Chapter 122

Karp said nothing.

He merely ate large mouthfuls of senbei, crunching loudly, fine crumbs scattering everywhere.

…………

South Blue.

Luo En and the others were eating at a restaurant on an island, beside them sat a young woman with heart-shaped lipstick, an astonishing appetite, and piles of plates stacked around her.

"She eats more than I do…"

Sea Cow Xiaoqi stared in disbelief.

"Bonnie, you really can eat."

Konis couldn't help but look at her and say.

"What can I do? This damn Devil Fruit's side effect is that I'm always hungry."

Big Eater Joarji Bonnie said while gorging herself, her eating manners extremely crude.

"Thank you for treating me to this meal."

Luo Bin, sitting beside her, lifted her coffee, took a sip, elegant and composed, in stark contrast to her eating habits.

Luo En propped his chin on one hand and looked at her: "Finish eating and leave. Don't follow us anymore."

Bonnie froze, looked up at Luo En: "Huh? You don't want me as a companion? I may eat a lot, but I'm still pretty strong!"

As she spoke, her bulging mouth kept chewing food, making her words somewhat muffled.

"Our ship can't afford to feed you."

Luo En drank some alcohol and said.

Bonnie swallowed all the food in her mouth with force, holding knife and fork as she looked at Luo En: "Liar! You're so strong—just raid a few pirate crews and you'll have money!"

Konis was about to refute, but then paused to think.

Hmm… actually, that's true.

The money they'd spent lately had all come from raiding pirate crews.

"Aren't you planning to set sail on your own as a pirate? Why do you insist on joining our ship?"

Luo En was speechless.

"Of course because you're strong."

Bonnie said, as if it were obvious.

She had previously witnessed at sea how Luo En and the others defeated a pirate ship—whether Konis's control over steel or the Sea Cow's taijutsu, both had shocked her.

And the slash the black-haired boy had casually unleashed, cutting that pirate ship in two, filled the newly minted pirate Joarji Bonnie with profound awe and reverence.

If she could follow them, become their companion…

She could go anywhere across this sea, eat countless delicacies…

Carrying this thought, Bonnie had followed Luo En and the others all the way to this island…

"Relying on the strong… for pirates, that's not a bad way to live."

Luo En set down his cup and looked at her.

Bonnie's eyes lit up: "You agree?"

"No, unfortunately, it still won't work."

111, First Mate of the Miracle Ship, Guina's surprise

"Why not?! My ability should be useful to you!"

Bonnie said, bewildered. "It's not because I eat too much, is it?"

"Bonnie."

Luo Bin glanced at her: "Have you mistaken us for pirates?"

Bonnie froze:

"Aren't you?"

"No."

Konis smiled at her: "If you're looking for strong companions to sail as pirates with, then we can't let you board."

"Not pirates… yet you're so strong…"

Bonnie stared blankly at Luo En, Konis, and Luo Bin, unable to understand.

"Travelers' lives differ from pirates'—there's less grandeur and turbulence, more stillness. We'll be wandering the South Blue for a long time. You may board and experience it for a while. If you can accept this life, I welcome you aboard as the fifth member."

Luo En said, looking at Bonnie.

After thinking seriously, Bonnie nodded to him:

"Alright."

"Fifth member… we only have three people."

Konis asked curiously, "Or are you counting Xiaoqi?"

Luo En drank some alcohol: "We have another first mate on board—just not here right now."

"First mate…"

Luo Bin and Konis, hearing this for the first time, exchanged glances, both surprised and curious.

……

At this moment, White Soil Island.

Baldigo, open space within the city.

"Dragon's Claw!"

The boy Sabo wrapped his hands in Haki, shaping them into dragon claws, reaching out to grasp the slash before him.

His body was shoved backward ten meters by the slash, and only after he forcefully clamped his hands did he crush the slender yet resilient sword qi.

"Fishman Karate, Tangcao Wa Straight Punch!"

As the girl Kage cried out, she leapt into the air and swung a fist downward toward the slender figure at the center of the arena.

A shockwave surged through the air, displacing the wind currents, and slammed toward that figure.

The woman in the black robe, with her long blue tail of hair, didn't even look—her right hand, gripping Wado Ichimonji, slashed horizontally; the torrential sword momentum coalesced into a blue azure dragon that instantly shattered the shockwave and continued its assault toward Kage.

Kage quickly dodged aside.

Sabo stomped the ground and shot forward at blinding speed, his right hand forming a fierce, dominant Dragon Claw wrapped in wisps of qi and Haki, reaching for her face.

Kage's clear, calm eyes swept over him.

With a slight step and a subtle lean, she effortlessly avoided Sabo's powerful strike—and in that instant, her left hand, still sheathed, thrust upward, striking Sabo squarely under the chin.

Sabo's chin took a heavy blow; his consciousness flickered for a moment, his footing slipped, and he toppled sideways.

"Sabo!"

Kage rushed over, checked on Sabo, then puffed out her cheeks at Kage: "Kage, you've knocked Sabo out again."

Kage, whose demeanor had grown even clearer and purer, calmly sheathed Wado Ichimonji and glanced at her: "In battle, show no mercy to anyone—that is true respect for your opponent. Someone once told me that."

"Is that person the one you always talk about, named Luo En?"

Kage couldn't help asking.

Kage nodded.

"Nice fight."

A genderless voice spoke up.

Kage and Kage turned to look.

Ivankov, who had been watching from nearby, walked over.

"Sabo has grown even stronger since my last return—he's even mastered Armament Haki. Kage, you'll need to push harder."

He stepped before Kage, his eyes filled with emotion as he gazed at her:

"Kage, you've reached the sword saint realm of Iron-Cleaving. Truly impressive. Next, you must master Haki."

Kage gave a slight nod.

"By the way, Kage, while I was out, I heard some news about Luo En."

At Ivankov's words, the usually calm and cold Kage's eyes widened instantly, and a look of surprise and excitement—something Kage had rarely seen—flashed across her face.

"Luo En… where is he now?"

Kage fixed Ivankov with a piercing stare.

Kage also turned to Ivankov.