Seeing Nami squatting in the corner of the deck, drawing circles on the floor, Sandy immediately understood — if he teased her any further, something terrible might happen.
"Ahem," Sandy coughed awkwardly. "Alright, everyone, stop fooling around. We really need to discuss our plan once we reach Cocoyasi Village!"
Luffy tilted his head. "Can't we just go straight to Arlong? If we beat him up, won't all the problems be solved?"
Sandy rolled his eyes. "And what about the Fish-Men in other areas? What if they get desperate and start hurting the villagers?"
That instantly caught Nami's attention. She ran to Sandy's side, eyes wide. "Do you have a plan?"
Sandy laughed. "If I already had a plan, would we still need this meeting?"
Luffy pouted. "Tch, you don't have a plan either then."
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke. "That's a real problem though. If those Fish-Men capture or hurt villagers, Miss Nami will definitely be heartbroken…"
Before he could finish, Sandy had already plucked the cigarette right out of Sanji's mouth, lit it, and took a puff.
"Cough! Cough!" Sandy sputtered, face twisting. "What kind of cigarette is this?!"
Sanji's vein popped. "You bastard! You can't even smoke properly but you stole my whole pack?!"
Sandy shrugged. "I can't stand the air in this world, alright? Is that a crime?"
Duang! Duang!
Nami slammed her hands onto her hips, shouting, "Every single one of you is like this!!"
After the noise died down, Sandy said, "Alright, how about this. Nami and Luffy will go stir up a scene in the village — draw the Fish-Men guarding the outskirts back to Arlong Park.
Meanwhile, the rest of us will head to Arlong's base directly and provoke them. Once all the Fish-Men gather there, we take them down in one strike!"
Sanji nodded approvingly. "That could work. And with Luffy's natural talent for chaos, this job suits him perfectly."
Luffy frowned. "Why do I have to go with Nami?"
Sandy stared at him blankly. "Do you even know where the Fish-Men are stationed?"
Luffy thought for a moment, then said firmly, "Nope."
Sandy spread his hands. "Then there's your answer. Also…"
He turned to Zoro, shaking his shoulder. "Can you say something? Who are you trying to impress with that cool act every day?"
Zoro scowled. "Ah—damn it, that hurts! Let go, Sandy! Believe it or not, I'll cut you down!"
Sandy smirked and poked Zoro's bandaged wound lightly. "Oh yeah? You were saying?"
"Argh!! You bastard!" Zoro yelled, breaking into a cold sweat.
"Hahaha!"
The laughter broke the tension, and the crew felt lighter than before.
A moment later, Sanji leaned in. "Hey, Sandy, can you design a new hairstyle for me later? I liked that cool look you had the other day."
Luffy's ears perked up. "Hey, me too! I want one!"
Sandy groaned. "These are natural, you idiots. Haven't you ever heard the saying—"
Zoro interrupted. "What saying?"
Sandy tilted his head up at a dramatic forty-five-degree angle.
Everyone collectively sighed. He's doing it again.
Still, damn it, he somehow made it look stylish.
Sandy declared, "A monkey dressed in a hat!"
Nami blinked. "What does that even mean?"
Sandy smiled mischievously. "It means a monkey is still a monkey, even if it puts on clothes. You can't chan—holy crap, what are you doing?!"
"Don't hit my face!!"
Sanji shouted, "You're seriously annoying!"
Luffy yelled, "Sandy, did you just call me a monkey?!"
Zoro was doubled over laughing. "Hahaha! Cough—beat him up harder!"
Later that day, Luffy lay on the deck, whining. "Ahhh, Nami, how much longer until we get there? I'm so bored."
Nami checked their heading. "We should arrive by tomorrow."
"Nani?!" Luffy groaned, collapsing on the deck.
Nami raised an eyebrow. "Then go play with Sandy and the others."
Usopp, tinkering with his slingshot, pointed toward the corner of the ship. "Sandy and Zoro are taking a big nap over there!"
Just then, Sanji stepped out from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready."
Luffy immediately sprang to life. "Food! Time to eat!"
Half-asleep, Sandy grabbed Zoro by the arm.
Zoro blinked. "What are you doing?"
"If we don't hurry," Sandy said seriously, "there won't be anything left."
Zoro shot up. "Then let's go!"
Sandy suddenly stopped. "Wait… something's coming."
Everyone froze. "Something's coming?"
Before they could react, a column of seawater erupted nearby. A massive sea beast surfaced — as large as a small ship — and turned its enormous eyes toward the kitchen.
Nami's face went pale. "That's… Moo Moo! Arlong's sea cow!"
Usopp's jaw dropped. "What the hell is that thing?! It's huge!"
Zoro squinted. "What's it trying to do?"
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Whatever it's doing, if it attacks us, I'll send it flying."
Sandy smirked. "Want me to stare it unconscious?"
Sanji frowned. "What does that even mean? It's just hungry."
Luffy nodded. "Oh, so that's it. Then I'll just—"
Before he could move, Sanji kicked him aside. "I said it's hungry, idiot."
He went back to the kitchen, grabbed a chunk of meat, and walked toward the sea beast.
Sandy sighed. "Be careful it doesn't swallow you along with the meat."
As Sanji tossed the meat toward Moo Moo, the creature lunged — nearly swallowing him whole.
Sanji dodged and yelled, "I told you it's like that!"
Everyone's faces darkened.
Then Luffy's eyes lit up. "Hey! Why don't we make the sea beast pull the ship?"
"Nani?!" everyone shouted together.
Sanji gawked. "That's impossible!"
Sandy pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're seriously considering that? I object. Strongly."
"Why?" Luffy asked.
"Because it'll break the ship in half," Sandy said flatly. "But sure, if you want the Merry destroyed, go ahead."
Usopp quickly waved his hands. "No, no! Don't let it pull us, Luffy! Forget that idea!"
Sandy grinned. "Fine, I'll handle this. Want me to release my Conqueror's Haki? Anyone up for a demonstration?"
Luffy and Zoro exchanged interested looks, but Nami and Usopp instantly panicked. "No! Not again!"
Sanji, not knowing what they meant, stood there confused — until an invisible wave of power burst from Sandy. The overwhelming pressure hit like a storm.
Sanji almost blacked out, staggering backward.
When he came to, his face was red with anger. He grabbed Sandy by the collar. "You bastard! What the hell are you?! That wasn't human!"
Sandy slapped his hand away. "You're the one who's not human. That was Conqueror's Haki."
Sanji blinked. "Conqueror's… what?"
Sandy waved it off. "I'll explain later. Let's eat first."