Chapter 47: Landed Right Into the Box
Once the balloon octopus stabilized their fall, both ships began descending gently.
Luo Lin and Robin were the chill type—they just leaned on the railing and enjoyed the view.
The Going Merry? Total chaos.
Luffy, the human wrecking ball, started using the octopus's head as a trampoline five minutes into the descent.
Nami screamed bloody murder, terrified he'd pop it.
He did.
Air started hissing out.
Usopp, clutch as ever, slapped a bunch of Breath Dials (traded from sky islanders for random junk) onto the bottom of the Merry.
With the extra lift, the Merry slowed down again.
From the Devil, Luo Lin and Robin watched clearly—just too high and windy to hear anything. Luo Lin didn't bother with Observation Haki.
All they saw: Luffy bouncing like a maniac, then the Merry suddenly dropping a hundred meters, everyone on board flailing like chickens.
Even with knees you could tell that was 100% Luffy's fault.
"They're so full of energy."
Robin couldn't help but sigh. Wherever Luffy went, it was never quiet.
"Ah, to be young again."
Luo Lin sighed dramatically. Mentally he was still the same, but his ID card now said 30.
"You were never that hyper."
"Of course. I was always a quiet, handsome man."
Robin rolled her eyes so hard she nearly climbed the mast.
7,000 meters doesn't take long to fall, especially when the sky island night is short. The Blue Sea below was still dark.
Soon they were close to the sea, but the two ships were now hundreds of meters apart.
The Merry's octopus finally ran out of air while still pretty high up— WHOOSH—it shot straight down like a meteor.
The Devil drifted a bit farther before starting its own descent. By now they were over a kilometer apart.
KABOOM!
The Devil slammed into the sea.
Both of them clung to the mast for dear life so they wouldn't get yeeted overboard.
Luo Lin used to not care, but now both people on board were Devil Fruit users. If one fell in, the other couldn't save them.
Once the ship settled, Luo Lin first checked Robin was okay, then bolted below deck.
People safe → ship safety next. If it was leaking they were screwed.
Sure enough, the hull had several breaches. Falling from the sky does that.
"Hiss… gotta patch these fast, or Robin-baby and I are officially landlocked!"
WEEEE-OOOO WEEEE-OOOO
A piercing air-raid siren suddenly blared across the quiet night.
Luo Lin froze, then sprinted back up.
Robin was staring tensely into the distance.
Following her gaze—lights were on in the distance. That's where the siren was coming from.
"That's gotta be Luffy and the others, right? They literally dropped into a Marine base?"
"Pretty much. Classic 'landed in the box' moment."
Robin gave him a look—she knew that gaming term.
"Even if it's a Marine fortress they'll be fine for a while. Let's fix our own problems first. If we don't patch the leaks, the ship sinks and we're still fine, but we'll be homeless."
"Roger that!"
Luo Lin grabbed metal sheets and started hammering patches like a madman. Robin helped.
Soon the leaks were mostly fixed.
Then Luo Lin looked at the seawater that had flooded the cabin and had a brilliant idea.
I'm a transmigrator—maybe my body reacts differently?
He collected the seawater into the huge bathtub he'd installed for Robin's baths, then jumped in.
Splash everywhere.
glug glug glug…
He sank straight to the bottom, blowing bubbles, completely paralyzed.
Robin: …
I thought he was doing something important. He's just playing?!
She fished him out, barely resisting the urge to beat him.
"Clean the bathtub."
She dropped the line and walked out, afraid he'd pull another stunt.
Who fills a bathtub with seawater for fun?!
Luo Lin laughed awkwardly and agreed.
"So it really is instant paralysis in seawater… what's the actual mechanism?"
"If I only submerge part of my body it's fine. Where's the cutoff point?"
Luo · Science · Lin decided to find out.
He filled a bucket with seawater.
One hand? Fine.
Two hands? Fine.
He kept going—arms, shoulders, neck…
When the water reached his chest he went limp again.
Had to call Robin for rescue.
This time she didn't baby him.
You already almost drowned once and you're still experimenting?! The whole room's soaked! How old are you?!
His ears got twisted bright red.
But he reached a conclusion: as long as seawater doesn't cover the chest area, he's good.
Worth the pain of swollen ears for science!
Only problem: Robin was now puffing her cheeks and ignoring him.
It took forever to clean everything and sweet-talk her back.
"No more dangerous experiments, got it? If I hadn't heard you, you'd be fish food!"
"Yes yes! Never again! I just wanted to know the exact limit!"
He hugged her from behind like Jack holding Rose, spouting sweet nonsense.
In his head: Next time I'll try fresh water.
…
By the time they finished messing around, dawn was breaking.
They suddenly remembered Luffy's crew was still inside a Marine base.
"Uh… it's been a while. Should we check on them?"
"You wanna go, go."
"Then let's go! Can't just abandon them!"
They sailed the Devil toward the distant G8 base.
Obviously couldn't waltz through the front gate—it was already closed, and even without a pirate flag they'd get arrested on sight.
So they circled the island slowly.
Most Marines were inside hunting the Straw Hats; only one or two guards per outer post.
The guards noticed the ship but assumed it was just a fishing boat and ignored it.
After circling forever with no entry point, a small fleet of Marine warships approached.
"Hey! Fishing boat ahead! Move aside! Our ships are big and can't turn easily! Hurry or you'll get rammed!"
Perfect timing.
"Roger that! Moving now!"
Luo Lin steered the Devil slightly aside.
The warships slowed to let them pass.
Once clear, the fleet accelerated again.
Luo Lin just stopped the Devil in place, but now he had a problem—no good place to anchor, and the current would carry them away.
"How about I go in alone? You wait here, Robin-baby?"
"Fine by me~"
She knew she'd just be extra baggage in a fight. One tiny base wasn't going to have anyone who could touch Luo Lin.
Luo Lin was thrilled—Robin-baby is the most understanding person ever! I'm gonna cry!
He showered her face with kisses.
The Marines watching from afar all sneered in contempt.
Tch! Show-off! Having a wife is great, huh?! Having a pretty wife is amazing, huh?! Just wait till I get home and do the same!
Robin calmly wiped the drool off her face, totally unfazed.
"Hey! You two! What are you doing here? Fishermen don't usually come this side!"
Finally a Marine called out.
Luo Lin had his excuse ready—since they fell near here, the Cumulonimbus must be close, which means storms.
"Yes sir! We don't normally come this way, but we got caught in a huge storm while fishing and ended up here to take shelter! We'll leave soon!"
The Marines bought it—they'd come here to repair storm damage too.
"Ah, fellow storm victims. Too bad this is a Marine fortress—civilians can't enter, or we'd let you rest inside. Stay here, you'll be safe from pirates. Good luck!"
The nice major chatted a bit then led the fleet into G8.
Once all ships were inside, the massive gate closed again.
"Gate's shut!"
Robin called.
"Yep."
"So how are you getting in?"
Luo Lin blinked.
"Me? Alone? Watch this."
ZAP!
He vanished in a lightning flash.
Robin: …
Damn it, Luo Lin! So I was the one holding you back this whole time?! You could've gone in ages ago! Fine! Sleep on the couch tonight!
Meanwhile, inside G8:
Luo Lin instantly located Nami muttering to herself with Observation Haki.
"Hey! Nami!"
"KYAAAA—mmph!"
She screamed bloody murder until Luo Lin covered her mouth.
"Shh! It's me!"
"Luo Lin?! How are you here? Didn't you and Robin land somewhere else?"
"Came to get you guys."
"Oh! Where's Robin-sis?"
"Waiting outside."
Nami nodded and they quickly planned to round up the others.
Luo Lin already knew where everyone was, but couldn't zip there with Nami in tow.
As they turned to leave, two Marines opened the door behind them asking for directions to the kitchen.
Nami jumped.
Luo Lin was perfectly calm—he'd sensed them ages ago.
"What are you so scared of?"
Nami laughed awkwardly.
Then watched Luo Lin appear behind the two Marines— hand-chop each— both dropped unconscious.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
"Huh? You saw—knocking them out and hiding them so we don't cause a scene."
He said it like it was obvious.
Nami gnashed her teeth.
"Listen up! From now on you follow my lead! No going rogue! No matter how strong you are, you can't tank an entire fortress's cannons!"
Luo Lin: (ツ)/¯
Cannons? Unless they're seastone and can pierce my Haki, good luck.
This place was basically his backyard.
But explaining was too much effort, so he just shrugged and followed her like a good boy.
Nami led him through twists and turns to a laundry room, grabbed two Marine uniforms, and they changed.
Once in uniform, Luo Lin suddenly felt hungry.
We're already disguised… might as well grab food first?
Perfect plan.
"Nami! I know where Luffy and the others. I'll go get them real quick!"
Before she could reply—ZAP—gone.
"THAT LITTLE—! When did he get as unreliable as Luffy?! At least let me finish a sentence!"
She rubbed her temples and kept moving.
Luo Lin appeared right at the kitchen door.
He pushed it open casually.
"Minna-san, ohayo— I mean, good morning!"
Everyone stared.
He wondered if he'd been made. Maybe knock them all out, eat, then run?
"You're the guy, right? Wait, aren't there supposed to be two chefs?"
Luo Lin instantly went on guard, racking his brain—had he slipped up?
"What?"
"Aren't there two chefs coming from town? Where's the other one? Or do you think one chef is enough to take us on?"
Ah. Wrong person.
"Ah! Sorry, you've got the wrong guy. I'm not a chef—just came with them. Got hungry and followed the smell!"
"Oh… haha, our bad!"
The head chef scratched his head apologetically.
"No worries! Speaking of—can I get some food? I'm starving."
"Of course! As much as you want! Someone get this comrade here some grub!"
They were happy to feed a fellow Marine.
Started normal.
By the tenth bento box, the chefs' eyes changed.
"This guy can EAT!"
"Sorry, huge appetite! Another one please! Your food is amazing!"
Chefs love compliments—morale skyrocketed. Portions doubled.
By the 50 bentos he was finally full.
Wiped his mouth.
"Thanks for the meal! Best food ever!"
"Haha, no problem!"
Normal Marines never thanked them like that. Instant best friends.
"Actually… some of my buddies got hurt in the storm and can't walk. Mind if I pack some to go?"
"Sure, sure! How many?"
"Thanks! Another 50 should do!"
"On it!"
He planned to bring some back for Robin-baby, the rest for lunch.
Can't finish? Takeaway! Life is good!
==============================================================
Support me and be 100 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/inkshield