The instant the three of them climbed aboard, the bird plummeted under the sudden increase in weight on its back.
Xia Chen immediately teleported to the bird's head and pressed a finger against it. Then he said in an exceedingly friendly tone:
"If you don't want us adding roast bird to today's menu, flap those wings!"
The bird shuddered instantly, its enormous wings beating nonstop until it regained its balance.
Although it couldn't understand what Xia Chen was saying, it sensed his killing intent!
For the sake of staying alive, a little exhaustion was nothing.
"Woohoo!" Luffy looked excitedly in every direction, practically bursting with excitement.
Zoro, meanwhile, lay on the bird's back looking utterly done with life. A thought surfaced in his mind.
If I stick with these people, I'll be done for sooner or later! Not one of them is normal!
Some time later, thanks to their highly capable mount, they soon spotted a faint island in the distance.
Excitement immediately shone in Xia Chen's eyes.
Finally, Orange Town. I wonder what ability I'll get from checking in this time?
I was really satisfied with what I got from the last two check-ins!
And besides...
One of the future Four Emperors is on this island-Buggy the Thousand Clown.
Xia Chen was actually quite curious about him, as one of the Pirate King's apprentice crew members.
He was a close friend of Red Hair, one of the Four Emperors-a bromance buddy, for short.
As for why they were bromance buddies, just read "Red Hair Buggy" backward and you'd understand.
Buggy's strength remained a mystery. Although he had always seemed weak, who knew whether he really was!
Xia Chen wanted to find out!
A dozen or so minutes later, Xia Chen and the others were only a few hundred meters from the island when something went wrong.
Their mount couldn't go on!
After carrying three people for so long, it had truly reached its physical limit. This time, even if they threatened to kill or carve it up, it couldn't fly anymore.
Seeing this, Xia Chen felt a little helpless.
Why couldn't you just hold on a tiny bit longer?
With so many things, all it takes is holding on that tiny bit longer to reach success.
Sigh! What a feeble bird!
There was no helping it. As vice-captain, he would have to step up and drag these two idiots along himself.
Then, just like before, Xia Chen picked up Luffy and Zoro, one in each hand.
Looks like we really need to find a ship soon. Otherwise, once we have more people, I won't have enough hands to carry them.
Having experienced this once already, Zoro clearly reacted less violently this time.
Although looking down still made him a little nervous, he was no longer screaming as he had at first.
Before long, the three arrived in Orange Town.
The instant he set foot in town, a wonderful, familiar sound rang out in Xia Chen's mind.
[Ding! Successfully checked in at Orange Town! Obtained Armament Haki (beginner), Observation Haki (beginner)]
"Huh?"
(☆▽☆)!
"Haki?" Xia Chen instantly grew excited. He really did get whatever he wished for.
He had just been saying that once he mastered Armament Haki, he would let Luffy taste the power of a fist of love.
And now here it was!
With that thought, Xia Chen called directly to Luffy:
"Hey, Luffy, come here a second!"
"What is it, Xia Chen?" Luffy slowly walked over. Then Xia Chen suddenly slammed a fist into his head.
"Aah!!"
"It hurts! It hurts!"
A huge lump rose on Luffy's head, and he rolled around on the ground.
"It hurts? Aren't you a Rubber Man? How can it hurt?" Zoro asked in surprise beside him.
"I... I don't know either!" Luffy clutched his head, looking at Xia Chen with a trace of fear.
"When Xia Chen hits me now, it's just like when my grandpa hits me. It hurts like crazy!"
"Hehe!" Xia Chen was very pleased with the results of his experiment.
Let's see if you dare act cocky in front of me next time!
"This is a fist filled with love. Of course it hurts when I hit you!" Xia Chen said casually. Then he turned and walked away.
"Love?" Luffy looked a little bewildered, then clapped his hands together.
"My grandpa used to say that too! So as long as there's love, you can hurt me!"
"I see!"
Zoro: ...
"Could you be any more of an idiot?"
Zoro pondered. He seemed to have seen a faint dark gleam flash over Xia Chen's fist just now.
Unless he was mistaken, that was the key to hurting Luffy.
What was it?
Zoro gradually grew lost in thought as he watched Xia Chen's retreating back. It seemed their vice-captain was hiding quite a lot!
"Come on. What are you two doing?"
Xia Chen turned to look at Zoro and Luffy, who were still rooted to the spot.
"Oh, right!"
"Huh? Xia Chen, there's nobody in this town!"
Luffy asked in confusion.
"Yeah, I'm not too sure either!" Xia Chen answered.
Although he knew everyone had moved away because the Buggy Pirates were here.
But wouldn't saying that seem far too suspicious?
So he might as well play dumb despite knowing the truth!
Just as the three continued farther into town.
An exasperated shout came from the distance.
"Stop, thief! Don't run!"
The three of them turned to look and saw three burly men chasing an orange-haired woman.
The instant Xia Chen saw the woman, a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Nami, we meet again so soon!"
At that moment, Nami also spotted the three of them standing there, and a gleam flashed through her eyes.
She ran toward them while shouting:
"Boss, have you come to save me?"
"You're as good as ever at shifting the blame, Nami!"
Xia Chen raised his right hand toward Nami.
"Flying Finger Pistol!"
In an instant, three blasts of force burst from Xia Chen's fingers and shot toward Nami.
Whoosh!
The three finger blasts skimmed past Nami's body and flew behind her.
Squelch!
The sound of flesh being pierced rang out, and the three pirates chasing her fell to the ground.
"Wow! Xia Chen, how did you do that? That was so cool!"
Luffy's eyes instantly turned into stars.
Beside him, Zoro also looked curiously at Xia Chen.
"Well, this is pretty difficult!"
"How about this? I'll explain the key point, and you can see if you understand!"
Hearing this, Luffy and Zoro immediately craned their necks, looking like well-behaved students.
Although neither of them relied on this to fight, there was no downside to learning more skills!
"This move mostly depends on talent!"
"All right, I'm done explaining. How much you understand is up to you!"
"Though with those pig brains of yours, understanding it will probably still be difficult!"
Luffy, Zoro: ...
"I'm gonna send you flying!"
"I'm gonna cut you down!"
Bam!
Bam!
Zoro and Luffy lay side by side on the ground and raised their hands.
"We're sorry!"
"You two can't tell who's in charge anymore, huh?" Xia Chen clapped his hands together and said casually.
Meanwhile, Nami, who had watched the scene from across the way, was completely stunned.
"Is... is that something a human can do?"