56: Chapter 56 Unexpected Events! The Base Full of ProblemsNaval base training ground!
On the cross, Zoro gasped for breath under the scorching sun, sweat mingling with dust as it streamed down his face.
Hearing familiar footsteps, he struggled to lift his head and saw the straw-hatted boy who had returned.He forced a smile, his voice hoarse: "It's you again.You really are.a leisurely fellow."
Luffy stood in front of Zoro, a bright and confident smile on his face, pointing to the ropes binding Zoro, and got straight to the point:
"Hey!Green algae head!I'll help you untie the ropes!So—be my partner!"
"ha?"
Zoro thought he had misheard, then scoffed, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"I'm looking for some pirate companions!" Luffy shouted, as if announcing something perfectly natural.
"I refuse!" Zoro declared firmly."You want me to willingly become a villain?Don't waste your time!"
"What's wrong with being a pirate?" Luffy asked, puzzled.
"Piracy is a crooked and evil path!" Zoro's eyes sharpened."Who wants to be one!"
"What does it matter?" Luffy waved his hand dismissively."You were known as the evil bounty hunter, weren't you?"
Zoro's eyes instantly turned cold and dangerous: "No matter what others think of me.I've never done anything I regret!No matter what.I will live on!And accomplish what I want to do!"
"Yeah?"
Looking at the unwavering conviction in Zoro's eyes, Luffy's smile widened."However.I've already made up my mind to have you as my crewmate!"
"Don't make decisions on your own, you bastard!" Zoro roared.
Luffy seemed not to hear Zoro's refusal.His gaze swept over Zoro's empty waist, and he suddenly asked, "Hey!You use a sword, right?"
Zoro was taken aback: "Of course!"
"But.your sword was taken by that stupid son of the colonel, wasn't it?" Luffy stroked his chin.
Zoro remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.
"good!"
Luffy clapped his hands, as if he had solved a huge problem, "I'll get it back for you!So.if you want your sword back, become my crewmate!"
"You.you're so mean!You bastard—!" Zoro was so angry he almost vomited blood.This was practically a blatant threat and a deal!
Ignoring Zoro's roar, Luffy turned and ran towards the gates of the Marine base, muttering, "Sword.sword.the Captain's stupid son."
"Hey!Idiot—!"
Zoro, watching the direction Luffy ran in, couldn't help but roar, "The base is in the opposite direction!It's not that way anymore—!"
Luffy abruptly stopped, scratching his head: "Huh?The other way?"
He checked the correct direction, grinned, and said, "Got it!"
To Zoro's slightly astonished gaze, Luffy suddenly pulled his legs back, like a spring fully charged with power!
"Rubber Rocket—!"
"boom--!"
A loud bang!
Luffy, like a human cannonball, crashed through the thick wall of the naval base, sending debris flying and leaving a large hole in the shape of a human, before instantly rushing into the base!
Inside the naval base, corridors extend in all directions.
Luffy stood at the chaotic "entrance," looking at the complicated passage before him, and scratched his head:
"Hmm.where's the sword?Where would the colonel's stupid son have put it?"
A sudden inspiration struck him, and he formed hand seals: "Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—!"
"Bang bang bang bang—!"
A dozen identical Luffys suddenly appeared in the corridor!
"Everyone!Split up and find the green-haired guy's sword!And that colonel's stupid son!" Luffy himself ordered.
"oh--!"
The shadow clones responded in unison, and then, like wild dogs unleashed, they raced off towards the various passages.
In an instant, chaos erupted throughout the lower levels of the naval base, filled with shouts of "Where's the sword?" and "Where's the stupid son?" as well as the sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets.
A moment later, the shadow clones dissipated, and their memories returned to their original bodies.
Luffy scratched his head: "I still can't find it.Looks like I'll have to ask someone for directions."
He looked around; the corridor was empty, and the commotion hadn't alerted the navy.
"But.why is there nobody here?"
Luffy was puzzled when he suddenly heard a commotion and shouting coming from the top floor of the base.
"Up there!"
Luffy's eyes lit up, and he gathered his strength in his legs once more!
"Rubber Rocket—!"
He shot into the sky like a cannonball, crashing through several floors, and landed precisely on the rooftop platform of the naval base's main building amidst rubble and dust!
"Boom!"
The moment Luffy landed, a crisp sound came from beneath his feet.
He looked down and found himself standing on the head of a huge, standing statue carved from hard rock—it was the statue of Colonel Monca!
Under the horrified gazes of the naval officers and soldiers on the platform—"Snap—crash—!"
Colonel Morgan's massive stone head shattered instantly, like a fragile eggshell, upon being "intimately touched" by Luffy's rubber feet.The fragments tumbled down in a chaotic crash!
The scene was deathly silent.
Colonel Monca himself was standing in the center of the platform, preparing to give a speech.But as he watched the statue head that symbolized his authority and power being crushed to pieces in front of him, his already serious and rigid face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, and the veins on his forehead bulged like a volcano about to erupt!
"You.you bastard!"
Colonel Morgan's roar shook the entire platform.He suddenly extended his massive axe-hand, pointing it at Luffy, "Grab him—!I'm going to kill this lawless Straw Hat brat with my own hands—!"
"Yes, Colonel!"
The surrounding naval soldiers, as if waking from a dream, immediately drew their swords and guns.They need to surround them.
Just then, a battered and bruised Helmeppo rushed onto the platform.He immediately spotted Luffy standing on the ruins of his father's statue, pointed at Luffy, and screamed in a tearful voice:
"Dad!It's him!He's the one who beat me up!He even said he was going to kill me!Catch him!"
Luffy also spotted Helmeppo, and a happy smile immediately spread across his face, as if to say, "I've found you!"
"Oh!It's you!The colonel's stupid son!I've been looking for you!"
Before he could finish speaking, Luffy's arm stretched out like a rubber whip and grabbed the terrified Helmeppo by the collar!
"Come with me!"
Luffy laughed loudly, grabbed the screaming and struggling Helmeppo, and sprang backward like a nimble ape, leaping directly off the edge of the rooftop platform.He crashed through the window on the lower level again and disappeared into the building!
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