Sailing at Sea: The Breath of the Day at the Start

Page 198

"I don't have anything to do right now, so it's better to stay by your side than to cause any more big incidents."

"..."

"And I also have some things I'd like to talk to you about."

........................

June, 1520 (Haiyuan Calendar).

Luffy and Zoro arrive in Orange Town and clash with Buggy, who has taken over the town. They also encounter Nami, who is temporarily staying with Buggy's crew.

After Luffy blasted Buggy away with a Gum-Gum Rocket, Nami asked Luffy, "Are you planning to go to the Grand Line?"

"Of course, I'm going to be the Pirate King."

"Then... if I give you a nautical chart of the Grand Line, can you take me with you to the Grand Line?"

Nami took out the nautical chart she had stolen from Buggy and spoke to Luffy, Zoro, and the others.

"Okay."

Luffy answered without the slightest hesitation.

After Nami joined the crew and demonstrated her extensive nautical knowledge, Luffy suggested that she join their pirate crew as their navigator and become his second partner.

"I'll have to think about that carefully."

When Nami answered Luffy, she leaned against the edge of the ship, gazing into the distance. Her short orange hair was blown by the sea breeze, and her eyes were full of expectation and longing: "I promised someone that I would find the best sailing partners, become a navigator that would impress him, and then meet them on the high seas."

As Nami spoke, she turned to Luffy and Zoro and smiled, saying, "That's why I can't just become your partner so easily."

"So, you'll only consider joining us as navigators after you've assessed whether we're worthy of being your partners, is that what you mean?"

Zoro, who was standing to the side with his arms crossed, looked at her and said.

"good."

Nami nodded to him: "Before that, I was just a partner to you."

"Hehehehe! Is that so? Is that so?"

Sitting on the ground, Luffy held his straw hat on his head with one hand, grinned at Nami, revealing a set of bright white teeth, his smile incredibly cheerful and confident, "Don't worry, we'll definitely become the most suitable partners for you!"

……

Mid June.

The Straw Hat Pirates, now with three members, arrived at the Baratie, where they unexpectedly encountered Hawkeye Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the world's strongest swordsman, who was in the East Blue to relax.

Zoro would not let this opportunity pass him by and challenged him.

Just like in the original story, he was easily defeated by Hawkeye wielding a small knife, and was even seriously injured by a single sword strike.

This battle also made Zoro, who had always been very confident in his strength and swordsmanship, fully realize his own weakness.

How far is the distance between us and the world?

"Roronoa Zoro, I'll remember your name. Keep getting stronger, young swordsman."

Hawkeye withdrew the black sword Yoru, which had severed the three longswords in Zoro's hand. His eyes glanced at Zoro, who lay in a pool of blood with his chest cut open. "You said you wanted to find that man named Roon. If you see him, tell him I'm waiting for him, waiting to fight him with all my might."

After saying this to Zoro, Hawkeye boarded a small, coffin-like boat and left alone.

"In his eyes, is Ron already an opponent worthy of his all-out battle?"

Zoro lay in a pool of blood, his consciousness fading. He seemed to see the young Roon standing in front of him in the dojo years ago, wearing a white gi and holding a bamboo sword in one hand.

In Zoro's hazy vision, the young Roon from his memories gradually transformed into a young man dressed in black, with a calm expression, holding a black sword, and sharp eyes.

He stood before the fallen Zoro, just as he had always done, his gaze fixed on him like an insurmountable mountain for Zoro.

Is that so...

Ron has also grown steadily since leaving the dojo, and has he now reached the same level as this person...?

How far am I from them now...?

The thought surfaced in Zoro's severely injured mind, making him feel powerless like never before.

"Zoron!"

Extremely worried, Luffy shouted at him and ran towards him.

Just as he was about to rush to Zoro, who was lying in a pool of blood.

A tall, slender figure in black, with a black sword at his waist, suddenly appeared in front of Zoro.

It overlapped with the phantom of the person Zoro imagined in his hazy state of consciousness.

"Oh dear, Zoro, that's really quite pitiful."

That somewhat familiar soft laugh rang in Zoro's ears, just like back then.

"Is it a hallucination..."

Zoro tried to open his eyes to see clearly, but he couldn't and gradually fainted.

175, you are... Ron?

Time goes back to a month ago.

The Grand Line.

Chambord Islands.

"!!"

Rayleigh and Shakky were both surprised and delighted to see Kuina and the others suddenly appear before them.

"You are still alive after all."

With her long golden hair cascading down to her waist, Connie, dressed in white, smiled at the two of them and said, "Of course, we won't die so easily."

After more than two years apart, Robin, who had become even more mature and charming, looked at the two of them and smiled, "Shakky, Rayleigh, it's been a long time."

"Didn't expect us to come, did you? Were you surprised?"

Bonnie, with her long pink hair cascading down her shoulders, winked and smiled at the two of them.

Kuina, with her long blue ponytail and two swords at her waist, nodded to the two of them: "Looks like I'll be bothering you for a while longer."

"excuse me!"

Xiao Qi bowed deeply to the two of them and shouted loudly.

Carrot, who had come down from Zou Island with Robin and the others, looked at Rayleigh and Shakky with curiosity.

Are these two people acquaintances of Robin and the others?

After a long-awaited reunion and some pleasantries...

Rayleigh and Shakky also learned some things about Robin and the others.

After Ron orchestrated the massive attack on Wano Country, severely damaging Kaido.

During those two years of silence and searching.

He and the others stayed on Zou Island, each carrying out their own cultivation, until they left a month ago.

"Then why did you come back to the Grand Line from the New World?"

Xia Qi asked curiously.

Bonnie sipped her shampoo and replied, "It was the captain's decision; we're not entirely sure."

"What about others?"

"Rayleigh asked."

“He left us near the Sabaody Archipelago, saying he was going to go out to sea by himself and told us to come and wait for him here.”

Robin said to Rayleigh.

Rayleigh took a sip of his drink and laughed loudly, "He's as willful as ever, just like that guy."

"Oh right, Rayleigh-senpai, my master told me to ask you to teach me Haki."

Xiao Qi said earnestly to Lei Li.

Rayleigh was stunned.

Xiao Qi bowed to him and said loudly:

"please!"

"I also hope you can give me some pointers on my swordsmanship."

Kuina also spoke to Rayleigh.

"Then I too..."

Connie also looked at Riley.

Rayleigh, holding the bottle, seemed somewhat bewildered by the three's sudden request.

"……Eh?"