After Luffy failed to recruit Nami, Koby looked at him, a trace of hesitation flashing in his eyes, but finally spoke up. "Mr. Luffy, if you really need a crewmate, I know someone somewhere who might be a good choice. But there's something I have to tell you: he's a pirate hunter, and as far as I know, he seems to have done something wrong and been arrested by the Marines."
Luffy immediately perked up and asked excitedly, "Really? Is that true? Come on, Koby, tell me! Who is he? Where is he?"
Koby took a deep breath and continued, "His name is Roronoa Zoro. He's a very famous pirate hunter. He's very strong and has made something of a name for himself around here."
Just then, Liu Qing cut in. "I know him. I've heard a few things about him. Apparently, while saving a little girl, he accidentally killed a dog belonging to a Marine captain's son. Then that captain's son threatened the lives of the girl and her mother to force Zoro not to resist and let himself be taken to the Marine drill ground. On top of that, the captain's son cruelly left Zoro exposed to the blazing sun and demanded that he last a month without food or water, or he'd kill the mother and daughter."
After hearing Liu Qing describe what Zoro had done, Luffy couldn't help feeling that he wanted him as a crewmate.
"He sounds like a pretty good guy!"
Luffy rubbed his chin with his right hand and made his decision. "All right, it's settled! Next stop, we're going to find this pirate hunter. If he really is a good guy, we'll make him our crewmate!"
Luffy suddenly said, "I'm hungry! I want meat! Let's rest here for a day and head for that place you mentioned tomorrow morning, Liu Qing."
Liu Qing spread his hands. "Can't do that. I don't know the way. I think Koby knows a bit about navigation, so let's have him take us tomorrow. Doesn't Koby want to become a Marine anyway? We can see whether the Marines there really are as hopeless as the rumors say. Isn't that right, Koby?" Liu Qing finished by asking Koby another question.
Koby said quietly, "Y-yes. I know where Roronoa Zoro is. I'll take you there tomorrow morning."
Since they were going to rest, Liu Qing used Hand Seal-less Healing to restore all the pirates a little, then had them prepare food and clean the rooms.
The next morning.
At a single call to assemble from Liu Qing, all the pirates dropped whatever they were doing and hurried to gather by the gangplank.
In these pirates' eyes, Liu Qing was even more terrifying than a demon! During yesterday's fierce battle, before any of the men had figured out what was happening, they had all inexplicably collapsed, unable to get up. Even seeing where they were going had become terribly difficult, as though they had suddenly gone blind. The pirates were already deeply grateful to Liu Qing for having been lucky enough to survive. Now he was only asking them to do a little work, which was a piece of cake to them.
Liu Qing stood at the bow, looking at the assembled pirates, his voice low and firm. "You don't need to be so nervous. I've gathered you here today because there's something important I need your help with. My captain wants to go to an island to find someone. You can ask Koby for the exact location; he knows the right direction. Now, I want you to steer the ship strictly according to Koby's instructions and get us safely to that island. Is that understood?"
The pirates felt as though they had been granted a pardon and hurriedly answered in unison, "Understood!"
"Then get moving right away. Don't waste everyone's time. Set sail!" Liu Qing waved his hand and gave the order.
As soon as he finished speaking, all the pirates sprang into action, each taking up their duties. Some manned the helm, some raised the sails, and others kept watch over their surroundings. Under Koby's guidance, the ship slowly turned and sailed in the direction he indicated.
"Koby, how much longer until we get there? This is so boring," Liu Qing asked.
"Soon, soon. We should get there tomorrow morning," Koby replied.
Luffy also walked over and said, "Another whole day? Yeah, this is getting a little boring."
Seeing how bored everyone was, Liu Qing immediately thought of the game Happy Fight the Landlord from his previous life. He directly controlled Wood Release, and a deck of playing cards made from thin pieces of wood appeared in his hand.
Liu Qing said, "Come on, Luffy, Koby. Let's play cards. I'll explain how to play first, so remember the rules."
"The rules go like this: yabba dabba, blah blah, yadda yadda... Got it?" Liu Qing looked at the two of them.
Luffy said, "Yep, I've got it! It's so simple, I understood it right away."
Koby said, "I understand too."
Liu Qing said, "Good, then let's start. I'll shuffle."
The cards were being dealt...
Koby said, "I'll bid for landlord."
Luffy said, "I'll bid for landlord."
Liu Qing said, "I'll bid for landlord."
Koby said, "I'll bid again."
Koby said, "Hehehehe, I'm the landlord."
Liu Qing said, "I'll go first. A three."
Luffy said, "Joker bomb!"
Liu Qing said, "What the fuck? Are you nuts? I played a three! You used a joker bomb on my single three?"
Luffy said, "I wanted to bomb it. Don't you?"
Liu Qing said, "Fine, sure. Come on, play again."
Koby said, "Pass."
Liu Qing said, "Pass."
Luffy said, "A three."
Liu Qing said, "A two."
Koby said, "Pass."
Luffy said, "Four fours! Bomb!"
Liu Qing said, "We're on the same team! The same team! Fuck your mother! Damn you, Luffy, die! Wood Release: Four Pillars Prison! Stay in there and think about what you've done! Argh! I'm so pissed off! I'm done playing!"
Liu Qing flipped the card table over and went off to the side to train.
At the sight, Luffy burst out laughing.
Noon the next day...
Shells Town's harbor.
"We're finally here! The Marine Base's harbor! Hahahaha!" Luffy had just jumped off the ship and stood at the harbor's edge, shouting.
Once everyone had jumped off the ship, Liu Qing looked back at the pirates and said, "I'll give you a chance. First, I'll confine you aboard the ship. We'll decide what to do with you after we see what the Marines here are like. If they're righteous Marines, you'll turn yourselves in. You don't have bounties, so you probably won't be sent to Impel Down. If the pirates here are all people who commit every imaginable evil, then after we defeat the evil Marines, you'll turn yourselves in. There's a good chance you'll be able to join the Marines. If you do join, behave yourselves and be good people."
Liu Qing really wasn't talking nonsense. Many of the pirates Luffy defeated in the original story could be seen during the Paramount War, and they had all joined the Marines. This might be why Garp liked recruiting people into the Marines.
"We agree," the pirates answered in unison.
Seeing that they agreed, Liu Qing hesitated no further. He had the pirates return to the ship, then clapped his hands together. "Wood Release: Four Pillars Prison ×5!" He enclosed the entire pirate ship in five layers of Wood Release, the kind they absolutely couldn't escape even if each of them was given an axe.
Luffy strolled along the bustling street, his gaze drawn to a roadside fruit stall. Without any hesitation, he casually picked up a piece of fruit and took a big bite, sending juice splashing everywhere.
After finishing the fruit, Luffy wiped his mouth contentedly, then took a gold coin from his pocket and casually tossed it to the fruit vendor. The vendor looked at Luffy in surprise, clutching the gold coin tightly, seemingly unable to believe his eyes.
Looking at the vendor, Luffy suddenly asked, "Do you know where Roronoa Zoro is?" His voice wasn't loud, but it rang through the street like a thunderclap.
The bustling street instantly fell silent. Everyone who heard Luffy's question turned pale as though they had seen a ghost, then scattered.
Seeing this, Luffy scratched his head and said in confusion, "Huh? Looks like you can't mention Zoro's name in this town."
Beside him, Liu Qing gave a helpless smile. "Maybe Zoro is too famous here, and everyone's afraid of getting caught up in it."
Luffy smiled dismissively, then turned to Koby. "Is that so? Haha! Then let's go straight to the Marine Base and take a look. Koby, don't you want to become a Marine? Let's go."
Koby looked at Luffy with some hesitation and said, "Mr. Luffy, I'm still considering whether to join the Marines. I've heard that Captain Morgan of the Marines here doesn't seem to have a very good reputation."
When the townspeople on the street heard that name, they all scattered once again, as though they had heard the name of some ghost.
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