Chapter 32: Seizing the Warship, A Night of Enchantment

As the battle began, Ka Li Na, who was busy taking inventory of the treasure with the crew, hurriedly told them to move the treasure to the inner room. Lu Xi Ya also walked out upon hearing the commotion, and when she saw the navy warship, a deep look of worry appeared on her face.

The opponent's warship was clearly far superior to their ship in size and configuration, and even from a distance, one could see the dense crowd of navy soldiers and cannons on the deck, as daunting as a wall of copper and iron.

As the two sides drew closer, Gai Ou immediately dived into the sea to look for an opportunity. Xiao En stood by Luo Di's side, drew his long blade, and showed no fear on his face, ready to fight at any moment.

Looking at the approaching pirate ship, Chuan Shan Jia wore a ferocious grin: "Mere pirate brats, do you think that just because you defeated someone like Hanke, you can challenge my warship? In the East Blue, besides that bastard Smoker, no one dares to say they can definitely beat me!"

Suddenly, the red dots in his eyes flickered. He frowned, raised the steel saw in his hand, and delivered a fierce upward strike, the force of which caused the air to vibrate.

"My weapon is made of Sea Stone; your ability has no effect in front of it!" Chuan Shan Jia roared.

The moment the steel saw touched Star Platinum, its body instantly turned intangible, causing the saw to cut through empty air. Chuan Shan Jia looked stunned, and Star Platinum had already leaped behind him.

"Ora ora ora ora!"

Fists hammered fiercely against Chuan Shan Jia's back. Chuan Shan Jia's center of gravity shifted, but he forced himself to stand firm: "Iron Body!"

Boom, boom, boom...

He could not move while using Iron Body and had to let Star Platinum pummel him. While he was still surprised that Luo Di's ability was not afraid of Sea Stone, the two ships collided.

Luo Di looked at the despondent Pa Lu and said: "Pa Lu, you stay here and protect our navigator and ship doctor, as well as the crew members who cannot move for now. Everyone else, kill!"

"Roar! Take down the navy!" The crew members brandished their weapons and charged toward the warship.

"Charge! Eliminate all pirates!" The navy officers also ordered a charge.

Chuan Shan Jia, frozen in place, was just about to release Iron Body and swing his steel saw when Luo Di suddenly flashed in front of him, his pitch-black fist covered in Scarlet Ripple slamming fiercely toward Chuan Shan Jia's head.

"Paper Art."

Chuan Shan Jia's body suddenly became as thin as paper, swaying to dodge Luo Di's fist. He gripped the steel saw with both hands and slashed down at Luo Di's head, intending to split him in two.

But Luo Di's pitch-black hand directly grabbed the steel saw.

Chuan Shan Jia suddenly felt a chill down his spine, and the red dots in his eyes flickered incessantly, as urgent as a danger alarm.

Behind him, Star Platinum's palm had turned intangible and gripped his heart.

"Iron..."

Pfft.

The purple-blue palm turned from intangible to solid and violently crushed Chuan Shan Jia's heart. Chuan Shan Jia immediately spat blood, spraying it toward Luo Di. Luo Di's body was covered in Scarlet Ripple, which evaporated it. Chuan Shan Jia stumbled two steps like a tree without roots and collapsed before Luo Di.

"Ho, how is this possible..."

After experiencing several battles, Luo Di's proficiency with Star Platinum, Ripple, and Haki had made a qualitative leap. If a navy officer stationed in the East Blue who only mastered basic Haki and the Six Powers could force him into a bitter struggle, then there would be no need to go to the Grand Line; going there would just be acting as a stepping stone for those monsters.

After all, being a genius is only an admission ticket to the New World.

Seeing Luo Di finish off Chuan Shan Jia, the navy soldiers were all stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.

Bang, bang.

Two gunshots rang out. Luo Di tilted his head slightly to dodge them. The red dots in his eyes vanished, and Star Platinum rushed out, hammering fiercely at the large group of navy soldiers in front.

"Ora ora ora ora!"

Under Star Platinum's ferocious onslaught, the navy soldiers collapsed like dominoes. Seeing this, the pirates' fighting spirit surged even higher; their eyes turned red as they roared and charged forward. Many navy soldiers had already lost their will to fight, and at the critical moment of life and death, they threw away their weapons and jumped into the sea.

But the sea was the Fish-Man's home turf. Gai Ou moved like a swift arrow, wielding his long halberd as he darted through the water, each strike causing a mist of blood to bloom in the sea.

Under the fierce assault of Luo Di and the crew, the battle ended shortly after. The warship's deck was covered in cracks, with stone and wood splinters flying everywhere. The pirate ship behind him didn't fare much better; its keel snapped with a crack under the impact and cannon fire, and it gradually sank into the sea.

The pirates swam from the sea to the warship one after another. Luo Di stood at the bow of the warship, and Star Platinum brought Ka Li Na and Lu Xi Ya over from the main ship.

"Treasure, treasure! Don't get the Berries wet!" Ka Li Na shouted from the air.

The two women stumbled as they landed on the deck, their chests trembling slightly. Once Ka Li Na confirmed that all the treasure had been retrieved, she excitedly rushed toward Luo Di and gave him a loving hug.

"Luo Di, I knew you would win, you're the best!" Ka Li Na said excitedly, then realized something was wrong, immediately let go, and glanced around out of the corner of her eye.

Xiao En looked away tactfully, Gai Ou had an uninterested expression, and Lu Xi Ya smiled gently, like the warmest sunlight in winter.

Pa Lu... stood there looking completely bewildered.

"Hurry, bring all the ingredients up! I, A Nuo, cherish them very much!" A Nuo shouted to the crew while dragging a large pile of fresh ingredients.

Soon, all items were transferred to the warship.

After counting everything, Xiao En reported: "Captain Luo Di, we have 38 dead and 80 wounded. The enemy has been completely wiped out."

"Hmm." Luo Di nodded. This number was within his expectations. He had ended the battle quickly to minimize casualties, and the current situation was already quite ideal.

Moreover, they had gained a medium-sized warship. Although it couldn't compare to those in the depths of the Grand Line that were equipped with Sea Stone and could cross the Calm Belt directly, its scale and combat capability were certainly stronger than their current ship.

And with so many guns, cannons, and other weapons, this naval battle could be considered a fruitful harvest.

Lu Xi Ya began to treat the wounded, and A Nuo went straight into the warship's kitchen to prepare food. Everyone began to busy themselves.

Near evening, the warship sailed steadily on the sea.

Scattered starlight appeared in the peach-blossom-red sky, and seagulls circled in the sunset. Tables had been set up on the deck, and the crew members were gorging themselves on food. They hadn't had time to eat after the battle in the Lv Yin Wang Guo, and they were now ravenous.

Luo Di picked up a piece of grilled eel and stuffed it into his mouth, swallowing it whole. Lu Xi Ya, who was chewing her salmon slowly, looked surprised. Ka Li Na patted her arm and laughed: "Hehe, you'll get used to it. This guy isn't a normal person."

"Hehehe, how interesting." Lu Xi Ya smiled gently, her gaze sweeping across the lively and noisy deck, and a sense of belonging gradually grew within her.

Late at night, except for those taking turns on watch, the other crew members had already rested. The accommodation conditions on the warship were better than before; there were no hammocks, but large shared sleeping quarters, and there was enough space for everyone.

The officers still lived in single rooms, which also motivated the other crew members. Luo Di had made it very clear that on his ship, if you have the strength, you have the opportunity.

"Get some rest, Sister Lu Xi Ya, I'm going back now." Ka Li Na had been chatting with Lu Xi Ya in her room for a long time before reluctantly preparing to leave.

"Mm, goodnight." Lu Xi Ya nodded with a faint smile.

Ka Li Na went to the next room, took off her clothes, and just as she was about to get into bed, she suddenly froze.

"Hey, Luo Di, can you not be like a ghost?" Ka Li Na said, holding her forehead.

Luo Di pulled her into his arms and laughed: "Don't you think this feels very 'stealthy'?"

"What does 'stealthy' mean?"

"Uh, it's not important. Let's get down to business."

"Be gentle, or I'll ignore you," Ka Li Na whispered like a thief, nudging Luo Di's arm with her elbow. Although she tried hard to suppress her expression, having tasted the forbidden fruit for the first time, the Little Fox was secretly delighted by the feeling, despite her verbal complaints, especially since it was with the man she admired.

Soon, a seductive rhythm began to sound in the room.

Next door, Lu Xi Ya, wearing a white nightgown, had already closed her eyes, but she suddenly opened them and blinked, then listened with a serious expression; the warship had plenty of fresh water and a heating system, and she had already taken a comfortable hot bath.

Only now, her pretty face flushed with a faint rosy hue, just like the peach-colored sky at dusk.