Under the night sky, the moonlight cast a clean, silvery glow over the vast sea, its gentle shimmer reflecting the countless stars above. The dark waves lapped rhythmically against the hull of the ship, creating a melody as if nature itself played a mysterious instrument.
A lazy yawn broke the stillness.
"Ah~ I'm so sleepy!"
Luffy rubbed his face, stretching as he groggily opened his eyes. He glanced across the boat, where Red was also stirring from his drowsiness.
The late-night calm seemed to amplify the fatigue settling over Red. He frowned slightly, muttering to himself.
"Yet another downside to this machine... While the body rests, the mind doesn't get any actual sleep." He sighed. "We'll have to schedule our time in the game world better to avoid messing up tomorrow's plans."
After giving Luffy a brief rundown about the mechanics of Pokémon—or at least as much as he could comprehend—Red noticed that the machine's power was running low. He saved their progress in the dimly lit Pewter Gym and brought Luffy back to the real world.
Checking the compass to confirm their course, Red gave a nod of approval. "Good, the ship hasn't drifted off track," he said. Turning to Luffy, he added, "Alright, that's enough adventure for today. It's late, so get some rest. I'll keep watch until morning."
Luffy let out a long yawn, his exhaustion evident. "Ha~! Okay, I'll leave it to you, Red!" Without another word, he flopped over and fell asleep instantly, his carefree nature shining through even in the quiet night.
"This guy really doesn't have a worry in the world," Red said with a faint chuckle, shaking his head.
With the ship silent except for the waves and Luffy's soft snores, Red turned his gaze toward the bright moon on the horizon. He sat down and began thinking aloud. "Might as well use this time productively. Let's review today's progress."
Red pulled out a small notebook from his pack and began jotting down notes, a habit he'd carried over from his original world. He preferred writing things down with pen and paper—it helped him organize his thoughts.
Even after traveling to this new world, his habits hadn't changed. In fact, he'd filled an entire notebook with details about One Piece to ensure he didn't forget anything important. Written in Chinese characters, his notes were a safe secret, unintelligible to anyone else who might stumble upon them.
"First off, in terms of experience, Luffy's gained 2,500 points tonight," Red murmured, scribbling it down. "He's only about 47 points away from leveling up. The Pewter Gym is a goldmine for grinding experience… but with tougher Pokémon in future gyms, Luffy's level is bound to skyrocket soon."
He tapped the notebook thoughtfully before moving on.
"Next, there's the matter of Pokémon moves. Based on Luffy's feedback, the Headbutt move not only makes his attacks stronger but also hardens his head to reduce collision damage. It's not just a fighting stance—it actually enhances his overall combat power with added effects."
Red made a few more marks in the notebook, satisfied with the results. "Pokémon moves definitely have huge potential in battle," he mused, smiling to himself.
Even the way Luffy learned moves was absurdly convenient. With just a click in the game world's interface, Luffy instantly mastered new techniques—a process so simple it was almost laughable.
"This would be a dream come true for anyone struggling to learn new skills," Red said, shaking his head in disbelief.
But the best part? The move learner was a permanent item. It didn't disappear after use. If Red could bring others into the game world in the future, he could easily equip them with the perfect moveset to maximize their strength.
"But... I still don't know how the machine chooses Pokémon," Red murmured softly, his brows furrowed in thought.
He was certain that the criteria for becoming a Pokémon weren't as simple as intimacy or time spent together. After all, in the past two and a half years, the person he had been closest to wasn't Luffy—it was Makino, the kind-hearted bartender at the tavern.
When Red first arrived in this world, he used his status as an orphan and Makino's generosity to secure a place in the tavern, working as a child laborer to earn his keep.
Of course, "child laborer" was a bit of an exaggeration. Makino was kind, only assigning him light tasks suitable for his age. Thanks to that, Red had plenty of free time to train and strengthen himself.
If the mysterious machine hadn't suddenly appeared, he might have stayed in Foosha Village, planning to use his "handsome, young body" to win over Makino once he came of age.
Life, as it turned out, had other plans.
Luffy, meanwhile, spent most of his time training in the forests and mountains. The only times he visited were every few days to check in with Red and hear his "wise" insights as a supposed time traveler.
"So, if it's not just about close relationships, what sets Luffy and me apart from everyone else?" Red muttered to himself.
After a moment of reflection, his eyes lit up with realization.
"It's the training, isn't it? I've been guiding Luffy in his practice!"
Although Red's combat skills couldn't compare to Luffy's, he had earned the young captain's respect through his advice and strategies. The results of their training spoke for themselves.
"Could it be that for someone to become my Pokémon, they have to recognize me as their trainer?"
Red's crimson eyes sparkled with excitement as he slapped the ship's railing in triumph, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"This... this actually makes sense!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief and relief. The question that had plagued him for days now seemed to have a simple answer.
And the best way to confirm this theory? Test it on the third member of the Straw Hats.
Red leaned against the railing, the sea breeze rustling his hair as he gazed into the horizon. He already knew who the third member would be. After all, the ship had been steadily heading toward their next destination since leaving Foosha Village.
Their course was set for Shells Town, home to the 153rd Marine Branch. The place where Roronoa Zoro, the infamous pirate hunter, was imprisoned.
When he decided to join Luffy's crew, he already planned their route.
If Red wanted to experience an exhilarating adventure in this world of pirates, how could he not recruit that man—the first mate of Luffy's future crew, the one destined to stand by the Pirate King's side?
But then, his grin turned mischievous as he chuckled softly.
"Sorry, Zoro. Your role as vice-captain has been stolen by me," he said with a smirk. "Don't worry, though. I'll make it up to you somehow."
For a moment, Red allowed himself to bask in the thought of what was to come. But then, reality hit him like a cannonball.
"Wait... I don't know anything about swordsmanship!" he blurted out, his face paling.
To earn Zoro's respect as a trainer, Red would need to help him improve in some meaningful way—just as he had done for Luffy. But he was woefully unqualified.
He didn't know how to teach Busoshoku Haki. He wasn't skilled in Kenbunshoku Haki either—Luffy had only managed to develop it through sheer instinct and persistence. And as for Haoshoku Haki? Even Luffy hadn't fully unlocked that power yet.
When it came to swordsmanship... Red's expertise was nonexistent.
"This is bad... I'm gonna end up looking like a clown, aren't I?" Red groaned, slapping his forehead in frustration. Just moments ago, he'd been brimming with confidence, and now he realized how laughable his situation was.
With a sigh, he muttered to himself, "I guess I'd better focus on getting stronger first. No use getting ahead of myself."
At least he had a plan, even if it was a shaky one.
Closing his eyes briefly, Red concentrated, and the machine within his mind glowed crimson, casting faint light across his thoughts.
The notifications he hadn't yet acted on still hovered at the top of the interface, waiting for him to take the next step.