Kabaji sneered. "So, you're the famous bounty hunter from the East Blue, Roronoa Zoro. Today's my lucky day. I heard that if I defeat you, I'll become famous across the seas!"
Zoro scoffed. "My goal is to become the world's number one swordsman. How could I possibly lose to a nobody like you? But tell me—are you performing acrobatics?"
Sandy, standing to the side, couldn't take it anymore. If you're going to fight, just fight already! All this talking was wasting his anticipation.
He might as well go watch Luffy's duel with Buggy instead!
Just as he approached the spot where Luffy and Buggy were battling, he saw Nami coming out with two big packages.
Sandy grinned and walked up. "Little Thief Cat, finders keepers, partakers keepers."
Nami held the packages tightly. "What finders keepers, partakers keepers? These are mine!"
"What yours? Those are mine!" Buggy stormed over from nearby, furious. "Give me back my treasure!"
Nami replied self-righteously, "What nonsense! I stole these fair and square. So, they're mine now!"
Sandy nodded in approval. "If they're yours, then why don't you ask those treasures if they agree with you?"
Buggy's face twitched. "You bastards! What kind of logic is that? You steal someone else's things, and suddenly they become yours?"
"Tch." Sandy rolled his eyes. "And you, educated clown, specialize in robbing the poor for your own gain, right?"
"Hahaha!" Nami laughed. "Exactly! A pirate lecturing a thief—now that's rich!"
Buggy snapped, knives spinning between his fingers. "You two brats—prepare to be magnificently—"
Before he could finish, a stretched-out fist came flying out of nowhere.
"Bastard! Your opponent is me!" Luffy shouted.
Bam!
Buggy was sent flying straight into a wall. Nami blinked in shock, secretly exhaling in relief.
Did Buggy just lose? No way—that's God Buggy!
But sure enough, the clown climbed back up and continued fighting Luffy. Unfortunately for him, he was too distracted chasing Nami and worrying about his treasure. In battle, that kind of distraction is fatal.
The outcome, of course, was exactly as expected Buggy was blasted away.
Sandy clapped his hands from the sidelines. "Luffy, you fought too slowly, didn't you?"
Luffy scratched his head. "That guy's really weird! He kept splitting into pieces. If I hadn't noticed his feet couldn't leave the ground, I'd have no idea how to beat him!"
Zoro walked over, smirking. "Looks like you guys finished your battle too."
Just then, a group of townspeople came running over. One shouted, "Hey! Have you seen our Town Chief?"
Sandy pointed lazily toward the collapsed house. "Over there."
The townspeople rushed to check.
"Quick, see if he's still alive!"
"Who did this to our Town Chief!?"
"It must've been those pirates! Let's get them!"
Nami quickly tried to calm them down. "Wait, your Town Chief is fine—he just fainted!"
A townsman frowned. "How do you know? And who are you people, anyway?"
Luffy smiled brightly. "Oh, we're pirates! Your Town Chief got knocked out by Sandy! It was like—"
"Cough! Cough!" Sandy nearly choked. Luffy's storytelling had everyone's eyes twitching.
After listening, the townspeople exploded in anger. "You're pirates—and you hurt our Town Chief!?"
The mob started advancing, waving farming tools like weapons.
Sandy quickly pulled Luffy aside. "Hey, why are you glaring at me? Yeah, I hit him—but he's my captain!"
He shoved Luffy forward. "If you've got a problem, talk to him! My Captain here is the man who's going to be the Pirate King!"
Then he added with a grin, "But when he becomes Pirate King, don't be surprised if he comes back to beat you up. So, if you're not scared, come at us, you stinky townsfolk!"
Before anyone could react, Sandy grabbed Nami and bolted!
Everything happened so fast that only a gust of wind remained. The street was empty—Sandy was long gone.
Zoro blinked, dumbfounded.
When he finally processed it, he looked at Luffy. "So… what now, Captain?"
"Hahaha!" Luffy yelled as he turned to run. "We run too!!"
"Nani?!"
After finally shaking off the angry villagers, the crew regrouped. Since Luffy's little boat was too cramped, they "borrowed" a slightly larger ship from Buggy's crew.
Once they were safely out at sea, Nami glared at Sandy. "Sandy, you pinched my butt earlier, didn't you?"
Zoro and Luffy instantly perked up, ears wide open.
Sandy waved his hands frantically. "No way! I just ran too fast—it was an accident!"
Nami crossed her arms, smirking. "Once or twice could be an accident. But what about eight times?"
Luffy frowned. "Sandy, so you're that kind of guy?"
Zoro snorted. "I knew you were a pervert."
Sandy wanted to explode. Really? I save them and now they gang up on me?
Nami huffed. "This isn't fair! You owe me 800,000 Berries for this!"
Sandy's eyes widened. "Eight hundred thousand!? Who do you think you are? I just saved your life!"
Nami nodded, completely serious. "Yup. 800,000. If you don't have it now, you can pay later."
"Unbelievable! You're seriously that shameless?" Sandy sighed, then grinned mischievously. "Fine, Nami. I don't have that much cash. How about… I give myself to you instead—"
"Pfft—HAHAHA!"
Luffy and Zoro burst out laughing.
Sandy chuckled nervously. "I'm serious!"
Nami, despite herself, blushed furiously.
Seventeen or not, this idiot's way too bold! She glared daggers at them until all three immediately shut up and sat down quietly.
Meanwhile, Sandy opened his system panel.
[Host: Sandy]
Strength: 1700 (1400 + 300)
Agility: 160 (140 + 20)
Stamina: 3200 (2700 + 500)
Conqueror's Haki: Lv.2 — (Deters opponents; can be released freely. Instantly knocks out those with weak wills.)
Pheromone Coins: 9300.1 (7800.1 + 1500)
Spatial Backpack: Sword — "High Wind"
[System Notice: Host, continue working hard and swagger your way to the top!]