"Great! Thank you, Brother Shano!"
Qia hurriedly stood up and pushed open a hidden door behind the treasure chest, "Everyone, follow me, there's a passageway down there that leads to the seabed. It's the shortcut my grandpa left when he dug for treasure years ago..."
The boy hadn't finished speaking when Jack picked him up with an exasperated sigh, hoisting him onto his shoulder.
— This silly kid, he blasted through the rock face, while there are so many Ability Users on the ship willing to use the main path. Who would take the seabed route with him?
The group quickly returned to the ship, and the Endgame, which had been docked at Thunder God Island for a week, finally set sail again.
Following the Eternal Pose provided by Qia, they headed in the direction of the Agatha Islands.
...
Four days later.
The outline of the Agatha Islands appeared in view.
On the azure sea, over a dozen islands were scattered like pearls. The largest main island in the center was covered by dense, primeval forest, with a few volcanoes visible in the distance, their tops shrouded in smoke.
The Endgame retracted its sails and navigated along a river towards the island's center.
"We're almost there, Brother Shano!"
Qia stood at the bow of the ship, pointing to the village on the hill, "That right there is our main village! There are a few other villages nearby, with a total population of several thousand people!"
"Halt!"
A stern shout abruptly came from the shore.
Dozens of warriors wielding longbows and clad in simple clothing rushed out of the dense forest, their arrowheads glinting with Armament Haki's dark light, all aimed precisely at the Endgame.
"Eh?"
Nami had been watching this scene with interest but was surprised by the sight, "How come all of them can use Haki?"
Shano scanned the surroundings, somewhat taken aback, as a tribe whose members had all mastered Haki was extremely rare in the New World.
The male version of Amazon Lily?
"Outsiders!"
The imposing young man leading the group shouted coldly, "We don't wish to harm you, but this is not the place you should be. Turn around and leave, withdraw from here, or we won't be courteous!"
"Oh wow! Just evolved, and I get into a fight this soon!"
Gatomon leapt lightly onto the second-floor railing, eagerly clenched her paws together:
"Alright, it's decided! I'll take the lead in this battle so that everyone who's been protecting me can see my current prowess... Ah!"
Before she finished speaking, she let out a scream as she was kicked into the water.
Behind the railing.
Ah Yin snorted, drawing back her leg with disdain.
— Showing off over nothing, acting brash, and without our master's command, it's beyond your place to make a fool of yourself.
"Wait! Brother Noah!"
Qia hurriedly jumped ashore, running towards the hill while waving his hand in signal, "It's me, Qia! I've returned!"
"Qia?"
The warriors who had drawn their bows were taken aback, showing expressions of surprise.
"Changed into a set of outside world clothes, hairstyle and figure transformed... but the face is unmistakable. It really is him!"
"This kid is actually still alive!"
"Hey! Qia, ha ha, where did you go? We've all missed you terribly!"
The tense atmosphere dissolved in an instant, some warriors even moved to greet him, but were stopped by Noah extending his hand.
"What's wrong, Young Clan Leader?" The surrounding warriors turned to him, bewildered, "This is Qia, don't you recognize him?!"
"How could I not recognize my own younger brother?"
Noah still held the bow and arrow, his eyes slightly narrowed, with a cold expression on his square and bold face, "It is precisely because of this that I must ask, Qia, who are these outsiders you brought, and where exactly have you been for over three months?!"
Three months?!!
Qia was dumbfounded, realizing he had been away for so long?
He thought it had only been around ten days. How long did he sleep in the treasure chest... but there's no time to dwell on that now, he lowered his head in slight grievance: "Brother, I... I went to find a way to save grandpa."
"Nonsense!"
Noah's brows furrowed sharply, admonishing sternly:
"At your age, what method could you possibly find?! Self-righteously sneaking out, don't you know grandpa's condition is worsening? The priests say he won't survive this month!"
"What if grandpa's life briefly returns and he wakes up only to not see you, his most beloved grandson... Qia! You little brat, are you going to let him die with regret and unable to rest in peace?"
"I... I..."
Qia was frantic and aggrieved, "Brother, I didn't expect it would be so long, I just didn't want to see grandpa remain unconscious... and besides, I found the one who can save grandpa!"
He raised his head abruptly, pointing to Shano behind him:
"This is Brother Shano! He's Mr. Kuma's captain and defeated that Flamingo Doflamingo. He's a very powerful figure, he definitely has a way to save grandpa!"
"What?!"
"So young, actually the captain of Uncle Kuma's ship?"
The warriors were astonished, turning their gaze to Shano.
Noah's pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure:
"Qia, you fool, are you sure you weren't deceived? That Doflamingo, even grandpa couldn't handle him, how could he possibly..."
"It's true!"
Qia stamped his foot urgently, "I already confirmed it from newspapers circulating outside. If you don't believe me, I'll go get the warrant to show you right now... Even the World Government fears him, offering a bounty of over two billion!"
Over two billion?
That's so exaggerated, isn't it twice as high as grandpa's bounty back in the day?