One Piece: Shadow monarch? I'm Just Logistics!

Chapter 36: Could He Be a Genius?(BOUNS CHAPTER)

After arriving in the village, the group didn't linger long. Everyone split up to purchase supplies; the journey to Alabasta still required several more days.

Sanji announced he was going to buy ingredients. Nami and Vivi went off shopping together, looking for the island's specialty sable fur products.

This left Reiner, Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp planning to head up the mountain. They had bought plenty of other supplies in Loguetown, so there wasn't much else needed; Sanji could pick up anything remaining when he went to the market.

"Here's the list. I'll leave this to you this time, Sanji."

"Easy enough."

Sanji took the notebook and casually offered Reiner a cigarette. "Alright then, when you guys get back, we'll just meet up directly on the ship."

"Okay. Plus, buy some of that Veter liquor. Here's the shopping money. Keep the change."

"Wait, Reiner! We need some too!" Nami, who was halfway down the street dragging Vivi along, immediately turned back upon hearing this.

"Dame!" (No!)

Reiner said irritably, "I just gave you treasure worth several million Beri yesterday! Don't be so greedy."

"Stingy," Nami huffed and stomped away.

Reiner: "..."

Me, stingy? If you were in charge of the money, we'd definitely be starving by now.

"Alright, let's go then," Reiner turned towards Luffy and the others.

Luffy could barely contain his excitement. "Charge, charge, charge!"

"Wait, wait! There's still a problem! This mountain is so high, how are we supposed to get up?" Usopp suddenly asked urgently.

Luffy: "Eh? Climb up."

Zoro: "How else?"

Reiner: "Seems like the only way."

Usopp: "..."

The most dreadful silence is the one that falls suddenly...

"Are you crazy!? If we fall from that high up, we'll die!" Usopp grimaced and yelled.

Luffy: "Eh? Will we?"

Zoro: "Isn't there snow to cushion the fall?"

Reiner: "Probably won't die."

Usopp: "..."

Awkward silence returns

"Sanji! Wait for me! I'll help you!" Usopp chased after Sanji and left.

Reiner chuckled softly. "Looks like it's just the three of us then."

"Let's race to see who climbs that mountain first! Heeheehee!"

"Oh? Sounds interesting."

"Can we use Devil Fruit abilities?" Reiner couldn't help but ask.

"Sure, I guess?"

"Wait, Luffy! He's probably planning to have Blue Ogre and Red Ogre just throw him up there!"

"Nani! That's too despicable, Reiner!" Luffy pointed accusingly.

Soon, the three headed towards the mountain. Leaving Big Horn village, they entered the mountain forest. Looking around, it was a vast expanse of white. Without the cylindrical high peaks as landmarks, it would be easy to lose direction and get lost.

As for a certain someone who got lost no matter which way he went, Reiner had already tied a rope around his waist, holding the other end himself.

After a while, the blizzard stopped, and a few rays of sunlight finally peeked through the previously gray sky. Reflecting off the pure white snow, it was actually a bit dazzling.

Taking advantage of the rare sunshine, animals emerged from the forest. After walking for a short time, the trio spotted an enormous bear.

Strangely, this bear stood perfectly upright! Not just capable of standing, but walking tall and straight like a human, strolling leisurely, using a pickaxe like a walking stick.

"This should be the Hiking Bear Dalton mentioned?"

Reiner looked oddly at the creature, recalling Dalton's advice before they parted. "He's here. Quick, try bowing."

Just as the Hiking Bear walked past them, the three bent down, nodding towards it in greeting.

Unexpectedly, the Hiking Bear performed the exact same gesture, bowing back to them in return.

This world really is amazing. All sorts of weird things exist, Reiner couldn't help but smile. Going out to sea was definitely the right decision. Who would want to just stay home reading newspapers these days?

"Woahahaha! This bear is so interesting!"

Luffy was fascinated, turning to chase after the Hiking Bear. "I've decided! Let's have him join our crew as a nakama!"

Black lines formed over Reiner's head as he quickly grabbed Luffy's arm before he could dash off.

Jiu~~

Pat!

After pulling Luffy back, the group walked for a while longer and finally reached the base of the Drum Rockies.

"Yosh! Let's begin!" Luffy rubbed his fists together, looking up excitedly at the nearly vertical cliffs.

Zoro directly took off his top, twisted it into a rope, and tied his three swords securely onto his back.

"It's a bit cold, but moving should warm me up," Reiner also removed his heavy outer coat, tying it around his waist.

"Let's go!"

"I'm ready!"

"Then... start!"

Luffy and Reiner shot forward first.

Only Zoro started slowly, scoffing, "Two greenhorns. Climbing is hard physical labor."

However, Zoro would soon realize how foolish he was.

"Trying to maintain pace and conserve stamina?" Reiner glanced down at Zoro below him, understanding his strategy, and chuckled softly. "Don't know what he's thinking, actually believing two Zoan-type ability users would lack stamina."

However, in a moment, Reiner too would realize his own foolishness.

An hour and a half later...

"Woahahaha! I won!"

Luffy successfully reached the summit, raising his fists to the sky and shouting. He then lay down at the cliff edge, looking down at the chase happening below.

"Damn it! How do you still have energy!?"

"It's so high! I'm about to die from exhaustion!"

"Then hurry up and die, Four Eyes!"

"Keep climbing, Moss Head!"

Their eyes looked ready to split from the strain, using both hands and feet to scramble upwards, veins bulging on their foreheads and arms. Zoro had fallen several body lengths behind, but Reiner's speed was clearly less than Zoro's.

Both were now nearing complete exhaustion.

Reiner looked at the summit, so close he could almost touch it, with Zoro relentlessly pursuing him from behind. He didn't even have time to think of any underhanded tricks.

Gritting his teeth, he squeezed out the very last dregs of his stamina, climbing desperately upwards.

"Uwaaaa~~ ORA ORA ORA!"

"Wahahaha! Looks like Reiner got here first."

In the end, Reiner reached the summit just one step ahead. This was a victory for Ora!

If the mountain had been just ten meters taller, Zoro would have overtaken him. Unfortunately for Zoro, his initial decision was flawed.

Both lay sprawled in the shape of the character '大' at the cliff edge, staring up at the sky, panting heavily.

This entire scene was witnessed by a small figure 'hiding' near the wall of a nearby castle.

"Such strange humans."

A small figure, poorly hidden, watched Reiner, Luffy, and Zoro with curiosity. Below its perfectly round eyes was a blue nose. It wore a red hat marked with a white 'X'.

Chopper carefully observed the suddenly arrived strange humans, murmuring in a low voice, "One has golden hair, one has green hair, one... eh? Where did the other one go?"

He hadn't noticed that a certain disappeared figure had already appeared behind him, eyes scarlet red and drooling.

"Jejejeje~~ Don't run, my meat!"

"Waaa!!! Help me!"

Hearing the scream, Reiner pushed himself up with his hands with difficulty. Looking towards the sound, he saw Chopper's legs spinning incredibly fast, like wind and fire wheels.

Luffy, giving chase, suddenly froze, then his eyes bulged out, jaw dropping to the ground as he yelled:

"THE MEAT TALKED!!!"

Reiner immediately summoned several undead to block Chopper's path. Luffy pounced from behind, just about to grab him.

But the next moment, Chopper transformed instantly into his tall humanoid form (Heavy Point), pressed his palms together, turned, and smashed down fiercely onto the mid-air Luffy, slamming him deep into the snow.

BOOM!!!

However, blunt attacks couldn't harm Luffy. Pulling his head out of the snowdrift, his eyes shone as he stared at Chopper, exclaiming in amazement:

"It tr-tr-transformed!!!"

"Woahahaha! I've decided! I'm making him join our crew as a nakama!"

Reiner: "..."

He suddenly remembered Luffy enthusiastically yelling about wanting the Hiking Bear as a nakama just down the mountain.

Could he be a genius?

"What's all this ruckus about!?"

Just then, a loud voice echoed from the castle entrance. Dr. Kureha stood there, holding a liquor bottle, looking annoyed at the three. "Where did you three stinky brats come from?"

"Waaa~~ Help me, Doctoreen!" His little short legs flailing rapidly, the pitiful Chopper scampered behind Dr. Kureha.

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We've hit 200 Power Stones goal As promised, here's the bonus chapter. Thank you for your support—please keep it coming!