The crowd immediately turned their gaze to Nami.
Nami felt a bit uneasy being stared at, and shrank her neck, muttering, "Why are you all looking at me like that! I really don't understand..."
"Idiot!"
Nojiko knocked on her head irritably, "What are you even listening to? The old place back then, of course, refers to the restaurant where their fate began!"
Is that so?
Nami looked at Old Link with a head full of question marks, half-believing.
"Indeed it is."
Old Link nodded with a smile, a glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes, "When I was heading towards Thunder God Island, I dug up a treasure map under the restaurant's old site, and followed the directions to find this Venus Flytrap, or rather, Illusion Dream Grass at the base of the island's highest rock peak."
"Illusion Dream Grass?"
"Yes, it is an Ability User that ate the Paramecia-type Vision-Vision Fruit."
Old Link looked at the Venus Flytrap, sighing lightly, "It can create illusions indistinguishable from reality, forcing people to confront the deepest fears within their hearts."
"This ability can be used to scare away powerful enemies, or to hone one's will and Haki, to cultivate the younger generation. This counts as the last gift given by that guy Rocks to my clan."
Shano listened intently.
No wonder when he saw those warriors before, each had no weak Armament. It's probably under the long-term honing by the Illusion Dream Grass's ability that they have such strength.
Capable of dragging people into illusions...
This sounds a bit like the Kirin Fruit Ability User from the Divine Knight Order, whose name he forgot.
His heart understood now, but still had some questions unresolved.
"Old sir, if it's about confronting the deepest fears, why did I see Rocks himself?"
Shano couldn't help but ask, "Moreover, it was the young Rocks... I've never seen him, that guy was dead before I was even born."
"That's not your nightmare, it's mine."
Old Link blushed slightly, "As for that Doflamingo, although I don't know what kind of nightmare he fears that makes him retreat without even snatching the Holy Fruit, that guy is a monster with the potential for Supreme King Haki, and illusions can only scare him temporarily. He won't be content and will surely return."
"So I had to try to challenge my own nightmare, to see if I could break my fear and regain my youthful state..."
"As you saw, it was beyond my capability, let alone honing my will, I couldn't even withstand the impact of Supreme King Haki, fell unconscious immediately. If not for you breaking that nightmare, I might have..."
Capable of entering someone else's nightmare?
Shano glanced at the Venus Flytrap, his interest in this thing increased.
"Though the Agatha Islands are remote, because they are situated in the New World, almost every month there's pirate harassment, which we've mostly fended off."
Young Clan Leader Noah clenched his fists, "However, facing guys like Doflamingo, we really can't handle..."
"It's because I'm too old and can't protect you." Old Link said with some sorrow, "If only I were younger by thirty years, I wouldn't be so powerless against that guy's arrogance..."
"Grandpa! Please don't say that!"
Noah quickly replied, "You've already given too much for us, if anyone's to blame it should be me, the Young Clan Leader, for being too weak, unable to protect the people like you did when you were young."
"Silly boy..."
Old Link smiled sadly, caressing Noah's head.
He had a son late in life, and his son unexpectedly died of illness, leaving Noah, the eldest grandson, to early take on the duties of a Young Clan Leader, willingly without complaint.
He trained diligently from a young age, and at only twenty, he had already reached the clan's strongest physique, and also skillfully mastered Dual-Colored Haki, personally defeating strong foes with over a hundred million bounty many times.
It's enough to make him proud.
If it were the New World from before, Noah's power would be enough to protect the Agatha Islands.
But unfortunately...
A dozen years ago, the Great Pirate Era began.
Gathering in the so-called Grand Line's latter half, more and more pirates appeared, and their average strength grew stronger.
A single Seven Warlords of the Sea was already beyond what his old bones could handle. After he was gone, and if new strong enemies attacked, what would happen to the tribe then?
Unless...
Old Link raised his head, his gaze landing on Shano.
Hm?
Shano raised an eyebrow slightly.
Listening from the side, he had long felt something was amiss, thinking the old man knew his time was short, and was ready to entrust someone with guardianship.
Now it seems...
Looks like he guessed right?
Old Link finally made a certain decision, solemnly standing up and bowing deeply to Shano:
"Sir Shano, by rights your favor is still unreturned, and I should not be this inconsiderate. But there's indeed an unrelenting request..."
It's coming...
Shano sighed inwardly, and helped Old Link up, "Just say it."
Old Link spoke earnestly, "I am 104 years old, if nothing unexpected happens, I only have one or two years left... This time the tribe was saved thanks to you and Mr. Kuma's help, but in this increasingly dangerous sea, we lack the strength to protect ourselves."
"So..." He raised his head, "I wish to ask you, sir, to shelter the Agatha Race, and have us become your vassal!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room was taken aback.
"Grandpa?!" Noah's eyes widened, "You're going to..."
"Noah, I've lived for over a hundred years, trust in my judgment." Old Link raised his hand to stop him, staring fervently at Shano.