Inside the Rainbow Mist, the Going Merry remained anchored in place.
Sanji and Usopp's worries had unfortunately come true. It wasn't just Sherlock—Luffy, Chopper, and the two great beauties of the girls' quarters had all fallen into a deep slumber. No matter how much they shouted, none of them would wake up.
Moreover, looking at the slowly changing expressions on their faces, it seemed they were all having some rather strange "dreams."
"Oooooh... Nami-san, Robin-chan..." Sanji knelt on the deck, sobbing silently.
Usopp paced back and forth in the cabin, his face full of worry. "What do we do? What do we do? Zoro, what do you think we should do?!"
"Wait!" The green-haired swordsman, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, answered decisively.
"Wait??"
"That's right, wait." Zoro sighed. "Right now, the captain, strategist, ship doctor, navigator, and that woman are all unconscious. It's just the three of us left. We can't continue sailing like this."
"Tell me, aside from waiting for them to wake up on their own, what else can we do?"
"Uh... that's true." The long-nosed brother was speechless. He turned his head to look at a certain blue-nosed reindeer who had his eyes tightly shut and his expression twisted. "This kind of thing should be handled by Chopper, but he's been affected too."
"And looking at his expression, it looks like he's having a nightmare. Like he's being chased by some wild beast."
It had to be said that Usopp's guess was quite accurate. However, the "three guys" chasing Chopper were far more terrifying than wild beasts...
Eighteen years ago, Sea Circle Calendar 1502. The fourth year of the Great Pirate Era.
That year, Sherlock was six, and Lisanna was nine.
The Goldglint Trading Company—Sherlock's home—received a very special guest today.
"Yummy! Yummy! These snacks taste so good! Ah! This is the first time I've ever eaten such delicious snacks!"
A straw-hatted foodie, looking like a starving ghost reincarnated, sat at the dining table. He was demolishing the snacks on the table at an inconceivable speed. His crude eating habits caused a certain black-haired little boy, who was reading a book with his head down, to furrow his brows slightly.
(It's truly too vulgar...) Little Sherlock sighed silently in his heart. Luffy's terrifying table manners had truly refreshed his worldview.
"Hmph, at least you know quality when you taste it. My mom's snack recipe comes from Fish-Man Island." The little silver-haired lolita tilted her head back proudly, her expression suggesting she had made the snacks herself.
"I think the most delicious snacks in the world are the ones my mom makes!"
"No, no, no. Even though the method is the same, the water I use is different from Fish-Man Island's." A graceful and stunning married woman walked out of the kitchen carrying a large platter of fresh snacks. She placed the platter on the table and rubbed her precious daughter's little head dotingly, messing up Lisanna's silver hair.
"So, regrettably, there is still a certain gap between my snacks and the authentic ones from Fish-Man Island."
Speaking of this, a look of intense longing appeared in Sherlock's mother's gentle, watery eyes. She whispered, "If I have the chance, I definitely want to visit Fish-Man Island. And the legendary Sky Island—I wonder if there are beautiful angels there?"
Although she had long been married and had two children, the spirit of adventure in Sherlock's mother's heart had not been extinguished.
"But, I think the snacks you make are already super delicious, Big Sister..." Luffy, his mouth full of food, expressed his heartfelt thoughts incoherently.
(Big Sister?) x3
The three of them froze simultaneously.
It is worth mentioning that Sherlock's mother had maintained herself quite well. No one meeting her for the first time would think this great beauty was a happy mother who had given birth to two children.
And in the simple-minded captain's heart, this kind lady was already equated with the proprietress of the Party Bar in his hometown of Foosha Village—Makino. Both were kind-hearted Big Sisters.
"Ara ara, Straw Hat Little Brother, you really have a way with words." His mother covered her mouth reservedly and giggled, waving her hand at Luffy. It seemed she really enjoyed the simple captain's unintentional praise.
"Just wait, I'll make a few more of my signature dishes for you." Saying that, his mother walked briskly back into the kitchen.
Watching her mom's retreating figure, the little silver-haired lolita sighed. "Mom really can't handle flattery..."
She turned to look at the empty plates piling up on the table, blinked her eyes cutely, then went to Sherlock's side as he read. She whispered:
"Sherlock, why did you pick up this rice bucket [glutton] and bring him home today? He eats way too much!"
"Dad took the merchant fleet out to sea and who knows when he'll be back. If he turns out to be a bad guy, you, as the man of the house, have to protect me and Mom, okay~"
Sherlock didn't answer. He kept his head down, reading his book. Judging by his focused appearance, he didn't seem to hear Lisanna's words.
"Ugh..." The silver-haired lolita, splendidly ignored by her little brother, puffed up her cheeks into a cute bun face. She then stomped angrily over to Luffy, who was still stuffing his face.
"Hey, Glutton, what's your name?"
"Gulp~" Swallowing the food in his mouth, the simple captain wiped his mouth and grinned:
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King!"
As soon as these words fell, Sherlock, who was quietly reading, slightly changed his expression.
"Hah? Pirate King? You want to become the Pirate King??" Stars suddenly sparkled in Lisanna's eyes, her tone very excited. "You super admire the Pirate King too, right? Let me tell you, the person I admire most is the Pirate King, I..."
"Wait a moment, Lisanna." Closing the book in his hands, Little Sherlock interrupted his sister's upcoming monologue. He looked at a certain straw-hatted idiot calmly and composedly.
"So, you're a pirate?"
"Ah, that's right."
"Are you strong?" Sherlock asked again.
Luffy nodded solemnly.
"What's your bounty?"
"30 million." Luffy answered very crisply.
"30 million Berries?!" Lisanna covered her mouth in shock. Then she immediately snapped out of it and glanced at the straw-hatted idiot with extreme skepticism. "Liar! Since when did the East Blue have such a big pirate?"
"Also, how could a guy with such an idiotic face have such a high bounty?"
"I really do have a 30 million bounty." Luffy scratched his head. "Although it doesn't compare to Sherlock's 70 million, I really do have a bounty of 30 million Berries."
The two little ones froze at the same time.
"Sherlock? Do you know a pirate also named Sherlock?" Lisanna suddenly became interested.
"Yeah, he's my companion." Mentioning his partner, the simple captain grinned. But then he thought of his current situation and instantly wilted.
"It's just that I don't know why I'm back in Loguetown. I got separated from my crewmates. I had definitely already reached the Grand Line! It's so frustrating."
"Grand Line?" The two little ones froze again.
Little Sherlock pondered for a moment, then said faintly, "Then can you tell us about your experiences in the Grand Line?"
"Yeah, sure." Luffy nodded, and began telling his story to the two children.
One hour later.
It had to be said that Luffy's eloquence was quite poor. Even though he was telling true events, he managed to make them sound like "I made this all up."
(Does this guy have delusional disorder?) Lisanna looked at Luffy with eyes full of pity. Obviously, she didn't believe a single word.
(Although his words are absurd, it doesn't seem like he's lying.) Sherlock narrowed his eyes slightly. For some reason, he felt that what this straw-hatted guy was saying wasn't fabricated.
(And that "Sherlock" he keeps talking about... why does it give me an inexplicable sense of déjà vu?)
(According to him, it was because of that rainbow-colored mist that he bafflingly ended up here. Does such a miraculous thing exist in the Grand Line?)
Shaking his little head, Sherlock looked at the dazed Luffy again, his gaze flickering.
(But in any case, this guy who looks very easy to fool still has great utility value. I can test his strength first, using those pirates at the port.)
(If he's really as strong as he says he is, then I've really found a treasure this time!)
Thinking of this, the little boy revealed a rather genial smile.
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