Page 143

Seeing everyone laughing, Luffy didn't mind. He grinned and sat down at the bar. "Makino, I'd like an iced orange juice!"

"Please wait a moment!" Makino looked at Luffy across the bar, smiled helplessly, and then said with some concern, "Is your foreman alright?"

She had also heard about what happened to their foreman.

It seems to be about withholding employee wages, and she also heard something... that, out of fear of being exposed, there was a suspected attempt to murder loggers, which sounded very serious, as if someone had even died.

"Glug glug~" Luffy took a big gulp of orange juice, then looked at Makino with a grin and said, "The foreman is a good guy, I believe in him, he'll be out soon!"

As she spoke, she looked up in confusion at a huge screen on the wall behind Makino.

"what is this?"

"Is that so? It's good that everything's alright. Since Luffy thinks he's a good person, then he might really have been wronged." Makino breathed a sigh of relief, smiled and nodded, then turned to look at the large screen behind her. "This was sent by your company. They said it would be installed for free in various bars, and if you agree to install it, you can buy alcohol from them at a discounted price. Look at this, this is orange liqueur I specially ordered from them."

He picked up an orange bottle and shook it.

"The prices are very reasonable, and the taste is great! Starting today, our bar will not only serve ice-cold beer and orange juice, but also citrus liqueur!"

"Is it really that delicious? Can I try some?"

"You can't yet!"

"Really? Never mind then!" Luffy was just curious. He preferred meat to alcohol. While drinking orange juice, he curiously looked up at the screen on the wall and asked, "What's on it?"

"Up there? It's mostly ads, quite interesting." Makino smiled as she wiped her glass, then seemed to remember something, "Oh, right, there are also ads for ships up there, for the newly built shipyard in the East China Sea, you might like to see them!"

The voice just fell.

Perhaps it was luck... the image on the screen suddenly changed.

An elderly man dressed in a formal suit appeared on the screen. He stood on a stage that had been set up, with a huge screen hanging behind him that read...

Ten years of refinement, with a heart full of reverence.

[Investing 100 times more to develop key technologies independently]

[Build a ship that truly belongs to the people of the East China Sea!]

Then the screen behind him changed again, and a ship emitting blue and white light appeared on it, immediately attracting Luffy's attention.

Boat!

Pirate ship?!

At this time.

The elderly man in the suit in the picture said again, "This is our shipyard's first creation, which combines elegant design, powerful performance and eco-friendly technology!"

"The powerful lines of the hull and the naturally flowing proportions of the hull combine elegance and comfort perfectly!"

"Not only does it offer nine color schemes—Champagne Gold, Azure Green, Starry Blue, Glacier Gray, Deep Space Black…—that embody the beauty of nature, allowing you to freely choose your own color!"

"A comfortable and safe mobile smart space!"

As the self-proclaimed designer, Mr. Wolf, explained, Luffy's eyes immediately burned with fervor, staring intently at the document.

And that's not all.

at the end.

"Order now and receive a free extra-large luxury refrigerator with a large capacity, allowing you to store all your food at once, so you can easily enjoy a barbecue feast with your companions while at sea!"

"What are you waiting for? Come on over! Den Den Mushi number: XXXXX"

As the last Den Den Mushi number was dropped, everyone was drawn to this peculiar advertisement.

Just listen.

There was a ‘pop’ sound.

A loud slam on the table drew everyone's attention back. Everyone turned their heads and looked at the bar with dissatisfaction, but before they could say anything...

Luffy stood up excitedly, his eyes fixed on the screen, fist raised, and shouted firmly, "I want to buy it!"

The voice just fell.

Suddenly.

Everyone in the tavern was shocked by Luffy's resolute tone.

You should know that this ship isn't cheap!

Although the advertisement seems very appealing and tempting, based on Luffy's salary, it would take at least thirty years to save up enough, and he would have to not eat, drink, or hold any banquets during that time.

"Hahaha~"

Just a moment.

Joyful laughter echoed from inside the tavern again.

"Luffy, you'd better not even think about it. Are you planning to set sail again in thirty years?"

"Let's buy a small boat first!"

"Stop dreaming, you can't afford it!"

only.

Despite the laughter of the crowd, Luffy's expression remained unchanged as he stared resolutely at the screen, declaring, "I, Monkey D. Luffy, will definitely buy this ship!"

this moment.

This sentence.

This look.

The Straw Hat Boy, who remained steadfast in the face of ridicule, immediately silenced everyone, and some even showed expressions of shame.

That's right, how could they mock someone else's dream?

Just as everyone looked guilty and raised their hands to offer encouragement to this young man full of dreams.

Sudden.

"Crunch~".

The bar door opened again!

It seemed someone had walked in, but no one paid any attention, assuming they were just people who had come to drink.

"Luffy, aren't you going to the construction site yet?"

"Huh? The foreman isn't here. He said I don't need to go today."

"Your foreman has been released and is gathering all the workers to prepare for his new job announcement!"

"I'll go!"

Upon hearing what the village chief said as he ran in, Luffy quickly lowered his hat, turned around, and ran outside with a grin.

It was as if the firmness from just now had never happened.

"More work to do!"

"..."

This scene.

This silenced everyone once again.

Immediately afterwards...

"Hahaha~, Luffy is still the same as ever!"

Another burst of cheerful laughter echoed throughout the tavern.

Chapter 144 Rejection

"Hello, you must be Mr. Zoro!"

"Please make sure you stay on the ship this time. Even after the ship docks, you cannot disembark until we reach our destination. If you are hungry or thirsty, you can tell me and we will make arrangements."

"By the way, if you really do accidentally fall off the ship, please don't wander around. Just stay where you are and wait. We will definitely send someone to look for you!"

"Please cooperate with our work. You know, your previous foreman almost lost his job because of you, and he's still in detention! I heard he cried his eyes out, a man in his forties! He kept saying he was innocent!"

“Mr. Bellumber, you will stay with him and keep an eye on him during this time. Don’t let him wander off. He is going to the same destination as you. Once you arrive at your destination, you will disembark together!”

"Please, please remember what I just said. I'm sure you know how bad you are at finding your way around."

"I'm not directionally challenged!" Zoro raised an eyebrow angrily at the registrar who had given him a bunch of nonsensical information and called him directionally challenged, and said in a low voice, "I told you I'm not lost, I just got on the wrong ship."

only.

As the legend of this skilled carpenter with a terrible sense of direction spread, people nowadays dare not let their guard down whenever they encounter his transport ship.

You know, it's all because of him that he disappeared.

At the time, not only the entire ship was investigated, but the entire shipping route was also investigated. In particular, after news spread that his previous foreman had embezzled wages and murdered people for money, the ship's registrar, auditor, and captain were all taken in for investigation.

That really scared a lot of people!

At the time, various rumors circulated, such as that wages were not paid, that the high salaries were all lies, that the company tricked people into going to work at sea, and that pirates kidnapped people and murdered them for money... causing everyone who went to work at sea to be filled with fear.

After all, the rest area was only thirty meters away from the dock!

Lost?

Who would believe that!

After giving repeated instructions, and seeing Zoro's impatient wave, the registrar finally turned and left.

Helmeppo, who had been specially left to watch over Zoro, curiously glanced up and down at the swordsman with three swords at his waist. "You're the one everyone's been talking about lately, the one with the terrible sense of direction?"

"I've already told you I'm not bad with directions!"

“Okay, you’re not directionally challenged! After all, who can get lost on a 30-meter stretch of road?” Seeing the increasingly strange look in his eyes, Bellemere quickly changed his tune and said, “You must be hungry by now, let’s go eat first.”

"?!"

Upon hearing the word "eat," Zoro also put down his sword.

That's right. Since boarding the ship last time, he hasn't had a proper meal until today... when he finally found another job opportunity.

Already skilled, he didn't need Bellemere's hospitality and ran towards the cafeteria on his own.