Chapter 185 - 43

Chapter 43Although he didn't know why he was suddenly taken out by a combo later, it did make Luffystruggle a little, didn't it?"Hmm... He's here again. He really is everywhere.""Then let's set sail immediately!"Receiving no response, and with Luffy having stopped, Nami felt her hand being tightly gripped. She followed Luffy's gaze and saw a man appear ahead. He wore a dark green coat, his expression was stern, and his black hair was casually draped behind his head. He had no eyebrows, yet he exuded an immense sense of oppression."Is, is that him?""Yes.""Who is he?""I don't know."The man didn't look like someone easy to get along with, but Luffy didn't feel any hostility from him.Although the sense of oppression was felt quite tangibly.The surroundings were already engulfed in a storm.As the man slowly approached, Nami leaned against Luffy in fear, as that was the only way she could feel some sense of security.The air around them felt exceptionally quiet and oppressive. Luffy felt the man's gaze land elsewhere—on the hand he was holding with Nami."My name is Dragon." The man introduced himself, appearing somewhat friendly.Luffy let out an "Oh" and replied, "I'm Monkey D. Luffy."Dragon fell silent for a moment. Should he praise his son for being so polite?Who taught him that?It certainly wasn't him, and it definitely wouldn't be that old man, his father."Have you never heard my name?" Dragon asked."Hmm... Someone seems to have mentioned it to me. Who was it again?""Forget it."Dragon's gaze shifted from Luffy and landed on Nami for a fleeting moment. "You have a fine partner," he said meaningfully.This remark greatly increased Luffy's favorability toward Dragon.However, he still countered, "I have many more partners like her!"One day, I'll gather ten of them!Luffy's words made Dragon fall silent again.He looked at the hand Luffy and Nami were holding, a thoughtful expression on his face.Are there many more partners like this?Perhaps in the future, they could contribute to his work with the Revolutionary Army."I wish you a smooth voyage." Dragon walked past Luffy and Nami, waved his hand, and his figure quickly vanished into the curtain of rain.From the time Luffy was small until now, Dragon had always just watched him from the shadows and left. The reason he appeared this time was because Luffy had detected him.It was indeed quite surprising.However, the bloodline of the Monkey family possessed exactly such aptitude.Dragon's goal had been achieved; he had come to see Luffy off. The East Blue was just a small stage; the Grand Line was the future.Luffy sifted through his memories in his mind. He possessed the passive skill Photographic Memory, yet there was no impression of Dragon in his mind, just a name...[Reward: Ten times proficiency in Conqueror's Haki.][Experience increased by ten.][Current situation detected. Adjusting automatically based on physical conditions. Please study with Nami within three minutes...]"Three minutes?"Luffy immediately cast Dragon to the back of his mind.He couldn't possibly discuss knowledge with Namiin this heavy rain. He had to get back to the going merry quickly. In any case, the purpose of coming to Loguetown had been achieved; he had seen the place where the Pirate King was executed and walked the streets the Pirate King had walked.Luffy hurriedly reached out his hand toward Nami."Hurry... Nami, let's go."Hearing this, Nami was slightly stunned. One of my hands is already in yours.Seeing Luffy's other hand already reaching around her waist, Nami held her breath.What is he doing?She soon found out."Hold on tight!"Luffy stretched out one arm, directly grabbing a building in the distance, and then the two of them flew up.The speed was very fast, like a trapeze artist, but this wasn't a bridal carry. Nami couldn't wrap her arms around Luffy's neck to feel secure like before, because without her chin being supported, she felt like she was about to fall.Regardless, Nami let out a scream and then clung to Luffy like an octopus....Shortly after, Smoker regained consciousness. The pattering rain quickly woke him up.He clutched his stomach, his face full of disbelief.A pirate from the East Blue had actually learned Armament Haki?That was an ability even he was still exploring.Smoker realized that there was a reason why that Straw Hat had become the pirate with the highest bounty in the East Blue, and looking at the current situation, a fifty-million bounty was still too low for him!He absolutely could not let the other party set sail.Smoker stood up and was about to give orders to his subordinates, "All forces to the port position! Do not let the Straw Hat Crew set sail!"The next second, an aura exploded behind him, and all the surrounding Marine soldiers lost consciousness."It's rare to see you in such a pathetic state in a place like the East Blue, Smoker."A low laugh sounded from behind him.Smoker instinctively reached for his weapon, but the newcomer's hand already slapped onto the other side of his weapon with a thwack.A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky at that exact moment.He saw the newcomer's face clearly."Dragon, why would a guy like you appear here?!" Smoker exclaimed in shock."Just happened to be nearby taking care of some business, and decided to see the young man off, but I didn't expect to be detected by him," Dragon said with a smile."What?!" Seeing him off was one thing, but what terrified Smoker was that Dragon's presence had actually been detected?You have to understand, Smoker hadn't sensed a single thing just moments ago.Could it be that the person Dragon said he was seeing off was that Straw Hat guy?!If that were true, what would it mean?It would mean that a pirate who had just entered the Grand Line had already mastered Armament Haki and Observation Haki?!Chapter 53: Smells DeliciousLoguetown was lashed by wind and rain.Luffy carried Nami as he sprinted all the way back to the going merry; the speed was nothing short of fast.After all, he didn't have Zoro's sense-of-direction-challenged attribute, and with the added pressure, it was like someone holding a knife against your kidneys from behind.If you didn't hurry, your kidneys would be gone.There was no one else on the ship; it looked like Zoro and the others hadn't returned yet.On the going merry, all that could be heard was the pitter-patter of the rain.Luffy didn't know what to say for a moment. Namiwas clinging to him like an octopus, the kind you couldn't shake off. Luffy also admitted that when coming back, in order to save time, he had indeed taken every shortcut possible.High up and fast; Nami was scared to death.Now he could only wait calmly for Nami to come to her senses; Luffy was already prepared to be scolded.However, waves of a delicate fragrance seemed to grow stronger along with the rain, and given the position they were in, it really couldn't be considered very graceful.Especially after having experienced Nami's fashion show in front of him, Luffy's mind involuntarily recalled some pink-hued images.[Warning...]Suddenly, Nami's pupils dilated sharply.She felt that she could get a hold on Luffy.But the price of getting that hold was simply too high!Boom!In the midst of the rainstorm, a dull peal of thunder rang out from the heavy sky, echoing on the going merry.Zoro and the others hadn't returned yet.There were only the two of them, her and Luffy, on the ship.Nami's heart was pressed tightly against Luffy's, and she could clearly feel that gradually accelerating heartbeat."Hoo... hooo..."Just as one breathing sound began to grow rapid, another voice spoke up at an inappropriate time, talking about the horizon, analyzing current weather conditions, how the climate in Loguetownwasn't suitable for setting sail, and so on.Hearing this, the expression on Nami's face gradually changed, and then she slowly raised her head from behind Luffy's neck to look at him.Sure enough, even his previously rapid heartbeat had already slowed down, and Luffy was earnestly analyzing the current situation using the nautical knowledge he had learned...Then he drew a conclusion."This kind of weather shouldn't be happening in Loguetown at this time, right?""... Right."Nami's nautical knowledge was more than a level higher than Luffy's; of course, she knew that this sudden storm looked abnormal no matter how one viewed it.But... in this situation, should your mind be filled with knowledge? Shouldn't it be about posture?Nami climbed down from him, and Luffy naturally heaved a sigh of relief, his mind continuing to brainstorm.What would have happened if they had continued just now?Now is study time!If they had continued, before even reaching the next step, in Nami's eyes, Luffy would probably have already entered a sage mode state.Thinking of that scenario made his scalp tingle. He really wanted to return to the beginning, to that shameless appearance in his memories, completely devoid of any sense of shame...It wasn't the right time, and it wasn't the right place.The price was—Nami took a bite and stomped on his foot; the small combo was incredibly smooth."... Hiss."Luffy was very depressed at being attacked for no reason.But looking up at Nami, the orange hair on her forehead sticking to her gradually pale cheeks, her white shirt clinging to her body due to the rain, revealing faint traces of the fabric underneath, showcased the girl's figure to the fullest."... You should go change your clothes first, don't catch a cold."It was rare to hear such words from Luffy's mouth. Nami's expression warmed slightly, and she said:"Before Zoro and the others return, you guard this place well for me. Don't let pirates or Marines, or any of those enemies, surround us..."Saying this, she wanted to return to her room to change her clothes.Luffy naturally agreed immediately, but he still followed Nami step by step."... Why are you following me?""This... I want to study." Luffy stared at Nami, his eyes exceptionally clear.