Liam's Realization

Two Days Later,

Liam's Observation Haki detected an aura living at the core of the ship. As soon as he detected that aura, he released his Observation Haki toward that aura.

Just when he succeeded, he sensed another Observation Haki moving toward that aura as well. Their Observation Haki were working together to find this aura.

When that aura felt their Observation Haki, it was obviously attracted toward it.

"Is that you, Merry?" Liam asked while focusing his voice through his Observation Haki.

Merry didn't speak instead she just stared at him from the inside of the ship.

"Merry, it's really you. You are really alive." Usopp's eyes widened as he excitedly opened his eyes and tried to find her but only then he realized that Merry had merged with the ship so unless she comes out by herself, he can't meet her.

"Merry, I don't know your situation but I can see you with my Observation Haki and I believe that you can hear me. So, let me ask you something. You can answer it with Nod and Shake."

"Did you understand my words?" Liam asked.

After a few seconds, the ship spirit Merry nodded her head.

"Can you talk?"

Merry shook her head.

"If the ship is damaged, will it hurt you?"

Merry took some time to answer it.

"Merry, please don't lie to me, okay?" Liam asked with a serious tone.

Merry finally nodded her head.

After seeing this, Liam's expression changed drastically. But, he still kept his mind calm as he continued to ask.

"Can you control the ship?"

Merry didn't understand so she didn't reply.

"Can you control the ship like I control my hands or legs? Like how I eat with my mouth."

Merry thought for a long time and nodded.

As soon as he got this reply, his expression drastically changed.

"Then, if you eat powerful wood, then can you be more durable and bigger?"

Merry once again nodded her head but this time, her aura looked a bit more excited.

"Do you know how to use your abilities? You have already healed yourself so I believe that you know."

Merry nodded her head.

"Merry, once we land on the sea, use the freshwater from the ship to coat your hull and body that connects with the sea, okay?"

Merry nodded her head.

"This next question might be hard for you to answer so if you can't answer then just shake your head three times, okay?"

Merry nodded her head.

"Currently, I need a powerful Observation Haki to see you. That means most of our crew members won't see you at all. Do you think you can try to appear in front of them like a spirit?"

Merry thought for a moment and shook her head three times.

Liam fell into confusion for a moment. Right now, he had to help Merry contact other Straw Hats but he didn't know how to do it.

Suddenly, he remembered something from the original timeline, and an idea came to his mind.

"Merry, if the mast of the ship is destroyed, you can repair it, right? So, to repair it, you need to come out, right? So, can you come out just like that?"

Although he tried to explain it to her, Merry just stared at him in confusion.

'Damn! What should I do? There must be a way to help Merry come out, right? She definitely can understand my words but she can't respond.'

'There is something that I am missing. Something ..... something that I am missing..... What is it? What exactly am I missing?'

Liam brainstormed for a long time until he came to one conclusion.

'Instinct! Boat instinct is something that led Merry to repair the ship and travel to Ennies Lobby and bring back Straw Hats.'

'It was Merry's love for Straw Hat that forced her to awaken and control the ship. It was Merry's love for Straw Hat to made her pick the hammer and repair the ship.'

'Yes, I understand.'

His eyes widened and the next moment, he stood up, instantly disrupting his Observation Haki.

"Usopp, go and call everyone here! I found a way to communicate with Merry."

Hearing his words, Usopp was shocked but he quickly swallowed the words that he was going to say and ran out of the storage room. He quickly found every one of the crew training and called them to the storage room.

Everyone knew that Usopp and Liam were in the storage but they didn't know what they were doing except for Luffy.

"Liam, what happened?" Nami was the first one to ask him the question. She was extremely curious about what Usopp and Liam were doing but they didn't tell them so none of them knew about it.

"So, you guys finally did it." Luffy showed a big grin and spoke.

"Did what?" Zoro and Sanji looked at him with confusion and asked.

"Did you tell Luffy about it?" Usopp turned to Liam and asked. Since Liam told him not to tell anyone about Merry, he thought Liam wouldn't tell anyone as well.

But, now that Luffy knew about it, he was a bit angry at Liam and confused.

Liam rolled his eyes and said.

"I didn't even tell Nami when she tried to harass me so much. Do you really think I would tell Luffy about it?"

Hearing his words, Usopp's expression turned awkward as he turned his head to Luffy and curiously asked.

"Luffy, how did you know about it?"

"I saw her two days ago." Luffy grinned and answered.

"What?" Usopp's eyes widened as he shouted. Then, he quickly grabbed Luffy's shoulder and shouted.

"Then, why didn't you tell us? We could've saved so much time."

Liam frowned and slapped Usopp on the back of his head.

"Liam, why did you hit me?" Usopp showed teary eyes as he looked back and asked.

"Idiot, did you really think he wants to hide something so important? Did you forget what kind of person Luffy is? He must be itching to tell everyone about her."

"But, he only held back because he wanted us to improve our Observation Haki."

Liam spoke with an angry tone which silenced Usopp. He was so engrossed with his feelings for Merry that he even forgot that this was actually training for them.

He turned around and bowed his head in front of Luffy.

"Luffy, I'm sorry. I didn't understand your pain and shouted at you with such a tone."

"It's okay. It's okay." Luffy simply laughed it off but this only made Liam angrier.

He walked in front of Luffy and spoke.

"This is not okay, Luffy."

His serious tone suddenly silenced Luffy's smile. But, he didn't speak.

"I know you are not the kind of person who gets serious about his crew laughing at him but you must remember one thing. You are my Captain, our Captain."

After he said that, the mood of the entire crew went downhill for a moment. They had rarely seen Liam this serious and it was for a reason.

No matter how commanding Liam might be or no matter how much strength he has, Liam still has the most respect for his captain.

When Liam arrived in this world, the only thing that came to his mind was adventure.

He wanted to go on an adventure but he knew the dangers of this world. As weak as he was, he knew that he wouldn't even survive for a day.

That's why he joined Luffy. He only joined Luffy for survival. But as time passed, he understood that he wasn't just a member of the crew but also the Vice Captain.

There are many things that he can let go but there is absolutely one thing that he can't endure. That is when someone shows disrespect toward his Captain.

That's the whole reason why he smashed Bellamy into the ground. He did give Luffy some excuses but his main reason was anger.

He was angered at Bellamy who showed disrespect to his captain.

That's why he was once again angered when Usopp showed disrespect to his captain.

"I'm sorry, Liam." Just when Usopp was about to say something, Luffy suddenly apologized.

This made everyone surprised and also a little shaken because Luffy's tone was absolutely serious at this moment.

Liam also looked at his captain with a lot less anger as Luffy continued.

"I am sorry for making others disrespect you, Liam. I know that you don't want others to show disrespect to me because I am your Captain and you are my Vice Captain."

"But, is there anything such as disrespect between friends?"

When Luffy asked this question, Liam's mind blew up for a moment. He was greatly shaken as he didn't expect Luffy to ask him such a question.

But, when he thought about it, he realized that he was wrong.

It was true that others mustn't show disrespect toward his Captain but is it truly the same for his friends?

Usopp might be the Sniper of the crew but he is also Luffy's friend, best friend to be exact.

Liam finally realized just how foolish his anger was. He lowered his head and said.

"I'm sorry, Luffy."