Luffy's expression became incomparably resolute, as though he had once lost something precious.
Tap, tap, tap.
A sound came from behind him.
Luffy glanced over.
Usopp was furtively waving him over.
Did he have something fun in mind?
After lying on the sheep figurehead for several hours with a face like a succubus had sucked all the life out of him overnight, Luffy instantly perked up.
His interest was immediately piqued.
"Nami's sunbathing on deck right now. Wanna go treasure hunting in the storeroom?" Usopp asked.
"Nami just said we're not allowed in there."
"Did you agree?"
"No."
"Neither did I."
Usopp patted him on the shoulder.
"Besides, you're the captain, aren't you?"
That made sense.
As expected of the sniper he'd chosen.
Pretty smart!
I'm the captain!
And the captain can go wherever he wants.
In truth, Usopp simply wanted someone to share the blame with, and Luffy was perfect for the job.
"Let's go! Treasure hunting!"
Luffy burst into a huge grin.
The storeroom had the red-nosed guy's treasure, as well as the treasure belonging to that man who used a whole bunch of swords.
Sure enough, nothing got a pirate more excited than treasure hunting!
The storeroom was locked.
Luffy's method was simple.
Just use a little strength and accidentally open the door.
Usopp stopped him.
Obviously, this was when you picked the lock.
Nami had organized the storeroom neatly, with everything arranged in perfect order.
Usopp knew exactly what he wanted and went straight for the various tools and equipment.
Meanwhile, Luffy rummaged through boxes and crates nearby.
He'd been excited at first, but aside from Berries and some jewelry, he couldn't find anything else.
This wasn't the kind of adventure he wanted.
"I'm leaving."
Luffy spoke with a bored expression.
The adventure he'd imagined should've been something like a treasure chest suddenly turning into a monster, then taking them to some unknown island where they'd discover secret treasure left behind by a great pirate.
"Wait, wait! If you leave, what am I supposed to do?"
Usopp was still gathering the things he wanted.
If Luffy went outside and attracted Nami's attention, what would happen to him?
His eyes landed on a pendant inside one of the boxes.
He casually tossed it to Luffy.
With an utterly serious expression, Usopp declared,
"This is a relic left behind by a great pirate. They say it contains clues leading to hidden treasure!"
Really?
Luffy immediately began examining the pendant.
It felt slightly cold in his hand.
Its surface resembled a deep, mysterious nebula, while strange symbols covered the area around a broken edge.
Luffy figured Usopp had gone back to being a liar again.
How could a pendant possibly have anything to do with treasure?
"What is your dream?"
A voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
"I'm the man who's going to become the Pirate King!"
Luffy answered instinctively.
Wait.
Who's talking?
He looked down at the pendant in his hand.
Luffy's eyes lit up.
He sneakily glanced at Usopp, who was asking what he'd just said.
Luffy's eyes shifted to the side, and he whistled before saying it was nothing.
He was going to secretly find the treasure first, then blow everyone away!
That night.
Luffy tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
Using the moonlight, he pulled out the pendant hanging around his neck and examined it from every angle.
This sea was the most incredible place in the world.
Nothing that appeared here would be strange.
Luffy often dreamed about talking reindeer and yo-ho-ho-ing skeletons.
So how had that voice from earlier happened?
Luffy scratched his hair.
His interest in things like this came quickly and disappeared just as fast.
He was already tired today.
Whatever it was could wait until tomorrow!
As his consciousness grew hazy, he seemed to hear something.
【Pirate King Training Plan initiated!】
【Day One!】
【May 10, 1520, Sea Circle Calendar. Sleep duration: one hour. Wake at 1:00 AM for training. Perform 1,000 punches per set, ten sets total.】
"Huh?"
【4:00 AM—12:00 PM: Eat breakfast and replenish your stamina. Conduct physical training and swordsmanship training with your companion Zoro.】
"Zoro really does wake up at four in the morning... but what does that have to do with me?"
【12:00 PM—4:00 PM: Lunch, followed by studying navigation theory with your companion Nami, then learning marksmanship, cannon firing, and aiming from your companion Usopp.】
"Let's use all four hours for lunch."
【4:00 PM—12:00 AM: Develop your Devil Fruit abilities and comprehend deeper levels of power. If you wish to become the Pirate King, you must make proper use of every day! Hard work is indispensable to achieving your dream. I will supervise you until you complete your training!】
"That makes a lot of sense, but I'm probably dreaming."
Luffy ignored it.
He'd dreamed about becoming the Pirate King more than once.
Work hard and train?
Not happening.
Luffy had finally escaped Grandpa's hellish training.
His free and joyful adventure had only just begun!
Besides...
Only one hour of sleep?!
What the hell are you, something even more demonic than Grandpa?!
One in the morning.
In his dream, Luffy was happily gnawing on an enormous leg of meat when that familiar voice sounded beside his ear again.
【Warning. Training time has arrived. Execute the assigned training immediately. Failure to comply will result in Stage One electrical punishment: 10,000 volts.】
"Electricity?"
Even dream-Luffy froze for a moment.
Then he ignored it.
Shock me all you want.
I'm a rubber man who ate the Gum-Gum Fruit.
Chomp.
Luffy took another huge bite.
【Warning. Execute the assigned training immediately. Failure to comply will increase punishment: 100,000 volts!】
【Warning. Execute the assigned training immediately. Punishment increased again: 500,000 volts!】
......
Inside the men's quarters, Zoro's eyes snapped open.
He saw flames beside him.
His eyes widened in shock, and he nearly slashed at them with his sword.
Where the hell did this flaming brat come from?
"What the hell is going on?!"
Crackle! Crackle!
Electricity erupted around Luffy's body.
Brilliant blue currents set Luffy's bed ablaze.
The electricity itself didn't affect him in the slightest.
But the instant the flames burned him, his eyes flew open.
"Eh... AAAAAAAH?!!!"
Luffy instinctively bolted upright.
And then the ship caught fire.
Going Merry: "Maybe you should've just left me rotting in the shipyard."
"What are you people doing instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?"
Nami had been awakened by the commotion and was furious, one hand covering her ample chest.
She already knew exactly how unreliable everyone aboard this ship was.
What kind of nonsense were they causing in the middle of the night now?
Then she saw Luffy being driven out onto the deck.
Usopp and Zoro both looked as though they were facing a mortal enemy, pointing their weapons at him like they'd just seen a ghost.
What's going on?
Were pirates doing the whole betrayal routine again?
She'd actually thought the people on this ship might be different from other pirates.
"Nami."
Luffy put on a pitiful expression and started walking toward her.
Everywhere he stepped, flames sprang up across the deck.
Brilliant blue currents of electricity occasionally crackled over his body.
"AHHH!"
Nami let out a piercing scream.
Who the hell wouldn't be terrified after seeing that?!
"D-Don't come any closer!"
A faint sob entered Nami's voice.