Inviting Zoro

In the end, Luffy decided to put his Evolution Points into his devil fruit, strength, and speed.

20 EP for Devil Fruit, 10 EP for Strength, and 10 EP for Speed.

Because the evolution wasn't that high, he didn't feel any huge growth in his power. But, he did understand the ratio of growth through Evolution Points.

10 EP doubled his strength by 0.1 times his original strength. That means he needed 100 EP to double his strength.

As for how much strength did he gain. Well, before he could one-shot Alvida-level pirate. Now, he could one-shot Ax-hand Morgan.

In the original, Luffy wasn't able to take down Ax Hand Morgan in a single strike but now, he believed that his strength was more than enough to do that.

Of course, part of it was because of the growth in his speed and devil fruit as well.

After all, they all work together to increase his combat strength. As they continued their journey toward the Shells Town, it eventually turned dark and they fell asleep in the boat.

Nami knew that she couldn't steal the treasures from Luffy right now so she didn't care much.

They slept for the entire night and the next day, their boat continued moving toward the Shells Town.

The next day, they reached Shells' Town during the hot afternoon.

Upon reaching the shores, Luffy packed up the treasures that he got from Alvida behind his back and jumped to the shore.

He tied the boat to the seashore and waited for Nami and Coby to walk up there.

"So, what do you plan to do now?" Luffy asked.

"I have something else to do." Nami looked at the treasures in Luffy's back with greed on her eyes but she didn't dare to show it.

She planned to grab some money from the Marine Base before joining Luffy once again. After all, she had already set her eyes on those treasures.

"I want to visit the Marine Branch."

After gaining a little bit of confidence, Coby strengthened his body and spoke.

"Good! Then, let's go."

Luffy nodded his head and spoke.

"Ehh! Mr. Luffy, why do you want to go there? Aren't you a pirate?" Coby widened his eyes and asked.

"Well, as I said before, I need to gather a crew. So, I think Roronoa Zoro is a perfect addition to my crew." Luffy answered.

"Alright then, I should leave." Nami didn't get entangled with Luffy for very long.

"Mr. Luffy, are you seriously going to invite him? I heard he is an evil beast." Coby shivered in fear as he asked.

"Then, how about we check out his situation and then decide on what to do."

Luffy said as he walked toward the Marine Base.

While walking, Coby and Luffy started talking about Roronoa Zoro and Ax Hand Morgan.

Both names frightened the people around them which made Coby confused.

Luffy knew that plot so he wasn't confused.

As they made their way to the Marine Base, Luffy eventually spotted Zoro.

The black bandana, white cloth, and green pants. His hands were tied on the pole and he looked extremely exhausted and hungry.

He had a fierce aura covering his body as he looked like a devil.

"Ahh! That's Roronoa Zoro." Coby screamed in fright and fell to the ground.

"Hey, could you please come here and untie these ropes? I have been hungry for 9 days and I am exhausted." Zoro showed a fierce smile and asked.

Just when they were speaking, a little girl climbed up the walls and gave Luffy a signal to close his mouth.

The little girl walked toward Zoro with some Onigiri in her hands.

When Zoro saw the little girl coming towards him, his eyes turned dark.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Umm! Brother, I made these Riceballs myself. Please eat them. You have been hungry for so long."

"I am not hungry." Zoro showed a fierce expression and shouted.

"But" The little girl tried to say something.

"Go away or else, I will kill you." Zoro continued to intimidate her.

"Roronoa Zoro, don't pick on the little girl, or else I would've to tell my father about it."

A snotty voice came from a far. A blond kid with an arrogant smile on his face walked toward Zoro.

He walked toward the little girl and snatched those rice balls. After eating them, his expression changed drastically.

"Blech! Horrible! You put too much sugar on it."

"Hmm! I don't understand something. Roronoa Zoro, with your strength, your bounty should be at least higher than Twenty Million Bailey. How could you possibly be so naive?"

A voice rang behind the little girl.

The person who spoke was none other than Luffy. He slowly crouched down and patted the little girl's head.

"Little girl, don't worry about Zoro! Although he is stupid, he is an ambitious man. So, I won't let him die here. How about you leave and wait for us in your restaurant?"

The little girl was stunned by Luffy's appearance.

Feeling the warm hand over her head, the little girl nodded her head. For some reason, seeing that smile on his face, she felt confident.

"Hey, who are you? Why did you get here?"

Helmeppo was also stunned by Luffy's sudden appearance. He pointed his finger at Luffy and shouted.

Seeing the little girl leaving, Helmeppo shouted.

"You two, catch this guy! I want to punish him for disturbing me."

Whoosh!

Luffy rushed behind those Marines and knocked them unconscious from behind.

He then looked at Helmeppo. He didn't understand why a person like him could get a second chance.

But thinking about it, even an evil person like Crocodile could get a second chance, why not him?

Although he was arrogant, he wasn't technically evil. He was just an arrogant young master.

Slap!

Luffy raised his hand and slapped his cheek so hard that his cheeks turned red.

"Ahhh!"

Helmeppo fell to the ground shivering in pain.

Finally, Luffy turned his head toward Zoro and said.

"Do you want to join my crew? As I said, you are stupid but also strong and ambitious. My goal is the Grandline and the secret treasure hidden in the Grandline."

"Alone, I won't be able to protect the entire crew so I need someone who can grow stronger together with me and keep the crew safe. I need someone decisive, fierce, intimidating, and also kind-hearted."

"You fit all the requirements. How about it? Do you want to join my crew?"

Hearing his words, Zoro was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, he reacted.

"Hey, who are you calling stupid?"

But, soon, his expression turned serious.

"Are you kidding me? Why would I become a pirate? And, how could you know my ambition?"

"Isn't it easy to guess? Every swordsman has one major goal and that is to become the World's Greatest Swordsman. It's just many can't achieve this goal just by dreaming about it."

"As for why would you want to become a pirate? Hmm! Let me guess. You want to leave here but this boy won't let you. Even if you do succeed in freeing yourself from these ropes, you will raise your sword against marines."

"Marines do not care about ordinary people. They simply care about their face. So, if you kill marines, no matter how much of a scum they might be, you will still be rewarded with a bounty and then you will become a pirate."

"So, no matter what you choose, you will end up becoming a pirate."

Luffy explained.

"Impossible! He promised to set me free if I survive one month without eating anything." Zoro looked at Luffy with serious eyes and shouted.

Luffy didn't answer him. But rather, he caught Helmeppo's head and lifted him.

Luffy squeezed his hand and spoke.

"I will give you five seconds to tell the truth. If you dare to lie about anything, you know the consequences."

Helmeppo who wasn't even as fearless as Coby immediately gave up under Luffy's threat.

"I was only joking with him. I didn't plan to set him free."

"You bastard! How could you call yourself a marine?"

A loud cry came from afar. It was none other than pink hair boy.

Coby who learned the entire truth from the little girl immediately came to the marine base and just when he arrived, he heard Helmeppo's words which made him furious.

He looked at Luffy and said.

"Mr. Luffy, Pirate Hunter Zoro wasn't as evil as I thought. Please set him free!"

When he said that, Luffy suddenly looked at him with a cold gaze and said.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Huh?"

Coby stood there in stunned expression. Even Zoro who had seen Luffy and Coby together was surprised for a moment.

Before Coby could say anything, Luffy continued.

"Since the marines here are scum, I am going to beat the shit out of them. As for freeing him, I will do it if he agrees to become my crew mate."

Suddenly, Luffy turned his eyes to Coby and asked.

"Are you a marine too?"

..................

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