The Star Train's Journey Through the Heavens

Chapter 170 Red Haired Pirates

The table remained intact, and Shanks raised his sword once more.

"Shanks, what are you doing? Don't you dare damage Makino's things!" A six or seven-year-old child stood in front of the red-haired pirate, glaring at him angrily.

The child's voice caught the attention of the proprietress who was washing glasses. The beautiful proprietress turned her head and saw Shanks pointing a weapon at her table.

Makino tilted her head slightly, looking at Shanks with a puzzled expression.

"Hahaha, I didn't mean to destroy anything, Makino, don't listen to Luffy's nonsense." Shanks hurriedly sheathed his sword and chuckled awkwardly.

"I clearly saw it!" Luffy protested.

Shanks quickly shoved a glass of juice into Luffy's mouth to shut him up.

“I believe Mr. Shanks isn’t that kind of person.” Makino glanced at the undamaged table and gave a sweet smile.

"Hey, boss, wanna try again?" a pirate asked, suppressing a laugh.

“Of course.” Shanks raised an eyebrow and walked out of the tavern.

The strange energy covered a wide area, not just inside the tavern.

Several pirates followed him out of the tavern. Luffy finished his juice in one gulp, put down his cup, and hurriedly followed them out.

"Take me with you next time you go to sea, Shanks! I want to be a pirate too!" Luffy shouted as he chased after him.

"Haha, Luffy, someone like you can become a pirate?" Shanks laughed and replied dismissively.

"Why not? I'm very strong!" Luffy swung his fist.

"You're too young now. Wait until you're a bit older." Shanks didn't even glance at Luffy, found a wooden stake, and drew his sword again.

This time, I'll use only 20% of my strength.

Thirty percent of the strength, forty percent of the strength.

The strange energy still shows no sign of collapsing.

With such a large coverage area and such strong defense, the person who used it is probably at least as strong as Ben Beckman.

Shanks is using increasingly stronger power; his tense posture and the speed of his sword swings show that he is close to using his full strength.

"Shanks, your strength is so weak, you can't even break a wooden stake. I don't want to go to sea with you anymore." Luffy's eyes gradually turned contemptuous: "Unless you let me be the captain."

"Hahaha~" The pirates watching burst into laughter.

"The boss is such a loser, he actually got looked down on by little Luffy."

"If you can't even break a wooden stake, isn't that pretty pathetic?"

"Boss, how about we let Luffy take the captaincy?"

"..."

Shanks ignored the crew's joking taunts, but his expression became completely serious.

The previous assessment was wrong. He is not only no less than Ben Beckman, but should be stronger than himself. Could he be a strong person of the captain's level?
However, even if a strong person of the captain's level is strong enough, surely his strongest attack should be able to break through a range of defenses, right?
Shanks' competitive spirit was ignited.

A bolt of lightning flashed through Shanks' eyes, and the terrifying Conqueror's Haki was firmly controlled by Shanks within the Griffin in his hand, without leaking out in the slightest.

"God avoids!"

"boom!"

The wooden stake still stood there like an unbreakable rock. Shanks raised his arm slightly and took several steps back!

If Shanks and Griffin hadn't been protected by the star's protective power, Shanks would have at least suffered a splitting wound.

Beckman frowned. He knew the captain's strength all too well. He hadn't expected that even with the captain using all his strength, the defense would remain completely intact.

Could it be the legendary Barrier Fruit?
Aside from the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, Beckman couldn't think of any other Devil Fruit that could do this.

It is said that as long as the user of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit does not run out of energy, the barrier will not be broken.

His behavior is quite different from what is described in the book. Could it be that he has awakened?

Shanks paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Hahaha, I'm really bad. I thought I was so great, but I'm still far from it, hahaha."

A group of people dressed as bandits walked over from a distance, and the leader of the bandits glanced at Shanks and his companions with disdain.

"You so-called pirates, huh? Seeing you swinging your sword so imposingly from afar, I thought you were something special, but you can't even break a wooden stake. What trash! Tui~"

The bandit king, Sig, spat on Shanks, then glanced at the wooden stake beside him and instantly drew his sword.

Shanks was just about to watch the bandit in front of him make a fool of himself when he suddenly noticed that the strange energy enveloping all the surrounding objects had disappeared!

"Chi~"

The bandit king Sig, with an eight million bounty, is quite something; he split the wooden stake in two, leaving a smooth, sloping surface.

"With your strength, you dare to be a pirate? You should go home and drink milk, you piece of trash." Higuma pinched Shanks' face and tugged at it.

"Hahaha, the boss has actually been outdone by the bandits."

"What are we supposed to do when the boss goes home to nurse? Should we all go back to our own homes and find our own mothers?"

"Are you going home to breastfeed too?"

"Hahahaha~"

"What are you laughing at?" Sig glanced at the Red-Haired Pirates. "If trash like him can be your leader, then you are even more trash."

The Red-Haired Pirates' laughter immediately ceased, and they looked at Higuma with some ill intent.

"Want to make a move? If you're going to make a move, you'd better be prepared to do it. Someone like your leader, I could kill 56 of them with one sword strike." Sig sneered, looking down at the pirates.

Shanks didn't speak, and the pirates didn't make a move.

Thinking the pirates had backed down, Sigurd grew even more arrogant: "Be glad we're not here to cause trouble, but to buy alcohol, otherwise none of you would have survived."

He walked past Shanks and entered the tavern.

The other bandits swaggered and arrogantly pushed past Shanks and his crew, crowding inside.

Shanks wiped the spittle off his clothes and laughed, "This is hilarious. I've been mistaken for a nobody in a third-rate pirate crew."

The pirates burst into laughter again upon hearing this.

Luffy shouted angrily, "How can you still laugh? Don't you think that's shameful? Fight them..."

He suddenly remembered halfway through his shout: "I know, you guys are too weak, you're no match for them, so you don't dare to fight them. Shanks, you don't deserve to be a man, and you don't deserve to be a pirate. You've disappointed me so much! But you're my friend, Luffy's friend, and I won't stand by and watch you get bullied. I'll go and make them apologize to you!"

Luffy strode confidently into the tavern.

Shanks chuckled and shook his head. "Go if you want. You'll be fine with him here."

"Damn it, apologize to Shanks and the others! Even though they are indeed weak, you can't look down on them!" Luffy glared at Higuma.

"Just because they're weak doesn't mean I can look down on them. I'm so strong, can't I look down on them? What a joke! Get out of my way, kid." Higuma kicked Luffy aside and muttered, "What a downer. There's no more wine left. These pirates are weak but they can drink a lot. A bunch of good-for-nothings."

Luffy bumped into the counter, tears welling up in his eyes from the pain, but he still wanted to stand up and argue.

Makino quickly came out from behind the counter, hugged Luffy, and covered his mouth.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't take it to heart. I'll buy the wine as soon as possible," Makino apologized somewhat nervously.

"Let's go, guys." Sig shook his head, turned around, and left with his underlings.

A fruit rolled off the counter and hit Luffy on the head.

Luffy pried Makino's hand away and, in a fit of rage, took a big bite of the fruit that had hit him. Higuma walked out of Windmill Village and was met by a group of handsome men and beautiful women on a country road.

Sig's bandit underlings stared, completely frozen in place.

Himeko, so delicate and charming.

Xing, so delicate and charming.

Su Xiaoli, so delicate and sweet.

……

Danheng, Jiao... Jiao Didi.

"Gulp, boss, she's even prettier than the noble ladies in the city, shall we rob her?" the bandit couldn't help but say.

Sig doesn't care much for women, but the train crew, regardless of looks, attire, or temperament, are all miles ahead of those aristocratic ladies, even the gay men can't help but take a second look.

Even if she doesn't become a bandit's wife, she'd be very valuable if sold as a slave.

None of these people were carrying weapons...

"Rob it!" Sig decided. They were bandits; wouldn't it be against their professional ethics not to rob good stuff?
The bandits quickened their pace to meet the train.

"I built this mountain and planted this tree. If you want to live from now on, leave money to buy the road!"

"Bah! Leave everyone here!"

I took a look around around March 7th, and it was a field with no mountains or trees.

"These bandits don't seem very smart," March 7th whispered in Meng Huaifeng's ear.

Meng Huaifeng silently stroked March 7's pink fur, and March 7 shook its head and dodged away.

"If we were smart, we wouldn't be robbed."

"Are you all going to die?" Himeko asked.

"Can't survive? We're living the high life. If you know what's good for you, come with us, or don't blame us for being impolite," Sig sneered.

"Sigh." Himeko sighed helplessly.

"How long have you been bandits? How many innocent people have you killed?" Su Xiaoli asked, blinking, as a pink spiritual energy silently invaded the bandits' bodies.

"I've killed countless people, I can't even remember them all."

"I killed six!"

"Fifteen."

"Three."

"I just joined, and I haven't killed anyone yet..."

The bandits, as if possessed by lust, boasted about their exploits.

"Leave it to me," Zhu Zhuqing said, transforming into more than ten afterimages.

In the blink of an eye, only the one who said he had never killed anyone was still alive.

Since the continued existence of such a being would clearly harm more people, the train crew would not show any mercy once they encountered it.

They've dealt with quite a few train crews, including those from space pirates.

"Be a good person from now on," Himeko said.

"Pfft!"

The bandit immediately knelt on the ground, hurriedly saying, "Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely be a good person and never be a bandit again!"

Meng Huaifeng pointed his finger and teleported the bandit's corpse into the forest to avoid frightening the villagers.

Windmill Village is not large, with only one tavern, which is very conspicuous.

When you arrive in the New World, it's a good idea to sample the local delicacies and drinks first, and you can also gather some information along the way.

The train crew then entered the tavern, where the Red-Haired Pirates were still feasting.

Seeing so many beautiful women on the train, a few pirates whistled, but none of them made a move to chat up or cause trouble for the train crew.

The group of companions Shanks found were of decent quality; at least they weren't the type to commit arson, murder, robbery, or lawlessness.

Those kinds of pirates wouldn't even catch Shanks' eye.

"Welcome! Would you like something to eat? I'm sorry, we're out of alcohol, only juice," Marcino greeted us.

"It's alright, juice will do," Himeko said.

"This way, please." Makino cleared out two tables in the corner.

Shanks looked at the train crew. At first glance, they all seemed like ordinary people, but the more he looked, the more something seemed off.

A user of the Cat-Cat Fruit or the Fox-Fox Fruit?
The others must be quite formidable as well.

Seeing that the train crew had already ordered their meals, Shanks enthusiastically came over.

"Hello, I am Shanks, captain of the Red-Haired Pirates. Shall we become friends?"

"Pirates?" Most people frowned slightly, looking at Shanks with some hostility.

An invisible pressure fell on Shanks, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Something's... a bit off, it's gone too far.

Just their unfriendly stares triggered a frantic alert in my Observation Haki. What kind of monsters are these people?

A few beads of cold sweat appeared on Shanks' face. He chuckled awkwardly, "This is probably the first time I've met you all, and we have no grudges against each other. There's no need to be so hostile, is there? At least get to know each other and give me some face."

"The pirates in this world are slightly different from the pirates we understand in the conventional sense," Meng Huaifeng said.

The hostility subsided slightly, and March 7th asked, "What's the difference?"

"Although most pirates kill, plunder, and commit all sorts of atrocities, some of them simply want to travel to different places, live freely, and see the different and beautiful landscapes around the world," Meng Huaifeng said.

"I wonder which type Mr. Shanks is?" Himeko asked, looking at Shanks.

“We are the second type,” Shanks said honestly.

"Aren't they just adventurers? Why are they called a pirate crew?" March Seven asked, puzzled.

"Apart from merchant fleets, the navy, and bounty hunters, there are only pirates at sea. There is no fourth kind of existence. Even if you are not a pirate for now, you will soon become one," Shanks said.

"What kind of logic is this?" March 7th was full of questions.

"Of course, it's because the government of this world is already very corrupt," Yan said calmly. At over seven thousand years old, Yan had long been accustomed to the rise and fall of civilizations and the life and death of people, so he didn't feel much.

“Since it’s the second type, then they shouldn’t have harmed innocent civilians, right?” Meng Huaifeng asked.

Although the Red-Haired Pirates have a good reputation, this is only based on what we see in the anime, and is therefore a very one-sided view.

Because of censorship, many things cannot and will not be shown in animation.

Therefore, Meng Huaifeng couldn't be sure what the real Red-Haired Pirates were like.

"Of course not. What's a commoner's money? We usually rob other pirate crews, and occasionally we'll kidnap some corrupt nobles, but we always release them safely," Shanks said.

After saying that, Shanks keenly realized that the feeling that had made him nervous had disappeared.

So, they've given it their approval?
(End of this chapter)