Chapter 11: Baratie Arrival – Cannon Mishap and Iron Fist Trouble
The next morning, Kaya and Merry waited at the port to see Luffy's crew off. Usopp finally rushed over, panting, with a huge backpack. "Whew… too much stuff. Took forever to pack," he scratched his head sheepishly.
"What're we waiting for? Usopp's the last one!" Luffy called from the railing...
Usopp said his tearful goodbye to Kaya and officially joined the Straw Hat Pirates as their sniper. "Set sail, little ones!" Luffy sat on the sheep figurehead, pumping his fist....
After sailing for a while, while Usopp was stowing his gear, Luffy started doodling on a large cloth with a marker. "Hehe, everyone—look! This is my pirate flag! Pretty cool, right?"
Nami pinched her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… it could be an art piece. I've stolen similar weird but super valuable paintings before."
Sol stared at Luffy's complete lack of artistic talent and didn't even bother commenting. Zoro spoke up bluntly. "What the hell is this? It has zero pirate intimidation."
Usopp, fresh from unpacking, walked out and burst into tears of laughter. "Hahaha! Luffy, what is this scribbled mess? Don't tell me that's supposed to be our pirate flag!"
He snatched the cloth and quickly "fixed" it—sneakily turning it into a giant portrait of his own face. Zoro and Sol immediately bonked him on the head. "Don't mess with the flag!"
Finally, the real pirate flag was finished and hoisted. Exhausted, everyone collapsed on deck to rest. Suddenly—an explosion boomed nearby.
The crew jumped up, thinking they were under attack—only to see Luffy practicing with the cannon. "Weird… I was aiming at that jutting rock over there. Why'd it miss?"
Usopp walked over, adjusted the sights, and demonstrated. "Raise the elevation a bit, angle it this way, then…" Boom! The rock shattered perfectly.
As Luffy and Usopp high-fived and cheered, Sol pointed at the sea. "Uh… I think that shot just killed two people." He nodded toward two floating figures.
"What?! We're murderers now?!" Luffy and Usopp immediately steered the ship over and hauled the two aboard. One looked worse—teeth missing, old wounds reopened and bleeding heavily.
Zoro took one look. "Wait… Johnny and Yosaku? How'd they end up like this?"
Luffy and Usopp felt even guiltier—they'd nearly killed Zoro's old bounty-hunting partners.
"Please, Sol!" Luffy and Usopp clung to Sol's legs. "Heal them! They'll die otherwise!"
Nami leaned in for a closer look. The badly injured Yosaku clearly had scurvy—long-term vitamin C deficiency from sea life. "Sol, treat him after this." She shouted to Luffy and Usopp. "Go grab the lime rum from the galley!"
They rushed back with a barrel and poured it down Yosaku's throat. His color improved almost immediately.
Luffy's mouth dropped open. "Nami, you're amazing!"
Usopp gave a thumbs-up. "I always knew you were incredible!"
Nami bared shark teeth. "This is basic common sense for anyone sailing! If you idiots die, it'll be from sheer stupidity!"
Sol began treatment. Johnny and Yosaku woke up, looked around, and immediately recognized Zoro. Johnny spoke first. "Big Bro Zoro?! You're on this rookie pirate crew? Did you save us?"
Yosaku: "As expected of Big Bro Zoro—this must be your new trophy ship, right?"
"Nah," Zoro laughed. "I'm their crew now. Quit bounty hunting—became a pirate!" He introduced Luffy and the others.
"Oh… so that's how it is?" The pair were stunned. Zoro asked why they were near that rock pillar. Johnny explained, "Yosaku's teeth were loose and bleeding nonstop. We were resting there before heading to the Baratie sea restaurant for food. Then—boom—cannonball out of nowhere knocked us out."
Luffy and Usopp turned away, whistling innocently. "Yeah… super dangerous out here."
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged glances and decided to play dumb. They introduced themselves proudly. "We're Johnny/Yosaku—former partners of bounty hunter Zoro. We're pretty famous, y'know!"
When Sol heard "Baratie sea restaurant," his eyes lit up. He was tired of cooking three meals a day. "You two—lead the way."
"No problem, Big Bro Sol! Just two or three days' sail and we'll be there!" They thumped their chests confidently.
After three days and nights of sailing, a massive fish-shaped ship appeared ahead. "Big Bros Zoro, Luffy, Sol, Usopp, Nami—look! The Baratie sea restaurant!"
"Why am I 'Big Bro' too?" Nami grumbled.
A Marine warship pulled up alongside. A pink-haired Marine Lieutenant stood at the rail, eyeing the Going Merry's flag. "Never seen that Jolly Roger. I'm Lieutenant Iron Fist Fullbody, Marine Headquarters. Who's the captain of this ship? State your name!"
"I'm Luffy! The flag's brand new—we just finished it a few days ago," Luffy answered seriously.
"I'm Usopp!" Usopp tried to sneak away—only for Zoro to drag him back and punch him.
"Sol, that guy's hair is the same color as yours," Luffy said belatedly.
"Idiot! No way—his is pink! Mine's cherry blossom!" Sol shot back instantly.
Fullbody narrowed his eyes, then burst into mocking laughter when he spotted Johnny and Yosaku. "Hahaha! If it isn't the government's favorite small-time hunters! The bounty brothers who only go after weaklings for pocket change?" He spread his arms dramatically. "What—finally got sunk by real pirates?"
"You calling us small-time hunters?!" Johnny drew his sword with a shing.
Yosaku's forehead vein bulged. "Today you'll see the power of the 'Man-Slaying Duo'!"
They charged roaring—
Bang! Bang!
In two moves, they slid back face-first, swollen into pig heads with Fullbody's shoe prints stamped on their faces.
"Tch. I'm on vacation today," Fullbody adjusted his gloves slowly. "Next time, if I'm on duty…" He cracked his knuckles ominously. "…you won't be so lucky~"
Fullbody returned to his warship and waved casually. "Open fire! Sink that junk heap!"
The Marine cannons roared, shells whistling toward the Going Merry—
"Gum-Gum… Balloon!"
Luffy inflated massively. The cannonballs slammed into his rubber belly—then ricocheted back at double speed in a perfect arc—
BOOM!!
One shell smashed straight into the Baratie's upper deck. Zeff's private lounge—where the old chef was lounging with a newspaper—exploded into splinters. Smoke billowed. Zeff poked his head out the window, chef hat charred black. "Which dumbass just—?!"
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