Chapter 49: The Invincible Lucky Star

No need for plans, just dive right in—that's the life of a pirate.

Kaito Sakamoto decided it was time to get a ship and enjoy a good meal. Luffy and Nami immediately turned their small boat south toward a nearby town.

However, fate had other plans: surprises always come unexpectedly, and life is never smooth sailing.

After changing direction, they had been sailing for a while when a pirate ship appeared, significantly larger than their small boat—about ten times its size. The pirate flag bore a skull with cat-like features, complete with vertical yellow pupils that resembled a cat's. The entire ship was black, shaped like a black cat at the bow; it was the Black Cat Pirates' ship, the "Hundred Strategies: Blaku"!

Kaito felt puzzled. They shouldn't have encountered the Black Cat Pirates here. Clearly, things had changed because of him.

"What a massive ship!" Luffy exclaimed. "If only we could get our hands on a ship like that!"

But the crew on that ship was no good.

"These two small, shabby boats dare to sail alongside us? Heheh!" one of them sneered. "And our movements need to remain a secret. If we anger the captain, we're in trouble."

"Fire!"

Zangao, the vice-captain of the Black Cat Pirates, immediately ordered, aiming the cannons at Kaito and his friends. With a loud bang, sparks flew as two cannonballs shot toward them.

Neither Luffy nor Kaito were afraid of cannonballs. They were ready to jump and bounce the cannonballs back with their rubber bodies.

It should have worked like that. Luffy succeeded in bouncing one back, but Kaito...

"Huh?!"

"Oh no!!! You've hit the time limit!!!"

The cannonball struck Kaito, which should have been sent flying back, but he suddenly felt a wave of fatigue wash over him, and his rubber body reverted to normal.

The duplication fruit only allowed him to mimic powers for a limited time; it wasn't a permanent ability. Just his luck, Kaito's power had worn off the moment the cannonball hit him.

Was it bad luck? Absolutely terrible luck.

But amidst the misfortune was a sliver of luck: the cannonball didn't explode. It was a dud, but the immense impact sent Kaito flying through the air until he was just a small dot in Luffy and the others' line of sight before he plummeted into the sea with a splash.

"....."

"....."

"....."

"Kaito!!!"

This situation left Luffy, Zoro, and Nami momentarily stunned.

Once they regained their senses, they transformed into a chorus of panic. Luffy quickly grabbed the oars and paddled furiously toward where Kaito had fallen.

Meanwhile, the crew of the Black Cat Pirates rolled on the deck, laughing at Kaito's folly of trying to take a cannonball with his body. They completely forgot about Luffy bouncing the cannonball back into the air.

.....

Kaito fell into the sea with a loud splash. However, he was very close to Usopp's hometown's shore.

The overwhelming sensation of being submerged made him slowly lose the will to struggle. Just as he was about to sink completely, a small white snake from his wrist slithered down, gripping his hair and trying to swim toward the shore.

As the water enveloped him, Kaito gradually lost consciousness.

.....

"Kaito!!!"

Back with Luffy and the others, Luffy paddled desperately, urging Nami's small boat forward.

But once they reached the shore, they still couldn't see Kaito.

"Could it be that Kaito has...?" Luffy's eyes welled up with tears, fearing Kaito had sunk to the ocean floor.

He turned to jump into the sea, but Zoro grabbed him.

"Are you out of your mind!!!"

"But Kaito..."

"Look! That's... Kaito's headband!!"

Just as Luffy was about to cry, Nami spotted a blue headband not far from the shore.

It was the one Kaito used to tie back his ponytail.

Luffy instantly rushed over and picked it up.

"Yes! This is Kaito's!!"

"It was a gift from Ace!!"

"Looks like he made it to the town, haha."

Seeing the headband, Luffy immediately broke into a grin.

"Kaito probably drifted to the shore and was saved by someone."

"Or he could have made it to town by himself."

"We should go ask around in town."

Nami and Zoro approached, and Nami reasoned as she looked at the headband.

Luffy nodded in agreement and tucked the headband into his pants.

"Let's find someone to ask."

"There's someone over there."

Zoro's gaze shifted toward a group on the cliff, which was none other than members of the "Usopp Pirate Crew."

"Captain Usopp" and his crew were just three kids: Green Pepper, Carrot, and Onion.

"Ah!!! We've been spotted!!!"

Seeing Zoro, Usopp panicked and tried to turn and run, but the three kids were faster than him.

With Luffy and the others approaching, Usopp could only brace himself to face them.

...

As for our "Invincible Lucky Star," Kaito Sakamoto, although he was shot away by the cannonball, now lay on a soft, large bed.

He was still in a deep sleep.

In his slumber, Kaito found himself in a vast, white space.

The system's voice, which had been silent for ten years, suddenly echoed once more.