112. Why are you still here?!
Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: p@treon.com/CosmicKaminari
----------
Under Red's absolute threat of force, Bomb-Bomb Fruit user Gem and Kilo-Kilo Fruit user Mikita quickly reached a deal with him called "cooperation," which was actually closer to "conscription."
Having acquired two Devil Fruit users at once, Red felt a surge of excitement.
Initially, his thoughts hadn't been so elaborate.
It was only after planning to subdue the Bomb Man that he suddenly remembered Laboon's body had such a convenient feature!
Of course, since Laboon was still relatively weak, Red specifically emphasized to Usopp and Gem that they shouldn't conduct experiments with large cannonballs inside.
For now, they were only permitted to study the individual ammunition used by Usopp himself.
After all, if they could replace some components of the Tabasco Star with things like Gem's explosive bodily substances...
It would significantly reduce Usopp's ammunition expenses!
Gem was essentially a natural, self-replenishing gunpowder arsenal!
...
...
Meanwhile, during the time Red and Usopp were planning the configuration of their ammunition research base inside Laboon...
The Going Merry and Laboon had already departed from Whiskey Peak and were heading toward their next destination!
After a while, Usopp and the others, who had finished their preliminary planning inside Laboon, returned to the Merry.
As soon as Red landed on the deck using Magnet Rise, he was immediately greeted by Nami's eager inquiry:
"Well? Are you finished?!"
Among the Straw Hats, the one who most supported Red's plan to recruit Gem was undoubtedly Nami!
While the plan's most obvious beneficiary seemed to be Usopp with his focus on ammunition, for Nami...
If Gem could truly replace the Straw Hats' need to purchase gunpowder, they could save nearly 10 million Berries each month!
Seeing the anticipation in Nami's eyes, Red immediately smiled and gave her the answer she wanted to hear:
"Everything is all set!"
"From now on, we can just have Gem supply all our gunpowder needs!"
"Fantastic!" Nami jumped excitedly.
At that moment, Smoker, who happened to be passing by, overheard their conversation and couldn't help but snort derisively: "Hmph! Cunning pirates!"
However...
It was precisely because of his comment that Red's eyes suddenly focused on him, studying him intently.
"Hmm?"
Smoker, feeling uncomfortable under Red's gaze, immediately frowned and asked:
"What is it?"
"What's wrong?" Red murmured repeatedly in a puzzled tone.
Then he suddenly grinned, showing a mischievous expression.
"I seem to recall... there were plenty of ships back at Whiskey Peak, weren't there?"
"It shouldn't have been difficult to find someone among those bounty hunters who could sail a boat, right?"
"So why... is Captain Smoker still aboard the Going Merry?"
"..."
'Yes!?'
'Why did I follow them onto their ship again!?'
Red's question made Smoker's brain freeze momentarily.
He hadn't given it much thought before.
After being treated alongside the Straw Hats by the bounty hunters of Whiskey Peak for a while, he had been following the crew without saying a word, maintaining a low profile.
Over time, he seemed to have grown accustomed to this unusual arrangement with the Straw Hat Pirates.
So when Luffy and the others boarded the ship, he naturally followed them.
At that time, Red had been preoccupied with thoughts of Gem and hadn't paid Smoker any attention.
Luffy and the others wouldn't have said anything even if they noticed, as they had been getting along reasonably well with Smoker lately, though Smoker might not have seen it that way.
Suddenly!
Smoker realized he had made a major mistake, and a blush instantly appeared on his usually intimidating face!
"Stop... stop talking nonsense!!!"
He yelled at Red angrily: "Isn't it a Marine's duty to pursue pirates like you?"
"I... I did it to chase after you!"
"You've caused so much trouble for the Marines in the East Blue, don't think you'll get away so easily!"
"Oh? Really?" Red continued staring into his eyes, saying in a deliberately annoying manner: "I don't believe that."
"You..."
Smoker, who absolutely couldn't admit that he had "habitually boarded a pirate ship," was left speechless.
After a moment, he broke eye contact with Red and walked away, leaving behind a terse comment: "Believe it or not!"
"Hahahaha!" Seeing this, Red burst into laughter.
But then, he suddenly called after Smoker: "Hey! Captain Smoker!"
"Huh?" Smoker turned around.
Red's expression suddenly turned serious as he said: "Since we've come this far, you might as well forget about the past mistakes and come with us to see..."
"Just look at how the people of Alabasta are suffering."
"After all, this is also a great opportunity for you to understand what the World Government is really doing!"
"..."
Smoker was silent for a moment, his eyes revealing his conflicted thoughts.
But in the end, he didn't say anything, just nodded slightly, accepting Red's invitation.
Although he had only spent a few days with the Straw Hats, he unexpectedly found these pirates different from what he had imagined pirates to be.
Yet if asked to explain exactly what made them different, he wouldn't know how to answer.
The more he got to know this crew, the more curious he became about them.
Besides, he himself was interested in the situation in Alabasta.
After all, regardless of what could be said about the Shichibukai, they were still a system created by the World Government and the Marines.
If innocent people were truly being harmed because of them, Smoker would address it no matter what!
The premise being that he had the necessary strength...
With this thought, Smoker's eyes suddenly turned toward the stern of the Merry.
On a platform, Zoro was holding an enormous barbell and practicing sword swings.
Each time he swung the massive weight, a visible slash wave formed in the seawater before him.
Damn it!
He's already so strong, yet he still trains so intensely!?
Doesn't he want to let anyone else live!?
Smoker cursed inwardly.
But he also quietly found a corner, took out his jitte, and began his own training.
What Smoker failed to realize was that as he entered his training mindset, his similarity to the Straw Hat Pirates grew even stronger!
Any uninformed observer seeing the deck of the Merry at this moment would surely think Smoker was a member of the crew.
Their movements were practically identical!
...
...
Thus, time passed gradually.
Almost imperceptibly, Smoker had been living, eating, and training with the Straw Hats for an entire day.
Even the crew members seemed accustomed to his presence now.
Only Vivi, who was returning to Alabasta aboard the Merry, couldn't help but show bewildered surprise whenever she saw Smoker.
"Isn't Mr. Smoker supposed to be a Marine?!"
Night fell.
Brilliant stars speckled the high sky, surrounding a crescent moon at its center.
As a white light flashed, a red figure suddenly appeared in a room resembling a kindergarten classroom.
Across from him, separated only by a fence but seemingly a world apart, Usopp suddenly displayed an expression of emotion and excitement.
Seeing the red figure, he couldn't help but murmur:
"Finally..."
"It's my turn!"
After paying the "bail money" to the NPC old woman, Usopp's figure finally teleported out of the training house and approached Red.
"Thank you for your hard work, Usopp!"
Red smiled and greeted him, but received in return Usopp's face bursting into tears:
"If I didn't work hard, my life is guaranteed to be miserable!"
"Uh..." The corner of Red's mouth twitched slightly, knowing he had left Usopp alone for too long, and he genuinely felt sorry for him.
Realizing this, Red immediately changed the subject.
"Anyway, let me help you assign your moves first!"
With that, he immediately accessed the list of learnable moves in his backpack.
The first options were the Grass-type move "Giga Drain" and the Bug-type move "U-Turn."
Although Red didn't necessarily consider these skills the most suitable for Usopp...
Among the entire Straw Hat crew, Usopp was the only one who could utilize these particular moves.
The others didn't even have the opportunity to learn them.
If they weren't assigned, it would truly feel wasteful.
Giga Drain was the reward Red obtained after successfully challenging the Celadon Gym. It could damage enemies while restoring one's own vitality and stamina.
U-Turn was purchased from the department store in Celadon City.
[Move: U-Turn]
[Type: Bug]
[Category: Physical]
[Power: 70]
[Description: After making its attack, the user rushes back to switch places with a party Pokémon in waiting.]
Without hesitation, Red directly equipped Usopp with these two moves.
Then, he began selecting from various other moves that Usopp could potentially learn...