Shell Trading, Strength Increase

"Hehehe, Roman, where did you run off to?"

Roman, walking back to the banquet, smiled and shook his head when faced with Luffy's question.

"It's nothing, I just went to negotiate a deal."

"Trade?"

"That doesn't sound fun! Come on over and have a drink with us!"

Although Luffy is a carnivore who can't live without meat, his alcohol tolerance is actually just as amazing! It's just that it doesn't seem so exaggerated under the pressure of Zoro and Nami.

"No, you know I don't drink." Roman waved his hand as he cut a piece of meat from the campfire, but added, "If you want things to get a bit more lively, watch me."

Splash,

Sheets of white paper were produced and stacked. Roman picked one up and flicked it, and a 'Kongming Lantern' appeared in his hand. He then took out a small Spray Fire Shell and installed it inside.

"Wow!!"

"This is great, this is really great~~~"

As Luffy shouted, the 'Kongming Lantern' swayed and flew up, like a drifting star in the gradually darkening sky.

"How about that? It's very simple, isn't it?" Roman pointed to the 'Kongming Lantern' in the sky. "Would you like to give it a try?"

"Oh, oh, give me some—"

"Let me!"

"Such a simple thing, how could it possibly stump Captain Usopp?"

"Roman, does this thing have any special meaning?"

When faced with Nami's question, Roman, of course, wouldn't spoil the mood by saying it was actually a military signal, but instead used a more positive explanation.

"It is a blessing ceremony. People who light Kongming Lantern can write their wishes on the Kongming Lantern and let them rise into the sky together, praying that their wishes will come true."

At this time, the ordinary Skypieans have just experienced a major disaster need spiritual comfort the most.

Soon, not only the Straw Hat crew, but also the people of Angel Island and Shandia were making Kongming Lantern using the materials Roman had provided. Just as Roman had said: it's a very simple thing, but when the quantity reaches a certain scale—

"So beautiful~~"

The countless Kongming Lantern flying in the sky resembled a Star Sea, flickering uncertainly in the night sky.

Meanwhile, on the land of Shandora, Angel Island and Shandia clasped their hands together in prayer.

May peace come, and may there be no more war...

May my father rest in peace in heaven, and I will grow up happily~~

'May God... that Enel guy never come back!'

Amidst the prayers of the crowd, the two chieftains and Gan Fall simultaneously declared that the island of Shandora would serve as their shared home. This declaration garnered the support of the majority of the populace. —The pro-war faction was currently recuperating in their tents; for ordinary people, war was something to be avoided if possible.

"Everyone is very happy, Wipper."

After glancing at the jubilant crowd outside the tent, the Shandia warrior Laki turned to look at the great warrior on the sickbed.

"From now on, we won't need to fight—"

"No!"

The Shandia warrior on the bed recalled the words of the Blue Sea man, Roman.

"From now on, we will fight to protect our homeland!"

"This is rubber?"

The residents of Angel Island, holding the 'rubber band' provided by Usopp, were utterly shocked.

"Yes, and these sheet metal pieces too~~"

Usopp was delighted to have traded unused items from the Golden Merry for a bunch of seashells, and he was just waiting for 'Usopp Factory' to open so he could upgrade his weapons...

If Roman knew, he would definitely make him throw away that pile of civilian seashells. He had already traded his Observation Haki training methods for a bunch of military-grade seashells with Wipper and the others. Unfortunately, at this moment—

"Gomu Gomu no Jet Gatling!"

After entering Second Gear, Luffy's speed skyrocketed! Along with the increased speed, his attack power also increased dramatically. Roman, who used to be able to hold his own, was completely overwhelmed and could only rely on his Devil Fruit ability to withstand the attacks.

"That's amazing!"

The three-meter-tall white-armored knight scattered with a whoosh. Roman, having reverted to his 'Pure White Knight' form, rubbed his arms and once again marveled at Luffy's unscientific leveling speed.

Luffy's attack even included some Armament Haki Haki, which penetrated the paper armor and injured Roman.

Although Roman could only exploit Luffy's Second Gear state for a short time, he relied on his "Pure White Knight" form, wrapped in thick paper, to defend himself and buy time to defeat Luffy. However, this underhanded tactic...

It is neither aboveboard nor can it elevate oneself.

Luffy, on the other hand, was able to use Second Gear without any aftereffects because of the thin air on Sky Island. Once he returns to the blue sea below, he will have to be very careful when using this terrifying skill.

Otherwise, it could lead to overdrawing one's life force...

On the other side, Zoro was doing his daily 10,000 sword-swing training, leaving Roman speechless.

From Iron Cutting to unleashing sword energy, how long has it been? Zoro has grown to the point where he can easily defeat the Zoro who once fought Hawk Eyes in the in the East Blue! This exaggerated speed of advancement is putting Roman under immense pressure.

Gear Second Gear Luffy, Poetry Zoro...

Looks like I still have a lot to do, otherwise the title of Chief of Staff of the Straw Hat crew Pirates will be a bit undeserved.

Thump!

A figure fell from the sky and crashed to the ground, bringing Roman back to his senses.

"How was it, Sanji?"

Roman tilted his head as he watched Sanji get up.

"Is it possible to put the 'Spray Wind Shell' into actual combat?"

"How is that possible?"

The blond chef in the suit lit a cigarette.

"Asking a human who walks on feet to suddenly 'fly' on their feet doesn't seem like such an easy thing to do, does it?"

Two Spray Wind Shell were installed on Sanji's shoes. — Not civilian-grade Wind Dial, but higher-level Spray Wind Shell! They were the same ones that Sky Guard Captain Gedatsu, one of the Four Priests, equipped with on his shoes for flight and on his elbows for lightning-fast punches.

By the way, this seemingly serious but actually goofy guy got easily defeated by Chopper and then fell all the way down the clouds~~~

He eventually fell to Alabasta and decided to work hard to become the 'Blue Sea Guard Captain,' but in reality, he ended up owning a hot spring resort.

"Maintaining balance in the air is something even I—"

"Snort,"

?

"Green Algae Head, what are you humming about!"

In response to Sanji's angry rebuke, Zoro gave him a cold glance.

"Even that priest who got killed by Chopper could do that, and you—" He then closed his eyes and continued swinging his sword. "Hey, it's not your fault. Who told you to be just a lecherous cook?"

??!

"I refuse to believe it! Just you wait and see—"

With a whoosh, Sanji ascended into the air and began practicing his flying skills again, making Roman shrug.

With Sanji's strength, learning Geppo is only a matter of time. Using the 'Spray Wind Shell' to familiarize himself with aerial combat is a good choice for now, and besides:

The Spray Wind Shell itself can also enhance the power of Sanji's kicks! It's more reliable than that 'Diable Jambe' that Roman still doesn't understand the principle of, which uses friction to generate fire, right?

If you kick something and ruin a shoe, are you expecting Germa 66 to reimburse you...?

Let's wait until Armament Haki can wrap around it before considering it.

Crack!

An Inazuma as thick as an arm struck a nearby tree, instantly turning the poor creature into a charred mess. Nami looked up at the small black thundercloud overhead and nodded in satisfaction.

"Indeed, controlling the 'weather' is still the best fit for me."

"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit truly amazing." Even with Nami's bootleg version, it can still easily defeat a 'minor expert' worth millions. And this is only the beginning of her development; if she combines it with other Devil Fruit ability in the future, she might even be able to unleash a 'El Thor' that can strike down a Four Emperors!

But before that:

"Chopper, is the equipment ready?"

"Mr. Roman, are you really going to do this?"

Chopper, holding a bunch of electrodes, connected the wires to Roman, reminding him, "While there's precedent for using electrical stimulation to train muscles, after all—"

"Don't panic," Roman waved his hand.

"We withstood such intense electric currents during our fight with Enel, so how could Nami's bootleg ability possibly kill us?"

That's what they say, but who would willingly get struck by lightning?

"Come on Nami!"

From the front... cough cough, I'm getting an electric shock.

"100,000 Volts— "

Crackle crackle~~~

Using lightning to train his body wasn't just Roman's wild idea. Enel, a mage, was incredibly tough; Roman was the first to disbelieve that his Devil Fruit ability weren't involved.

Furthermore, the Lightning Release next door stimulate muscle activity, Lightning Release Chakra Mode strengthens the body... Although the worlds are different, some things are universal, so:

"Really,"

Tiny bolts of lightning crackled all over his body, and his full potential was gradually being unlocked. Roman adapted to the lightning while making various punching and kicking movements.

His entire body resonated with a powerful roar, the sound like rumbling thunder echoing through the sky, its echo lingering long afterward! Stimulated by the lightning, a series of movements were executed in one fluid motion, as fast as Inazuma and as swift as thunder. His fists and palms pierced the air, each strike causing the air to explode with a deafening roar; his sweeping kicks created a gust of wind with each strike. The combined power of his movements and the accompanying sounds was truly astonishing.

"My guess was right, Chopper."

"Based on my physical condition, I've prepared a lightning enhancement package for everyone..."

"What?!"

Nami, who was carefully controlling the release of lightning from "The Art of the Thief," suddenly jerked Nami hand, and a bolt of lightning as thick as an arm shot out, blasting Roman into his 'Super Saiyan' form.

"Me... I don't need to exercise, though..."

Nami, being a beautiful young girl, politely declined this inhuman training regimen.

"No!"

However, Nami's attempt to charm her way out only earned her a curt reply from Roman, which infuriated her so much that she increased her "electric" output again. But upon closer reflection:

Activating "The Art of the Thief" drained Roman's stamina, and now Roman himself is the one getting electrocuted. — Thinking about it that way, isn't it double the training?

Wow, as expected, the mindset of the strong is something that ordinary people can hardly reach.