Chapter 17: Enjoy When You Can

"Waaah, sniffle, waaaah!"

As Kaito Sakamoto bandaged Luffy, tears streamed down Luffy's face.

Kaito didn't mind; if it were him in Luffy's position, with those injuries, he wouldn't just be crying—he'd be wailing loud enough to shake the heavens.

But Ace was not happy. He was irritated with Kaito for messing with him, and Luffy's crying was only making him more impatient.

"Stop crying!"

Luffy immediately pressed his lips together, cutting off the sobs, looking somewhat ridiculous in the process.

Kaito finished wrapping Luffy's arm with a bow and stepped back.

Luffy sat up and bowed to the three of them, "Thank you for saving me! Thank you, Kaito, Ace, Sabo!"

Seeing Luffy like this only made Ace angrier. He knew Luffy had been captured because of him. Although it was Luffy's choice to follow him, Ace was frustrated that Luffy hadn't admitted it and had to endure such a beating.

Was this concern or blame?

It was a tsundere moment.

"Honestly, why didn't you say anything! That guy is a killer without a second thought!"

"But if I said something, we wouldn't be friends anymore," Luffy replied, tears still flowing.

"You! Not being friends is better than dying! Why do you want to be my friend so badly?"

Ace shouted, bewildered.

"Because you and Kaito are the only ones I can rely on!"

"We can't go back to Windmill Village since we really dislike mountain bandits!"

"I have to turn to you, don't I?!"

Luffy shouted back!

These two brothers.

Kaito placed his hand on Luffy's head. Well, here I am, stuck with this rude little brat... but fine, whatever you say, Luffy.

Ace paused, recalling how people spoke about the "descendants of the Pirate King" with nothing but disdain.

Feeling the weight of such attention, he felt... confused. He had never experienced this before and felt a little happy about it.

But at the same time, he was still a tsundere.

"Seriously, I still hate you little weaklings!"

Luffy bared his teeth and started arguing back.

Kaito shook his head and ignored them, turning his attention to Sabo.

"You guys must have really pissed off a 'real' pirate; you might not last long here in this garbage dump."

"Should we go to Dadan's place together?"

"I suggest you bury the treasure deep in the forest. There are always people around this garbage dump; if someone finds it, it'll be hilarious."

Kaito couldn't directly tell Sabo that the uncertain end point might be burned, leaving their treasure completely charred.

He was also thinking about how inevitable it was for the uncertain end point to be burned. He couldn't stop the Celestial Dragons from coming, nor could he stop those aristocrats from burning it down to curry favor with them.

The true tumors of this world weren't just the pirates who slaughter innocents and commit arson and robbery; the biggest culprits were those Celestial Dragons, those so-called nobles who didn't regard people as humans.

"Why? We've kept it hidden for so many years without issue," Sabo asked.

"After this incident, the Blue Sauce Pirates will definitely conduct a thorough search, so it's best to be careful," Kaito replied.

"Hmm, Kaito does have a point."

Ace supported Kaito's suggestion, nodding while propping Luffy's face with one hand.

"Alright, let's start moving the treasure now and leave slowly in case the Blue Sauce Pirates catch up."

Sabo agreed and started moving the treasure up the slope.

.....

Back at Dadan's house, Dadan almost fainted upon seeing another little brat.

"Ace! Kaito! Luffy!"

"What happened to you all?"

"And who is this little brat?"

Sabo introduced himself, but Kaito didn't have time to deal with them. He headed straight for the house and into the bathroom. He felt like he had been pulled from a cesspit, and if he didn't wash up, he would smell.

"Ahh, so refreshing!"

After cleaning up, Kaito lay back in the bathtub, feeling his body and mind being cleansed.

"I can't prevent the uncertain end point from being burned."

"At least I can do something about Sabo's situation. I don't know whether stopping him from joining the revolutionaries is a good or bad thing…"

"Sigh, I'm exhausted. If it comes to that, I'll just use all the trump cards of the Red-Haired Pirates! I'll deal with the future later!"

Putting his thoughts aside, he knew he couldn't be constantly thinking. One had to work and also take breaks; when it was time to rest, one should rest. When it was time to enjoy, one should enjoy.

But just as Kaito closed his eyes, loud footsteps echoed outside. He opened his eyes to see three little brats rushing in.

They took a stance, ready to jump into the tub.

Kaito immediately stood up, transforming his bracelet into a long stick, and swiftly sent the three back!

"You three!"

"If you want to soak in the tub, you have to wash up first!"

"And Luffy, are you crazy? You're hurt and still getting into the water! Just dry yourself off with a towel!"

"Yes."

The three immediately bowed their heads like "apologizing Bepo."

Sabo and Ace went to rinse off.

Kaito stood up, wrapped a bathrobe around his waist, and took a towel to help dry Luffy's back.

"Thank you, Kaito."

"We're partners, aren't we?"

"Hahaha, right! We're partners!"

Luffy and Kaito shared a warm conversation.

Suddenly, water splashed all over Kaito's back.

The atmosphere was ruined.

"Stay away so you don't get accidentally hurt, Luffy."

"?"

Luffy looked confused.

Kaito turned around, transforming his bracelet into a water gun Gatling.

"Namu Gatling Bodhisattva, three thousand six hundred spins in one breath!"

"Accept the cleansing light of the Buddha! Fool!"

That day, Dadan heard everything clearly from the hall outside, thinking a fight had broken out in the bathroom.