Afterward, Jango and Sam were defeated by Clover Benson, and the entire Black Cat Pirates were eliminated.
With Kaya's help, Luffy and his crew successfully acquired the Going Merry, a ship gifted to them. They also gained a new crewmember, Usopp.
As for the Black Cat Pirates' ship, Clover dismantled it, storing the pieces in the Merry's hold. These parts could be used to repair the Merry if needed.
Once everything was settled, the group assigned rooms. Nami got her own room, while the rest of the men had to share the cabin. Even Luffy, the captain, didn't get to choose a private room, showing just how laid-back this crew was.
Clover, however, had a goal in mind: to someday earn the right to live in Nami's room—through sheer determination, of course.
After everyone settled into their quarters, Luffy started drawing a pirate flag, eventually using the one designed by Usopp.
[Didi didi... Mission completed. Defeating Kuro has awarded X1 modification points, which can be stored and used at any time.]
Clover, as the most experienced navigator, naturally took on the task of steering the ship. As he guided the Merry through the seas, he realized this gave him more opportunities to interact with Nami, who often helped with navigation.
Clover reflected on his current strength and knew that in the pirate world, mastering the three types of Haki was essential. With his modifier, he was confident he could unlock Conqueror's Haki whenever he needed it.
Thinking ahead to future challenges—like facing Smoker in Loguetown or Crocodile in Alabasta—Clover decided to focus on enhancing his Armament Haki first.
He reasoned that with the bounty on his head after defeating a World Noble, the World Government was likely hunting for him. Therefore, it was wise to strengthen his abilities and keep a low profile.
With that in mind, Clover maxed out his Armament Haki. He felt the surge of power coursing through his body and gained instant mastery over advanced techniques, including Ryou, the internal destructive force.
"Clover! Clover!" Nami's voice snapped him out of his thoughts as she waved a hand in front of his face. "Are you listening?"
"Huh? What is it?" Clover asked, refocusing on the situation.
"The ship is about to stop. Luffy and the others accidentally hit someone with a cannonball," Nami said, sounding a bit exasperated.
"Sorry, I got distracted," Clover admitted as he steadied the rudder. They soon dropped anchor and came to a stop.
When the crew gathered on deck, they found that the people they'd hit were Zoro's old acquaintances, Johnny and Yosaku. Yosaku was suffering from malnutrition after their time at sea, and Nami quickly treated him.
After some friendly conversation, Johnny and Yosaku temporarily joined Luffy's crew. They mentioned a place called Baratie, a famous restaurant on the sea, which piqued everyone's interest. So, they set a course for the floating restaurant.
During the journey, Johnny and Yosaku kept sneaking glances at Clover as he steered the ship. They were whispering to each other and exchanging suspicious looks.
"Look at him. He really does resemble that guy," Yosaku muttered, showing Johnny a wanted poster.
"The clothes are similar, but the face on the poster is hard to make out with all that blood. I'm not sure if it's him," Johnny replied, glancing at Clover and then back at the poster.
Clover noticed their behavior and guessed they were looking at his wanted poster. He couldn't help but wonder if the picture was flattering or not.
"I still don't think it's him," Johnny whispered. "Why would someone with such a high bounty join a rookie pirate crew? Besides, their captain doesn't even have a bounty."
"Yeah... but the bounty on this guy is terrifying," Yosaku added, swallowing nervously.
"Let's stop thinking about it," Johnny said quickly, putting the poster away. "If it is him, we could be in real trouble..."
Before long, they arrived at Baratie.
"There it is, the sea restaurant, Baratie!" Johnny shouted, pointing to the fish-shaped ship in the distance.
"Wow!" Luffy and the others marveled at the unique floating restaurant. Luffy, in particular, was already drooling at the thought of all the food. Despite Clover's offers to cook for them, Luffy insisted they dine at the restaurant instead.
As they approached Baratie, they suddenly heard a loud noise. Turning to look, they saw a Marine warship approaching.
"What?! Why is there a Marine ship here?" Yosaku panicked, knowing they were flying a pirate flag.
"They shouldn't be after us..." Usopp muttered nervously, still new to life as a pirate.
"Ugh, I hate dealing with these guys," Zoro said, his expression sour.
"We're not pirates!" Johnny and Yosaku hurriedly hid in the cabin, sticking their heads out as they spoke.
On the warship, a man in a suit with pink hair stepped out, eyeing Luffy's crew. "I am Lieutenant Ryōtekken no Furubodi of the Marines. Who's the captain here? State your name!"
"I'm Luffy!" Luffy proudly declared.
"And I'm Usopp!" Usopp chimed in.
"We've just set sail as pirates!" Luffy said, grinning widely.
"I drew the flag!" Usopp added enthusiastically.
Fouruodi laughed dismissively, clearly not taking them seriously. He then turned his attention to Johnny and Yosaku. "Aren't you two bounty hunters who usually go after small fry?"
"What...what?" Johnny and Yosaku stammered, trembling in response to the Marine's mocking tone.
"Did you finally get caught by pirates? Hahaha! How pathetic!" Furubodi sneered.