Chapter 38: Chasing the Storm, Discussing Dreams.

"Hahaha—"

Bang!

"What's so funny? You almost scared us to death, you know?!"

Facing the furious Roman, Luffy, who had just been punched, could only respond meekly, "Yes, yes." But he quickly changed the subject:

"Where are Nami and Usopp?"

"They took the things they bought back to the ship first."

Talking about serious matters, Roman calmed down from the chaos Luffy had caused.

"Nami said there will be a storm soon, so she and Usopp went to watch over the ship. It would be terrible if it got blown away."

Roman's merchant ship had been dismantled to build a coastal fortress after leaving the weapons in Cocoyasi Village. With Roman's cautious nature, he didn't want the ship's owner to find Cocoyasi Village one day.

So now, they only had the Going Merry to sail.

"And those Marines behind us—"

Roman didn't need to turn around; he focused on the paper cranes he had left in the square to understand the situation.

"Luckily, Buggy's crew took the fall for us. Otherwise, we'd be facing the Marines now."

However, those guys were already trapped in smoke and were about to be captured...

"Hurry, hurry, there's a troublesome guy behind us!"

Roman's urging only piqued the curiosity of the meat, wine, and smoke trio beside him.

"What troublesome guy?"

Given Roman's strength, if even he had a 'let's get out of here' expression, the person behind them must be...

"It's the town's Marine guard! Headquarters Captain 'White Hunter' Smoker."

"Captain..."

"Wake up, you guys!" Roman's forehead veins bulged as he looked at their disdainful faces.

"I've told you many times, that's the headquarters! Headquarters! Not the useless East Blue branch—"

"And that Smoker is a Logia Devil Fruit user..."

"Stop!"

A figure and voice standing in the middle of the road interrupted Roman's 'lecture,' causing Sanji to suddenly speed up!

?

"Ah~~?"

"Beautiful..."

"Roronoa Zoro!"

However, the bespectacled girl blocking the road ignored the heart-eyed Sanji and took a sword-drawing stance against Zoro.

"I didn't expect you to be a pirate,"

"You tricked me, I won't forgive you!"

"Heh, then try me..."

"Ahhh! What did you do to that girl—"

Clang!

Two katanas clashed fiercely, and even the pouring rain couldn't hide the sparks flying.

"You guys go ahead,"

Zoro said, and Luffy quickly grabbed the furious Sanji, who was shouting, "How dare you hit a lady...," and they sped past the two. Roman nodded from behind.

Once in 'battle mode,' Luffy was actually quite reliable.

But although it was called a battle, in reality:

After a few moves, the Marine sergeant named Tashigi was easily disarmed by Zoro and pinned against the wall with his sword.

"Until I become the world's greatest swordsman, I won't lose to any swordsman."

The cold three-sword style swordsman said, sheathed his sword, and turned away.

"Goodbye."

...

Great, as long as Zoro doesn't get lost, he's also very reliable.

"There's someone ahead!"

?

Roman, in the middle of the group, looked up and saw a man with silver-gray hair, smoking two cigars, blocking their way. Although he looked like a 'villain,' his coat revealed that he was:

"A Marine? Move aside—"

Facing the rapidly approaching Luffy, the man simply waved his hand, and a white smoke suddenly enveloped them! Before Luffy could react, the smoke, like a living creature, instantly bound him in place!

Even though it was just intangible smoke, it was strong enough to hold Luffy, who had the strength of a thousand pounds.

"Damn it,"

Seeing Luffy in danger, Sanji rushed forward. His legs, capable of shattering rocks, kicked fiercely at the opponent!

"Shoulder Meat!"

Then:

Splat,

The fierce kick passed through the man's cheek without any resistance! The silver-haired man, whose face was half-dispersed, just glanced coldly.

"Annoying lackey, get lost!"

"White-Smoke Bomb."

Boom—

With just a simple punch, Sanji, who was unprepared for the 'Logia Devil Fruit,' was sent flying.

"Sanji!"

"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"

Luffy, barely freeing one hand, punched back, but his fist also hit nothing but smoke!

Whoosh—

From the smoke beside him, the silver-haired man suddenly solidified! He grabbed Luffy's head from behind and slammed it into the ground, drawing his weapon while taunting.

"You're worth 30 million Belly?"

Is that all you've got?

"Your luck has run out—"

Swish, swish, swish!

A series of sharp projectiles cut through the rain, aiming at the silver-haired Marine. He disdainfully blew out a puff of smoke.

Useless.

Poof, poof, poof,

The arrows passed through him, but the wounds were just dispersing smoke! As long as he 'elementalized,' such attacks were useless...

"Paper Dance-"

But Roman's attack was meant to force him into elementalization, because then:

"Windmill!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!!

The giant 'paper windmill' created by Roman's ability spun rapidly, creating an artificial whirlwind that blew the elementalized Smoker backward, dispersing the white smoke! He had to de-elementalize in mid-air and stab his weapon into the ground to stabilize himself.

"Who are you?"

"I can't let you harm my captain."

Roman glanced at the freed Luffy and Sanji, and Zoro, who was catching up from behind. He tilted his head towards the harbor.

"Run!"

"Huh?"

"My windmill won't last long in the rain!"

With that said, the trio turned without hesitation and ran!

"Run~~~"

"Hmph, your companions have abandoned you and fled."

In the blink of an eye, the trio were just tiny dots in the distance.

"Hehe, you don't need to worry about that—"

Just as Roman was considering how to escape, a familiar voice came from behind, gradually fading away.

"Gomu Gomu no"

A sense of foreboding rose in his heart! Sure enough, in the next second.

Snap,

A hand grabbed the back of Roman's collar, and then:

"-Rocket!"

Oh, mf—

Whoosh!!!

Roman experienced being a 'human cannonball' in an instant, unable to even curse as his collar tightened around his throat! The scenery around him began to blur as he was dragged at high speed, his long scream trailing in the wind.

"Luuu~~~ffyyyy~~~~~~~"

"Hahahaha, the great escape!"

---

"Well, although this experience wasn't very pleasant, I have to admit it was effective."

Amidst the wind and waves, the Going Merry cut through the sea, moving forward.

On the deck, Roman rubbed his chin, seriously considering whether Luffy's 'movement' method could be popularized.

"No, no, no, we definitely don't want to experience that!"

Nami and Usopp were not interested in Roman's 'human cannonball' style of movement.

"Look, the lighthouse ahead!"

"Beyond that is the Grand Line."

As Nami explained, Sanji brought over a wooden barrel from the side.

"Since we're here, let's have a ceremony."

Placing one foot on the barrel and stating their dreams was an old pirate tradition when setting out.

"Well..."

"Roman, come over~~~"

Facing Luffy and everyone's smiling faces, the usually serious Roman also smiled, letting the 'White Knight' paper puppet take the helm. He walked to the empty spot left for him, placing one foot on the barrel.

Thud,

"I will become the Pirate King!"

"I will become the world's greatest swordsman!"

"I will find the 'All Blue'!"

"I will draw a map of the entire world!"

"I... I want to become a brave warrior of the sea..."

"Usopp, why does your dream suddenly have a different 'style'?"

Facing Roman's teasing, Usopp shouted, "None of your business." So:

Everyone looked at Roman, who was the first crew member Luffy invited and the most serious and reliable person on this ship full of surprises. But:

"Roman, it's your turn—"

Facing Luffy's words, Roman thought seriously for a moment, then smiled.

"My dream,"

"Is to see all of your dreams come true!"

"Tch, what kind of half-hearted dream is that~~~"

Facing Usopp's teasing, Roman looked up at the dark, rain-filled sky, but laughed heartily as if he saw a clear, sunny day.

"Hahahahahaha~~~~"

"It is a half-hearted dream, isn't it? How about I change it—"

"How about we all reach the end of the world together?"

"Hey, hey, hey, do you think this is a store where you can exchange things..."

"Can't I? Hahahaha~~~"

---

"Nice companions,"

At the top of the lighthouse, a figure in a cloak stood in the wind and rain, their eyes filled with relief as they looked at the distant, lively Going Merry.

"Nothing can stop a man from setting sail!"

"Go, Luffy."

"Go and stir up a storm!"

----

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