The sun was high over the Thousand Sunny, the crew enjoying another peaceful day at sea. Luffy Jr. wandered the deck with his usual boundless energy, his wooden sword strapped to his back despite the recent injury. With his right eye now covered by a small bandage, he had adopted a swagger that was equal parts endearing and comical.
As he peered over the railing, a Marine ship appeared on the horizon, its clean white sails and the unmistakable Marine insignia shining brightly in the sunlight.
Luffy Jr.'s eyes sparkled. "Whoa! That's so cool!" he exclaimed, drawing the crew's attention.
Zoro, lounging nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Cool? Since when are Marines cool?"
"They look so... professional!" Luffy Jr. said, practically vibrating with excitement. "Way cooler than pirates!"
The words hit like cannonballs. Kikidori, who had been casually sharpening his sword, froze mid-stroke. His jaw dropped, and his eyes widened as if Luffy Jr. had just declared the sky green.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Kikidori shouted, jumping to his feet.
Luffy Jr. turned to him, completely unfazed. "I said Marines are cooler than pirates, Dad!"
Kikidori staggered backward, clutching his chest like he'd been shot. "No... NO! MY SON CAN'T THINK MARINES ARE COOLER THAN PIRATES!" he wailed before fainting dramatically onto the deck.
The crew burst out laughing, except for Ere'ana, who pinched the bridge of her nose. "Kikidori, get up," she muttered.
But Kikidori wasn't done. When he finally came to, Luffy Jr. had moved closer to the railing, watching the Marine ship with admiration. "Can I be a Marine when I grow up?" Luffy Jr. asked, his tone innocent and filled with excitement.
Kikidori fainted again.
This time, Sanji had to fan him with a dish towel to wake him up. "Get a grip, Kikidori. He's just a kid."
Kikidori bolted upright, pointing a shaky finger at his son. "NO! YOU CANNOT BE A MARINE!" he declared, his voice trembling with both outrage and despair.
"Why not?" Luffy Jr. asked, tilting his head.
"BECAUSE MARINES CHASE PIRATES! WE'RE PIRATES, REMEMBER?!" Kikidori shouted, flailing his arms.
Luffy Jr. crossed his arms, looking unimpressed. "They're still cooler than you, Dad."
The crew erupted into laughter, with even Zoro chuckling. Kikidori's eye twitched as he tried to process the betrayal. "At least I don't cry because of little eye pokes," he muttered under his breath, his tone biting.
Luffy Jr.'s face turned red. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Before Kikidori could react, the boy ran up and kicked him square in the shin. "OW!" Kikidori yelped, hopping on one foot while Luffy Jr. bolted across the deck.
"I'M GONNA BE A MARINE, AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!" Luffy Jr. shouted as he disappeared into the ship's interior.
Kikidori scowled, muttering under his breath as he tried to regain his balance. "This kid's gonna be the death of me..."
But as he stood up, his head accidentally hit the railing above him with a loud *clang!*
The crew roared with laughter, and Kikidori groaned, rubbing the new bump forming on his head. "Why does this always happen to me?"
Robin smirked as she turned a page in her book. "Perhaps it's karma for fainting twice in one day."
Kikidori glared at her, but he couldn't stay mad for long. After all, he was raising a future pirate—or so he hoped.
The End of Chapter 116.