Giant Broggy

The next day, the Going Merry sailed on a calm, clear blue sea.

"The weather's great today, isn't it?"

Nami looked out at the blue sky and sea, a rare smile on her face. "I never thought the Grand Line could have such nice weather."

"You guys must have had a tough time when you first entered the Grand Line," Vivi said, narrowing her eyes with a smile. "Right after crossing Twin Capes, that sea area is the most unpredictable because it's affected by seven different sea currents simultaneously."

Vivi currently only got along well with Nami on the ship; she clearly hadn't quite adapted to the personalities of the rest of the crew.

Karoo, on the other hand, had already blended in and was having a blast playing with them.

"Pair of Aces! I only have one card left~"

"Pair of Twos! Calling a pair!" Luffy cut off Reiner.

"Quack quack!!!"

"Quack."

"Nice one, Karoo!" Reiner praised, looking at Karoo who had played a bomb to help him pass his cards. "A nine, and I'm out."

"Quack!"

Having defeated the Landlord Luffy, Reiner and Karoo high-fived in celebration.

As for why a duck was playing cards?

Heaven knows.

"Damn it!"

Luffy grumbled and swapped places with Usopp, then ran straight upstairs. "Sanji, I want juice!"

"Got it! What does everyone else want?"

"I want booze."

"I want orange juice!"

"Me too!"

"No way, my orange trees are almost bald because of you guys!"

Nami refused them, emphasizing her point with two punches.

Watching the boisterous group, Vivi's face broke into a long-lost smile.

Having been at sea for so long, she was used to being on edge, but this was the first time in years she'd felt such a warm, joyful atmosphere.

In Reiner's words, this was called "relaxing."

She began to try interacting with the others, tiptoeing behind Karoo to observe how Reiner and the others played.

"Oh, Vivi! Want to try? Fight the Landlord is really fun."

"No, no, I don't understand this game," Vivi replied to Usopp, waving her hands awkwardly.

"Come here, Little Delinquent Girl," Reiner beckoned. "This hand is pretty good; I'll teach you how to play."

"Thank you... Uh, why do you call me Little Delinquent Girl?" Vivi asked, a hint of embarrassment in her confusion.

"Heh." Reiner chuckled lightly and pulled out a photo, placing it in front of Vivi. "How's it look? Pretty, right?"

"Wahahaha~" Usopp burst into laughter, clutching his stomach and pounding the deck. "When did you take that, Reiner?"

"Quack quack!!" Even Karoo spread his wings, tilted his head to the sky, and let out a loud quack.

The photo clearly showed Vivi standing on Karoo, twisting her waist like a water snake and waving her hands in a dance pose.

Vivi's face turned crimson as she lunged forward to grab it. "Give it back!"

"No can do." Reiner held Vivi's forehead with one hand, letting her flail her arms and grasp at air.

"Damn it!"

"Give up, Little Delinquent Girl."

Sanji came out with the juice and, seeing the scene, immediately bristled with rage, his head looking like a blazing inferno. "You scoundrel, Reiner! How dare you bully my adorable Princess Vivi!"

Sanji's stance was always firm: he always sided with beautiful women!

"Oh-ho, Usopp, catch!"

"Wait, wait a minute, how can I handle Sanji?!"

"Quick, throw it to Luffy!"

"Wahahaha, that looks like fun."

"This ship is truly amazing." Nami smiled faintly, watching the group roughhousing on deck, then walked back into the cabin.

Even the most melancholic person would find their spirits lifted here.

Three days passed like this, and the Going Merry continued its usual journey across the sea. From the crow's nest:

"Everyone!"

"I see an island!" Reiner called down, his gaze returning to the lush green island standing alone in the vast blue ocean.

"An island stuck in ancient times, huh."

A fervent glint shone in Reiner's eyes. Besides coveting the bodies of the two giants, he had another expectation. "I dreamed of riding dinosaurs when I was a kid. I never thought I'd see living ancient creatures in this lifetime."

Little Garden had an inland river that flowed directly to the sea, and the Going Merry slowly sailed into the island along the river.

It was a tropical rainforest environment, with layers of shadows in the dense forest, gnarled vines, and moss-covered rocks along the riverbank.

The fresh air, mixed with the fragrance of earth and plants, was invigorating, and the melodious chirping of birds was clear and pleasant.

"I smell adventure! Sanji, I want an adventure bento!" Luffy shouted excitedly, turning back from his perch on the Going Merry's figurehead.

"Adventure bento?" Sanji questioned, surprised there was a dish he'd never heard of.

"It's just meat," Reiner explained with a smile to Sanji. "A bento with only meat and no vegetables. Luffy loves it the most."

"Absolutely not!" Sanji's face turned green. "As a chef, I must ensure your nutritional balance. Luffy, if you dare throw away your vegetables, I won't forgive you."

"ROAR!!!"

"Wh-what was that sound?!" Usopp and Nami cowered in panic.

On the riverbank, several giant forest wolves were licking the corpse of a tiger.

Seeing the Going Merry approach, they glared at them with fierce eyes, yet seemed somewhat apprehensive, slowly backing into the shadows of the forest with lowered bodies.

"This is too terrifying! I don't want to go ashore!"

"It's over! I've contracted a disease that will kill me if I go ashore~~"

Compared to the trembling Nami and Usopp, the others had already jumped off the ship, ready to stretch their legs. Even Vivi decided to go for a walk with Luffy.

Zoro and Sanji were preparing to compete to see who could hunt bigger game.

"A hunting competition, huh? Sounds interesting, I want to join too!"

"Sure, Reiner. How about we make a bet while we're at it? Five hundred thousand Beli?" Sanji casually tossed a cigarette to Reiner.

Reiner chuckled at that. Heh, so that's what he's thinking?

"Too small, the stakes are too small. Whoever loses has to perform a handstand shampoo tonight."

"Interesting. I accept." Zoro's lips curled into a smirk as he agreed and walked away.

Reiner dropped the anchor to secure the Going Merry, then turned back to the two on the ship, smiling. "Are you sure you don't want to go out for a walk? It must be pretty boring staying on the ship for several days straight."

"No way, no way! I'd rather die than go ashore."

"Is it possible that you two staying behind is actually the most dangerous thing?" Reiner asked with a strange smile.

Nami paused, then turned to look at Usopp. Their eyes met, and they suddenly realized.

They were the two weakest people. Wouldn't staying here just be waiting for death?!

"Wait! Reiner, wait for us!"

"Waaah~~ Don't leave us behind!"

Nami and Usopp screamed, running forward and quickly grabbing Reiner's arms, one on each side.

"Heh, the Weakling Trio's adventure begins."

Reiner chuckled lightly, then summoned a few Undead to guard the ship, before leading the two behind him into their jungle adventure.

However, they hadn't walked much further.

Rustle, rustle, rustle~~

The crisp rustling of leaves echoed. A massive dark shadow abruptly emerged from deep within the forest, pushing aside several large trees in front of Reiner as easily as weeds.

Reiner stared at the shadow, ready to summon his Undead at any moment.

A huge face suddenly appeared, its rugged features grinning, with a large, yellow beard and unruly hair that even a helmet couldn't contain.

"Monster!!"

A panicked scream came from behind Reiner. Nami and Usopp immediately clung to his back, clutching his clothes tightly.

"A giant, huh? That's unbelievable," Reiner gasped softly.

Even so, seeing a giant still felt incredible to him.

The giant with the big yellow beard grinned and spoke, "Ga ha ha, I'm Broggy! It's been a long time since this island had guests."

"Hey, watch out behind you!"