Chapter 525 - 365

Chapter 366: The Straw Hat Grand Fleet!The atmosphere of the royal banquet was pushed to a climax time and again by Uta's moving singing and Yamato's hearty drinking bouts.Laughter and cheer filled the air as cups were exchanged.It was as if all the suffering and repression of the past ten years were being vented and forgotten in this single night.But just as Luffy and Yamato were hugging barrels and chugging like two water buffaloes, competing to see who was the true glutton, the entire banquet hall suddenly went quiet.Seven people stood up from various corners of the banquet as if they had pre-arranged it.They walked through the reveling crowd with steady steps and solemn expressions, eventually coming to a stop before the long head table where Luffy sat.Leading them was the man with the green mohawk, strange patterns under his eyes, and the expression of a fanatical fan—"Cannibal" Bartolomeo.Behind him was the incredibly handsome but split-personality "White Horse" Cavendish,the pillar of the Happo Navy, "Don Sai of the Drill,"the Ideo Martial Arts fighter "Destruction Cannon" Ideo,the hero of the Tontatta Tribe, Leo,the future of the Giant Warrior Pirates, Hajrudin,and the Commodore of the Yonta Maria Grand Fleet, "Pioneering Adventurer" Orlumbus.These seven powerhouses, who had fought alongside Straw Hat in Dressrosa and achieved great feats, were now standing there in a row.Each of them wore an expression of solemnity and resolve, as if they were on a pilgrimage.This aura, completely at odds with the surrounding festive atmosphere, caused the noisy banquet to fall silent.Luffy and Yamato, who were in the middle of their drinking contest, also stopped and looked curiously at these seven uninvited guests."Do you guys... need something?"Luffy asked indistinctly, his mouth still stuffed with meat.Bartolomeo didn't answer immediately.He took a deep breath and then performed an action that left everyone in the room dumbfounded.He dropped to one knee, pressed his right hand to his chest, and bowed his proud head toward Luffy."Senior Luffy!!!"Bartolomeo's voice was incredibly excited and trembling violently, but every word rang out clearly in the quiet banquet hall."Please allow us to swear our allegiance as your subordinates!""From this day forth, the pirate crews and forces led by the seven of us are willing to go through fire and water for you without regret!"As soon as he finished, he produced a tray from behind him, upon which eight wine bowls filled to the brim were neatly placed."This cup is the Sake of Father and Sons!""As long as we drink this together, we will follow in your footsteps forever as your most loyal sons! And you will be our only father, the supreme Great Captain of our Straw Hat Grand Fleet!!!"Boom!!!Bartolomeo's words were like a bomb, instantly stunning everyone present!Everyone present, whether the Dressrosa royalty or the pirates and warriors, stood up from their chairs in shock, their faces screaming, "Did I hear that right?"This wasn't just some simple alliance, hey!This was the most serious and ironclad type of master-servant contract in the pirate world!Once this cup was drunk, it meant that these seven powerhouses, famous even in the New World, along with their combined forces of over five thousand people, would be completely incorporated into the Straw Hat Pirates, becoming Luffy's direct underlings!This was a massive pirate alliance that even the Four Emperors would have to take seriously!Everyone's eyes were fixed on Luffy, waiting for his answer.If he just nodded, the Straw Hat Pirates' power would skyrocket tonight, becoming a major force capable of going head-to-head with any of the Four Emperors!And yet, Luffy's response made everyone's jaws drop to the floor."I refuse."Two words floated out of Luffy's mouth lightheartedly.He scratched his head, wearing that signature expression of pure confusion."I don't want to be some Great Captain! It sounds super troublesome!""Besides, if I become your father, wouldn't that make me an old man? I don't want that!"Luffy's refusal was blunt and without a second thought.He simply felt that the title "Great Captain" didn't sound free or cool at all.He only wanted to be the Pirate King, the freest man on the sea, not some troublesome big shot who had to manage thousands of people."Ehhh??!!??" o(mouth)oThe fanaticism on Bartolomeo's face froze instantly; he was petrified on the spot as if struck by lightning.Cavendish and the others behind him were also dazed and dumbfounded.They had imagined ten thousand possibilities, but they never expected Luffy to refuse!"Wh... why?! Senior Luffy!"Bartolomeo's voice carried a hint of sobbing; he couldn't understand or accept it. o(╥﹏╥)o"Becoming the subordinates of a great existence like you is the honor of our lives! Why would you reject our burning sincerity?!""I said it's troublesome, so it's troublesome!"Luffy curled his lip and picked up another piece of meat to stuff into his mouth.Seeing that this century-defining alliance was about to fall through because of their Captain's strange logic, Nami and Robin finally couldn't sit still."Wait, Luffy!"Nami grabbed Luffy's hand that was holding the meat and leaned into his ear, whispering in a little devil-like voice:"You idiot! Do you even know what you're turning down?!"Her eyes had turned into two glittering Berriessymbols."Five thousand six hundred people! Those are five thousand six hundred mobile vaults! Think about it: if they go out on adventures and find treasure, wouldn't they have to pay a protection fee to the Great Captain for expenses?""When that time comes, we won't have to do anything; we'll be counting money until our hands cramp! Do you understand, you idiot?!"Nami's voice was like a devil's whisper, hitting Luffy's simple mind right where his ultimate desires for "eating meat" and "holding banquets" lay.Counting money until hands cramp = can buy lots and lots of meat = can have banquets every day!Luffy's eyes lit up with a ping.However, he was still a bit hesitant."But... if I become Great Captain, does that mean I can't just go play whenever I want?"At this moment, Robin also leaned in with a smile, smelling fragrant, and spoke softly into Luffy's other ear with her intellectual and charming voice:"Captain, you've got it wrong.""Being a king isn't about being restricted; on the contrary, it's for greater freedom.""They don't want to be your subordinates so you can manage them. They want to use your name to go on their own adventures under your flag of freedom.""You don't have to manage them or be responsible for them. You just need to keep being yourself and keep being the Pirate King.""And when you're picking a fight with the whole world and need manpower..."A deep light flashed in Robin's eyes."These five thousand six hundred underlings will rush from all over the world to become the sharpest and most loyal blade in your hand.""This is a bond, not a contract. What do you think, our... Captain?"Robin's words were like a key, instantly unlocking the last lock in Luffy's heart.No need to manage people?Can continue adventuring?And thousands of friends to help when fighting?This... wasn't this exactly what he always wanted?!"I get it now!"Luffy slapped his thigh hard and jumped up from his chair, his face once again wearing that silly, bright smile.He walked over to the despondent Bartolomeo, who was still kneeling on the ground, pulled him up, and heartily picked up the bowl of wine that belonged to the father."Alright! I'll drink this cup!"Luffy looked at the seven people before him and grinned:"But let's get one thing straight! I'm not your father, and I'm certainly not some Great Captain! I am who I am, Monkey D. Luffy!""And you're not my sons! You are all Luffy's friends!""From now on, no matter who runs into trouble, just give a shout and we'll be there immediately!""It's a deal!"With that, Luffy tilted his head back and downed the wine in the bowl in one gulp!"Phew! Good wine!"Seeing Luffy's hearty manner and hearing his declaration full of freedom and bonds...Bartolomeo, Cavendish, Sai...The eyes of all seven men instantly turned red.No longer able to contain the excitement and joy in their hearts, they each picked up a wine bowl and, mimicking Luffy, downed them in one go!"Yes! Senior Luffy (Boss)!""From now on, the seven of us are willing to offer our hearts to you!!!"Clatter!!!The moment the eight wine bowls were smashed onto the ground simultaneously, the entire palace erupted in earth-shattering cheers and applause!Under the night sky of Dressrosa, a massive pirate collective consisting of seven Captains and over five thousand six hundred people was formed!Its name was—The Straw Hat Grand Fleet!The next day, this news spread to every corner of the world via News Coos as if it had grown wings.The entire world was stunned!The power structure of the New World was completely rewritten starting from this night!A new era belonging to "Monkey D. Luffy" had arrived, unstoppable!!!