"Next step? I plan to find a ship first!"
Luffy started counting on his fingers, "Then, I'll find companions. Hmm, about ten should be enough, and there absolutely must be a Musician!"
"As a pirate, how can you not sing pirate songs?!"
Luffy's obsession with a Musician was quite deep; he kept talking about it from early on until it was finally realized at Thriller Bark.
"The idea and plan aren't a problem, but..."
Link spat out a fruit pit, "We need to leave here first, and..."
Boom!!
"It seems we have to deal with some trouble first."
"Koby~!"
A rough female voice, drawn out like glass scraping the ground, echoed through the area.
Hearing this sound, Koby shivered instantly, his face filled with dread and fear.
"I said, for such a long time, why was there no movement below."
Thud!!
A giant spiked club landed, a dull thud that heavily struck Koby's heart.
"So you colluded with outsiders and conspired here!!!"
The Great Pirate Alvida, with a pockmarked face, short legs, and an extremely fat and squat body, yet an unusually large physique that looked very incongruous, made her appearance with an iron club!
After appearing, her small, not-very-intimidating eyes glanced around.
Then they paused slightly on Link.
"There's also such a handsome young man."
Indeed, after Link's transmigration, for some unknown reason, he had also reverted to his youthful appearance of eighteen.
Moreover, his skin and face, enhanced by the transmigration, had seen a sudden increase in handsomeness, making him arguably one of the most beautiful men of his time.
Even Cavendish, the white horse of this Pirate King world, was slightly inferior compared to Link.
Only such a handsome man can be worthy of my identity as the most beautiful woman in the East Blue!
This thought suddenly popped into Alvida's mind.
"No, no!!"
Hearing Alvida's words, Koby, whose body was trembling with nervousness, instinctively and quickly retorted, and his useless demeanor earned him a punch from Luffy on the top of his head.
"Koby, the most beautiful woman in the East Blue is..."
Alvida, wanting to show off her charm and power in front of Link, was saying her catchphrase.
However, before she could finish her chanting spell, she was mercilessly interrupted by Luffy:
"Who is this rude old hag?"
Luffy asked earnestly, making Koby behind him and the pirates on the deck above gape.
"Old hag?"
Link also feigned confusion, glancing at Alvida and kindly reminding him:
"Hey, Captain, she's clearly quite old; we should call her an elder."
Elder... The pirates on the deck were so scared they rolled their eyes.
"An elder? Eh? Is she really that old? I can't tell at all, but I also can't tell her actual age~"
Luffy, who believed whatever anyone said, felt that was amazing, and then remembered the etiquette Makino had taught him when he was a child.
He immediately stood properly and apologized earnestly, "I'm sorry, Obasan."
His tone was very sincere.
Obasan... killing with words, Link almost couldn't help but laugh.
"You two..."
Cross marks appeared on Alvida's forehead, and her teeth gnashed in anger.
"I'll make you pay!!"
This back-and-forth, like a crosstalk performance, made Alvida's murderous intent surge.
That monkey-like straw hat guy, I will definitely chop him into eight pieces!
And the other one, what if you're handsome?!
I will definitely... Hmm, no need to rush to kill; I'll defeat him and then slowly adjust him to see!
"Let's go!"
Luffy chuckled twice, and seeing the spiked club attack, he didn't want to waste more effort in this cramped space.
He immediately grabbed Link and Koby, one in each hand, and leaped onto the deck above.
Boom!!
Alvida, charging forward like a wild boar, leaped out along with them.
Then, under Luffy's seemingly mocking but actually guiding speech, Koby regained his dream of becoming a Marine.
And recalling the grievances and suppression of the past two years, which he had muddled through, he finally turned his grief and indignation into courage, cursing Alvida: "Fat pig!!" "The ugliest woman in the East Blue!!"
These words made Luffy laugh heartily, and also made veins pop out on Alvida's forehead.
"You've got guts, Koby!!"
Laughing in extreme anger, Alvida once again raised her spiked club high.
Luffy also grinned, immediately striking a combat pose.
However, an arm suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Wait a moment, Captain?"
Link reached out to block him, "If we have to bother the Captain with everything, then what are we crew members for?"
"Leave this old hag Obasan to me~"
"To you?"
Although Luffy was a bit puzzled, out of unconditional trust in his comrade, he still lowered his arm.
Are you okay?"