Confused, the group followed Reno's gaze.
Two men were walking towards them.
One wore a small red vest and a seemingly ordinary straw hat on his head. At this moment, he was grinning foolishly, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth, exuding an air of idiocy.
The other had distinctive short green hair, and most eye-catchingly, three swords tucked at his waist.
Three-Sword Style, a rarity.
The two were none other than the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, "Straw Hat" Luffy, and the swordsman, Zoro.
Reno's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had originally thought he would miss Luffy, but unexpectedly, he had run into him.
Seeing Luffy, Makino's pupils shrank slightly, and she immediately grew tense.
She clearly remembered what Reno had said in the tavern.
Makino subconsciously clenched her fists, praying in her heart that a conflict would not break out.
Along the way, Luffy and Zoro were laughing and talking.
When they were only a few meters away, Luffy also spotted Makino in the crowd.
He spoke with some surprise, "Makino, what are you doing here?!"
Makino first glanced at Reno, then smiled and replied, "Luffy, it's been a long time. Just like you, I've also set out to sea."
What?!!
Luffy tilted his head, his face full of question marks.
"Makino, you've become a pirate too?!"
Even with Luffy's carefree personality, he was shocked to hear that Makino had set out to sea.
What was going on?!
He vaguely remembered Makino once advising him that the world outside the village was dangerous and that he shouldn't become a pirate, but now...
Makino nodded silently in response.
"Makino, we should go."
Reno said with a blank expression, striding towards the village entrance.
Nami and Kaya, who had no interest in Luffy and Zoro, followed closely behind.
Makino glanced at Luffy before quickly catching up.
She was relieved to know that Luffy was fine, but she didn't want to linger here.
Luffy scratched his head, wondering when Makino had become so strange.
With a determination to get to the bottom of it, Luffy's figure flashed, blocking Makino's path as he pressed, "Makino, what's really going on?!"
"Get lost!!!"
An extremely impatient, cold voice rang out.
Reno stared coldly.
Luffy looked at Reno and frowned, "Hey, what's with this guy?! I was just..."
Buzz~
There was no point in talking further.
A terrifying pressure burst forth from Reno's body, instantly enveloping Luffy.
A pressure like a mountain suddenly descended, causing Luffy's body to sink as his face became contorted.
"Luffy!!" Zoro's expression changed, and he instantly drew his sword.
Just as his hand touched the hilt, an invisible force swept over him.
Like Luffy, Zoro's movements froze instantly as he struggled to resist the immense pressure.
Buzz~
The steadily climbing pressure seemed to drain the color from the world.
Usopp's face was filled with horror as he collapsed to the ground, pale.
No... I was here the whole time, did I miss something?!
Luffy and Zoro's minds went blank.
Their heads were buzzing.
Reno looked at Luffy indifferently. Although annoyed, he had originally intended to ignore him.
But the guy was annoyingly persistent, so who else was there to teach a lesson?
Then, he looked at Zoro.
To be precise, he looked at the Wado Ichimonji, one of the Great Grade Swords, in Zoro's hand.
He happened to be in need of a decent weapon right now.
Perhaps the Wado Ichimonji wasn't the most suitable for him, but it was much better than the one he was currently using.
The sword he was using now was a piece of junk he had picked up from a pirate ship.
The quality was too poor.
At that moment, a burst of power erupted from both Luffy and Zoro.
Especially Luffy, it was as if an invisible power within his body was about to awaken.
"Hmm?!" Reno glanced at Luffy. An explosive power-up at any time?!!
He wouldn't give him the chance.
Reno's eyes sharpened. With a longsword in hand, he swung directly.
Swish~
Swish~
Several flying slashes cut through the air with a whistling sound, striking both of them directly.
Two cross-shaped, gruesome wounds suddenly appeared on Luffy and Zoro's chests. The force erupted, and the powerful impact instantly sent them flying.
Blood splattered on the ground.
At the same time, Reno's figure vanished, and before the two could hit the ground, he struck them with his palm.
Luffy and Zoro's eyes rolled back, and they fell unconscious.
Reno, with no emotion in his heart, glanced at the two and stored the Wado Ichimonji in his system inventory.
He had no killing intent towards Zoro. The only reason he didn't kill Luffy was entirely because of Makino.
Perhaps his place in Makino's heart surpassed Luffy's, but she had watched Luffy grow up, after all.
Teaching him a lesson was one thing, but if he really killed Luffy in front of Makino, she would break down.
That was not something Reno wanted to see.
Besides, from beginning to end, Reno had never considered Luffy a threat.
Such severe injuries were enough to keep the two of them recuperating here for some time.
They wouldn't be meeting again anytime soon.
Makino sighed softly and said to the terrified Usopp, "I'll have to trouble you to take care of them for a while."
"Okay," Usopp subconsciously agreed.
Makino then took Reno's arm and said gently, "Let's go."
Reno nodded with a smile.
Nami and Kaya, hand in hand, quickly followed.
Only after Reno's group had left did Usopp gradually recover from his shock.
He immediately slapped his forehead and said with regret, "Wait, what does them being injured have to do with me? Why the hell did I agree to that?!"
Damn it.
Kaya had left, and his request to join the crew had been rejected.
And now he was burdened with two more people.
Usopp struggled internally, but in the end, he didn't have the heart to leave the unconscious Luffy and Zoro there.
He carried them both home and began to care for them diligently.