Chapter 124 Luffy is actually a Marine Vice AdmiralA sly, mischievous smile crept across Luffy's lips.
"It's precisely because this world is so rotten that the Revolutionary Army has grown so rapidly."
Robin, keenly noticing Luffy's unusual demeanor, asked疑惑地问道.
"Why are you so happy to hear about the Revolutionary Army's growth? Aren't they the Navy's arch-enemies?"
Luffy blinked, looking at Robin innocently.
"Huh? Didn't I mention this to you guys?"
"The leader of the Revolutionary Army is my unreliable adoptive father."
He scratched his head, vaguely remembering showing off before. Had he misremembered?
Everyone's jaws dropped to the floor, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets.
"What?!"
Luffy waved his hand dismissively.
"Well, it's nothing serious, no need to make such a fuss."
Everyone stared at Luffy as if he were a monster, a chill running down their spines.
Grandpa was a Marine hero, his brother a super pirate, and his father a Revolutionary Army leader.
This family practically controlled everything from the underworld to the legitimate world—it was terrifying!
Ignoring the crowd's shock, Luffy turned to look at Camie, who was soaking in the water.
"Hey, Camie, you seem to really want to go to Sabaody Park on the island, don't you?"
Camie's eyes instantly lit up, as if they held stars.
"Really?!"
Papago was terrified and immediately shouted to stop him.
"Hey! Camie, are you crazy?! Have you forgotten the lesson you almost got caught before?! There are plenty of Celestial Dragons loitering around here!"
Luffy sneered, a cold glint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
"World Nobles? They're nothing!"
"Play without worry, with me here, whoever dares to touch a hair on your head... no, a fish scale, I'll cripple them."
"Let me formally reintroduce myself, I am Monkey D. Luffy, a current Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters."
"Kaimi's mouth dropped open: What?! You're a Marine?!"
"Papago still shook his head frantically, his face full of disbelief."
"Even if you're a Vice Admiral, it doesn't matter! Those Celestial Dragons have the power to mobilize Marine Admirals at any time!"
"Luffy simply reached out and pulled Kaimi out of the sea, waving his hand with an air of dominance."
"What are you afraid of? Even if Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself came, I'd guarantee your safety!"
"Kaimi was overjoyed: Really?!"
"Papago next to him was still hesitating: That's true, but..."
"Luffy didn't give him a chance to hesitate, and immediately gave the order."
"
Franky, first, take the ship to the naval base over here and dock it.
The rest of you come with me to relax. After we've had our fun, we'll head over to Marine Headquarters.
His tone carried an undeniable air of authority.
After all, the price of mermaid slaves has skyrocketed these days.
Luffy didn't hesitate, immediately entrusting Sanji with the crucial task of protecting Camie.
That guy will definitely stick to her like a glued eye, and he'll enjoy it immensely.
Suddenly, Luffy slapped his forehead, as if remembering something important.
"By the way, I think I left Ace around here.
I remember Rayleigh's rip-off bar is on Island 13, right?
Let's go check it out."
After all, Blackbeard has now become a Shichibukai; keeping Ace locked up seems a bit unreasonable.
Papagu's face turned green upon hearing "Island No. 13."
"Island No. 13? That's a lawless, lawless zone! It's very dangerous for you Marines to go to a place like that!"
Luffy waved his hand casually, his usual confident smile on his face.
"Danger? Heh heh, for those bad guys there, we're the biggest danger!"
"Hmm…"
The group stood before a pile of ruins, their brows furrowed deeply.
Nami looked at Luffy with suspicion: "Are you sure you brought Ace here?"
Luffy was equally bewildered, scratching his head at the scene before him.
Island No. 13 was now a scene of utter devastation, like a battlefield ravaged by heavy artillery.
The red tree bearing the huge number 13 was broken in two, lying pitifully on the ground.
The roots, once buried deep underground, were uprooted, scattering soil everywhere.
Amidst the rubble and ruins, fragments of brick from remaining buildings could still be vaguely discerned.
"What the hell?"
Luffy gasped, unable to resist swearing.
"In this day and age, someone actually dares to provoke Rayleigh, that old monster?!"
Filled with a bellyful of questions, Luffy had no choice but to lead everyone back.
Anyway, he had no intention of becoming Rayleigh's apprentice. As a Marine, he and that retired vice-captain of the Pirate King were never on the same side.
"Are you really alright?"
Usopp glanced back at the ruins with some concern.
Luffy waved his hand: "It's not a big deal, as long as Ace wasn't captured by Blackbeard for his bounty."
The group quickly composed themselves and began to wholeheartedly experience the charm of this dreamlike paradise.
Colorful bubbles danced in the air, seemingly possessing a magical power that instantly transported everyone back to their carefree childhood.
"Wow, amazing!"
Chopper excitedly jumped into a large bubble, floating around in mid-air.
Usopp held a rope, pulling Chopper along like a balloon.
Chopper poked his deer head out of the bubble, surprised to find it remarkably resilient and unbroken.
The two ran wildly, their silvery laughter echoing along the way, causing everyone else to unconsciously smile.
Suddenly, a muffled thud.
Usopp, preoccupied with looking back at Chopper, bumped headfirst into a massive figure bound by heavy iron chains.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Usopp and Chopper were startled and hurriedly straightened up, bowing deeply in apology.
However, the burly man ignored their explanations, grabbing Usopp by the neck and lifting him up.
The burly man's eyes were bloodshot and swollen, and he shook Usopp like a madman.
"Quick! Take it off! Please, take this damn thing off!"
Usopp, dizzy from being shaken, cried out: "Huh?"
"I want to go home! I want to go home too!!"
The burly man let out a desperate and terrified scream.
Just then, a sharp, cold light flashed.
Usopp, who was almost suffocating, felt his neck loosen and fell from the burly man's grasp.
Zoro slowly sheathed his sword, his eyes as cold as iron.
"You don't look like someone begging for help."
Usopp clutched his neck, scrambling back several steps, panting heavily with lingering fear.
"You scared me to death!"
The burly man knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.
"Please, I beg you! A saw, an axe, anything will do!"
"Save me! Help me get this collar off! I just want to destroy it! I swear I won't hurt you!"
"I don't want to go to the New World anymore, and I don't want to find the One Piece anymore."
"My wife and children are waiting for me back home."
"When I went to sea to become a pirate, my child was just born!"
"That child still doesn't even know what his father looks like!"
Hearing this, Usopp's face, which had initially shown some sympathy, instantly darkened.
His previously pitying gaze now held only contempt as he looked at the pirate captain.
This reminded him of his own father, Yasopp.
"He, too, abandoned his wife and children to become a pirate when Usopp was just born."
His mother endured immense hardship, juggling postpartum confinement and raising her child alone.
The accumulated strain and the pain of longing led to his mother's passing when he was very young.
If he hadn't met Kaya later, Usopp might have become a completely different person.
Now, seeing this pirate using his wife and child as a shield in a life-or-death situation, Usopp felt nothing but disgust.
He pulled Chopper back silently, observing coldly.
Papago's expression changed drastically when he saw the red collar gleaming around the burly man's neck.
Don't get involved with him! That guy is probably a pirate slave captured and sold by human traffickers.
He was just brought to the island by his buyer and was trying to escape in the chaos.