Loguetown, Marine Branch Base.
Luo Chen led Nami, Nojiko, and the Straw Hat crew swaggering into the Marine base.
In front of everyone, he took all the money from the base.
Outside the base, Luo Chen snapped his fingers.
Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence.
The Deep Forest Emergence he could currently muster was far from Hashirama Senju's level, but it was enough to destroy a Marine base.
The main buildings were destroyed by the large trees, and in a short while, the entire base was transformed into a forest. The ruins of the buildings collapsed amidst the trees.
Luo Chen glanced at the hiding media reporters in the surroundings and turned to leave.
It seemed that it wouldn't be long before the events of Loguetown spread throughout the seas.
'Sengoku, Onigumo, destroying a branch base is just the beginning.'
'You will surely regret the decision you made that day.'
Luo Chen said to himself.
...
An hour later, everyone returned to the Going Merry, once again setting sail for the Grand Line.
Nojiko chose to stay in Loguetown. She didn't want to travel with Luo Chen, worried she would be a burden.
Nami didn't try to persuade her either.
After all, going out to sea was extremely dangerous. Not only would they encounter pirates, but they would also face pursuit from the Marines.
Before leaving, Luo Chen, Nami, and Nojiko held a simple sea burial for Genzo. Given their circumstances, it was all they could do.
The Going Merry gradually sailed away from Loguetown.
Only then did the reporters hiding on the shore dare to show themselves, taking pictures of the departing ship.
They discussed excitedly among themselves.
"The Marine branch base in Loguetown was actually destroyed!"
"That 80-million-Berry wanted man, Luo Chen, is a ruthless one! Killing a Rear Admiral, hanging the Marines up for public display, destroying a base... he's slapping the Marines right in the face."
"The Marines will definitely hunt him down like crazy. I really don't know how long Luo Chen can last."
"Big news! This is big news! Today's news is just too shocking!"
"..."
...
On the deck of the Going Merry.
Luo Chen opened the black leather suitcase in his hand. It was filled to the brim with Berries.
'System, deposit.'
[23 million Berries have been deposited, obtaining 2,300 Cultivation Points.]
Twenty-three million Berries was all the money the Loguetown Marine base had.
From what he remembered, Smoker was an upright person and was never corrupt. If Loguetown wasn't the most important Marine base in the East Blue, the amount of money might have been even less.
After the deposit was complete, Luo Chen once again handed the money over to Nami for safekeeping.
She accepted the suitcase with delight, her voice sweet as honey. "Luo Chen, you're so good at making money."
With Genzo buried and their successful departure from Loguetown, Nami's mood had brightened considerably.
Seeing her so happy, Luo Chen suddenly remembered something.
His Wood Clone hadn't delivered Dragon's fifteen hundred million Berries to him yet.
He had communicated with the Wood Clone earlier. Of the fifteen hundred million, the clone would keep one billion to develop its own power base in Loguetown. The remaining five hundred million would be given to Luo Chen's main body to buy a ship and supplies in the future.
Luo Chen quickly had Luffy stop the Going Merry, letting it drift on the sea to wait.
Everyone was very curious as to why they had suddenly stopped.
Luo Chen explained, "I made some money back in Loguetown. Someone will be delivering it to us soon."
He believed his Wood Clone was paying attention to his movements and would deliver the money soon.
Hearing that it was about money, Nami's big eyes lit up. She asked curiously, "How much?"
Luo Chen smiled. "Not much, only five hundred million Berries."
"How much?!" Carina shrieked.
Nami pursed her lips and smiled. "Five hundred million, huh? That's not bad. But it's the biggest haul we've had besides the one from Arlong."
Carina's eyes were red with jealousy.
Just how much wealth did Nami and the others have?
Counting this five hundred million and whatever treasure they got from Arlong, wouldn't it be over a billion?!
"I've been stealing in the East Blue for almost ten years, and I haven't even saved up a hundred million," Carina pouted, aggrieved.
She grabbed Luffy by the collar in a fit of envy and jealousy, shaking him back and forth.
"Luffy, look at how good Luo Chen is at making money! Ever since I got on your ship, all I've done is spend money!"
Luffy grinned nonchalantly. "What's the use of money? You can't eat it."
Carina sighed.
Talking to Luffy about money was like trying to flirt with a blind man.
She let go of his collar and sighed. "Five hundred million Berries could buy the meat for several ships, and it could also buy one of the 21 Great Grade Swords, and you could find a lot of beautiful women..."
In an instant, the eyes of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji lit up.
But then they dimmed again.
The five hundred million Berries belonged to Luo Chen, not them.
Carina seemed to be talking to herself. "If only we could be in the same pirate crew as Luo Chen. He's so good at making money, he must be very rich."
The eyes of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji lit up again.
Luffy, as if remembering something, excitedly stretched his neck until his face was right in front of Luo Chen's and said with excitement, "Luo Chen, do you want to join us?!"
Carina, Usopp, and Sanji immediately looked expectant. They had been thinking the same thing. Even Zoro's eyes showed a hint of anticipation.
Luo Chen smiled and shook his head. "No, I plan to form my own pirate crew in the future."
Luo Chen's goal was clear.
First, he had to kill Onigumo to settle the blood debt of Cocoyasi Village and clear his name from the false accusations. This would inevitably lead to a fight to the death with the Marines.
Luo Chen wanted peace and quiet, and he also wanted to make money to become stronger to deal with the chaotic times ahead.
Therefore, he needed to become an existence on the level of the Four Emperors. The Marines would not dare to provoke any of the Four Emperors without a good reason. Only by becoming a power on the level of the Four Emperors could he make the Marines wary and stop their pursuit of him. Moreover, by establishing a Yonko-level force, Luo Chen's speed of accumulating wealth would surely be several times, or even dozens of times, more efficient than him earning money on his own.
Luo Chen's goals were completely different from those of the Straw Hat crew; they could not walk the same path.
Luffy and the others were clearly disappointed.
Luo Chen smiled. "We should still be able to travel together for a while."
He had two destinations in mind upon entering the Grand Line.
One was to go to Alabasta and "borrow some money" from one of the Seven Warlords, Crocodile.
Crocodile had established Baroque Works for many years, attempting to find the Ancient Weapon Pluton while also trying to overthrow the government of Alabasta. He must have accumulated a large amount of wealth to support the operations of Baroque Works.
The second was to go to Water 7 and build his own pirate ship.
To establish a Yonko-level pirate crew, a top-class pirate ship was essential. Luo Chen was not short on money, and Water 7 was probably the best shipyard.
Both locations were on the Straw Hat crew's sailing route in the original story.
Hearing this, Luffy and the others did not try to persuade him further.
Everyone has their own ambitions, and they respected Luo Chen's wishes.
At this moment, Luffy asked curiously, "Luo Chen, back in Loguetown, how did you manage to hit that smoke-man? No matter how I attacked, it was useless."
As he spoke, he swung his arms like a windmill, his face full of frustration.
Zoro and Sanji also had looks of inquiry in their eyes.
At that time, Luo Chen had taken Smoker out of the fight with a single kick, which had left them dumbfounded.
Could elementalization also be countered?
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]