"By the way, how did you guys end up provoking these people?" Luffy asked with a look of disdain at the nearby Einstein Pirates.
"Ugh, they really look like complete scumbags at first glance."
"Big bro! Don't start cursing them yet! There are so many of them—have you even considered the possibility that you might lose?" Usopp said anxiously from behind Luffy.
"How about... you just take us and run! If you get hurt helping us, we'd feel even worse!"
"Ahaha, don't worry, long-nose! Aside from my brother, I haven't lost many fights!" Luffy said, swinging his arms far back.
"These trash... aren't even worth my attention!"
"Hey! What's this weirdo saying?!" the pirates of the Einstein Pirates shouted, seeing this strange straw-hatted kid standing in front of their prey.
"Do you even know who we serve under? Let me enlighten you before you die—we're subordinates of the Angel Pirates! Our captain is the legendary 'Blood Rain Angel,' Yamato!"
"Even if Yamato became a pirate, she'd never spare a glance at scum like you!" Luffy's arms, stretched far back, snapped forward at blinding speed.
"Gomu Gomu no... Rocket!"
The devastating blow slammed into the lead pirate, turning him into a bulldozer's blade that plowed through the rest of the crew.
A dozen men were sent flying into the distant sea, scattering as they hit the water.
"Shishishi, that was easy!" Luffy turned back and flashed a "V" sign at the trio.
"But you guys are really weak. If you can't even handle opponents like this... can you really become pirates?"
"Wait, no—you're just ridiculously strong!?" Uta pulled out a stack of bounty posters from her waist.
"Among those you just sent flying, three had bounties over 50 million Belly!"
"50 million Belly?"
Luffy scoffed.
Though his current identity was that of a pirate combatant—part of a crew with a combined bounty of just 150 million Belly—even with his simple way of thinking, he hadn't forgotten his true identity...
He was the man who had chased Blackbeard across the seas!
A few 50-million pirates?
To the current Luffy, they were nothing but small fry.
Did they really think every pirate worth 50 or 60 million could compare to those old monsters on his crew?
"Yeah! Especially that Einstein guy leading them! He even had the potential to become a Supernova!" Uta grabbed Luffy's hands, her eyes sparkling.
"And you took them down so easily... Why don't you join our crew? Being a combatant is boring—how about becoming my vice-captain instead?"
"Hah? Why would I join you? Don't you have your own people?" Luffy glanced at Kaya and Usopp behind Uta.
"So... you're the type who ran away from home to become pirates, huh?"
"Hmph! You'll be shocked when I tell you! We used to be members of the Red Hair Pirates!" Usopp immediately puffed up with pride now that the danger had passed.
"I'm the son of the famous 'Sniper' Yassop from the Red Hair Pirates!"
"Oh... Red Hair Pirates? Yassop?"
Luffy tilted his head, deep in thought for a long time.
Of course, he knew about the Red Hair Pirates, currently considered the strongest pirate crew.
He'd even encountered Red Hair himself a few times at sea.
That man always looked at him with this inexplicably proud expression... as if he knew him.
"Then why are you so weak?"
There was no mockery in Luffy's words—just genuine curiosity.
But that simple question pierced straight through Usopp's heart, sinking him instantly.
"Sorry for being such a weakling!"
Uta's eye twitched.
If they hadn't grown up together, she would've kicked this long-nosed idiot...
Why so pathetic!
So what if you're weak?
Even weaklings can have dreams!
"Seriously, join us! Our Mic Pirates will definitely make a name for ourselves in the world!" Uta declared confidently.
"Don't judge me by how I was earlier... I'm no weakling!"
"Whether you're weak or not doesn't matter to me... I don't want to join a pirate crew that doesn't even have a Jolly Roger."
Just then, the massive pirate ship drew alongside them.
Compared to it, the Going Merry looked like a tiny dinghy.
Ahem... Stop arguing... We just escaped danger. Let's focus on recovering first," Kaya said between coughs. Moments later, she coughed up blood.
"Kaya!" Uta and Usopp immediately flanked her. "Are you okay!?"
"It's fine... You know this is my chronic condition," Kaya continued, her face pale. "Isn't this why we set sail? I don't have long left anyway. I'd rather die on the open blue sea than waste away in that room."
She smiled serenely.
But in this context, that smile only made it more...
Heartbreaking.
"Hey hey hey, you just said 'die,' didn't you?"
Suddenly, a voice called down from the massive pirate ship.
Looking up, they saw a man leap from the railing and land smoothly on the Going Merry's deck.
"Wh-what did you say?"
"I said... you mentioned 'dying,' correct?"
"Y-yes... Is that not allowed?" Kaya met his gaze without fear. "I believe I have the right to choose where I die."
"No, I simply want to help civilians at sea... I happen to be an excellent doctor."
"Even Hongou couldn't cure Kaya's illness..."
"Hah? Most pirate doctors—ahem—I mean, our pirate doctors usually specialize in treating injuries... not so much diseases." The man chuckled. "But I'm different. If I claim to be the second-best doctor in the world, no one would dare call themselves first."With that, he reached out towards Kaya.
"Give me your hand."
Kaya hesitated, glancing at Uta and Usopp, but ultimately extended her right hand and placed it in the man's palm.
"I haven't asked for your name yet."
"You can call me 'Golden Thief,' little Kaya."
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