"…Eh!?"
Chopper was still dazed, not fully recovered from the shock of moments ago. He looked at Luffy, whose eyes were shining with expectation.
For some reason, under those deep, starry eyes, the usually shy and timid Chopper felt his heart gradually calm.
It was as if…
He had found where he truly belonged.
Even the tiny heart that had been thumping wildly moments ago started returning to its normal rhythm.
It was a strange feeling, both familiar and new.
Although Chopper wanted to steal another glance at Luffy, long years of frightening experiences had left him unable to trust any human at first sight.
Yet this strange feeling was undeniably real.
Who are they?
The person had just said they were the Starry Sky Pirates…
Are they the pirates Dr. Hiriluk once talked about?
And… did he just mention my name?
Wait!
He seemed to talk about my medical skills…
Huh.
Thinking this, Chopper sprang to his feet.
"Stupid!!!
Even if you say that, I'm not happy!!!
Stupid! Stupid!"
Everything suddenly clicked in Chopper's mind, and he reacted instantly to Luffy's words.
His body puffed up like a balloon, soft flesh and fluffy fur undulating like waves. His tiny hooves pressed together as he swayed awkwardly in place.
Two circular blushes spread across his cheeks, born of both shyness and joy.
"Hahaha~ What a cute little guy!"
Robin laughed, complimenting him, making Chopper even more flustered. His body swayed with renewed intensity.
Dr. Kureha, however, felt no embarrassment from her own moment of indulgence.
She tilted her sunglasses slightly, revealing her sharp eyes as she observed the "big shot" in front of her, curiosity flickering across her face:
"How strange…
That quack of a doctor actually knows such a powerful person?
How come… I've never heard of this before?"
Although Dr. Kureha did not question Luffy's identity, her tone betrayed her deep suspicion.
From what she knew, Dr. Hiriluk had been a notorious pirate before returning to the Drum Kingdom.
She had never heard of that despised man having any friends on the seas, especially someone as young as Luffy.
Moreover, during the time Chopper lived with Dr. Hiriluk, she had some knowledge of him.
Not many people should know Chopper's true identity.
Could it be that bull-headed kid?
But… he didn't seem like someone who meddled in others' affairs…
Setting aside her doubts for now, Dr. Kureha glanced at the still-happy Chopper and thought silently:
A Warlord of the Sea… an unexpected visitor indeed.
She lifted her head again, her expression no longer playful.
A strand of seriousness framed her face, making her unusually solemn. Before Luffy could speak, she said:
"The child's future is not for me to decide.
If you want to take him, take him!
But convincing him will not be easy.
His heart carries a wound… a wound that even a doctor cannot heal.
I assume you understand this, yes?"
"Of course!"
Luffy replied confidently, a broad grin on his face, eyes narrowing slightly as if nothing in the world could stop him.
"Heh…"
Dr. Kureha let out a low laugh:
"Quite a confident little guy…
You must not hurt him!"
The witch lowered her head, and a surge of overwhelming presence descended upon Luffy. The very ground beneath them trembled slightly.
"Don't worry. I won't."
Luffy remained calm, showing no reaction to Dr. Kureha's tangible pressure.
That's better…
Luffy's smile made her realize just how old she had become. She slowly withdrew her aura and began walking back toward the castle, leaving them be.
Her 140 years of experience allowed her to see that Luffy's words were sincere.
…
"Eh, wait for me, Dr. Kureha!"
Seeing her walk away, Chopper hurriedly scuttled after her.
But…
A foot suddenly blocked his path.
"Ah… human! What are you doing!?"
Chopper's childhood, hunted by humans, had left him with an instinctive fear and dislike of them.
Even Luffy, who had given him a strange sense of comfort moments ago, triggered his reflex to avoid humans.
So far, the only humans Chopper truly trusted were his adoptive father, Dr. Hiriluk, and Dr. Kureha.
Seeing Chopper recoil, Luffy crouched down to meet his eye level, beaming warmly:
"Come be my friend, Chopper!"
"Wha… what!!?"
"Don't… don't… talk nonsense, human!!!"
Luffy's simple words hit Chopper like an explosion, stirring something deep inside.
Yet Chopper trembled like a startled cat, a mix of anger, expectation, and helplessness in his shout:
"I… I'm a reindeer!!
How could I be with humans!!!"
"Y-you're not scared of me?"
"I can talk, I can walk on two legs! I'm a monster, you know?"
"Ah? So what?"
Luffy replied casually.
"There are plenty of people weirder than you on these seas.
If you don't believe me, just look behind you."
Chopper instinctively turned his head in the direction Luffy pointed.
What met his eyes was a white skeletal skull.
The skeletal figure was only about ten centimeters away!
And from its hollow eye sockets, a ghostly green flame suddenly flickered!
The eerie fire seemed to leap out of the eye sockets, bones glinting coldly as the jaw moved, voice echoing:
"Yohohoho~ Hello there!"
"Ahhhh!"
Terrified, Chopper's mouth gaped open, teeth and tongue seemingly about to fall out, shouting:
"Mo… monsters!!!"
He scrambled backward on his tiny hooves, colliding into Luffy.
Luffy caught him effortlessly, rising to his full height, laughing heartily:
"Hahaha…
Chopper, you think you're a monster, right?
But compared to the real monsters… you're far from it!"
"Let me show you the real face of this world!
Come see… the real monsters!"
Luffy lifted Chopper high above his head, giving him a full view of the Starry Sky Pirates.
"First up!"
"The walking skeletal musician!"
"Yohohoho~ Hello, I'm Brook.
Ready for a musical feast?"
Brook tipped his gentleman's hat, greeting Chopper, who leapt back in shock.
Luffy ignored it, placing Chopper safely on his neck and continuing:
"The beautiful scholar who can grow arms anywhere."
"Uh-huh~ Hello, I'm Robin!"
An arm suddenly appeared above Luffy's head, brushing Chopper's blue nose, freezing him in place.
"The chef who becomes a demon!"
"Ah… I'm Sanji, a top-class chef."
Sanji's pointed eyebrows and dark gold skin emerged, giving him a hellish knight-like appearance, glowing with fiery intensity.
"The navigator with dragon scales."
"I'm Nami. Leave the seas to me."
Nami extended her hand, and a surge of energy concentrated on her arm. Her claws extended and thickened, instantly transforming her hand into a powerful dragon claw.
Yet…
Seeing this, Chopper's fear strangely settled.
His eyes widened, glistening, a long-buried emotion threatening to break free.
"Hehe!"
Even though Luffy saw nothing, he smiled knowingly, softening his tone:
"The ghostly helmsman."
"Hey hey, nice to meet you! Let's play together sometime~"
"The boy hero who can produce a mop anytime, the messenger of justice."
"Ahaha~ Luffy, you're joking!"
"Hello, I'm Koby, Starry Sky Pirate crewman."
"The boastful long-nose…"
"Hey! Luffy, that's a terrible introduction!"
Usopp proudly gestured to his nose, introducing himself to Chopper:
"Call me the Brave of the Sea, the Evil Exterminator, the Sharpshooting King… the legendary Usopp!"
"Hahaha…"
Luffy ignored Usopp, continuing:
"Of course, the vice-captain of the Starry Sky Pirates, the swordsman who can never find his way.
No idea where he wandered off to now.
By the way, Chopper, can you make medicine to cure his terrible sense of direction!?"
"Huh? What…"
Chopper froze, eyes glued to the bizarre crew, completely captivated.
"Hahaha… nothing, nothing."
"And the last member, the island whale, Laboon."
"Too bad the island is so small, Laboon can't come near."
With that, Luffy lowered Chopper from above his head.
His starry eyes burned with joy, reflecting Chopper's own image in the flames.
"And me!"
"Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Here and now, on behalf of the Starry Sky Pirates, I officially invite you!
Join us, Chopper!
We need you! We need you, this…"
"Monster!!!"
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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