Gale Dispels Fog, Discussing Dreams

"Hahaha—"

Bang!

"What are you laughing at? You scared us half to death, you know?!"

Facing the furious Roman, Luffy, who had just taken a punch, could only meekly reply, "Yes, yes, yes." But he immediately perked up and changed the subject:

"Where are Nami and Usopp?"

"They took the things we bought and went back to the ship first."

Getting down to business, Roman's agitated mood from Luffy's earlier antics subsided.

"Nami said a storm is coming soon, so she and Usopp went to watch the ship. It would be terrible if it got blown away."

After leaving all their weapons in Cocoyasi Village, Roman's own merchant ship had been dismantled for materials to build a seaside fortress. Given Roman's cautious nature, he didn't want the ship's owner showing up at Cocoyasi Village to cause any trouble.

Therefore, they were left with only one option: to set sail on the Golden Merry.

"And those Marines behind us—"

Roman didn't need to look back. By focusing his attention on the paper crane left in the plaza, he could easily understand the situation.

"Fortunately, Buggy and his crew acted as a diversion for us. Otherwise, we'd be the ones facing the Marines right now."

However, those guys were already trapped by clouds of smoke, on the verge of being captured...

"Quick, quick, quick! There's a tricky guy behind us!"

Roman's urging only piqued the curiosity of the meat, alcohol, and tobacco trio beside him.

"What tricky guy?"

After all, Roman's strength was evident. Even he looked like he was trying to escape, which meant the person behind them...

"It's the Marine Captain guarding this town! Captain 'White Hunter' Smoker."

"Captain..."

"You guys need to wake up!" Seeing their dismissive faces, Roman's forehead twitched with veins.

"How many times have I told you? That's Headquarters! Headquarters! They're not comparable to those weaklings in the East Blue branches—"

"And that Smoker is a Logia Devil Fruit user..."

"Stop right there!"

A figure and voice standing in the middle of the road interrupted Roman's 'lecture,' causing Sanji beside him to accelerate sharply!

?

"Ah~~"

"Beautiful..."

"Roronoa Zoro!"

However, the bespectacled girl blocking the road ignored Sanji, who was smitten, and simply took a drawing stance facing Zoro.

"I didn't expect you to be a pirate."

"You played me, and I'll never forgive you!"

"Heh, then try me..."

"Aaaah! What did you do to that poor girl—"

Clang!

Two katanas clashed fiercely. Even the pouring rain couldn't hide the sparks flying.

"You guys go ahead,"

At Zoro's words, Luffy grabbed Sanji, who was muttering, "Bastard, actually laying hands on a lady...", and they quickly moved past the two. Roman behind them nodded.

Once he entered 'battle mode,' Luffy was actually quite reliable.

Though, even though it was called a battle, in reality:

After a few moves, the Marine Sergeant named Tashigi was easily disarmed by Zoro and pinned against the street with his saber.

"Until I become the World's Greatest Swordsman, I will not lose to any swordsman."

After finishing his cold Three-Sword Style declaration, he turned and sheathed his sabers.

"Goodbye."

Good, as long as Zoro doesn't get lost, he's very reliable.

"Someone ahead!"

?

Roman, in the center of the group, looked up. A man with silver-gray hair, chewing on two cigars, blocked their path. Although he looked like a 'villain,' Roman could still tell from the man's jacket:

"Marines? Get out of the way—"

Facing the rapidly charging Luffy, the opponent simply waved a hand, and a cloud of white smoke suddenly billowed over! Before Luffy could react, the smoke, as if alive, instantly bound him in place!

Though merely formless smoke, it was so strong that even Luffy, with his thousand pounds of force, couldn't break free.

"Damn it,"

Seeing Luffy in danger, Sanji rushed forward. His legs, capable of shattering rock, lashed out in a fierce kick towards the opponent!

"Shoulder meat!"

Then:

Poof,

The fierce kick 'passed through' the opponent's cheek, landing with no resistance! The silver-haired man, with half his face dispersed, merely glanced over coldly.

"Annoying riff-raff, scram!"

"White Smoke Bomb."

Boom—

With a single, simple punch, Sanji, completely unprepared for a Logia Devil Fruit user, was sent flying.

"Sanji!"

"Gomu Gomu Rocket!"

Luffy, managing to free one hand, punched back in retaliation. However, his fist landed in empty air once again, meeting only smoke!

Whoosh—

From the smoke beside him, the silver-haired man suddenly solidified! Grabbing Luffy's head from behind, he slammed him to the ground, drawing a weapon from his back as he sneered.

"You're worth 30 million Belly?"

This level?

"Your luck ends now—"

Swish swish swish!

A series of sharp whistling sounds cut through the rain as several white arrows flew towards the Marine's silver-haired man, who disdainfully blew a puff of smoke.

Useless.

Puff puff puff,

The arrows passed through his body, but the wounds were filled with dispersing smoke! As long as he entered Elementalization, such an attack was simply…

"Paper Dance—"

However, Roman, who launched the attack, intended for the opponent to actively enter Elementalization, because in that case:

"Pinwheel!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!!

The giant paper pinwheel created by Roman's ability spun at high speed, generating an artificial gale that sent Smoker, who had entered Elementalization, flying backward, his white smoke trailing behind him! Forced to dispel his Elementalization mid-air, he jammed the weapon in his hand into the ground to stabilize himself.

"Who are you?"

"I can't let you harm my captain so carelessly."

Roman glanced at the now-freed Luffy and Sanji, as well as Zoro, who was catching up from behind. He tilted his head towards the harbor.

"Run!"

"What?"

"My Pinwheel won't last long in the rain!"

With that said, the trio turned without hesitation and sprinted away!

"Runnnnn~~~"

"Hmph, your companions abandoned you and fled."

In the blink of an eye, the trio had shrunk to mere dots in the distance.

"Heh, you don't need to worry about that—"

Just as Roman was considering how to escape, a familiar, receding voice called out from behind.

"Gomu Gomu—"

A sense of foreboding washed over him! As expected, the next second.

Thwack,

A hand grabbed Roman's collar from behind, and then:

"—Rocket!"

What the hell—

Whoooosh!!!

Before Roman, who had instantly experienced being a human cannonball, could even curse, his throat was choked by his suddenly tightened collar! The surrounding scenery began to rapidly recede as he was dragged along at high speed, his long, drawn-out yell lost in the wind.

"Luu~~~ffyy~~~~~~~"

"Hahaha, a triumphant escape!"

"Alright, while this experience wasn't exactly comfortable, I have to admit it was effective."

Through the wind and waves, the Golden Merry cleaved through the water, forging ahead.

On deck, Roman stroked his chin, seriously considering if Luffy's method of 'movement' could be popularized.

"No, no, no, we absolutely do not want that kind of experience!"

Nami and Usopp wanted no part of Roman's 'Human Cannonball' style of travel.

"Look, the lighthouse up ahead!"

"Past there, and we'll be in the Grand Line."

As Nami explained, Sanji brought over a wooden barrel from the side.

"Since we've reached this point, let's perform a ritual."

Placing a foot on the barrel and stating one's dream was an ancient vow among pirates when setting sail.

"This..."

"Roman, come over here~~~"

Facing Luffy and the smiling faces of everyone else, the usually serious Roman also smiled. He had his 'White Knight' paper puppet take the helm, then walked into the gap everyone had deliberately left open, placing one foot on the barrel.

Thump,

"I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!"

"I'm going to be the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

"I'm going to find the 'Blue Sea'!"

"I'm going to draw a sea chart of the entire world!"

"I... I want to become a brave warrior of the sea..."

"Usopp, why did your dream suddenly change its 'art style'?"

In response to Roman's jab, Usopp yelled, "Mind your own business!" And so:

Everyone looked at Roman. He was the first crew member Luffy had invited, and also the most serious and reliable person on this ship full of surprises. But still:

"Roman, it's your turn—"

Facing Luffy's words, Roman thought seriously for a moment before breaking into a smile.

"My dream,"

"Is to see the day all of your dreams come true!"

"Tch, what is that? Your dream is even more perfunctory, isn't it~~~"

Facing Usopp's complaint, Roman looked up at the vast, rain-drizzled sky, but it was as if he saw clear skies, and he burst into laughter.

"Hahahahahaha~~~~"

"It really is a perfunctory dream. How about I change it—"

"How about we all reach the ends of the world together?"

"Hey, hey, hey, do you think you can just exchange things like you're shopping at a store...?"

"Can't I? Hahaha~~~"

"What fine companions,"

Atop the lighthouse, a cloaked figure stood in the wind and rain. A pair of gratified eyes pierced through the surging waves, gazing at the jubilant Golden Merry in the distance.

"Nothing can stop a man from setting sail!"

"Go, Luffy."

"Go and stir up a storm!"