Surprisingly, the call was answered almost instantly.
"Oh?" On the other end of the screen, Rayleigh, wearing round glasses, squinted his eyes, "Isn't this the 'Straw Hat' who's been very popular lately?"
"Master Rayleigh!" Luffy shoved his face right up to the camera, "Teach me Haki! I want to learn Gear Fourth!"
Rayleigh paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, his glasses even sliding down to the tip of his nose: "Interesting! According to the 'plot', shouldn't we be meeting at the Sabaody Archipelago?"
Robin bowed gracefully: "Times have changed, Mr. Rayleigh. Now that we have phones, many 'fixed plots' can be rewritten."
Rayleigh didn't waste any time and got straight to the point!
Want to learn Haki? Sure, I'll teach you!
"First of all, Haki is divided into three types—"
In the video, Rayleigh raised his wine bottle, gesturing drunkenly. Luffy sat cross-legged on the deck, his eyes wide open, even his nostrils flared.
"Oh oh! So that's how Haki works!" Luffy suddenly jumped up, waving his rubber arms wildly, "I think I understand!"
Zoro leaned against the mast, arms crossed, his mouth twitching: "Can this idiot really understand..."
After learning for over ten minutes, Luffy felt like he could really feel Haki!
But just as he was thinking about taking it a step further, the Rayleigh in the video suddenly smiled mysteriously: "Alright, the free trial lesson ends here. If you want to learn the complete Haki course, please click the small yellow cart below to purchase the paid course."
A golden shopping cart icon suddenly popped up on the screen:
[Taught by Pluton Rayleigh] Haki Crash Course VIP Class,
Original Price: 9,999,999 Belli
Limited Time Offer: 8,888,888 Belli
Includes: 12 Armament Haki lessons / 8 Observation Haki lessons / Private Haoshoku lesson
The entire Merry went terrifyingly quiet.
Luffy's jaw dropped straight to the deck: "Eh—?!"
The orange in Nami's hand dropped to the floor with a "plop". She pointed at the screen with trembling fingers: "Is... is this some new type of scam?!"
Robin's elegant smile froze on her face: "In the novel... this plot doesn't seem to exist?"
Sanji's cigarette broke in two: "Are you kidding me! The legendary Vice Captain of the Pirate King is actually selling online courses?!"
Usopp's long nose straightened out in fear: "Eight... eight million eight hundred eighty-eight thousand Belli?! That's enough to buy how many special rounds of ammunition!"
Rayleigh in the video was still enthusiastically promoting: "Buy now and get a free 'How to Beat Up an Admiral' combat technique lesson! The first 100 students will also receive my autographed wanted poster..."
"No!!!" Nami suddenly exploded, grabbing the phone to close it, but was desperately stopped by Sanji.
"Calm down, Miss Nami! This phone is very expensive! And the first 100 get combat techniques..."
Luffy pouted aggrievedly: "But... I want to learn Gear Fourth..."
Zoro's temple throbbed: "Hey, old man! Is the Pirate King's Vice Captain that short on money?"
Rayleigh laughed in the video: "The new era needs new ways of living~ Besides..." He suddenly lowered his voice, "You don't want to wait two years to learn Haki according to the novel plot, do you?"
This sentence struck everyone's weak spot. Nami bit her lip, her fingers trembling as they hovered over the "Pay Now" button, the expression on her face more painful than being stabbed.
"How... how about we crowdfund..." Usopp suggested weakly.
"Are you kidding me!" Nami suddenly flew into a rage, "This is the money I saved to buy new clothes!"
Just as everyone was arguing, Luffy suddenly stretched his arm out, grabbed the phone, and pressed the pay button without hesitation.
"Ding~ Payment successful!"
Nami instantly petrified, then let out a heart-wrenching scream: "Luffy!!! My Belli!!!"
Seagulls flew over the Merry in panic, and Rayleigh in the video nodded with satisfaction: "Very good, now let's start the first lesson—how to use Armament Haki to strengthen..."
...
The afternoon sun lazily spilled onto the deck of the Merry, and the Straw Hat Crew were each immersed in the world of their phones.
Luffy sat cross-legged at the bow, baring his teeth at the phone screen while practicing "Armament Haki";
Zoro leaned against the mast, scrolling through a "World's Famous Swords Appraisal" live stream; Sanji was smoking while liking video posts from beautiful female chefs; Nami was meticulously checking the expenditure record of the 8,888,888 Belli for the online course just now.
"Ahhhh—it's over, we're going to die!!!"
Usopp suddenly let out a shrill, pig-like scream, scaring Luffy so much that he accidentally threw his phone into the sea, which was then rescued by Sanji with a dive.
"Usopp, what kind of madness are you having!" Nami was so angry her hair stood on end.
Usopp's face was pale, his fingers trembling as he held up his phone: "L-l-look at this!" His expression twitched with terror, "'Three Marineford Vice Admirals are rushing towards Long Ring Long Land'!"
"What?!" Everyone crowded around instantly.
On the phone screen, a short video just posted by an account named "World's Number One Lookout" was playing automatically:
[Urgent Bulletin!] Three Marineford warships are heading to Long Ring Long Land at full speed!
According to reliable sources, the target is to hunt down the Straw Hat Pirates hiding on the island! The team is led by... (The camera suddenly cut to the three majestic warships on the distant sea) Onigumo, Strowberry, and Yamakaji, three Vice Admirals from Marineford!!!
The video's like count was skyrocketing at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the comment section had already exploded:
"Holy sh*t! Three Vice Admirals to catch newbies?"
"And they are Marineford Vice Admirals, not those trash branch Vice Admirals!"
"To the one above, tell me your location."
"The Straw Hat Crew is finished!"
"Betting is open, betting is open, bet on how many minutes the Straw Hat will last!"
"..."
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