32. A Small Island? No, It's A Restaurant

After spending the night on an uninhabited island, they continued their journey the next day.

Izumi was quite happy about getting a Devil Fruit. Though he was already thinking of using other means to get a Devil Fruit in this world, he didn't expect to get a Devil Fruit before using that means.

"I'm bored." Luffy looked lethargic. He glanced at Zoro, Izumi, and Usopp. "Zoro, Izumi, let's play hide and seek!"

"Are you a kid?" Zoro responded.

"Can't you see I'm helping you paint your pirate flag?" Izumi answered Luffy while holding a paintbrush.

"I'm busy." Meanwhile, Usopp painted a skull in front of crossbones on a ship's sail.

After an hour.

"It's done."

The ship's sails and a black flag had been painted by Izumi and Usopp. And the painting was a skull wearing a straw hat with crossbones behind it which would be the symbol of the Straw Hat pirates from now on.

At one point, Luffy glanced at Izumi, Zoro, Usopp, and Nami while crossing his arms.

"We already have a swordsman, navigator, sniper, and ninja. That means we still need a cook and a musician."

"Maybe, you also need a pet, robot, acrobat, and performer," Izumi added.

Then, Luffy gave Izumi a thumbs up.

"That's a good idea."

*Smack*

"Good idea your head!" Nami slapped Luffy's head in annoyance. She added. "A cook is fine, but what are the others? You didn't even mention a doctor who was supposed to be important."

"A musician and a performer are also important! They can make our sailing adventure even more fun and less boring!"

"That's unnecessary!"

Ignoring Luffy and Nami arguing, Izumi went inside. He didn't really care who Luffy invited to become a pirate and sail together with him. After all, Luffy didn't do mass recruitment either but instead chose a crew he found interesting.

Izumi took out tools and items from the storage space and started making something.

— — — —

The ship sailed for a few hours. Izumi who was making something was accompanied by everyone because they were curious about what Izumi wanted to make. Especially Luffy whose hands were always itchy when he saw Izumi's stuff.

"Sigh. Luffy, can't you—"

Before Izumi could finish his words, suddenly, there was a commotion outside.

Izumi frowned.

"What is it? A debt collector?"

"Since when did debt collectors collect debts to the sea, you idiot!"

Nami smacked Izumi's head.

"That's cruel. I'm just kidding, you know!"

Then, there were some voices from outside. Turns out the commotion was caused by the two swordsmen.

Luffy was the first to get out, trying to figure out why they were making such a fuss on his ship. However, he was instead attacked by the two of them. Those two were raging and wanted to damage the ship because they thought Luffy had killed Zoro.

Izumi turned his head to Zoro.

"From what they said, Zoro, it seems they know you. You should have stopped them before this ship was destroyed!"

Zoro came out to meet them. Once they found out Zoro who they thought was dead was still alive. They cried happily and wanted to hug him. However, Zoro swiftly kicked those two because they were annoying.

Meanwhile, Izumi sighed in relief. Finally, no one bothered him to finish what he wanted to make. Nami and Usopp just watched curiously. This was their first time seeing such a complex mechanic.

"Izumi, what exactly is this thing?"

"There's also a bird-shaped one."

Nami and Usopp asked one by one.

Izumi answered.

"This one is my personal item. This will be my first collection of items. It's called a drone. A device that can be controlled remotely and has a gun that can be fired. Apart from that, there is another use, which is to be used as a reconnaissance tool."

The two of them almost couldn't believe what Izumi had said. Izumi didn't explain further.

"For the other one, I made it for you guys." Izumi pointed at the other thing he was making.

"What's this?" Nami wondered.

"Looks like a boat. But why is it made of iron plates? Besides, where did you get rubber like this from? And this tool? And this?" Usopp was confused. He thought Izumi wanted to build a boat, but it was too small to be called a boat.

"What I made is a jet ski. A high-speed boat that only one or two people can ride."

"A jet ski?"

"A high-speed boat? You're exaggerating."

Nami and Usopp have never heard of a jet ski. Even its initial form was completely inconceivable to them that it would be a boat capable of traveling at high speed.

"Well, this is my first time making a jet ski. It might explode when you drive it and it might not. Yeah, who knows?" Izumi shrugged his shoulders while assembling something.

Then, Usopp pointed at Izumi and snapped.

"And you want to give this crap to us?? Do you want to kill us all?"

Izumi replied with a laugh.

"Hahaha. Don't worry! I'll take care of the safety measures later. Even if it explodes, you probably won't die."

However, this made Usopp reject the jetski that Izumi was making even more.

"That doesn't guarantee safety at all! Better you throw it somewhere!"

Meanwhile.

Zoro stood in front of two people who were his acquaintances. One was wearing sunglasses, and the other was wearing headgear like what kickboxing athletes wear. They are Johnny and Yosaku.

Zoro held his hip with his left hand, while his right hand rested on his swords.

"Why are you guys making such a fuss here? You even want to destroy the ship I was on."

The one with sunglasses called Johnny scratched his head in embarrassment. Then, he replied.

"We thought you had been killed by a pirate wearing a straw hat. So we chased this ship for revenge."

"You guys are so stupid. How could I be killed that easily? Besides, I'm now a pirate."

Zoro's statement was so unbelievable to them. Johnny and Yosaku responded one by one.

"Unbelievable, to think Aniki would join a pirate."

"That's right. You're a famous bounty hunter. Don't you remember?"

"Since when did I become a bounty hunter?"

Suddenly, Luffy yelled.

"Oi, I see something. What is that?"

He pointed in a certain direction. Everyone couldn't help but turn their heads. Even Nami and Usopp came out and looked in the direction Luffy was pointing at.

"It's not like an island."

"But it can't be called a ship either."

When they were confused, Izumi suddenly appeared and said,

"Hmmm. Isn't that a Baratie restaurant?"

Everyone turned their heads at Izumi. They didn't know if Izumi knew about the Baratie restaurant or if his eyes could see the distance beyond his reach.

Luffy's eyes shone.

"Restaurant? Meat? Oi, you guys! Full speed ahead!"

But, Nami frowned.

"We don't have money."

"Fret not! I'll pay." Izumi replied.

"As expected. You know me best." Luffy slapped Izumi's back.

However, a marine ship suddenly passed by. Johnny and Yosaku immediately hid, while others just looked at that ship.

Knowing that next to them was a pirate ship, the marine lieutenant on the marine ship ordered the fellow marines to fire cannons at Luffy's ship. Luffy was ready to intercept. He sucked in a lot of air and inflated himself up like a balloon.

The cannon balls that were aimed at his ship were reflected back to the marine ship.

*Boom*

*Boom*

*Boom*

There was another cannonball that was fired. Luffy tried to stop the cannonball, but one of his hands accidentally slipped and instead bounced the cannonball toward the Baratie restaurant along with him.

*Boom*

The sound of a loud explosion could be heard from a distance.