Luffy, how can you become the Pirate King if you don't work hard!

"...Who told you to not give me any warning and then laugh at me!"

Uta got off him, but her hands were still on Luffy's shoulders, and she didn't dare to let go, because they were on a mast tens of meters high! There was only one place to put her feet, and Uta could only step on Luffy's feet.

"I was just thinking about that thing from before."

Luffy said somewhat innocently, "Didn't you shout like that during that competition too?"

"...You mean..."

"We were scrambling around in small boats to see who could go the fastest, and we ended up running into the King of the Coast feeding there," Luffy said.

“You were yelling and screaming back then too.” Uta blinked, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Luffy proudly said that when he set sail, he punched the Lord of the Coast away.

Uta pursed her lips and said that she could defeat the Sea King even if she encountered him now. She was only unable to fight before because she was sick.

But she's more curious about something else now.

Uta stared at Luffy's neck, where blood was still slowly flowing from the spot where she had just bitten it open with her little fangs.

Okay, I really want to drink it.

Could it be that I've really turned into a vampire because the moon is out?

I don't know why, but it feels like drinking a little of his blood is like taking some kind of powerful tonic. The effect is even better than so-called herbs. Does Luffy have some kind of special bloodline?

In short, Uta was craving something sweet.

"Hey, what do you want?" Luffy noticed her gaze and looked wary.

“She’s bleeding,” Uta said.

"It's all because of you... Let's go down first." Luffy was a little scared.

He was very familiar with that look in Uta's eyes.

She has that mischievous look in her eyes; who knows what kind of evil she's up to?

He didn't want to get bitten again.

"Wait a minute, you look like you're injured."

Uta pursed her lips and made a decision against her conscience. She blamed Luffy for having such delicious blood.

"Injuried?"

“Yes, you don’t want your friends to worry, do you?” Uta said.

Why does this sentence sound so familiar? It's like I've heard it somewhere before.

Luffy's mind flashed with Nami's image.

"What should we do then?" he asked instinctively.

"I've heard that saliva can stop bleeding."

"what?"

Before he could finish speaking, Uta bit him again. It wasn't a bite, but Luffy could clearly feel a sucking force.

As Uta's throat moved slightly, saliva mixed with blood entered her mouth, and her eyes grew even brighter.

Luffy: "......."

Uta is such a vampire! Luffy feels like he's being drained dry, and he can't even push her away. If it weren't for the fact that there seems to be no blood left on the left side and Uta wanted to switch to the right side, Luffy feels like he would have been drained dry tonight.

With a popping sound.

Facing Luffy's gaze, Uta looked away with a flicker in his eyes. "What's wrong? Look, the bleeding has definitely stopped."

She wiped away her drool, and her rosy lips seemed to have been stained with something, making them even more vibrant.

The bleeding has stopped, but don't you have any idea how you stopped it?

Luffy is known for his vengeful nature; if you bite me, I'll bite you back, let alone if it's Uta.

Doesn't being unilaterally drained of blood mean he's lost?

Just as he was about to speak, a familiar voice rang out from below.

"Luffy?"

Luffy froze, a chill running down his spine. In fact, he didn't know why he felt a chill down his spine; perhaps it was because the sea breeze was particularly refreshing tonight.

Uta stopped pulling at her clothes to expose her neck.

She could tell what Luffy was up to just by looking at him; that petty guy definitely wanted to bite back. There was no other motive, just pure revenge, or perhaps a competitive spirit.

At worst, I'll just get bitten.

Uta felt he had still profited, since the taste was really delicious... but then the sound broke the atmosphere.

Looking down, they saw a girl with short orange hair looking up at them, her expression indescribably strange.

"Nami?"

The name instantly popped into Uta's mind.

"Nami! This is... Uta..."

Luffy's voice grew softer and softer.

The sea breeze at night was indeed a bit chilly, but what was this chill that made his teeth chatter?

tension.

Luffy was very nervous, and his voice introducing the two of them was only six words, perfectly showcasing the transition from a high-pitched tone to a low murmur.

He glanced at Uta, then at Nami.

It was as if they only had each other in their eyes, silently gazing at each other.

grunt.

Luffy's throat moved.

Chapter 43 A Childhood Sweetheart Arrives, Buffs Stacked to Full

I desperately want to escape, but I can't.

Is there anyone who can save me?

"Hey, what's going on? Why are you so loud all of a sudden?" Zoro, who had heard the noise, walked over, rubbing his head.

"Zoro!"

Luffy shouted, "Thank God!"

Then Zoro simultaneously received death stares from two women wearing demon masks.

Zoro: "......"

No, what did I do to deserve this?

Luffy broke free from the biting cold atmosphere and looked at Zoro with gratitude in his eyes. That vibrant, thriving world was still vivid in his mind.

If this continues, who knows if Uta and Nami will end up having a pirate duel?

Even though it was their first time meeting, why did they act like enemies? The only explanation Luffy could think of was that Uta hated pirates to an irreversible degree.

But this idea was quickly shattered.

Uta's self-introduction immediately established a connection with Zoro and the others.

"Childhood sweethearts?" Zoro glanced at Nami.

Sanji and Usopp also came over after hearing the sound.

However, Sanji, who was moving too fast, was sent flying by Luffy's habitual punch.

"Luffy, you actually have friends like this? Why didn't you introduce Uta to me right away?!" Sanji, whose face was injured and who had just been punched, looked indignant.

They already have Nami, and now they have another childhood friend?

I'm so envious.

"Wait, I feel like I've heard this name somewhere before?" Usopp pressed his finger to his forehead, deep in thought.

Luffy had a variety of thoughts on his companions, and he didn't have time to answer them all.

The time, place, and people are all included.

[Warning, the (Phase Two) time has arrived... 3 minutes left in the countdown.]

If they don't carry out the order, they'll have to launch it into the air again. In this situation, in front of his crewmates, even Luffy wouldn't be able to resist.

"Let's have a party!"

We've finally reached the second stage, and maybe tonight we'll be able to meet the so-called ship spirit and Nika.

Luffy's eyes shone brightly, and he temporarily put all his distracting thoughts behind him.

"Oh, the party's starting!" Usopp was the first to respond.

"To welcome the beautiful Miss Uta, I will certainly go all out! Miss Nami, please wait a moment, the most delicious food will be served shortly!"

Sanji immediately perked up and instantly got into work mode, rushing to the kitchen like a whirlwind to prepare barbecue ingredients and seasonings.

Zoro yawned, picked up his sword, and sat down on the ship's side. For him, as long as there was wine, he was fine.

It's common for pirates to hold banquets, which usually involve singing, eating, and drinking.

Luffy had previously highly praised this project, which allowed him to drink and, most importantly, eat meat to his heart's content, and could set up the scene in just three to five minutes.

He's now completely preoccupied with the banquet and singing, and has completely forgotten about other things.

With Luffy gone as a shield, Uta and Nami's gazes inevitably collided once again.

This time, however, their gazes did not remain locked in a fierce confrontation in the air for long.

Uta smiled and was the first to look away from that aggressive gaze.