Chapter 7 A ship full of meat?! The dream-class luxury cruise ship "Etoile"!As the sun set, Zoro clapped his chest confidently, "Follow me, I know the way to the Marine base like the back of my hand!" He swaggered at the front, his three renowned swords at his waist gleaming in the afterglow.
However, after turning only two corners, Ron sensed something was off. This was the third time they had passed the same fish stall, and the old vendor had already given them several peculiar glances.
"Zoro…" Luffy rubbed his rumbling stomach, "Are we… lost?"
"Uh… Don't worry, I remember this place…" Sweat beaded on Zoro's forehead as he feigned composure, pointing ahead, "Just turn right at that intersection!"
Just then, uniform footsteps suddenly echoed from the end of the street.
Helmeppo strutted at the very front, followed by fully armed Marine soldiers. Leading them was the ruler of Shells Town—Captain Axe-Hand Morgan, his metallic jaw appearing particularly menacing in the setting sun.
"It's them! Father!" Helmeppo shrieked, pointing at the swords on Zoro's waist, "What that Marimo is holding is definitely a Great Grade sword!"
Captain Morgan's single eye glinted with a hint of greed. He raised a hand, signaling his troops to halt, and said gruffly, "Hand over your swords, and I can let bygones be bygones." He deliberately swung the massive axe in his right hand, "Otherwise… you know the consequences."
Luffy was about to step forward, but Ron gently pressed his shoulder. The Vice-Captain calmly took a step forward, his sea-blue cloak fluttering without wind: "Captain Morgan, as a Marine, isn't extorting people in the street a bit inappropriate?"
Morgan's face darkened, and his axe slammed heavily onto the ground, instantly cracking the flagstones with a spiderweb pattern: "Kid, in Shells Town, I am the rule!"
Helmeppo, hiding behind his father, smugly added, "If you know what's good for you, hand over the swords! Especially that black one, it looks valuable!"
Zoro's hand was already on the hilt of his sword. The demonic blade seemed to sense its master's fighting spirit, emitting a faint hum. He lowered his voice and said to Ron, "Vice-Captain, should we make a move?"
Just then, a familiar system interface suddenly popped up in front of Luffy's eyes:
[God-tier Choice System Triggered]
[Choice One: Let Morgan go. Reward: Armament Haki Advanced Experience Pack!]
[Choice Two: Covertly track and investigate. Reward: Observation Haki Perception Enhancement!]
[Choice Three: Directly defeat Captain Morgan. Reward: One pirate ship fully loaded with food!]
Luffy's eyes instantly turned into the shape of meat, and drool flowed onto the ground with a "splash": "Meat! It's a ship full of food!"
He slapped Zoro's shoulder fiercely: "Marimo, just leave this kind of thing to the Captain!"
Luffy's movements were astonishingly fast. His rubber arm drew a blur in the air. Captain Morgan hadn't even reacted when he felt his back collar grabbed by an immense force, and his entire body was lifted into the air.
"Wh-…?!" Morgan's single eye widened in shock, and his axe slipped from his hand.
His vision spun, and he only saw the straw-hatted kid grinning, his right arm stretched back like a fully drawn bowstring.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
Luffy's arm compressed to its limit, muscle fibers making a grating "creak" sound.
Zoro subconsciously took half a step back; he could feel the terrifying power that was about to be unleashed.
"Rocket!"
"Boom—!!"
The maximally compressed rubber arm shot out with astonishing speed!
Captain Morgan's robust body, weighing nearly three hundred pounds, was sent flying like a ragdoll. His Marine cloak flapped wildly in the air as his entire body traced a perfect parabola.
"Bang! Crack—"
Accompanied by the loud sound of crumbling bricks, Morgan directly smashed through the three-meter-high granite wall of the Marine base.
Amidst flying debris, his body bounced another dozen meters across the base's parade ground before stopping, plowing a deep furrow in the muddy ground.
The entire street was silent…
Helmeppo slumped to the ground, his legs trembling uncontrollably. A dark wet patch gradually spread on his expensive silk trousers, and a foul-smelling liquid flowed along the cracks in the flagstones.
"Fa… Father…" He Stammered, his lips trembling, unable to believe that his father, who was invincible in his heart, had been defeated in a single blow.
Zoro's three swords clattered to the ground. He gaped, mechanically turning his head to look at Luffy: "Hey… you guy…"
Luffy, however, had already retracted his arm and was intently picking his nose: "Huh? He flew even further than I thought."
Ron clapped lightly, a look of approval flashing in his eyes: "Good control of power. Subdued without killing. He was lucky to be left alive."
Then he looked at Zoro: "Deal with that spoiled brat over there too."
Zoro snorted: "Cutting the grass by the roots, I like it best."
Then Zoro walked step by step towards Helmeppo. As the latter kept kowtowing and begging for mercy, a cold flash of a blade passed, and he fell unconscious, defeated.
From the distant Marine base, a chorus of alarm whistles sounded. Captain Morgan, like a rag, was carried onto a stretcher by the soldiers. His metallic jaw was already askew, and blood continuously spilled from the corner of his mouth.
[Choice Completed! Reward Issued]
[Obtained: Going Merry (Improved Version) (with permanent fresh food storage)]
A gasp suddenly came from the direction of the port. A three-masted ship with a cute lamb's head carved on its bow was slowly docking. The deck was piled high with various roasted meats, fruits, and desserts, their aroma wafting across the entire town.
Ron looked at this scene, three black lines appearing on his forehead. He sighed, rubbing his forehead: "Did I choose the wrong System for Luffy…?" Despite having top-tier rewards like Armament Haki and Observation Haki, this idiot always chose the food option!
Zoro stared blankly at the luxurious ship in the harbor, then at Luffy, who was drooling and frantically running towards the port, finally turning to Ron: "Vice-Captain… is your pirate crew… always like this?"
Ron waved his hand with a resigned expression: "You'll get used to it…" He looked at Luffy's hopping figure, then suddenly remembered something and added, "Oh, right, remember to keep an eye on your swords. That kid gets so hungry he'll even gnaw on famous blades."
Zoro: "....."
As the Going Merry's whistle echoed through Shells Town's port, Luffy excitedly ran around the deck, his rubber arms constantly touching everything.
"This is great! This ship is even bigger than I imagined!"
He darted into the kitchen, and then a joyful shout came: "Big Brother Ron! Zoro! Come see! The refrigerator here automatically restocks food!"
At the same time, the system's notification sound echoed in Ron's mind:
[Ding! Detected that the host has gifted a ship to a companion, triggering a 10x return reward!]
[Obtained: Dream-class Luxury Cruise Ship "Starship" (already stored in system space)]
Ron's consciousness sank into the system space, where a giant, all-silver cruise ship was quietly docked in the virtual harbor.
The cruise ship's deck was equipped with the most advanced navigation equipment, and the cabins were utterly luxurious—training rooms, a library, a medical bay, everything was available, and there was even a temperature-controlled wine cellar.
Ron's lips curved slightly: 'This is great. Next time Luffy gets hungry and makes a choice, I can use this ship to influence his decision.'
Zoro leaned against the rail of the Merry, the sea breeze ruffling his green short hair. He gazed at Shells Town, which was gradually receding, a somewhat dazed expression on his face.
"How ironic…" He murmured to himself, "Just a few days ago, I was a pirate hunter, and now I've become a wanted criminal myself."
Ron stood beside him at some point, his sea-blue cloak flapping in the wind. "Zoro," his voice was calm and powerful, "Identity is never the standard by which one is defined."
Zoro turned his head, seeing that the Vice-Captain's gaze was as deep as the sea: "Whether Marine or pirate, what matters is acting in accordance with your true self." Ron looked out at the distant horizon, "Only with a clear conscience can one persevere to the end."
These words struck Zoro's heart like a bolt of lightning!
His sword-holding hand trembled slightly. The promise he made to Kuina flashed in his mind, and he recalled his persistence throughout his journey. After a long moment, he solemnly nodded: "I've learned a lot, Vice-Captain."
"Dinner! Dinner!!!" Luffy's shouts came from the kitchen, followed by a series of pots, bowls, and pans clattering to the floor.
Ron and Zoro exchanged glances, both showing helpless smiles. Zoro stretched his shoulders: "I'll go keep an eye on him. Don't let that idiotic Captain demolish the kitchen."
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