Chapter 24 Setting Sail"Meruem, Nami, you guys are okay too." Luffy sat at the bow, shouting happily."Meruem, you bastard! How dare you hug Ms. Nami!" Sanji, however, stared at Meruem with a furious expression.Crocus, whose head looked like it was blooming, told everyone the reason why the whale Laboonwas crashing into the mountain. Everyone fell silent, no one willing to speak.Luffy pulled his Straw Hat tighter, jumped onto the Going Merry, and tore off the main mast, planting it firmly on Laboon's head.∑(O_O;)The expressions of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew were surprisingly consistent; their tacit understanding was truly remarkable.[...The Going Merry is really suffering with you.] Meruem looked at the Going Merry, feeling a little pained... Luffy was sent flying by Laboon. He slowly stood up and said with a smile, "Laboon, let's call it a draw this time! After I sail around the Grand Line, I'll come back here again. We'll have another fight then, but until that time, you have to live well and wait for me!"Buzz... The scene from 50 years ago overlapped with today. Luffy's smiling face seemed to have a soothing effect. Laboon's voice no longer sounded so mournful, as if it had a hint of excitement.Crocus watched this scene unfold, pulled out a Log Pose, and handed it to Nami. "When sailing the Grand Line, a Log Pose is essential. This one can guide you to the next island."Nami consulted Crocus in detail, while Zoro and Usopp listened in.Sanji brought food out from the Going Merry and also listened intently, while Luffy... his hands didn't slow down for a second, continuously stuffing food into his mouth... "Thank you, you've really helped us a lot," Nami said with a loving touch to the Log Pose and a smile."How could you eat everything? There's not even a bone left!" Usopp's surprised shout suddenly rang out."Burp~" Luffy looked satisfied.Sanji's curly eyebrow began to twitch wildly. He gritted his teeth and said, "You ate the special dessert I prepared for Ms. Nami! Go to hell!"With that, he spun on one foot and kicked Luffy in the face."Ah!" Luffy was kicked flying, shattering the Log Pose in Nami's hand, and falling into the sea.∑(O_O;)Nami looked at the fragments of the Log Pose, feeling her heart shatter with it. Her fists clenched, making a cracking sound, with veins bulging. She punched Sanji in the face and roared, "What are you two doing?!"Sanji also fell into the sea, but judging by his expression, he seemed to be enjoying it... definitely a masochist.Meruem rummaged in his arms and handed the Log Pose he had just snatched to Nami. "It's okay, I have another one here."(ㅍ_ㅍ)Nami reached out, took it, and said, "You... where did you get this?""Someone gave it to me."...Two people fell, but four people emerged from the sea.Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday emerged from the sea in disarray. Looking at the Straw Hat, they said fawningly, "We are townspeople from the stranded town of Whiskey Peak. Our ship was shipwrecked. Could you please take us back? We will thank you properly."Luffy nodded without hesitation. "Okay, get on board."Nami covered her face. "This is only the starting island! Shouldn't we analyze the information more carefully and choose a route seriously?"Luffy's face was still a bit swollen, but he smiled happily. "It's fine. No matter which route we take, doesn't the destination always end up being Laugh Tale?""You make a very good point, I have no argument against it..." Nami began to compare the Log Pose and the sea chart. The Captain's command was the navigator's mission."This Log Pose points directly to Whiskey Peak, Meruem. Which friend gave it to you?" Nami asked after looking at it.Everyone's gaze turned towards Meruem.(꒪Д꒪)ノThe expressions of Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesdaybecame extremely interesting. Meruem subtly warned them, then said, "You don't know them, and this question isn't important, is it?""That's true," Nami replied casually. "Then Luffy, let's get ready to set sail.""Alright, my friends, let's set sail!"..."Are they... the Pirates we've been waiting for? What an extraordinary young man. Right... Roger?" Crocus seemed to be lost in distant memories."Luffy is the man who will become the Pirate King, so his demeanor is naturally unique," Meruem's voice rang out.(꒪Д꒪)ノCrocus looked at Meruem in astonishment. "Why are you still here?!""I just wanted to ask. My goal is to be the freest person in this world. Can Laugh Tale help me achieve this goal? It's more appropriate to ask you. Right, Crocus, Roger's ship doctor?""The freest? When you've sailed around the Grand Line and returned here, I think you'll have your answer. Asking me now is meaningless... If I told you it could be achieved, would you believe me?""Of course I'd believe it, otherwise why would I ask you? Also, aren't you Roger's ship doctor? You must have a lot of medicine recipes, right? Give them to me. You probably won't be able to use them here anyway."..."We just met today, didn't we?""Yes.""You're really shameless. Fine, I'll give them to you. I hope they can provide a little help to your Pirate King." With that, Crocus took out a book from his room that was as thick as a Xinhua Dictionary. "These recipes are unique to me; I don't think you'd need those common ones."Meruem reached out and took it without even glancing at it, knowing his own skill level. He waved goodbye. "Then I'm off, goodbye~"With that, he jumped onto a small boat and began to chase after Luffy and the others."The sun and moon meeting? I wonder if it will be a competition between them, or a perfect union... What an interesting era. Hahahahahaha..." Crocus's voice faded into the distance... Night fell."Did you forget something?" Zoro, the only one on watch, asked.He was just as disheveled as he was composed earlier; he talked for too long and almost didn't catch up.Meruem jumped onto the deck and said, "I just prepared a gift for a future companion."Zoro didn't understand and didn't ask further, staring blankly into the night, his finger gently tracing the scar Mihawk had left.Meruem lit a cigarette and sat on the ship's railing."Meruem, am I very weak?""Huh?""Recently, I've been able to see the gap between you and me more clearly, and it's making me more and more lost...""You don't need to be like that. I've pretty much reached the limit of what I can achieve. The next step for improvement might require finding a Devil Fruit suitable for me, but you are different. Your potential is limitless. You will definitely go further than me on the path of a swordsman.""..."Zoro remained silent. Meruem sighed, pulled out his black blade, and said to Zoro, "Let me tell you in a different way..." With that, he swung his blade.In the quiet night, the sound of clashing metal echoed, carrying a mysterious rhythm that had a soothing effect on people's hearts.[ (꒪Д꒪)ノ I still have to take care of their emotions... I'm really not a babysitter.]
Chapter 25 Whiskey MountainThe clang of weapons continued until dawn, and Zoro, drenched in sweat, propped himself up with his sword, panting heavily.Meruem wasn't in much better shape, clearly exhausted. He leaned against the ship's rail and said with a smile, "Did you understand it?"Zoro nodded solemnly, sheathed his sword, and bowed respectfully.Meruem jumped back, avoiding him. "We're all comrades, don't be like that. And it's not a big deal. I have high hopes for you, Zoro. One day you'll surpass Mihawk.""I definitely will," Zoro declared confidently, his gloom completely vanished.Meruem waved his hand and turned to enter the cabin. He was truly too tired and needed a good rest. The sky was clear.Zoro stretched and stood up, looking at the others lying haphazardly. He grumbled,"...Hey, hey, no matter how good the weather is, you shouldn't be so lazy. Is the ship still on course? Honestly, you're all too relaxed. I still have to..."Bang!Nami's fist made intimate contact with Zoro's head. Her face was grim. "...You slept until now! No matter how much I called you, you just kept snoring! Everyone, don't let your guard down! Who knows what else might happen!"She was so angry as she spoke that she gave Zorotwo more hard punches.Zoro was full of questions, a series of bumps rising on his head. Meruem's hand, reaching for the cabin door, paused. He silently took two steps back, hiding in the shadows."Forget me...I don't exist...I'm just a background character..."Meruem prayed silently, looking at Zoro's head and feeling a dull ache in his own.However, Nami, having punched Zoro, finally calmed down. She raised her telescope, looked through it, and said with a smile, "It seems the first leg of our voyage is complete. Look!"Luffy looked out, his grin gradually widening, and he excitedly shouted, "It's an island! We're here!"Whoosh!Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday jumped onto the ship's rail, kneeling halfway.Mr. 9 said, "Then we'll take our leave!"Ms. Wednesday said, "Thank you for bringing us back, darlings. If fate allows, we'll meet again!"Just as they were about to push off, Meruem walked out of the cabin and looked at them, his eyes full of mockery.When the two saw Meruem's face, their legs, which were about to push off, began to tremble. They stammered, "G-goodbye...we...we have things to do."Meruem made a money gesture and waved them away.The two didn't dare to act cool. They honestly jumped into the water, pulled out two thrusters from who knows where, and quickly headed towards the island."Are these people Doraemon...? I didn't even search them thoroughly..."Meruem looked displeased. He walked behind Luffyand said, "Are we going to land, Captain? But our purpose for coming here has already been fulfilled, hasn't it?""Of course!" Luffy said without hesitation.Nami leaned over and said, "We absolutely must land and stay for a while, because if the Log Pose doesn't record this island's magnetic force...we won't be able to move on to the next island. And the time required to record each island also varies; some take a few hours, others even days."1, 2, 3, 4, 5No, it should be four faces looking at Nami blankly, as if listening to gibberish. And Sanji, looking at the serious Nami, from his expression, he might have been listening to a love letter.Nami looked at these guys, covered her face, indicating that she had definitely said too much.Meruem pinched his chin. "I didn't pay much attention to this setting when I watched it before, and I only seem to remember some major events...Is it memory loss due to too much time, or some other reason...?"After thinking for a moment with no results, he said, "So, even if this island is full of dangers and monsters, we still have to stay?"Nami seemed to have been reminded. She said stiffly, "Y-yes.""G-guys, listen to me. I...I suddenly caught a sickness that prevents me from going to islands," Usoppstammered."Ms. Nami, I will protect you," Sanji's voice was very fawning."It's fine. Adventure awaits us. Aren't you excited?" Luffy, however, completely ignored Meruem's words."According to Nami, we have to go. Just be careful," Zoro also didn't care."I think we could stay in the nearby waters...that could also achieve the goal. Luffy, you'd be fine, but..." Nami looked around at everyone, trying to dissuade them.Meruem and Nami's eyes met. He shrugged. "Looking at Luffy, you should know it's impossible. Let's just prepare to land."Nami looked at the excited Luffy and nodded helplessly. The Going Merry sailed towards Whiskey Peak, and noisy sounds came from the island.Slowly, as the Going Merry got closer, the sounds became clearer."Welcome to Welcome Town, Whiskey Peak!""Free pirates! Welcome to the Grand Line!""Welcome to our town!""Long live the warriors of the sea!"...Usopp's legs no longer trembled, his hands were strong, and he could climb five floors without getting winded...in short, he became energetic and said smugly, "Aren't pirates heroes in everyone's eyes?""No, no, no...heroic pirates might be one in ten thousand, or even one in hundreds of thousands. It's only you guys who call yourselves pirates and go around being heroes..." Meruem heard Usopp's words and gazed at the cheering crowd. He felt something was very wrong, but the memories in his mind just wouldn't come back. The Going Merrydocked, and everyone followed Luffy off the ship.A tall man with strange curly hair walked up to them, cleared his throat, and said with a smile, "Welcome. I am Igaram, the mayor of this town. You might not understand, but we are a place where winemaking and music are highly developed, and hospitality is our tradition.""We have already prepared a welcome banquet for you. Please grace us with your presence."When Luffy heard there was a banquet, his mouth almost watered, and he excitedly agreed."Nothing offered for nothing, either a trick or a theft..." Meruem muttered. "And Luffy...we haven't starved you, you're embarrassing, tsk.""I also feel something is wrong, Meruem. We need to be careful," Zoro responded, leaning in after hearing Meruem's words. "Let the banquet begin!" Igaram shouted."The banquet has begun!" Luffy shouted back.The two walked towards the building arm in arm, like old friends of many years, while the other townspeople eagerly gathered around the rest of the Straw Hat, leading them in that direction.The sky over Whiskey Peak turned crimson, and the red glow of the sunset was so vibrant.
Chapter 26 MoonlightThe bright Moonlight illuminated the world, but Whiskey Peak was bustling, the banquet still ongoing.Usopp, the braggart, was being praised by the townspeople. He didn't suspect their intelligence at all, instead becoming more and more smug. He felt that if this continued, he could probably tear Sea Kings apart with one hand and scare away the Four Emperors with a single glare.Zoro and Nami were having a drinking contest with the townspeople. Incredibly, Nami was a true drinking master; even Zoro had already given up, but Nami was still full of life."Didn't we agree to be careful? What kind of situation is it when you drink yourself to sleep here with others?"Meruem only drank a little and then sat to the side, feigning sleep. He felt that his memories were becoming increasingly muddled. Most of his past life's memories were no longer recallable, yet the memories of first transmigrating to this world were still vivid, as if they had happened just yesterday."More!" Luffy held up a plate, his face full of excitement. While Zoro and Nami were at least still swirling their drinks, he had been eating from the start of the banquet until now. His appetite was astonishing. On the ship, he wondered if he had deliberately suppressed himself; he must have been suffering.Meruem couldn't figure it out and stopped thinking about his memories. He started considering how to load more ingredients onto the ship. However, given this appetite, Sanji's spatulas would surely be sparking.Looking at Sanji… he had an arm around each beautiful woman, and he accepted every drink they offered, probably drinking quite a lot. His whole being seemed to have reached paradise. He swayed and then collapsed, landing perfectly on a beautiful woman's lap… If one only considered this point, it would make one suspect he wasn't drunk at all, as his fall was too precise.Usopp, under the flattery of the crowd, also lost himself, drinking more and more until he lay down on the sofa.Nami and Zoro couldn't resist the sheer numbers of their opponents and gloriously sacrificed themselves at the drinking table, still mumbling, "Keep drinking…"Luffy… the one who hadn't drunk any alcohol, ate so much that he passed out. What is talent? This is true talent.(ㅍ_ㅍ)Meruem slumped in a chair, looking at these guys, feeling utterly speechless."Hahahaha, what a pleasant night. We are satisfied that everyone could be so happy," Igaram laughed as he exited the room.Seeing that the others had no reaction, the townspeople also rustled out of the room, their smiles still genuinely plastered on their faces, as if they knew Meruem was secretly observing them… "What kind of dream will it be under the Moonlight…""Mr. 8, you are truly sentimental," Ms. Wednesdaysaid, sitting on the eaves and mocking Igaram.Mr. 9 sat beside her, also with a mocking expression: "Where are they?"Igaram's mood was broken, his face grim: "They have already fallen into hell."A muscular woman with a rather delicate face walked over and asked, puzzled: "We could have just taken care of them directly at the port. Why go to all this trouble to hold a banquet for them? There isn't much grain left in the town.""Look at this, Ms. Monday," Igaram pulled out a wanted poster, on which Luffy was smiling brightly."30 million Berries?! For that glutton just now?!" Ms. Monday's tone was filled with disbelief."Don't judge strength by appearance. Now, quickly go to their ship and clean out all the treasure, then tie up that Straw Hat and exchange him for the bounty. As for the guys without bounties, just bury them," Igaram's voice was cold."Hey, excuse me. They had a tiring voyage today. Can you let them sleep peacefully?" Zoro stood on the rooftop, speaking slowly.The full Moon behind him appeared so bright."Zoro, weren't you drunk? But you're really considerate," Meruem said with a smile from the eaves. Finally, there was someone reliable; it wasn't easy."Meruem, weren't you also pretending to be drunk? As a swordsman… one would never be so foolish as to let alcohol take control."Meruem shrugged noncommittally.People holding various weapons emerged from all directions; by estimation, there must have been a hundred of them.Zoro looked at the crowd gathered below and said with a smile, "Meruem, I finally remember who they are. They are bounty hunters called Baroque Works, specializing in hunting pirates who have just entered the Grand Line. They invited me before; didn't they invite you?"(꒪Д꒪)ノMeruem's eye twitched slightly."I used to just extort those bounty criminals with less than a million Berries. If I wasn't really short on money, I barely sent them to Marine Bases. With such little fame, how could anyone invite me? Are you showing off, you bastard… But, Baroque Works? Subordinates of the Shichibukai Crocodile? So, what I robbed that day was… the Princess of Alabasta! Vivi?! How could she be so poor?!"He stared intently at Ms. Wednesday, who was Vivi.Vivi felt Meruem's gaze and trembled with fear. Igaram noticed this scene, subtly shifted his steps, blocking Meruem's line of sight, and angrily shouted, "Kill them!"Flintlock pistols were aimed at the rooftop, but Zoroand Meruem had already vanished."Zoro, should we kill them or what… Listening to that tomboy just now, they seem a bit poor," Meruem's voice came from within the crowd."We just ate and drank their offerings. Now, sparing their lives can be considered returning a favor?" Zororeplied with a smile."Hmm, you have a point.""How dare they look down on us! Open fire!" the bounty hunters roared furiously.Bang bang bang bang! Gunshots rang out continuously.Zoro and Meruem simultaneously ducked. Many bounty hunters were accidentally injured, and a few unlucky ones even took bullets directly to the head, clearly not going to survive.∑(O_O;)"This can't be our fault, can it…?" Meruem's eye twitched slightly as he looked at the few corpses."Hmm…" Zoro's expression wasn't good either."Then let's begin," Meruem said with a smile.Zoro returned a smile: "I'll definitely knock out more people than you.""…" Meruem didn't want to talk. Who wants to compete with him on that? Go find Sanji instead.Zoro drew "yubashiri" and "sandai kitetsu" and charged out. Meruem flashed behind Vivi, grabbed her by the collar, and darted out.Mr. 9 and Igaram's expressions changed drastically upon seeing this, and they both chased after Meruem.Vivi was stunned, falling into self-doubt, yet she didn't dare to struggle.A man-sized duck suddenly rushed out and pounced towards Meruem."This… the oven needed to make this into roast duck must be huge," Meruem thought, looking at the duck and feeling a bit hungry.
Chapter 27 Nefertari Vivi"Karoo, no!" Vivi shouted."Gah!"The duck named Karoo charged at Meruem with determined eyes, his duck legs looking very sinewy... ah no, very powerful.Meruem shifted his feet, lightly sidestepping to avoid Karoo's charge, his other hand resting on the hilt of his sword.Seeing his movement, Vivi struggled and pleaded, "Please, no... How much money do you want? I'll definitely gather it for you.""Hmm... The Princess's price plus a roasted duck, let's say 30 million Berries. When will you give it to me?" Meruem replied with a smile.Vivi, however, was struck as if by lightning: "You... you... How do you know my identity? Who exactly are you!"[...I let it slip, but it's a minor issue. The big problem now is, I originally wanted to secretly return the Peacock Chain to her. After all, we'll be half-allies in the future, and sailing together would be too awkward. Now why am I setting a price again? This can't be an old habit, can it?] Meruem's expression subtly changed, and he drew his sword, slashing fiercely.In Vivi's eyes, there was only the flashing sword light. Her gaze gradually became desperate, and finally, she slowly closed her eyes, tears glistening brightly at the corners.Clang!Igaram's saxophone was cut in half by Meruem's sword. His eyes filled with determination, and he reached out to grab Meruem, roaring, "Die!"At the same time, machine guns appeared from Igaram's hair, firing almost directly at Meruem's face.Bang bang bang bang... The sound of gunfire resembled a grand battle, yet it was all caused by one person.[...Are you guys really not Doraemon? Hiding machine guns in your hair, that's going too far.] Meruem stood on a rooftop, looking at the mess on the ground, feeling very speechless.Vivi felt as if she had experienced a nightmare. When she opened her eyes again, she was already slumped on a rooftop, without a single scratch on her body."Let go of the Prin... Ms. Wednesday!" Igaram glared at Meruem, his face full of rage."Stick of Resolve!" A baseball bat fiercely struck towards the back of Meruem's head.Meruem reached out and caught the bat in his hand, preventing it from moving an inch further. Then, with a casual flick, Mr.9, who was wielding the bat, was thrown down. Igaram quickly took two steps and caught him."You guys... are really weak," Meruem observed the three of them. "With this little ability, you're hunting pirates? Are you looking for death?""The bounty poster must be wrong. You're the pirate who should have a 30 million bounty, and you're the Captain, aren't you?" Mr.9 got up and stared at him, saying....Are you guys blind? Didn't you see the Straw Haton the pirate flag?" Meruem spread his hands, replying speechlessly."Then you must be the mastermind, how despicable!" Vivi, not being held by Meruem at the moment, actually dared to curse.Meruem stared at her, then delivered a sharp knuckle rap to... Mr.9's head.The one who was hit looked bewildered and said with difficulty, "I... I didn't curse you."Meruem nodded, "Hmm, but you're ugly."(]゜ロ゜)]Mr.9 glanced at Vivi, seemingly reluctantly acknowledging it. Then he turned to Igaram, looking at Meruem with a mournful expression, the meaning self-evident."Meruem, why haven't you finished with one yet?" Zoro slowly walked over."They?! You?!" Igaram turned his head in shock to look, seeing a mess, even Ms. Monday was lying on the ground, her life unknown. He pondered for a moment and said, "Let go of Ms. Wednesday, you can make any demands.""Then give me 30 million Berries.""3... 30 million?! Alright, but you'll have to give me some time." Igaram paused at the words, struggled for a moment, but still agreed.[What the... why am I setting a price again?] Meruem was a bit helpless, then his expression suddenly changed, and he pushed Igaram and Mr.9 away.Boom!A violent explosion sounded, and a pretentious man wearing sunglasses and a crazy woman carrying a parasol in the middle of the night appeared before everyone."Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine... what are you two doing!" Igaram was hit by stones splashed from the explosion, his face extremely grim.Mr.5 said indifferently, "By order of the boss, we are specifically here to take the lives of AlabastaKingdom's Royal Guard Captain Igaram and Princess Nefertari Vivi. It's late, so obediently go to your deaths.""We've been discovered! Princess, run!" Igaramshouted, then several cannon barrels extended from his hair, firing fiercely at Mr.5.A huge roar echoed through Whiskey Peak. Mr.5 walked out of the smoke, without even a speck of dirt on him.Meruem stared at Igaram's hair, his hands itching, wanting to draw his sword and give him a haircut to see if there was a dimensional door inside.Pulling out guns was one thing, now they're pulling out cannons... "Gah!" Karoo ran to Vivi's side, picked her up, and started running. Ms. Valentine soared into the air, chasing after them."Please! Save Princess Vivi. As long as you can successfully deliver the Princess to the capital of Alabasta Kingdom, we are willing to pay any price." Igaram watched the departing Ms. Valentine and knelt before Meruem.Meruem stared at his head, looking left, right, up, and down, muttering, "How the hell did that come out? Also, you just tried to kill us, and now you're asking me to save her? Isn't that a bit much?""Meruem, don't say that. If it's a billion-Berry commission, we can take it," Nami's voice suddenly rang out. She sat on a nearby building with her legs crossed, her eyes shaped like "$".[Your hangover cure ability is also amazing...] Meruem didn't reply, continuing to stare at Igaram's hair."Ten... one billion? As a subordinate of AlabastaKingdom, how can I agree to such an amount of money?" Igaram had just been startled by 30 million Berries, and now hearing one billion, his face looked as if he had been violated."Guard Captain. If you don't agree to us, your Princess will surely die," Nami said with a smile."This... this is robbery, isn't it?" Zoro walked over and said.Nami ignored him, smiling as she looked at Igaram.Igaram thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "You save the Princess first, and then discuss the price with the Princess. Only then will it count, what I say doesn't count."Nami pinched her chin and considered for a moment, "Hmm, that seems to make sense. So, the primary goal now is to rescue that Princess first. Alright, Zoro, Meruem, go!"???The two looked at Nami, utterly bewildered.
Chapter 28 Who Says Princesses Are All Rich"Why should we risk our lives for your commission? I'm not Sanji, that idiot." Zoro looked displeased."Because you still owe me money," Nami's voice was very certain."When did I ever owe you money?!""The last time, in Loguetown, I lent it to you.""Didn't I return it to you exactly as it was?!" Zorolooked incredulous."You only repaid the principal, not the interest. Can't you even keep a promise?"Zoro's expression turned grim, and he stopped responding, puffing out his cheeks, as if something had crossed his mind.Meruem, beside him, looked completely unconcerned."Meruem…" Nami looked at Meruem pitifully."I don't owe you money. I didn't even take any money in Loguetown last time." Meruem said confidently."But Meruem, can you bear to see my commission fail?" Nami's eyes welled up with tears, her expression pleading."…Zoro, I'll go after that crazy woman who's carrying a parasol in the middle of the night. You handle this pretentious guy in sunglasses." Meruem said, running off in the direction Vivi had left. [I don't want to fight this disgusting guy. He throws boogers during a fight, he's absolutely toxic.]The naive Zoro didn't know anything, and just mumbled a response.The two of them had been successfully defeated by Nami; she was truly the devil herself, manipulating people's hearts… "Princess Vivi, just die obediently. You're simply wasting everyone's time." Ms. Valentine said with a smile, floating in the air in an unscientific manner."Karoo, go back! Igaram is still there!" Vivi struggled, but Karoo was unmoved, carrying Vivi and running non-stop towards the sea."Tsk, what a disobedient duck. Wouldn't it be better to listen to your owner?" Ms. Valentine waved her parasol, adjusted her posture, and shot towards Vivilike a cannonball.(꒪Д꒪)ノKaroo turned to look, its entire duck face a bit distorted, and it ran even harder. But in a moment of carelessness, it tripped and fell to the ground. Seeing Ms. Valentine flying rapidly towards them, it exerted all its strength to fling Vivi aside."Karoo!"Bang!Meruem held Ms. Valentine's feet with one hand and said lightly, "I didn't expect you to be a decent duck after all. Don't worry, I won't think about eating you anymore.""You?! Who exactly are you?! Why are you pestering me?!" Vivi's expression changed drastically when she saw Meruem."Stop making noise. I'm here to save you this time." Ms. Valentine pushed off Meruem's palm, did a backflip, and floated in the air again. Meruemcasually waved his hand."Save me?" Vivi was stunned, then scrambled to Karoo's side, checking its injuries."Mhm mhm, remember to be prepared. Nami will be much harsher than me when she talks about money with you."???Vivi's mind was full of questions, unsure how to respond."Chit-chat time is over! You guys are dead." Ms. Valentine felt ignored. These three… no, two people and one duck, were being too disrespectful.Just as she was about to act, Meruem narrowed his eyes, and a surge of killing intent erupted from him.The almost materialized killing intent enveloped Ms. Valentine. Her face turned pale, and she bit her teeth tightly, yet slowly descended to the ground. Under this pressure, she couldn't even maintain the use of her ability.Meruem slowly walked up to her, squatted down, and said, "Now it's robbery time. Hand over the money."∑(O_O;)Ms. Valentine expressed complete incomprehension as to why someone of this strength would appear at the entrance of the Grand Line, and even more so why someone of this strength would rob a weakling like her.Seeing her not react, Meruem narrowed his eyes, and even greater pressure swept towards her.Ms. Valentine's thoughts were interrupted. She tremblingly handed over her handbag and parasol, then tightly clutched her clothes and said miserably, "This is all my wealth. You… don't rob me of my virtue. If you really must, can… can we go to a room?""Pfft. I always rob for money, not virtue." Meruemreached out and took the handbag, rummaging through it, and a smile appeared on his face. [Not bad, not bad, finally some harvest. There's actually 300,000 Berries and a ruby in such a small bag, adding up to about a million. That's great, much better than that poor Princess Vivi.]He put the money and gem into his own bag, threw the handbag and parasol back, and said with a smile, "Go. Next time if we meet and the amount is less than this, you'll lose your life."Ms. Valentine struggled to get up, looked at Meruem's smiling face, seemingly a little disappointed that he didn't rob her of her virtue, then turned and floated away.(*≧▽≦)"Let's go, I'll take you to Nami and Igaram." Meruemwas in a very good mood, and his voice had softened quite a bit… "Gum-Gum Rocket!""Oni Giri!"[Is it necessary to be so passionate when fighting a useless person?] Meruem shook his head upon hearing the shouts and slowly walked back.Though Vivi was anxious, she could only follow behind him, not daring to quicken her pace.Karoo, needless to say… walked behind Meruem, its legs constantly trembling.However, it wasn't much further. Meruem saw Luffyfrom afar… fighting with Zoro?! And that pretentious Mr. 5 was severely injured by the aftermath of their battle.(ᇂ_ᇂ|||)"Luffy, Zoro, what are you two doing… digesting after dinner?" Meruem asked speechlessly, his face a black line."This guy repaid kindness with enmity! He cut down all the benefactors who gave us food! I'm going to teach him a good lesson today!" Luffy gritted his teeth."This is a good opportunity to see whose martial arts are stronger, yours or my swordsmanship!" Zorotied on his black bandana, and bit a sword in his mouth, clearly in full power mode."Aaaahhhhhhh!" Both of them roared and charged at each other.Bang! Bang!Nami extended her fist and "caressed" both their faces, knocking them to the ground: "You two stop messing around. If it weren't for Meruem, a billion Berries would have flown away today!"(￣□￣;)[Nami… you're the strongest person in the entire Pirate Crew, aren't you?] Meruem's eye twitched wildly, he might be getting facial paralysis… "What, you don't have a billion?!" Nami's voice was filled with disbelief.Vivi said with a serious expression, "Alabasta is currently in turmoil, so we definitely can't come up with that much money. Even if we could, I would spend that money on my citizens, not for my own safety! At… at worst, I'll give you my 500,000 Berries in private savings."[Who said all princesses are rich? This is just a poor princess. It seems my initial judgment was correct. Now it seems… Shirahoshi should be the wealthiest. I'll have to make a good profit then.] Meruem's thoughts drifted far away, thinking about the mermaid's figure, and he felt his nose getting a little stuffy.
Chapter 29 Whiskey Mountain. End"Princess, your bargaining is a bit too outrageous. For a billion-dollar deal, you've knocked off 99.95%. How about you add a little more?" Nami's mental math speed when it came to money was simply unrivaled."But I... I really only have this much, and the mastermind controlling Baroque Works is definitely someone you can't afford to provoke. I don't want to implicate you either." Vivi looked troubled, gently stroking Karoo's feathers."Shichibukai Crocodile, doesn't seem like someone you can't provoke, does he?" Meruem, whose thoughts had drifted to Fish-Man Island, replied casually.━ Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||) ━A long silence followed.Meruem looked up and saw three stunned faces."What's a Shichibukai?" Luffy, however, looked as usual, asking with confusion."Hmm, to put it simply, they're legal pirates. A very confusing creation." Meruem replied calmly. [I've blurted it out again. Am I awakening some incredible ability?]Nami immediately declared, "After today, everyone goes their separate ways. Let's not meet again. Farewell."Rustle, rustle, rustle... an otter was drawing and writing in a notebook, occasionally looking up at everyone, then tore off a page, revealing four portraits."That's very well drawn," Luffy praised.The otter nodded, then sat on a nearby vulture and flew away... "What was with that otter and vulture just now!" Nami grabbed Vivi's collar, entering a furious state."...Those were Mr. 13 and Ms. Friday from Baroque Works. Your portraits appearing in their hands means you'll also be hunted by the organization. I'm sorry..." Vivi said apologetically."Is 'I'm sorry' enough? No, Meruem, why did you say that name?" Nami, realizing what had happened, began to turn her anger on him.Meruem turned his head awkwardly, whistling, pretending not to hear.Nami collapsed on the ground in despair, tears in her eyes, truly pitiful.However, Meruem probably wasn't in a position to say that, as he was the culprit who caused this situation."Don't worry, I have a plan. Princess Vivi, please give me Alabasta's Eternal Pose." Igaram, in his cross-dressing attire, walked over, looking even uglier... "Igaram, what are you trying to do?" Vivi's expression changed slightly."I will set off directly for Alabasta, and you will go via another route. This way, your safety can be ensured.""No, you'll die if you do that!""Princess Vivi, you must return to Alabasta to expose Crocodile's conspiracy. Only then can you save the Alabasta Kingdom! For that, I am willing to give my life!""..." Vivi remained silent.Igaram smiled, walked over to Karoo, rummaged through him, and pulled out an Eternal Pose. Viviheld Igaram's arm with both hands, her face tear-streaked, and shook her head.Igaram's smile remained gentle as he gently pulled his arm free from Vivi's grasp, then strode towards the sea."Luffy, quickly go get Usopp and Sanji onto the Going Merry, we need to leave!" Nami, seeing no escape, said decisively.Meruem stood up and brushed the dust off himself. "I'm going to Igaram's side for a moment. I'll be back soon. Don't wait for me specifically, I can catch up.""Then you... hurry up." Nami knew she couldn't stop him, so after saying that, she led Zoro and Vivitowards the Going Merry... "Hey, don't get on the ship yet, let's switch to another one." Meruemappeared behind Igaram, patting his shoulder and saying calmly.[My memory tells me that you'll explode as soon as you get on the ship, but it's too fragmented, I don't quite know why. But seeing as you're so loyal, I'll save you this once.]"...Lord Meruem, if we don't set sail quickly, it'll be too late." Igaram struggled to move but couldn't budge an inch."Lord Meruem! You..."Boom!The soaring flames illuminated the darkness, and Igaram stared blankly at the explosion, then turned and gripped Meruem's hand, his eyes filled with tears, excitedly saying, "Lord Meruem! Thank you!"But Igaram in his cross-dressing attire was truly an eyesore, so Meruem subtly pulled his hand back and waved. "Let's go. Next time we meet, let me see if there's a dimensional gate in your hair." As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished from the spot.???Igaram's mind was full of questions, completely failing to understand what Meruem meant... "...What's with the injuries on these two? Usopp's nose must be broken." Meruem jumped onto the ship's rail, squatting there and looking at the two injured people on the deck.Nami, Vivi, and Zoro all turned to look at Luffy, saying nothing.Luffy held the back of his head, whistling, acting as if it had nothing to do with him."Meruem... the explosion just now..." Vivi asked worriedly."It's fine. Igaram has already set sail. We'll meet in Alabasta then."Vivi's expression was still very worried."Who... who can tell me what happened? Why are we rushing to set sail? Just one more night, just one night, a cute girl invited me to her room!" Sanji woke up groggily.[Oh boy... she... them.]"My body... it hurts so much. Did I really fight a Sea King? Don't leave so quickly! Aren't we pirates? Let's take it easy! It's so rare to have so many people to talk to." Usopp grimaced.[Are you 'talking'?]"You two are so troublesome, Nami, come explain." Zoro looked speechlessly at the two shouting figures.Nami stepped forward and gave them two thumps, knocking them back into unconsciousness. "Explanation complete.""..." Luffy and Zoro felt their faces sting a little.Meruem finally began to get used to such scenes, watching with a smile, then suddenly his gaze sharpened, looking towards the ship's cabin."Little brother, you're very perceptive."Everyone turned their heads upon hearing this voice, and Vivi looked at the newcomer with terror. "It's you! Ms. All Sunday! Vice President of Baroque Works! Are you here to take my life too!""Little sister, not everyone is interested in your life. I'm here to give you an Eternal Pose, leading directly to the closest uninhabited island to Alabasta. Otherwise, according to your route, the next island would be Small Garden, and you might all be wiped out." She said, throwing an Eternal Pose to Vivi."Is this your trap?" Vivi's hand trembled slightly as she held the Eternal Pose."I just saw you all working so hard, I couldn't help but give you a hand." Ms. All Sunday smiled, making it impossible to tell if she was speaking truthfully.Luffy reached out and crushed the Eternal Pose, saying seriously, "The route of this ship is not for you to decide!"Ms. All Sunday was slightly stunned by these words, then clapped her hands with a smile. "Then I wish you good luck." With that, she jumped off the Going Merry.Meruem watched her sitting with her legs crossed on a huge turtle, thinking to himself.[This must be Robin... She hasn't joined the crew yet. Should I snatch her? The Vice President should be very rich.]
Chapter 30 Small Garden"So that's how it is. I actually missed it… But it's alright, Princess Vivi, I will be your knight and protect you well from now on." Sanji said with a smile, striking a very gentlemanly knight's pose.Vivi didn't know his background, so she could only reply awkwardly, "Tha… Thank you.""Miss Nami, you mustn't be jealous, alright?" Sanjiturned and said apologetically."Don't worry, absolutely not." Nami looked impatient."Sanji~ I'm hungry!" Luffy's voice came from afar."You ate so much last night, and you're hungry already? What kind of body structure do you have? It's unbelievable… But it's a happy thing that he's calling Sanji now, not me." Meruem looked at the slender Luffy and couldn't figure out where all the food he ate went. However, girls would definitely envy this body, as they wouldn't gain weight no matter how much they ate."...We're facing the Shichibukai Crocodile, don't they worry at all?" Vivi asked, looking at Luffy in the distance.After a long silence, she turned her head to look.o(╥﹏╥)oNami looked like she was about to cry: "They really don't worry, but my heart is trembling violently. Don't mention that name again…""I'm sorry…""Here, for you. Make sure to keep it safe next time and don't lose it." Meruem walked over to them and handed the Peacock Chain to Vivi.Vivi reached out and took it, her face full of strangeness.Nami asked in surprise, "Is this Vivi's? Where did you get it?""Oh, I picked it up on the road." Meruem replied casually. "It's better not to talk about robbery, it feels a bit embarrassing…"Nami looked at him suspiciously, then whispered to Vivi, "Is this really yours? How did he get it?""He robbed… no, didn't he say he picked it up?""Really?""It really is true…"..."Brothers, special drinks, anyone want to try some?""Yes!" The boys' group said in unison."This is the Grand Line, everyone is a bit too relaxed, aren't they?" Vivi looked at the frolicking crowd with concern."Isn't it a kind of happiness to have such leisurely moments?" Nami handed over a special drink, saying with a smile, "And when they really encounter difficulties, they are quite reliable."Vivi didn't feel comforted. She reached out and took it, stirred it casually, and whispered, "Reliable?""Sanji, there's a fish over there!" Luffy's excited shout came."Where, where, let me see." Usopp pulled down his aiming scope and looked, his eyes almost popping out: "...Luffy, maybe we shouldn't provoke it.""How can we not? That's our dinner tonight, Gum-Gum Pistol!" His fist flew out, hitting a tuna hard on the head.The tuna cried out in pain and charged towards them, then leaped high out of the sea, larger than the Going Merry.━ Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━"Are they… really reliable?" Vivi looked at the tuna of this size, tears almost coming down, and said in despair."When there's… no danger, Lu… Luffy is the biggest danger." Nami's voice also trembled a little."Gurgle gurgle gurgle…" Usopp was already lying on the ground, blowing bubbles."Gum-Gum Bazooka!""Flank Steak Shoot!""Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!""Sun Breathing, Fifth Form, Fire Wheel!"Tiger-stripe-like wounds appeared on the tuna's body, its abdomen and head were dented, and its entire head separated from its body, with red flames burning at the separation point.Bright red blood rained down, washing over the Going Merry."Meruem~ How could you cut off its head?""Exactly, my attack must have already taken its life." Zoro said calmly as he sheathed his sword."Marimo Head, it was clearly my attack. Look at its head, with that degree of indentation, there's no way it could survive." Sanji lit a cigarette and said discontentedly."Huh? Swirly Brow?! Look at the wounds on the fish's body, deep enough to see bone. Do you want to try to see if you can survive that?"Sanji and Zoro looked like they were about to start fighting.Luffy was still muttering beside Meruem.Usopp, covered in blood, was diligently pulling the fish head and body.Nami and Vivi were also drenched in blood. Vivimuttered, "So… so strong."Nami looked at herself, raised her hand to smell it, and said in a cold voice, "Vivi, wait for me a moment."Bang bang bang bang!The four of them, including Luffy, knelt before Nami, looking at her enraged face, enduring her angry shouts, obediently like four quails."So it really couldn't be avoided… Is this a built-in heavy injury buff? So strong…" Meruem felt the large bump on his head, sighing… "Nami, you're the strongest, aren't you?" Vivi asked quietly.Nami waved her hand: "How could that be? I should be the only ordinary person on this ship. It's just that they're too annoying. Let's go take a bath, it's too uncomfortable being all slimy…""Really? Thank you!" Vivi's face was full of surprise, as bathing on a ship was too rare."No, no, it's no big deal. You can give me more money later." After all, the Going Merry, besides one girls' cabin, one boys' cabin, one dining room, one bathroom, and one toilet, was all empty. Meruemwas also a hoarder, basically filling all the cabins with purified water and ingredients… "Island sighted! The second island on the Grand Line has been reached!" Usopp shouted excitedly from the crow's nest.Roar!Roar roar!All sorts of strange animals preyed on each other on the island, which made Usopp's excited mood falter, and a pang of fear struck his heart… Small Gardenreached."I… We'll stay here and wait for the Log Pose to record the magnetic field." Usopp climbed down from the crow's nest, trembling as he spoke."Sanji! Prepare me a pirate bento! I smell adventure!" Luffy completely ignored Usopp's words, shouting excitedly.Boom boom boom!A sound like a volcanic eruption rang out, and Luffy's eyes grew brighter, while Nami and Usopp's expressions were terrified."Luffy, can I go with you?" Vivi's voice, however, showed no fear."Vivi, you…" Nami looked at her in disbelief."I'll overthink things if I stay here. Before the log is full, I want to get off the ship and look around to clear my head. Don't worry, Karoo will be with me."(￣□￣;)Karoo's mouth was wide open, unable to make a sound, trembling as if he were doing pop-locking… If only there was some music."Yay, adventure begins!" Luffy, carrying his bento, charged forward.
Chapter 31 Blue Demon vs Red DemonNami and Usopp exchanged glances."...I think you're very unreliable," Usopp said, looking at Nami with suspicion."That's my line! Good thing Meruem is still here..." Nami patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief.A gust of wind blew, and the smiling Meruem was scattered.∑(O_O;)Nami and Usopp looked at each other again, the fear in their eyes intensifying. On the vast Going Merry, only the two of them remained. The quiet jungle occasionally let out roars of wild beasts, seemingly waiting to devour them."I... I want to go home..." Nami's voice sounded helpless. [Dinosaurs? Shouldn't these things be extinct? I'm in the Pirate King's world, so never mind. I wonder what these guys taste like.] Meruem squatted on a tree branch, looking at the dinosaurs below, a little drool escaping his mouth."...Forget it, I'd better go back to the ship. I just have a feeling something's wrong with Nami and Usoppbeing alone." He stood up and muttered to himself, then his gaze sharpened, and he suddenly turned his head towards the Going Merry, his figure instantly disappearing from the branch...."Hahahahaha, I, Brogy, am the strongest warrior of the Giant Race! Now we have ingredients. I'll treat you to meat, and you treat me to wine!" A burly man over 12 meters tall let out a thunderous voice, holding the bleeding head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex in his hand.Nami and Usopp collapsed to the ground, their faces filled with despair. This scene looked a bit bad."Hmm, I also wanted to try it, but our wine might not be enough for you to drink," Meruem's voice sounded behind the two."Meruem!!" Nami and Usopp clung to his legs, one on each side...."Hahahahaha, I haven't tasted wine in so long. It's already great to get a taste. I wouldn't dare to hope for a full drink." Brogy laughed happily upon hearing this."Usopp, go get the wine!" Meruem shook off the two and walked towards the ship's cabin."Meruem, I... do we really have to go?" Nami asked, trembling."You don't want to eat dinosaur meat?" Meruem's expression was a bit disbelieving."That's not the problem!""Hmm... then do you think I can beat that Giant?"...Nami's expression became even more despairing...."Hahahaha, it's been so long since I've had wine, it smells so good." A half-man-tall wine barrel was like an oral solution in Brogy's hand. He tilted it, and a full stream of wine poured into his mouth.Nami whispered, "U... Usopp, look over there.""Na... Nami, I see it. It's all human skeletons. I think I'm seeing our final resting place." Usopp's expression was calm; he was no longer afraid. He already felt like he was beyond saving.Meruem gritted his teeth and tore off a large piece of roasted Tyrannosaurus Rex meat. [This... the meat is a bit tough. Is it a cooking problem? I'll stuff some in the cabin when we leave, just in case.] Then he casually asked, "Uncle Brogy, how long does it take for the Log Pose to fill up its record?""One year.""Oh." Meruem didn't feel anything about it; after all, that was the setting.Looking at Nami and Usopp, upon hearing this bad news, they had already collapsed to the ground, looking at the sky with no will to live, tears streaming down their faces."What... what's wrong with you two?" Meruemlooked at the two, finding them a bit impolite. They were guests, after all.The two glanced at Meruem, then simultaneously turned their heads away, ignoring him.(꒪ Д ꒪)ノ"You guys..."Boom boom boomBefore he could finish speaking, the sound of a huge volcanic eruption rang out, interrupting Meruem.Brogy heard the sound, his gaze sharpened, and he slowly stood up, gripping his giant axe."Usopp, see you in the next life.""Yeah, Nami, let's not be pirates in our next life..."The two closed their eyes and lay on the ground as if dead.Meruem's eye twitched uncontrollably. He decided to ignore the two and spoke to Brogy, "Where are you going?""It's time for the duel. Today is my 73,466th duel with my companion, Blue Ogre Dorry.""Aren't you companions?""It's the village rule. When two people have a disagreement, they'll fight to determine the winner under the gaze of the Giant God. The winner is the one who's right. But we've been fighting for 100 years and still haven't determined a winner! Hahahahahaha!""The victor is king... what a simple rule. So what's your disagreement?""We forgot long ago, hahahahaha."..."Alright, a battle of honor. I wish you good luck.""Then I'll take your auspicious words, young man."Each step Brogy took exuded an earth-shattering aura.Meruem turned to the two. Those two had actually already gotten up and sat properly, their faces normal, as if it wasn't them who had just been playing dead."What a brave race. I really want to visit their village... These are the brave warriors I seek, Meruem, do you understand?" Usopp looked at the two fighting a life-and-death battle with a look of longing.Meruem swallowed the roasted meat with difficulty and calmly replied, "If you hadn't been acting like that just now, I would have believed you.""That's called emergency evasion! A wise man knows when to adapt!"..."Even a wise man would want to hit someone after hearing that.""..."...The sound of axes striking shields was jarring. Every move Dorry and Brogy made was aimed at the other's vital points. They didn't seem like companions, but rather mortal enemies.[If one day Luffy and I reach the same situation as them... no, how is that possible? How could I attack my number one leg? Wouldn't that be suicide?] Meruem silently watched the struggle before him, shook his head, and cast the impractical thoughts out of his mind.The two's struggle didn't last long. Axes and swords clashed together, and their shields simultaneously struck each other's faces. They said in unison, "Battle 73,466... a draw."..."Hahahaha, after a good fight, there's delicious wine to accompany it. This is simply the ideal life!" Brogy's cheeks were still swollen, but he didn't care at all, eating meat and drinking wine heartily.Usopp looked very excited. He imitated Brogy, stuffed a mouthful of meat, then took a gulp of wine, and then... he choked."Cough, cough, cough, cough..."Meruem looked at him speechlessly, reaching out and patting his back twice."Thank you, Meruem. I was almost throttled by this evil wine just now. Thanks to your help," Usopp said seriously."The wine thanks you... If you can't drink, please go to the kids' table." Meruem looked at this guy, wanting to break his nose."How can a brave sea warrior not be able to drink?" Usopp said, taking another gulp of wine."Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough..."(ㅍ_ㅍ)You might as well be throttled here.
Chapter 32 Who Allowed You to Disturb Them"Hahahahaha." Brogy looked at Usopp and burst into laughter, tears almost streaming down his face.Meruem, his face dark, slapped Usopp's back, knocking him to the ground: "I told you not to drink it, don't drink it."Usopp couldn't keep up the act either, and he scrambled to his feet, a look of embarrassment on his face: "I drank it too fast, too fast. Brogy, I want to live a life full of honor, just like you."Meruem and Nami squinted at him; the topic change was a bit too abrupt.Brogy, however, didn't notice at all and said with a hearty laugh: "Our lives are longer than yours, so we hope to die with more glory. Property, life, and everything else seem like fleeting clouds in the long years. In my clan's tradition, to die with dignity is called a glorious death, and for my clan, this is the true treasure. It's an existence equal to the One Piece you pursue!"Meruem spread his hands: "But I don't think killing comrades for no reason can be called dying with dignity. If your reasons were about beliefs or something, I'd say it's fine. But to not even remember the reason, and to have fought for a hundred years, that's not glory, it's obstinacy."Brogy fell into deep thought."Ai… Meruem, don't provoke him," Nami said, tugging on Meruem's sleeve.After saying that, Meruem lost interest in speaking further, shrugging his shoulders and taking small sips from his wine glass.Boom boom boomThe sound of the volcano erupting rang out again.Brogy silently picked up his giant axe and walked out.Meruem glanced at him, remaining silent… "Dorry, you seem very off today." Brogy saw Dorry and didn't immediately start fighting."Cough cough, I'm in excellent shape. It's you, Brogy, why do you lack some of your usual presence today?" Dorry still had blood on the corner of his mouth, but he was full of momentum, charging directly towards Brogy.Brogy exhaled, a grin on his face, and charged towards Dorry as well.After only two rounds, Dorry slipped, and his entire body fell sideways to the ground.Brogy's axe was raised high, a hint of sadness in his eyes, but he showed no intention of stopping."Battle 73467, victory!" he declared, then brought the axe down with a fierce chop.Clang!!A black blade, as tiny as hair compared to the giant axe, collided with the axe.Meruem did who knows how many backflips in the air before landing on a tree, his arm trembling slightly, his sword almost slipping from his grasp. [What the hell… the strength is incredible. These two are the real monsters, aren't they?]"Meruem! What are you doing! Are you going to ruin our battle of honor?! Dorry won't thank you, he'll only resent you!" Brogy's axe was blocked, then he swung it fiercely, pointing it at Meruem, implying he would fight if Meruem disagreed.Meruem shook his hand, but the numbness wouldn't go away. He retorted: "Don't you want to look at your feet? Isn't it a bit lopsided to only train strength… This was originally a battle that someone interfered with. Do you want to win like this?!"Brogy looked down to see his feet wrapped in thick wax. He struggled hard but couldn't move.Half of the fallen Dorry's body was already encased in wax. Beside him, a shifty-looking man with a braided number "3" on his head and wearing glasses emerged, holding a cup of black tea and smiling as he said: "Although the outcome was ruined, the objective was achieved. Thank you for your fierce battle. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Mr.3 of Baroque Works, a modeling artist."Meruem jumped beside Mr.3, carefully avoiding the wax on the ground: "How can someone as shifty as you be an artist?"(꒪Д꒪)ノ"You're the punk who messed up my plan! And now you dare to insult me! Mr.5, Ms. Valentine, take him out!"The two people who emerged from the jungle saw Meruem's face, their steps faltered, and Usopp and Vivi, whom they were carrying, dropped to the ground."Oh, it's you guys. I forgot about that pretentious guy in sunglasses who fainted last time. This time, it'll cost more." Meruem glanced at them, a sinister grin on his face, looking every bit the villain."Ai… Meruem, this man put explosives in our wine, making Dorry drink it and ruining this battle." Usopp's face was full of indignation, and his bound hands struggled continuously.[…Drinking boogers, how disgusting. But Usoppseems a bit braver now, which is great.] Meruemshifted his feet and appeared behind Mr.5, whispering: "No matter how absurd their reasons for fighting are, who gave you permission to disturb them?"Mr.5 heard the voice, his face twisted slightly. He turned and kicked, but only passed through an afterimage, kicking fiercely into a tree.Boom!The tree exploded with a roar, the massive blast tearing it apart, sending splinters flying everywhere.Upon closer inspection, Meruem had already moved Usopp and Vivi aside and was untying them."Usopp, do you think we should forgive them?""No! Never forgive them!""Understood."Meruem bowed slightly, assumed a starting stance, and his killing intent erupted without restraint.Usopp put on his scope, twisted his wrist, and also looked very serious."Usopp, let's go!""Okay!"Swish!A slash cut through the air. Mr.3 sat down in terror, the "3" on his head becoming half. Meruem's horizontal slash then cut downwards, aiming at him."Melt-Melt Sculpture: Shield!" A large white shield appeared in front of him. Meruem's black blade struck it, igniting flames, and the entire shield burst into a raging fire.However, in that brief moment, Mr.3 had already retreated several steps, creating distance… "Hissatsu: Firebird Star!" Usopp fired a bullet. Mr.5 opened his mouth, caught the bullet, and swallowed it, licking his lips: "Your gunpowder tastes mediocre. Don't you have anything stronger? It's incredible that such a weak person is in this monster group."As he spoke, he rushed towards Usopp.Seeing this, Usopp's eyes widened, but he fiercely planted his trembling legs to the ground and roared: "I am the great Captain Usopp!"Continuous gunfire failed to impede Mr.5's steps. His contemptuous face was already almost upon Usopp.Usopp gritted his teeth, his face full of unwillingness, but his hands didn't stop for a moment. He reached out to grab something, but then froze; his ammunition had run out… "Die." Mr.5 pulled back his fist, gathering strength, and delivered a powerful punch towards Usopp's face."Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy's fist arrived first, striking Mr.5 squarely in the face.Luffy, covered in wounds, emerged from the jungle: "I'm going to send all of you flying!"
Chapter 33: We're fighting, why are you crying?Meruem stopped his rescue efforts and looked back at Mr.3, only to see him pointing his sword at Zoroand Nami, who were bound by wax."Stop! Do you want to watch your companions die?"Meruem slowly walked towards him: "If I stop, will we all die together? I really don't understand your logic. What good does threatening me do besides increasing my anger?"Mr.3 gritted his teeth and moved the sword closer, causing Meruem's steps to falter involuntarily."Hahaha, such big talk, but you still care a lot, don't you?" Mr.3 laughed loudly. The wax in front of him changed shape, forming a crossbow. The arrowhead of the crossbow reflected the sunlight, looking extremely sharp."Tell me, what are your conditions?" Meruemsheathed his sword, trying to speak calmly."No rush, let me vent some anger first. Slime Sculpture Crossbow! Fire!"The crossbow bolt fiercely pierced Meruem's abdomen, bringing out a spray of blood. The intense pain made him drop to one knee, coughing up fresh blood."Meruem!" Nami and Zoro's faces turned extremely grim, their eyes filled with hatred fixed on Mr.3. They struggled with all their might but couldn't break free."Hahahaha, what a vivid color. This is art!" Mr.3's laughter was very grating.Taking advantage of the laughter, Meruem, who was half-kneeling, gradually turned into a phantom and dissipated on the spot. Looking again, Zoro and Nami were already lying behind him, and he slowly gripped his black blade, looking mockingly at Mr.3."W-what the f-!"Mr.3's facial expression was spectacular, staring blankly at Meruem, his mouth wide open, but unable to make a sound."Now it's your turn to let me vent some anger. How do you think you can make me happy?" The bloodied hole in Meruem's abdomen unscientifically contracted, as if nothing had happened, were it not for the lingering bloodstains and the hole in his clothes."Hold on a minute! I...I'll leave right now, don't come any closer!" Mr.3 waved his hands repeatedly.Meruem smiled and walked forward step by step, scaring him into retreating repeatedly. If the distance were a little closer, it would look like they were dancing the tango."You you you you you you...You stop! If you come any closer...any closer I'll..." Mr.3 accidentally tripped and fell to the ground, shouting loudly."[These lines are terrible...Look at your face...Damn it...]" Meruem's eye twitched uncontrollably when he heard this. Suddenly, his gaze changed, and he swung his sword, fiercely stabbing...a red target on the ground."Hmm?"Looking at the red target beneath him, then towards Mr.3's direction, which was at least dozens of meters away. Meruem was confused, pulled out his blade, casually flicked it, and with a focused gaze, activated Observation Haki."Color Trap, Green of Relaxation!"Observation Haki abruptly ceased. Meruem lay comfortably on the ground, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a leisurely puff, and blew out smoke rings.A little girl, with her short legs, ran to Mr.3's side and helped him up."Mr.3, are you okay...?" Her soft, sweet voice sounded like heavenly music to Mr.3's ears."Ms. Goldenweek, boo hoo hoo, you've come just in time..." He hugged the little girl's leg, crying hysterically."[This ability is too...bugged. And then there's Perona later. If these two tried a little harder, they'd probably be invincible. No, how could Perona not beat Usopp...But pervert, let go of that obviously underage little girl, this scene is too disgusting.]" Meruem stood up with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking at Ms. Goldenweek with a horrified expression. He released Observation Haki at maximum power, not daring to be careless anymore."Color Trap, Blue of Sadness!" Ms. Goldenweek saw Meruem stand up, and with a flick of her paintbrush, blue paint flew towards Meruem.The paint hit the running Meruem, but it passed right through him. It had only hit an afterimage. While running, he subtly shifted left and immediately moved back, making it seem as if he hadn't dodged at all.Ms. Goldenweek's eyes widened, her paintbrush continuously flicking, causing puddles of various colored paints to fly out. Suddenly, the paintbrush in her hand disappeared."Little one, it's too early for you to be involved in this kind of thing. Go home obediently." As he spoke, Meruem snapped the paintbrush in his hand."..." Ms. Goldenweek looked at the broken paintbrush, her eyes slowly turned red, filled with tears. She pouted and started crying loudly."[Everyone's fighting! Why are you crying?! You...you...Alright, I really can't do anything about you.]" Meruem looked at her speechlessly, then tremblingly handed over the broken paintbrush. She reached out and took it, sniffled twice, and cried even louder.Meruem truly had no choice. Seeing Mr.3 beside her, who was in a daze, he felt a surge of anger and fiercely punched his perverted face."Ora Ora Ora!""[Phew, that felt good.]" Meruem stood up, exhaled, and felt his entire mindset relax.Looking at Mr.3 again, his entire face was unrecognizable from moments before, and he had fallen unconscious.Because of his unconsciousness, the solidified wax began to slowly melt. Nami walked over, glanced at Meruem with an expression like she was looking at a pervert, and then went to comfort the little girl who was crying her heart out."[What's wrong...? We're fighting, a battle of life and death...]" Meruem was completely speechless at her gaze. Although it was a little girl...although...Alright, I should have just knocked her out. Why snap the paintbrush? It was just a reflex...Luffy and Usopp walked over, carrying Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine, and bumped into Mr.3 with a thud."Meruem~ Are you okay with your injury?" Luffyreached out and pulled open Meruem's clothes, asking with concern.The wound had already clotted, and there were barely any traces of it left."[Am I...not human anymore...?]" Meruemexclaimed, looking at the location of his wound. He pulled Luffy's hand away and asked, looking at the three unconscious people on the ground: "How should we deal with these three?""I don't know...I was very angry just now, but now my anger has subsided." Usopp touched his upward-bent nose, and with a slight force, it returned to its original shape."[I want to cut it open and see what it's made of...]" Meruem interjected: "How about we kill them?"Everyone fell silent. It was understandable to lose control during a fight, but harming someone who had lost the ability to resist always felt a bit strange.Meruem shrugged, seeing everyone's reactions, and said nothing more.
Chapter 34: Small Garden. EndNami led the still sobbing little girl over and said, "Her name is Marianne, and she must have been tricked by Baroque Works. Their goal is to kill Dorryand Brogy, then capture the five of us alive, which is why they didn't kill us just now.""1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6..." Usopp counted, then asked in confusion, "But there are 6 of us...""Not including you," Nami replied.Rustle, rustle, rustle... an otter appeared in the tree, turned its notebook around, revealing a portrait of Usopp. It compared it to him, then jumped onto a vulture and flew away.(=͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*)Nami watched this scene and amended, "Alright, now Baroque Works' target is the 6 of us."Usopp reached into his bag, froze, fainted in a second, and lay on the ground, blowing bubbles.Meruem glanced at Annu, "How do you know this little kid was tricked?""Because her goal is to open a coffee shop and become a painter. Crocodile told her she had no money, but if she worked for him, he would give her money." Nami looked at Annu gently, as if seeing her past self.Annu, startled by his glance, was about to start crying again.(꒪Д꒪)ノMeruem pulled a ruby from his fanny pack and handed it to her, "If you sell this, it'll be enough. Don't cry... please."Annu stared blankly at the ruby in her hand, then looked up at Meruem, then down again, her face full of disbelief.Nami's smile froze on her face. She looked at Meruem's fanny pack with a dark expression, her fingers unconsciously twitching.Meruem silently tightened his fanny pack and took half a step back, "Back to the original question, what do we do with these three guys?""Leave them to us. We also have Sea Stonehandcuffs here. We'll let them go once we've decided the victor," Brogy's voice boomed like thunder."You two have been fighting for 100 years without a victor. If you live long enough, wouldn't that be a life sentence? But, what does that have to do with me?" Meruem scratched his ear, remaining silent."What is Sea Stone?" Luffy asked."It's something specifically for you Devil Fruit users. Once you're cuffed, you can't use any of your abilities." Brogy squatted next to everyone, like a towering mountain.Luffy considered it for a moment, then said with a smile, "Then I'll leave them to you~ I'm so hungry..."Annu silently walked to Luffy's side, tugged his hand, and pulled out... a whole bag of senbei crackers.╭(°A°`)╮"Your bag is full of snacks! If you use a paintbrush as a weapon, can't you prepare two more? What's the meaning of carrying a pocketful of snacks! And I'm the one who paid, what do you mean by giving him the senbei?!" Meruem was greatly shocked."Ah? Hahahaha, thank you, Annu! You're such a good person! Let's have a senbei party!" Luffy tore open a bag of senbei and crunched on them.Nami finally moved her gaze from Meruem's... fanny pack, "We still have to stay here for a year. What should we do?""Yes... a year. Can Alabasta really hold out for a year?" Vivi covered her face, tears streaming from between her fingers."Miss Nami! Princess Vivi! Do you think this might be useful?" Sanji ran over, offering a permanent log pose as if presenting a trophy.Vivi tearfully accepted it, looked at it, and immediately brightened, "This is Alabasta's permanent log pose, Sanji! Thank you!"Saying this, she hugged Sanji tightly.(♡⌂♡)Sanji was completely stunned. Feeling the sensation on his chest, his soul had already ascended to heaven.Usopp chewed on a senbei, "Where did you find it?"Vivi hugged Sanji for a moment then let go, standing aside and discussing with Nami. Sanji looked at the two women's smiles, a lewd grin on his face.Usopp waved his hand in front of his eyes and shouted, finally calling Sanji's soul back."Ahem, I just encountered an otter and a vulture and snatched it from them.""An otter? What about the painting in its hand?""You mean your portrait? It was drawn quite well. I didn't bother with it; they probably took it with them."=͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇)臥━=͟͟͞͞(Ŏ◊Ŏ ‧̣̥̇)━擦!!!!Usopp, biting his senbei, fiercely gripped Sanji's neck, mumbling incoherent words."What's wrong? What's going on?" Sanji's head shook uncontrollably. He looked at the senbei in Usopp's mouth and didn't resist.A long while passed.Usopp sat aside, looking at the clear blue sky, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes."Luffy, we need to set sail quickly," Nami said, getting up and heading towards the Going Merry."Oh!" Luffy quickly stuffed all the remaining senbei into his mouth and followed.Meruem stood up and brushed off the dust. As he took a step, he felt someone tugging his sleeve. He turned his head and saw Annu looking at him intently."...What about this little kid?""Bring her along. We'll take her to Alabasta. She can't open a coffee shop and be a painter here, can she...?" Nami turned her head and said, "Princess Vivi will look after her then."(ᇂ_ᇂ|||)Meruem said as gently as possible, "Let's go."Annu shivered but didn't let go, silently following behind Meruem... "Brogy, our friends are setting sail. Shouldn't we see them off?""Hahahahaha, we absolutely must see them off."...Meruem and Annu exchanged glances. Meruemgave in, walked to Nami's side, and said, "You go deal with that little kid. Tell her to stop staring at me...""That'll be 100,000 Berries.""Are you robbing me?""What do you think?"Meruem pulled money from his fanny pack and handed it to Nami, a speechless expression on his face.Nami quickly counted it, flicked her fingers, and then walked towards Annu... "Look, it's the giant uncles! Are they here to see us off?" Dorry and Brogy stood on either side of the shore, like two guardian gods. Luffy pointed at their backs, excited."The reason why almost all pirates who come to this island are annihilated is ahead," Dorry said, slowly raising the longsword in his hand."Our friends have protected our honor. In the name of giants, let us clear the way for our friends! Little ones, go straight ahead!"The sea parted to both sides, as if something terrifying was emerging from the deep."Luffy..." Nami felt a little uneasy."Go straight ahead!""Yes..."A sea beast as large as the island emerged from the sea, staring coldly at the Going Merry. It opened its massive maw, preparing to swallow it whole."Luffy!" Nami and Usopp's voices were a little shrill."Go straight ahead!" Luffy stood with his arms crossed, without a hint of hesitation.Brogy laughed loudly, raising his axe, veins bulging on his arms, "Island Eater!"Dorry, not to be outdone, also raised his longsword, muscles bulging, "We must never let our friends' pirate flag be broken."Then they roared in unison, "Haki of the Nation!"The immense power pierced through the Island Eater, and the ocean was carved into a deep trench, with the Going Merry flying through its center."Go forth, my friends!""Go pursue your glory!"The axe and sword both broke... "This power... it's cheating... Have I been too active lately...?" Meruemlooked at this power, his little heart thumping.
Chapter 35 Drum Island"One day, I will definitely go to the giants' homeland and visit them as a brave sea warrior!" Usopp cried tears of joy, looking in the direction of Small Garden."Yes, yes, you will. Aren't you going to prepare your ammunition? I saw you used it all up earlier," Meruem replied casually, leaning against the ship's rail.Usopp stuck his tongue out at Meruem: "Are you the evil boss? It's break time now. Luffy, let's drink!""Did you forget you gave all the alcohol to your idol…?"( ᇂ _ ᇂ | | | )"Meruem… you've become annoying."Meruem felt much better after a few snarky remarks, lit a cigarette, and took a satisfying puff… "Nami! Nami, what's wrong with you!" Vivi's exclamation rang out, and everyone rushed over."This is bad, Nami's body is so hot, we need to get her into the room to rest first." Vivi touched Nami's forehead with a worried expression, then struggled to pick up Nami and walked towards the cabin."Nami… will she die? Miss Vivi…" Sanji cried so sadly, as if Nami had already died.Meruem felt he couldn't bear to watch, so he quietly went to find the medical book he got from Crocus, glanced at it twice, and then threw it to the ground."I should have asked for a basic medical book… This useless thing is incomprehensible, and where am I going to find medicine in this vast sea! What do I do now."Meruem's calm expression vanished as he looked at the weak Nami on the bed, deep in thought."So now I need Chopper… But where is Chopper, how can I find him without a Log Pose!"Meruem agonizingly ruffled his hair, truly worried that his arrival had altered the Straw Hat Crew's development path. If Nami really died here, he truly couldn't accept it."Everyone, don't worry, I'm fine. Vivi, you saw the newspaper just now, we need to sail to Alabasta as fast as possible." Nami leaned weakly against the cabin door."But… if you don't see a doctor soon, you'll die," Usopp said worriedly."You don't know medicine, don't talk nonsense, I'm really fine. Vivi, I'm counting on you, my companions here don't know how to read the Log Pose or sea charts, I…" With that, she fainted.Meruem flashed behind Nami, caught her, and placed her back on the bed.Vivi, clutching the newspaper tightly, slumped to the ground, her face constantly changing. After a long while, she stood up and said loudly, "I must hurry back to Alabasta. If I can't return, a million citizens will fall into infighting. There's no time for another moment of hesitation, so… we must sail to Alabastaas fast as possible!"Meruem walked out of the cabin door and heard these words, his hand slowly moving to his black sword, his expression cold.Zoro, with his arms crossed, glanced at Meruem but said nothing.Vivi continued, "So, we need to find an island with a doctor to cure Nami's illness as soon as possible. Then we'll head towards Alabasta. This is the fastest this ship can go, right?"Meruem lowered his hand, the killing intent in his eyes gone, replaced only by worry… Without direction, without a destination, the Going Merrysailed on the vast sea.It started snowing… "Annu, do you have any ideas…" Meruem sat by the bed, the intense use of Observation Haki had left him a bit fatigued, and he looked on with a worried expression.Annu silently shook her head.Sanji walked in, carrying delicious food: "…Nami still hasn't woken up?""No…" Meruem replied weakly. Sanji walked over and patted Meruem's shoulder, not knowing what to say.It became noisy outside.A hint of anger flashed across Meruem's face. He stood up but felt his body go soft and he fell. Sanjicaught him and pressed him into a chair: "You've been almost sleepless these past few days. Rest well now. I'll go check."The sound of fighting erupted. Meruem struggled but couldn't stand up: "Annu… you go check, be careful."Annu nodded, picked up her drawing board from her bag, and walked out."Gum-Gum Rocket!" Luffy's angry voice came, and soon after, silence returned.Annu walked in, sat beside Meruem, and softly said, "A very annoying person came and bit our ship.""Bitten… bit… Drum Island! Drum Kingdom! Chopper!"Meruem took a deep breath, red light burst in his pupils, and the immense aura even stirred his black hair.Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji rushed in, looking at Meruemwith astonished expressions. Usopp and Vivi didn't know what had happened, but they followed inside."Vivi… North 37°, sail…" Before he could finish, blood gushed from Meruem's mouth, and he collapsed."Meruem!"…The ship had been sailing for two days in the direction Meruem indicated. Nami's temperature was getting higher and higher, with no signs of waking up.Even Meruem had been in a coma since he coughed up blood, his face pale, and his body temperature frighteningly low.Luffy had lost his usual cheerfulness, looking worriedly towards the cabin."I see an island!" Usopp's excited voice came.Everyone quickly grabbed their binoculars and looked in the direction Usopp pointed, their anxious expressions visibly relaxing."Zoro~ what do you think Meruem was doing that day? Was he fortune-telling? He actually found an island.""…You can ask him when he wakes up. I definitely don't think so.""Hmm… it doesn't matter, we'll find a doctor soon!"…Meruem slowly opened his eyes. Outside, snow was falling heavily, but inside the room, there was a warm stove. The quilt on him was very thick, and Annu was dozing by the bed.Looking across, Nami was still unconscious on the opposite bed. Luffy and Vivi were arguing about something, but he couldn't hear anything clearly."Cough…" He let out a cough, threw off the quilt, and sat up. Annu silently watched him, trying to push him back onto the bed."Annu, don't worry, I was just a bit overzealous before, I'm fine now." Meruem gently stroked Annu's head, took a few deep breaths, and his complexion became rosy again, no longer that ghastly pale.He stood up and twisted his body, his bones creaking. He reached for the black sword by the bed and hung it at his waist, returning to his normal self."What are you arguing about? If we're in town, hurry up and find a doctor."Vivi said angrily, "Look at the weather outside. Luffysays he wants to take Nami to climb that mountain, which is almost 90 degrees, to find that witch up there to cure Nami. Nami won't be able to handle it."Meruem was silent, then said, "Luffy, do you have confidence?""Yes!""You guys, don't be foolish!" Vivi spread her arms, blocking Nami."Vivi…" Nami's voice came.
Chapter 36 Your lives combined are worthless to meNami tremblingly extended a hand from under the covers: "Luffy... Meruem... I'm counting on you two."Luffy reached out and high-fived her: "Leave it to me!"Meruem held Nami's hand, feeling her temperature, and frowned: "Luffy, let's go!"Sanji stopped Meruem: "You just recovered. I'll go."Meruem gently pushed him away: "Let's go together. We're in a hurry; we need to clear the path for Luffy."Annu tugged at Meruem's clothes, refusing to let go. He gently broke free: "Annu, time is short. Otherwise, your sister Nami will die. I'm fine. Do I look like I'm in trouble? Usopp, Vivi, keep an eye on her. Don't let her run around.""Okay."Vivi tied Nami to Luffy's back, checking it carefully several times: "You must be careful..."Meruem nodded: "Let's go."The three ran towards the mountain... A group of rabbits... no, judging by their size, they should be a group of polar bears... but looking at their heads, they weren't. A group of Lapahns stood in front of the three, blocking their way.Meruem placed his hand on his scabbard, ready to act, but the group of Lapahns suddenly started jumping in place."(...It's a fight, so why are you dancing? Tell me, is this hopping a war dance?!)"Sanji's expression changed drastically: "They're trying to...""=͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪‧̣̥̇) Holy—=͟͟͞͞(Ŏ◊Ŏ‧̣̥̇)—crap!!!!!"An avalanche came crashing down. In the face of such a natural disaster, individuals seemed too insignificant. Meruem gritted his teeth, regretting that he hadn't acted first.The three ran for a long time, almost reaching the foot of the mountain, but now they had to run back the way they came.The avalanche was right behind them. Sanji let Luffystep on his leg, then gave a powerful kick, launching Luffy forward. He himself was buried by the avalanche. Meruem, in mid-air, grabbed his last exposed hand and pulled hard, dragging him out, but he had already fallen unconscious.Luffy carried Nami, and Meruem carried Sanji, as they resumed their trek towards the mountain... "Straw Hat! Stop right there!" Wapol appeared before the two, roaring in anger."(One after another, don't you guys get tired... I'm already tired...) "Meruem handed Sanji to Luffy: "You go first."Luffy nodded heavily and continued to run forward.Meruem squinted, turning his head left and right: "I hope you can entertain me."Jess, with his wavy thick lips, strange clothes, and arms reaching his knees, sneered: "I didn't allow him to leave." With that, he drew his bow and shot an arrow at Luffy.Kuromarimo, with his afro, took a boxer's stance and lunged forward: "You little pirate without even a bounty think you can stop us!" He threw a heavy punch at Meruem's face.Meruem reached out and caught the arrow, breaking it in his hand. His other hand grabbed Kuromarimo's fist, and he said coldly: "Sorry, I don't feel like robbing today. All your lives combined are worthless to me."With that, he plunged the broken arrowhead into Kuromarimo's neck. With a shift of his feet, he sliced off Jess's head, sending it flying into the air.The color of fresh blood splattered on the snow, like blooming plum blossoms. Meruem also had bloodstains on his face, but he grinned: "Only you left. I hope you have more blood."Wapol took half a step back and shouted: "Snow Country's specialty, Snow Make-up!" With that, he plunged into the snow like a diver, disappearing into the snow.Meruem stood still, red light flickering in his pupils, then turning into afterimages. He plunged his sword into the snow, and the black blade he pulled out was covered in blood."Hide-and-seek is fun, we can continue..."Wapol emerged from the snow, blood gushing from the sword wound on his back: "I am the king of this island! I can give you anything you want."Meruem casually flicked his black blade, and crimson blood splattered on the snow: "I told you, I don't want to repeat myself. I want nothing but your life."Wapol gritted his teeth, kneeling on the ground: "Please, spare me, I... Tongue Cannon!"His tongue transformed into a cannon barrel, emitting a huge roar. A cannonball shot from his mouth, but it passed through Meruem's body and flew outwards, a massive explosion echoing in the snowy landscape."Hmm, that surprise attack is quite interesting. Do you have more?" Meruem reached out and cut off Wapol's tongue, a smile on his face.Wapol stammered, unable to speak, his expression grave."Looks like the fun's over." Meruem sighed: "Sun Breathing, First Form, Dance..."Red flames flickered on the black blade, forming an arc in the air, and Wapol's head flew into the sky.Meruem twirled his sword. Not a single drop of blood stained the blade as he sheathed it. His mood had improved significantly, and he chased after Luffy.Wapol's headless body trembled slightly... but Meruem didn't notice... "Ah! Sanji!" Sanji, held in Luffy's mouth, fell off the cliff. Luffy violently shook his head, his neck stretching endlessly as he chased after the falling Sanji.Meruem's sword was stuck in the cliff, and he caught Sanji: "Hi~ Luffy.""Meruem~ You're here. Let's hurry up." Luffy's head quickly snapped back after saying this."Alright~" Meruem said, continuously stabbing and pulling out his sword, catching up to Luffy.Having finally climbed the cliff, Luffy's expression relaxed, and his body slowly started to fall backward.A furry hand grabbed him. Meruem flipped over and propped him up from behind.Their eyes met."=͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪‧̣̥̇) Holy—=͟͟͞͞(Ŏ◊Ŏ‧̣̥̇)—crap!!!!!"The hairy giant and Meruem were startled simultaneously, looking at each other in shock. "(There's nothing strange about how I look! Why are you so shocked?!) "The giant turned and ran into the castle. Meruem, helpless, had no choice but to carry Sanji in his left arm and Luffy and Nami in his right, following him inside... "Doctor! Doctor, where are you!" Meruemfound a room, settled the three on a bed, and shouted loudly, but there was no response.He had no choice. He glanced at the three and walked out.A small figure quietly slipped into the room."Why is no one around? I wonder where that hairy strong man ran off to." Meruem said as he pushed open a room.A thin old woman wearing sunglasses smiled at him: "What, are you here to ask me for the secret to eternal youth?"Meruem paused, closed the door, then suddenly pushed it open again, and slowly closed it once more."Are you sick?! No, I'm a doctor. You're sick! Don't leave! Come here for a shot!" Dr. Kureha pulled out a syringe taller than a person and chased after the fleeing Meruem.