Shinju watched Luffy and Choji eating with pure delight, equally interested in observing this glutton contest.
The seven hundred thirty-sixth bowl.
Luffy drank down the last mouthful of broth.
"I win!"
He let out a cheer that nearly shook the sky, jutting out his round belly and flashing two rows of big white teeth.
Beside him, Naruto and Choji had already collapsed on the floor, eyes rolled back, completely unconscious.
Three days and three nights of nonstop ramen hell had finally produced a winner.
The other Straw Hats had long since gone from cheering to utter speechlessness.
They sat crowded inside the tiny ramen shop, staring at this boy who had, through nothing but endless refills, completely overwhelmed two legendary eating monsters.
Sanji had a cigarette in his mouth. The ash was ridiculously long—he'd forgotten to flick it.
Zoro was back as well, hugging his three swords. He leaned against the wall resting, eyes closed—though no one could tell if he was actually asleep.
Nami and Robin sat together, quietly calculating the total value of all the ramen eaten over these three days. The final number made the navigator's face turn slightly green.
"Monkey D. Luffy."
Shinju finally spoke.
"You want to become the Pirate King, right?"
Luffy froze for a moment. Then, hearing someone ask him that, he nodded hard.
"Of course! I'm the man who's gonna become Pirate King!"
Shinju nodded, not reacting to Luffy's bold declaration.
A three-dimensional holographic projection unfolded out of thin air inside the cramped ramen shop.
A massive plaza.
Countless Marines standing in solemn ranks.
A cold execution platform towering high.
A man was bound at the center of the platform with Kairoseki (Seastone) chains. His upper body was bare, and the symbol of the Whitebeard Pirates on his back was painfully vivid.
Luffy couldn't smile anymore.
He stared at the man's face in the projection.
"Clatter."
The chopsticks in his hand fell to the floor.
The man in the image lifted his head, wearing a wild, unrestrained grin—as if he didn't care about his situation at all.
"Ace..."
Veins bulged along Luffy's arm.
That innocent, carefree aura vanished without a trace.
The other Straw Hats all stood up as well.
They knew that man.
He was Luffy's brother—Portgas D. Ace, the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd Division Commander, Fire Fist Ace.
The projection continued. A cold announcement rang out, listing Ace's crimes and the decision to publicly execute him.
"Why? How could Ace get caught by the Marines?" Luffy's face was grim.
Shinju didn't explain. He simply waved again.
The execution platform vanished, replaced by a vast nautical chart.
The instant it appeared, Nami's eyes went wide.
Her pupils glittered—she was practically about to crawl onto the map.
The routes, islands, currents, climates—every key detail was so precise it far surpassed everything she'd learned in her entire life, even overturning her understanding of navigation itself.
From the East Blue to the first half of the Grand Line… then to the New World—every region was crystal-clear.
Even in the final sea no one could reach, the outline of a fog-shrouded island was marked plainly and unmistakably.
"Laugh Tale." Robin, standing behind Nami, read the legendary name out loud.
"Legend says only the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, ever led his crew there. But no detailed information was ever passed down. It's remained a mystery ever since—and to become Pirate King, you must reach the final island."
The value of this map couldn't be measured in money.
It was history itself—more than that, it was a key to the world's truth.
"This can't be real… Can a map like this even exist?" Nami murmured, eyes full of shock. "But it's happening right in front of me… there's no way not to believe it."
The entire Straw Hat crew fell into stunned silence.
Shinju spoke again, his gaze locking onto Luffy.
"Monkey D. Luffy. You want to become Pirate King. You want to save your brother."
"And I… want to find a few stones in your world."
He paused briefly, then made an offer that was impossible to refuse.
"Let's make a deal."
"You take me sailing, and I'll help you fulfill your dream. How about it?"
A deathly silence filled the shop.
Sanji's cigarette dropped to the floor.
Zoro opened his eyes—his hand was already on Wado Ichimonji's hilt.
Usopp and Chopper hid behind Franky, trembling.
Everyone's eyes converged on Luffy.
Luffy lowered his head. The shadow of his straw hat covered his face, and no one could see his expression.
But the violent pressure rolling off him was climbing higher and higher.
"Why should we believe you?" Zoro's voice was icy as he stepped forward half a pace, shielding Luffy behind him.
His grip tightened on the hilt as he stared at Shinju. "You show us the future, then you pull out a map like that—who knows what your real goal is?"
Sanji spat out his cigarette and moved to the other side. "Yeah. There's no free lunch. What 'stones' are you talking about? What do they have to do with our voyage?"
Shinju's eyes swept across them, then returned to Luffy.
"It seems your companions don't have absolute faith in you. They don't believe their captain can tell opportunity from trap."
"Can a crew like that really reach Laugh Tale?"
...
That line hurt more than a direct insult.
Zoro and Sanji's expressions changed instantly. They could doubt anyone in the world—but they would never allow someone to question their trust in their captain, or the bond of the crew.
"You bastard!" they both barked at the same time.
Just as Nami feared they might strike in anger, Luffy suddenly lifted his head.
He didn't hesitate for even a fraction of a second.
"I agree!"
He stepped forward, thrusting out his hand toward Shinju and shouting:
"Become my nakama!"
Shinju looked at Luffy's face—anxious, yet unbelievably sincere.
"Fine."
The deal was sealed.
Luffy's taut body finally loosened. He seemed like he wanted to smile, but the image of Ace flashed through his mind, and his expression turned bitter again.
"When do we leave? Right now! We have to go save Ace!" he said urgently.
"Calm down. There's no need to rush," Shinju said. "The execution is still some time away. And with your current strength, going now would just be suicide."
"You've fought Marine admirals before—then you should understand. Those people aren't easy to deal with."
Those words hit everyone like a bucket of cold water.
Zoro's brows knotted. Sanji's face sank.
They knew this mysterious boy was telling the truth.
"Then what do we do?" Nami asked quickly, eyes full of desperate hope.
The information Shinju had shown them was their only lifeline.
"I need some helpers to find the stones," Shinju said evenly. "And while doing that, I'll help you too."
Robin caught the keyword and asked softly, "The stones you're looking for… do you mean Poneglyphs? In our world?"
Shinju glanced at her and shook his head.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm certain they aren't the kind you know."
"But they're similar."
"They record a history that doesn't belong to your world."
That answer sent an even bigger wave through Robin's heart.
Not from this world…?
That had already crossed beyond common sense.
Just who was this boy?
"I've decided to personally lead a squad and enter the Grand Line with you."
Usopp finally let out a breath of relief. With such an overpowered group traveling together, his sense of safety shot through the roof.
Luffy nodded hard too.
"Your partners are my partners!"
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!]
[[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]