What It Means to Have Pull, Sincere Bonds

"We're back—?"

When Sanji and Jinbe returned to Kasa Village after investigating Udon Prison, they were greeted by:

The masked man in black placed his arm in the middle of the table, his muscles bulging, and large beads of sweat dripping down his arm. Between his five fingers, which were the size of a clay pot, was a normal arm.

—This "normal" refers to the normal level of ordinary people Four Seas, which, compared to the arm of the masked giant Duke Le, is like the difference between a twig and a tree trunk. However:

"Hehehe, I'm going to use my strength!"

With a Luffy slammed the masked man's arm against the table with a loud 'boom,' slamming it almost into the surface! The entire Kasa Village shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.

If it weren't for the fact that the seats they were sitting on were made by Roman using paper covered in Haki, this place would have been ravaged to pieces long ago!

This is why a group of people left the building Roman built and went outside. With their strength, even an arm-wrestling game would cause huge damage to the surrounding area.

"Who are they?"

Faced with Sanji and Jinbe's confusion, Roman briefly introduced their background: In fact, he only said that these people were an organization that was fighting against Kaido. After all, to Sanji and Jinbe, the three members of the Bad People were no different from the 'XXX Pirates'.

"I see. It seems I need to prepare more food."

"Do you need any help?"

In this world, the strong generally follow the rule that 'the more you eat, the stronger you become.' The Straw Hat crew are already a bunch of gluttons, and now, with the addition of a dozen or so Bad People...

"Need not,"

Sanji waved his hand.

"When I cook for you, I can already do multiple processes at the same time, such as chopping, stir-frying, stewing and deep-frying. You would only be getting in the way."

?!

Now that you mention it, I'm curious how the meals you usually eat are made... Oh well, everyone has their own expertise. Roman wisely abandoned the idea of stepping into the kitchen again.

"Sanji- san, I'll help you~~"

"Um."

With Sanji and his wife cooking, Roman, Jinbe, and the others were all captivated by the games Luffy were playing. After losing to several people in a row, the Bad People were starting to lose face.

In their view, pledging allegiance to someone they'd just met because of an eight-hundred-year-old 'prophecy' was absurd enough. However, since it was tradition and the deputy commander's order, they were willing to go through fire and water for it. But that didn't mean they lacked pride. They could understand that the legendary, Great Leader was strong, but:

How come even a random, 'skinny' little guy on the opposing team is this strong?

This is not scientific!

"I'll do it—"

Wearing a large, oversized Bagua robe that looked like it had been stolen, the child, only half the height of Luffy, jumped onto the seat and waved his small, white hand.

"Watch me beat you!"

Ah, this...

"I don't want to," Luffy said with a look of disgust. "If I accidentally break your arm, Chopper will have to treat you."

"How dare you look down on me?"

"Even 400 kilograms of marble from the Beasts Pirates couldn't hold a single finger of mine!!"

Faced with the angry child, Luffy reluctantly reached out and took the child's hand, and then:

?!

Luffy was stunned, because the boy in the Daoist robe opposite him was indeed as he had said, completely unmoved in the face of Luffy's superhuman strength.

"Hmph, don't underestimate us, the 'Bad People' who have a history of eight hundred years—"

"Oh, that's strange,"

Looking surprised, Luffy tried to apply even more force, but the child opposite him didn't seem to be 'exerting force' at all, regardless of the movement of his arms or the outline of his muscles. However, Luffy's strength, which allows him to easily lift a warship and throw it like a brick, couldn't budge it!

Um?

Roman glanced at the shadow extending behind the boy in the Daoist robe—pitch black! It didn't resemble a normal shadow at all, and as the shadow stretched and expanded, it connected with the buildings, ruins, and trees of the entire Kasa Village, making it look like:

"Moria's 'Shadow-Shadow Fruit' ability?"

Roman nodded in response to Jinbe's questioning whisper.

"That's right, it's an application of the 'Shadow-Shadow Fruit.' Luffy isn't facing that child now, but the entire Kasa Village. However:"

There's an old saying that goes, "With great strength, bricks fly."

"Okay, then I'll give it my all!"

In the instant Luffy serious, Roman had already gently floated to the side and picked up Nami, and then:

Boom!!!

Amidst the earth-shaking tremors, darkness suddenly descended, as if the sun itself had been obscured.

No, not just seemingly, but the entire Kasa Village instantly soared into the sky! A massive amount of soil covered their location, and beneath their feet, of course, lay:

Null--

A huge crater!

"Hehehe, I won~~"

Amidst Luffy's signature laughter, a clear "smack" rang out—the sound of the back of a hand hitting the table. Those still in mid-air, upon regaining their senses, were stunned. Some gasped in disbelief, others cheered, and still others couldn't help but chuckle. Usopp, who was drinking tea, even spat it out quite a distance.

Because the boy in the Daoist robe was standing upright on the chair, suspended in mid-air, with the entire Kasa Village fixed in place by his "shadow ability"!

That's right, the boy in the Daoist robe used the shadows to bind the entire Kasa Village to his grasp! To break his grip, one would need to possess true strength capable of lifting mountains. Most experts couldn't do that, but Luffy:

"Hehehe, I knew it was a bit heavy."

Regardless, the child in the Daoist robe had his delicate little hand pressed down on the table. Although the force wasn't strong this time and the table wasn't damaged at all, it was clear that the child had lost.

As for the 'Kasa Village' that was suddenly lifted up and fell down?

"ROOM: Shambles!"

As Trafalgar Law extended his index and middle fingers and gently lifted them, the Straw Hat crew instantly teleported to the outer perimeter. Meanwhile, on the other side, the masked, black-clad burly man Duke Le, from the Bad People, spread his arms, transforming them into wings. In an instant, he became a giant eagle with a wingspan of six meters, carrying the others and making a turn to leave the area where they had landed.

Hehehe~~

As for the two in the match: Luffy simply grabbed the shocked boy in the Daoist robe and jumped to the side, thus avoiding the village that was slowly falling from above.

Rumble!!

As the entire Kasa Village fell, the earth trembled and dust billowed up! Roman waved to the side.

Splash splash~~

Paper began to flutter and peel off from the huge pine tree behind the village, then rearranged itself, and then the massive main structure slowly fell down, transforming into a building with densely packed long legs.

"Can you all be quiet!"

The window opened, Sanji poked his head out unhappily.

"If this keeps up, there's no dinner tonight!!"

"Sorry--"

Just moments before, Luffy had been so arrogant, but he immediately backed down and apologized. After all, for him, not having food was the most terrifying thing in the world. This made the Bad People nearby raise their eyebrows in bewilderment; the relationships within this crew were truly baffling...

Although I couldn't understand it, I was deeply shocked!

"Anyway, let's leave here first."

Although Kasa Village was 'accidentally' destroyed, it was already just an abandoned village where Tama and her apprentice lived. Besides, if the Beasts Pirates were defeated in a single day, it would be a cause for celebration throughout Wano Country. Moreover:

In this world, it's already rare for the strong to refrain from disrupting the lives of ordinary people; expecting anything more is unrealistic.

"Sanji, I'm hungry—"

Having just fought Kaido beaten that Trafalgar Law had to carry him back, and then having a wrestling match with the Bad People, Luffy is now severely hungry, and even the way he looks at Chopper has become strange.

Don't look at me like that!

"And I've told you to rest, what if your wounds reopen?!"

"Commander-in-Chief, your sir..."

Inside the enormous "Paper Dance: The Mobile Straw Hat crew Mansion," the Bandaged Vice Commander points at Luffy, who, despite his severe injuries, can still take down several of his own officers. If they had previously scoffed at Luffy's dream of becoming the "King of the Pirates," now even the Bad Guys think:

With this man's abilities, it's not just wishful thinking.

"So, this is my captain, 'Straw Hat' Luffy— "

Roman introduced the Bad Guys: "Nami, the World's Greatest Navigator Nami; Zoro, who aims to become World's Greatest World's Greatest Swordsman; Chef Sanji, the world's World's Greatest chef; Chopper, the world's World's Greatest 'Franky World's Greatest archaeologist Robin, the World's Greatest's number one shipbuilder; Brook, the world's number one musician; Jinbe, the World's Greatest Fish-Man; Usopp, the World's Greatest Great Liar..."

"Hey, why is my introduction 'Great Liar'?!"

In response to Usopp's sarcastic remark, Roman stroked his chin.

"While I really want to say you are the World's Greatest's bravest Sea Warrior, but..."

"Haha, since you've said so, of course I'm the World's Greatest's bravest Sea Warrior!"

Facing Usopp, who was pointing a thumbs-up at them and whose nose was practically pointing to the sky, the delinquents collectively thought to themselves:

He truly is the World's Greatest Great Liar!

"Hehehe, then I will be the World's Greatest pirate: the King of the Pirates!"

Faced with Luffy's bold words once again, this time no one showed any disdain.

"Dinner's ready,"

As Sanji's voice came from the kitchen, Luffy and Usopp immediately rushed there! Whether they're the King of the Pirates or the World's Greatest's bravest Sea Warrior, they're equally eager when it comes to serving food. Soon, the hall was filled with:

"Banquet~~"

"What banquet?" Roman glanced at Luffy as he cut off a piece of Sea King meat and popped it into his mouth. "If you want to have a banquet, wait until we defeat Kaido. — I promise you a banquet you'll never forget."

"Hehehe, Roman said so, it makes me really look forward to it~~"

Luffy, holding a bottle of wine, started eating and drinking with the Bad People he had just arm-wrestled with. With Luffy's cheerful personality and unpretentious laughter, the group of Bad People quickly lowered their guard and began to chat and laugh loudly.

Wow! This dish is delicious!

Chew, chew,

"This is delicious too~~"

Looking at the squirrel-like, chubby-cheeked Melody, and then at his subordinates, or rather, partners, who had already become close with the opposing captain, the Bandaged Vice Commander slightly raised his wine cup towards the only silver-armored general beside him, 'Liao,' who maintained a cold expression.

Aren't you going to drink?

"I won't drink,"

The general's cold, expressionless face was as if carved by a knife and axe.

"The scene before me reminded me of a passage I read in a book: I've treated you to the best wine, now you're going to help me kill someone."

... Using force to intimidate, and then trying to win them over with fine wine? Let me test that.

"Captain Luffy,"

The Bandaged Vice Commander stood up and respectfully pointed his wine glass at Luffy.

"We, the twelve members of the 'Bad People,' are all under the command of our Great Leader, Lord Roman. And you are Lord Roman's captain. With just your order, we will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire without flinching. This time, in our attack on the Beasts Pirates, please allow us to be the vanguard—"

"I don't want to!"

However, Luffy was just happy a moment ago, suddenly had a long face.

"Kaido is mine! If you defeat him, how can I become King of the Pirates?"

"If you'd like to help, I'd love to. But—"

Luffy adjusted his straw Straw Hat and chuckled.

"As partners, not underlings!"

······

"How about it?"

The Bandaged Vice Commander had sat down again, raised his wine cup to the silver-armored general 'Liao' beside him.

"Would you like to drink this now?"

"Snort,"

With a cold expression, the silver-armored general reached for a wine glass on the table beside him, prompting Roman had been observing everything, to pick up a glass of orange juice and take a sip.

Excellent, another force has joined the Straw Hat crew Pirates...