Zoro Gets Set Up by Luffy

As the distance between the Marine warship and the Straw Hat Pirates' ship steadily closed, the Marines aboard stood ready, their expressions somewhat tense.

Because the pirate crew before them was far too famous—especially their captain, "Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy, one of the Worst Generation with a bounty of 400 million.

"Colonel Wuli, my next request may be a little excessive," Shu said as he looked at Wuli. Though they were partners, Wuli had not worked with him for long, and Shu was especially taciturn, so they had barely exchanged many words.

Thus, Shu's voluntary mention of a "request" piqued Wuli's interest.

"What is it? Go ahead and tell me," Wuli said curiously.

"Although we are partners and hold the same rank, I hope I can have full command from here on," Shu said somewhat nervously. This request was rather excessive.

They were called partners, but that was not truly the case. It was merely a convenient term, since most recruits from the World Military Draft were exceptionally powerful.

The Marine higher-ups did not wish to directly appoint them to high-ranking positions, so they came up with this arrangement of partners as a transitional period.

Of course, the current highest combat powers did not need such a transition, because the new Admirals were simply far too strong.

So although they held the same rank, command authority was actually in Wuli's hands, while Shu could at most be considered his adjutant.

"Of course, that's no problem. I don't have much experience with this yet, so it'll be a good chance to learn," Wuli said.

"Thank you, Colonel Wuli!" After saying that, Shu saw that the Straw Hat Pirates' ship was about to enter artillery range. He turned and ordered the gunners, "The moment the Straw Hats' ship enters firing range, open fire!"

"Yes!" the Marines replied.

Wuli sighed inwardly. I didn't expect to fight the Straw Hats so soon. He did not particularly desire this battle. Although the Straw Hat Pirates were pirates and he was a Marine, he had not joined the World Military Draft to casually arrest every pirate he encountered.

The system had not issued a mission, which meant the Straw Hats did not have much evil value. Monkey D. Luffy was someone who drove the progress of the world, the main theme of this world.

He had no intention of capturing them, yet Wuli felt somewhat excited. "Roronoa Zoro, disciple of the world's greatest swordsman and a future great swordsman... I really want to see how strong you are after two years."

"Report! The enemy pirate ship has entered attack range!" a Marine suddenly reported.

Wuli looked over and could indeed clearly see everything aboard the Thousand Sunny, as well as those familiar yet unfamiliar faces.

"Fire!" Shu ordered resolutely!

Dozens of cannonballs came hurtling toward the Straw Hats' pirate ship.

Thousand Sunny.

Luffy and the others showed no panic at all when they saw the incoming cannonballs.

"Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy stood atop the lion-shaped figurehead.

Facing the rain of cannonballs, he rose to his feet and leaped into the air. He fiercely inhaled, and his abdomen quickly swelled up like a ball.

"Gum-Gum Balloon!"

Under Wuli and the others' watchful eyes, some of the cannonballs struck Luffy's inflated abdomen.

They pressed the balloon-like belly inward, but Luffy quickly bounced them back toward the Marine warship with his stomach.

Roronoa Zoro leaped up to deal with the remaining cannonballs. He drew only one sword; with a flash of sword light, the cannonballs were cut in half and exploded directly in midair!

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

Watching them shoot down the cannonballs so effortlessly, Wuli said, "As expected of the Straw Hats. They really are strong!"

"Cannonballs are coming back! Get out of the way!" The Marines aboard the warship panicked as they watched the cannonballs "Straw Hat" had bounced back.

Just as Shu was about to act, he saw Wuli draw his sword and casually swing it. It was as though a gust of wind had risen; the cannonballs in midair trembled slightly before exploding!

"Boom!" "Boom!"

Seeing that the Marine warship had not stopped firing, Luffy shouted, "Gum-Gum—"

Wuli saw Luffy's arm stretch out like ordinary rubber, extending all the way to the Marine warship. One hand grabbed the railing, while his body remained on the Thousand Sunny.

Seeing Luffy enter his reckless mode again, Nami and the others urgently cried out, "Luffy, what are you planning now? We need to leave as quickly as possible, don't—"

Before they could finish, there was a "whoosh," and Zoro jumped onto Luffy's arm.

Using Luffy's stretched arm as a bridge, he intended to run straight across to the Marine warship.

"Zoro, you..." Luffy said unhappily. This guy was actually using him as a path—huh? Luffy's eyes suddenly lit up. He thought of a good idea, and a smile spread across his face again.

Zoro had originally been cutting apart the cannonballs continuously flying through the air. He shuddered and turned toward Luffy. Seeing the smile on Luffy's face, a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

"Luffy..." Zoro called uneasily.

"Shishishi, Zoro, let's go!"

Wuli then saw Luffy's body begin retracting toward the Marine warship at tremendous speed. Along the way, Luffy snatched Zoro around the waist and sent him flying with him.

Boom!

The two crashed down onto the Marine warship, smashing human-shaped craters into the deck.

Luffy stood up, patted his hands, and laughed carelessly. "Ah, nothing happened!"

Zoro climbed out of the crater and roared furiously, "Luffy!!!"