Luffy was shocked when he saw the description of the Super Buggy Ball.
One Buggy Bomb could destroy several streets; 10 times the power would be enough to easily destroy a large city or a small island.
This was practically a nuclear bomb!
However, at this stage, they still couldn't research such a powerful weapon.
This type of cannonball required a large amount of gunpowder, and the cost of just buying the gunpowder was more than they could afford right now.
As for the Improved Buggy Bomb and Mini Buggy Bomb, they could afford a few shots.
Luffy planned to have Usopp purchase a batch of materials and start developing these two types of cannonballs when they reached a large town later.
Over the next seven days, Luffy also taught Usopp the Ultimate Body Forging Technique and two-color Haki, having him begin his cultivation as well.
...
Seven days later.
Syrup Village, by the coast.
"Mr. Luffy, this is the reinforced going merry that I built for you."
"I've fully reinforced it based on the original design and also slightly expanded it."
"Although the style is a bit old-fashioned, it was meticulously designed by me."
"It's a fast sailing ship with a triangular sail on the aft mast and a central rudder at the stern."
"I believe it can meet your requirements and sail the Grand Line."
Merry excitedly introduced his upgraded going merry to Luffy and the others, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Everyone else, including Luffy, was also very excited looking at the going merry, which was slightly larger and appeared sturdier than the original.
"Wow! What a beautiful ship!"
"It must be so much fun to sing on this ship."
"From today onwards, is this our own pirate ship? It looks pretty good!"
"Kaya gave us this ship, I must take good care of it."
While the others were exclaiming, Luffy suddenly leaped onto the ship, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the few people below.
"Everyone, we have a pirate ship, so of course, we can't forget the pirate flag."
Saying that, Luffy waved his right hand, and a flag fluttering in the wind soared into the air, coming into everyone's view.
On the flag was a skull wearing a Straw Hat.
"From now on, we are the Straw Hat Pirates!"
The people below looked at the fluttering flag, and a smile involuntarily appeared on each of their faces.
"Oh! (x4)"
...
"Kaya, everyone, I'm leaving, take care!"
Usopp waved goodbye to the villagers.
"Usopp, good luck!"
"Mr. Luffy, thank you."
Kaya softly wished and thanked Luffy and the others.
After bidding farewell to these villagers, the Straw Hat Crew officially set sail.
"Yosh! Captain Usopp, leading his four thousand subordinates, sets sail!"
Usopp stood on the deck, raising his right hand and cheering.
"Usopp, do you want to get off the ship here?"
Luffy's voice drifted over. They were already out of the coast, and below was the sea filled with various ferocious marine creatures.
Usopp immediately broke out in a cold sweat, swallowed, and stammered.
"Vice... Vice Captain Usopp…"
"Hmm?"
Mid-sentence, Uta's questioning voice also sounded.
Usopp trembled even more violently.
"Then… what should I be?"
"Usopp, from now on, you will be the sniper on this ship, and all the cannons on board are entrusted to you."
Luffy then assigned Usopp a suitable position.
Usopp's spirits immediately lifted upon hearing this.
"Yosh! Sniper King Usopp, in position!"
...
After the ship sailed into the deep sea, Luffy became interested.
He decided to test Usopp's abilities.
"Usopp, do you see that rock over there? Sink it."
Luffy sat at the bow, pointing at a rock in a certain direction.
Usopp glanced at it, then smiled confidently.
"Piece of cake, leave it to me!"
After a brief control and adjustment, Usopp aimed at the distant rock.
Boom!
A cannonball flew out, and Luffy and the others clearly saw the arc of the cannonball, landing precisely on that rock.
Bang!
With a shattering sound, the rock instantly pulverized.
"Not bad!"
Luffy praised.
Usopp's sniping talent was indeed first-rate.
The others also sincerely acknowledged Usopp's ability.
Receiving praise and recognition from everyone, Usopp immediately perked up, crossing his arms and striking a pose of a master.
"Hmph! I, Sniper King Usopp, am not famous for nothing."
In the original story, Luffy would probably have exaggeratedly praised Usopp around him.
However, now, upon seeing Usopp strike this pose, everyone else scattered, going about their own business.
"Hey! I say, you guys, aren't you being a bit too disrespectful to me?! I'm the Sniper King!"
Usopp became extremely disheartened at being ignored, begging everyone for praise, but no one paid him any attention.
"Who fired that precise cannonball just now?"
Suddenly, he heard someone ask this question.
Usopp immediately looked surprised and delighted.
"It was me, it was me!"
Turning his head, he saw a guy with a sword climbing out of the sea, standing dripping wet on the deck.
Beside him lay a man who looked half-dead.
"Sogga… Was it you, you bastard, who fired it?"
The man holding the knife suddenly roared, raised his knife, and slashed at Usopp.
"Eh?!"
Seeing the bad situation, Usopp immediately raised his hands, fled to Luffy, who was at the bow of the ship, and asked for help in fear.
"Luffy, save me!"
Luffy looked at the newcomer and was suddenly startled.
Aren't these two Joseph and Johnny?
Weren't they Zoro's subordinates before?!
Luffy stroked his chin, recalling.
"Johnny?!"
Just then, Zoro's voice suddenly came from behind Johnny.
Johnny heard the familiar voice, turned to look, and immediately exclaimed in surprise.
"Brother Zoro!"
"Huh? Has Brother Zoro become a Pirate now?"
Zoro said.
"Yes! Anyway, after a lot of things, I'm no longer a Pirate Hunter."
"By the way, why are you here? Where's Joseph?"
Hearing Zoro mention Joseph, Johnny suddenly remembered something, became extremely worried, and pleaded.
"Brother Zoro, you must save Joseph!"
"That guy has scurvy and is almost gone."
"We were resting on that rock just now, who knew we were suddenly hit by a cannonball, and seeing this Pirate ship nearby, we came knocking."
Everyone on the ship looked awkward, almost blown to death by a cannon.
Just then, Luffy walked over.
"Scurvy? Just supplement some vitamins."
"Usopp, go to our kitchen and get a few oranges."
Soon, Usopp brought the oranges.
Johnny squeezed a large amount of orange juice into Joseph's mouth.
The next second, the dying Joseph suddenly leaped up.
"Yay! He's alive!"
Then, he and Johnny hugged each other and celebrated.
Luffy and the others looked on speechless.
"It's impossible to get better so quickly, he still needs some time to rest."
As soon as he finished speaking, Joseph fell to the ground again, returning to his dying state.
"Hey! Johnny. Do you know where to find a chef nearby? We plan to recruit one."
Just then, Luffy suddenly asked.
He wanted to find the Sea Restaurant and then get Sanji to join, but he didn't know how to get there.
He just happened to meet Johnny and Joseph, and remembering that in the original story, these two led Luffy's group to the Sea Restaurant, he asked.
Johnny heard this and, without much thought, thought of a place.
"If you're looking for a chef, I know a place."
"But whether the chefs there will come is another matter."
"That Sea Restaurant, Baratie!"