The Star Train's Journey Through the Heavens

Chapter 171 Pirates are no good, don't be a pirate
"Are there many pirates like you?" Himeko asked curiously.

"Not many. Most of them become pirates because they can't survive, and some become pirates for ambition or wealth. This latter group is often the strongest and most brutal," Shanks said.

“From victim to perpetrator.” Yan shook his head dismissively.

"However, truly powerful pirate crews no longer primarily engage in plundering, but rather protect certain islands, collecting protection fees like local tyrants," Shanks continued.

"The underworld?" March 7th asked.

"Are you talking about the West Blue Mafia? The Mafia can't compare to those powerful pirate crews," Shanks said, shaking his head.

These people seem very strong, but they seem to know nothing about the ocean. Where did they come from?
Shanks, after some thought, began explaining the situation at sea to the train crew, providing a much more detailed and realistic account than what Meng Huaifeng had described on the train.

"The territories protected by those powerful pirate crews are basically similar to countries. Apart from their size and stability, there is no fundamental difference between them and the World Government. The World Government also collects protection fees, only under a different name called 'Celestial Gold'."

"The World Government is essentially the biggest pirate in the world. The lives of civilians under the World Government's control may even be worse than those of civilians under the protection of pirates," Meng Huaifeng concluded.

"That's not wrong either," Shanks said with a wry smile.

“It seems that this world is not black and white, but a chaotic mess. Pirates are not necessarily bad people; they may be rebels against a corrupt regime. The government and the navy are not entirely good people either; who knows what cruel things they are doing behind the scenes,” Xing said, stroking his chin.

"That's how most of the world is, it's just a matter of how much black is mixed with white and white with black," Yan said succinctly, drawing on his extensive knowledge.

"It seems that the contradictions in this world have become very acute, and it is very likely on the eve of a dramatic change, with a power shift that could happen at any time," Himeko said.

The chaos in this world does not stem from alien invasion or cataclysmic disasters, but rather from the normal development and evolution of civilization.

Traditionally, the train crew does not interfere too much in the struggles between local forces.

It is neither fair nor reasonable to judge the traditions and right and wrong of a world that we do not understand based on the sole will of a train crew.

Just like judging a matter between men and women, the judge may unconsciously or even without any bottom line favor the side that conforms to his will, which is neither fair nor reasonable.

It's better to let the world make its own choice; the right side will naturally receive more support.

Of course, there may be exceptions. After all, great power belongs to the individual, and no matter how many people support you, you may not be a match for one person.

At this point, the train crew didn't mind lending a hand.

This world, most of the world...

Aren't they from this world? What are other worlds...? Shanks's mind raced.

By the way, they don't seem to shy away from it, and they seem to have very nice personalities.

Shanks gritted his teeth and asked, "By the way, I still don't know the names and backgrounds of all of you seniors?"

Meng Huaifeng couldn't help but look up at Xing, who happened to be looking over as well. It was as if a bolt of lightning shot out from each of their eyes and they met 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 replied.

"Here we go again." March 7th slapped her face, feeling incredibly embarrassed.

"To prevent the world from being destroyed."

"To protect world peace."

"Upholding justice with love and truth."

"A cute and charming decent character."

"star."

"Meng Huaifeng".

"We are nameless travelers traversing the Milky Way."

"White hole, the white one is waiting for us tomorrow!"

"Meow, that's it." Zhu Zhuqing awkwardly emerged from between the two, waving her hand with a flushed face.

With several new juniors joining the train crew, Zhu Zhuqing felt a bit of a senior's burden and was quite embarrassed.

The entire tavern was stunned into silence. The pirates put down their food and drinks and all looked over.

March 7th had already buried his face in the table; he couldn't see me, and I didn't recognize them.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly squatted down, using the table to hide herself. Luckily, they were already in the corner.

"Does the teacher have this side to her? That's so interesting." Su Xiaoli looked at Meng Huaifeng with great interest.

Dan Heng silently turned away, while Yan's lips curled slightly.

"Wow, that's so cool! Absolutely awesome!"

"How did you come up with this? Teach us."

"Hey guys, anyone want to team up with me?"

A burst of enthusiastic shouts erupted as the pirates fervently praised Meng Huaifeng and Xing.

An anonymous visitor from the universe?
Shanks controlled his expression, thinking to himself that he should also have a set made, and then handed it over to Beckman to design.

March 7th looked up in shock. Is the world really this chaotic?
What's so handsome about him?
On March 7th, some people with questionable aesthetic sense looked at Meng Huaifeng and Xing's poses, and then at the pirates.

These pirates all look rather abstract...

I never imagined that people in this world had such good taste and appreciation.

Xing waved enthusiastically to the pirates, his goodwill towards them greatly increased.

"Big brother and big sister, you were so cool just now! Can you teach me?" Luffy ran up to Meng Huaifeng and Xing excitedly.

“Of course, little one,” Xing agreed without hesitation.

"My name is Luffy. Can I join your pirate crew?" Luffy asked again.

"Hey, Luffy, you said you wanted to join my pirate crew before," Shanks said, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"Didn't you refuse? Besides, you're too weak," Luffy said with some disdain, suddenly turning his head away.

A terrifying scene unfolded: Luffy's head spun three or four times in an instant, his neck twisted into a pretzel!
"Ah!" March Seven exclaimed in shock, pointing at Luffy in disbelief, and stammered, "He...how...how is he dead?"

"What died?" Luffy asked blankly, then his elastic head turned back and circled around three times.

"Huh? What's going on? What happened to me?" Luffy asked, somewhat flustered.

Shanks was taken aback and hurriedly ran to the counter to look at the box on it. The box had been overturned and was empty.

"My Devil Fruit! Spit it out, spit it out, spit it out!" Shanks ran back, grabbed Luffy's leg, and shook him upside down.

After a few shakes, Luffy's legs suddenly stretched out, and his head flattened on the ground.

"Hey, what are you doing?" March 7 hurriedly pried Shanks' hand away and straightened Luffy.

"My Devil Fruit! This kid ate it! It's the Gum-Gum Fruit! Eating it turns you into a rubber man! It's worth at least 100 million Berries!" Shanks looked like he was about to cry.

"Devil Fruit? I think Huaifeng mentioned it." March 7 scratched his head.

"Eating it will grant you various abilities, but you'll be unable to swim afterward," Meng Huaifeng warned.

"That's right, oh well, maybe this is fate." Shanks quickly calmed down and sighed.

Himeko looked at Shanks with surprise. Although she didn't know the value of 100 million Berries in this world, she was surprised that he could take it so easily. He was indeed a good person.

March 7th pinched Luffy's cheek and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Luffy shook his head, his face growing longer and shorter in March Seven's hands.

"Say something if it hurts," March 7 instructed, and began to stretch it longer and longer. After stretching it to more than half a meter, March 7 was a little afraid that it would suddenly break, but Luffy still didn't say that he felt any pain.

On March 7th, I didn't dare to exert any more force and let go.

"duang~"

Luffy's head was flicked by the face and shook violently like a jelly.

"How amazing!" March 7 exclaimed.

"Is there any more? I want some too." Xing looked at Shanks hopefully.

"No, no. Devil Fruits are the treasures of the sea; an ordinary person could never find one in their entire life," Shanks hurriedly shook his head.

Makino had already prepared the food and brought it to the table.

This was, after all, just a tavern in a small village; the menu was simple, and the food wasn't particularly plentiful.

Aside from its exotic flavor, it wasn't particularly delicious.

"Hey, you haven't told me yet if I can join your pirate crew?" Luffy urged.

“Luffy, we’re not pirates.” Meng Huaifeng rubbed Luffy’s head.

"Huh? Why not become a pirate?" Luffy asked, puzzled.

"Why do you want to be a pirate?" Meng Huaifeng asked rhetorically.

"Because pirates are the freest people in the world, able to adventure everywhere. My dream is to become a pirate and adventure all over the world!" Luffy answered loudly.

Luffy hasn't yet been saved by Shanks sacrificing an arm, hasn't been given a straw hat, and his dream isn't yet to become the Pirate King.

Himeko glanced at Luffy with surprise, thinking he seemed like a natural talent for pioneering.

“Little Luffy, the one you’re talking about isn’t called a pirate, but an adventurer, a pioneer,” Himeko said.

"No way, then I'll call myself a pirate!" Luffy retorted.

"Real pirates aren't like that. Real pirates kill people, steal their things, and burn down their houses. Little Luffy, do you want to be like that?" Himeko asked.

"I don't want to, I don't believe it, what you're saying isn't about pirates!" Luffy said angrily, feeling that this beautiful older sister was defiling his beliefs.

"Luffy, most pirates are indeed as this lady says," Shanks said helplessly, shattering Luffy's idealized view of pirates.

"Huh? How could a pirate... Shanks, aren't you a pirate? Could it be that you..." Luffy was a little sad.

“I’m different from ordinary pirates,” Shanks said.

"Then I'll be a different kind of pirate!" Luffy said, pursing his lips.

"Why be a pirate? Pirates are no good. It's better to be a pioneer," March 7 advised. She couldn't just watch a child go astray.

Shanks, caught in the crossfire, twitched at the corner of his mouth but couldn't refute it.

"What is a Pioneer?" Luffy asked.

"Pioneers are those who constantly explore the unknown and embark on adventurous journeys throughout the universe. We are pioneers, nameless travelers." March 7th proudly puffed out its chest.

Luffy doesn't really understand what the universe is, but he has heard about exploring the unknown and adventurous travel.

But being a pirate has been his long-held dream, and even though he's somewhat disillusioned now, he doesn't want to change it anytime soon.

Xing began to speak enthusiastically and eloquently about his great achievements in pioneering and saving the world.

When he got excited, he waved his baseball bat and stepped onto the chair.

"Do you know how much a loaf of black bread costs in the Lower City? 500,000 credits! They're trying to kill people..."

The pirates listened intently to Xing's speech, their expressions filled with excitement.

Even Shanks got caught up in it, let alone Luffy.

"I'm going to knock them out! They're so mean!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly, his face flushed.

"...Are prices really that high in the lower city?" Meng Huaifeng asked March 7 in a low voice.

He did not go to the lower city area before the lockdown was lifted.

“The Lower City uses Winter City Shields, where do you get credits? But they are indeed very expensive. Ah Xing might have embellished things a bit…” March 7 replied.

Xing talked for quite a while about those magnificent and fantastical worlds, which even though the world of One Piece has countless wonders, they had never seen them before.

Forget about seeing them, some of them I've never even heard of.

Some people think the stars are made up and that it's just boasting.

But Shanks had some belief in it.

However, while he believed it, he also felt that Xing's description of the battle scenes was somewhat exaggerated.

Seeing that the train crew had finished eating, Shanks took a deep breath.

"The power that protected this place from destruction before must have been released by you, right?"

“That’s right, it was me who released it.” Xing nodded.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Miss Xing. Please enlighten me!" Shanks said, drawing his sword with a fiery look in his eyes.

Although he felt he was 99% outmatched, Shanks still wanted to experience the power from outside the world.

“Okay.” Xing agreed, as experiencing the power system of the new world was always part of the exploration.

The two groups of people walked out of the tavern in a grand procession and headed towards the farm in the village.

Meng Huaifeng took out a small piece of gold to pay the bill.

Makino hesitated, "Sir, this... I don't have change."

"Keep it with you for now, we might be staying for a couple of days," Meng Huaifeng waved his hand.

On the farm, Star and Shanks stand facing each other.

"Ah Xing, be gentle, don't kill him!" Meng Huaifeng shouted.

"Boss, you've been underestimated, haha!" the pirates jeered.

"Our boss isn't made of dough, he's not so easy to kill."

Shanks waited intently, while Griffin was shrouded in black, his Observation Haki fully activated.

Xing held the baseball bat in a loose and unsteady manner, looking like he had a weakness in every way.

A flying slash struck towards Xing, who reached out to grab it.

The flying slash struck Xing's hand, shattering without leaving a trace of white.

Xing felt the force coming from his hand and understood what was going on.

Shanks charged toward Star immediately after his flying slash, several sword lights enveloping Star.

Star did not use imaginary energy, and he also restrained most of his physical strength, and fought Shanks.

No matter how fast or hard Shanks sped up, Xing could keep up with him with ease.

"You're too strong! Let me see your true power!" Shanks exclaimed, his fighting spirit boiling.

Although Xing displayed greater power than him, he didn't launch any attacks and didn't feel any pressure.

(End of this chapter)