Loa hadn't brought it up again, so the others had thought he'd let it slide. They never expected that even after agreeing to Chopper's request, he would return to this.
So he never meant to let us off the hook?
While everyone wrestled with that thought, Luffy blinked in confusion and looked at Loa.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Loa: "..."
Pfft!
Robin covered her mouth, but she couldn't hold back her laughter. She laughed harder and harder until her stomach hurt, and even bent double, she couldn't stop.
"Hahahaha!"
Laughter was contagious. Usopp knew this was no time to laugh, but Robin set him off anyway. One after another, the Straw Hat Pirates around the campfire joined in. Even Chopper laughed.
Only two people weren't laughing: Luffy, who still looked utterly lost, and Loa, whose face had gone dark with anger.
"Hey, mister, what are they laughing at?"
"How should I know? Eat your grilled fish!"
"Oh! Don't mind if I do!"
Watching Luffy casually pick up his grilled fish and start eating, Loa finally understood what it meant to meet his match.
He was used to scheming with powerful factions, living amid plots and bargains. Even the cleverest people had weaknesses he could exploit. But when he ran into a complete idiot, he discovered a whole new kind of frustration.
Because people like that didn't understand a thing!
You thought you had something on him? Ha!
He'd probably forgotten what he'd done in the first place!
In the end, Loa could only console himself: Well, that was Straw Hat Luffy for you!
The laughter carried them past a dangerous subject. Chopper, his mind made up, soon fit right in with the Straw Hat Pirates. He joined Usopp and Luffy in holding up baskets and dancing with chopsticks