He trembled as he stretched out his hand, pointing at the Venus Flytrap: "This... was left to me by Rocks. Inside, sealed tight, is the purest Haki, compressed to the extreme by that man! Even if just a little is released and leaks out, it would scare the beasts in the forest and passing Sea King Species to the point of foaming at the mouth..."
"This is why it can serve as the Holy Fruit, guarding your tribe for decades, right?"
Robin walked in at this moment, keeping a certain distance, and focused intently on admiring the hanging Venus Flytrap, chuckling lightly:
"Truly a super cute, and interesting plant, indeed... But, old-timer, please don't underestimate our captain, he's..."
"Let me do it! Let me!"
Nami rushed in, eagerly raising her right arm, "I'm good at this kind of stuff, leave it to me, Sister Robin!"
She held her fist near her mouth, pretending it was a microphone, cleared her throat after coughing a few times, then pointed a finger at Shano, and said triumphantly:
"Listen up, old man! Standing before you is—"
"World's No.1 Sword Master Shano! Captain of the Endgame Adventurer Group! A super wanted criminal with a bounty of over twenty billion Belly! A major headache for the World Government! Has severed Netherworld King Rayleigh's arm! Has repelled the Navy Grand Admiral, and fought against Four Emperors Kaido... Ouch, ouch, ouch, hey, brother, what are you doing!"
She covered her head full of bumps, tears almost coming out from the pain.
Behind the rising white smoke, Shano withdrew his fist with a dark face.
This damned girl, will you never stop!
Kicking Nami out of the room, he casually glanced at Robin.
This Venus Flytrap is indeed interesting.
But still, how does it connect to the word "cute" at all??
"..."
The old chieftain's expression seemed dazed, apparently taking a while to digest Nami's introduction, then looking at Shano with a realization:
"A bounty over twenty billion, indeed... So an emperor-level existence of the new generation has come to our little island..."
"Grandfather, it's not just that, brother Shano also..." Qia approached and whispered to recount what had happened previously.
"The Flamingo is dead? And you, kid, were also saved by Sir Shano?"
The old chieftain first glared at Qia, "Only thirteen years old, and you dare show off... I'll deal with you later!"
He looked at Shano again, struggling to get out of bed, but Shano pressed down on his shoulder: "Old man, you just woke up, your body is still weak, don't go through all that, better to rest first."
"No... I must thank you personally."
The old chieftain insisted on getting up, and under the support of his two grandsons, solemnly bowed to Shano, "I am Link, head of the Agatha Clan, Sir, you didn't just save me, you saved my grandson, you also avenged my clan, this grace..."
"It's nothing at all."
Shano waved his hand helplessly, along the way, he's tired of saying this phrase.
Perhaps... this is the hidden benefit of killing a recognized major villain, inexplicably, being seen as a benefactor by many people.
It's the same in Paradise, the New World, and possibly even on the old base of the Donquixote Family in the North Sea...
He put no mind to it, lifted up Old Link, and said with a smile:
"You don't need to mind it too much, old man, in contrast, I'm more curious about your relationship with Rocks, can you tell me?"
Rocks?
Old Link sat on the bed, sighed deeply, his eyes becoming profound: "That was... many, many years ago..."
————
In the drizzly rain, the road was muddy.
In Thunder God Town, at the entrance of a shabby restaurant, a ragged red-haired youth was curled up in the corner, starving, his eyes green and on the verge of collapse.
The young chef glanced over here, turned quietly and went back into the kitchen.
Soon after, he brought out a plate of steaming stewed meat and two pieces of blackened bread, placing them in front of the youth.
The youth was stunned and turned his head, while the young chef crouched beside him, lit a cigarette, and said leisurely: "Stop staring, kid, eat fast and get lost, if the boss sees you, I'll lose my job."
The youth stared intently at him, making the cook rather uneasy, then suddenly, without a word, started devouring the stew.
After a while, he mumbled, barely audible: "Hey, what's your name?"
"Why ask? Plan to repay me one day or something." The cook sneered, "Forget it, in these times... just worry about surviving first."
"My name is Rocks!"
The youth talked to himself, "I am the man destined to become King of the World! In the future, when I have my own ship, I will come to get you, to be my chef!"
"You're nuts."
The young cook cursed, "Should've eaten it myself, damn it... bad luck, saved another nutcase."
"I'm asking you, what's your name!"
The cook furrowed his brows, turned to scrutinize this clueless kid, the youth ceased eating for not getting an answer, stubbornly staring at him, and the light in those pupils, inexplicably, was somewhat unsettling.
"Really have no way with you..."
The cook puffed out a smoke ring, gazed towards the gloomy rain curtain, grinned:
"Link, my name is Link."
————
Ten years later, bandits raided Thunder God Town.
Chaos everywhere, cries echoed all around, the restaurant door was kicked open, and the chef, now just stepping into middle age, was kicked down.
"I told you to hand over all the money!"
The bandit leader shook the money bag in his hand, sneering as he pressed harder: "Hey! You, are there problems with your ears, still dare to hide so much..."
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