[Chapter Size: 2000 Words.]
Third Person POV
Somewhere in the sea, First Half of Grandline.
…
…
Luffy, holding the newly received wanted posters, frowned as he pondered the bounties. “This is strange…” He murmured more to himself than to the others, but his voice was enough to draw Nojiko’s attention.
“What is it, Luffy?” Nojiko asked, approaching with a curious look.
Luffy held up Hugo’s poster. “I can understand that Nami and Yamato didn’t have a change, or that Vivi and Karoo aren’t in the bounties because the Marines still believe Vivi is the princess of Alabasta. But what I find strange is Hugo’s bounty. He didn’t do anything to deserve 150 million…”
Hugo, who was close enough to hear, nodded with a thoughtful look. “It’s true, I just fought against some marines and Baroque Works agents and… wait!” A sudden realization seemed to hit him.
Luffy completed Hugo’s line of thought. “Exactly, they found out about our fight in the desert. Probably a rebel took a photo, it’s very likely that our fight will appear in the newspaper tomorrow. Two Mythical Akuma no Mi in the same crew like ours, would certainly shock the world…”
Robin, who approached with her usual calmness, intervened. “This will be worse for us, we already have a quite large amount of bounties on our heads.” Her voice was soft.
Luffy nodded in agreement. “Yes, but we can’t do anything anyway. Just strengthen ourselves to face whatever they send for us.” His determination was clear.
At that moment, Kuina, with her poster in hand, joined the group. “And what will we do now?” Her question was direct, reflecting the curiosity and anxiety of the entire crew.
Luffy looked at his companions, a smile forming on his lips. “You can enjoy and celebrate your bounties. We will have another feast without training this day to celebrate.” His statement was met with a mix of relief and excitement. While many seemed happy, others, like Chopper, cried in a corner, complaining about their small bounties.
The day passed with a great celebration, however, the tranquility lasted only one night. The next morning, shocking news from the newspaper rocked the ship.
Luffy, with the newspaper in hand, laughed at the photo on the cover. It was him in his Ifrit form, immense and powerful, fighting the Titan in the Alabasta desert. Even before growing to 200 meters, he was an impressive sight, a force of nature ablaze before the sand giant. However, the headline was what really caught attention:
“A crew with two Mythical Zoans?! Disagreements among the Straw Hat members, the kind of argument that shocks the world! How a fight between the captain and one of his members, Hugo, turned into a brawl between mythical creatures!”
The article detailed the battle in the desert, speculating on the reasons for the confrontation and describing with admiration and fear the powers of Luffy and Hugo. It talked about Luffy’s transformation into Ifrit and how he demonstrated similar abilities in Loguetown, in addition to trying to dissect the mysterious and fearsome powers of Hugo.
“Don’t believe everything you read,” Luffy said with a smile, folding the newspaper. “But it’s good to know that they recognize our strength.”
The day passed with training this time, as they ignored the newspaper, expecting something like this, but the next day came what happened in Alabasta.
However, the routine of training was interrupted the next day by more news from Alabasta. Luffy, holding the new newspaper, gathered the crew on deck to share the latest information. The main headline “Chaos in Alabasta” immediately captured everyone’s attention. With a calm expression, Luffy began to read aloud.
“As soon as Luffy and his crew captured the vice admiral and two Shichibukais,” Luffy read, his voice amused. “The Marines who were in the country gathered to fight the Straw Hats and rescue the prisoners. With the help of half a dozen commodores and Smoker, they managed to free them.”
“And along with all the marines and Shichibukais, justice managed to expel the Straw Hats from Alabasta.” The crew listened in silence, some with somber expressions, others with defiant looks. The article painted a picture of an epic battle where the Marines, supposedly united in strength and purpose, had risen en masse to confront and, ultimately, repel the infamous pirates from their territory.
Luffy paused for a moment, his eyes sweeping the crew before continuing. “But not just that,” he continued, “Smoker discovered a greedy scheme of Crocodile in the country, and they obtained evidence for the Shichibukai’s criminal actions, arresting him and removing him from the organization.”
The news that it was Smoker who had unearthed and exposed Crocodile’s nefarious plans in the country and obtained sufficient evidence to ensure his arrest and removal from the position of Shichibukai sounded like something straight out of a twisted fairy tale.
“What a lie! I didn’t know that marine would take all the credit!” Vivi seemed dissatisfied and shook her head in disgust. “How can they twist the truth like this?”
“They can write whatever they want,” he declared, “but we know the truth. Also, don’t judge Smoker like that, he’s better than this, I’m sure he wouldn’t agree with this if asked beforehand.” Luffy commented, knowing how Smoker thought.
“It seems we are just villains now…” Yamato commented curiously.
“Well, my dear, we’re pirates and outlaws, we’re never going to come out as heroes in the newspaper.” Luffy said with a small smile.
Shirahoshi, always the voice of innocence and justice, couldn’t hide her disappointment. “But that’s unfair!” She commented, her soft voice trembling with the strength of her emotions. The idea of being painted as villains, despite their good intentions and courageous actions, was hard to accept.
Alvida, with her experience and hardened skepticism, cast an understanding glance toward the sea princess. “The world is unfair…” She commented.
Luffy, sensing the need to shift focus, intervened with determination. “Anyway, let’s get back to training. This doesn’t matter to us anymore.” His voice was firm.
In the spacious training room of the Black Pearl, the Straw Hat crew gathered in a semicircle around Luffy, who stood with a thick, ancient book in hand. “Listen up, everyone!” He began. “Some of us have already started training with Haki, but now that most of you have learned sufficient techniques from the six styles and are just refining them, we’re going to start developing Haki with you.”
Luffy opened the book, its pages filled with detailed notes and sketches that Luffy has been studying to learn in the best possible way, he continued. “With the money I got from Crocodile’s casino that’s in our vault, there was something left to buy more equipment that might help you with these techniques.” He gestured to a collection of newly acquired equipment arranged next to the room: special weights, headbands with insignias, attack machines, and other mysterious items, each designed to assist in the awakening and strengthening of Haki.
“I’ll start the introduction for some of you.” Luffy continued, his gaze sweeping the crew. “The only ones who were training Conqueror’s Haki are me and a few others who possess the conqueror’s haki, but now it’s time to train you like Usopp in Observation Haki and Hugo in Armament, for example.” Usopp and Hugo, upon hearing their names, straightened up, nodding positively.
Luffy then turned his attention to the newest members of the crew. “The only ones who won’t train yet will be the most recent, like Alvida, Robin, Vivi, Chopper, and others.” His gentle eyes encouraged those mentioned. “You will continue learning the six styles and familiarizing yourself with the basics. We all start from somewhere, and I’ll be here to guide you.”
Thus, they continued in intense training, Luffy making discoveries with armament and conqueror’s haki, the others trying to develop their own strengths, and others starting after hearing a lecture on each of the hakis. Luffy knew that by focusing on those with more affinities, they could easily develop and awaken even before the war with this training.
After three days of sailing and intense training, Luffy, standing at the bow of the ship, gazed at the horizon with a contemplative look, sporting a thoughtful expression. He was aware that the world was vast and filled with wonders and dangers he had yet to encounter. Inspired by the desire to see more than the adventures he knew from stories and anime, he wanted to explore and discover more places he saw in the anime, so he made a decision to go to a new place before heading to Jaya, wanting to explore this sea further and see its wonders.
“Nami! What’s nearby on the maps and eternal pose? Any cool place before we go to Jaya?” Luffy went to Nami’s cabin, who was drawing the topography of Alabasta at the moment.
Nami heard her captain and put down her drawing, going to another table in her office to focus on her maps and nautical charts, looking at Luffy with a thoughtful expression.
“Hmm, let’s see,” she murmured, her fingers sliding over the paper, tracing routes and possibilities. “Ah, here.” She pointed to an area not too far from their current location.
“They call this island ‘Lumenarquia'(Fictitious Island),” Nami began, “It’s known for its unbelievable wealth and natural beauty. They say the beaches are made of golden sand and that the trees have silver leaves.”
Luffy leaned over the map, his interest clearly piqued. “Sounds interesting…”
“Yes, but it’s not just that.” Nami continued, her gaze fixed on the map. “The island is unique because of its main city, ‘Cintilância’. It’s built entirely on a huge crystal mountain that glows day and night. They say that at night, the entire city twinkles under the moon, as if stars had descended to the earth.”
“But that’s not all,” Nami added, a sly smile forming. “They say the island is so wealthy that even the most common coins are made of pure gold.”
Luffy’s eyes lit up even more, and Nami, recognizing her captain’s look, said, “You’re going to loot the city, aren’t you?”
Luffy thumped the map with enthusiasm. “Depends! Let’s go to Lumenarquia!”
Luffy announced his plans to the crew right after.
“Nojiko, what do you know about the island?”
Nojiko, who was organizing some provisions in the corner, looked up upon hearing her name. She approached the map, looking intently at the point Nami had indicated. “Lumenarquia, huh?” She murmured, her eyes reflective.
“Yes, I’ve read some things about this island. Besides the beauty and wealth that Nami mentioned, Lumenarquia is famous for a large auction that attracts people from all over the world. It’s not an ordinary auction; it’s known for trading rare and valuable items, many of which are linked to the underworld and black market.” Nojiko paused, looking at the crew.
“The auctions are held at the House of Cintilância, in the heart of the city. They say the auction room is a spectacle in itself, with high crystal ceilings and jewel-encrusted walls. But what really draws attention are the items on offer. Rare items, slaves, and Devil Fruits.”
Robin, who was listening to the conversation, nodded in agreement. “Yes, the underworld has a strong presence in Lumenarquia. It’s a place where the beauty and wealth on the surface hide a much darker reality.”
Luffy, looking at the map, “A rich and dark place… Why do I like this…?”
“Because it’s easier to steal?” Lami crossed her arms;
“Because the captain’s morals don’t weigh as much when he’s looting?” Reiju said, lighting a cigarette.
“Hey, when did you two join forces to mock me?” Luffy raised an eyebrow.
“We’re just competing to see who speaks the truth about the captain.” Lami shrugged.
“Tsk. Anyway, we’re going to this place to participate in that auction, pirates need to do things like this too! Our next stop is Lumenarquia.” Luffy smiled and declared.
As the ship turned its course, the news about Luffy was still traveling the world one after the other in recent days.
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