The light and shadows in the forest were dappled.
Ace, Sabo, and Luffy stood back-to-back in a triangular formation.
The wild boar carcass on the ground was still steaming, but no one had the time to care about that now.
Bluejam tilted his head, looking at the three brats before him who were still wet behind the ears.
His subordinates, the pirates, had already spread out, surrounding them in a semicircle.
Their scimitars flashed in the sun, making one dizzy.
“Master Sabo, that last shot missed.
I don’t know who the next one will hit.” Bluejam hefted his machete onto his shoulder and chuckled.
He exhaled a cloud of foul-smelling smoke from the cigar stuffed between his rotten teeth.
“Don’t make it hard for the boys.
Come back with us, and you can go back to being that high-and-mighty noble young master.”
Sabo gripped his pipe tightly.
His knuckles turned pale from the exertion.
“I’ve already told you, I am not Master Sabo.
I am just Sabo from here.”
He looked at those familiar pirate symbols, feeling immense anger and irritation.
It was a loathing for his so-called family, and also rage at being treated like merchandise to be bought and sold.
“Tsk, ungrateful brat.” Bluejam spat on the ground.
He waved his hand, and a few pirates rushed forward with grimacing smiles.
“If we’re going to fight, then fight!
Why so much talk!” Ace moved first.
He kicked off the ground and lunged forward at incredible speed.
Having spent this time in the deep mountains hunting wild beasts with Ron, his speed had increased by more than just one level.
Before the pirate in the lead could react, the iron pipe in Ace’s hand had already swept across horizontally.
Bang.
A solid thud echoed through the forest.
The pirate was struck directly in the ribs, sent flying sideways, and slid down after hitting a tree trunk.
His eyes rolled back.
“Rubber — Stamp!” Luffy was not to be outdone.
His leg suddenly stretched, transforming into a thick weapon, and his sole landed precisely on a pirate’s chest.
The immense force kicked the opponent directly into the bushes.
Sabo dodged a sword slash, and his pipe thrust upward from below, landing perfectly in the opponent’s abdomen.
“These brats…” Bluejam narrowed his eyes.
Although these pirates were just house guards, they were at least adults who lived by the blade.
Yet, in the first exchange, seven or eight of them had been taken down by three little runts who weren’t even as tall as his waist.
“They’ve gotten faster,” Bluejam commented.
He truly hadn’t expected this.
According to the intelligence, Sabo was just a naughty kid running around.
How had his strength and speed suddenly become so absurd?
But he didn’t know that although Ron had only talked about making them slaughter and skin pigs, that high-intensity physical training and the occasional Tai Chi push-hand technique had quietly fundamentally changed the three brothers.
“Come again!” Luffy shouted, patting his chest.
His face smeared with blood.
Of course, the blood was from the wild boar.
Bluejam snorted coldly and took the machete off his shoulder.
“Since you want to play rough, I won’t hold back anymore.”
He waved his hand.
“Everyone, take out your guns!”
The pirates who were watching from the outer circle immediately unslung the flintlock rifles from their backs.
Dozens of dark gun barrels aimed at the three children in the center in that instant.
Sabo’s expression changed instantly.
In a place like the East Blue, the deterrent power of firearms against ordinary people was devastating.
Although their martial arts training was good, they hadn’t reached the point where they could withstand bullets with their bare bodies.
“Scatter!
Hurry, scatter!” Sabo shouted, grabbing Luffy and diving behind a camphor tree nearby.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Dense sounds of gunpowder explosions rang out in the forest.
A pungent smell of sulfur quickly permeated the air.
The sound of bullets shattering tree bark was incessant, and wood chips flew everywhere.
Ace hid behind a moss-covered boulder, listening to the clanging outside.
His teeth ground together.
“You bastards, if you have the guts, come down and fight me one-on-one!”
“Don’t be impulsive, Ace!” Sabo held him back.
The bullets kept them from even lifting their heads.
Luffy had the most impatient temper.
Seeing Sabo forced to hide behind the tree by this group, his temper flared.
He suddenly leaned out and grabbed a nearby tree branch with both hands.
“Rubber — Gatling!”
Borrowing the force of the stretch, he lunged out.
His small fists swung densely and rapidly toward the nearest row of musketeers.
But he still underestimated the baseness of adults.
Bluejam didn’t use a gun at all.
He was just waiting for this opportunity.
The moment Luffy landed, Bluejam’s burly body suddenly surged forward, and a heavy, powerful side kick blocked Luffy’s retreat.
After all, Luffy lacked experience; he couldn’t gain leverage while in mid-air.
This kick landed right on his side.
Although he had a rubber body and strong resistance to blunt force, that brute strength still sent Luffy tumbling to the ground, rolling several times on the dirt road, landing right at Bluejam’s feet.
“Luffy!” Ace and Sabo screamed in panic, about to rush out.
Bluejam sneered.
His heavy leather boot stepped directly onto Luffy’s chest.
He held his machete horizontally, the tip pressing against Luffy’s throat.
“Move, and this kid’s head will roll.”
Ace stopped in his tracks.
Seeing this, the surrounding pirates closed in again.
The circle of muskets tightening further.
“Master Sabo, shall we continue?” Bluejam pressed down with his foot, grinding it.
Luffy gritted his teeth.
His hands trying to pry off the leather boot, but he was pinned down and gasping for air.
His little face turning bright red.
Sabo stood up straight.
His iron pipe slowly drooping.
Looking at his brother being stepped on, that sense of helplessness surged up uncontrollably once again.
Was there really no escaping it?
Just at this moment, from the direction of the back mountain in the distance, an extremely unusual ripple spread over.
The jungle birds that were originally screeching suddenly fell silent collectively.
The wind in the forest seemed to have stopped as well.
By the hot spring pool, Ron was lying on a rattan chair.
His previously closed eyes slowly opening a slit.
His ears were filled with the sound of these damn guns and cannons.
“So annoying.” Ron sighed.
Beside him, Uta was nervously tugging at the corner of Ron’s clothes.
“Big Brother Ron, is that over where Luffy and the others are?”
Makino also stood up, her face filled with worry.
Her gaze looking toward the forest where smoke and dust were rising.
Ron didn’t speak.
He just slowly stood up.
He stepped barefoot onto the soft grass and casually picked up the white plastic pipe leaning against the table.
It was the one the system had just dropped.
“I said, as long as they call me brother, I can cover them with a blanket even if the sky falls.” Ron flicked the water pipe in his hand.
“Now someone wants to lift that blanket, and that makes me very unhappy.”
…
Author’s Note:
One Piece: The Lazy Brother of Luffy —
Dragon Ball: Oolong’s Sex Adventure
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Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
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Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
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The Naive Me Who Became Someone’s Everyday Secret
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High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6.