“Pirate King?!”
Koby’s voice instantly rose several pitches.
“The Pirate King is the person who claims the greatest treasure in existence!”
“That treasure is One Piece—the legendary prize said to hold all the wealth, glory, and power the world has to offer!”
“Yep.”
Luffy settled his Straw Hat firmly onto his head.
“And I fully intend to become Pirate King.”
“That’s impossible!”
“I’m serious.”
“Do you have any idea how many pirates are searching for One Piece?
How could you ever hope to find it?”
No matter how hard he tried, Koby couldn’t understand where Luffy’s confidence came from.
“So what?” Luffy replied while flexing his arms.
“I’m the strongest there is!”
“No way!
Absolutely not!
You’ll end up dead!”
“I’m not scared of dying.”
For once, Luffy’s expression turned completely serious.
“The moment I decided to head out to sea, I already put everything on the line.”
“My life included.”
Koby fell silent.
“And besides,” Luffy continued, glancing over at Karl, who was busy checking whether the unfortunate pirates were still breathing, “it’s not only my dream anymore.”
“There’s no way we’re going to lose.”
“You’d risk your life for that…”
Koby stared at him quietly.
Only now did he truly realize something.
This wasn’t a joke.
The boy standing before him genuinely planned to challenge the highest position a pirate could attain.
“If only…
I could be that determined…”
Koby muttered under his breath.
“Then why can’t you?”
“Huh?”
“Why not?”
“Because…
because…
I’m afraid.”
Luffy looked directly into his eyes.
“So tell me, Koby.”
“What’s your dream?”
“What’s the thing you want most?
The thing worth finding that courage for?”
Watching the exchange, Karl suddenly thought of the motivational speakers from his previous life.
They always liked asking people about their dreams too.
If Luffy had a folding chair, the resemblance would have been perfect.
“I…
I…”
Koby hesitated for quite some time.
Then, encouraged by Luffy’s unwavering gaze, he finally blurted it out.
“I want to become a Marine!”
“It’s been my dream ever since I was a kid!”
“A Marine?”
Luffy immediately broke into a wide grin.
“That’s a great dream!”
“Yeah.”
Karl nodded.
“But before that, could you answer something for me, Koby?”
“If your goal is becoming a Marine, how did you end up aboard a pirate ship?”
“Huh?
Pirate ship?”
Luffy looked stunned.
“This is a pirate ship?”
“So pirates rescued us?”
“Can you stop being stupid for five seconds?!”
Karl exploded.
“Even a child could tell those two guys were pirates just by looking at them!”
“And quit interrupting me!
I’m asking something important here!”
“Oh.”
Luffy immediately sat down obediently.
“Then you two go ahead.”
“Karl…
sir…”
Koby scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“It’s kind of a long story.”
“Then give me the short version.”
Karl rubbed his forehead.
Why did everyone in this world always say that?
“Alright.”
Koby nodded.
“Well…
I finally gathered enough courage to leave home and join the Marines.”
“But then I crossed paths with Lady Alvida.”
“She captured me and made me work on her ship.”
“For three years.”
Karl said nothing.
Of course.
Only you could manage something like that, Koby.
Without saying anything, Karl patted him on the shoulder and offered an encouraging look.
“Keep working on it.”
“Yes, Karl!”
To Karl’s surprise, Koby suddenly became energized.
“One day I’ll become an excellent Marine!”
“I’ll arrest every criminal sailing these seas!”
“Even Lady Alvida!
I’ll bring her in too!”
Karl rolled his eyes.
Was there something wrong with this kid?
He’d only been trying to be polite.
A person who set sail intending to enlist in the Marines, only to spend the next three years enslaved by pirates, had already exceeded Karl’s ability to comment.
Right then—
BANG!
The cargo hold door was kicked open.
A huge figure blocked the entrance.
“Koby!”
“L-Lady Alvida!”
“Koby,” Alvida said coldly, “care to explain who these two are?”
“I…
“Koby, who’s that freckled old woman?”
Luffy asked innocently while scratching his head.
The second those words left his mouth, the atmosphere froze.
“Old…
woman?”
One pirate standing behind Alvida looked as though he’d seen a ghost.
“H-He actually said it…”
“He really used that word…”
“You dare insult me?”
Alvida’s expression darkened instantly.
“The most beautiful woman on the seas?”
“You’re asking to die!”
With a furious roar, she swung her enormous iron mace straight at Luffy.
“What a scary old lady.”
Luffy muttered.
Then he casually dropped into a fighting stance.
“Luffy.”
Karl called out.
“Don’t kill anyone.”
“Got it!”
Luffy answered immediately.
His knees bent slightly before he sprang upward.
The gigantic mace swept harmlessly beneath him.
A moment later, he landed atop the weapon itself, balancing effortlessly between its metal spikes.
“My turn now!”
Excitement blazed in his eyes.
Drawing his arm far back, he shouted the name of his attack.
“Gum-Gum Pistol!”
His fist stretched forward at incredible speed.
BOOM!
The punch landed squarely on Alvida’s face.
She shot backward like a cannonball, blasting through the ceiling before crashing onto the deck above.
“Lady Alvida got blown away?!”
The surrounding pirates panicked immediately.
Several nearly dropped their weapons from sheer shock.
“Karl, I’ll leave this part to you.”
Luffy flashed a grin.
Then he leaped through the hole he’d punched in the ceiling.
“As you command, Captain.”
Karl watched him disappear before turning toward the remaining pirates.
A polite smile appeared on his face.
“So…”
“Would you prefer to surrender quietly?”
“Or would you rather I take care of things myself?”
“Just a small warning.”
“If I’m forced to do it personally, it may become considerably more unpleasant.”
The pirates exchanged nervous looks.
Nobody knew how to respond.
The reason was simple.
What they had just witnessed was too unbelievable.
Alvida was unquestionably the strongest person on the ship.
As captain, she ruled these waters with a fearsome reputation, earning her the epithet “Iron Mace” Alvida.
Even if everyone present joined forces, they likely wouldn’t stand a chance against her.
Otherwise, she could never have controlled them for so many years.