Journey to One Piece

49. Merry

After Kaya was brought back, Luffy was welcomed as a hero by Merry, the head butler of the mansion. Of course Luffy was angry when he was termed as a hero and said he would only accept the title if he was brought back meat to eat.

Merry was a little confused by the fact that Luffy got angry when he termed Luffy as hero but it didn't matter to him. He brought loads of meat for Luffy to eat. It was Ken who went to the place where Kuro was tied down. Luffy seeing meat had already forgotten the fact that he had left Kuro out in the open and if he was given enough time Kuro would definitely be able to escape.

When Ken reached the place in the forest where Kuro was tied down he saw Kuro had already taken apart a few of the strings that were tying his hands.

"Getting too comfortable.. Are we?"

Kuro slowly looked up and saw Ken standing in front of him. Ken was particularly tall at 6.5 feet in height so it was tough for Kuro to look up and see his face as Ken stood right near his head.

"What are you here for? To mock me?" Kuro said through his gritted teeth. He hated this man who had debunked all his work with just a few words and a single hit from his axe. He would never forget the face of the person who had destroyed his long thought out plan like it was nothing.

"Mock you? Are you even worthy of that? You left the way of pirates and became a cheap civilian. Do you even have the dignity of pirates? Don't overestimate yourself. You are nothing but a thief who thinks he is the shark of the ocean."

Kuro's eyes became red with anger seeing how Ken was humiliating him. The veins on his head were easily visible. Ken didn't waste any more time and punched him right on his face with his hand while being charged by lightning. This punch was enough to make Kuro unconscious and also make sure he wouldn't die. Ken had to be careful not killing him as his head was costly. A dead head would be of no use for Ken.

Ken then cut the wires with his axe's sharp side and took Kuro on his shoulder and flew away with his hammer. Ken landed straight at the courtyard of the mansion where he saw Luffy eating and even Usopp who had just arrived since Ken had left mysteriously. He was really happy to see Kaya again and had started talking with her.

Merry, Kaya and the other guards were horrified at first seeing Kuro again but sighed in relief at the fact that he was unconscious.

"Mr. Ken, you can fly?" Merry asked in a trembling voice.

"No. This hammer allows me to fly." Ken said while showing the hammer.

"Must be one magical hammer." Merry mumbled but didn't ask more. They were the saviors of Miss Kaya so he was happy that they were alright and even brought the evil Kuro unconscious.

"You can take him to a naval base and exchange his head for bounty. Use the bounty and make us a good boat. Will that be fine?"

"A boat. Oh yes, Miss Kaya had spoken about a ship that you need. All these years I have been trying to build a ship in my own design that I have made long ago. With the money of the mansion and the bounty money I will be able to make the ship easily."

"That is upto you. We just need a good ship to set sail to the Grand Line." It was Nami who came forward. The smell of money had already awakened the hidden tigress and now that that bounty money would be used to make money she was looking forward to it.

A ship which was costly would always be sold in a good price in the market. Nami had the idea of stealing the ship from the idiotic three and make more money. Of course, Ken and Luffy didn't know her thoughts and even if they knew they wouldn't care.

Thus, Kuro was taken away by a bunch of guards and Merry overlooking the journey of the criminal to the nearby naval base. The naval base was well known to Merry. Apparently, the Captain of the naval base was in a good relationship with him. With his help he got the bounty.

After coming back he started working on his dream ship that he had been thinking of making for a long time now. Meanwhile, Zoro had also handed over the two brothers, while Jango had vanished from where he was.

Jango's name was never in the bounty list so going after him made no sense for Zoro, as long as he didn't annoy him. It didn't matter to Zoro if he was alive or dead. A few days went by with Ken and his crew staying at the mansion free of cost while the ship was being built.

Usopp was showing up more than often and seeing the same number of brain cells like Luffy, they both bonded pretty well. Luffy and Usopp became the best of friends and more so as they had fun and had the same sense of humor.

After a week the ship was ready and they came to the beach to see the future ship that would help them set sail in the Grand Line.

"Welcome everyone, this ship has my blood and tears. This is a caravel type ship with a single mast and I made the wood with the best quality that I could find around and make it strong. This ship has a kitchen with all the facilities, a small bathroom and even a big room under the mast where the crew members could sleep. The head is made on the design of a sheep and I have named the ship as Merry Go."