The defeated Kung Fu Dugong slowly regained consciousness. Its gaze toward Ron lost all arrogance and was instead full of admiration. Its small eyes sparkled as it gazed at Ron, its tail wagging happily.
"You want to be my apprentice?" Ron was surprised, then remembered the Dugongs' tradition of acknowledging a stronger opponent as their master.
"Hmm, hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm," the Dugong clung to Ron's leg, pleading with bright, hopeful eyes.
Ron pondered for a moment before replying, "You really want to become my student?"
The Dugong paused, then nodded enthusiastically, its small tail wagging at high speed.
"Alright, I'll give you a task. Watch over this ship. If you're still here when we return, I'll accept you as my apprentice and take you out to sea," Ron said.
"Hmm-hmm!" The Dugong nodded with joy, beaming up at him.
As Ron and Conis walked away, the Dugong remained by the ship, waving energetically.
"What an interesting creature..." Conis glanced back and remarked.
She then looked at Ron. "Ron, are you really going to take it out to sea as your apprentice?"
Ron chuckled and nodded. "Why not? It'll be fun, don't you think?"
"True, but won't the sea be dangerous for it?" Conis asked with a hint of worry.
"Don't worry. Right now, it's stronger than you are. With more training, it can become even more formidable," Ron said, smiling.
In the original story, there was even a Dugong that mastered Armament Haki, proving the potential of this species in combat. If trained properly, perhaps even Observation Haki could be awakened...
Ron was quite intrigued by the idea.
Arabasta truly lived up to its name as the land of sand. Everywhere they looked, it was a sea of yellow sand under the scorching sun, the heat intense.
Ron and Conis walked along a sandy path until they reached the city of Erumalu.
"A bustling city in the middle of the desert... Who would have thought?" Conis looked around, marveling at the sights that were so different from her home in the sky.
Erumalu was vibrant and full of life, bustling with activity. It hadn't yet been marred by the chaos caused by Crocodile and Baroque Works. This was six years before the events that would lead to Arabasta's crisis.
Ron learned from certain underground sources that Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had indeed already arrived in Arabasta. Currently, Crocodile, as a Warlord, was hunting down pirates, often appearing in newspapers as a hero. He had gained quite a reputation in the kingdom. Yet, nobody in Arabasta knew that this "hero" was the true mastermind behind Baroque Works, the largest underground crime syndicate in the country, under the alias Mr. 0.
Besides learning about Crocodile's presence, Ron discovered an unexpected piece of news. Baroque Works was set to host an underground auction in Rainbase in four days. The highlight of the auction? A Devil Fruit!
Underground factions across Arabasta were scrambling to gather funds for this rare item.
"This is quite the opportunity," Ron thought.
"Even if it's a trap set by Crocodile, it's worth checking out."
That very day, Ron and Conis set off for Rainbase.
Four Days Later – Arabasta, Rainbase…
Rainbase was effectively the stronghold of Baroque Works. It boasted the largest casino in Arabasta, Rain Dinners, which stood as a grand centerpiece of the city. Compared to Erumalu, Rainbase was far more bustling, with crowds, merchants shouting their wares, and a continuous flow of carriages and people.
Inside a tavern, Ron and Conis sat at the bar.
"Ah... This feels amazing," Conis sighed happily after drinking a large glass of cold water.
"Miss, another glass, please!" she called out.
"Coming right up!" the bartender replied.
Ron sipped a cold beer, savoring it. The chilled drink was a stark contrast to the harsh heat of the desert and made him feel alive again.
"Su," he called out to the cloud fox perched beside him, which eyed his beer curiously.
"Want a taste?" Ron asked, grinning.
Su's eyes shone with excitement, and it nodded eagerly.
"Miss, can you get one more cold beer for my little friend here?"
"Of course!" the bartender replied cheerfully.
A few moments later, a smaller mug of cold beer was placed before Su. It sniffed it, then lapped at the drink with its tiny tongue.
"Su! Su!" It seemed to enjoy the taste, its eyes lighting up. With both front paws, it hugged the mug, which was about the same size as itself, and began drinking earnestly.
Before long, Su had finished the entire mug. Its small belly was rounded, and its eyes were glazed over as it lay on the bar, hiccuping and twitching in a drunken stupor. "Hic... Hic..."
Ron couldn't help but laugh at the scene.
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