Capítulo 203: 16. The Sword God And The Sword Master
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The Black Cat Pirates were completely subdued, and Ikki used a Den Den Mushi to contact the Marine branch in Shells Town, requesting their assistance in taking custody of the captured pirates.
When the Marines in Shells Town received the news, they were initially baffled. Another pirate crew had been taken down? The private Marine's efficiency was nothing short of astounding. Time and again, they found themselves impressed by Ikki's accomplishments.
The thought of such frequent successes stirred excitement among the Shells Town Marines. If this pace continued, their branch might even be promoted to a higher rank—a dream scenario for them. Promotions, pay raises, and a better standard of living weren't out of reach if Ikki's actions kept boosting their reputation.
"First it was the Buggy Pirates," one Marine muttered. "Though Buggy escaped, we still scored big by catching his crew. And now it's Kuro of a Hundred Plans, worth 16 million berries."
"Not to mention, Ikki exposed that all of Captain Morgan's so-called achievements were fake. Turns out, Kuro was the one pulling the strings the whole time."
-----
"All right," Ikki said, addressing his crew. "The Marines should be here in two days to take over the prisoners."
With everything settled, Ikki and the others prepared to leave the island. Along with their victory, they had also obtained a ship: the Going Merry, as it was called in the original story.
Kaya approached them with a deep bow of gratitude. "Thank you so much for saving me and the villagers!"
Ikki smiled, glancing at the ship. "You're welcome. Besides, you've given us a beautiful ship in return."
Just as Ikki finished speaking, a sudden commotion erupted from the hillside. Everyone turned to see Usopp tumbling down with an oversized bag strapped to his back. He rolled and rolled, heading straight for the Going Merry.
Seeing this, Luffy and Zoro reacted swiftly. Without hesitation, they delivered synchronized kicks to Usopp's face, stopping him just short of the ship's hull.
And so, in this unconventional manner, Usopp became the fifth member of the Straw Hat Pirates.
The Going Merry sailed away from Syrup Village, its course set for the next destination. After defeating the Black Cat Pirates and saving the island, Ikki had gained considerable justice points.
The breakdown was simple:
Defeating Kuro earned him 30 justice points. Kuro, at 16 million berries, held the highest single-target justice value so far, surpassing Buggy by 15 points. The difference wasn't due to strength or bounty alone but the sheer evil of their deeds. Buggy might destroy houses and extort money, but Kuro's legacy was far darker. As the leader of the Black Cat Pirates, he slaughtered indiscriminately, even targeting Marines. Such atrocities had significantly elevated Kuro's justice value.
Ikki also gained over 100 justice points for eliminating the rest of the Black Cat Pirates and a whopping 1,000 points for saving Syrup Village and Kaya.
This brought him enough points for ten consecutive silver draws. But Ikki, ever patient, decided to save up for ten consecutive gold draws instead.
The Going Merry continued its journey across the calm seas. A day earlier, the crew had stumbled upon a peculiar island teeming with rare beasts. On that island, they encountered a strange man fused with a treasure chest.
After a short rest on Beast Island, the crew set off once again.
On the deck of the Going Merry, Ikki was focused on practicing his Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, while Zoro meticulously maintained his three swords. Nearby, Nami sat cross-legged, deeply engrossed in the Nen training manual that Ikki had lent her.
Determined to grow stronger, Nami had been meditating for days. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't sense even the faintest trace of energy. Frustration gnawed at her, and for the first time, she considered giving up.
Meanwhile, Luffy and Usopp were busy testing the ship's cannons. They had turned distant rocks into makeshift targets. Luffy fired repeatedly, but his shots didn't even come close. Usopp, on the other hand, was a natural marksman, hitting his targets with precision every time.
The duo's antics were interrupted when a man with a long knife suddenly climbed aboard the Merry. He roared fiercely, "Get off this ship... Pirates!"
Zoro paused mid-polish, his brow furrowing. "Huh? That voice sounds familiar," he muttered.
Hearing the commotion, Luffy ran to the scene, but before he could speak, the man charged at him with his blade. "You're the ones who attacked my partner!"
"What are you talking about?" Luffy exclaimed, dodging the strike. However, the man's attack left a gash on the ship's deck.
Seeing his newly acquired ship damaged, Luffy's anger flared, and he prepared to fight back. By now, Zoro, Ikki, and the others had gathered to see what was going on.
When the man's eyes fell on Zoro, his expression shifted from rage to shock. "Brother Zoro?! What are you doing on this pirate ship?"
Zoro blinked in recognition. "Johnny? What are you doing here? Where's Yosaku?"
At the mention of his partner, Johnny snapped back to reality. He scrambled off the ship and returned moments later, carrying an unconscious Yosaku over his shoulder. Yosaku's breathing was shallow, and his condition was dire.
"Yosaku… He started coughing up blood a few days ago. His old wounds reopened," Johnny explained, tears streaming down his face. "We were resting on a reef nearby, but then a pirate ship fired at us. Yosaku, who was already in bad shape… He's gotten worse."
Hearing this, Luffy and Usopp froze. Realization dawned on them—they were the ones who had fired at the reef during their cannon practice. Guilt washed over them, and they immediately bowed in apology.
"We're so sorry!" they said in unison, their heads nearly hitting the deck.
Ikki stepped forward, examining Yosaku briefly before speaking. "It's sepsis. He just needs fresh fruits to recover."
Luffy and Usopp jumped to action. They dashed into the ship's storage and emerged moments later with an armful of oranges. At first, they carefully squeezed the juice for Yosaku, but impatience took over, and they began stuffing whole oranges into his mouth.
As they worked, Ikki sighed. "We really need a professional chef on this ship. Without proper nutrition, we'll all start facing similar problems sooner or later. A chef would help us avoid this."
Nami and Zoro nodded in agreement, though Luffy was too busy pushing another orange into Yosaku's mouth to pay attention.
Remarkably, Yosaku began to recover, his strength returning with each piece of fruit.
The two formally reintroduced themselves to the crew, but before they could finish, Yosaku suddenly coughed up more blood and collapsed again.
With Yosaku stable for the time being, Johnny began chatting casually with the crew. "If you're looking for a chef, I know just the place to go."
"Really? Where?" Luffy asked, his excitement reigniting.
Johnny grinned. "The Sea Restaurant… Baratie!"
Capítulo 204: 17. Are You Called Iron Fist?
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Somewhere in the East Blue, a massive, round ship with a fish-head bow floated peacefully on the sea. Docked all around it were countless smaller sailboats, tied up by patrons visiting for a meal.
This was the most famous sea restaurant in the East Blue: Baratie.
And it was exactly where Ikki, Luffy, and their crew were headed.
"That's the Sea Restaurant Baratie!" Johnny exclaimed, pointing at the ship ahead with a broad grin. "The food here is amazing, and if you're looking to hire a chef, this is the best place to do it!"
Hearing Johnny's praise, Luffy's mouth began to water as visions of meat danced in his head.
However, before they could draw closer, a medium-sized Marine warship approached the Going Merry. The tension on the Merry's deck rose immediately as the warship slowed, aligning itself beside them.
On the deck of the warship, a Marine officer stepped forward. He scrutinized the Merry's skull-and-crossbones flag before muttering to himself, "A pirate flag I've never seen before..."
Raising his voice, he bellowed, "I am Captain 'Double Ironfist' Fullbody of the Marines! Pirates ahead—state your names!"
The solemn demand prompted Luffy to step forward eagerly. "My name is Luffy, and I'm going to—"
Before he could finish, Ikki swiftly covered Luffy's mouth, silencing him. Pulling Luffy aside, Ikki produced his private Marine appointment letter. "I am Admiral Ikki of the Private Marines," he stated firmly. "Captain Fullbody, what business do you have with us?"
"Private Marines?" Fullbody sneered. "Do you think I'm blind? Marines don't fly the skull-and-crossbones flag!"
He gestured sharply, and his soldiers immediately aimed their cannons at the Merry.
Ikki, unfazed, pointed to the official seal on his appointment letter. "Look closer," he said. "This is the seal of Marine Headquarters, personally stamped by Vice Admiral Garp himself! If you want to attack us, I suggest you be prepared for the consequences."
Fullbody hesitated, his bravado wavering. Despite his self-given title of "Iron Fist," he lacked both strength and courage. His promotion to Marine Captain stemmed more from ambition and showmanship than actual ability. Weighing the risks, he decided not to press the matter.
"Hmph! Whether you're private Marines or pirates, I don't care!" Fullbody barked. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you go. Consider yourselves lucky!"
He turned with a dramatic flourish, wrapping his arm around a beauty in a red dress who stood beside him. She, clearly smitten by his posturing, leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
Seeing this, Luffy's temper flared. Smoke practically poured out of his nostrils as he clenched his fists. "Ikki, can I punch him?" he growled, turning to his crewmate.
Ikki shared Luffy's disdain. Men like Fullbody, who were all show and no substance, irked him. "Not yet," Ikki replied. "But you'll get your chance soon."
Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.
As Fullbody began to walk away, Ikki called out after him. "Hey, you call yourself 'Iron Fist.' Does Vice Admiral Garp know you're stealing his title?"
The remark caused murmurs among the Marines on Fullbody's ship. Ikki pressed on, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "There's only one Fist in the entire Marine, and that's the Marine hero—Garp the Fist! You dare to pretend to be him? How cowardly can you get?"
Fullbody kept walking, refusing to turn back, but the murmurs among his crew grew louder. The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unsettled by Ikki's words.
"I think this young man is right! Captain Fullbody is a bit shameless!"
"Yes, I've been wanting to suggest the captain change his nickname for a while now."
"Do you think Vice Admiral Garp knows about this? Could it implicate us?"
"I'm not sure... but I've heard that the officers at Marine Headquarters are terrifying."
The murmurs among his subordinates finally pushed Fullbody to his limit. He spun back toward Ikki, his face red with anger. "A**hole! What does it matter to you what my name is?!"
Ikki crossed his arms, unfazed. "It does matter. My private Marine appointment letter was issued by Vice Admiral Garp himself. Your actions are tarnishing his name and reputation!"
Fullbody's frustration mounted. The truth was that his nickname, "Iron Fist," stemmed from the iron knuckle gloves he wore. While it wasn't the same as Garp's legendary title, the association had been useful for scaring pirates and bolstering his image. Now, he was cornered, his authority undermined. But instead of backing down, he forced a smirk.
"What's the problem?" he said, feigning confidence. "So what if I call myself Iron Fist? Are you going to do something about it? Or run crying to Garp?"
He laughed, assured that a figure as prominent as Vice Admiral Garp wouldn't waste time over a minor captain's nickname. And as for fighting? He had a ship full of Marines at his back.
Ikki chuckled, shaking his head. "I've never seen someone ask for a beating before." Turning to Luffy, he patted him on the shoulder. "It's your turn. Beat him senseless—preferably in the face."
Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement, his fists clenching in anticipation. "Got it!"
"And Zoro," Ikki added, "take care of the Marine grunts. Make sure they don't interfere."
"Understood," Zoro replied with a grin.
The two leapt onto the deck of Fullbody's warship, catching the Marines completely off-guard. Fullbody froze in disbelief. "Are you insane?! You're actually going to fight the Marines?!"
Before he could react further, Luffy's fist smashed into his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Ikki, uninterested in Fullbody's defeat, took out his Den Den Mushi and dialed Garp's number. After a few rings, the familiar gruff voice answered. "What's going on, Ikki?"
"Vice Admiral Garp, we've run into someone using your name to scam people," Ikki explained. "And worse, this guy is using your title to pick up girls! Imagine what people would think if word got out—something like, 'The hero Garp, an old man chasing young women!' It would ruin your reputation!"
On the other end of the line, Garp sighed, exasperated. "..."
"And when Luffy saw someone tarnishing his grandfather's name, he couldn't stand it. So, naturally, he punched him. Any issues with that?"
Garp snorted in disbelief. He knew Luffy better than anyone and doubted his grandson even remembered his name half the time, let alone his title. Still, Garp could tell Ikki was laying the groundwork for him to smooth things over.
"All right," Garp said. "Who did you beat up this time?"
"Just a Marine branch captain calling himself Double Ironfist Fullbody," Ikki replied.
There was a long pause before Garp sighed again. "A branch captain? In the East Blue? That's it? Do you really need to call me for something so minor?"
"I just didn't want there to be any misunderstandings," Ikki said nonchalantly. "Also, our private Marine flag has been finalized—a skull with a straw hat. Do you think you could help us get it approved?"
Garp groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. But listen, Ikki—keep Luffy out of major trouble. I can handle Marines, even officers from headquarters, but you know who I can't touch."
Ikki nodded, understanding immediately. It was non other that the Celestial Dragons.
Garp knows his grandson's character very well. If a World Noble were to offend Luffy, Garp is fully aware that Luffy would not hesitate to punch him.
The implication of what Garp conveyed to Ikki was that causing trouble and even beating up Marines were somewhat acceptable, but provoking a World Noble was a different matter.
If Luffy were to provoke the Celestial Dragons, Garp would struggle to protect him. Although Luffy might avoid execution, he would likely lose his identity or freedom.
"If that's all, I'm hanging up," Garp said, already sounding impatient.
"Wait!" Ikki interjected, glancing at the Baratie in the distance. Patting his empty pockets, he added with a grin, "Since we're already talking, how about helping out with this fake Iron Fist? You could even foot the bill for dinner while we're here!"
T/N: In Chinese fanfics, Garp's title is Iron Fist.
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