Luffy's Obsession with the Musician

"Wind direction southeast, wind speed three... adjust the angle..."

Usopp muttered to himself, his hands rapidly turning the wheel.

"Watch this, Luffy! This is Captain Usopp's--finishing move!"

"Boom--!!"

With a deafening roar, the cannon's muzzle spewed a ball of orange flame and thick smoke.

The solid black cannonball whistled out, tracing a perfect parabola through the air.

Ronan, though lying down and not moving, instinctively caught the cannonball's trajectory with his Observation Haki.

So accurate, Ronan praised inwardly.

The next second.

"BOOM!!"

Thousands of meters away, the massive black reef was hit precisely by the cannonball!

Immense kinetic energy exploded instantly, sending shattered stones flying and creating a towering water column.

The reef was actually blown clean in half by the shot, collapsing into the sea with a rumble!

"Waaaaah--!!"

Luffy jumped up excitedly, raising his hands over his head and shouting, "Amazing!! One shot hit! Usopp, you're the best!"

As the smoke cleared, Usopp blew on the non-existent smoke from his gun barrel and proudly wiped his nose:

"Hmph, of course! I'm a great shot! Aren't you impressed?"

"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Luffy nodded frantically, his eyes firm as he declared, "I've decided! You're the sniper of our Pirate crew!"

"What are you talking about!" Although Usopp was overjoyed, he retorted with feigned annoyance, "Aren't I the captain? How did I become the sniper!"

"Hee hee hee!"

"Alright, I'll reluctantly take on the role of sniper as well,"

Usopp said with a smile, "but if you, the captain, perform too poorly, I'll replace you immediately!"

Merry's cabin.

Sunlight streamed through the round portholes, falling onto the wooden long table.

Ronan and the others sat around it, the air filled with a faint scent of tea.

This was the Straw Hat Pirates' first official "strategy meeting."

Luffy sat at the head seat, unusually serious, his hands clasped under his chin, saying with a solemn expression:

"Before we enter the Grand Line, I think we need to fill an important position!"

Ronan held his teacup, his eyes shifting slightly.

He glanced at the well-equipped kitchen and thought to himself, It seems like it won't be long before that curly-browed cook--Sanji--joins us.

After all, for the past few days, everyone had been eating Nami's "aristocratic, high-priced simple meals," and their diet truly needed improvement.

Nami nodded in agreement, looking around the spacious and bright kitchen:

"That's true. Merry's kitchen is so beautiful and well-equipped; it would be a shame to leave it empty."

"If you're paying... I'm willing to reluctantly take on the cooking duties, but I'll only cook, not guarantee it'll be delicious."

Zoro, arms crossed, said gravely, "This is an essential role for a long journey."

"Without sufficient nutrition and delicious food, it's impossible to withstand intense combat and sailing."

Everyone was hinting at "cook."

Seeing that his companions understood him so well, Luffy excitedly slammed the table and stood up, announcing loudly:

"Right! You all think so too! What a Pirate ship truly needs is--"

Everyone held their breath, anticipating the word "cook."

Luffy took a deep breath, his eyes shining with the light of dreams:

"--A musician!!!"

"..."

"..."

The air suddenly fell silent.

The cries of seagulls outside the window seemed exceptionally awkward.

Ronan nearly dropped his teacup. Even as a transmigrator, he was shocked by Luffy's peculiar thought process.

This was probably... an extreme obsession with romance?

After a brief moment of dead silence, the cabin erupted in roars.

"Are you an idiot!!!"

Zoro's veins bulged on his forehead as he roared at Luffy: "We were just talking about eating! Eating! Can music fill our stomachs?!"

Nami also angrily slammed her hand on the table, saying sternly: "What do you think sailing is!!"

Even Usopp couldn't help but complain, his face full of disappointment: "I thought you were finally going to say something serious for once!"

Facing the barrage of accusations, Luffy showed no signs of repentance.

He picked his nose and mumbled righteously:

"But... pirates are supposed to sing! Without a musician, how boring would the adventure be!"

Ronan watched the scene, his mouth twitching uncontrollably, and thought to himself:

Even though this scene is in the story, seeing it in person still makes me feel... Luffy is really unreliable.

Just as Luffy was about to argue further for the position of "musician"—

"Bang!!"

A loud impact suddenly came from outside the ship's cabin, as if a heavy object had smashed hard onto the deck.

Immediately after, a rough voice, tinged with weakness, came from outside:

"Hey!!! Come out here, pirates!!"

This sudden commotion instantly interrupted their argument.

The atmosphere inside the cabin froze.

Ronan's eyes instantly sharpened, his beginner Observation Haki spreading out like ripples, penetrating the wooden planks of the cabin.

In his perception, a life signature appeared on the deck.

But this aura... wasn't strong.

"Only one person," Ronan said calmly, putting down his teacup. "The aura isn't strong, no threat."

Meanwhile, Zoro also closed his eyes. Although his newly acquired Observation Haki wasn't as skilled as Ronan's, it was enough to capture that familiar aura.

Zoro's eyes snapped open, a look of surprise and nostalgia on his face:

"This aura... is it Johnny?"

"Johnny?" Luffy asked, confused. "Who's that? Is he your friend?"

Zoro stood up, Wado Ichimonji hanging at his waist, a smile curling on his lips:

"Ah, you could say that. A couple of bounty hunter underlings I used to hang out with... who specialized in catching petty thieves."

"Let's go, let's go see."

The group pushed open the cabin door, and the dazzling sunlight poured in.

Immediately, a man wearing sunglasses, with the character "Sea" tattooed on his cheek, stood on the deck.

He was drenched, his expression furious, looking utterly disheveled.

"To think... I'd run into you here, Johnny!" Zoro's lips curved slightly, revealing a nostalgic smile of encountering an old acquaintance.

"Bro... Big Brother Zoro!!"

Johnny's voice cracked with emotion as he stumbled towards Zoro:

"B-Big Brother! How are you on a pirate ship like this?!"

Zoro raised an eyebrow, not explaining his change in identity, but keenly sensing Johnny's extreme, abnormal anxiety:

"Never mind me for now, why are you alone? Where's Joseph? You two were always inseparable."

Mentioning that name, Johnny's face instantly fell, his previous excitement turning into deep despair.