Chapter 36 Rare Beast Island and the Strange Man in the Box
The Going Merry passed through a storm zone and finally arrived at the legendary "Treasure Island".
As rumored, the entire island was shrouded in a thick layer of white fog.
The dense jungle appeared and disappeared in the fog, looking eerie and unsettling.
The group disembarked and walked along a weed-covered path deeper into the island.
"Gurgle..."
Usopp, carrying his pack, tumbled to the very back of the group, looking quite nervous.
He gripped the slingshot tightly with both hands, his eyes like those of a startled rabbit, cautiously observing any movement around him.
Suddenly, from a clump of bushes by the roadside, a giant man-eating flower covered in sharp teeth and claws poked its head out and opened its blood-red maw at Usopp, who was passing by.
"Snap!"
"Wow!!!"
Usopp was so terrified by the sudden attack that he screamed and jumped three meters into the air.
The people in front immediately stopped and turned around warily.
"Are there enemies?!"
Nami reacted the fastest, shrinking back and instantly hiding behind Viktor with practiced ease, peeking out to look behind her.
However, there were no enemies.
All I saw was Usopp standing there, his body swaying wildly in an extremely twisted and bizarre posture, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"Ah... haha... it's nothing, it's nothing!"
Seeing everyone looking at him, Usopp stiffly withdrew his movement and forced a smile:
"I thought the atmosphere was too dull, so... let's dance to lighten the mood! Hahaha, isn't that fun?"
The group turned around silently and continued on their way.
Nami, walking ahead, lowered her voice to hide her earlier panic:
"Hey, did you guys know? It's said that an amazing treasure lies dormant on this island. Many pirates have landed here trying to find it, but..."
"Everyone was so terrified that they all ran away in the end."
"Excessive fear?"
Luffy, who was walking at the front, turned around and picked his nose with a curious expression.
"Were they scared away? How much fear must they have had?"
Nami's voice grew even lower, her eyes glancing intently at Viktor beside her, trying to detect a hint of fear on the face of this always-smiling first mate:
"For example... there was a pirate who suddenly turned into a wild boar's face in the middle of the night."
"Some people's beards grew longer and longer, eventually turning into snake-like creatures that strangled themselves to death..."
"It's...it's a lie, right..."
Usopp, who was behind him, turned pale, his teeth chattering, and he gripped Zoro's shoulder tightly.
Viktor couldn't help but laugh as he watched Nami's vivid performance.
He was expressionless and spoke in a flat tone:
"Oh, how terrifying! It's so scary, I'm going to die of fright."
"Bang!"
Nami's forehead veins bulged, and she punched his arm with her backhand.
"You weren't even scared, were you?! That's such a perfunctory response!"
"ha--"
Just then, Zoro, who was being held by Usopp, yawned widely, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"Ah, I'm hungry, and I'm so sleepy. I'm going to sleep."
As he spoke, the swordsman actually fell straight to the side, lying directly on the ground covered with weeds and unknown insects.
In less than three seconds, the snoring started.
"Whoosh—whoosh—"
Usopp stared in disbelief at the scene, his jaw practically dropping to the floor.
"How could he fall asleep in such a weird place?! Just how big is this guy's heart?!"
Nami sighed helplessly, rubbing her forehead:
"How on earth are his nerves malfunctioning... freak."
Victor ignored their antics, his red eyes silently scanning the surrounding mist.
In his perception, many auras were quietly approaching from the surrounding jungle; they were the auras of wild beasts.
"We're really surrounded... It must be those rare beasts..." Victor thought to himself.
Just then, Luffy, who was scouting ahead, suddenly stopped, squatted down next to a tree, and shouted excitedly:
"Hey! Victor! Look at this! There's a snake here with long ears!"
Victor was about to turn around and look.
Sudden!
"Get out!!"
An aged yet powerful voice seemed to explode from the sky, echoing throughout the entire forest.
"ah!!"
Usopp, who was already on edge, could no longer take it. His legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground.
Nami screamed in fright and, as if by reflex, clung tightly to Viktor's side again, gripping his arm tightly.
"Who...who is it?!"
Luffy, however, showed no fear. Instead, he shouted at the treetop above, "Oh! Are you up there?"
"How can you still laugh?! That's a god!"
Nami screamed at Viktor in despair because she noticed he was actually smiling.
"Get out! I am the guardian of this island!!"
The voice rang out again, filled with anger and authority:
"Get out of here if you want to live! Humans are not welcome here!"
"Guardian deity?" Luffy tilted his head.
"That's right! Looks like you're pirates! Forget about treasure!"
"Ah! I am Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King."
"Luffy! This isn't the time to talk about this!!" Usopp shouted from the ground, "That's a god! You'll be punished by the gods!"
A voice from the treetop snorted coldly:
"Hmph, as expected of an arrogant pirate... Since that's the case, then accept divine punishment! Watch me... Huh?!"
The authoritative voice suddenly turned into a gasp of surprise, and the rest of the words were forcibly cut off.
Because Victor had appeared at the edge of the bushes at some point, and with one hand lifted up the "source of sound" hiding in the grass.
"Hello, Guardian Deity."
Viktor looked at the small thing he was carrying with a smile.
The crowd below looked at him and immediately cried out in shock.
"What's this?!"
What Victor was carrying was a strange old man stuck inside a treasure chest.
With explosive green hair and short limbs, he looked like a box with arms and legs.
"Wow!! It's a box person!!"
Luffy's eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with admiration. "So cool!!"
Held high in the air, Camon frantically shook his short legs, which couldn't reach the ground, and struggled, shouting:
"Who...who are you?! Let me go!!"
Seeing that his struggles were futile, Camon, enraged, roared into the depths of the forest:
"Men! Come out here! Bite them to death!!"
"roar--!!"
At his command, countless eyes instantly lit up in the mist.
Immediately afterwards, numerous strangely shaped "rare beasts" rushed out from all directions, surrounding the crowd.
There are giraffes that walk on two legs, sheep with mouths as big as hippos, and foxes with rooster combs...
"Wow!! What is this?!" Usopp was so scared that he scrambled to his feet.
Camon laughed triumphantly in Victor's hands:
"Hmph! See that? These pirates who offended me have all been transformed into this state by my divine power! If you know what's good for you, hurry up and put me down!"
However, his intimidation was clearly misdirected.
Wow! It looks delicious!
Luffy wasn't afraid at all. Instead, he picked up a little pig with a lion's head at his feet and drooled as he looked at its plump body.
"It looks so delicious, it's all meat!"
Nami couldn't help but swallow hard as she looked at these strange and rare beasts.
"Victor…let him go first…"
"You bunch of bastards!!"
Enraged, Camon seized the opportunity when Viktor was distracted, opened his mouth wide, and bit down hard on Viktor's wrist.
"hiss."
Viktor frowned. Although there was no broken skin, the old man's teeth were still quite good.
He loosened his grip.
"Ouch!"
Camon fell to the ground, but he reacted extremely quickly, rolling away like a ball, and then roared:
"Hmph! Accept my punishment! Divine retribution descends!!"
The words had barely left his mouth.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!"
Suddenly, a large number of wooden spears and huge rocks shot down from the dense forest above, clearly a trap that had been set up in advance.
"Danger!!"
Viktor's eyes narrowed.
"Instantaneous Movement Technique!"
His figure vanished into a blur.
He appeared first next to Usopp, who was still in a daze, and kicked him without any hesitation.
"Get out of here!"
"ah!!"
Usopp screamed as he was kicked away, landing precisely in the arms of a giant panda that looked like a cushion, completely unharmed.
Immediately afterwards, Viktor flashed again and appeared next to Nami.
He swept her up in his arms and nimbly rolled her over into an open space in the distance.
"Bang bang bang!"
Several sharp wooden spears were driven deep into the spot where Nami had just stood.
Viktor knelt on one knee, holding the still-shaken Nami in his arms, and easily dodged the trap.
On the other side...
"Thump!"
A huge rock slammed into Luffy's head.
"oops!"
The rock shattered, flattening Luffy's head, which then bounced back like rubber.
"That was close! That almost hit my flesh." Luffy was still tightly hugging the lion-headed boar.
At this moment, Camon, who had rolled to safety and looked back to check the results of his battle, stared at the scene with wide eyes, his jaw almost dropping to the ground.
"Who...who are these guys?!"
One can teleport, and the other has a head harder than a rock!
"Ah! A monster!!"
With a strange cry, Camon's short legs created afterimages as he swiftly fled into the depths of the forest.Chapter 37 "King of the Sky"? A Talking Crow?
After a farcical chase...
At the edge of the cliff, Luffy, with the ability to extend and retract his rubber arms, finally grabbed Camon, who was trying to escape.
"Let me go! You bunch of damned pirates!"
After struggling to no avail, Camon finally calmed down under Nami's "gentle" offensive.
"Okay, don't move around."
Nami knelt down, took the first-aid kit, and carefully bandaged the wound on Camon's forehead, which was covered in black lines, tying it into a pretty bow.
"Yosh, that's all."
The originally ferocious rare beasts all gathered around.
The lion-headed boar leaned closer, sticking out its wet tongue to carefully lick Camon's face, its eyes full of worry.
"You're quite popular, 'Guardian Angel'."
Nami watched this scene and couldn't help but chuckle as she said:
"So it seems that all this time you've been using these strangely shaped animals, along with the local legends, to scare away those cowardly pirates, haven't you?"
Usopp, standing nearby, added curiously.
"Hehehe! But this is the first time I've ever seen someone stuffed inside a box! So cool!!"
Luffy lay on the ground, poked the green treasure chest on Camon's body, and laughed, saying, "This look is so stylish!"
"Is that even possible?! You idiot!!"
Camon, his face darkening, roared at Luffy, spitting as he spoke:
"I've been stuck in this box like this on this deserted island for 20 years! Because I simply can't get out!!"
"20 years?!"
Nami, who was organizing her backpack, covered her mouth in surprise when she heard the number.
Usopp, who was listening intently, felt his throat go dry.
"20 years...it's unimaginable."
He took out his water bottle from his backpack, poured a glass of clear water, and was just about to bring it to his lips to moisten his throat.
"Whoosh."
A slender hand suddenly reached out and snatched the water glass with remarkable ease.
"Glug."
Victor downed his drink in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said with a smile, "Thank you for the treat. I was thirsty."
"Hey!! That's my water!!" Usopp yelled in exasperation, "You bastard Victor!"
Viktor shrugged and ignored his protest.
Usopp sighed, and could only helplessly look at Camon again, lamenting:
"Has it been like this for 20 years? That's really impressive, they've actually managed to stick with it."
Camon's eyes turned somewhat melancholy as he gazed at the distant sea, his voice low and somber:
"Ah... my hair and beard have grown like this, completely out of control. I haven't spoken to a human in 20 years."
"When the night is quiet and all is quiet, can you understand that feeling of loneliness?"
Everyone fell silent; the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
"Ah, like an idiot."
Luffy suddenly picked his nose, breaking the atmosphere with a nonchalant expression.
"What did you say?! You little bastard!" Camon instantly lost his temper, so angry he wanted to bite someone.
"yawn--"
Just then, a long yawn came from behind.
"So you're here! I've been looking for you for ages."
Zoro rubbed his sleepy eyes, slung his sword over his shoulder, and slowly walked over.
He glanced at the second glass of water that Victor had just poured and snatched it from him.
"Glug glug".
Zoro finished drinking the water and breathed a satisfied sigh of relief. "Ah, I'm back to life."
"Hey!! That's my second glass of water!!" Usopp collapsed to his knees in despair.
After finishing his water, Zoro lowered his head and finally looked at Camon on the ground.
Instantly, his eyes widened like saucers, and he jumped back.
"Ah!! What is this thing?! Has the box come to life?!"
"Get it out of my sight sooner!!" Nami couldn't help but punch Zoro on the head. "Did your reaction time circle the ocean?!"
Victor said with a smile, "Idiots are always a step behind."
"Simply put, this uncle's body has grown over the past twenty years and has become completely integrated with this box. It's truly an amazing human anatomy."
"What? So you can't pull it out?" Luffy tugged at Camon's face in surprise.
"Ouch! Ouch! Stop pulling!" Camon yelled.
"This is simply a masterpiece of God," Usopp added, looking at the perfectly fitting box.
Upon hearing this, Camon snorted coldly.
His voice lowered: "No, this is not the work of God... it is the work of fate."
Then, he raised his head, his somewhat cloudy eyes scrutinizing the young men before him:
"But who exactly are you people? You seem different from those greedy and brutal pirates we've encountered before."
Luffy straightened up, adjusted his straw hat, and revealed his signature confident smile:
"I am Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King! I will get One Piece!"
"W-what?!"
Camon's face was filled with horror, as if he had heard something taboo. "The Pirate King?! Are you going to enter that Grand Line?"
"Ah, that's right! We do have nautical charts!"
Luffy smiled and pulled out the somewhat crumpled sea chart from his pocket, spreading it out in front of Camon like a treasure.
"Look! We're very well prepared!"
"Idiot! Don't underestimate the Grand Line!"
Camon shouted excitedly, "That's hell! The Great Pirate Era has been going on for 20 years, countless pirates have died there, and One Piece is still just a legend..."
As he spoke, he couldn't resist his curiosity and leaned closer, staring at the complex nautical chart.
"Hmm... what is this drawing?" Camon frowned, looking at it from left to right.
"Huh? Uncle Box can't understand it either?" Luffy blinked.
"Ah, this is too complicated! I don't understand it at all! Hahaha!"
"Hahaha! Me too!"
The two looked at each other and then burst into laughter at the same time, like two idiots.
"Give it to me!!"
Nami, unable to bear it any longer, snatched the sea chart back and carefully put it away.
"Is this a conversation between two pirates? How utterly disgraceful!"
"Hehehe! It's okay, we'll find One Piece anyway!" Luffy laughed carefree.
Looking at Luffy's carefree smile, Camon couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
At that moment, he seemed to see his younger self in this boy.
"Ah... one day we must seize our dreams and venture out into the world... that's what we thought back then too."
"It was this passion that completely changed our lives..."
"W-what's going on..." Usopp asked curiously.
Camon looked up at the azure sky, his thoughts drifting back to a long time ago:
"Twenty years ago..."
He recounted how he came to the island and how he climbed the cliff in search of the legendary treasure.
The tragic story of how he accidentally fell into the box and was abandoned by his companions was briefly recounted.
"Since then, the treasures on the cliff top have been a constant presence in my mind."
"I turned into a monster, scaring away many pirates. And so, I've been guarding my treasure alone ever since! It's my treasure!"
As he spoke, Camon burst into tears.
"Yes, that definitely belongs to Uncle Camon!" Luffy nodded seriously.
"Mr. Camon, I understand!"
Luffy stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and pointed to the towering, massive rock pillar in the distance.
"Since you can't go up there, then we'll go and bring down the treasure for you!"
"You, you all..."
Camon looked at the group of boys he had just met and was so moved that tears streamed down his face.
Viktor, leaning against a tree trunk, watched this scene and sighed helplessly.
As a time traveler, he naturally knew that those boxes were actually empty.
This is destined to be a sad ending, but perhaps it is also a kind of relief.
.....
A moment later.
The group arrived at the base of the huge stone pillar located in the center of the island.
This stone pillar pierces the sky, its surface smooth and steep, making it impossible for ordinary people to climb.
"Wow, it's so high..." Usopp looked up, his mouth agape, his hat almost falling off.
Next, to hide his fear of heights, he immediately and proudly raised his finger, issuing commands to Luffy:
"Luffy! I'm the first mate... no, I'm the Sniper King! Captain Usopp orders you to go and get the treasure chest! I'll cover you from below!"
"Clatter".
The words had barely left his mouth.
A warm, sticky blob fell from the sky, hitting Usopp squarely on the head and sliding down his goggles.
It's a pile of bird droppings.
"Croak—!!"
Immediately afterwards, a clear and mocking shout came from the sky:
"Idiot! Long-nosed idiot! Quack!"
"Huh?!?!"
Everyone was instantly shocked and looked up.
"Is there anyone else up there?!" Nami asked in surprise.
Camon looked at the dark shadow circling in the sky, shook his head, and said solemnly:
"No...that's the overlord of the sky over this island, the strange bird I call the 'King of the Sky'..."
"King of the Sky?"
Viktor squinted, his red pupils contracting slightly, and with his excellent eyesight, he saw the dark figure clearly.
It wasn't a huge bird of prey, but a slightly larger crow with jet-black feathers.
But the crow's eyes were full of human-like mockery.
"Oh? A talking crow?"
Viktor's lips curled up, and a strong interest flashed in his eyes.
He clearly remembered that the original plot did not include this crow.
"Interesting... It seems there are other surprises on this island besides the empty boxes."Chapter 38 Uchiha's Summoning Beast, an Empty Box.
"Who are you calling an idiot with a long nose?!"
Upon hearing the extremely insulting term "long-nosed idiot," Usopp instantly felt a surge of anger and roared furiously at the sky.
"Coo coo coo! It's you!"
The black crow circling in the sky let out an unpleasant laugh.
Its human-like eyes swept over the crowd, and finally it began to call out names one by one with extreme arrogance.
"Straw hat monkey! Caterpillar! Moldy orange! And that smiling, cunning bastard!"
"This is Lord Clay's territory. You lowly creatures who can only crawl, get out of here right now! Otherwise, don't blame Lord Clay for being impolite!"
"ha?!"
Veins popped out on everyone's foreheads in unison.
"Straw hat... monkey?!" Luffy's fist hardened.
"A green...caterpillar?! I'm going to cut it down!" Zoro's hand was on the hilt of his sword, his eyes filled with terror.
"Moldy...oranges?!" A demonic phantom seemed to appear behind Nami.
"A smiling bastard?" Viktor narrowed his eyes, his smile widening.
Usopp was still angry, but when he looked back at his companions' expressions, which seemed to suggest they wanted to destroy the world, he instantly calmed down and swallowed.
"This bird... messed with the wrong person."
At this moment, Camon looked at the crow and said through gritted teeth:
"It's this one! This strange bird suddenly appeared on this island a few years ago."
Taking advantage of its ability to fly, it seized the top of the pillar and claimed the treasure I was guarding for itself!
"Oh, it's a bird thief."
Luffy lowered the brim of his hat, obscuring his eyes, and his tone became serious.
"Ah, Uncle Camon, don't worry. I'll help you deal with this thief and get the treasure back!"
After saying that, Luffy took a few steps back, stretched his arms out behind him, and grabbed the top of the towering stone pillar.
"Rubber-Rocket!!"
"Whoosh!"
Luffy shot straight into the sky like a stone launched from a slingshot.
Clay, suspended in mid-air, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes. This monkey can fly?
"Hmph! You're courting death! Take this blow from Lord Clay!!"
Clay suddenly opened his sharp beak, took a deep breath, and let out an extremely piercing, high-pitched scream at Luffy who was flying towards him.
"Gah—!!!"
The tangible sound waves exploded in the air like ripples.
"Hmm!"
Luffy, who was the first to be hit, felt a sharp pain in his eardrums and his body froze in mid-air.
He was actually propelled down by the powerful sound wave and crashed heavily back to the ground.
"Ah! My ears! I'm going deaf!!"
The crowd below immediately covered their ears, and Nami complained loudly, "That damn crow is so noisy! Its voice is awful!"
Viktor looked at the smug crow in the sky, his interest growing even stronger.
"This attack method... can not only speak, but also release sonic attacks."
"Did this crow eat a Devil Fruit?"
If that's the case, then this bird is extremely valuable.
"call."
Viktor's leg muscles were tense, and he caught Luffy the moment he landed, deflecting the impact.
Without pausing, he transformed into a black lightning bolt, speeding across the surface of the vertical stone pillar.
With a few quick steps, he precisely stepped on the protruding stones and climbed to the top of the pillar in the blink of an eye.
The space at the top of the pillar wasn't large, and sure enough, five rusty treasure chests were neatly arranged there.
Next to the treasure chest, however, was a rather large bird's nest made of twigs and feathers, which was haphazardly built.
It seems this crow has truly made this its home.
"Huh?!"
Clay, who was about to continue his taunts, stared wide-eyed at Victor, who suddenly appeared in front of him, his jaw nearly dropping in astonishment.
"Why are you running so fast?! Are you a monkey?!"
Once it realized what was happening, it immediately opened its mouth wide, preparing to unleash the sonic attack again.
"Instantaneous Movement Technique".
Victor gave a cold laugh, naturally not giving it a chance to cast the spell.
With a flash, Victor appeared directly in front of Clay, his hand gripping Clay's open beak like an iron clamp, forcibly interrupting the spellcasting.
"Waaah!"
Then, Victor used his arm to pull it down from the sky and slam it hard onto the hard rocky ground.
"Bang!"
"Gah—!"
Clay was so struck that he saw stars and felt like his bones were about to fall apart.
"Ouch...you damn reptile...I'm going to..."
"Take it!"
A sharp kunai, gleaming coldly, was deeply embedded in the rock next to its head, only 0.01 centimeters away.
Klein's arrogant words caught in his throat, and cold sweat poured down his back.
"Sir! Sir, spare my life!!"
Its attitude made a complete 180-degree turn.
"Take it!"
Another kunai was inserted into the other side of its head, shaving off a few black feathers.
Clay was so frightened that he kicked his legs and fell to the ground, trembling and shouting with tears in his eyes:
"Sir! I was wrong! I was really wrong! You can have this place!"
"I'm leaving right now! Please spare my life! I'm still young, I don't want to die!"
Victor reached out and grabbed it by the neck, lifting it up and turning its head toward the boxes.
"You ate what's in here?"
Clay dared not lie, nodding like a chick pecking at rice:
"Yes, sir! A few years ago, I happened to pass by here and saw a strange-looking fruit. I was so hungry at the time that I ate it..."
"Sir! Please spare me! I'll never do it again!"
Just as I expected.
Zoan type or Paramecia type?
Viktor thought to himself, his smile growing even more "friendly".
"You can live if you want. But get out of here, okay?"
"Leave? Does the old man mean... leave this place?" Clay was taken aback.
"Yes, come out to sea with me."
Klein's tiny, beady eyes darted around rapidly.
This guy wants to make his great Lord Clay a pet?
Are you kidding me!
It is a noble "sky overlord", how could it submit to humans who can only crawl!
But this human is too powerful. A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle... I'll agree for now and find a chance to escape once we get to the sea!
Thinking of this, Clay immediately put on a fawning expression:
"Gurgle! Good sir! It is Clay's honor to follow a strongman like you!"
[Ding! A special creature has been detected expressing a willingness to submit.]
[Congratulations, host, you have obtained an exclusive summon beast (no need to redeem): Echoing Raven.]
[Reward: 500 Ninja Points.]
Victor released his grip with satisfaction.
"Huff, huff..." Clay immediately collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, feeling as if he had just walked through the gates of hell.
Just then, a rubber arm stretched out, and Luffy finally climbed up.
"Phew... Viktor, I'm here! Huh? Is the battle over?"
Luffy stared blankly at the crow lying on the ground.
"What? The battle's over? You straw hat monkey! Want to fight?!"
Upon seeing Luffy, Clay instantly regained his arrogant demeanor.
"Ugh, what an ugly crow," Luffy commented honestly, picking his nose.
"Giggle?! Who are you calling ugly?!"
Clay was instantly enraged and flapped his wings, about to fly towards Luffy's straw hat that had been attacked.
"Luffy".
Victor ignored the silly bird and walked to the five treasure chests, opening them one by one.
It was completely empty.
He sighed, handed the five empty boxes to Luffy, and said softly:
"The box is empty."
Luffy paused for a moment, then casually flung Clay away as he charged at him.
He took the few light boxes, looked into Viktor's eyes, and remained silent for a few seconds.
"The box is empty... Uncle Camon..."
Luffy muttered to himself, then looked up and gave Viktor a bright smile.
"Then let's'steal' it! Hehehe!"
Viktor looked at that familiar smile and a smile also appeared on his lips.
The two arrived at the edge of the pillar.
Luffy took a deep breath and shouted with all his might towards the expectant green box man below:
"Uncle Camon!! Your treasure is ours now!!"
"Come and take it if you want it! Wahahaha!!"
Below.
The crowd, who had been looking forward to this, froze instantly.
"Huh?! Luffy!! What nonsense are you talking about?!" Nami exclaimed incredulously, "That's something Uncle Camon has been guarding for twenty years!!"
"Yeah, Luffy is so despicable!" Usopp also indignantly accused.
However, Camon was not as angry as they were.
He looked up at the straw-hatted boy with clear eyes atop the pillar.
He naturally couldn't believe that someone with such a pure dream would do something so treacherous.
If it wasn't for embezzlement, then there's only one possible outcome...
Camon's body trembled, and two streams of hot tears flowed down his weathered face.
"Straw Hat Boy...you're a good person!"
"Although...although I have had such a hypothesis over the past twenty years, I dare not think about it."
"I could only frantically deceive myself into believing there must be treasure there, just to keep myself alive..."
"Straw Hat Boy! It's empty inside, isn't it! Waaaaah..."
As he spoke, the old pirate who had held firm for twenty years finally let down his guard and burst into tears like a child.
On top of the column.
"Huh? Were we exposed?"
Luffy scratched his head, a little embarrassed, "Looks like I'm not suited to playing a villain."
"Let's go down, Luffy."
Victor patted him on the shoulder, his eyes softening.
...
The scene changes.
At this moment, the sun was setting, and the sea was dyed a magnificent red glow.
On the coast.
"Uncle, are you really going to stay here? Aren't you coming with us?"
Luffy sat on the ship's railing, looking at Camon on the shore, and asked.
Camon wiped away his tears, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face like never before.
"Yes, Straw Hat Boy. Although there is no treasure anymore, I have discovered that I have other things that are more important to protect."
He turned his head and looked at the rare beasts surrounding him, his eyes gentle:
"I've waited with these guys for 20 years, they're practically family now. I can't live without them."
"After learning that there was no treasure, although I was somewhat disappointed, I felt a sense of true freedom for the first time."
"That heavy shackle is gone, and now I can live the life I want."
Upon hearing this, everyone on the ship smiled.
"Hahaha! Really? What a pity! I was thinking of inviting you to be my crewmate!" Luffy said with a big laugh.
Are these rare beasts the most important treasure?
Viktor stood to the side and nodded slightly.
Perhaps this is the best ending for him.
"By the way, this Usopp... no, this crow, is a bit chubby."
Nami stood next to Viktor, curiously reaching out to touch Clay, who was now obediently perched on Viktor's shoulder.
"Gurgle! What did you say! You moldy orange-headed brat! This old man is strong! Strong!"
Although Clay didn't dare move, he remained defiant, yelling at Nami, "Believe it or not, I'll peck you..."
"Hmm?" Viktor turned his head and glanced at him.
"Uh... I mean, I really should lose some weight!" Clay immediately admitted defeat.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Seeing this cowardly bird that bullies the weak and fears the strong, everyone burst into laughter.
The Going Merry slowly set sail.
Goodbye, Uncle Camon!
Luffy stood at the stern of the ship, waving his arms vigorously.
On the shore, Camon watched the sailboat gradually disappear into the distance, and tears streamed down his face once again.
"Goodbye, pirates! Goodbye, Straw Hat Luffy!"
"Keep moving forward with my dream! You will definitely find it! The legendary One Piece!!"
"Go for it, Straw Hat Boy!!"
Under the setting sun, the shouts of the old man and the young man, the boat and the shore, seemed to become the most moving melody on this vast sea.Chapter 39 Echoing Raven
Inside the cabin of the Going Merry, the afternoon sun streamed through the round portholes onto the floor.
Victor was leaning back in a comfortable wooden chair with his hands crossed behind his head.
He appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, his consciousness had sunk deep into his brain.
[Current Ninja Virtue Value: 500 points]
Looking at this "huge sum of money," Viktor's mind started to race.
"I didn't expect to gain Ninja Points just by taming this silly bird... What should I buy now?"
He skillfully navigated the semi-transparent panel of the system store in his mind, his gaze sweeping over one tempting icon after another.
He now possesses the rudiments of genjutsu, fire release, taijutsu, and the Sharingan.
However, when facing a truly powerful opponent, they still lack the means to deliver a fatal blow.
"As expected, we're still missing a powerful single-target thrusting ninjutsu..."
Finally, his gaze settled on an icon flashing with lightning—
[Lightning Release: Chidori (Rank A) - Price: 2000 points].
That was one of his favorite ninjutsu in the Naruto world, and also a special technique that complemented the Sharingan.
"Tsk, still 1500 points short."
Viktor sighed helplessly, closed the store interface with some regret, and slowly opened his eyes.
The sight before him made him raise an eyebrow as soon as he opened his eyes.
On the dining table, the black raven named Clay stood proudly with its head held high.
Nami was lying on the table, holding a piece of fragrant roasted meat in her hand, luring it with a smile.
"Hey, little crow, want some?"
Nami waved the meat in her hand, "Call me master, and it's yours."
"Glug."
Clay stared at the juicy roast meat and swallowed hard.
During its time on the ship, it had been completely conquered by the food provided by these humans.
As a wild bird that had previously only eaten raw meat and fruit, it had never tasted anything so delicious before; it was as if a whole new world had been opened up for it.
But... how could the dignity of the "Sky Overlord" be easily invoked by calling a woman his master?!
Nami's attitude, which was like teasing a pet, made it very unhappy.
"How dare you mock the great Mr. Clay..."
A sly glint flashed in Klein's small, beady eyes.
"I'll steal it!!"
"Whoosh!"
Taking advantage of Nami's inattention, Clay's black figure suddenly darted forward with astonishing speed, instantly snatching the piece of meat from Nami's hand.
"Caw caw caw!"
Then it flapped its wings forcefully and flew directly into the air above the room, circling and looking down at Nami, who was baring her teeth and claws.
Seeing Nami's exasperated expression, Clay felt extremely pleased.
It seemed to have regained its dignity as the "sky overlord" of the rare beast island.
"Hmph, foolish human woman."
It triumphantly tossed the meat high into the air, then tilted its head back, closed its eyes, and opened its beak wide, ready to enjoy this delicious treat that had fallen from the sky.
One second.
Two seconds.
"Hey? Where's the meat?"
The expected delicious taste did not come.
Clay opened his eyes in confusion, before he could even react.
Suddenly, a large hand reached out, grabbed its neck, and ruthlessly pulled it down.
"Huh?!"
Clay turned around in alarm, only to be met with Victor's ambiguous smile.
The piece of meat that originally belonged to it was now being slowly tossed into Viktor's mouth, chewed a couple of times, and swallowed.
"Hmm, it tastes good," Victor commented.
"Gurgle, gurgle!! Grandpa!!"
Clay was terrified, his fur standing on end. He immediately begged for mercy, shouting, "I was wrong! I shouldn't have bullied your woman! Spare me!!"
The air froze instantly.
Victor, expressionless, reached out and slammed its talking beak shut.
"Coo coo...caw caw..."
"Who are you calling his woman?!"
A furious roar rang out.
"Bang!!"
Nami's fiery iron fist slammed mercilessly into Clay's bird head.
"Gurgle..."
Clay felt dizzy, as if the whole world was spinning. His bird head drooped limply, and he swayed like a drunkard.
Victor shook the crow in his hand to wake it up.
"Alright, stop playing dead. Let's get down to business."
Victor placed it on the table, stared at it, and asked, "Now that you've eaten a Devil Fruit, what abilities do you have?"
Clay shook its dizzy head, but the mention of abilities immediately roused it, and it proudly shook its bird head.
Then, adopting a fawning expression, he said to Viktor:
"Grandpa, Clay knows so much! I can talk to all the creatures in this sea, whether they're fish or beasts! And then…"
It took a deep breath and puffed out its chest:
"I can also unleash the roar of the'Sky Overlord'! That terrifying sound wave can scare all enemies to death!"
"Can you talk to all living beings?"
Nami, who was still angry, looked surprised when she heard this. "Then wouldn't that make him the best translator?"
Clay nodded proudly.
Viktor stroked his chin and continued, "Since you can emit sound waves, can your sound waves be used for navigation? For example, echolocation?"
Clay paused for a moment, nodded his bird head proudly, and then said with a straight face:
"No way! What is it then?"
"Smack!"
Viktor's face darkened, and he slapped it on the head with his backhand.
"Why are you nodding if you don't know how?"
"Waaah...Grandpa...can I learn it...?"
Clay held his head, looking aggrieved, and said, "Give me some time, Lord Clay is a genius."
Nami looked at the cheeky crow, rested her chin on her hand, and smiled thoughtfully, the Beli symbol in her eyes flashing again.
"How interesting this crow is."
"Such a rare beast should fetch a lot of money on the black market, right?"
"Gurgle!! Lord Clay is not a commodity!!"
Clay, startled, flew behind Viktor and peeked out, yelling at Nami:
"You greedy orange-headed bastard! I am your loyal subordinate! I am not for sale!"
"Huh?!" Nami's eyes turned cold.
"boom--!!"
Just then, a loud cannon blast suddenly came from outside, shaking the cabin and successfully diverting the two men's attention.
Zoro, who had been dozing off on the sofa, was also woken up.
"yawn..."
Zoro rubbed his eyes, yawned widely, and looked bewildered. "What's Luffy doing now? Dismantling the ship?"
"Ah!! Damn it! It's off-center!"
From the deck came Luffy's frustrated voice.
"Ah! Make way! Make way! Let Lord Usopp, the Sniper King, handle this!"
This was followed by Usopp's excited shout.
"Bang!!"
Another loud bang came from outside, accompanied by the sound of seawater bursting.
Viktor listened intently, then said with a smile:
"Looks like they're playing with the cannons on their new ship, practicing firing them."
"Wow, so energetic..."
Zoro muttered something, yawned, turned over, and went back to sleep. "Ah, as long as we don't sink the ship."
Nami sighed, looking at this group of troublesome guys.
Then, her gaze swept over the fully equipped but empty kitchen on the other side of the cabin, as if she had remembered something.
"Hey, do we need a cook, First Mate?"
Nami looked worried. "Although we have supplies, I'm the only one who knows how to cook some simple home-style dishes. Luffy just eats, and as for you guys..."
She glanced at Viktor, who only knew how to grill meat, and Zoro, who only knew how to sleep, and shook her head.
Viktor did not answer immediately.
He glanced at the sea area he was about to reach on the nautical chart and revealed a mysterious smile.
"A chef... it's definitely time to put that on the agenda."
The next member will be Sanji with the curly eyebrows, right?
and...
Viktor turned to look at Zoro, who was fast asleep, a playful smile flashing across his face.
The Baratie, a floating restaurant, is home to more than just chefs; it also houses that man—the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk.
That was Zoro's lifelong goal, and also one of the highest levels of combat power in the One Piece world.
The world's greatest swordsman...
"Gurgle! Chef! I want a chef too! I want to eat something delicious!"
Clay flew onto Nami's shoulder, completely forgetting their earlier grudge, and raised his wings in agreement.
Just then.
"Hey!! You pirates over there!! Prepare to die!!"
A loud, melodramatic roar suddenly came from the deck.
Immediately afterwards, Luffy's voice, full of curiosity and excitement, came from the deck:
"Whoa! What? Someone's here to cause trouble?!"Chapter 40 Joseph and the Fluttering Heart
The sea breeze howled, carrying with it the sharp sound of blades slicing through the air.
Johnny, a bounty hunter, roared and brought his broadsword down with a fierce slash.
However, the straw-hatted boy in front of him only swayed slightly before easily dodging to the side.
"Wow, that's dangerous!"
"Snap—!"
The blade, having lost its target, continued its momentum, striking the wooden railing behind it with heavy force.
As wood chips flew, the entire row of railings was cleanly severed, the cut as smooth as a mirror.
"Ugh! How awful!"
Luffy looked at the damaged hull, his eyebrows furrowing instantly, and cried out in distress:
"I don't quite understand what's going on, but I absolutely cannot let you damage my ship again!"
He suddenly stretched his right arm backward, extending it like a fully drawn bow.
"Rubber-pistol!"
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, Luffy's fist shot out like a cannonball, slamming solidly into Johnny's face.
Johnny didn't even have time to scream before he was thrown backward and crashed heavily onto the deck, his eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness.
"Well done, Luffy!"
Usopp, hiding behind the mast, raised his slingshot and shouted excitedly, "That's the kind of spirit we need!"
At the same time, the cabin door was pushed open, and the people inside came out.
Viktor squinted at the bright sun overhead, stretched, and said, "Ah, the weather is really nice."
Nami, standing next to him, had a dark expression on her face and complained irritably:
"Is this the time to talk about this? The fighting over there is already over!"
Zoro followed at the back, yawning widely and looking like he hadn't woken up yet.
He walked to the edge of the deck in a daze, his gaze falling on the damaged railing, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Huh? Who broke the railing?"
His gaze then shifted to the figure lying on the ground, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt with lettering.
"What...isn't that Johnny?"
Upon hearing that familiar and authoritative voice, Johnny, who had been groaning and trying to get up from the ground, shuddered.
He suddenly turned his body.
When his gaze fell upon the green-haired man with three knives at his waist, the ferocity on his face instantly turned into excitement.
"Zoro, big brother?!"
Johnny practically tumbled to his knees, his forehead pressed against the deck.
Luffy tilted his head and withdrew his arm: "What, it's an acquaintance."
"Big brother! Why are you on a pirate ship?"
Johnny looked up, his face filled with disbelief, and cried out in anguish, "Why?! You're a professional pirate hunter..."
"Never mind that." Zoro waved his hand, interrupting his howl, and glanced around.
"What's wrong? Are you alone? Isn't Joseph with you?"
Upon hearing this name, Johnny's previously excited expression instantly crumbled, and tears streamed down his face.
"Waaaaah! Big brother... please come with me!"
...
A moment later, everyone's attention focused on Johnny's small fishing boat below.
Nami turned to Viktor beside her and asked in a low voice, "What's going on? Do they know each other?"
"Um."
Viktor crossed his arms, looked at Zoro who was leaning over the ship's railing directing Luffy to move the wounded, and said with a smile:
"Perhaps he was Zoro's comrade when he was still a pirate hunter. Let's go take a look."
At this moment, the man named Joseph had already been carried onto the deck of the Going Merry by Luffy and Zoro.
Are you sick?
Zoro crouched down, looking at Joseph's pale face with a furrowed brow.
"It looks serious," Victor said in a deep voice after observing carefully.
Joseph's eyes were closed, his face was an unnatural bluish-purple, and his breathing was weak and rapid.
Johnny knelt to the side, wiping away tears as he sobbed:
"Yes...this brother."
"A few days ago, Joseph contracted some strange illness. First, his teeth inexplicably fell out."
"Old wounds from before have reopened and are bleeding uncontrollably..."
At this point, Johnny clenched his fists and said with grief and indignation:
"Just as I was taking him to rest behind that rocky mountain, a shell suddenly flew from the direction of this ship..."
Upon hearing the word "cannonball," Luffy and Usopp, who had been watching, turned deathly pale, their jaws practically dropping to the ground.
This wasn't them... before, for testing the cannons...
The two stared at each other stiffly, cold sweat pouring down their backs.
The next second, Luffy and Usopp bowed ninety degrees to Johnny in unison and shouted:
"I...I'm sorry!!"
Johnny ignored them; he was now in despair, clutching Zoro's trouser leg and weeping bitterly.
"Waaah! Joseph! Big brother! Is he going to die! I'm going to lose my brother!"
Zoro froze, completely at a loss.
He's good at killing people, but treating and saving lives is completely outside his area of expertise.
He abruptly turned to look at Viktor, his eyes pleading for help:
"Hey, Viktor! You must have a way!"
Just as Victor was about to speak, an orange figure pushed him aside first.
"Ugh, are you men all idiots?"
Nami sighed helplessly and squatted down next to Joseph.
She stretched out her fingers, skillfully pried open Joseph's mouth to look at his gums, and then tugged at his tongue to observe its color.
After confirming the symptoms, she stood up, put her hands on her hips, pointed at the bewildered Luffy and Usopp, and commanded:
"Hey you two! Go to the kitchen and get me that orange! Hurry up!"
"Good, good!" The two troublemakers were relieved and immediately turned around and rushed back to the cabin.
Seeing this, Viktor nodded thoughtfully and said softly:
"I see... Is it scurvy?"
This is one of the most common terminal illnesses among sailors at sea, and it has claimed the lives of countless sailors.
The main reason is that the long-term stay at sea and lack of vegetables and fruits have led to a severe deficiency of vitamin C.
Nami glanced at Viktor and nodded:
"That's right. If there's no delay, as long as you get enough nutrition, you'll be fine in a few days."
"Really? Big sister!"
Upon hearing this, Johnny immediately turned and knelt down before Nami, hope rekindling in his eyes.
"Will it really get better in just a few days?"
"Don't call me 'big sister'!"
Nami pushed him away with some disdain, sighed as she looked at this group of men who knew nothing but fighting.
"You guys really don't know anything and yet you dare to go out to sea."
Just then, Luffy and Usopp ran back carrying a huge pile of limes.
"Hehehe, drink more, drink more, this is delicious!"
Luffy grabbed a few oranges and, without any juicing tools, crushed them with his bare hands, causing juice to splatter everywhere.
"Ah! Luffy, you've gotten it on someone's face! It's even in their eye!"
Usopp shouted, "Let me do it! Let me do it!"
"Oh no, that's too much trouble!"
Luffy grabbed a handful of oranges and, without thinking twice, shoved them into Joseph's open mouth. "Hmm, that's faster!"
"Luffy! He's going to choke to death!" Usopp shouted, his face darkening.
"Ugh—!" Joseph, still unconscious, let out a painful groan.
Luffy wiped the juice off his hands, turned to look at Nami, and flashed a bright smile:
"Nami, thank goodness for you! Otherwise, this guy would be dead for sure!"
Nami looked at the chaotic scene, her face darkening, and helplessly rubbed her forehead.
"If you don't even know this basic common sense, you'll be dead in no time on this vast ocean."
"Hey, Viktor, what are you going to do...?"
After she finished speaking, she seemed to remember something, and her expression froze slightly.
She turned her head, glanced at Victor standing beside her with a complicated look, then pursed her lips and walked quickly into the cabin without saying a word.
Luffy scratched his head, watching Nami's departing figure, somewhat puzzled:
"Victor, did I say something wrong?"
"Idiot, it must be," Usopp said with a smug grin. "You're so rude."
"puff--!"
Just then, Joseph on the ground suddenly sat up, spat out the orange stuffed in his mouth, and coughed loudly:
"Cough cough cough! It's so sour, it's killing me! Who's trying to murder me?!"
"Ah! He's awake!" Luffy exclaimed in surprise.
"Joseph!" Johnny scrambled over to him. "Great!"
The deck was once again filled with noise and jubilation.
Victor, however, did not join their celebration.
He stood quietly in place, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on the cabin door where Nami had just disappeared.
Was it because of what Clay said earlier... or because of that fishman Arlong...?
Viktor recalled Nami's complicated look earlier and had a vague idea of what was going on.
He hesitated for a moment, but finally took a step and followed.