A few days later, the Thousand Sunny and the Guma sailed side by side across a tranquil stretch of ocean.
Because the Straw Hat Pirates were actively searching for the Red Hair Pirates, Drake had decided to accompany them. He had long admired Red Hair Shanks and wanted to take this perfect opportunity to properly get to know the man.
Drake understood deeply what a reunion between the Straw Hats and the Red Hair Pirates truly signified.
The promise of the straw hat.
The dream of a man.
Reflecting on their journey so far, the Straw Hat crew had already endured and experienced far too much. Both Luffy and his crewmates had truly come of age. Although the mantle of an Emperor of the Sea might still seem a bit early for Luffy, his rate of growth was undeniably staggering.
By the time the rest of the world fully processed the shift, Luffy would likely have advanced even further. To ordinary men, the throne of a Yonko was a distant, unreachable mirage. But to Luffy, being an Emperor was merely a rather pleasant milestone along his grand adventure.
After all, if he didn't become the Pirate King, how could he call himself Monkey D. Luffy?!
Drake and Luffy sat on the deck of the Thousand Sunny, quietly watching the boundless ocean expand before them. A crisp, cool sea breeze brushed against their faces, tossing their hair, yet their eyes remained as profoundly tranquil as ever.
Slowly taking the straw hat from around his neck, Luffy cradled it in his hands, his palm gently tracing the worn straw. His eyes filled with immense nostalgia.
Time truly flew.
Unconsciously, this straw hat had accompanied him for twelve long years. It was a single spark of passion twelve years ago that had driven him to swear an oath to become the Pirate King.
And today, he was fully prepared.
He was going to stand proudly before that man and tell him face-to-face: I have finally surpassed you.
That was why he had come.
The distant cries of seagulls echoed through the air, and the damp ocean breeze carried a sharp scent that cleared the mind.
Currently, there was one other passenger aboard the Thousand Sunny aside from the Straw Hats and Drake.
Mitian.
At this moment, Mitian was chatting amiably with Nami and the others. Initially, the crew had harbored a trace of skepticism toward her. After all, she was a Marine, and Robin was currently the primary target of both the Navy and the World Government. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility that she had come specifically to capture Robin.
Yet, over time, Mitian had seamlessly integrated herself into Nami and Robin's company. Compounded by Sanji's endless, frantic attempts to please her, she was getting along with the Straw Hats in perfect harmony.
Even Drake couldn't help but marvel. This woman was truly formidable; neither her strength nor her intellect was something an ordinary person could easily resist. Drake even found himself wondering—if he didn't intervene, and this woman chose to strike, would anyone here actually be able to hold her back?
While Luffy's current combat prowess was light-years ahead of his past self, his baseline tactical reflexes remained somewhat slow to ignite. No matter who his opponent was, if he didn't establish a firm, lethal resolve from the very start, he wouldn't deploy his full power. To any seasoned professional, that was an absolute, glaring opening.
And Mitian was precisely the kind of hunter who would ruthlessly exploit such a flaw.
"Mitian, here, try some of Sanji's refreshments! His culinary skills are absolutely unmatched," Nami said warmly, handing Mitian a specially prepared beverage.
"Thank you," Mitian accepted the glass, sipping it with effortless elegance. A brief moment later, she let out a soft exclamation of genuine praise. "This is delicious! Sanji-kun, you truly possess an incredible talent."
"Mitian-chan!" Sanji spun in a frantic circle of joy before materializing right in front of her. Bowing smoothly with impeccable chivalry, he declared, "Not at all, not at all! To receive such high praise from the beautiful Miss Mitian is my absolute, ultimate honor!"
As he spoke, Sanji desperately tried to control his hands, slowly reaching them out toward her.
"Get away!" Nami executed a sudden, horizontal kick that sent Sanji blasting across the deck. Turning back to Mitian with a warm, gentle smile, she said, "Don't mind him, Mitian. He's always like this."
"Hehehe..." Mitian covered her mouth, letting out a soft giggle. "Not at all. A lively crew like the Straw Hats is wonderful."
Hearing her words, Nami and Robin exchanged a knowing look and smiled warmly.
On the other side of the deck, Sanji scrambled back to his feet, looking completely unfazed by the impact, though his eyes had already warped into giant hearts.
"Mitian-chan, I'll prepare some desserts for you ladies right away!" Sanji murmured, floating back toward the galley.
Usopp: "..."
Chopper: "..."
"Sanji! Don't forget about ours!" Chopper screamed frantically, running closely behind him.
"Yeah! Sanji, you can't completely disregard the men just because there are ladies on deck!" Usopp protested loudly.
"Hmph! That damn cook is completely beyond saving," Zoro let out a cold, dismissive snort.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho... Sanji-san, allow me to lend a hand as well," Brook quickly gave chase.
However, the exact microsecond Brook crossed the threshold of the galley, a furious roar echoed from the interior: "Beat it!"
In the next fraction of a second, Brook came flying out of the room, and the heavy wooden door slammed shut with a definitive SLAM!
"Sanji! You have zero professional honor!" Brook wailed in mock agony.
Jinbe: "..."
"Ah, haha..." Usopp quickly walked over, waving his hands as he gently guided Jinbe away. "Boss, don't pay them any mind. They're always like this."
Led away by Usopp, it took a long moment for Jinbe to master his profound bewilderment at the crew's daily dynamics.
Gradually, Zoro and Chopper also gathered near the railing of the main deck. The small group remained silent, their gazes fixed on Luffy and Drake, who were quietly absorbing the ocean breeze.
After a long silence, Chopper turned to Usopp. "Usopp, your dad is a member of the Red Hair Pirates too, right?"
"Yeah! We're finally going to see each other soon," Usopp murmured, a wave of complex, wistful emotion softening his expression.
"I see..." Chopper added gently. "Do you miss him?"
At the mention of his father, Usopp gradually drifted into his memories. His father had abandoned their homeland when he was just a boy, all to pursue the life of a pirate. The calling of the Jolly Roger, the absolute romance of a man. Yasopp might not have been a textbook definition of a responsible father or husband, but he was an absolute, true man—the individual Usopp revered most in his entire life.
Staring at the proud smile painting Usopp's face, Chopper couldn't help but smile warmly alongside him.
BOOM!
Right then, a thunderous explosion erupted from the waters directly ahead.
The ocean churned violently as a colossal geyser of water shot into the high heavens. As the sea spray rained back down, a monstrous creature breached the surface, looming over the two vessels.
"ROOOAAAR!!"
A deafening screech shook the atmosphere. The beast possessed deep, razor-sharp fangs and a colossal, serpentine torso.
"Eek!!" Chopper froze in sheer terror. How had a gargantuan Sea King suddenly materialized right in front of them?
"Hey, hey, hey..." Usopp's eyes nearly popped from their sockets. This was terrifying! He was right in the middle of a beautiful, nostalgic reflection, and this monstrous entity had to ruin the mood.
The corners of Zoro's lips curled into a lethal smirk. His hand slowly pushed against the guard of his sword, a flash of cold steel clearing the sheath.
The Straw Hat Pirates instantly locked into high-level combat readiness. Simultaneously, four figures emerged from the hatch of the adjacent Guma—Kenshin and the crew stood poised to strike at a moment's notice.
"None of you move, leave this to me!" Luffy suddenly vaulted into the air, detonating into his Boundman form.
The mere sight of the monster ignited an explosive surge of irritation in his chest. A profound rage bubbled within him, desperately demanding an outlet to vent.
Drake stared up at the massive Sea King, lightly slapping a hand over his face. The creature looked as though it had been cast from the exact same structural mold as the Lord of the Coast from the East Blue. No wonder Luffy had charged forward without a fraction of a second's hesitation.
But in the very next microsecond, Luffy's combat instincts triggered. Shedding his transformed state, he smoothly descended back toward the deck.
While Drake blinked in confusion at his sudden abort, a heavy sound sundered the air. The colossal Sea King before them suddenly erupted into a massive, violent spray of blood.
Everyone: "!!!"