Starting as a Pirate by Rejecting Red-Hair's Invitation

He did not even know them...

"N-no, don't hurt us." The woman being held hostage clutched the wailing girl and looked at Lin Mo through tears. "Please, just do as His Majesty Wapol says and don't move. Otherwise, he really will kill us."

"Heh." Lin Mo gave a cold laugh. "So it's fine if I die?"

The woman froze, wiped her tears, and turned away. Her voice choked as she said, "I know this is asking too much. I know you have no reason to risk your life for strangers. But if you defy His Majesty Wapol and my daughter and I really die, you'll still have two innocent lives on your conscience, even if you survive... We were captured because of you in the first place. Don't you have even a little responsibility to save us?"

Responsibility?

Lin Mo could not help laughing softly.

He did not consider himself a bad person, but he was no saint, either.

Whether he saved someone depended entirely on his mood.

This kind of guilt trip was laughable to him.

Wapol roared with smug laughter. "Ahahaha! You're dead, you little bastard! Let's see you escape now. Men, attack! Whoever kills this brat first will be richly rewarded!"

"Yes, sir!"

The guards around him answered in unison.

Then they raised their guns together and aimed at Lin Mo.

Meanwhile...

On the next street...

Luo had been following Kureha, hoping she would teach him medicine.

But Kureha's attitude had remained the same: get lost; I have nothing to say to you.

As they walked one behind the other, they soon spotted Lin Mo surrounded by guards.

"Lin Mo?" Luo stared at the scene in surprise. He started forward to help, then stopped after two steps.

Seeing him come back, Kureha cackled. "Hee-hee-hee! What's this? Your little friend's in trouble, and you're not going to save him?"

Luo smiled faintly. "A siege on this scale is nothing to Lin Mo."

"Hee-hee-hee! You think highly of him, don't you?"

"Of course." Something occurred to Luo. He turned to Kureha with a sly grin. "You look like you've got time to spare. How about a wager?"

Kureha laughed. "Brat, who do you think I am? You think I'd fall for that so easily?"

Luo smiled. "What, are you afraid to bet with me?"

"Hee-hee-hee!" Kureha laughed loudly. "Provoking me won't work."

"Let's bet on how long Lin Mo takes to deal with those people," Luo said. "If you win, I'll stop pestering you to teach me medicine. If I win, you teach me. How's that?"

"Hmph. You've worked this out nicely, brat." Kureha grinned. "Hee-hee-hee! You said it yourself: if I win, you stop pestering me. Fine. I bet he deals with them in three minutes."

"Are you sure?" Luo asked with a smile.

Kureha studied the certainty in Luo's eyes, took a drink, and said, "You really have faith in your little friend. Hee-hee-hee! Three minutes is too long, after all. I'll bet one minute."

"Are you sure?" Luo asked again.

Seeing his expression turn serious, Kureha laughed. "Hee-hee-hee! I'm sure. One minute. I bet that Lin Mo brat deals with those useless fools in under a minute."

"Good." Luo's lips curled. "Then I'll bet ten seconds."

"Ten seconds?" Kureha's expression stiffened. "Brat, are you sure Lin Mo can deal with them in ten seconds?"

Luo shrugged. "No. But if we're going to bet, we might as well make it interesting. Maybe he'll pull it off."

"You're a lunatic..." Kureha said, speechless.

"If I lose, I lose," Luo said. "I can always keep following Lin Mo. I've already followed him for two months. A little longer won't matter."

With the help of Observation Haki, Lin Mo heard every word Luo and Kureha said.

He had no intention of letting Luo keep following him...

So, just as the guards around him prepared to fire, Lin Mo swept his gaze over them. Everyone collapsed unconscious on the spot, including the mother and daughter, who had been crying so pitifully.

That was the convenience of having Conqueror's Haki.

Luo: "..."

Kureha: "..."

Luo's mouth twitched, and a few drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. What did Lin Mo just do?

Kureha stared in shock. "Huh? Seriously? You're kidding!"

Luo coughed awkwardly. "I guess that means I won the bet..."

Kureha immediately felt cheated. "You rotten brats! You planned this together, didn't you?"

"No..." Luo had won by sheer luck. He had never expected Lin Mo to deal with those people in ten seconds. "I honestly didn't know he could do that, even though I already knew he was strong..."

Kureha took a drink to settle herself, then said impatiently, "Fine, fine. You got me. Ah, what a pain..."

Luo brightened. "So you'll teach me medicine?"

"I lost the bet," Kureha said impatiently. "Whatever else I may be, Kureha keeps her word. Brat, I'm strict. If you can't take it, you can leave whenever you like."

Luo grinned. "Haha, don't worry. I may not have many strengths, but I can endure hardship."

Meanwhile, with Lin Mo...

The instant he dealt with Wapol and his entourage, a system notification sounded in his mind.

Beep! Helped Luo become the Witch Kureha's apprentice. Check-in progress +10%.

Beep! Drum Island check-in mission complete. Congratulations, host! Gained the mastered-level skill Yin Healing Wound Destruction. Armament Haki level +1. Current Armament Haki level: Lv6.

A powerful force instantly surged through Lin Mo.

It felt as though an invisible layer of protection had formed around his body, cutting the bitter cold of his surroundings by more than half.

A Promise Before Parting on Drum Island

Completing the Drum Island check-in mission surprised Lin Mo somewhat.

He truly had not expected that helping Luo a little, just to get him off his back, would complete the final check-in task.

Still, the result was good, so he let it go.

Lin Mo opened his Personal Attribute Panel.

Name: Lin Mo.

Age: ten.

Check-in location: Alabasta (0%).

Constitution: All-Attribute Chakra.

Haki: Armament Haki Lv6, Conqueror's Haki Lv4, Observation Haki Lv4.

Skills: Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique (mastered), Swordsmanship Lv6, Flash Step Lv3, Night Guy Lv2, Swordsmanship: Divine Departure (mastered), Fairy Sphere Lv2, Mystical Palm Technique (mastered), Yin Healing Wound Destruction (mastered).

Six Powers: Finger Pistol Lv1, Iron Body Lv3, Shave Lv1, Geppo Lv1, Tempest Kick Lv1, Kami-e Lv1.

Weapon: Cursed Blade Stardust (Toyako).

System Space: 100 × 100 × 100 cubic meters.

Alabasta is next...

He closed the panel.

After a moment's thought, the first things that came to mind were Princess Vivi and Baroque Works, where Crocodile was involved.

At this point in time...

Crocodile probably had not gone to Alabasta yet.

So Lin Mo had no idea whom he would meet there.

For now, he would go to Alabasta. Whoever he ran into would be a matter of luck.

With that, Lin Mo picked up the two jars of wine Boc, the innkeeper, had given him and headed toward the harbor.

Luo saw him leave, apparently in the direction of the harbor, and hurried after him without thinking. "Lin Mo, are you going to drink at the tavern in the town by the harbor?"

"I'm leaving," Lin Mo said flatly.

"What?" Luo froze. "You're leaving Drum Island? Why so suddenly?"

"I'm a traveler." Lin Mo glanced at him. "I can't stay in one place for too long."

"But..." Luo clenched his teeth. "I really like you. Are you sure you won't consider joining my pirate crew?"

"No."

With that, Lin Mo continued toward the harbor.

Luo stood where he was, staring at Lin Mo's back. After a long while, he called out, "Lin Mo! Are we... are we friends? I mean, can I be your friend?"

Lin Mo paused but did not look back. "Yeah," he answered quietly, then kept walking.

Grinning, Luo waved goodbye. "We'll meet again! Next time, I'll be stronger than I am now. I'll be more worthy of being your friend!"

Kureha came to Luo's side and took a drink. "Hee-hee-hee! Looks like you've made up your mind."

"Of course!" Luo clenched his fist confidently. "If I set my mind to something, I can do it!"

In the Pine Forest outside Kokowitt Town...

Chopper hid behind a pine tree, watching Lin Mo.

When he heard Lin Mo and Luo's conversation, his heart sank.

He was happy to have learned Lin Mo's name.

But Lin Mo was leaving!

He did not want Lin Mo to go, but he knew Lin Mo had no reason to stay for him.

As Lin Mo walked farther away, little Chopper could not hold back. He changed into his reindeer form and trotted after him all the way to the harbor.

Lin Mo boarded his boat and began untying the rope from a wooden post onshore.

Chopper could not bear it anymore. He ran to the shore and asked through his tears, "Lin Mo, you saved me. Can't you stay?"

Lin Mo looked at Chopper. "You were outside Kokowitt Town earlier, weren't you?"

Chopper nodded miserably.

After a moment's thought, Lin Mo reached out and stroked Chopper's furry head. "Then you must have heard what I told Luo. I'm a traveler. I can't stay on Drum Island forever."

"But..." Chopper said plaintively. "Can't you stay a little longer? It was so hard to find someone who doesn't hate me. I don't want to lose you so soon."

"Chopper, men shouldn't make such a fuss over parting." Lin Mo went on untying the rope. "You'll meet more people who treat you well and are kind to you."

"But right now, I only have you and Doctor Hiriluk! I don't want later. I want now." Tears shimmered in Chopper's eyes. "I know I'm still weak, but I'll work hard. I'll work as hard as I possibly can. I want you to accept me, and I want to be your friend like that boy with the hat. I... I really don't want you to leave."

Chopper looked so pitiful.

Lin Mo had intended to be firm, but after a moment's thought, he asked, "Chopper, does it upset you that I can't stay?"

Chopper did not understand why Lin Mo asked, but he nodded blankly.

Lin Mo smiled faintly. "The sea is vast—far bigger than you can imagine. When you grow up, set sail. Then you'll understand how small your troubles now are. Compared to the world, Drum Island is no bigger than a sesame seed. Parting now doesn't mean parting forever. Someday, we'll meet again somewhere."

Chopper stared at Lin Mo, sniffling.

Lin Mo finished untying the rope from the shore.

The boat slowly drifted away with the current.

Chopper wanted to stop him, but he knew he could not. He wanted to say something more, yet he had no idea what to say.

"Chopper." Standing on the boat, Lin Mo smiled at Chopper as the distance between them grew. "Actually, we're already friends."

"Huh? Really?" Chopper asked in a fluster.

Lin Mo smiled and waved. "Really."

Chopper broke into a smile through his tears. "Someday, I'll set sail! When I do, I'll show you a stronger Chopper."