Chapter 2: Target Nami!And his next targets were already on Luffy's list:
Kaya, the sickly but kind-hearted girl from Syrup Village, possessing a talent for medicine; Princess Vivi from Alabasta, with remarkable leadership skills; Conis, the angel from Skypiea, who might grant him the unique abilities of Skypiea…
In the more distant future, there's Boa Hancock, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea; Nico Robin, the archaeologist; Rebecca and Violet from Dressrosa; even the distinctive daughters of the Big Mom Pirates…
Names and faces flashed through his mind.
They were no longer simply female characters, but treasures waiting to be harvested.
Luffy intended to bring them all under his control, precisely maintaining their favorability at that "50" mark, then absorbing their power for his own use.
This had nothing to do with emotions; it was simply a meticulously calculated plunder.
"The Pirate King?"
Luffy raised his hand, covered in Armament Haki, and slowly clenched it towards the rising sun.
His black fist seemed to want to grasp the sun itself.
"I will get those positions, because they are the most prestigious medals in my plan."
"But what I want... is far more than that."
Luffy wanted to become the true ruler and plunderer of this sea.
Emotions and hearts would be measured by him! They would be controlled by him!
He turned, his straw hat tracing an arc in the morning light. The windmill village below was beginning to awaken, wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys.
Makino's tavern should be open by now. Time for one last "emotional regulation exercise," and a goodbye.
He'd gently lower her affection level a little more, perhaps to 65?
Then, it was time to set off.
The East Blue was small. Luffy's ship was already prepared—not a large sailing ship requiring multiple crew members, but a small, specially modified straitjack boat.
The boat was constructed from lightweight yet sturdy wood he found in the mountains behind the village, and the canvas was specially made, giving it a speed far exceeding that of ordinary small boats.
More importantly, the boat was designed so that only one person needed to fully control it.
Luffy didn't need true crewmates; at least until he gained sufficient power, he only needed tools and his collection of beautiful women.
Food, fresh water, the Log Pose, and some Berries were all stocked up.
His nautical knowledge?
For the past eleven years, Luffy hadn't just focused on physical training. He had thoroughly studied every nautical bookhe could find in Windmill Village, including the journals left by old sailors in Makino's tavern.
Books & Literature
While not as gifted as Nami, his powerful memory and comprehension, combined with systematically learned theoretical knowledge, made it more than capable of navigating a small boat across the East Blue to find Cocoyasi Village.
Luffy stepped off the cliff, his steps steady.
Eleven years of dormancy and honing his skills had worn away all his naivety, leaving only a burning ambition.
As Luffy passed the village entrance, he saw the enormous windmill, slowly turning in the sea breeze.
In his childhood, this windmill symbolized peace and his hometown; now, in his eyes, it was merely a coordinate point soon to be left behind.
The tavern door was open, and warm light and the aroma of food wafted out.
"Luffy? So early today?" Makino, wearing an apron and wiping the bar, smiled gently at the figure in the doorway.
Eighteen-year-old Luffy was tall and handsome, no longer the snotty-nosed brat he once was, but his eyes…
Makino always felt that there was something hidden deep in Luffy's eyes that she couldn't understand.
"Good morning, Makino-neechan." Luffy walked in, a sunny smile on his face.
He sat down at the bar with practiced ease, telling Makino to order a special breakfast, a generous portion.
"Going to train in the back mountains again? You should relax sometimes. The village chief said yesterday that you've almost destroyed all the rocks in the back mountains." Makino turned and went into the kitchen, her voice filled with concern.
"It's a habit." Luffy smiled, his fingers unconsciously tapping the wooden bar counter.
His Observation Haki subtly activated, sensing Makino's emotional fluctuations.
A mix of warmth, care, and a touch of wistful nostalgia for a child growing up… a complex blend of emotions coalesced into the system's reading: 71.
Still a bit high.
Breakfast was quickly served—a mountain of roasted meat and fried eggs.
Luffy ate with his head down, quickly but not rudely.
Luffy suddenly looked up and said casually, "Sister Makino, if I ever set sail, I might not come back for a long time."
Makino paused slightly as she wiped the glass.
"Set sail? To find Shanks? Or are you really going to become a pirate?" Her tone was full of worry.
"The Pirate King, I'm determined to be him." Luffy uttered his signature line, his tone as calm as if he were commenting on the weather.
Luffy looked into Makino's eyes and said sincerely,
"But I won't act recklessly like other pirates. I just want to see how vast this sea really is, and to see the view from the highest point.
You'll support me, Makino-neechan, right?"
Luffy needed to slightly lower her favorability.
Not by making her angry, but by demonstrating his ambition, partially transforming his deep concern for his close junior into a blessing for an ambitious junior.
The latter was more rational, and the score would naturally drop a bit.
Makino looked at Luffy, the boy's eyes firm and clear. She was silent for a few seconds, then sighed softly, her smile somewhat complicated:
"You... you've always been stubborn. Since you've decided, then go for it, but be careful."
[Current Perception: Makino 69/100 (Blessing for an Ambitious Junior)]
Good, two points lower.
Luffy thought indifferently to himself, but a brighter smile appeared on his face: "Don't worry! I'm very strong!"
After chatting for a few more minutes, Luffy stuffed the last piece of meat into his mouth, patted his stomach, and put down enough Berries.
"I'm leaving now, Makino-neechan. Thank you for taking care of me all these years." Luffy stood up and thanked her sincerely.
This thank you was genuine, although Luffy's motives weren't entirely pure.
Makino was the person who had given him the most warmth and care since he came to this world. She was the first experimental subject of his emotional manipulation, and in a sense, she was the one who allowed him to still remember what "ordinary human warmth" was like.
Although this warmth was something Luffy could measure and exploit.
Stepping out of the tavern, the sunlight was a bit blinding.
Luffy pulled his straw hat down, not glancing back at Windmill Village, and headed straight for the spot where he had hidden his small boat on the beach.
At the harbor, several early-rising fishermen mending their nets saw him and greeted him warmly:
"Hey, Luffy, going to train again?"
Luffy smiled and waved in response, his steps uninterrupted. His small boat was hidden behind a concealed reef, covered with camouflage netting.
Lifting the camouflage, he revealed the sleek, single-masted speedboat.
Luffy checked the sails, rudder, and storage compartments, confirming everything was in good condition, with ample food and water. The Log Pose steadily pointed to the approximate location of Cocoyasi Village.
He leaped onto the boat and untied the mooring ropes.
The sea breeze billowed, and the small boat glided lightly out of the reef area, heading towards the open sea.
Luffy stood at the stern, taking one last look at the receding silhouette of Windmill Village.
There lay eleven years of his memories: Makino, the village chief, the Dadan family of bandits, the port where Shanks had once stayed.
But all of that would soon be in the past.
Luffy turned, facing the boundless blue sea, and a greedy smile finally broke free from his disguise beneath his straw hat.
The wind billowed the sails, and the speedboat, like an arrow released from a bow, cleaved through the waves, heading southeast.