The scene where "Ax King" Monka was knocked to the ground by Luffy left everyone in the navy stunned. However, some of them couldn't help but feel a flicker of joy deep down inside.
They found themselves wishing Luffy's punch would land a little faster.
"Stop!! Don't move!"
And then something unexpected happened—Belumebir, who had been unconscious, woke up at some point.
Seeing her father knocked to the ground, she immediately drew her gun and aimed it at Kobe, demanding that Luffy stop.
All eyes were drawn to her instantly. This included Luffy, who had turned around, Zoro, who was biting his sword hilt, and Kaito, who was leaning against a wooden post, using his fan-shaped bracelet to cool the air as he watched the drama unfold.
"I told you to stop! If you don't, I'll kill him!!"
Belumebir shouted again, her love for her father clear in her voice.
Kobe, however, took a deep breath and spoke with resolve, "Luffy! I don't want to be a burden to you all, even if it costs me my life!!"
In that moment, Kobe seemed to embody the transformation Luffy had spoken of earlier—once weak, now showing strength. Even with a gun pointed at him, he stood tall and made this declaration. It was clear he had changed, grown.
Luffy grinned, pleased with his friend's growth. With his hands on his hips, he replied, "Heh, I get it, Kobe."
"Stop talking nonsense!! I said don't move! Or I'll really pull the trigger!!"
Belumebir was frantic now, but then she suddenly smiled. Kobe, on the other hand, was now panicking.
"Luffy! Watch out behind you!!"
Behind Luffy, Morgan, who had been knocked out, stood up again, trying to sneak in an underhanded attack.
"I'm a navy captain!!"
But Luffy paid him no mind. "Stop being stupid, idiot son. Kobe means business!"
"Father! Kill them!!"
Belumebir shouted urgently.
In the next second, Kaito appeared behind her in the blink of an eye.
"Head down!"
He swung his silver staff at her head with a swift strike, causing her to shrink in pain.
Meanwhile, Luffy stood unmoving, arms still crossed, while Monka continued to collapse. Zoro, at the back, quietly sheathed his sword, a look of quiet satisfaction on his face.
"Nice job, Zoro."
"Don't mention it, Captain."
...
"He's... down!"
"Down!!"
"Monka's dictatorship is over!!!"
"Hahaha, long live the Navy!"
With Monka and his son defeated, it was the subordinates who first cheered and celebrated. It seemed their leader's reign had ended in a most unexpected way.
As the cheers of the crowd rang out, Zoro, too, collapsed. But Kaito was quick to reach him, grabbing the back of his shirt to prevent him from hitting the ground.
"Ugh!!"
"You trying to choke me out?"
Zoro woke up with a start.
"I'd rather you walk on your own," Kaito said with a smirk.
Zoro now had a new name on his list of people to "deal with."
...
At the little girl's house, Zoro, famished after nine days without food, devoured five bowls of rice, feeling as though he had come back to life. Luffy ate even more, finishing ten bowls in one go.
"Thanks for the hospitality," Kaito said, offering a polite smile to the little girl and her mother.
The little girl shook her head. "Big brothers are the heroes who saved the town's mayor, and you promised to rescue the green-haired brother. We should be the ones thanking you."
What a polite child, with such good manners. Kaito couldn't help but feel a little moved.
However, even heroes couldn't stay forever.
"We're sorry for the disturbance."
"I heard you're pirates?"
Morgan was locked up, and his vice-captain temporarily took over his position. The navy's job was to drive pirates away.
Catch them? They weren't capable of that. But deep down, they respected Luffy and his crew, even if their uniforms forbade them from showing it.
"Although you are rebels and saved the town, we are sincerely grateful for that."
"But you're pirates, and we have to pretend we didn't see anything. Please… leave the town immediately. We're not reporting this to headquarters; consider it our way of showing respect."
Kaito exchanged a glance with Luffy as they both sipped their tea. Luffy smiled.
"Then we'll leave. Thanks again for the food, Auntie."
"Luffy..." Kobe hesitated. Even though Luffy and the others had saved the town, they were being treated this way. It didn't feel right.
But Luffy, Kaito, and Zoro stood up without acknowledging him.
"Are you not with them?"
The vice-captain asked Kobe.
Kobe remembered what Luffy had said—no matter what, they would always be friends.
"I... I'm not one of them!!"
With tears in his eyes, Kobe shouted. Luffy, Kaito, and Zoro secretly smiled.
"Please, let me join the navy! Even if it's just doing menial tasks! Please, give me a chance! I want to become a navy general!!"
Kobe boldly declared his dream for the first time, and the vice-captain, moved by his words, allowed him to join.
Kobe's journey to becoming "Admiral" had officially begun.
...
"Hmm~ today's a great day to set sail."
Kaito sighed, enjoying the sea breeze and sunlight. Luffy was busy untangling the ship's ropes.
Zoro pointed incredulously at the small sailboat on the horizon.
"We're sailing on that?"
"Why not?" Kaito replied nonchalantly.
"Hahaha, you really are a pair of lunatics!"
"I'm starting to regret this," Zoro muttered, laughing despite himself.