"They scared Captain Nezumi away—wasn't that letting that scoundrel off too easily?"
"It definitely was. We should report him later!"
"Exactly! That Captain Nezumi only bullies the weak and fears the strong. We should've beaten him up again while we had the chance!"
Watching the villagers talk, Sandy raised an eyebrow. "How about I go catch him and pull out his whiskers?"
Genzo shook his head. "No need. Anyway, the Arlong Pirates have been defeated! Hahaha!"
"Let's have a banquet to celebrate!"
Just like that, to mark the end of years of suffering, everyone burst into cheers.
Sandy walked over to Village Chief Genzo and said to the doctor beside him, "Hey, a friend of mine's badly injured. Can you help treat him?"
The old doctor replied, "Of course. Who's hurt?"
Luffy looked confused. "Someone's injured? How come I didn't know?"
Sandy rolled his eyes. "Zoro, obviously! We only disinfected his wound before. It needs real treatment—fast—or it could get serious!"
Zoro frowned. "I don't need it. I'll be fine after a few days of sleep."
Sandy nodded. "Oh, really? Okay then."
Zoro's temper flared. "Sandy, you bastard! I'm really fine—don't touch me! Agh! It hurts, it hurts! Don't poke the wound—!"
Later that night, only Sandy remained outside. He lay on his side by the window, listening to Zoro's pained howls echoing from the room.
The doctor scolded from inside, "Stay still! Don't you have a ship doctor? You people are reckless!"
Zoro groaned as the disinfectant stung. "Ah—damn it, that hurts!"
Outside, Sandy grinned wickedly. "A wound on the back is a swordsman's shame, right? Come on, if it feels good, say it out loud! Don't just 'ah ah'—say 'Ah, that feels great!'"
Zoro's voice roared back, "Sandy, you bastard!!"
Just then, Luffy came running over. "Huh? Sandy, why are you lying here? There's a ton of food over there! Aren't you gonna eat?"
Sandy turned over and waved him off. "Eat, eat, eat—that's all you ever do! Where does it all even go? You almost drowned fighting Arlong—what was that about?"
Luffy blinked. "What do you mean?"
Sandy sighed. "If I'd stepped in, Arlong would've been a one-punch problem. You fought forever and nearly killed yourself. That's what I mean!"
Luffy tilted his head. "Is that so? Oh right—where's Nami? Aren't you gonna comfort her?"
Sandy rolled his eyes. "Comfort her? About what? She's probably dealing with a lot right now. We'd just get in the way."
Luffy shrugged and started heading back to the food.
Sandy called after him, "Hey, when are we setting sail?"
Luffy paused. "That depends on Nami."
Sandy nodded. "Makes sense. Zoro needs a few days to recover anyway. We'll talk after the banquet."
After Luffy left, Zoro shouted through the window, "Hey, Sandy! Why aren't you hanging out with the girls? That's not like you."
Damn, hang out? If I messed around here, what would the villagers think of Nami? These idiots really don't get social cues.
Sure, he liked girls—but not like Sanji. Sanji was hopeless.
Sandy got up. "Forget it. I'm going back to the ship to sleep. It's too noisy here. Especially with a certain someone screaming like a dying pig…"
Zoro snapped, "You bastard, I'll cut you down!"
Doctor: "Stop moving!"
Zoro: "Ah—it hurts! Be Gentle, Doctor—!"
Back on the ship, Sandy lay on his bunk, gazing at the distant lights of Cocoyasi Village glowing like stars. It was a sight he'd never seen before—warm, alive—and he couldn't help but stare a little longer.
Then, he brought up his pheromone system panel.
[Pheromone System]
Host: Sandy
Constitution: Fifth Tier (Top Ten Tier)
Observation Haki: First Tier
Armament Haki: First Tier
Conqueror's Haki: Second Tier (Can freely control the target of intimidation)
Skills:
Establish Space Field
One-Sword Style
Space Slash (Advanced application of Space Fruit, on cooldown)
Additional Technique:
Nine Swords of Dugu (Reference)
System Store: Open
Pheromone Coins: 25
(Note: Combat strength is no longer shown numerically. Overall ability is now the measure of strength.)
Sandy studied the screen. With mastery over all three forms of Haki and his space abilities, the system could no longer classify him—Captain? Rear Admiral? Higher? It didn't matter.
In a real life-or-death fight, even someone stronger could still lose to him.
As for the Nine Swords of Dugu, Sandy was speechless. The technique required "inner energy," something this world didn't even have.
He asked the system, "System, what's the deal? I thought this was some peerless sword art, and this is what I get?"
[Pheromone System: Because the Host only began learning swordsmanship recently, the Nine Swords of Dugu technique is the most suitable for the Host.]
Learning the sword forms and the philosophy behind them, huh? Fine—suits me well enough.
Closing the interface, Sandy listened to the waves lapping against the hull and the distant laughter of the villagers celebrating.
Then, he asked himself what he truly wanted.
Becoming the Pirate King? Not really. He didn't care about the title. But One Piece itself—whatever that legendary treasure was—now that intrigued him. If so many chased it, he wanted to see it too.
But what did he like most? What truly drove him?
He chuckled softly.
Beautiful women. Always had, always would.
Just as he was about to drift off, Sandy sensed someone boarding the ship. His Observation Haki flared.
It was Nami.
He sat up slightly, eyes narrowing.
What's she doing here...?
Could it be—she's lonely?