The vast ocean was calm today, with not a single cloud in the sky.
The sunlight felt like a blazing fire, venting its intense heat and leaving everyone parched. It was the kind of day where you just wanted to lie in the shade and not lift a single finger.
On the Dream Chaser, Nami was doing exactly that. She had somehow found a beach chair with a sun umbrella and was lying there lazily, completely motionless.
Although she wasn't moving, her eyes were constantly darting back and forth, fixed on Goku, who was in the middle of some intense training.
"Hey Goku, aren't you dying of heat?"
On the deck, which was scorching hot from the sun, Goku was wearing his heavy turtle shell and holding a rag, scrubbing the wood back and forth.
Once he finished one pass of the deck, he moved on to the gunwales, the exterior walls of the cabin, the masts—every part of the ship that could be wiped down.
To an outsider, he looked like a child laborer being ruthlessly exploited by Nami, working like a perpetual motion machine without a second's rest until he dropped dead.
Of course, Goku felt the heat. His Saiyan physiology was far beyond that of a normal human, but that didn't mean he was immune to the elements. He was already drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked. If he took them off and wrung them out, he could probably fill a bucket.
So why didn't he stop to take a break?
The answer was simple—
"I'm fine, Nami! This is all part of the training."
Goku wiped away some sweat and grinned after finishing the last section of the ship.
Master Roshi had taught him that everything in life can be training. Even the most mundane chores, if approached with the right mindset, could be a form of cultivation.
Now that he was on a ship and didn't have milk to deliver or fields to plow, he had decided that cleaning would be his new routine.
Besides, Nami would ask him to help clean every once in a while anyway. He figured he might as well do it every day and count it as part of his regimen.
After all, cleaning wasn't easy. It required using his hands and feet simultaneously, effectively exercising every muscle in his body. It perfectly aligned with the Turtle School's philosophy.
"Sigh, fine. Just take it easy. Don't go getting heatstroke on me."
Nami massaged her temples, completely at a loss for words.
Having never experienced Turtle School training herself, she couldn't understand how cleaning counted as cultivation.
She wondered if it wouldn't be better to just do squats or push-ups while wearing that weight.
Just then, Sanji emerged from the cabin carrying a tray in his right hand.
He scanned the deck, his eyes instantly locking onto Nami. Like a butterfly, he spun gracefully toward her and placed a refreshing drink on the small table in front of her.
"Nami-san! I've crafted this orange-mint delight specifically for you. It's guaranteed to banish the summer heat and wrap you in a cool embrace!"
He gazed at her with a look of pure, unadulterated devotion.
"Oh, thank you, Sanji."
Nami's eyes lit up at the sight of the orange beverage. She grabbed it and took a long, blissful sip.
A moment later, a wave of coolness washed over her, making her feel as if she had stepped into a crisp autumn day.
"Ah... that's amazing!"
Seeing her beaming smile, Sanji was over the moon.
"Yes! My creation has been blessed with Nami-san's approval!"
Then he turned and called out to Goku as he walked over, "Hey, Goku! This one's for you. It'll replenish your electrolytes and keep you in top shape for your training!"
Goku, who was about to move on to his next exercise, stopped and jogged over to Sanji. He took the drink and grinned. "Thanks, Sanji!"
With that, he downed the entire drink in a few gulps.
"Phew! You're right, I feel totally energized again!"
After finishing the drink, Goku clenched his fists and felt the power returning to his body with a happy expression.
He placed the glass back on Sanji's tray and immediately jumped into his next exercise: hanging upside down from the railing by his tail to perform crunches.
Chores only lasted so long; once they were finished, it was time for his standard training routine.
"One."
"Two."
"Three."
...
As he pushed himself through the reps, the sweat that had briefly stopped began to pour once more, dripping onto the deck like a string of broken pearls.
Before long, a small, shimmering puddle had formed on the deck beneath him.
"He's really dedicated. No wonder he's that strong at such a young age," Sanji remarked.
Sanji pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Exhaling a cloud of smoke, he watched Goku train.
He couldn't help but recall the scene of Goku's final blow against Arlong a few days ago.
The sheer power of that strike had left him stunned. Seeing a massive building split in half by a single staff blow was truly terrifying.
He knew for a fact he couldn't have pulled off something like that.
Because of that display, he had come to realize the massive gap between himself and Goku. He understood that this boy, who looked barely over ten years old, possessed a monstrous strength far beyond the norm.
And when he saw Arlong being carried away by the Marines—broken in countless places, limp as a rag, and barely clinging to life—he had to admire the resilience of fishman biology. Surviving an attack like that was a feat in itself.
Of course, whether the fishman would actually pull through in the long run, however, was another story entirely.
...
And so, after leaving the Conomi Islands, Goku continued his training as the Dream Chaser sailed toward the horizon.
After a few days of peaceful sailing, they finally reached a landmark town that served as the gateway to the Grand Line—
Loguetown.
It was a legendary location, being the birthplace and the site of the public execution of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
Because of this, the town was widely known as 'The Town of the Beginning and the End.'
After docking the Dream Chaser at the harbor, the trio stepped ashore together.
"Let's go! We need to stock up on supplies. This is our last pit stop before we hit the Grand Line, so we'd better get everything we need," Nami declared, acting as the brains of the crew.
...
Meanwhile, in a corner of the Loguetown Marine Base...
Knock, knock, knock!
"Enter."
Tashigi pushed the door open upon being granted permission, but was immediately choked by the thick smoke inside the room.
"Cough, cough! Hack!"
Coughing, she hurried to the window and flung it open.
As the fresh air circulated, the dense fog of smoke finally began to clear.
"Honestly, Captain Smoker, how many times do I have to tell you? Smoking is bad for your health. You really ought to quit."
She turned back, frowning at the man reclining on the sofa. He was shirtless, revealing a barrel chest and rock-hard abs, with a cigar clamped between his teeth and his eyes closed as if he were napping.
This man was none other than Smoker, the commanding officer of this Marine branch.
"My apologies for the smoke," Smoker said, opening his eyes. He gave his subordinate a brief apology before shrugging.
"But as for quitting? Not a chance."
Tashigi had expected that answer, so her expression didn't flicker. She moved straight to business.
"Captain Smoker, the targets you told me to keep an eye on have appeared. They arrived in Loguetown just a few minutes ago."
Smoker's eyes sharpened. He stood up abruptly and grabbed his jacket from the hanger.
"They're here? Let's go, Tashigi."
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