On the first day of the voyage, Zoro experienced what his companions' belated "love" truly meant.
His training volume doubled, and the number of beatings he took doubled too.
The key was that during combat training, Can Yue no longer suppressed his strength and even had Luffy and Sanji join in.
The outcome, naturally, was that Zoro got beaten fucking badly.
Didn't you say it would be fine once I got stronger? You went back on your word!
That was Zoro's final thought before passing out today.
Sanji felt inexplicably happy whenever he beat up Zoro.
But when Can Yue put him on the training schedule, his face immediately darkened.
Can Yue calmly asked, "You think the training load is too much?"
"This is not too much? Ten thousand push-ups, ten thousand sit-ups, twenty thousand squats, unlimited standing vertical jumps, but the total jump height has to reach ten thousand meters. And I still have to cook for all of you!"
The more Sanji thought about it, the more he regretted coming aboard. The worst part was that he could not even run away now.
Can Yue had said that if he dared run, he would break all three of Sanji's legs.
Based on Sanji's assessment of the gap in strength between himself and Can Yue, if he ran, his happiness would definitely be gone.
And if he failed to finish, he would not be allowed to speak to Nami for three days.
If he got caught once, he would get beaten up and end up worse than Zoro, who was currently lying on the ground covered in lumps.
Bastard. Once I can beat you, I'll settle this score. For Miss Nami, I'll give it everything I've got. And so I can keep Zoro down too.
At this point, Sanji, who had only just joined the ship, often found Zoro irritating, and the two had "sparred."
But because Zoro had grown stronger, Sanji was currently the one suffering more losses.
Thus, there was one more person on the Going Merry training like his life depended on it.
As for Usopp, he was still required to shoot birds every day, at least three of them.
As for Nami, aside from physical training, she had an additional course—staff fighting.
Meanwhile, in Loguetown, East Blue.
"Captain Smoker, something big happened!"
Smoker, who had been reading the newspaper, exhaled a cloud of smoke and turned toward the marine reporting to him.
"What is it?"
"Captain Hody sent word from Headquarters. The Krieg Pirates have been completely wiped out!" The young marine's voice trembled from excessive excitement.
Smoker frowned and briefly recalled the Krieg Pirates.
"Didn't they sneak into the Grand Line while I was away?"
The young marine hurriedly explained, "Apparently, Hawk Eyes nearly wiped them out in the Grand Line. Their remaining members returned some time ago, including their leader Krieg and fleet commander Gin."
Tashigi, standing beside Smoker, immediately understood the implication.
"You mean that after returning to East Blue, they were wiped out despite having both their captain and fleet commander?"
Smoker naturally understood the meaning behind the marine's words as well.
"Where were they wiped out? Who did it?"
The young marine stood straight and stammered, "The Sea Restaurant Baratie. The Straw Hat Pirates."
Tashigi drew in a sharp breath and analyzed calmly. "It is understandable that the Straw Hat Crew could defeat the Krieg Pirates. After all, they defeated Buggy."
"Question one: why would the Straw Hat Crew annihilate the Krieg Pirates? That does not fit the behavior we know of them.
"Question two: why had they already reached Baratie without us knowing anything?"
"Could someone have helped conceal them?"
Not only Tashigi, but Smoker also began to frown.
"Contact Hody. Tell him to report everything he knows!" Smoker ordered directly.
Five days passed.
In the waters of East Blue, the Going Merry slowly advanced under the influence of ocean currents and sea winds.
Feeling the familiar flow of air, Nami's heartbeat gradually quickened.
Cocoyasi Village... we're almost there.
Her past experiences surfaced uncontrollably in Nami's mind.
For nearly an entire day, the girl who usually laughed and played around with the Straw Hat Pirates did not show a single smile.
The others naturally sensed Nami's sadness and discomfort.
Luffy walked over carrying a giant bone-in chunk of meat bigger than two of Nami's heads, grinning all the while.
"Nami, eat! You'll be happy after you eat it."
Despite his bruised face, Zoro gave Luffy a look of disgust. Limping over toward Nami with a bottle of liquor, he said,
"Nami, don't listen to that idiot. If you feel bad, drink. I'll have a couple with you."
As he spoke, he pulled two cups from his chest and prepared to pour the liquor.
Seeing this, Sanji shouted, "Moss Head, put that crappy booze away!"
Then he walked toward Nami carrying two glasses of what looked like very high-end "drinks."
When Zoro saw Sanji approaching with the "drinks," he looked disdainful.
"Adults should drink liquor. You're way too childish for a cook."
Sanji forcibly suppressed his annoyance, shot Zoro a vicious glare, then immediately put on a smile and gave Nami a gentlemanly bow.
"Miss Nami, such crude liquor is unworthy of you.
"I specially mixed this cocktail for you just now—the Pink Lady. It has a refreshing taste.
"After a moment, you'll feel happiness rushing from your stomach straight to your brain."
Hearing it was a new drink, Zoro immediately cut in. "I'll taste it first."
As he spoke, Zoro reached out, only for Sanji to stop him with a kick.
Watching the three of them, Nami let out a laugh, though tears still glimmered at the corners of her eyes.
"Thank you for worrying about me. Really... just let me be alone for a while."
The three could only tell Nami that there was nothing she could not overcome, and that everyone on this ship would help her.
As the three of them left.
"Hey, cook, hurry up and give me one of those two cocktails."
"Hah? You look that ugly, yet you sure dream big."
"Huh? Are you asking for a beating?"
"Come on!"
Then came a loud round of crashing and banging.
Afterward, Nami sat on the deck at the bow, and her heart no longer felt quite so oppressed.
Can Yue had been organizing his thoughts in the cabin below deck, but the commotion caused by those two idiots on deck disturbed him.
After coming out, he saw the sorrowful Nami.
Can Yue wanted to show concern, but he did not know what to say.
After a moment of silence, Can Yue entered the forward gun deckhouse and carried out Chouchou, who was gnawing on a bone.
"Chouchou, go keep her company."
After hearing that, Chouchou tilted his little head as though thinking, then trotted over to sit beside Nami.
Nami naturally saw what Can Yue had done and softly said, "Thank you, Can Yue."
Can Yue nodded slightly. Having no idea how to comfort a woman, he finally forced out a sentence.
"The Arlong Pirates can be wiped out with a wave of my hand. Don't worry!"
"Mm!"
Meanwhile, Usopp came out holding a connectable metal rod.
"Nami, I've finished your new weapon."
Nami took the new weapon, a freely connectable metal rod with a blade at the front that could extend and retract at will.
Strictly speaking, this weapon was now more like a modular spear-staff.
Nami looked at the companions on the ship who cared for her, then at her new weapon.
Taking a deep breath, her gaze gradually became resolute.
Bellemere, I'll be able to avenge you very soon.
Before you continue