Chapter 4

He shook his head with a helpless smile,

This trip to Luo Ge Town had been quite fruitful as well — in just a little over ten minutes he'd obtained six sign-in rewards. Coming to find the Straw Hat Pirates really had been the right choice.

They were a machine for producing iconic scenes!

"Brat! I'll definitely catch you guys!" Smoker's voice came through.

Sima Di looked down at the empty-handed Smoker from above, then glanced at the sea-prism stone jitte in his own hand.

Hmm......

Does this thing count as a sword?

If he says it counts, then it counts!

【Tang Dao!】

Under Sima Di's Word Spirit ability, the sea-prism stone jitte transformed into a Tang Dao — three chi long, its blade pitch-black from a sea-prism stone coating, barely two fingers wide with a slight curve, and an extremely deep blood groove.

One look and you could tell it was a weapon for killing!

And since the World of Pirates made no distinction between dao and jian, it could also trigger the passive of "Catching a Blade with Empty Hands, Guaranteed."

Under Smoker's gaze,

Sima Di lowered his altitude and swung the Tang Dao at Smoker from a distance!

"Whoosh—"

Smoker unconsciously executed "Soru," dropping to a half-kneel in front of Sima Di with both hands raised above his head and pressed together, catching Sima Di's Tang Dao.

What the heck is this nonsense!

Catching a Blade with Empty Hands, Guaranteed!

Smoker: "......"

Smoker: (▼へ▼メ)

Brat!

You're asking for it!!!

Smoker held his breath with everything he had, about to activate his Smoke-Smoke Fruit ability, only to find his body weak and utterly unable to call on any Devil Fruit power.

His gaze sharpened as he looked at the black coating on the Tang Dao's surface — this was sea-prism stone?

Paired with that bizarre ability that forced him to catch the blade, and the ability to inflict "side effects" on a person's Devil Fruit just by speaking — this brat was practically the natural enemy of Devil Fruit users!!!

"Brat! I'll definitely find a way to catch you!" Smoker gritted his teeth and stubbornly held on.

He had no choice right now either —

His Devil Fruit ability was unusable, and his body was still restricted by that strange ability to catch blades with empty hands.

He could only talk tough with his mouth.

Sima Di curled his lip dismissively,

If his voice weren't hoarse right now, he'd at least let Smoker know that when it came to trash talk, he was still a little brother among little brothers.

For now though......

Sima Di kicked Smoker flying dozens of meters away, and was just about to turn around and fly off in style, when an arm suddenly wrapped around his waist.

Sima Di: "!!!"

Monchi?? Filter??

You dare......

"Whiz—"

Sima Di was yanked away directly, rocketing off toward the Going Merry, and just as he was about to crash into Luffy, he hurriedly used his telekinesis to slam on the brakes!

Phew—

That was close!

Zoro, sporting a big bump on his head nearby, glanced at Sima Di with a mix of regret and envy.

"Quite the impressive ability." Zoro said: "I'm Zoro. You must be the new crewmate Luffy recruited, right? Come on down, it's time for us to set sail!"

Sima Di nodded in response — the great name of "Sword Master" Zoro had been admired for a long time!

"Sima Di."

Hearing how hoarse Sima Di's voice was, everyone found it a little strange.

But since it was their first time meeting Sima Di, they just assumed it was something he was born with.

"Huh? Lord Sima, what's wrong with your throat?" Luffy asked, puzzled.

Sima Di didn't want to speak again. Suddenly thinking of something, he walked to the ship's railing, beckoned over a ball of seawater, and condensed it into a sentence.

《My ability was just overused, so I can't talk for a short while》

Everyone nodded in understanding.

Usopp even exclaimed in surprise: "That thunder and lightning just now — you really summoned it?"

Sima Di nodded.

《That one wave just cost a bit much》

"Amazing!" Usopp said excitedly: "I'm Usopp, the ship's sniper and part-time shipwright. Please take good care of me from now on!"

This really felt like finding a powerful backer.

"Boom rumble rumble—"

A peal of thunder interrupted the group's conversation, followed by a sudden downpour. A gale swept in from the direction of Luo Ge Town, blowing the Going Merry's sails full like a farewell, sending her at full speed toward Reverse Mountain.

Sima Di squinted into the distance,

And could faintly make out a figure in a green robe on the shore, stepping on a white object.

Probably Dragon stepping on Smoker, right?

Poor Smoker.

? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar? Pillar?

Begging for flowers! This concerns the life and death of this book!

4. I bless you! This milk is poisoned!

As Sima Di was lamenting Smoker's pitiful state,

"Everyone!" The reliable backbone Zoro called out: "To celebrate the ship setting sail for the Grand Line, let's hold a christening ceremony!"

"Alright!"

"Let's do it!"

Sanji spoke up first,

He habitually lifted a foot and stepped on the wooden barrel beside him.

"I'm Sanji, the ship's cook, and I set out to sea to find the All Blue!"

This was introducing his name to Sima Di, very thoughtful indeed.

"I'm Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, the man who's going to become the King of the Pirates!" Luffy lifted his foot right after.

"Zoro, swordsman, I'm going to become the greatest swordsman!" Zoro also lifted his foot in turn.

"Nami, navigator, I'm here to map the world!" Nami lifted her foot with a grin.

Right opposite was Sima Di, and that view beneath her skirt......

Sima Di instinctively glanced, then shifted his gaze away.

"I-I-I'm the bravest warrior of the sea!" Usopp roared as he lifted his foot.

In the end, only Sima Di was left, and everyone looked at him.

Sima Di thought for a moment......

A dream?

Sima Di then lifted his foot onto the wooden barrel and said in a hoarse voice—

"I'm Sima Di, being a pirate means doing whatever I want! So my dream is...... let's have a thrilling legendary adventure!!!"

Just setting out to sea for an adventure?

This is the purest kind of pirate!

"What an amazing dream!"

"Our adventure is sure to be spectacular!"

"What a remarkable guy!"