Chapter 144: Chapter 144: The Pirate Crew's Current Action Plan
Note: I changed the name from Rutt to Ruth which makes a lot of sense.
Wood ultimately failed to kick Robin off the ship. It wasn't just because Robin herself was hard to deal with, but also because she had unknowingly won the favor of everyone on board.
After learning about Robin's childhood, Ruth and the others felt deep sympathy for her and frequently cursed the ugly face of the World Government.
In the past, as Marines, they wouldn't have dared to criticize the World Government so openly, but now that they were pirates, they didn't hesitate to mock the Marines and the World Government.
Because of their sympathy for Robin's experiences, coupled with their guilt for previously attacking her, Robin had essentially become the princess of the ship. Ruth and the others even swore to make up for her tragic childhood.
With a ship full of supporters, Wood's plan to kick Robin off naturally fell apart.
Although Wood, as the captain, had the final say on the ship, whenever he suggested leaving Robin on some island, Ruth and the others would threaten to go on strike.
Navigating, steering, observing the weather, and determining the course—Wood couldn't do all of these alone.
So, unwillingly, Robin ended up becoming a full-fledged member of their pirate crew. What's more, Wood's captain's quarters, which he had meticulously decorated with a literary flair, had now become Robin's private room.
Robin's reasoning was quite sound: there was only one captain's room and one large cabin on the ship.
Normally, Ruth and the other men would sleep together in the large cabin. Surely, they couldn't make a young woman like her sleep with a bunch of burly men?
Of course, as the captain, Wood had every right to sleep in the room. Robin even said she wouldn't mind.
But on the first night, when he saw the young Robin casually changing into her nightgown right in front of him, Wood found himself unable to stay calm.
After indulging in the sight, Wood eventually resisted his fluttering heart and went to squeeze into the large cabin with Ruth and the others.
Wood felt fortunate that Robin was still young, her figure not yet fully developed.
Moreover, she had deliberately darkened her skin to avoid drawing attention and was extremely thin due to long-term malnutrition, so she was only of average appearance.
But it was precisely for these reasons that Wood, a "man of principle," could pull back from the brink and not walk down the path of a pervert.
When Wood left the room, clutching his nose in frustration, Robin, who had been facing away from him, couldn't help but chuckle.
In the past, when she mingled with other pirate crews, she would typically sleep in the large cabin with a bunch of smelly pirates. As a parasite who could only survive by clinging to others, how could she possibly have her own room?
But ever since she boarded this ship, Robin had felt different. The people on this ship, though labeled as pirates and even hunted by the Marines, didn't engage in typical pirate behavior.
Wood, despite being a strong fighter, didn't carry himself with the airs of a captain. He frequently found himself at a disadvantage with Robin, and sometimes she even bullied him, which she found amusing.
Of course, Robin knew that Wood was deliberately letting her win and would sometimes turn a blind eye to her little tricks.
Though she didn't know why Wood was so kind to her, Robin found the feeling enjoyable, and life on the ship felt quite cozy.
In just over three months, Robin found herself deeply attached to this new life. Her smile was becoming more frequent, and she even thought to herself that if she had to return to her old life, she probably wouldn't be able to bear it.
"Captain, we've entered the Grand Line. What are our plans or goals now?" Ruth asked Wood after they returned to the Grand Line, as only the captain could decide the ship's destination and course—a rule as solid as iron on the seas.
Most people became pirates either to seek the treasure left by the Pirate King or to find the legendary Raftel. Some aimed for fame, while others sought to rule the seas.
But for Wood and his crew, becoming pirates was entirely accidental, and they hadn't had a clear goal or dream before.
After their treasure hunt across the four seas, Ruth and the others suddenly realized that they didn't even know what to do next.
Sometimes, having a purpose is crucial; it defines what someone lives for.
Whether it's to find the legendary One Piece or to establish dominance on the seas, a pirate crew needs a goal to grow stronger.
"As for the so-called One Piece, I'm quite curious myself," Wood said. "But before that, I think we should head to Water 7."
Water 7, also known as the City of Water, was where the ancient warship "Pluton" was built 800 years ago by the shipwrights on the island, making it famous and the foremost shipbuilding hub on the Grand Line.
Even the "Oro Jackson," the Pirate King Roger's ship, was built there over twenty years ago.
The Fish-Man Tom, who built the ship using the Adam Wood, gained fame as the world's best shipwright.
However, after the Pirate King Roger was executed, Tom was taken to Enies Lobby for trial due to his role in building Roger's ship.
But because Tom explained his concept and design for the Sea Train, the judge altered his sentence, giving him time to complete the project.
This means that Fish-Man Tom, the world's best shipwright, has not yet been executed.
When Ruth heard that Wood had decided to head to Water 7, he looked puzzled.
According to their original plan, after their treasure hunt, they intended to commission a new ship. But after the "One-Eyed Pirates" generously donated a ship, their ship needs had been temporarily resolved, so why go to Water 7? Was it for a vacation?
"Captain, with the size of our current pirate crew, there's no need for a new ship, and with the amount of money we have, I'm afraid we can't even afford one…"
Wood's pirate crew wasn't exactly poor, but they weren't rich either.
After their treasure hunt, the crew had amassed 82 million Berries, but this amount was far from enough to build a new ship.
Water 7, being the most famous shipbuilding island on the Grand Line, had top-notch shipwrights, but their services were also quite expensive.
The 82 million Berries might be enough to build a decent ship elsewhere, but in Water 7, it might not even be enough.
Moreover, they couldn't spend all their money on a ship; they still needed to cover their daily expenses.
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Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 230+ at patreon.com/Betek.
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