Chapter 14

Within the vast expanse of the sea, a stunning yacht-like vessel glided swiftly through the waves, the sun and white clouds providing a picturesque backdrop while seagulls chirped in the distance.

"Completed!! Shishishishi," Zoro announced as he trained with his sword, slicing through the incoming waves with swift, precise slashes. He turned his head, casting an incredulous gaze at the crude pirate flag drawing.

"Is that supposed to be our pirate mark?" he questioned, his expression one of disbelief.

Luffy beamed in response, his excitement palpable. "That's right! Now that we're five, it's only fitting that we have our own flag!! How does it look? Pretty cool, right? Shishishi!"

Nami glanced at the unrefined drawing with a helpless expression, while Seph struggled to suppress his laughter. "A pirate flag is meant to instill fear, to strike terror into the hearts of those who behold it. Why do I feel the urge to laugh?" he remarked.

Merry scrutinized the abstract drawing with a defensive expression. "I would never allow such an ugly thing on my body, even if it's from the captain," she declared firmly.

Nami reached out and gently patted Merry's head, seeking to ease her distress. She, too, felt a sense of shame at the thought of her own pirate crew bearing such a shameful and distorted emblem.

"I do feel a sense of fear, though... it's absolutely the fear of your talent!"

"Hahahahahah!!" Zoro erupted into laughter.

"Forget it, Luffy! I'll take care of it! Did you forget who I am? The gifted artist," Ussop declared with determination, ready to rectify the situation.

Luffy seemed skeptical. "Gifted artist?"

Ussop boasted without restraint. "Hmph, I've been drawing graffiti on walls for 50 years straight! When it comes to painting, I'm in a league of my own!"

"50 years? That's awesome!"

"Doesn't that make him an old man?"

"He must be a grandpa, with like 5 or 6 grandchildren..."

"Isn't that even more awesome?"

Seph observed the group having fun, contemplating the next course of their journey. Ussop finally finished a drawing that seemed to satisfy the crew, even Merry's resistance had waned.

As the ship glided along the waves, Ussop pestered Merry to let him try the weaponry, but she refused, maintaining a firm stance.

Meanwhile, Zoro, who had been swinging his sword with fervor, suddenly halted his training, his attention drawn to something on the horizon.

Although the ship was equipped with a training room, his body had already reached its peak development.

His swordsmanship had broken through to the level of a Great Swordsman, comparable to Hawkeye, though Zoro felt he needed enlightenment rather than mere training.

While Zoro and Hawkeye may be at the same level of swordsmanship, Zoro was just beginning his journey while Hawkeye had already reached the pinnacle.

Seph hadn't introduced them to the Will Arts yet, at least until they grew comfortable with their bodies.

Nami noticed Zoro gazing thoughtfully at a particular rocky outcrop in the sea. "What's wrong, Zoro?"

"Merry, can you move toward that rocky outcrop? I sense a familiar aura out there..."

Seph wasn't surprised; he had already noticed Johnny and Yosaku, and even the sign-in had been triggered.

[Sign-in successful]

[Congratulations to the host for acquiring: Image Training (Ability), Training Facility]

"Not bad," Seph thought. The rewards were quite impressive.

Image Training allowed for visualizing opponents and gaining extensive fighting experience for rapid growth.

The Training Facility was even more remarkable—it was another dimension where he and the crew could exercise freely. He could alter seasons and environments and utilize a variety of power detection machines to gauge the trainer's power level accurately.

Indeed, such abilities are crucial for the current crew. While they may appear strong, they lack fighting abilities and experience. The Image Training ability and the Training Facility will provide them with the necessary tools to enhance their combat skills and gain valuable experience in battles.

Johnny and Yosaku were soon rescued, their miserable state tugging at Luffy's heartstrings. Determined to ensure his crew's well-being, Luffy resolved to find a chef who could provide balanced and delicious meals for them.

Upon hearing about Luffy's decision, Johnny and Yosaku felt compelled to repay the favor and offered to guide the Mugiwara towards a place renowned for its chefs and delectable cuisine.

Following their advice, the crew set course for the Baratie restaurant in search of a skilled chef to join their ranks.

...

Samba Region, Baratie.

"Is this the Baratie, the floating sea restaurant?" Seph stood at the ship's bow, marveling at the impressive ocean-going establishment.

The Baratie presented itself as a sizable ship with an oval shape, adorned with standard masts, but distinctive with a fish-shaped front piece or figurehead. Its bottom was rounded, and a small array of cannons lined the sides, hinting at its potential for battle.

"Whoaa!!!" The crew exclaimed in awe at the enormous restaurant, with both Luffy and Ussop wearing hungry expressions.

The supplies provided by Kaya had already been devoured by the crew. Were it not for the stealthy ninja shadows that managed to pilfer supplies across the East Blue, they might have succumbed to hunger. Navigating the sea with Luffy on board proved to be a perilous journey.

Fortunately, Seph drew his energy from various sources, rendering him independent of the need for food. Otherwise, he might have been irked by Luffy's actions of pilfering supplies.

Johnny beamed proudly, showcasing the Baratie's unique features. "What do you all think?!"

Luffy's jaw dropped, his tongue swirling like a carpet in shock. "What a huge fish!!"

Nami sidled up to Seph, intertwining her arms with his as she gazed with interest. "How lovely..."

Ussop exclaimed, "That's pretty funky!!"

Merry snorted dismissively. "What's so special about it... I'm obviously more beautiful..."

Seph affectionately patted her head, adding, "Well, that's right, Merry is the most beautiful ship girl in the world.." Merry happily basked in his affectionate gesture.

As the crew marveled at the sight of the Baratie before them, a massive Marine warship suddenly appeared beside them. Due to the sleek appearance of the yacht, the Marine warship loomed large in comparison.

Yosaku, just waking from his slumber, gazed at the imposing vessel in shock. "What? Why are the Marines here of all places?"

Ussop observed the approaching Marine warship with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Are they planning to attack us?"

Nami tilted her head, her perception sharp and fearless. Sensing no imminent threat, she scoffed confidently. "Are they looking for death?"

Seph chuckled, intrigued by Nami's boldness.

Zoro's hand hovered over the hilt of his sword, itching to unleash his newfound power. He felt suffocated by holding back his strength.

The captain of the Marine warship 'Fullbody' hesitated as he observed the high-end ship with its exquisite design.

"I've never seen that pirate flag before.." Dealing with pirates of such wealth and sophistication wouldn't be easy.

Hence, he wasn't as fearless as portrayed in the original. Instead, he chose to feign ignorance upon seeing the unfamiliar pirate flag. Though the Marine soldiers assured him solemnly that this pirate group was an emerging force with no known information, he couldn't shake the nagging thought: What if information about such a powerful pirate group simply hadn't reached them yet?

The crew finally snorted in dissatisfaction, feeling disappointed that they weren't being attacked after all.

Seph chuckled to himself, knowing that he had used his super hypnotism to manipulate the other person's mind to make him fear offending them.

[Sign-in successful]

[Congratulations to the host for acquiring: Pair of red gauntlets (high purity sea-stone and strong alloy)]

For the sake of his reward, he decided to let the situation go. After all, the Marine captain would soon face the wrath of Sanji.

A pair of imposing red gauntlets suddenly appeared in Seph's hand, catching the interest of the crew.

"Treasure brought by my shadow soldiers... made of sea-stone and a strong alloy," Seph announced, tossing the gauntlets to the excited Luffy.

"You can use it as your own weapon from now on," Seph declared.

Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really?! Thank you, Seph!!" he exclaimed joyfully, catching the dominating red gauntlets and slipping them on. The gauntlets reached up to his elbows, giving him a formidable appearance.

Nami's eyes gleamed with visions of wealth as she hugged Seph tightly. "What else did they bring? There must be a lot of gold and jewelry, right?! Show me, show me!!" she pleaded, her demeanor playful and coquettish.

The other crew members weren't surprised by Seph's operation. They had already encountered those intimidating ninjas. Seph had enlisted them to recover treasures amassed through his fortunate ventures during their journey.

These ninjas were infamous in the East Blue, known as the Thief Alliance. They had plundered numerous country treasuries, even making headlines in newspapers.

Hence, Nami eagerly anticipated a share of the wealth they had acquired.

Johnny and Yosaku looked at Seph in awe. In the days they had accompanied the crew, they found Seph to be the most formidable and respected among them. Even Zoro-Aniki showed great reverence towards him, recognizing his limitless capabilities. Just the fact that he was the mastermind behind the Thief Alliance was explosive news in itself.

Seph glanced at Nami helplessly. "Nami, you know I have no interest in that wealth. I simply don't want to let my luck go to waste. The treasure is stored in my space storage. It's our Straw Hat funds."

"Really?!" Nami's eyes lit up with excitement.

'Straw Hat funds? But isn't she the crew's treasurer? Doesn't that mean the wealth belongs to her?' Nami looked at Seph in admiration, feeling his charisma was beyond compare.

"Mother, I see God!!" she exclaimed, hugging Seph tightly and showering him with kisses all over his face.

The rest of the crew tactfully turned their attention back to the front, as Merry was slowly docking by the side of the Baratie.