Island-Circling Rowboat Race

"Actually, I came down with a disease that prevents me from competing." Usopp looked at Li Ziming with tears in his eyes.

"Then let me do it." Li Ziming shrugged. "I happen to have a few things I want to try." He planned to install the electric-powered device Enel had given him onto the race boat and test just how fast electric propulsion could go.

"Thank you so much!" Usopp looked at Li Ziming as if he were a savior. "You're my lifesaver!"

"Phew, with Robin and Ming here, I'll definitely have it easier." Nami felt certain they would win the first match. "But why not replace me instead?"

"Being with two beautiful ladies is far more pleasant than being with a long-nosed guy. And if something enjoyable could happen with two beautiful ladies, that would be even better." Li Ziming said it without the slightest embarrassment.

"You bastard, so that was what you were thinking!" Sanji glared at Li Ziming angrily. "I'm joining the first match too! I want to ride in the same boat as two beautiful ladies!"

"What a hopeless perverted cook." Zoro said disdainfully.

"What did you say, Moss Head?" Sanji glared at Zoro with an unfriendly look, seeming ready to start a fight at the slightest disagreement.

"If you two have so much free time, then make sure you compete properly later!" Nami was truly helpless with those two.

"Yes!" Sanji had never known how to refuse a beautiful lady's request, so he quickly put away his anger.

"I..." Zoro seemed to want to say something, but when he saw Nami pull out her little account book, he remembered that his debt had apparently surpassed his bounty. Zoro decisively chose to shut up.

Still, neither of them had vented the anger in their hearts, so they were looking at the Foxy Pirates with considerable hostility.

"Nami really knows how to handle people." Li Ziming had already begun modifying the three barrels.

"Can you really do this?" Nami was worried. "You know we can only use three barrels in this race. If we use any other equipment, we'll be disqualified." She said this because Li Ziming had pulled out several oddly shaped machines and begun making highly unscientific modifications to the three wooden barrels.

"It's fine, don't worry. The finished product will definitely be nothing but three wooden barrels." Li Ziming shrugged. Enel's electric-powered devices had not originally been something Li Ziming intended to use, since he had no source of electricity at all. But those devices had given him considerable inspiration, reminding him of the structure of an internal combustion engine. This time, he wanted to try making one with his ability, or applying it to a boat.

"Don't worry. Although Ming doesn't look like much, he's quite dependable when it matters." Robin said.

Li Ziming rolled his eyes. "That doesn't make me happy at all."

At last, Li Ziming finished his wild modifications to the three wooden barrels, but on the surface, they truly had not changed much, just as he had said.

"This is your boat?" The inspector was puzzled. "That can't be right. I clearly saw this guy making all sorts of modifications and taking out a lot of tools."

"So, are you done inspecting it?" Li Ziming did not believe the guy in front of him could see through his modifications. He was extremely confident in his barrel alterations.

"Fine, go prepare to set sail by the shore." The inspector was completely baffled and could only leave dejectedly.

"What exactly did you do?" Nami looked at Li Ziming in disbelief. She knew he had done something to the boat, but she had no idea what it was.

"Something that will definitely benefit us." Li Ziming shrugged, then dragged the boat to the shore.

At that moment, they saw the Foxy Pirates' competitors. The three were Porche, Capote the sailfish Fish-Man, and Monda the star shark.

"A shark can be a contestant too?!" Nami said furiously. "You're cheating!"

"There's no rule saying a shark can't be a contestant, so this isn't cheating."

"Forget it." Li Ziming stopped Nami. "Those guys figured out the rules long ago, and the referees are all their people. Even if they cheat, nothing will happen."

"Then how are we supposed to win?" Nami felt as though all hope was lost. "Someone as cute as me will definitely get taken away."

"They won't. Our bartender will surely have a good solution, won't he?" Robin looked at Li Ziming with confidence.

"Of course. Tricks are completely useless before absolute strength." Li Ziming shrugged. "Still, seeing them like this is pretty irritating, so I think we should teach them a lesson directly."

"Do you need our help?" Robin looked at Li Ziming.

"No need. You two ladies can rest easy. Leave this victory to me." Li Ziming smiled at Porche and the others. "Besides, sharks should have shark fins, right?"

"Hm?" Monda shuddered, not knowing what dangerous thing had set its sights on him.

"We could ask Sanji about that." Robin nodded.

"What are you two planning?" Nami looked at Li Ziming and Robin in confusion.

"Nothing." Li Ziming found it a little regrettable. "Looks like cross talk needs someone who can understand the joke to play along."

"Are you mocking me?!" Nami angrily prepared to punish Li Ziming with her iron fist.

"It's starting!" But the boat suddenly accelerated, nearly throwing Nami overboard.

"Be careful." Robin's arm extended from the boat and wrapped around Nami, helping her steady herself.

"Thank you, Robin." Nami said awkwardly, blushing.

"Now that's some beautiful lily blooming." Li Ziming watched the scene excitedly. "All I can say is, it's beautiful."

"Hmph." Robin quietly extended a hand and fiercely pinched Li Ziming's waist.

"Sorry, sorry." Li Ziming spread his hands awkwardly. "But it really was beautiful."

"You!" Nami angrily punched Li Ziming as well. "Right, where are those guys?"

"Hah, they're probably still where they started." Li Ziming shrugged. "I tampered with their boat a little, so getting it out intact won't be easy."

"And why is this boat so fast?" Nami looked at the boat beneath her feet. It did not even have oars, yet it was moving incredibly quickly.

"It's the simple principle of an internal combustion engine. There are gaps between every barrel, so I used those gaps and my ability to make miniature internal combustion engines. But they're only wooden barrels, so they aren't very sturdy. They'll probably fall apart after this race." Li Ziming was still somewhat excited. Although the first thing he had made would not last long, it had been extremely useful to him. He had even gained some additional understanding of his ability.

"An internal combustion engine?" Nami looked at Li Ziming in confusion. "Is it like those steamships? I didn't expect you to know this kind of thing too."

"What I'm curious about now is what you can't do." Robin looked at Li Ziming with curiosity as well. It was as if there was nothing in this world he did not know.

"A lot of things." Li Ziming shrugged. "All right, we're almost there." Their boat was truly fast. They had nearly reached the finish line while chatting, but just as they were about to arrive, their boat stopped.

"What's going on? Did they use some dirty trick again?!" Nami asked in panic.

"Calm down." Li Ziming hurriedly reassured her. "It's not that serious. It's not that serious. I did it on purpose."

"What are you doing? We were about to win!" Nami could not understand what Li Ziming was trying to do.

"Of course, it's to give them an unforgettable lesson." Li Ziming wore a kind smile, but it made Nami silently draw crosses for Porche and the others in her heart.

"We finally made it!" Porche and the others finally arrived. "Good, those guys aren't much faster than us."

"They're here." Li Ziming quietly took out a pair of oars and began rowing.

"Damn it, hurry up!" Porche grew anxious.

"It's fine, I'm here!" Foxy smiled smugly. With a gesture like an orchid finger, he fired a Slow-Slow Beam at Li Ziming's boat.

"Here it comes." Li Ziming shrugged, took out a mirror, and quietly aimed it at Porche's boat, a devilish smile appearing on his face.

"Devil!" Countless people instantly looked at Li Ziming in terror.

"Should we go help them?" Li Ziming's words thoroughly pushed Porche's group into hell.