55: Chapter 55 The Vow Under the Moonlight and the Phoenix FireJust as the villagers were joyfully preparing to return for their feast, a lewd laugh rang out: "Hehehe, that's enough, you lot!" A sleazy man who looked like a rat stood there, grinning."Today has been incredibly lucky.You've had a good time, witnessing a spectacular battle.Although it was a coincidence, I never expected the fish-men to be defeated by you nameless pirates.But thanks to you, the money I was supposed to give to Arlong, and the treasure hidden in Arlong's Paradise, are all mine now.Everyone, put down your weapons.Your credit belongs to me, Captain Rat of the 16th Marine Branch."
Before the rat could finish speaking, Zoro lunged forward and punched Colonel Rat to the ground, saying with a grim face, "Don't dampen people's spirits just when they're having a good time." Colonel Rat said in disbelief, "You nameless pirate dare to hit me?I didn't know I was."
"What are you, a mouse?" Luffy walked forward with a smile, but that smile gave Colonel Mouse a chilling feeling."You.you.what do you want?Don't come any closer!"
Luffy, his hands clasped in Armament Haki, unleashed a barrage of punches on the rat's body, a furious onslaught of blows under the rat's terrified gaze."Ora Ora Ora Ora Ora Ora!" At that moment, Luffy seemed possessed by the spirit of Chōtaro, beating the rat into a bloodcurdling scream.When it was over, everyone couldn't help but mourn for the rat.His face was unrecognizable; what was once a rat's face had been transformed by Luffy into something even a pig would find unsightly.His body had also become noticeably fatter.Luffy, however, wore a satisfied smile and said, "This is the consequence of bullying our navigator."
But to Colonel Rat, Luffy's smiling face looked like a demon.He mumbled a harsh "You just wait, I'll be back!" and prepared to retreat with his men.Just then, Luffy called out to them, "Wait!Stop right there!" Colonel Rat turned around shakily, "Is there anything else?"
Luffy smiled and said, "It's alright.Seeing you're walking so slowly, I'll reluctantly give you a ride." Luffy then forcefully swung his hands backward.
"Rubber, rubber, rocket launcher!" Under the terrified gaze of Colonel Rat, his body shot rapidly into the sky, disappearing from sight in no time."Aa .
"Hmm, as expected of me, you flew really far (～￣▽￣)～", Luffy said narcissistically."Colonel!" the soldiers exclaimed, then their eyes widened at Luffy's devilish smile.They all shuddered and scrambled away from Cocoyasi Village to find their colonel.Luffy turned back speechlessly and said, "So what if I beat up their colonel?Was it really that big of a deal?ㄟ( ▔, ▔ "Oh dear," Zoro sighed, rubbing his forehead."Now the captain and I are going to have bounties on our heads." Usopp muttered, "Why didn't I go and kick him a couple of times?That way I'd have a bounty too, and Kaya would have seen my heroic figure." Luffy smiled mysteriously, "Put it down.I have a plan.If it succeeds, we'll all have bounties, hehehehehehehehe d=====(￣▽￣*)b." At this moment, Luffy's smile resembled that of a villain.
As evening fell, the villagers of Cocoyasi Village were still singing and dancing, celebrating their liberation.Zoro dragged Coby and the villagers into drinking, though Coby looked reluctant.Sanji was busy flirting with girls, Usopp was bragging to a group of kids, and Luffy, after finding Nami, gave her the tattoo he'd redeemed from the system to remove, then ran off to feast.Nami looked on in surprise as the tattoo representing Arlong Pirates disappeared, but remembering it was Luffy's doing, she wasn't surprised.Then, Nami seemed to have made a decision and got up to find the village doctor.Meanwhile, Luffy, still feasting, was led by Gen to a cross.Luffy calmly looked at the cross and said, "This is Bellemere's." "Nami told me about this," A-Jian said, taking a swig of wine."So you knew all along, kid.Nami's going to join your crew and become a pirate.It'll be a dangerous journey, but that's just how it is.It's okay.But if you steal Nami's smile, I'll definitely come back and kill you all." Luffy looked at A-Jian's determined face and solemnly swore, "I promise you, that will never happen." A-Jian nodded at Luffy's serious expression."Let's go back," A-Jian said to Luffy, but Luffy shook his head."You go first.I'll stay here by myself for a while." Seeing this, A-Jian had no choice but to return to the village alone.After Luffy saw him go far away, he said to the system, "Ling'er, use the summoning opportunity."
"Ding-dong, summoning.Congratulations, host, you have obtained the SR-level shikigami—Phoenix Fire."