Helmeppo

"Be my companion?"

Looking at Luffy's enthusiastic expression, Moonlight couldn't help feeling both amused and exasperated.

He had been thinking about how to get aboard Luffy's ship, yet Luffy had unexpectedly invited him first.

After all, searching for One Piece alone on the vast sea was nothing but a joke.

Without a navigator, he wouldn't know where to sail.

Without a cook, he would starve to death sooner or later!

Without an archaeologist, who could unravel the mystery of the World Government's Void Century?

Without a ship's doctor, what would he do if he got sick?

Traveling the seas was no simple matter.

"That's right. My name is Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm the man who'll become the Pirate King. Be my partner."

Luffy nodded and spoke enthusiastically.

It had to be said that when Luffy smiled, he truly had a charm that made him impossible to refuse.

"This..."

Moonlight hesitated. He had originally planned to board Luffy's ship, but he hadn't expected to be invited outright. Still, wasn't this a little too hasty?

"Haha, great! My luck really is good. I was planning to invite ten people, and I found one right away."

At that moment, Luffy burst into laughter and patted Moonlight on the shoulder, acting as though they had known each other forever.

It was as if Moonlight had already become one of his crew.

"..."

Moonlight was speechless. This guy really was something.

Coby was also speechless. It was his first time seeing someone invite people like this.

"Luffy, right? I can accept your invitation, but let me make one thing clear first. My goal is One Piece and the pursuit of that vanished history, so if you invite me aboard, there must be an archaeology expert."

Moonlight said.

"Yeah. You're thinking the same thing I am. If we meet one, I'll definitely invite them. And besides a historian, we'll need a cook, musician, navigator, shipwright, and ship's doctor."

Luffy nodded and readily agreed.

"Then all right, Captain!"

Moonlight nodded at that and agreed.

"Great! Before we set sail, let's take this guy to a nearby island first."

Luffy nodded and pointed at Coby behind him.

"This guy? You really do like helping people."

Moonlight thought to himself and nodded.

Coby's dream was to become a Marine. If he had met anyone other than Luffy, they would never have paid him any attention.

"Thank you, Mr. Luffy! Thank you, Lord Moonlight!"

Coby said gratefully, tears streaming down his face. He had finally met good people!

"Hey, give us a small boat."

Luffy then called out to the captain.

Seeing Moonlight, the captain nodded. For his benefactor, let alone a mere boat, he would give him anything he wanted.

Soon, the three of them boarded a small boat and headed toward a nearby island.

Just as the three departed and everyone's attention was fixed on them, a nimble figure flashed across Alvida's pirate ship.

Though it was very fast, Moonlight still saw it.

"Nami?"

Moonlight smiled.

The three drifted along with the wind and soon found an island.

After landing, they discovered it was a small island called Shells Town.

Marine Branch 153 was stationed on the island, guarded by Colonel Morgan to prevent pirate invasions.

"Let's find somewhere to eat first. I'm starving to death!"

The moment he set foot on the island, Luffy started shouting about food. Without another word, he ran toward a restaurant in town.

"Ah, what kind of stomach do you have? Didn't you just eat not long ago? And you just left us behind like that?"

Coby stared in astonishment at Luffy, who had sprinted away and vanished from sight in no time.

"Let's go!"

Moonlight waved a hand. Luffy's reputation as a glutton was famous throughout the Pirate World; he had known about it long ago.

He then headed into town.

In the end, they found Luffy in a restaurant.

There were already forty or fifty plates piled before him. Luffy was devouring the food, emptying one plate after another.

That appetite and manner of eating instantly stunned everyone.

Coby had already been surprised, but now he was even more shocked.

"Ah, you're here. Come eat."

Seeing them, Luffy greeted them while stuffing food into his mouth.

Moonlight was speechless. He changed seats and ordered separately.

This was no joke. If you ate at the same table as Luffy, in the blink of an eye, you would find your food had vanished without a trace.

It would all end up in Luffy's stomach.

"Do you know each other?"

The exquisite dishes were quickly brought out. A little girl carried them over and looked curiously at Luffy.

"Yes. He's our captain. We're pirates."

Moonlight glanced at the little girl and smiled.

It was Rika, the girl who had brought food to Zoro.

Luffy really knew how to pick a place.

"Pirates!"

Hearing those words, Rika's eyes widened. Rather than being afraid, she was curious.

Clearly, in this era, pirates were nothing unusual. Many people even dreamed of going to sea and obtaining One Piece.

"That's right, they're pirates. I'm not..."

Coby said.

However, before he could finish, a loud bang rang out as a young man entered, followed by more than a dozen Marines.

"Oh no, it's Helmeppo! Run!"

"This is bad. That brat throws his weight around because of his father's power. Everyone, leave quickly! Don't let him notice you!"

"Is he here to cause trouble for this restaurant again?"

Seeing the group, especially the young man at the front, the diners around them fled in panic. Clearly, they were very afraid of him.

"It's Young Master Helmeppo. Please take a seat. Your food will be ready soon!"

Seeing Helmeppo, the proprietress hurriedly welcomed him.

He was the son of a Marine colonel, someone who controlled this island. She couldn't afford to offend him.

"Mom, why are you serving someone like him? He's been eating and drinking for free for days."

However, the little girl Rika shouted loudly.

"Shut up, Rika!"

"Shh, are you trying to get us into trouble? He's not someone we can offend!"

"Quickly, shut up!"

Hearing this, the proprietress immediately scolded her.

Several waiters hurriedly pulled the little girl away.

"Oh? It's you. I know you. You're the one who secretly brought Zoro rice balls, right? I just let you off the hook, and it seems you haven't suffered enough yet!"

Seeing Rika, Helmeppo's eyes lit up before he sneered.

Half a month ago, his dog had been eating here. After Rika hit it, he was about to make trouble, but Zoro stopped him.

To protect the restaurant, Zoro had made a bet with him and willingly allowed himself to be imprisoned for one month without food or water. In exchange, Helmeppo would leave the restaurant alone. Nearly twenty days had passed now.

To repay him, Rika had secretly brought him rice balls she made herself. Unfortunately, Helmeppo caught her and threw them away.

"You bad man! You run wild by relying on your father, but Zoro already made a bet with you. During this time, you're not allowed to set foot in this restaurant. You're breaking your promise!"

At the mention of Zoro, Rika grew even angrier.

"Who is Zoro?"

Luffy had been stuffing himself, but upon hearing that, he couldn't help asking.

"He's a famous Pirate Hunter in the nearby seas!"

Someone explained and told him what had happened.

"I see!"

After hearing this, a flash of anger appeared in Luffy's eyes.

"Getting involved again?"

Seeing this, Moonlight smiled.

Roronoa Zoro—he wanted to meet him too.