Pirates: Martial Arts Masters on the Straw Hat Ship

Usopp leaned closer to Ronan and asked in a low voice:

"Hey Ronan, is that fierce-looking guy Zoro's friend? He doesn't look like a good person either."

Nami also perked up her ears curiously: "What's going on? Zoro's former accomplice?"

Ronan leaned against the ship's railing, watching this scene, and explained calmly:

"They must be his former sidekicks from when Zoro was a 'pirate hunter'."

"That guy... Joseph..."

Johnny pointed tremblingly to the bottom of the ship's side, his voice choked with emotion: "He's down there...he's dying..."

Zoro's expression changed upon hearing this.

Without the slightest hesitation, he strode to the railing and looked down.

Below the Merry, on that simple little fishing boat, lay a figure wearing a red and white checkered shirt.

His face was ashen, his eyes were closed, and there were traces of dried blood around his mouth. He looked like he was on the verge of death, as if he would die at any moment.

Damn it.

Zoro cursed under his breath, braced himself against the railing with one hand, and leaped down, landing steadily on the small boat.

He then carefully picked up the unconscious Joseph, and with a leap, jumped back onto the deck of the Merry.

"Joseph!"

Johnny suddenly knelt down beside his partner, tears and snot streaming down his face:

"Brother, please save him! This guy was perfectly healthy just a few days ago, eating and drinking well, but suddenly he turned deathly pale and has fainted several times!"

Johnny clutched his hair, screaming in agony:

"I have absolutely no idea why! My teeth are starting to fall out for no reason, and I don't know what to do!"

Ronan stood to the side, listening to Johnny's description, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Tooth loss, pale complexion... these are typical symptoms of scurvy.

In this pirate world lacking medical knowledge, this disease caused by a lack of vitamin C was once known as the "incurable disease of the sea," claiming the lives of countless sailors.

"I originally intended to take him to that rock to rest for a while..."

Johnny pointed to the massive reef in the distance, now only half intact, and said bitterly, "Who knew, a cannonball would suddenly fly from this ship!"

"Although it didn't hit us directly, the shockwave from the explosion nearly capsized our ship, and Joseph was knocked unconscious!"

"..."

The air suddenly became quiet.

Luffy and Usopp, who were just watching the excitement, suddenly turned deathly pale, as if they had been painted with white paint.

The two turned their heads stiffly, looked at each other, and saw the terror in each other's eyes.

(That shell... the one we just tested...)

Without any hesitation.

"I'm...I'm so sorry!!!"

Luffy and Usopp bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle, like well-trained soldiers, their foreheads even hitting the deck with a loud thud.

"asshole!!"

Johnny was furious; he wanted nothing more than to draw his sword and chop the two men to pieces.

"If apologies could solve everything, there would be no need for the Navy! If anything happens to Joseph, I'll make you pay with your lives!"

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, a slender figure walked over.

"Get out of the way."

Nami pushed Johnny aside, who was blocking her way, and frowned as she looked at Joseph, who was half-dead on the ground. "Shut up if you want him to live."

"Who...who are you, woman?!" Johnny was in a rage. "Are you an idiot? Get away from my partner!"

Nami completely ignored his roar; she crouched down, her movements practiced and professional.

She first reached out and lifted Joseph's eyelids to observe the color of his pupils and the whites of his eyes;

Then, she grabbed Joseph's chin and forcibly pried open his mouth.

What came into view were swollen, purplish gums and bleeding tooth roots.

"As expected," Nami thought to herself.

"What...what are you doing?!"

Enraged by Nami's "rough" treatment of the patient, Johnny drew his knife. "If you dare to fool my partner, I'll never forgive you!"

"Shut up!"

Nami turned around abruptly, her gaze sharper than the knife in Johnny's hand:

"Luffy! Usopp! Go to the warehouse! There's a box of limes there, get me a few right now! And hurry!"

"Ah? Oh! Yes!"

The two, who were feeling extremely guilty, rushed into the cabin like a gust of wind upon hearing the order, as if they had been granted a pardon.

"Sour... lime?" Johnny froze, forgetting to put down the knife in his hand. "That fruit... can save lives?"

A moment later, Luffy ran back carrying a bunch of green limes.

Nami picked up a lime, took out a knife and cut it open neatly, then unceremoniously squeezed the sour juice directly into Joseph's mouth.

"...Gulp..."

Joseph, who was in a coma, instinctively swallowed.

"It's scurvy."

Nami stood up, wiped the juice off her hands, looked at Johnny's bewildered face, and said with a hint of helplessness towards the ignorant:

"This was once a deadly disease that terrified all seafarers. But the reason is actually quite simple: it's just a lack of plant-based nutrition."

"Because of the backward navigation technology in the past, ships could not preserve fresh vegetables and fruits for long periods of time. If sailors only ate meat and dry rations for a long time, their bodies would break down."

"If there's no delay, and you get enough nutrition, you'll be fine in a few days."

Johnny was stunned. He looked at Nami as if she were an angel descended to earth.

"Really...really, big sister! It's really like what you said, Joseph he..."

Johnny was speaking excitedly, spittle flying everywhere.

"puff--"

Nami was instantly sprayed with saliva in her face.

Her original aloof goddess image collapsed instantly.

She wiped her face in disgust, kicked Johnny in the leg, and roared:

"Hey! Just talk, don't spit! And—can you stop calling me 'big sister'?!"

Just then, a miraculous scene unfolded.

Joseph, who had been lying on the ground as if he was about to meet his death at any moment, suddenly opened his eyes just a few minutes after drinking the lime juice!

Although this is very unscientific, it is common sense in the world of One Piece!

"Ughh ...

Joseph did a somersault and sprang straight up off the deck!

His previously pale face regained its rosy hue at a visible speed, and his shriveled muscles began to swell again.

"Joseph!!" Johnny exclaimed in surprise.

"Johnny!!" Joseph's eyes welled up with tears.

The two embraced excitedly, then linked arms and struck an extremely embarrassing pose, spinning around on the deck while shouting:

"Full nutrition activated—!! I'm revived!!!"

"..."

Ronan, Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp stood in a row, watching this medical miracle, and in unison, a bead of cold sweat rolled down their faces, their expressions turning dark.

"This recovery speed... is just too exaggerated."

Ronan's lips twitched. "Even though I know it's just for the sake of the story, seeing it with my own eyes still feels absurd."

Regardless, the person was saved.

The two stopped spinning, straightened their collars, put their sunglasses back on, and struck what they considered their coolest poses.

"Sorry for being late with my introduction!"

Johnny pointed to himself: "I'm Johnny!"

Joseph pointed to himself: "I am Joseph!"

The two said in unison, "We are a bounty hunter duo who specialize in hunting pirates! We used to work with Zoro, so please take care of us!"

……