Chapter 225: Ralph's Worries!
"Ohhhh—! Pirates! A pirate ship!"
"They're watching us salvage!"
"Then we gotta put on a good show!"
The crew of the Masira Pirates grew excited the moment they saw the Going Merry approaching.
They jumped and bounced on the deck, waving frantically in this direction.
"Are they greeting us?"
Usopp asked uncertainly.
"It seems like they're welcoming us."
Nami said.
"What a bunch of performers."
Robin remarked with a smile.
That pirate ship with a monkey figurehead was currently engaged in a salvage operation.
Surprisingly, they had lowered the cymbal-holding monkey from the bow into the sea, and were inflating a sunken ship to make it rise from the seabed.
And the inflation method was actually blowing air by mouth.
"This salvage technique... is quite special."
Nami marveled.
"Masira!"
Chopper called out to the man-ape, "Are you Masira?"
The man-ape, who should be the ship's captain, turned his head, revealing a face that looked both human and monkey-like.
"Hahaha! That's right, I'm the captain of the Masira Pirates, Masira!"
He thumped his chest, very pleased, "You called me Masira, I'm so happy!"
Chopper was stunned.
"He... what's he so happy about?"
"Because you didn't treat him like a monster."
Robin said softly, "They really are easygoing folks."
The two ships drew closer.
The Straw Hat Pirates watched the Masira Pirates' salvage operation up close, and their skilled maneuvers were indeed breathtaking.
"Do you often salvage sunken ships?"
Nami asked.
"Of course!"
Masira said proudly,
"There are many shipwrecks in these waters, salvaging them can fetch a good price!"
"I'm the man who salvages ships, sinks them, and salvages them again!"
The Straw Hat Pirates were dumbfounded after hearing this. They didn't quite understand, but it sounded impressive!
Just then—
Boom!
A massive shadow rose from the seabed.
It was a sea turtle.
A sea turtle whose mouth alone was bigger than a pirate ship!
It opened its gigantic maw and lunged fiercely toward the two ships and the salvaged wreck!
"Run—!"
The Masira Pirates' crew screamed in terror.
Both ships accelerated frantically, desperately fleeing from that enormous mouth.
"It's too big too big too big!"
Usopp crouched on the deck, clutching his head.
"This must be a dream!"
Chopper clung tightly to Zoro with both little hooves!
After barely escaping the giant turtle's attack range, before they could catch their breath—
A massive cloud of mist suddenly appeared on the sea ahead.
Within the mist, three colossal humanoid shadows connecting heaven and earth were slowly moving.
The shadows were absurdly huge, like giants standing between sky and earth, striding toward them.
"Wahhhh—!"
The giant turtle, frightened by the shadows, turned and fled, vanishing beneath the sea's surface in the blink of an eye.
Everyone on both ships was also paralyzed with fear.
"What kind of monster is that now?!"
Usopp asked, trembling.
Ralph looked at the shadows, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"That's the Skypieans."
Everyone was stunned.
"Sky... Skypieans?"
"Right."
Ralph pointed at the sky, "The sunlight falls on the Skypieans, and their shadows are projected through the Accumulated Clouds, appearing so enormous."
The panic on Lufia's face was quickly replaced by excitement.
"So it's the Skypieans' shadows!"
Her sudden realization made Chopper and Usopp catch on as well.
"The Skypiean's shadow!"
"That means there really is Skypiea in the sky, and there really are people living there!"
The three of them got excited again, singing and dancing.
Nami facepalmed:
"These three... just moments ago they were scared out of their wits..."
After going through two hardships together, the Straw Hat Pirates and the Masira Pirates had officially become friends.
Masira warmly invited them to visit his island.
"We need to ride the Knock Up Stream to reach Skypiea!!"
Nami asked bluntly, "We need to find someone who understands the patterns of the ocean currents."
"Do you know anyone like that?"
Masira's eyes lit up.
"You're going to Skypiea?!"
"Yes!"
"A dream! This is a dream!"
Masira trembled with excitement, "I'm so moved!"
"There are still people willing to chase the dream of Skypiea!"
He thumped his chest:
"If we're talking about someone nearby who studies the Knock Up Stream, it has to be my old man!
Mont Blanc Cricket!
I'll take you to meet him!"
The two pirate ships sailed together toward Jaya Island.
During the journey, a small incident occurred.
Several seagulls suddenly fell from the sky, plopping onto the deck of the Going Merry, dead.
"Whoa!"
Chopper was startled and cautiously approached to examine them.
Then he discovered the problem.
"They were killed by bullets!"
He exclaimed, "The direction is straight ahead!"
Everyone looked forward.
On the horizon, no island was visible yet.
"But... we didn't hear any gunshots."
Usopp said, "And there are no ships ahead either."
Nami frowned: "Isn't Jaya Island ahead?"
"Could someone have shot the seagulls from the island at a distance where the island isn't even visible?"
"How is that possible!"
Usopp waved his hand dismissively, "The seagulls must have been injured and flew some distance before falling onto our deck."
"It's possible."
Ralph spoke up.
Everyone's attention turned to him.
"The strong ones in this world far exceed your imagination."
"Master marksmen will naturally surpass your understanding as well."
He looked at Usopp.
"Becoming the world's greatest marksman is a long and arduous journey."
"I told you before, besides rapid firing, there's also ultra-long-range sniping."
"A marksman like that may already exist."
Usopp's face instantly turned pale.
Whether from fear or excitement was unclear.
He immediately called out to the Masira Pirates:
"Hey!"
"Is there such an incredible marksman on Jaya Island?"
"Is it your old man?"
Masira's voice came from the other ship:
"The old man is amazing, but he doesn't have marksmanship like that!"
"It might be someone from Mock Town!"
"That's a town where pirates gather—nothing would be surprising there!"
Lufia's ears twitched.
"A town where pirates gather?"
Her eyes lit up again.
"I want to go check it out!!"
Ralph didn't speak.
His gaze met Ace's.
"He's there, right?"
Ace asked softly.
Ralph nodded.
"That ultra-long-range sniper is one of Blackbeard's companions."
Ralph added, "Are you sure you don't need our help?"
Ace shook his head.
"Capturing Blackbeard is my responsibility."
He looked ahead, "And I know Teach."
"That bastard may be scum, but he has his own pride."
'He won't allow anyone else to interfere with our duel.'
Ralph frowned slightly.
This was exactly what worried him.
A Pirate who fights with honor is at a great disadvantage against a Pirate who knows no bounds.
But he said nothing more.
After all, this was Ace's fight.