One Piece: Power-Power Fruit

Chapter 23, First Stop: Jaya Island

Chapter Twenty-Three: First Stop, Jaya Island

"Hahaha! You seem excited, Captain! Well, it's time for me, the navigator, to officially begin my work!!"

Slard slammed his fists together with a loud bang and said with a determined look in his eyes!

"Hey, hey, hey, you're just a trainee navigator!"

Mu Chong picked his nose and walked towards the cabin lounge, saying...

"Damn it, I'm going to remove the word 'intern' from my resume sooner or later!"

Upon hearing this, Slad was instantly enraged, glaring at Mu Chong's retreating figure and saying angrily...

"Meow……"

The white cat Mumu glanced at the somewhat dazed Slad, meowed, then wagged its tail and walked towards the cabin.

"Hahaha! Come on, Slard, let's discuss the rest of the voyage!!"

As Mu Chong reached the cabin door, he turned back and called out to Slad before entering the cabin.

After the Freedom was sailing smoothly on the sea, Schidek walked from the control room to the dining table and sat down. At this moment, the entire crew of the Freedom was present.

"Hello everyone! This is the first collective meeting of all the crew members of the Freedom! Although there aren't many people, we still need to plan out the upcoming route!"

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Mu Chong began to speak.

"Brother Mu, just say the word. This old man will just make sure the boat reaches its destination safely!"

Schidek pulled out a cigarette from somewhere and lit it, starting to smoke.

Mu Chong smiled slightly upon hearing this. This old man wasn't really a crew member; he was just here to help. Do as you please. He then turned to look at Slad and the white cat Mumu, who both seemed indifferent.

"Alright, now I'll go over the arrangements!"

Mu Chong put his legs down from the stool and sat up straight. In that instant, a suffocating atmosphere filled the entire room.

"First up is Slade!!"

"um, I?"

Slade was taken aback when his name was called. Why was he the first person to be called?

Listen carefully!

Schidek glared at the bewildered Slad and gave him a serious reminder.

"Yes!!"

Slad glanced at his grandfather with a pitiful look, then turned to Mu Chong with a serious expression.

“Slad, you’re too weak… Don’t rush to argue with me. Although I don’t know if you’ve had any training, in my mind you’re still a ways off from being a proper navigator for the Freedom! So, starting tomorrow, I will give you special training for the upcoming voyage!”

Mu Chong looked intently at Slad and spoke slowly, not giving the other a chance to interrupt.

"Of course, if you're not so determined to become the navigator of the Freedom, then just pretend I didn't say anything!"

After Mu Chong finished speaking, he fell silent, waiting for Slad's reply.

"grandfather?……"

"Make your own decision!!"

After responding to Slad's question, Schidek turned his head away and ignored him.

"I'm determined to be the navigator of the Liberty!"

After a moment's consideration, Slad's gaze hardened again. He abruptly stood up and solemnly said...

"Hahaha! Sit down, sit down, don't get so excited, just be prepared for the pain!"

Seeing Slad's serious expression, Mu Chong quickly waved his hand to relax him, then turned to look at Skedek.

"Grandpa, the rest of the voyage is in your hands now!"

"Just say it, Brother Mu!!"

Schidek stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette, sat up straight, and answered.

"About ten days' sail from here, there's an island called Jaya Island. That's our first stop!"

Just as Mu Chong uttered the island's name, a noticeable change appeared in the eyes of Schidek and Slad.

"What is Brother Mu's purpose in going to Jaya Island?"

Schidek asked uncertainly in a soft voice.

"Oh? The old man knows about Jaya Island?"

From Schidek's reaction, Mu Chong immediately realized that the old man definitely knew.

"Ah! I know the old man. Yixiao may have told you that I used to be a shipbuilder at the naval shipyard. I retired due to age and went home. When I served in the navy, I heard the name of this island..."

Schidek began slowly, but before he could finish, Slad interrupted him.

"I know there's a legend there, that there's a golden city on Jaya Island. Some say it sank to the bottom of the sea, others say it's in the sky, that the golden city was swept up into the sky by the upwelling currents! How could an island fly into the sky? It's ridiculous, hahaha..."

Slad got more and more excited as he talked, and finally laughed to himself, but the quiet atmosphere in the room immediately made him extremely embarrassed.

"You brat, I've always told you to be more mature, and look at you now. Whether the Sky Island exists or not, you can't laugh at those who chase their dreams..."

"Sky Islands exist!"

Mu Chong interrupted Schidek as soon as he finished speaking, his words like a bomb, blasting both of their minds apart.

"Brother Mu, do you believe that legend?"

Schidek asked with a puzzled expression.

"Hahaha! Whether it's just a rumor or not, why don't we go and see for ourselves?"

Mu Chong didn't answer directly, but instead laughed and confirmed the next route.

"Brother Mu, this old man really wants to go up to the sky with you, but given the Freedom's current state, it has no chance against the surging ocean currents!"

After listening to Mu Chong's words, Skedek said with a serious expression, as a shipwright he was well aware of the Freedom's current situation.

"Relax, relax! Of course I know about the Freedom's situation, don't worry! I have my own way of getting to the Sky Island!"

Mu Chong waved his hand to reassure Sichedek, and then continued...

"For the rest of the voyage, you will be in charge of the Freedom's navigation, while Slad and I will do our best to improve our strength during this time. Reaching the Sky Island will not be an easy task!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, having no objections to Mu Chong's arrangements.

"Meow!!!"

Just as Mu Chong announced the end of the meeting, the white cat Mu Mu meowed and stared intently at Mu Chong.

"Ok?"

Mu Chong heard the white cat Mu Mu's meow and stared at it for a long time without looking away, until the white cat Mu Mu's fur stood on end before he slowly spoke.

"Mumu, you'll train with us too!"

"It? This cat? It's training with us?"

Slade asked in surprise, "Although this cat is quite large, it looks like it's the size of an ordinary tiger, but how can it be trained?"

"Meow!!"

Upon hearing this, the white cat Mumu instantly bared its sharp teeth at Slade, as if to say, "Fight me if you dare!"

"Alright, alright! Once you're on this ship, everyone has to become strong. The opponents we'll face in the future are very strong, so don't let your strength fall behind and hold everyone back!"

After finishing his sentence, Mu Chong clapped his hands and walked towards the deck of the Freedom.

Schidek glanced at the confrontational Slad and the white cat Mumu, shook his head, and walked towards the control room.

On the bow of the Freedom deck, Mu Chong, with one hand on the ship's edge, gazed at the boundless sea before him, took a deep breath, and then exhaled.

In that instant, Mu Chong's entire demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation. An invisible aura of authority emanated from him. Stepping out of that warm harbor, he was now ready to face a bloody storm. Following his inner guidance, he would sail freely, stirring up the world and becoming famous throughout the seas.

"Ha! Captain, I'm ready! Let's begin training!"

Slad's voice came from behind.

"Meow!!"

White cat Mumu followed closely behind.

"Hahaha! Okay, let's begin!"

As Mu Chong finished speaking, the entire deck was suddenly enveloped by a heavy force, and Slad and the white cat Mumu visibly began to tremble.