The night breeze was slightly cool, and the campfire crackled.
Ace's large eyes, filled with hope, stared straight at Banner.
It was as if as long as the other party nodded, this broken ship would immediately turn into an invincible battleship.
The surrounding pirates also joined in the cheering.
Although in their hearts, they were scared to death of that green monster.
But pirates... their main thing was that as long as they drank enough, they'd dare to become sworn brothers with the Emperor of Heaven himself.
"Join... you?"
The milk cup in Banner's hand shook slightly.
He pushed up the thick black-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose.
A trace of a constrained and awkward bitter smile appeared on his face.
"Captain Ace, thank you for your kindness."
"But..."
Banner turned his head and glanced at the hole in the deck behind him that looked like ruins.
Then he looked not far away at the mainmast, which was broken in half and looked miserable.
That was the "Hulk's" masterpiece from just now.
"You've seen my physical condition."
Banner pointed to his chest, his tone carrying a deep sense of helplessness.
"That guy... Hulk."
"He's like a bomb that could go off at any moment."
"I simply can't control when he comes out, nor can I control what he does once he's out."
At this point, Banner's voice lowered a bit.
A flash of pain crossed his eyes.
"This time, it was thanks to Mr. Famous Ancient Chinese Physician's miraculous medical skills."
"If I lose control on the sea next time..."
"This ship, and everyone on it, will probably suffer."
The whole place instantly fell silent.
The pirates looked at each other.
That rush of hot-bloodedness from just now cooled down a bit.
Everyone recalled the terrifying scene of that green giant swatting away a Fire Fist with his bare hands and punching through the deck.
They couldn't help but shiver in unison.
Although having a powerful partner was great,
if the first thing this partner did upon waking up every day was to dismantle the ship... then being a pirate would be way too costly in terms of ships.
The original ship's doctor, Musk, shrank his neck even more.
He whispered, "If the ship sinks, won't I, a job-changed Nurse, be out of a job too?"
The smile on Ace's face did not disappear.
He scratched his messy black hair.
He said nonchalantly, "What does that matter!"
"If the ship is broken, it can be fixed!"
"Besides, as long as everyone is together, there will always be a way!"
"Isn't the Famous Ancient Chinese Physician here too? With him around, that big guy definitely won't be able to cause any trouble!"
The "Famous Ancient Chinese Physician," who was holding a cup of tea and acting like a master,
paused slightly upon hearing this.
The corner of his eye twitched imperceptibly.
Good grief.
Are you treating me as a full-time beast tamer?
Although they are all my personas, I can't spend every day watching myself act!
Banner looked at Ace's sincere eyes.
He couldn't help but feel a bit moved.
This boy indeed possessed a charm that made people want to get close to him.
Like a warm flame.
But because of this, he couldn't agree even more.
After all.
That's not how the script is written!
Banner took a deep breath and shook his head gently.
"It's not just because of the Hulk."
He put down the milk cup in his hand.
His gaze passed over the crowd, looking towards the depths of the pitch-black sea.
As if something was waiting for him there.
"Actually, there's a reason why I'm staying on this island."
"I'm waiting for a friend."
Ace blinked a couple of times.
He even forgot to stuff the meat on the bone he was holding into his mouth.
"A friend?"
He scratched his head in some confusion.
"Since it's a friend, then just ask them to come along!"
"Just like the Famous Ancient Chinese Physician!"
Ace's brain always worked in a straight line.
In his view.
Since it was Dr. Banner's friend, they must be an interesting person.
As long as they were an interesting person, they were a potential partner for Ace.
"Bruce Banner" pushed his glasses up somewhat constrainedly.
The lenses reflected a flash of white light in the firelight, hiding the deep meaning in his eyes.
"It won't work, Captain Ace."
"This friend of mine... has a rather special identity."
Banner gave a bitter smile.
He glanced at "T-800" standing silently behind him, then at this dilapidated pirate ship.
"He is a scientist."
"And, he is currently working for the World Government."
As soon as these words were spoken.
The voices of the pirates who were still cheering instantly quieted by half.
Working for the World Government?
Wouldn't that be a mortal enemy of pirates?
First Mate Deuce frowned.
Although his body was still weak, his mind was much clearer than Ace's.
"Dr. Banner, your current identity is that of a wanted criminal. Contacting someone from the government..."
"It's fine."
Banner shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of certainty.
"Even though we've never met."
"But in the field of science, stances aren't important."
"We are soulmates."
Speaking of this.
A touch of confidence and pride belonging to a top scholar appeared on Banner's face.
That timid temperament was swept away.
Replacing it.
Was a light of wisdom that one dared not look at directly.
"We often exchange views through scientific journals."
"Just last month, I pointed out a calculation flaw in his paper on 'Lineage Factors'."
"He wrote back saying that I am the only person in this World who can keep up with his train of thought."
The whole place fell into a dead silence.
Although the pirates didn't understand what "Lineage Factors" were.
They understood the phrase "the only one who can keep up with his train of thought."
Just how big of a claim was that?
Was that friend or whatever very famous?
Ace tilted his head.
He swallowed the meat in his mouth.
"So..."
"Who exactly is that friend of yours?"
"Sounds like someone really powerful."
Banner took a deep breath.
He slowly uttered the name that was enough to shake the entire sea.
"His name is..."
"Vegapunk."
Quiet.
A deathly silence.
Only the crackling sound of the campfire burning sounded particularly piercing in the night sky.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
"Pfft—!!!"
Musk, who was drinking water, sprayed a mouthful directly onto the face of the pirate opposite him.
First Mate Deuce's eyes widened even more.
His eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets.
"Ve... Vegapunk?!"
"The man who is said to possess wisdom five hundred years ahead of humanity?!"
"The World Government's Chief Scientist?!"
Deuce's voice went out of tune.
His voice cracked like a drake having its neck squeezed.
The surrounding pirates were so scared their jaws hit the deck.
Each of them opened their mouths wide enough to fit an egg.
Even the "Famous Ancient Chinese Physician", who had always maintained the air of a master,
at this moment, he also appropriately showed a look of "surprise."
Although this surprise was entirely for show.
But it had to be said.
The effect was outstanding.
[System Notification: Congratulations host, you have obtained extreme shock from Deuce, Astonishment Value +288!]
[System Notification: Congratulations host, you have obtained terror from Musk, Astonishment Value +166!]