The Going Merry sailed smoothly across the endless blue, its sails full of wind, guiding the crew toward their next adventure. The morning sun shimmered on the ocean surface, casting a golden glow that reflected off the rippling waves. The atmosphere on board was light, filled with the buzzing excitement of their new journey.
Luffy stood at the ship's bow, gripping the wooden railing as he grinned at the open sea. The salty breeze ruffled his straw hat, and his eyes gleamed with excitement. "Man, I love this! The sea, the wind, the adventure—it's all perfect!" he declared, stretching his arms wide as if he could embrace the vast ocean itself.
Zoro, who was resting against the mast with his arms folded, opened one eye lazily. "You say that now, but wait until we run out of food."
Luffy's stomach let out a loud growl, and he turned toward the galley, his face full of concern. "Nami! Do we have any meat left?!"
From the helm, Nami sighed, rubbing her temple as she kept an eye on the compass. "We just left Syrup Village, Luffy. How can you be hungry already?"
Luffy pouted, his face scrunching up like a child denied a treat. "Adventure makes me hungry! I fight better when I'm full!"
Usopp sat near the deck, polishing his slingshot. He chuckled at Luffy's usual antics. "If we run out of food, I can always catch some fish. I am an expert marksman, after all."
Zoro smirked and leaned forward slightly. "Yeah? And how many fish have you actually caught before?"
Usopp cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact. "Well, you know, a great warrior doesn't need to fish often. But when I do, the fish practically surrender to my skill." He puffed out his chest dramatically.
Luffy clapped his hands together. "Alright! Usopp, you're on fish duty!"
Usopp's face paled slightly. "W-Wait, what?"
Before he could protest, Nami spread the map over the barrel near her, tapping it with her finger. "Enough fooling around. We need to figure out our next stop. We can't just sail aimlessly and hope for the best."
Luffy leaned over the map, nodding enthusiastically. "Right! Let's find a place with good food!"
Nami rolled her eyes. "That's not how navigation works, Luffy." She traced her finger along a route. "We're not too far from a small island that's known for being a trade hub. We can restock there before heading toward our next major stop."
Zoro nodded, his expression serious. "Sounds practical. We'll need supplies if we want to keep moving forward."
Usopp, still recovering from being assigned as the ship's fisherman, raised an eyebrow. "Wait, this island… it's not crawling with marines, is it?"
Nami shook her head. "Not that I know of, but we should still be careful. Luffy's already getting attention, and the last thing we need is trouble before we even reach the Grand Line."
Luffy grinned, undeterred. "Eh, trouble finds us anyway."
Zoro smirked, cracking his knuckles. "That's what makes it fun."
Just then, a sudden gust of wind rattled the sails, and a loud squawk echoed from above. A seagull swooped down, carrying a rolled-up newspaper in its beak. With a swift movement, it dropped the bundle onto the deck before flapping away into the sky.
Nami picked up the paper, unrolling it as her eyes scanned the front page. Within seconds, her expression shifted from curiosity to shock. "Luffy… you made the news."
Luffy's eyes widened with excitement. "Huh?! What's it say?" He bounced over to Nami, nearly knocking the map off the barrel in his eagerness.
She cleared her throat and read aloud, "'Rookie Pirate Causes Chaos in Syrup Village! Mystery Crew Sets Sail—Bounty Incoming?'" She lowered the paper and gave Luffy a look. "You don't even have a bounty yet, and they're already writing about you."
Luffy's grin somehow widened. "That means we're on the right track!" he exclaimed, punching a fist into the air.
Usopp, on the other hand, paled. "Wait… bounty?! That means marines are gonna be after us!"
Zoro smirked, leaning back against the mast. "Relax. That just means things are about to get more interesting."
Nami sighed, folding the newspaper. "All the more reason for us to be careful. We're officially on the world's radar now."
Luffy, completely unfazed, stretched his arms behind his head. "Good! A pirate crew isn't real until they're wanted!"
The crew laughed, the energy aboard the Going Merry crackling with excitement. The wind pushed them forward, and as they sailed toward their next adventure, the sea seemed to welcome them, whispering promises of the challenges and triumphs to come.
Their journey had truly begun.
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