Leave this aunt to me

"Next step? I need to find a ship first!!"

Luffy started counting on his fingers, full of excitement. "Then, I'll find some crew members. Hmm, about ten should be good, and we definitely need a musician!"

"How can a pirate not sing sea shanties?!"

Luffy was really obsessed with having a musician. He had been talking about it since the early days, and it wasn't until they got the Going Merry that it finally happened.

"Your ideas and plans are good, but…"

Link spat out the apple core. "We have to get out of here first, and—"

Boom!!

"It looks like we have a problem to deal with first."

"Coby~!"

A rough woman's voice echoed, like glass scraping against the ground.

Hearing that voice, Coby jumped, panic filling his face.

"I told you! Why has it been so quiet down there for so long?"

Thud!!

A huge spiked club crashed to the ground, its heavy thud hitting Coby like a hammer.

"So you're conspiring with outsiders here?!"

A big, overweight pirate with a pockmarked face and short legs swaggered in. Her name was Alvida, and she looked very out of place with his giant body.

After entering, her small eyes scanned the area.

Then they paused on Link.

"Oh! There's a handsome kid here!"

At that moment, for some reason, Link had returned to looking eighteen years old after traveling to this world.

His skin and features had improved, making him incredibly handsome—one of the best-looking guys around!

Even the famous "Prince" Cavendish from the One Piece world didn't seem as good-looking as him.

Only a man this handsome could be worthy of being with the most beautiful woman in the East Blue!

Suddenly, Alvida had that thought in her head.

"No way!!"

Coby, feeling tense and nervous, instinctively protested. His awkwardness made Luffy punch him on the head.

"Coby, the most beautiful woman in the East Blue is—"

Alvida, wanting to show off her charm and power in front of Link, was in the middle of saying her catchphrase when Luffy interrupted her.

"Who is this rude lady?"

Luffy asked seriously, making Coby and the other pirates on the deck widen their eyes in shock.

"Lady?"

Link also pretended to be confused and looked at Alvida, kindly reminding her, "Hey, Captain, she looks quite old. We should call her 'grandmother' instead."

Grandmother…

The pirates on deck rolled their eyes in disbelief.

"Grandmother? Wait, is she really that old? I can't tell at all, but it does seem hard to guess her real age~"

Luffy believed everything he heard and remembered the manners that Machino had taught him as a kid.

He stood up straight and sincerely apologized, "Sorry, grandmother."

The word "grandmother" was like a dagger to Alvida's pride. Link almost laughed out loud.

"You two…"

Alvida's forehead throbbed with anger, her teeth grinding in frustration.

"I'll make you pay for this!!"

Her frustration grew, like a comedy routine gone wrong, and she was furious.

That monkey-hat guy! I want to chop him into pieces!

And that other guy, even if he's good-looking, what of it?!

I have to… hmm, I'll wait to kill him. I'll take him down first and then see what happens!

"Let's go!"

Luffy chuckled, seeing the spiked club coming at them. He didn't want to waste time in such a small space.

He grabbed Link and Coby and jumped up to the deck.

Boom!!

Alvida crashed out right behind them.

With Luffy's playful teasing, Coby regained his dream of being in the navy.

Thinking of all the unfairness and struggles he had endured over the past two years, he finally shouted at Alvida in anger: "Fat pig!!"

"The ugliest woman in the East Blue!!"

Luffy laughed hard at Coby's words, while Alvida's forehead began to bulge with anger.

"You've got guts, Coby!!"

Fuming with rage, Alvida raised her spiked club high again.

Luffy grinned widely, ready to jump into a fight.

But suddenly, an arm appeared in front of him.

"Wait a second, Captain~"

Link stretched out his hand, blocking Luffy's way. "If you handle everything, what do we crew members do?"

"Leave this aunt to me~"

"Leave her to you?"

Luffy looked a bit confused, but his trust in his friends was strong, so he lowered his arm.

"Are you sure you can handle it?"