Chapter 188 - 46

Chapter 46Just then, footsteps were heard outside, and the cabin door was pushed open....Zoro stood at the doorway, carrying his two new swords, looking exhausted; he had clearly just returned from meeting up with the procurement team. Upon reaching the doorway, he felt a strange sense of killing intent, so he poked his green-haired head inside, his gaze landing precisely on the Captain and the Navigator, who were tangled together on the floor in an extremely suggestive position.Then, he saw Merry next to them.The air froze for three seconds. Zoro's expression remained unchanged as he very naturally stepped back and slammed the door shut with a snap.Faint voices of Usopp and Sanji drifted from outside the door:"What's wrong, Zoro?""What's going on in there?"Zoro's voice was calm and steady, though he intentionally raised the volume slightly:"It's nothing, go back and wait. They probably need some private time.""At least go back to your room to do that sort of thing."This sentence carried a huge amount of information.Sanji's wails could even be heard from outside.Zoro was the one who took the biggest critical hit to his heart, momentarily doubting what year it was, wondering why, after just going out for a trip, it seemed like Luffy and Nami already had children.Nami was completely petrified, the blush on her face exploding instantly, spreading all the way to her ears and neck."No, it's not like that!""It's all your fault, hurry up and get up to explain it to them clearly, Luffy!"Nami grabbed the shoulders of Luffy, who was still clueless on the floor, and shook him frantically...."998, 999, 1000..."Luffy's workout on the deck had been taken up a notch; having Nami sit on him was one thing, but with Merry joining in the fun, the training effect was indeed doubled.Merry had a natural affinity for Luffy. Nami used Luffy as bait to successfully lure Merry, gaining the chance to whisper with her, a scene that made Usopp and Sanji incredibly envious.Then, murderous glares were cast at Luffy.Luffy also felt very wronged."Are you all just going to pick on me instead of reflecting on how you're using outside forces to deflect your own problems?"Luffy directly challenged them to a 1v1 man-to-man fight.The result was that Usopp ended up playing dead, while Sanji escaped unscathed because he had to cook.After leaving Loguetown, the lightning and thunder soon gave way to bright sunshine.Right, this was the normal weather situation. Based on the ocean currents, temperature, and humidity... Loguetown was simply abnormal.Luffy vaguely felt it had something to do with that man called Dragon."Could it be a Devil Fruit User?" Luffy was doing squats with Merry riding on his shoulders."Hmm?" Merry could speak now. Initially, she hadn't dared to come out because she was too shy, though her voice was still a whisper, "Luffy, are you talking about a man wearing a cloak?""You know him?""That man came on the ship, and he seemed to have discovered me." Merry felt that the aura on Dragon was terrifying, as if his body hid some monster. But there was no malice, which felt contradictory.However, that feeling was very familiar.Merry discovered that same feeling in Luffy as well."He really is suspicious.""Stop being suspicious. Come help prepare for tonight's banquet; there's still a lot to do." Namibrought two glasses of orange juice, one for Merryand one for herself."Nami, I'm thirsty too."Nami was about to refuse instantly, but discovered that Merry had already held the cup with both hands and offered it to Luffy.This was even more doting on Luffy than she was.Tonight, they were going to hold a grand welcoming ceremony for Merry.Merry's cuteness won over everyone. Especially seeing her cute appearance after taking off her hat, she was incredibly endearing. Nami couldn't help but go over and nuzzle her cheeks. And as a master of fashion, it was hard not to have the urge to dress her up in beautiful clothes.No suitable clothes?Such difficulties obviously couldn't stump Nami. By the time she came out, Merry had changed into new clothes—a Lolita dress with a pure white base, looking as if various pieces of clothing had been stitched together, with her hair tied into two little ponytails that swayed behind her, paired with black stockings and long boots.Anyone who didn't know better would think she was a princess from some kingdom.Wearing her new clothes, Merry had a smile on her face. She excitedly ran to Luffy, spread her arms, and spun around in place, looking adorably naive."Let's welcome our partner Merry, time for a banquet!"Chapter 57: This is not the hardness that belongs to the East Blue!It would take two more days of sailing from Loguetown to the Red Line, and returning to the original route would quickly lead them to the Grand Line.At sunset, Sanji's hands were moving so fast they were practically a blur. There was only one requirement for a chef on a pirate ship, and that was to cook fast! Combining speed with deliciousness was what made a chef that countless people dreamed of."Time for a banquet!" Luffy announced, holding up a large piece of roasted meat."Oh!"Luffy had finally managed to squeeze out some real banquet time from the devilish pirate king training plan, and he was so happy he could practically fly.He ran around the large dining table temporarily assembled on the deck in excitement, his mouth stuffed full.Experience is accumulated bit by bit.Luffy also learned in the struggle how to scrape together some time. Of course, if the pirate king training plan cared about this time he scraped together and assigned him another twenty-four or forty-eight hours of training, then he could only...Enjoy it first.Who cares what happens afterwards!"What a fool, no one is fighting you for it," Namisaid.While her words expressed disdain, her eyes were filled with smiles as she handed a glass of juice to Merry, who was sitting quietly in the special seat on Luffy's shoulder."Time is money." Luffy's stomach was like a bottomless pit. "Nami, toss me the meat in front of you.""Catch."The two had great chemistry; Nami felt like she was feeding some kind of creature.Merry was still holding her signature little hammer in her arms.She timidly took the juice, sipping it in small mouthfuls, her big eyes curiously observing the lively scene around her.It was so great to be able to turn into this form and have a banquet with them.Merry wanted to go on adventures with them, carrying them to even farther places, forever!"To our partner Merry, cheers!" Luffy raised his glass."Cheers!"Everyone raised their glasses in response, and even Zoro rarely lifted his wine bowl.Merry shyly raised her glass of juice, her little face flushed red.Nami acted as both mother and sister on the ship, so naturally, she couldn't let Merry be led astray into drinking alcohol.She was still small, so that could wait until she grew up.The banquet atmosphere was lively. Sanji moved through the crowd, continuously serving new dishes, but Luffy's stomach was clearly a bottomless pit."We're out of meat. How can there be a banquet without a full fish feast!" Luffy said."It's the middle of the night, can you just conjure up a fish?" Nami said with her hands on her hips, feeling quite helpless.At this moment, Merry, who was sitting on Luffy's shoulder, leaned into Luffy's ear and whispered, "Luffy, I can feel that there are many fish down below."The Klabautermann is one of the most magical existences in this ocean; not only is it the best helmsman, but it also has full knowledge of the entire ship and even the situation in this sea area.That was why Nami had a natural affection for Merry.Compared to the idiots on the ship, Merry was simply an angel to the Navigator. Not to mention she was so cute."Really?" Luffy's eyes lit up."Yeah!" Merry nodded vigorously. It seemed that being able to help Luffy made her very happy. Luffy didn't even need to go get the fishing gear; those things automatically flew in front of Luffy."Is this the ability of the Klabautermann?""We don't have to worry about capsizing anymore." Usopp laughed loudly."Let's go, Merry! Time to go fishing.""Oh!" Merry waved her little fist.Luffy grabbed the fishing rod and ran excitedly toward the side of the ship."Hey, don't drop Merry."Nami followed worriedly."Tsk, why does this scene feel strangely familiar?" Zoro watched Luffy running away carrying little Merry, took a sip of his wine, and muttered, "It seems like I've seen it somewhere before."Sanji, next to him, blew a smoke ring. "You idiot Marimo, it's because that Rubber idiot is usually always sitting on that sheep-head special seat of the going merry! Now it's just Merry's turn to sit on him.""That's true."At the side of the ship."Luffy, the big fish is over there!""I got it!" Luffy was very excited to see what he could catch.Not long after, a force came from the line.Luffy looked at Merry in surprise. A big one had taken the bait!Nami happened to walk over and saw Luffy pulling the rod.Then, the sea surface under the Moonlightsuddenly bulged into a huge water mound.Immediately after, a terrifying, huge head covered with tentacles and sharp teeth violently broke through the sea surface. Just the part exposed above the water was nearly ten meters long.Who could stand this?Nami's face turned deathly pale, and she almost fainted on the spot.Luffy's reaction couldn't be said to be the same; it could only be said to be completely different.This big guy should barely be enough to eat."Barbecued, braised, steamed... I'll have a bit of everything!"Luffy's arm stretched backward violently, inhaling air, his bones making a loud cracking sound, and his entire arm instantly became gigantic and covered with pitch-black Armament Haki."Gum-Gum Giant Pistol!"The unknown fish was punched so hard it started questioning its fish life—could there really be something that hard in the East Blue?It was completely unreasonable!The big fish's huge eyes rolled back instantly, its massive body stiffened by this terrifying punch, and then it slowly fell backward, smashing onto the sea surface, splashing a huge wave, and floating there motionless."Done, the banquet continues!" Luffy turned back and called out."The fish was just unlucky."When it came to how to handle food, Sanji was a professional; with a few skilled chopping kicks, he removed the internal organs and fish scales.Then he could cook it however he wanted.Everyone in this world is a big eater.The most important thing to become strong is to be able to eat.Nami ate for a long time only to realize she hadn't eaten as much as Luffy had in a few bites, which was why she said she couldn't become strong.The banquet lasted for a long time, until Merrystarted rubbing her eyes and her little head began to nod off."Alright, little one, it's time to sleep."