Chapter 171: Pirates Aren’t Good People, Don’t Become A Pirate
“Are there many pirates like you?” Himeko asked curiously.
“Not many. Most go out to sea to become pirates because they can’t survive otherwise, and some do it for ambition, wealth, and such. This latter group is often the strongest and most brutal.” Shanks said.
“From victim to perpetrator.” Yan shook her head disdainfully.
“However, truly powerful pirate crews basically no longer rely on plundering. Instead, they protect certain islands, collecting fixed protection fees like local emperors.” Shanks continued.
“Mafia?” March 7th asked.
“Are you talking about the mafia in the West Sea? The mafia can’t compare to those powerful pirate crews.” Shanks shook his head.
These people seem very strong, but they appear completely ignorant about the sea. Where did they come from?
Shanks thought, then explained the situation on the sea to the Train Crew, much more detailed and realistic than what Meng Huaifeng had said on the Train.
“The territories protected by those powerful pirate crews are basically like countries. Except in terms of scale and stability, there’s no essential difference from the World Government. The World Government also collects protection fees, just under a different name called heavenly tribute.”
“The World Government is essentially the world’s largest pirate. The lives of commoners under the World Government’s control might even be worse than those under pirate protection.” Meng Huaifeng summarized.
“That’s not wrong.” Shanks gave a wry smile.
“It seems this world isn’t simply black and white, but a chaotic mess. Pirates aren’t necessarily bad people; they could be rebels against corrupt regimes. The government and Navy aren’t entirely good either, who knows what cruel things they’re doing behind the scenes.” Xing said, pinching her chin.
“Most worlds are like this; it’s just a matter of the proportion of black mixed with white or white mixed with black.” Yan, with her vast experience, said insightfully.
“This world seems to have extremely sharp conflicts, likely on the eve of upheaval, with power changes possible at any moment.” Himeko said.
The chaos in this world doesn’t come from alien invasions or world-ending disasters, but from the normal development and evolution of civilization.
By tradition, the Train Crew won’t overly interfere in struggles between Local Forces.
Judging the traditions and rights and wrongs of an unfamiliar world based on the Train Crew’s singular will is neither fair nor reasonable.
Just like judging gender issues, the Judge will unconsciously, even boundlessly, bias toward the side that aligns with his will—neither fair nor reasonable.
It’s better to let this world make its own choices; the correct side will naturally gain more support.
Of course, there might be exceptions. In a world where great power belongs to individuals, no amount of supporters might match one person.
At such times, the Train Crew doesn’t mind helping a little.
This world, most worlds…
Aren’t they from this world? Other worlds… what? Shanks’s mind raced wildly.
Right, they don’t seem to hide it, and their personalities seem pretty good.
Shanks gritted his teeth and asked, “By the way, I still don’t know the names and origins of you seniors?”
Meng Huaifeng couldn’t help looking up at Xing, who happened to look over too. Lightning seemed to flash from their eyes, intersecting in mid-air.
“Since you’ve asked so sincerely.” Meng Huaifeng stood up and said in a deep tone.
“Then we’ll mercifully tell you.” Xing chimed in.
“Here we go again.” March 7th slapped her face with a ‘pa’ sound. So embarrassing.
“To prevent the world from being destroyed.”
“To protect the peace of the world.”
“To carry out the justice of love and truth.”
“The cute and charming heroic characters.”
“Xing.”
“Meng Huaifeng.”
“We are the Nameless who travel through the Galaxy.”
“White hole, a white tomorrow awaits us!”
“Meow, that’s right.” Zhu Zhuqing awkwardly squeezed out from between them, her face flushed as she waved her hand.
With the Train Crew having a few juniors now, Zhu Zhuqing felt a bit of senior responsibility— so awkward.
The entire tavern was stunned silent, deathly quiet. The pirates put down their food and drink, all looking over.
March 7th had buried her face in the table: I can’t see me, I don’t know them.
Zhu Zhuqing slowly squatted down, using the table to block herself. Luckily they were in the corner to begin with.
Does Teacher have this side too? So interesting. Su Xiaoli watched Meng Huaifeng with keen interest.
Dan Heng silently turned away, Yan’s lips curving slightly.
“Oh~, so cool! Totally awesome!”
“How did you come up with that? Teach us.”
“Brothers, who wants to form a team with me?”
Frenzied cheers erupted suddenly, the pirates fervently praising Meng Huaifeng and Xing.
Nameless from the Universe?
Shanks controlled his expression, thinking he’d make his own set too, leaving the design to Belly.
March 7th shockingly lifted her head. Is this world this wild?
Where’s the coolness in that?
March 7th suspiciously examined Meng Huaifeng and Xing’s poses from an aesthetic perspective, then looked at the pirates.
These pirates look pretty abstract too…
Didn’t expect people in this world to have such good taste and appreciation.
Xing enthusiastically waved at the pirates, her fondness for them greatly increasing.
“Big brother, big sister, you were so cool just now. Can you teach me?” Luffy ran up to Meng Huaifeng and Xing excitedly.
“Of course, little friend.” Xing agreed without hesitation.
“I’m Luffy. Can I join your pirate crew?” Luffy asked again.
“Hey, Luffy, you said before you wanted to join my pirate crew.” Shanks said, a bit sour.
“But you refused. And you’re too weak.” Luffy said somewhat disdainfully, abruptly twisting his head.
A horrifying scene occurred: Luffy’s head instantly spun three or four times, his neck twisting into a braid!
“Ah!” March 7th exclaimed, pointing at Luffy in stunned disbelief, stammering: “He… how… he’s dead?”
“Dead what?” Luffy said blankly, then his elastic head snapped back, winding around three more times in reverse.
“Huh? What’s going on? What’s wrong with me?” Luffy said somewhat panicked.
Shanks froze, then rushed to the counter to check the box on it. The box had tipped over, empty.
“My Devil Fruit! Spit it out, spit it out, spit it out!” Shanks ran back, grabbing Luffy’s feet and shaking him upside down.
After just two shakes, Luffy’s legs suddenly stretched long, his head flattening on the ground.
“Hey, what are you doing?” March 7th hurriedly pried Shanks’s hands off and helped Luffy upright.
“My Devil Fruit! This kid ate it. That’s the Rubber-Rubber Fruit—eat it and you become a rubber person. It’s worth at least 100 million Belly!” Shanks looked like he was about to cry.
“Devil Fruit? Huai Feng mentioned it before.” March 7th scratched her head.
“Eating it grants various abilities, but you can’t swim afterward.” Meng Huaifeng reminded.
“Right. Whatever, maybe this is fate.” Shanks quickly calmed down and sighed.
Himeko looked at Shanks in surprise. Though she didn’t know the value of 100 million Belly in this world, for him to let it go so easily showed he was a good person.
March 7th pinched Luffy’s cheek and asked, “Does it hurt?”
Luffy shook his head, his cheek stretching and shrinking in March 7th’s hand.
“Say something if it hurts.” March 7th instructed, starting to pull harder and longer.
She pulled it over half a meter long; March 7th was scared it might snap suddenly, but Luffy still didn’t say it hurt.
March 7th didn’t dare pull harder and let go.
“duang~”
Luffy’s head shook violently like jelly from the rebound of his cheek.
“So amazing.” March 7th exclaimed.
“Are there more? I want one too.” Xing looked at Shanks hopefully.
“No, no. Devil Fruits are the sea’s secret treasures; ordinary people might never find one in a lifetime.” Shanks shook his head hurriedly.
Makino had finished preparing the food and brought it out.
This was just a small village tavern after all; the menu was simple, the food not particularly abundant.
Aside from the exotic flavors, it wasn’t especially delicious.
“Hey, you haven’t said if I can join your pirate crew yet?” Luffy urged.
“Luffy, we’re not pirates.” Meng Huaifeng ruffled Luffy’s head.
“Huh? Why not be pirates?” Luffy asked puzzled.
“Why be pirates?” Meng Huaifeng counter-questioned.
“Because pirates are the freest people in the world, adventuring everywhere. My dream is to become a pirate and adventure around the whole world!” Luffy answered loudly.
The current Luffy hadn’t yet been saved by Shanks sacrificing an arm, hadn’t been given the straw hat, and his dream wasn’t yet to become the Pirate King.
Himeko glanced at Luffy in surprise. Seems like a natural-born good seedling for pioneering.
“Little Luffy, what you’re talking about isn’t called pirates, but adventurers, Pioneers.” Himeko said.
“No way, that’s called pirates!” Luffy objected.
“Real pirates aren’t like that. Real pirates kill others, rob their things, burn their houses. Little Luffy, do you want to become that kind of person?” Himeko asked.
“I don’t. I don’t believe it. That’s not what pirates are.” Luffy huffed angrily. He felt this pretty big sister was tarnishing his faith.
“Luffy, most pirates really are like this miss says.” Shanks helplessly shattered Luffy’s idealized view of pirates.
“Huh? How could pirates… Shanks, aren’t you a pirate? Don’t tell me you…” Luffy said sadly.
“I’m not like ordinary pirates.” Shanks said.
“Then I’ll be a different kind of pirate!” Luffy said, pursing his lips.
“Be what pirate? Pirates aren’t good. Better to be a Pioneer.” March 7th advised. She couldn’t watch a kid go astray.
The implicated Shanks’s mouth twitched, but he couldn’t refute.
“What’s a Pioneer?” Luffy asked.
“Pioneers are people who constantly explore the unknown, adventuring across the Universe. We’re Pioneers, Nameless.” March 7th proudly puffed out her chest.
Luffy didn’t quite understand what the Universe was, but he heard explore the unknown, adventure travel.
But being a pirate was his long-held dream; even if somewhat disillusioned now, he didn’t want to change it yet.
Xing began enthusiastically and eloquently recounting her feats of pioneering worlds and saving worlds.
In excitement, she waved her baseball bat and stepped onto a chair.
“Do you know how much a black bread loaf costs in the Lower City? 500,000 Credits! They want people to die…”
The pirates listened intently to Xing’s speech, their expressions fired up.
Even Shanks was immersed, let alone little Luffy.
“I wanna beat them flying! Too evil!” Luffy said, his little face flushed with excitement.
“…Is the Lower City really that expensive?” Meng Huaifeng quietly asked March 7th.
He hadn’t gone to the Lower City before the Blockade was lifted.
“The Lower City uses Winter City Shield; who uses Credits? But yeah, it’s really expensive. A Xing might be adding some artistic flair…” March 7th replied.
Xing talked for quite a while about those magnificent, fantastical worlds. Even with countless wonders in the Pirate World, they hadn’t experienced them.
Not just experienced—some they’d never even heard of.
Some thought Xing was making it up, boasting.
But Shanks somewhat believed it.
Still, belief aside, he figured Xing was exaggerating a bit on the combat scenes.
Seeing the Train Crew had finished eating, Shanks took a deep breath.
“The power that protected this place from destruction earlier was released by you, right?”
“Correct, I released it.” Xing nodded.
“Then, pardon the intrusion, Miss Xing, please grant me a lesson!” Shanks drew his sword, eyes somewhat fervent.
Though he felt 99% sure he wasn’t a match, Shanks still wanted to experience power from outside this world.
“Sure.” Xing agreed. Experiencing new world power systems was always part of pioneering.
The two groups marched out of the tavern toward the village farm.
Meng Huaifeng took out a small piece of gold to pay.
Makino said somewhat troubled: “Mister, this… I can’t make change.”
“Keep it there for now; we might stay a couple days.” Meng Huaifeng waved his hand.
In the farm, Xing and Shanks stood facing each other.
“A Xing, go easy, don’t kill anyone.” Meng Huaifeng shouted.
“Boss, you’re being underestimated, haha.” The pirates jeered.
“Our boss isn’t made of dough; not that easy to kill.”
Shanks focused intently, Gryphon cloaked in black, Observation Haki fully extended.
Xing held her baseball bat loosely, full of openings everywhere.
A Flying Slash slashed toward Xing; she reached out to grab it.
The Flying Slash hit Xing’s hand, shattering without leaving a white mark.
Xing felt the force transmitted to her hand and got a sense of it.
Shanks followed right after the Flying Slash, charging at Xing; several sword lights enveloped her.
Xing didn’t use Imaginary Energy, restrained most of her physical body power, and tangled with Shanks.
No matter how Shanks accelerated or exerted force, Xing kept up effortlessly.
“Too strong! Let me see your true power!” Shanks said, battle intent boiling.
Though the power Xing showed was stronger than his, she hadn’t attacked much proactively, so he didn’t feel much pressure.
