Just as the lackey's blade was about to strike Nami, at that critical moment, two deafening shouts suddenly rang out at once.
"You guys are way too loud! I can't even sleep with all that noise!"
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
As the two voices rang out, the barrel beside Nami burst apart as though it had been detonated. A figure wearing a little red vest, knee-length blue denim shorts, and a pair of casual-looking straw sandals shot upright from inside, sending some of the pirates surrounding Nami flying.
The instant the other lackeys' blades were about to strike Nami, a rapid series of crisp wooden knocks suddenly rang out. Several wooden boards swiftly joined together, forming an impregnable oval wall that sheltered Nami securely behind it.
Like a wall of iron, the oval wooden barrier forcibly blocked every weapon swinging toward Nami. The previously ferocious blades struck the wooden wall as though they had hit an iron plate, unable to advance another inch.
The sight instantly stunned every pirate. None of them had imagined that, besides a thief, there were actually two other people aboard this ship. And one of them could even conjure wooden boards as hard as steel.
Seeing that she was unharmed, Nami looked toward Liu Qing, who had saved her, and said quietly, "Thank you for saving me."
Liu Qing waved a hand. "It's fine. It was hardly any trouble. You risked your life to steal treasure from a pirate ship. Are you that short on money?"
Nami said, "Yes. I have a reason I have to steal treasure, but I can't tell you. Sorry."
Since Nami did not want to talk about it, Liu Qing asked her no further questions.
Meanwhile...
Alvida glared at the two newcomers and snapped, "Who the hell are you two brats?"
Hearing that seemed to flip a switch in Luffy, and he shouted, "My name is Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm the man who's going to become the Pirate King!"
Liu Qing answered too. "Me? Hmm... I suppose I'm a traveler. Someone traveling the world for fun."
For a moment, everyone aboard the pirate ship fell into a strangely awkward silence. After a brief pause, the pirates all burst into laughter.
Pirate A said, "Did you hear that, boys? This kid's going to become the Pirate King! Hahahaha!"
Pirate B said, "Yeah, yeah! That's the funniest joke I've heard in ages!"
Hearing Luffy's words, Koby said in disbelief, "Y-you're going to the Grand Line to look for the One Piece Roger left behind? Stop joking! That's something pirates all over the world are searching for! You'll never get it! You'll die! You'll die on your way to finding the treasure! How could you possibly compete with that many people for a single treasure?"
Luffy looked at the cowardly Koby and said seriously, "What's your name? Do you have a dream of your own? I've had my own dream since I was little. I'd give my life for that dream. Even if I die, I'll die on my way to becoming the Pirate King."
At that, Luffy's expression grew excited, and he shouted, "Besides, I won't be beaten that easily! I, Monkey D. Luffy, will definitely become the Pirate King!"
Looking at the utterly serious Luffy and his determination, Koby was deeply shaken. He murmured to himself, "If... if I had that kind of determination too, I'd definitely be able to achieve my dream. I know I could."
Suddenly, Koby looked at Luffy with determination in his eyes. "Mr. Luffy, if I had your determination and courage, I'd definitely become an outstanding Marine, wouldn't I?"
Liu Qing spoke up. "Kid, dreams aren't achieved just by talking. If you want to become a Marine, you have to pursue that dream prepared to be killed by pirates. If you cower and refuse to move forward, what good will all that talk do? Right, Luffy?" As he spoke, he looked toward Luffy.
"Luffy, my name is Liu Qing. On your way to becoming the Pirate King, could you take me out to sea with you? My dream is to travel the entire world. Following you should be pretty interesting!"
Luffy laughed. "Sure! Liu Qing, you're my crewmate from now on! Hahahaha!"
At that moment, Alvida finally erupted as she watched them chatting away, paying her no attention whatsoever.
Alvida roared furiously, "Enough, you damned brats! What do you think this place is? None of you are taking me seriously! Boys, get them! Kill them!"
Hearing the woman opposite him bellow, Luffy picked his nose and said indifferently, "Who are you, old lady?"
"Old lady... You called me an old lady? Die, brat!" Alvida went completely berserk, swinging her spiked club as she lunged at Luffy.
Koby cried out, "Luffy, watch out!"
Hearing Koby actually warn an outsider, the furious Alvida forgot everything else. She redirected the iron club aimed at Luffy toward Koby. "You can die here too, you little brat!"
Faced with Alvida's attack, Nami and Koby were too frightened to move. Just as they were about to be struck again, Luffy made his move.
Luffy stretched out his arm and caught Alvida as she leaped at Koby and the others. Then he yanked her back hard, slamming her into the deck.
Climbing back up, Alvida glared at her underlings, who still had not moved. "What are you staring at? Get them!" With that, she attacked Luffy again.
Seeing the pirates charging at Koby and Nami, Liu Qing jumped down too. He clapped his hands together and activated the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, plunging every pirate facing him into pitch darkness.
Fear instantly filled all the pirates' hearts, and they stumbled about aimlessly. Some ran off the deck and fell into the sea, while others collided with their own men or crashed into doors. The deck descended into complete chaos.
Even while fighting Alvida, Luffy glanced back and laughed. "What an interesting ability, Liu Qing! Haha! Watch this! Gum-Gum Gatling!"
Koby and Nami looked at Liu Qing with stars in their eyes. "Amazing!"
Seeing that many pirates were still standing, Liu Qing clapped his hands together again. "Wood Release: Cutting Technique!" Countless wooden spikes appeared across the pirate ship's deck. Like Kimimaro's "Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Seedling Fern," wooden spikes sprouted from the ground, advancing toward the pirate lackeys. In an instant, Alvida was the only pirate aboard who could still move.
Since he was unsure whether Luffy disliked killing, Liu Qing had not dealt any fatal blows. He had merely pierced all their feet.
On Luffy's side, Alvida's broad, sweeping attacks had actually allowed her to fight him to a standstill. But when she leaped up to attack Luffy again, he struck her squarely in the stomach with a Gum-Gum Rocket. In an instant, Alvida was sent flying out of sight.
After sending Alvida flying, Luffy took a great leap and landed beside Liu Qing, Nami, and Koby.
Luffy said happily, "Hahahaha! You're pretty strong, Liu Qing! What an interesting ability! With you as my crewmate, the adventures ahead are sure to be fun. You're the first crewmate I've found. I still need nine more, and there has to be a musician and the best cook among them."
Then he looked at Nami, who was carrying treasure on her back, and asked seriously, "Do you want to be my crewmate? I just started a pirate crew."
Looking at the goofy, vacant-looking Luffy, Nami refused without hesitation. "No, thanks. I really don't like pirates."
After saying that, Nami turned to Liu Qing and waved. "Thank you so much for saving me. I'll be leaving now. Bye!"
Then Nami promptly jumped into a small boat and rowed away alone.
Before you continue