72: Chapter 72 Battleship Island, The Navy's PursuitAfter Luffy's introduction, Apis also got to know and like Agumon.However, Apis was still disappointed.Although she wanted to help repay Luffy and the others, she ended up making things worse.Nami noticed Apis's mood and changed the subject, saying, "Speaking of which, why were you adrift at sea?"
Apis answered truthfully, "Actually, I escaped from a navy ship three days ago on a stormy night." Usopp was a little surprised, "From a navy ship?"
Nami said with a slightly reproachful tone, "You actually rode in that kind of small boat in a storm, you were so reckless!" Apis lowered her head in embarrassment."What kind of trouble did you get into?" Zoro, who had been resting with his eyes closed, spoke up.Seeing that everyone was puzzled, Zoro continued, "Since you were forced to escape, it means you didn't want to be a guest on the warship, right?" Luffy chimed in, "Besides, the Navy wouldn't be so idle as to deal with petty villains."
Apis buried her head in her arms, remaining silent for a long time.Suddenly, Luffy blurted out, "What?You're a big bad guy?I can't believe you're being chased by the Marines at such a young age, tsk tsk tsk." Luffy, of course, knew why the Marines were after Apis; he just wanted to tease the little girl.Sure enough, Apis instantly bristled upon hearing this."No way!How could I do anything bad?I didn't do anything bad!" Apis's voice trailed off."But I can't tell you the reason."
Seeing that Apis was unwilling to reveal her secret, Luffy shrugged."We won't force you if you don't want to tell us.You can tell us whenever you want, but you at least have to tell me where you came from."
Apis was taken aback at first, then realized, "I'm from Battleship Island." Nami, looking puzzled, took out a sea chart and began to look up the location of Battleship Island.Coby asked, puzzled, "Battleship Island, why is it called that?"
"It's called that because the island's shape resembles a warship," Apis answered Coby's question.At that moment, Nami also found the location of Battleship Island.The group realized that Battleship Island was located near the Grand Line.After Nami confirmed the Going Merry's location, everyone unanimously decided to take Apis home first.Apis said apologetically, "I know you saved me, and I shouldn't have caused you trouble, but I want to go back to the island." Then, Apis continued apologetically, "I'm sorry, I was too presumptuous.If possible, I can transfer to another ship heading west along the way and figure it out myself."
"This is really troublesome.How could any ship get so close to the pirate ship so easily?" Nami sighed helplessly."But we're not that far off in direction, and we're not in a hurry, so we'll just take you back on the way."
"Why?"
"Anyway, I don't care, what do you think, Captain?" Luffy nodded with his signature smile, and the other crew members also expressed their indifference.They were almost at the Grand Line anyway, and they were curious to see that island that looked like a warship."Really?You guys really want to take me back to Warship Island?" After receiving Luffy's affirmative answer, Apis jumped up excitedly."Great!Thank you, Luffy!" Everyone on the ship smiled as they watched the jubilant Apis, but her next words made their smiles fade: "Starting tomorrow, I'll cook lots of delicious food for you all."
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"Oh, then that's alright."
Not far from the Going Merry, a group of naval soldiers were looking around when a petty officer emerged from a building, hands behind his back."Report," he said, "ship spotted at 13 o'clock ahead, a medium-sized sailing ship with a skull and crossbones marking on its mainsail." The officer's face darkened."Pirates!They've actually ventured into Admiral Nelson's jurisdictional waters.These reckless fools must be some nobody.Ignore them."
"No, that mark doesn't belong to anyone minor.It must be Straw Hat Luffy, the guy whose bounty reached 100 million Berries on his first try."
At this moment, a soldier remembered that this was the person everyone had been talking about lately, while the owner of the voice continued, "Sending so many warships and still not finding her, it's very likely that she's already been captured by someone, let alone such a notorious pirate.Ignoring her probably isn't a good idea, Major."
The voice belonged to Eric, who immediately ordered, "Move the ship closer and stop it!" Meanwhile, on the Going Merry at the front, Nami stepped out of her cabin and sensed a strange feeling through her Devil Fruit ability.Usopp, standing on the lookout tower, saw warships approaching from behind through his binoculars and immediately shouted, "Hey, there are Navy ships coming from behind, and more than one!"
Nami ran to the starboard side of the ship and sure enough, she saw a group of Navy warships approaching them.Luffy and the others immediately ran out after hearing the commotion.When Apis saw the Navy insignia, she was so frightened that she backed away.Sanji looked at Apis in confusion, "That's the Eighth Branch's ship.I escaped from those Navy ships."
A soldier on the naval warship also spotted Apis through his binoculars and immediately reported to the major: "I see her!I see the girl on the deck!"
"What"
"Am I right, Major?" Eric continued taunting the Major, who was glaring at him angrily."Did I hurt your pride?It was only because of your mistake that she got away.If you let the clue to the elixir of immortality and the dragon bone escape, I wonder how angry Admiral Nelson would be.Main guns, prepare!We must capture that pirate ship!" Eric sneered."If Straw Hat Luffy gets caught by something like this, he doesn't deserve a bounty of 100 million Berries."
"Bang!"
Three cannonballs flew straight toward the Going Merry, and Luffy grew impatient.With a click of its tongue, it inhaled air to enlarge itself and deflected the cannonballs.The navy warship, however, refused to give up, firing six more cannonballs.Before Luffy could react, Zoro rushed forward, leaped into the air, and with two slashes, sliced the cannonballs in two.Apis stared blankly at what was happening before her eyes.She hadn't expected these people to be so powerful; even the cannonballs couldn't touch them."If it were them," she thought, "they could probably help me rescue Lord Dragon."