Chapter 54: Joyous Drum PeakLead-gray clouds like water-soaked cotton pressed heavily against the horizon of Drum Peak, and even the wind carried the sharp edge of ice shards, swirling snowflakes through the air—The snow fell extremely lightly yet densely, each flake like a white butterfly fluttering its wings. They first landed on the dark green pine branches, paused for a moment, and then rustled down the needles into the thick layer of snow below without making a sound.The world was a vast expanse of white, with even the distant mountain peaks shrouded in snowy mist; only the old tree on the mountainside was particularly eye-catching. Its main trunk was thick enough to require five people to encircle it, and its dark brown bark was cracked with gullies, yet four glass windows had been opened about ten feet off the ground. The window frames were frosted with a thin layer of ice, looking like four pieces of translucent jade embedded in the trunk.The snow accumulated on the branches was so thick that it pressed the originally vigorous lines into rounded shapes, making it look from a distance like a giant cauliflower without leaves.Even more unusual was the cable rope hanging from the side of the treehouse—the hemp rope, as thick as a bowl's mouth, was tightly wrapped in snow, its pale white color almost merging with the surrounding accumulation.One end was hidden in the mist-shrouded peaks above, with not even the tip of the rope visible, while the other end was firmly tied to the thickest main branch of the cedar tree. The knot was mostly buried in snow; unless one was looking for it intentionally, no passerby would ever notice it.Usopp shrank his neck into his scarf, the tip of his nose frozen red. He rubbed his hands together in his red gloves, and the white breath he exhaled dissipated as soon as it drifted before his eyes.His gaze fell upon the cable rope, and the more he looked, the more miraculous it seemed. He couldn't help but give a thumbs-up to Zoro beside him, his voice full of admiration:"Zoro, you're really something! To be able to find such a hidden place... anyone else probably wouldn't know a place like this existed even if they lived to be old!"Hearing this, Zoro subconsciously rubbed the back of his head, and his face actually felt a bit hot. He originally opened his mouth, wanting to honestly say,"Actually, I only stumbled upon it because I got lost in the castle," but as the words reached his lips, they somehow took a turn and blurted out stiffly: "That... that's a matter of course.I've scouted the entire terrain near the castle; a little thing like this wouldn't stump me."As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt guilty—the tips of his ears quietly flushed with heat, and he didn't dare look at Usopp again, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward the distant snow.In truth, it was hardly a case of "scouting the terrain." He had told Mark in the castle corridor that he was going for a "stroll," but as he walked, he got lost in the castle. After wandering around, he actually stumbled upon a hidden mechanism, and upon opening it, discovered it was actually a cable car station.At the time, he even muttered, "Why didn't they take the cable car up?" and with the mindset of "since I'm already here, I might as well see what's below," he sat in the cable car and slid down.Who would have thought he would find Kureha's path down the mountain? It just so happened that during his descent, he was spotted by Robin, who was investigating the history of the Drum Kingdom, which led to the aforementioned events."Oh?" Robin, standing nearby, suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a faint hint of amusement. She reached out a fingertip and gently touched a snowflake on the cable rope.The icy sensation traveled from her fingertip as the snowflake melted into a tiny droplet of water. When she looked up, her eyes sparkled with understanding, and the corners of her eyes curved slightly: "It couldn't be that you 'happened by chance' to stumble upon it, could it?"She specifically enunciated the words "happened by chance" slowly and gently, with the final syllable rising slightly. The tone was soft, yet it was like a fine needle, gently pricking through the facade of "competence" that Zoro was barely managing to maintain.Zoro's face grew even hotter, and even his ears turned red. Just as he was about to frown and argue "it wasn't like that," Dalton's voice cut in, coming to his rescue.The former Drum Kingdom Royal Guard Captainwas running his hand over the snow accumulated on the cable. His eyes were full of wonder and a hint of disbelief, his tone mixed with a bit of self-deprecation:"So this is Dr. Kureha's path down the mountain? I've lived on Drum Peak for half my life and passed under this cedar tree countless times while on patrol, yet I never discovered there was such a path..."As he spoke, he looked up toward where the cable disappeared into the snowy mist. "It's time to go up and visit an old friend." He was still clutching a bounty poster given to him by the villagers.The perspective shifts, and the summit of Drum Peak presents a completely different scene.On the stone platform of the castle—several empty ceramic bowls were stacked to the side, next to which lay the spoons Sanji had just washed clean. Steam rose from the rims of the bowls, condensing into a thin white mist in the cold air.Luffy, carrying his round belly, left a trail of uneven footprints in the snow. Every step sank to his calves, and snow spray crawled into his pant legs, but he didn't care at all. Instead, he found it fun, jumping occasionally to let the snow splash onto his face.After playing for a while, he felt bored. He suddenly stopped, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted to the surroundings: "Hey—everyone, let's have a snowball fight! It'll be super fun!"If these words were spoken to Usopp, there would surely be a loud response in the next second, perhaps followed by some clever ideas for "snowball fight tactics." But at this moment, not a single person gathered on the platform responded—Kureha leaned against a pillar, clutching a bottle of wine and taking a swig every now and then. She had her eyes closed, as if dozing or perhaps listening to the sound of the snow.Chopper was squatting on the steps, cradling a piece of pink cotton candy in his arms and licking it in small bites. He would occasionally use his hoof to flick snow off the cotton candy, fearing that the sugar strands on that side would be melted by the snow;Nami's health had improved significantly, and some color had returned to her face. Wrapped in a thick wool blanket Sanji had found, she held a bowl of hot porridge in both hands and sipped it slowly. The steam from the porridge brushed against her cheeks, bringing some color back to her originally pale lips;And Sanji stood beside Nami, still holding a clean spoon, his gaze glued to Nami's profile. Hearts were practically overflowing from his eyes, and he hadn't even heard Luffy's shout.Luffy shouted for a long time without any reaction and scratched his head in discouragement, but he didn't plan to give up—he casually packed a snowball, shook his arm, and threw it toward Chopper. His intention was to tease him into joining, but unexpectedly, the snowball went slightly wide and hit the cotton candy in Chopper's hand with a "splat."Half of the pink cotton candy was instantly knocked off, sticking to the snow. Before Chopper could react, Luffy packed another snowball, this time throwing it at Sanji (actually wanting Sanji to notice him), but the snowball exploded in mid-air, and the crushed snow rustled down into the porridge bowl Nami was holding.That bowl of porridge was something Sanji had woken up early to brew—he had specifically found warming herbs unique to Drum Peak and added soft millet, simmering it for a full eight hours to produce such a bowl of thick, hot porridge, fearing Namiwould feel uncomfortable if she drank something cold.The air went silent for half a second, and even the wind seemed to stop.In the next second, the scene completely flipped."Rubber Bastard!" Chopper suddenly stood up, his ears pricked straight and his eyes wide and round, his tone full of grievance and anger. "I'm going to let you know what it means to have a snowball fight with an original resident of the Ice Kingdom."He quickly stuffed the remaining half of the cotton candy into Kureha's hands, his little hoof tightly clutching Kureha's sleeve, his voice carrying a hurried plea: "Doctor Kureha, keep this for me! I must make this Rubber Man pay the price."Kureha opened her eyes and looked at Chopper's angry back, a rare smile of gratification curling the corners of her mouth. She took the cotton candy, wrapped it gently in a handkerchief, and said with a hint of encouragement: "Chopper, don't embarrass us original residents of Drum Peak. You must show that Straw Hat kid what for.""Gum-Gum Snowball Gatling!" Luffy didn't care about Chopper's anger; instead, he felt things had finally gotten lively, his eyes shining like stars. His rubber arms instantly elongated, blurring into afterimages in front of him.The snowballs gripped in his hands shot out one after another like meteors, some toward Chopper, some toward Sanji, and a few flying crookedly toward the pillars.Sanji's gaze instantly switched from "lovestruck" to "battle mode"—the moment he saw snow fall into Nami's porridge bowl, his pupils had contracted. Seeing Luffy's snowballs flying this way, he immediately pivoted on his toe, using a "Sweep of a Thousand Armies" across the snow.The accumulated snow was kicked up by his force, instantly forming a man-high snow wall in front of him. The snow wall was very solid; the snowballs Luffy threw hit it and sank entirely into the pile, leaving not even a mark."I'm giving them all back to you!" Sanji lightly tapped the ground with his toe, leaping a meter into the air like a leaf, his feet rapidly pattering against the snow wall—his movements were fast and precise, each kick accurately hitting a snowball embedded in the wall. Like playing billiards, he kicked those snowballs out one by one, all aimed toward Luffy.Luffy wasn't to be outdone either and immediately took a deep breath, activating "Gum-Gum Balloon"—his belly instantly swelled up like a rounded ball, and those snowballs flying toward him hit his stomach,And were all bounced back. The two waves of snowballs collided in mid-air, exploding with a "bang." A mist of snow drifted down, falling onto the platform only to be quickly swept away by the cold wind."Rubber Bastard! You actually knocked off half my cotton candy—I was specifically saving that for Ink Meteor!" Chopper's voice suddenly came from behind the snow mist.It turned out that while Luffy and Sanji were fighting, he had secretly packed a snowball larger than a washbasin—he pressed the snow hard to make it solid. Now, holding the giant snowball with both hands, his short legs pattered quickly as he ran toward Luffy, intending to use a "Mount Tai Press."Luffy was busy bouncing back Sanji's snowballs and wasn't prepared for Chopper behind him; he was hit squarely in the back by the giant snowball. With a "thud," his head was smashed directly into the snow, leaving only his round butt sticking out, wiggling occasionally."Nice job, Chopper!" Sanji poked his head out from behind the snow wall and gave Chopper a thumbs-up, his eyes full of approval."Of course!" Chopper stood with his hands on his hips, head held high, his ears wiggling proudly in a cocky "I'm number one in the world" manner."Don't underestimate me!" Luffy's muffled voice suddenly came from the snow. Immediately after, he propped himself up with his hands and slowly raised his head. Snow shards hung from his hair, and the white breath from his nose carried snow particles, but his eyes were frighteningly bright."Oh no!" Chopper's heart skipped a beat as he realized he was too close to Luffy. He quickly turned to run toward Sanji's snow wall. But how could his short legs be faster than Luffy?Before he could run two steps, his butt and back were hit squarely several times by the "Rubber Snowballs" Luffy threw—those snowballs, thrown with Luffy's rubber power, were much heavier than ordinary ones and exploded directly upon impact.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteThe scene quickly descended into total chaos: Sanjistood behind a snow wall, his feet kicking away snowballs like a precise launcher, providing cover for Chopper. Chopper, meanwhile, hid at the side of the wall, occasionally rolling up a large snowball to ambush Luffy whenever he wasn't looking. Luffywas busy as could be, using his "Gum-Gum Arm" to throw snowballs one moment and his "Gum-Gum Balloon" to bounce them back the next.The group fought on and off, and before they knew it, they had moved from the platform to the coniferous forest behind the castle. The snow was even deeper in the forest, and snow piled on the pine branches would occasionally fall with a soft "rustle," landing on the snow-covered ground with a faint sound.Mark was squatting beside a pine tree, building a snowman—one modeled after Wapol. It had a round head but a lopsided body; the only thing that looked decent was its "mouth." Mark had even taken the two metal lip plates that had been knocked off Wapol by Luffy and pressed them onto the snowman's mouth, which served as the only "highlight.""Hmm! That looks a lot more like him, doesn't it?" Mark clapped his hands, stood up, and looked at his "masterpiece," unable to help but laugh. He had almost never seen snow growing up. Seeing such thick snow on Drum Peak for the first time was incredibly exciting. He had been clumsy while building the snowman, knocking the snow over who knows how many times before finally managing to get a rough shape.Now that Nami had recovered and Ink Meteor's Evolution Fruit was in hand, Mark suddenly felt a surge of poetic inspiration as he looked at the vast white snowscape, the distant castle, and the snow-laden pine trees around him.He cleared his throat, placed one hand on his chest, and extended the other in front of him, swaying it left and right to the rhythm in his head. Raising it and lowering it, he looked just like someone pointing out the mountains and rivers, and recited loudly: "The snow-covered land is as beautiful as a painting, I wanted to recite a poem for the world. But alas, I have no cul...""What the hell! Who threw that snowball?!"Before the last word "ture" could even leave his lips, a snowball a meter in diameter suddenly flew in from behind him at an angle and slammed into his head with a "thud." Mark felt his head go blank, his body stumbled, and he hurriedly braced himself against the snow to keep from falling. Snow slid down from his head and into his collar; the icy sensation made him shiver instantly, and his poetic inspiration vanished completely.He snapped his head up, his eyes full of "killing intent," and reflexively grabbed a solid snowball—who was so blind as to dare interrupt his masterpiece?"Oh, no... Sanji, save me!" Chopper's voice came from the distance, laced with a sob.It turned out that Chopper had thrown the snowball. He had intended to hit Luffy, but Luffy had dodged it nimbly, and the snowball had flown straight toward the "reciting" Mark. Chopper saw the murderous look in Mark's eyes, his ears instantly drooped, his tail tucked between his legs, and his voice began to tremble as he hurriedly called out to Sanji for help."Chopper!... Run!" Luffy and Sanji shouted in unison. Both of them took off running almost simultaneously, leaving two deep trails of footprints in the snow, leaving only Chopper standing there, stunned, still gripping half a snowball he hadn't finished rolling.Chopper turned his head stiffly. When he saw what Mark looked like, he almost cried from fear—Mark's body was slowly changing. His original human form was melting away, turning into a three-meter-tall, pitch-black gelatinous mass with a cold sheen on its surface. Two crescent-shaped bright lines floated above the mass, looking just like eyes tempered in ice.The gelatinous mass hopped toward Chopper with a "thud, thud." With every hop, the snow beneath it seemed to be devoured, instantly vanishing and leaving only hard, frozen ice shards that reflected the sunlight with a blinding glare."M-monster!" Chopper retreated two steps in terror, nearly falling over. He finally understood why Luffyand Sanji had run so fast—what was his little transformation ability compared to this? The guy had straight up stopped being human! By comparison, he suddenly felt his blue nose and antlers were actually quite cute."Had a fun time hitting me, you little brats?" Mark's voice emanated from the gelatinous mass, carrying a hint of coldness mixed with playfulness. "Although my ability can't decompose snowflakes, I have no problem shaping snow and throwing it... Tsk tsk! Even I'm scared of myself."As soon as the words left his mouth, a hollow cylinder protruded from his gelatinous body, resembling a small "snowball cannon." Immediately after, round snowballs shot out from the cylinder, dense as raindrops, flying toward Luffy, Sanji, and Chopper. Some slammed into the pine trees, shaking the snow off the branches with a rustle; others hit the snow-covered ground, kicking up a mist of snow."U-um... is it too late for me to apologize now?" Chopper had been hit by several snowballs, his back and ears covered in snow. He hurriedly activated his ability to shrink his body, covered his head, and ran forward, crying out in a tearful voice. The only response he got was an even denser barrage of snowballs. "Luffy! Sanji! Save me!" Chopper dodged left and right, occasionally stumbling as a snowball hit him, his voice cracking from anxiety.Mark followed unhurriedly behind, the snowballs from the "snowball cannon" seemingly endless, firing continuously. Watching Chopper scramble in panic, he suddenly found it amusing, his voice carrying a hint of mockery: "Take this—100-Round Rapid-Fire Snowballs!" A long string of snowballs shot out from the cylinder, forming a straight line, moving so fast they whistled through the air, heading straight for Chopper.Just at this critical moment, with a soft "click," a door suddenly rose from the snow—it was an iron door, with snow piled on top of it. As soon as the door stabilized, Zoro stepped out from inside. He stretched, still rubbing his eyes, clearly having just come up from the cable line below and not yet understanding the situation on the peak.As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Luffy, Sanji, and Chopper running toward him like crazy, their faces full of panic, their mouths seemingly shouting something like "Come here!" Zoro felt a sudden surge of pride: "They must have been worried because I wandered around the castle for too long, that's why they were looking for me for so long. Look, how excited they are to see me—as expected, I'm the coolest guy in the Straw Hat Crew!"But the next second, his pride shattered. Luffygrabbed his shoulder, spun him around violently, and "whooshed" behind Zoro's back; Sanji and Chopper followed closely behind, one hiding on Zoro's left and the other on his right, shielding themselves tightly behind him. Before Zoro could even react to "what was going on," he heard a "whoosh" of wind in his ears—he looked up and saw a long string of snowballs flying toward him, moving too fast to dodge."Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!" The snowballs slammed into his face one after another, icy snow instantly covering his entire face, some even sliding into his collar. The snowballs were heavy and hard, hurting as they hit his face; he could even feel the snowflakes melting on his eyelashes. This "snowball attack" lasted for a full half-minute, until Mark's "100-Round Rapid-Fire" finished, and the surroundings finally quieted down.A large chunk of snow slid off Zoro's Marimo hair, landing in the snow that had already buried him up to his thighs, making a soft "plop" sound. He remained frozen in a dazed posture for a few seconds, then slowly lifted his head—snow residue still clinging to his face, his brows knitted so tightly they could crush a fly, the rage in his eyes almost erupting."I'm talking to you guys—!" He first gave Luffy, Sanji, and Chopper, who were hiding behind him, a knock on the head each; the "thud, thud, thud" sounds were exceptionally clear in the snowy field. Immediately after, he rolled up his sleeves, bent down to form a snowball bigger than his fist, glared fiercely at Mark not far away, and joined the ranks of the "Crusade against the Great Boss Mark."Not long after, Usopp, Robin, and Dalton also walked out from the door—having just reached the peak, they heard the lively shouting, saw it was a snowball fight, and immediately rubbed their hands in excitement, grabbed snowballs, and charged in. For a time, the coniferous forest on Drum Peak was filled with laughter and shouts—snowballs flew through the air, snow mists burst open from time to time, and the figures of the group darted through the snow, making even the cold wind seem to turn warm.On the balcony of the castle's second floor, Robinand Nami were leaning on the railing, watching the lively scene below. Nami was wrapped in a thick blanket, holding a hot drink in her hands, a sweet smile curling the corners of her lips, her eyes full of warmth: "These guys are really energetic, being able to have so much fun in such cold weather."Robin stood beside her, wearing a dark shawl, the wind blowing her long black hair. She watched the figures playing below, the corners of her eyes curving with a gentle smile: "If they weren't making such a racket..." She didn't finish her sentence. Last time on the ship, it was because she said this that Nami got sick! Robin and Nami looked at each other, and both couldn't help but burst into laughter, their laughter drifting down with the wind and melting into the liveliness below.Beside the castle gate, Kureha and Dalton were also standing there, looking at the scene in the coniferous forest. Kureha was still holding the half-piece of cotton candy entrusted to her by Chopper, her eyes landing on Chopper, who kept shrinking and returning to his normal size, a faint smile on her lips. Dalton's gaze also followed Chopper, watching him roll snowballs to ambush Mark one moment, and then hide behind Zoro after being hit by a snowball the next, and couldn't help asking: "Kureha, is that the little guy who lives with you?""That's right." Kureha nodded, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "You should have seen him before; he used to follow Hiriluk and often treated people in town." "So it was that time..." Dalton paused, then recalled the scene from many years ago—when Dr. Hiriluk committed suicide, a blue-nosed monster wanted to rush into the guard unit. At the time, he had tried hard to stop him from throwing his life away for nothing. Only now did he realize that the monster was Chopper.He looked up at the cherry blossom skull flag flying above the castle, the flag snapping in the cold wind, snowflakes landing on it only to be quickly blown away by the wind. Dalton's gaze softened, and he sighed softly: "Truly a day worth celebrating. Like this... you'd be happy too, wouldn't you, Dr. Hiriluk?" The wind carried his voice into the distance, as if in response to something. The snow was still falling, but the peak of Drum Peak was filled with a warm atmosphere.
Chapter 55: The Blooming MiracleThe cold wind had died down at some point, and even the chill brushing against the face had softened; wrapped in the unique freshness after snow, it no longer bit into one's skin.The moon, which had been tightly wrapped in clouds, was like a naughty child afraid of being discovered, first quietly peeking half its face through a gap in the clouds.Seeing that there was no "one" around to restrain it, it simply leaped out and hung in the ink-blue sky, pouring its clear radiance over the entire world—The snow on Drum Peak was illuminated and glowing, and even everyone's smiling faces were touched with a layer of faint silver light."Someone asked me to pass a message to you."Dalton's voice suddenly broke the silence of the snowy night. He strode up to Luffy, and in his rough palm, a neatly rolled piece of paper was slowly unfurled.On the bounty poster, the image of Luffy grinning looked exceptionally vivid under the Moonlight, and the figure "120,000,000 Berries" was particularly eye-catching."When I heard that Wapol was going to fight his way back, I was prepared to perish together with him."Dalton's tone was wrapped in the relief of a survivor as his fingertips lightly brushed over Luffy's image on the bounty poster. "It was the villagers who handed this paper to me that I realized...""So you are such a formidable pirate. Although I knew we would win this battle, I still want to ask, where did Wapol go in the end?"Everyone's gazes fell in unison on Mark. Markscratched the back of his head and gave a somewhat perfunctory smile: "That... his mom called him home for dinner!""I see!" Luffy slammed his palm down, his mouth forming a round 'O' shape. That "I totally get it" look made the informed Zoro and Sanji unable to hold back their laughter—clearly, he hadn't caught the evasion in Mark's words.Only Usopp didn't notice; he instantly jumped up from behind a snowdrift and leaned in on tiptoe:"Eh! Isn't this Luffy's bounty poster? Why do you have this? Could it be that you're a Bounty Hunter? Hahaha, how could that be!"He amused himself with his own questions and answers, slapping Mark's back with a "thump-thump" sound that made Mark wince and pull a face—If he kept slapping like that, Usopp might end up crying after his laughter.Luffy hadn't quite recovered from the exertion of the snowball fight. His chest heaved, and his heavy breaths immediately condensed into white mist, swirling once before his eyes before dissipating.He scratched his messy hair and took a deep breath of cold air: "A message? From who? Could it be... someone wants to treat me to dinner?"Looking at his "food-obsessed" expression, Daltoncouldn't help but curl his lips into a smile, his tone becoming serious:"He said, 'Luffy, I'll wait for you in Alabasta for only ten days.'"Pausing, he remembered something and added, "The person who said this came by not long ago chasing the trail of the Blackbeard Pirates. His name seemed to be... Ace?""Oh, and he also had a meal without paying at the village tavern. He was chased by the owner for half a street until he reached the shore and jumped on a boat to escape.""Ace? A dine-and-dash!" Luffy was like a triggered spring, jumping up with a "boing." He grabbed Dalton's shoulders, his eyes terrifyingly bright. "Did you say Ace?""Who's Ace?" Usopp leaned in, scratching the back of his head. "You're so excited!"Luffy let go, his white teeth gleaming under the Moonlight. He rubbed the back of his head, his tone full of nostalgia, and his lips naturally curved up:"Yeah, Ace is my brother. We used to mess around together when we were kids. He went out to sea several years before I did."Thinking of those days, his eyes grew even brighter. "I really want to see him... No matter what, I have to get to Alabasta as soon as possible!""You never mentioned having a brother to us." Zoroleaned against a nearby snowman. The snow on his scabbard hadn't been shaken off, but it didn't affect his composure. "In that case, is it best if we set sail tonight?""Right!" Luffy nodded, then suddenly turned his head to look around, his voice rising. "Eh? Where's Chopper? Where did Chopper go?""Chopper! Come to sea with me!""Reindeer! Let's be pirates together!"His voice exploded like a cannonball in the snowy night, piercing the silence of Drum Peak and echoing around the snowy slopes before fading.Chopper was sitting on the snow not far away, his back against a large rock that had been warmed by the snow to a lukewarm temperature. He looked up at the full moon in the sky, the Moonlight falling on his branched antlers with a faint silver glow."It's a full moon today too..." he muttered softly, his hooves unconsciously digging at the snow beneath him, squeezing the fluffy snow into small clumps. "If Dr. Hiriluk were here, what would he say?"He slowly stood up and pressed his top hat down. The shadow of the brim almost covered his entire face, revealing only a bit of his furry chin."Hey! Chopper!" Luffy's voice suddenly came through, carrying the surprise that shattered the silence. "You're here! Come to sea with me, it's super fun!"Chopper's body suddenly stiffened. His voice was very small, yet it was clearly audible in the quiet snow:"Today... today is the happiest day of my life." He paused, his throat tightening. "I... can I really become your comrade?""Of course!" Luffy took a step forward, his tone matter-of-fact. "We're already comrades! Didn't we defeat the Great Demon King (Mark) together earlier?""But... it's still not right." Chopper's voice trembled. He slowly raised his head, the brim of his hat sliding down a bit to reveal his reddened eyes, with snow particles still clinging to his eyelashes."I'm a reindeer. I can talk, and I walk on two legs... even my nose is blue."His voice was wrapped in grievance and a hint of uncontrollable anger, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm not a comrade to reindeer, nor am I a comrade to humans. I'm just a monster..."He sniffed, his voice becoming even lighter, as if it were about to be blown away by the wind: "Even though I want to be a pirate... being with you guys is really happy.""So that's how it is... I came to say goodbye to you. I've decided to stay here. If one day you happen to pass by here... pass by here..."Tears finally fell like small pearls, hitting the snow and instantly melting small pits."Stop talking nonsense and let's go!" Luffyinterrupted him directly, his tone resolute.Chopper looked up at the skull flag flying on the castle, the conviction that Dr. Hiriluk had once fought with his life to protect;He looked at the faces of Luffy and his comrades, where there wasn't a trace of disdain, only sparkling expectation.He could no longer control his tears, and they fell in large drops. The reindeer's sobbing was exceptionally clear in the quiet night, echoing throughout Drum Peak.Inside the castle, Kureha ignored the crying outside. She leaned against the doorframe, clutching a half-full bottle of wine, but shouted at Dalton:"Dalton! Come give me a hand! It's all physical labor, don't dawdle! Push the cannons out too!""Okay! I'm coming!" Dalton met her gaze, didn't dare ask more, and quickly responded, turning to call the soldiers.Kureha turned and dashed into the medical room, her movements as fast as the wind: stethoscope, medicine bottles, bandages... she stuffed them all into that blue backpack—The large X on the back of the backpack was particularly prominent under the light.Ten minutes later, Chopper pushed open the door to the medical room, his eyes shining with the light of excitement and a new sense of determination: "Doctor Kureha, I have something to tell you."Kureha was drinking straight from the bottle. Hearing this, she glanced at him, her tone nonchalant: "Chopper? Where have you been running off to? Are you here to help push the cannons?""No!" Chopper shook his head vigorously, his ears flapping. His voice carried a nervous tremble, but it was exceptionally clear. "Please listen to me, I'm going to be a pirate! I'm going to travel the world with Luffy and the others!""Don't talk nonsense with me." Kureha suddenly turned around, slamming the wine jug onto the table with a "thud," splashing the liquid. Her tone was full of anger."Who taught you to identify medicinal herbs? Who pulled you back from the brink of death? Don't you have even a shred of gratitude?""I haven't forgotten!" Chopper quickly shook his head, tears almost falling again, but he forced them back."And with you, and Dr. Hiriluk, the land where we met is my happiest place! I am truly grateful!""If you're grateful, then stay here!" Kureha turned back again, grabbed the wine jug, and took a large gulp, her voice hiding an imperceptible tremor."Being a pirate isn't playing house. You could lose your life at any time. You might die in the sea one day, and even your bones won't be found!""Even so, I still want to be one!" Chopper's eyes were terrifyingly bright, and his tone was incredibly firm."Today, I must become a pirate. Even Dr. Hirilukcouldn't stop me, I say so!""Don't you get cocky with me!" Kureha sneered, though her gaze softened slightly. "In all my years, I've never seen a reindeer become a pirate!""I am a reindeer, it's true... but I'm also a man!" Chopper practically roared the last sentence, his voice full of stubbornness. Tears welled in his eyes, but he forced them back."You've got quite the mouth on you." Kureha was stunned for a moment, looking at him with some surprise—this little reindeer, who used to cry whenever he felt wronged, had actually grown up.She stepped back two paces, suddenly drew a scalpel, and flicked her wrist. With a shing, the knife embedded itself into the wall behind Chopper, the tip still quivering:"Want to be a pirate? You'll have to step over my dead body first!""No matter what, I'm going to stop you, Chopper." As soon as she spoke, a dense barrage of scalpels flew toward Chopper. Every single one missed by a wide margin, but even so, it scared Chopper out of his wits."Waaaaah!" Chopper cried out, turning to run. His hooves clattered on the floor as he fled, not even having the time to look back.In a panic, he rushed into his room and dragged out the sleigh hidden under his bed—Caught up in his flight, he didn't even notice the blue backpack with the 'X' mark sitting on the sleigh.He quickly transformed into his reindeer form, threw the reins over his neck, and galloped out of the castle."Don't run!" Kureha leaned over the corridor railing, her voice chasing after him with a hint of exasperated urgency. "Are you going to live in Hiriluk's fantasy too, Chopper?!""It's not a fantasy!" Chopper shouted back, his ears pinned back by the wind, but his voice was exceptionally loud. "Dr. Hiriluk's research has already succeeded!"He reached the Straw Hat crew just in time, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath, yet he hurriedly shouted, "Everyone! Get on! We have to escape!""Escape? Why escape?" Luffy hadn't even reacted before he heard the whoosh of wind—Looking up, a dense swarm of scalpels was flying straight toward them!"What the—! Quick! Everyone into the sleigh! Hurry!" He grabbed Usopp and Mark by the arms, shoved them onto the sleigh, and jumped on after them.Zoro instantly drew his blade, and with a flash of cold steel, he parried several scalpels that had come close;Sanji shielded Nami and Robin, nimbly diving into the sleigh;Chopper tightened the reins and let out a sharp cry. The sleigh shot off like an arrow from a bow, racing down the cable as snow sprayed from beneath it,It glittered like crushed diamonds in the Moonlight, as if a handful of stars had been scattered.The villagers all poked their heads out of their houses, watching the speeding shadow in the sky—A reindeer pulling a sleigh, carving a bright silver line across the Moonlight. "It's the witch's sleigh!"Someone couldn't help but sigh in awe. Children clung to their parents' shoulders, pointing small fingers at the sky with wide eyes. Their cries of "Wow—" drifted away, wrapped in the snowy air.On the edge of the castle cliff, Kureha stood watching the direction Chopper had gone, only slowly withdrawing her gaze once the sleigh's shadow had shrunk to a tiny dot and vanished from sight.Dalton stood behind her, and behind him were two neat rows of cannons, their muzzles aimed at the sky. Soldiers held shells in their hands, awaiting the command."It's just a pet I was fostering being taken away by someone else, that's all." Kureha raised a hand to wipe her eyes."It's not that I'm sad to see him go; I just hate tearful goodbyes."She took a deep breath and turned to Dalton, her tone returning to its usual sternness. "A departure should be grand. Is everything ready?""Ready. The Medicinal Shells have been loaded," Dalton nodded."Fire!""BOOM—"The thunderous roar of the cannons shook the snow from the cliffs, causing it to tumble down. The shells trailed thin wisps of white smoke like silver threads as they soared toward the sky directly above.On the Straw Hat sleigh, Luffy was gripping the edge when he suddenly heard the massive boom. He looked up at the sky, his eyes wide:"What's going on? That's the sound of cannons!""Has she gone crazy? That old hag!" Sanji frowned deeply.The villagers in the distance panicked as well. Someone shouted nervously, "Is Wapol attacking again? Why are there cannon shots!"Atop the castle on Drum Peak, Kureha watched the final shell fire and said to Dalton, "Light the lamps.""Yes, ma'am!" Dalton waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately flipped the switches—Every searchlight on the castle flared to life. The beams of light were like massive silver swords piercing the night sky, illuminating the entire firmament as bright as day.As Kureha watched the light beams, Hiriluk's face suddenly appeared before her mind's eye:Back then, he had been holding a cloth bundle with a silly grin on his face, thrusting it into her hands and saying:"Kureha, this isn't ordinary dust. It's a Panacea that can cure the heart-sickness of this country.It can attach itself to snow, and then... it becomes pink snow, just like cherry blossoms.""I'm using it now. You don't mind, do you, Dr. Hiriluk?" Kureha whispered. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward, even as her eyes grew moist.It was as if time had stopped at that moment. The Lapahns poked their heads out of their snow burrows, ears standing straight up. The people of the island all halted their movements and looked up at the sky;The Straw Hat crew also stopped their fooling around, their eyes fixed on the sky—The moment the shells exploded high in the air, white dust first drifted out like shredded clouds, and then the dust wrapped the snowflakes in a layer of pink gauze.One flake, two flakes... more and more snowflakes were stained pink, swirling and drifting in the air.When the searchlight beams swept over them, the pink snow looked as if it were coated in crushed silver, shimmering brightly. Even the paths of the falling flakes were clearly visible;They chased each other in the wind, clustering together and then being torn apart. As they danced across the sky, it looked as if countless cherry blossom petals were falling from the heavens.Drum Peak, which had been a solid, dark brown silhouette in the night, now seemed as if it had been enchanted. The mountain itself became a trunk capable of propping up the entire sky.The pink snow at the summit was the most flourishing bloom of this "tree." It wasn't just scattered pink; it was cherry-colored masses clustering all over the "canopy.""So beautiful..." Nami and Robin leaned against each other, their eyes full of wonder. Nami quickly pulled out her notebook, her pen hovering, yet she couldn't bring herself to write—afraid of spoiling the beauty before her."Incredible..." Sanji stroked his chin, his previously furrowed brow smoothing out. His gaze held a rare touch of tenderness. "That old hag... she actually had a romantic side like this hidden away.""Oh! A giant cherry blossom tree!" Luffy reached out to catch a snowflake. It landed in his palm and quickly melted, leaving only a trace of cool moisture, yet he laughed like a child."Holy crap..."Mark's eyes widened, and his thousand words ultimately distilled into just those two.This wasn't just snow; it was spring hidden within winter. It was as if someone had secretly scattered tenderness across the sky.The moment everyone looked up, all their previous tension, loneliness, and unease were covered by this sky full of pink snow—The most stunning part wasn't that the snow was pink, but the warmth hidden within that beauty, like someone whispering in your ear, "Don't be afraid, someone is blessing you."Sitting on the sleigh, Chopper watched the pink snowflakes filling the sky, and his tears fell once more.He seemed to hear Dr. Hiriluk's voice, gentle yet loud, saying in his ear, "Chopper, look! My research was a success!"He couldn't hold it in any longer and began to cry softly toward the pink snow dancing in the sky. His sobs, mingled with the rustle of the falling snow, were exceptionally clear against the pink heavens—This was his best answer to Hiriluk, as well as his anticipation for his new life.This reindeer, who once thought of himself as a monster, had finally found companions and a direction of his own.The wind from the cliff blew past, carrying the pink snow. Kureha raised her hand to adjust her sunglasses, hiding the reddened moisture in her eyes. Looking at the pink snow filling the distance, her voice was light as if swept away by the wind, yet exceptionally firm:"Go on, son."The pink snow continued its dance, and Moonlightbathed everyone's smiling faces. In the distance, Chopper's crying still sounded like a shout toward a new beginning!Moving softly, Luffy gently draped the Straw Hat Pirates' flag over Chopper's shoulders.[Taking three packets of headache powder and continuing the grind π_π]
Chapter 56: Green MistMark leaned against the railing of the going merry, his gaze drifting past the deck to the rolling waves in the distance.The sea breeze blew the black hair on his forehead against his cheeks, obscuring half of one eye.He took a deep breath, adopting the serious demeanor of a senior giving a lecture, even lowering his voice a few notches on purpose."Chopper! Listen, the waves won't turn gentle just because you're sad! Since Ink Meteor entrusted his back to you, it wasn't so you'd get stuck spinning in circles in your memories!""What does loneliness matter? If you're a man, treat it like ballast—keep the ship steady so you can carry the hopes of both yourself and him, cutting through the waves to keep charging ahead! That is the best way to honor Ink Meteor!"Just as he finished speaking!A gust of wind brought over a tangerine leaf, which drifted lazily onto Mark's head. The tip of the leaf caught on a strand of his hair and stuck firmly...That bit of forced seriousness shattered instantly in that moment, and he couldn't help but raise his voice:"So Chopper! Can you... freaking let go of my leg first?!"Today, Mark was truly on the verge of a breakdown.This "leg-biting incident" started with the going merry early this morning.Morning light drifted onto the sails of the going merry. A light breeze snuck through the gaps in the knots of the furled sails, blowing the tight fabric cylinders loose and then tight again; the cloth would stiffen one moment and sag the next, and even the ropes wound around the mast swayed along.This was the first morning after leaving Drum Island. Everyone had gone to bed very late last night, so this should have been a rare time for sleeping in.But Chopper's "exploration" had long since disrupted this peace. When he boarded the ship in the dark last night, he was so timid he didn't even dare touch the cabin doors; now that it was broad daylight, the entire ship had become a paradise full of surprises in his eyes.His short legs pattered on the deck, the "thump-thump-thump" sound echoing all over the ship. The crisp sound of his paw pads hitting the deck was filled with irrepressible curiosity and joy.He first peeked through the curtain of the lounge, his round eyes staring straight inside, his short legs unable to resist standing on tiptoe: "Wow! So this is where everyone rests?"Then he trotted over to the control room, reaching up on tiptoe for the cold ship's wheel. Just as his hand touched the smooth lever, he was startled by the chill and quickly pulled back, whispering to himself:"So this is the ship's wheel... I only heard Dr. Hiriluktalk about it before; I didn't expect it to be so big."Chopper's nose twitched, and he followed the aroma of bread into the kitchen. Just as he was about to lean toward a bulging bread bag, he remembered he was there for a "tour."He quickly swallowed the drool that was about to spill out and didn't forget to gently pat the bread bag, as if greeting the food.When he climbed up the railing to stand, the sea breeze suddenly blew his pink top hat askew. Looking as far as the eye could see, the blue sky and the sea merged into a pale blue in the distance.The endless vastness made him open his mouth in awe, sighing into the wind: "The sea really is so big! It would be great if there were a medical room on the ship...""...Right, Ink Meteor?"The words were at the tip of his tongue when he suddenly stopped and turned to look at the empty air beside him:???!He suddenly remembered that from boarding the ship last night until now, that big lion—who had not only chatted with him but also let him ride on its back to see the scenery—hadn't appeared even once!"Oh no! It couldn't still be on Drum Peak, could it?"His heart sank in panic. His hand slipped from the railing, and he slid down the side with two thumps, stumbling as he landed. His short legs immediately moved in a pitter-patter trot, heading straight for the lounge chair in the center of the deck—where Markwas curled up catching up on sleep.At this moment, Mark was wrapped in a thin blanket on the lounge chair, half of it trailing on the deck. He lay on his side, his chest rising and falling gently with his even breathing, his brow relaxed. Mark was currently having a beautiful dream—in the dream, he was riding Ink Meteor, flying close to the sea's surface, chasing seabirds, feeling completely free."Mark! Wake up!" Chopper pounced on the side of the lounge chair, his small paws grabbing Mark's arm, shaking him with all his might. "Where's Ink Meteor? I haven't seen him all day! Is he still on Drum Peak? How could we be so careless!"Mark's head was spinning from the shaking. In his dream, Ink Meteor's soft mane suddenly turned into fuzzy little hooves that kept poking his arm.He gave an impatient "Ugh," reached for the pillow next to him, and slammed it over his head, completely blocking out Chopper's voice:"Don't be noisy... five more minutes, just five minutes.""No! Ink Meteor is gone!" Chopper was relentless, his claws tugging at the edge of the pillow to pull it down. His strength wasn't great, but he was persistent, and he kept muttering: "Get up... get up... if Ink Meteor is lost, we won't be able to find him!""So noisy..." Mark was so sleepy he couldn't even open his eyes. His voice was muffled by the pillow. He didn't think much at all, only wanting to quickly get rid of this noisy little reindeer, so he casually threw out a line:"I ate him."Chopper's movements froze instantly. He blinked his round eyes, dazed for a full three seconds, before he slowly processed those words.In the next second, his eyes turned beet red, and large tears fell like broken glass beads, "pitter-patter," hitting the deck and forming a small wet patch.Before Mark could react, he had already lunged forward and bit Mark's calf hard with his large mouth."Ow, ow, ow! Chopper, let go!" Mark suddenly sat up, the pillow rolling onto the deck. He looked down at the "little attachment" hanging from his leg, both anxious and helpless, as he reached out to pry Chopper's mouth open. "I was joking! Ink Meteorwasn't eaten! He really wasn't!"But Chopper didn't care. His furry cheeks were puffed out like little buns. No matter how Markshook his leg or tried to pry his mouth open, his teeth remained clamped shut, with no intention of letting go."Liar!" Chopper's voice was muffled, his tears soaking a large patch of Mark's trouser leg.Mark had no choice but to reach into the cloth bag on the side of the lounge chair and pull out a black-glowing Lion-Headed Prison Dragon Staff. The staff's body was carved with fine patterns, and the lion's eyes at the top faintly shimmered with light. This was exactly the weapon form Ink Meteor had taken while evolving after absorbing Wapol's Fruitability.He held the Prison Dragon Staff in front of Chopper's eyes, his tone softening considerably, with the patience of someone coaxing a child: "Look, this really is Ink Meteor. He's evolving. Once he's finished, he'll be able to turn back and play with you, okay?"But Chopper wasn't buying it at all. Not only did he not let go, but he also shifted into a more forceful position and continued biting Mark's leg, his snot and tears mixing together to soak the trouser leg even further:"I don't believe you! This is a black stick! It's not Ink Meteor! Give Ink Meteor back to me!""Trouble comes from the mouth; the ancients truly did not deceive me..." Mark held his forehead, feeling his temples throb. He wished he could slap himself—why did he have to casually say something as stupid as "ate him"? Now, no explanation worked!"Oh! You guys have such a good relationship!" A cheerful voice suddenly popped up from behind. Luffy held a meat bun in one hand and stretched his rubber mouth wide with the other, steadily catching the bun he had tossed into the air. He took a huge bite with a "crunch," his eyes staring curiously at the two tangled together."Where exactly do you see a good relationship?" Mark rolled his eyes irritably—with a "debt-collecting" little reindeer hanging from his leg, he was so angry he was gasping for air. This was called a good relationship?Luffy chewed his bun and didn't reply. Suddenly his eyes lit up, and he placed a hand over his brow like a telescope, leaning against the railing to look into the distance, shouting indistinctly: "Look! The sea ahead looks really strange!"Mark looked in the direction he was pointing—ahead on the sea, a mass of green mist was rising. Like a cluster of toxic algae breath drifting up from the deep sea, it clung heavily to the surface as it moved.When the wind blew, the mist clusters merged with the dampness of the seawater into a single expanse that stretched as far as the eye could see, blocking the going merry's path with an indescribably eerie glow."This is bad!" Mark's expression changed instantly, and he ran toward the control room. "Quick, find Nami! This mist doesn't look right!"At this time, Chopper couldn't be bothered with biting Mark anymore—a pungent smell of sulfur drifted through the air. His sense of smell was thousands of times more sensitive than a normal person's, and the scent pricked his nasal cavity like fine needles, making him let out a huge sneeze as tears streamed down again.Not only had Luffy and Mark discovered the mist, but Zoro, who was training with a barbell at the back of the ship, also stopped his movements. His arms had been tense, holding the barbell steadily, but when the smell of sulfur drifted over, his movements jerked to a halt. His brow furrowed as he followed the scent to the distant mist, his hands unconsciously tightening around the barbell.Usopp ran out of the control room in a panic, the wooden board in his hand dropping onto the deck with a "clatter." "What... what is that? It couldn't be poison gas spat out by a sea monster, could it?"Nami and Robin in the lounge also heard the commotion outside. Nami walked out quickly, with Robin following behind her."What's wrong? Why is it so noisy?" As soon as Nami spoke, she saw the green mist ahead. She quickly leaned on the railing, squinting her eyes to observe carefully, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the fence."It's nothing, just steam from an underwater volcano." After watching for a while, Nami's tense expression gradually relaxed, and she pointed at the mist to explain."There's an active underwater volcano beneath that area of the sea. When the steam mixes with minerals in the seawater, it forms this kind of green mist. Just pass through carefully; there's no danger.""However, there are trace amounts of sulfides in the air, and the smell is very pungent. Everyone should find something to cover their nose and mouth." Robin closed her book and lightly sniffed the air, adding, "Though it won't cause major harm to your body, inhaling too much will be uncomfortable, especially for Chopper; his sense of smell is sensitive, so he needs to be extra careful."Upon hearing this, Usopp immediately rushed into the storage room, rummaged out a few pieces of clean linen, and even brought out his precious gas mask—which he had specifically bought in Loguetown.He had said it was to deal with "unknown poison gas dangers," and at this moment, he didn't hesitate at all, stuffing it directly into Chopper's hands: "Chopper, this is for you! You have a sensitive nose; wearing this will make you feel better!"Chopper took the gas mask and whispered a "thank you," but the mask was too big; it covered almost his entire face when he put it on.Only two watery eyes were visible. He even had to use his small hands to hold the edges of the mask so it wouldn't slide down, looking both pitiful and hilarious.After making preparations, Nami returned to the control room and adjusted the going merry's course, heading toward the green mist.As the distance grew closer, the pungent smell became stronger. The green mist was like a thick wall standing in front of them. The sunlight was completely blocked out, the deck darkened instantly, and even breathing became heavy."Cough, cough... so choking!" Just as they entered the mist zone, Usopp couldn't help coughing, rubbing his eyes hard with both hands as tears flowed down through the gaps in his fingers. "This mist also stings the eyes! I'm going blind! Thank goodness I have goggles!" Usopp quickly pulled down the goggles on his head.Zoro frowned and covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve. Although he didn't speak, even though his eyes were uncomfortable, he still kept them squinted open a crack.He warily scanned the depths of the mist—even if Nami said there was no danger, he was used to being on guard against movements in the shadows.Luffy let his tongue hang out, furrowing his brow as he sniffed, then quickly stuck his tongue out as if disgusted by the taste of the mist.Sanji stood at the door of the control room, striking an exaggerated pose, one hand pressed firmly against the door panel to block the gaps in the door completely.With his other hand, he didn't forget to tidy the hair on his forehead: "Miss Nami, Miss Robin, please stay inside with peace of mind; I will block the mist outside!"Chopper was the most miserable. Even with the gas mask on, the pungent smell still seeped through the gaps, irritating his nose until it felt sour, with tears and snot flowing down together.Seeing how pitiful he was, Mark walked over, knelt down, and gently covered Chopper's eyes with his palm, whispering comfort: "Endure it, it'll be over soon."Fortunately, Nami's judgment was correct. The going merry sailed through the mist for about ten minutes before light appeared ahead. After a while longer, the ship finally burst out of the mist zone and returned to the sunlight.Everyone took off the cloths covering their noses and mouths, taking deep breaths of fresh air. Everyone's eyes were red, and tears were still hanging from the corners of their eyes, making them look like they had just been crying, a very comical sight."Phew... we're finally out!" Usopp wiped away some snot and shook his head as if to shake off the lingering scent. "I never want to go into that kind of ghost mist again!"Nami slowed the ship to its lowest speed, letting the going merry drift slowly on the sea, waiting for everyone's vision to recover before accelerating: "Everyone rest for a bit. Once we can see the route clearly, we'll continue toward Alabasta."Just then, Zoro's ears suddenly twitched. He was about to continue his training, but his hand, which was about to grab the barbell, stopped—he heard a very faint "clatter," not the "splash" of waves hitting the ship, nor the "groaning" of everyone rubbing their eyes, but the sound of metal materials clashing.Zoro put down his cloth and walked toward the sound, heading straight to the anchor's position. He knelt down, squinted his eyes, and looked closely—only to see a person hanging from the anchor chain—That person was wearing a pink and blue ballet outfit, with small swan wings attached to the back. Two round fuzzy balls sat on top of their head, and their face was covered in heavy makeup, with eye shadow and blush so bright they were dazzling. Even though they looked disheveled from being soaked in seawater, that outfit was still extremely eye-catching.Zoro's gaze instantly became wary, and his hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist. He slowly stood up, looking down at the person from above, his voice low and devoid of any extra emotion:"Who are you?"I have unknowingly written 300,000 words! My gratitude to everyone who has stopped to read! Whether you read silently or left a few words of feedback, it makes me feel that this creation has meaning. I will continue to work hard with this support in the future—I'm asking everyone here to go give a 5-star book review!"
Chapter 57: Compatriots?Mr. 2 Bon Clay, who had just been pulled onto the ship, sat slumped on the deck. As soon as he looked up and spotted Robin in the crowd, he jumped up immediately and shrieked in a high-pitched voice:"Miss All Sunday..."He spun around on one foot, the white hem of his swan costume sweeping across the deck, leaving faint water stains on the wood grain. Then, he suddenly placed his right hand behind his waist, pinched his left fingers into an orchid gesture near his face, and intentionally wiggled his hips.Seeing how he was completely oblivious to how embarrassing his actions were, Nami couldn't help but hold her forehead. "What a character!""This is not good, Miss All Sunday! If you're here, does that mean... little old me has fallen into the hands of the Straw Hat crew?"Bon Clay even blew a wink at the air, his tone full of surprise but without a hint of tension."Robin, do you know this weirdo?" Luffy squeezed out of the crowd, scratching the back of his head and pointing at the "weirdo" with a look of confusion.Robin rested her fingertips lightly against her chin, her gaze calmly sweeping over Bon Clay. After a moment of thought, she spoke at a steady pace, every word clear:"He is Mr. 2, a high-ranking agent of Baroque Works, and the only one in the organization without a partner."She paused, her gaze landing on Bon Clay's right hand, her tone becoming slightly more serious. "He is also a user of the Clone-Clone Fruit—as long as he touches someone with his right hand, he can perfectly copy their face, body, and even their voice.""Even for people he has touched in the past, he can recall the memory to mimic them at any time, with an accuracy that is nearly flawless. In short, don't let his right hand touch you."While everyone was still pondering the deeper meaning of Robin's words with varying expressions, Usopp's sudden, high-pitched shout exploded, instantly drawing everyone's attention."Luffy! At least listen to Robin until she's finished!" Usopp's shout rang out as his eyes widened, pointing at Luffy with his face turning beet red.Everyone turned to look, only to see that Luffy had already excitedly rushed forward and grabbed Bon Clay's right hand.Usopp's teeth chattered in anger, and he pointed at Luffy's back, looking like a shark with its mouth wide open: "You can't touch his hand! You idiot!""It's fine!" Luffy completely ignored Usopp's frantic shouting and didn't care about the "I want to hit someone" looks from the people around him—he shook Bon Clay's hand, his eyes practically sparkling with anticipation. "The Clone-Clone Fruit? That sounds super interesting! Hey, Swan! Hurry up and mimic me! Hurry... come on!"Bon Clay's arm was being shaken along with him, but he wasn't the least bit impatient. Instead, he let out a helpless sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly, though he couldn't hide the smug curl of his lips:"It can't be helped~ My mission this time isn't to clash with you anyway. Since a fan is so expectant, I'll show you a little trick!"As soon as he finished speaking, his orchid fingers lightly brushed Luffy's hand away—then he raised his right hand and slapped his own face with a "thwack."After the crisp sound, Bon Clay's facial features began to change visibly: his originally pointed chin slowly rounded, his thick eyebrows thinned into Luffy's signature thin brows, and even the carefree look in his eyes was replicated exactly.In the blink of an eye, another "Luffy" stood on the deck. "How's that? My mimicry ability is pretty amazing, right?"When he spoke, his voice had changed from his usual high-pitched squeak to Luffy's cheerful and slightly goofy tone."Wow! So cool—!" Luffy jumped up, circling "his other self" three times, and even poked the other's cheek with his finger; the touch was no different from his own face.He crouched down, hands clenched at his chest, his eyes shining like stars: "So cool and interesting! It's exactly the same! Do it again! Do it again!""Me too, me too!" Chopper approached, wiggling his furry little belly and grabbing the corner of Bon Clay's clothes. "Mimic me once, just once..."Usopp also threw his "danger warnings" to the wind, rushing forward with his hand raised, his voice rising several octaves: "And me! Mimic me...!"Bon Clay was originally a ballet performer; how could he refuse a fan's request? He laughed and clapped his hands: "A fan's request must be fully satisfied—next, I'll show you my best trick!"He then performed various mimics, showing off his skills as different faces appeared, making Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp scream in delight, constantly shouting "one more time... one more time"; even the usually cold Zoro was now watching his performance with interest.Before long, Bon Clay simply pulled Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp along to perform a leg-kicking dance on the deck, shouting an unknown slogan: "Strong... so strong...!""I say... he's from the enemy camp!" Nami took a deep breath, hands on her hips, her brow furrowed.She looked at the four "idiots" making a scene together, her mouth twitching. Finally, she slumped her shoulders helplessly, walked to the side of the ship to look at the distant horizon, and said with a hint of fatigue:"Sanji, bring me a cup of Honeysuckle tea, make it strong.""Coming, Nami-san!" Sanji's response immediately came from the direction of the kitchen. He popped his head out almost instantly, adjusted his tie, and hearts immediately appeared in his eyes: "Adding ice will cool you down even more~ Would Robin-chan like a cup too?""I'll just have black tea." Robin leaned against the railing, an open book in her hand, her fingertips lightly flipping the pages.She looked up at the four people playing on the deck, a faint smile playing on her lips, her tone calm yet reassuring: "Everyone doesn't need to worry too much, I'll keep an eye on Mr. 2."On the other side, Zoro rubbed his stomach and frowned—a "growl" came from his belly."Hey, cook," he shouted toward the kitchen, his voice tinged with impatience. "It's time for lunch."After saying that, he found a shady spot by the railing, sat on the floor, leaned against the ship's planks with his arms crossed, and closed his eyes. Within seconds, a light snoring sound could be heard.Mark moved a lounge chair to a corner where he could get some sun without it being too bright and lay down slowly.He watched the excitement on the deck, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch—Bon Clay's naturally friendly personality really did fit in strangely well with Luffy and the others.He thought to himself: "Bon Clay's strength is only so-so. If he dares to play any tricks, he'll behave after a beating. I just wonder if my Baji Quan can produce a personality awakening effect like Sanji's..."At lunch, the excitement moved from the deck to the dining table. Bon Clay held a wine glass, spinning around the table with ballet steps, occasionally spilling a few drops of wine, which he didn't mind at all.Instead, he intentionally mimicked Luffy's wolfing down of food, puffing out his cheeks as he stuffed meat into his mouth, making Chopper and the others laugh heartily.Mark also couldn't help but have a few drinks with him, but Bon Clay kept leaning toward him, occasionally patting his arm and praising, "Mark-san's muscles are so firm!~"One moment he'd lean into his ear and say, "Does Mark-san want to learn how to dance? Little old me can teach you~" The over-enthusiasm made Markfeel uneasy all over; he smiled awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.The afternoon sun gradually dipped toward the west, and a white shadow suddenly appeared on the sea—a ship shaped like a swan was sailing toward the going merry, its sail painted with the same pattern as Bon Clay's swan costume.When Bon Clay saw the ship, the smile on his face faded slightly. He put down his wine glass, walked to the railing, turned his back to the Straw Hat crew, and his shoulders shook slightly.The sea breeze lifted the hem of his swan dress. He raised a hand to wipe his eyes, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible sobbing: "What a shame... it's time to part again.""Don't go! Stay and play a bit longer!" Luffy and the others crouched, biting their collars with red eyes; Chopper leaned against Luffy, tears welling up; Usopp wiped his eyes with his sleeve and asked with a sob: "Will we see each other again?"Bon Clay slowly turned around. Although his eyes were a bit red, he still wore his familiar smile. He gave the three of them a thumbs-up.His tone was more serious than his usual joking: "Encounters and partings are inevitable in a journey... but... please... don't forget the friendship between us.""Then goodbye, my friends, my compatriots!" After saying that, he leaped and landed lightly on the deck of the Swanne, turning to wave to everyone on the going merry: "Let's go, brothers!""Compatriots?" Zoro had just finished gnawing on a piece of meat, still chewing as he looked at Markand pointed a finger at him. "It seems he was talking to you!"Mark was stunned for a moment, and once he realized what was meant, his face instantly turned dark. He rolled up his sleeves, stepped on the railing, and leaned forward, almost jumping out:"Holy crap! You *#~* are the Okama! Your whole family are Okamas! Stop right there!""Today I'll show you whether your Okama Kenpo is stronger or my Baji Quan is stronger!""Forget it, forget it! He's already far away!" Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy quickly rushed over. Usopp held Mark's waist tightly, Chopper hugged his leg, and Luffy lunged to grab his arm.The three of them used all their strength to pull Mark back, fearing he would actually rush over and beat Bon Clay to death. Mark struggled, still shouting: "Let me go! I'll just give him one punch! Just one!"The Swanne gradually sailed away, and Bon Claywas still standing at the stern, waving to the going merry. Mark was pinned to the deck by the three of them, watching the shrinking white shadow, still muttering: "Next time I run into him..."The sea breeze continued to blow, and the laughter on the deck gradually subsided, but it left behind a bit more warmth—an unexpected encounter and a brief moment of excitement became another unforgettable interlude in the Straw Hat crew's journey.(Thank you everyone for the tips and positive reviews. Actually, clicking on the free ads makes the author very happy too o＞_＜o)
Chapter 58: Ace AppearsMarine Headquarters — MarinefordIn the Fleet Admiral's office, bookshelves occupied an entire wall, neatly stacked with yellowing intelligence reports. The potted plants on the windowsill were meticulously trimmed, yet the desk alone appeared somewhat cluttered—beside an open file sat a bone china teacup, the steam from the black tea curling upward."Report, Fleet Admiral! Information has arrived from one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Crocodile!"The messenger was dressed in a crisp Marineuniform, his white-gloved hand clutching a gold-embossed folder. Sweat slid down his temples. Everyone knew that Fleet Admiral Sengoku's temper had been more explosive than usual lately due to the Red Hair Pirates.Sengoku sat in a wooden chair, his fingers lightly tracing the patterns on a bamboo-style cup. At this moment, the cup was filled with freshly brewed black tea, its fragrance drifting through the air.He looked up at the messenger, his eyebrows arching slightly, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible sarcasm: "That guy? Since when did he become so 'proactive'? Read it."The messenger swallowed hard, unfolded the document, and scanned it quickly. He took a deep breath and lowered his voice even further: "The intelligence concerns the Straw Hat Pirates...""Pfft—!"Scalding black tea suddenly sprayed from Sengoku's mouth, landing directly on Garp's face opposite him. The old man was slumped in a chair, clutching a brown paper bag of rice crackers.He had just stuffed a cracker into his mouth when he was doused with tea. Tea mixed with cracker crumbs hung from his beard, a few drops dripping down his chin onto his uniform.Sengoku didn't bother with Garp's plight. He grabbed a blue rag from the corner of the desk used for cleaning and tossed it over. His voice was full of impatience, and his fingers tapped the desk lightly—It was a habit when he was agitated: "What trouble have those brats caused now? Last time they stirred up a Marine branch in the East Blue, and now they've gone to Alabasta? What else did that fellow Crocodile say?""The Straw Hat Pirates landed at Nanohana in Alabasta... and that's it! The rest of the document is blank, with only Crocodile's personal seal."Sengoku frowned, his fingertips tapping louder on the desk. He knew Crocodile too well; that man never did anything without a benefit. Reporting the Straw Hat Pirates' movements out of the blue was likely a move to use the Marines' hands to eliminate an opponent.While pondering, he caught sight of Garp out of the corner of his eye—the old man had actually tossed the rag directly into the trash and instead reached over to grab the freshly changed white curtains by the window, rubbing them all over his face like a towel.After wiping, he grinned at Sengoku, revealing two rows of teeth covered in cracker crumbs. His other hand quickly snatched the bag of crackers in front of him, chewing with a loud "crunch, crunch" that left his face covered in crumbs, the bag itself becoming deformed in his grip."You old fossil! Those curtains were just changed yesterday!" A vein throbbed on Sengoku's temple in anger, but business took priority for now.He took a deep breath and slapped the table. "Have Vice Admiral Momonga take an elite squad to Nanohana immediately. Order all branches not to act rashly—Crocodile has operated in Alabasta for years; don't fall into his trap!"The messenger was about to respond when he suddenly remembered something. His face turned deathly pale, and his voice carried a sob:"According to the Marine branch movement reports! F-Fleet Admiral... Captain Smoker already took his subordinates and sailed to Nanohana three days ago. He said... he said he would personally capture Straw Hat Luffy...""Has that guy been beaten stupid by the Straw Hat?" Sengoku stood up abruptly, his wicker chair sliding back half a meter. "He lost back in Cocoyasi Village, and he dares to go alone this time? Does he think Alabasta is his backyard? Hasn't he embarrassed the Marines enough!"After the scolding, he turned to snatch the cracker bag from Garp's hand—there were only a few pieces left. Garp dodged with a laugh, clutching the bag tightly: "Don't be so stingy, Sengoku!""Leave some for me! This is the last bag!"The sounds of the two scuffling echoed in the office. The messenger stood in place, not daring to breathe, hoping only to leave this "eye of the storm" as soon as possible.Nanohana Streets—The sun in Alabasta was always exceptionally fierce. The midday light made the stone roads of Nanohana scorch, the air carrying the scent of dust mixed with the cries of vendors, as bustling as a boiling pot of soup.At the market entrance, a merchant leading camels wiped his sweat with a cloth. The copper bells on the camels rang "ding-ling, ding-ling" incessantly, their humps piled with colorful fabrics. Residents in long robes came and went, carrying freshly bought vegetables and water skins. Occasionally, children ran past, their laughter echoing through the alleys."Please wait, young lady!"A middle-aged man with a crumpled white turban on his head suddenly emerged from behind a stall, blocking Mark's path.His turban was covered in dust, and fawning wrinkles gathered at the corners of his eyes. He held a fruit that was a shiny, bright red—claiming it was a "Golden Apple," though the paint on the skin wasn't even fully dry.The man thrust the fruit toward Mark, his voice kept extremely low as if sharing a monumental secret: "Look here, miss, I dug this Golden Apple out of a thousand-year-old ruin!""Look at this apple, it's made of gold! Eating it lets you live for another thousand years! Today, we have a shared destiny. I'd sell it to anyone else for five thousand Berries, but for you, I'll only take one thousand!"Mark's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He was wearing a dark short-sleeved shirt today, his black hair fluttering in the wind. With his cute features, it was indeed hard to tell his gender at first glance.A while back in the green mist at sea, he had encountered Bon Clay, who kept calling him "comrade," which had already filled him with frustration!Now being addressed as "miss," his tone was naturally sharp: "Two things. First, I have no interest in living for a thousand years—I haven't even figured out what I'm eating tomorrow. Second," he enunciated every word, his voice slightly higher than usual:"I am a man."With that, he turned to leave, but the vendor tried to persist, only to be interrupted by two figures who suddenly rushed over."Nani? You can live for a thousand years for just one thousand Berries?""Really? That's amazing! I want to buy one! I want to buy one too!"Usopp and Chopper practically lunged at the stall simultaneously, their eyes shining like lamps. Usopp's breathing even became rapid.Chopper jumped so high his hooves almost left the ground, clutching a few coins in his small hand: "Boss! I want one! I want to live for a thousand years too!"Seeing that someone had taken the bait, the vendor's eyes crinkled into slits as he smiled, reaching out to take the money: "You two young customers have great eyes! This Golden Apple...""Stop right there!"Nami's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of gritted teeth. She had just gone to a nearby water station to buy water skins, only to return and see these two fools falling for a scam. She ran over quickly and gave them both a sharp knock on the head."Thump! Thump!" Two crisp sounds echoed. Usoppand Chopper instantly clutched their heads and crouched on the ground, tears nearly welling up."Are you two stupid?" Nami grabbed them by their back collars, lifting them until their toes left the ground. "You actually believe such a deceptive trick? Living for a thousand years? Why wouldn't he eat it himself?"Saying this, she turned to glare at the vendor, who quickly hid the Golden Apple behind his back and shrank his neck in fear. Nami ignored him and dragged Usopp and Chopper toward Mark: "From now on, I'll be looking after your pocket money—to save you from being scammed again!""No! Nami!" Usopp wailed, his head swaying back and forth. "If you look after it, I'll probably have to pay a 'management fee'! Last time my Berries...""Shut up."Chopper's little head also drooped, looking pitiful: "I was saving up to buy cotton candy...""Less talk!" Nami applied a bit of pressure, and the two immediately fell silent.Not far away, Zoro was strolling along with his hands behind his head. He had a piece of wild grass in his mouth, the green blade moving slightly as he chewed, his pace as casual as if he were walking in his own backyard.After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked around—"By the way, that guy Luffy disappeared the moment we docked. He didn't get lost again, did he?" He scratched his head, his tone nonchalant but rarely showing a hint of concern.Mark walked over and, hearing this, couldn't help but sigh while holding his forehead: "I never expected that you of all people would worry about someone else getting lost. -_-||""Finding him is simple! He'll be wherever it's lively!" Sanji's voice cut in. He was wearing a sharp black suit with a meticulously tied necktie, looking around at the passersby.His eyes suddenly lit up—not far away, a girl in a light blue dress was standing in front of a fruit stall. He immediately straightened his suit and walked over quickly, bowing slightly: "Beautiful lady, would you like me to help you pick some fruit? I know the fruits of this desert best..."The girl was startled for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. Sanji wasn't discouraged and continued talking beside her.Robin walked at the rear, wearing a light purple dress that swayed gently with her steps. Hearing the group's conversation, she looked up, her gaze as calm as a pool of water: "If he truly wandered into the wasteland, he'd likely end up as a mummified corpse from thirst—in the Alabasta desert, the wind can blow even bones into dust.""H-How terrifying..." Usopp immediately imagined himself as a mummified corpse, his eyes going wide. Chopper also hid behind Nami in fear, his small hand clutching her skirt.Zoro frowned and stopped—he wasn't afraid, but he felt that a guy like Luffy really might wander into the desert. Sanji also stopped flirting and turned to look toward the distant wasteland, somewhat worried: "That guy wouldn't really...""Let's finish buying the supplies first, then check the restaurants," Mark sighed. "Luffy will definitely look for food when he's hungry; he might be there."The group nodded and quickened their pace.In the wasteland—Meanwhile, Luffy was leaning on a scavenged dry wooden stick, wandering through the golden wasteland.The sun hung in the sky like a giant fireball, making the sand scorch and the air shimmer with heat. Luffy's Straw Hat was crooked on his head, covering half his face. His exposed skin was burnt red, and his lips were so dry they were cracked and bleeding.His tongue hung out like a dehydrated dog's. With every step, his shoes sank into the sand, pulling out with a trail of grains."Water... who has water for my thirst..." he muttered weakly, his voice as raspy as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper. His stomach also chose an inopportune moment to growl loudly, the sound echoing in the wasteland. "So hungry... water... so thirsty."He stopped, looked up at the sun, and squinted—the sky was a cloudless blue, without even a bird in sight. The surroundings were nothing but identical sand dunes; he couldn't tell which way was which."By the way, where exactly is this place?"In the town—At that moment, a small restaurant in Nanohanawas already crowded with people.The restaurant's wooden door was wide open, surrounded by at least several hundred people. The buzz of discussion was like a swarm of bees. A middle-aged woman in an apron, clutching a vegetable basket, stood on her tiptoes to look inside, her voice full of horror: "Did you hear? Someone inside was eating and suddenly died!"A shirtless man nearby wiped his sweat, the tattoo on his arm moving with him: "Really? Could it be food poisoning?"An old man in a robe shook his head, his tone certain. "I heard the restaurant owner say he ate a 'Desert Strawberry'! Those things look like strawberries but are actually poisonous spiders. If you accidentally eat one, you'll die suddenly five days later, and the corpse will spread infectious diseases. Who would dare go near!"The crowd fell silent for a few seconds before erupting into even louder discussion. A child sitting on an adult's shoulders peeked inside, only to have their eyes quickly covered by the adult: "Don't look! It's bad luck!"Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was even more tense. The owner was an honest-looking middle-aged man in a grease-stained white chef's uniform, his apron still stuck with a few grains of fried rice.He stood behind the counter, his mouth wide enough to fit an egg—in front of the counter, a man wearing a cowboy hat was slumped over a table, motionless.The man's head was buried in a plate of half-eaten fried rice, grains scattered across the table. His cowboy hat now completely covered the back of his head.One hand was placed on the table like a student answering a question, still clutching a silver fork. The fork was speared through a piece of unswallowed roasted meat. A white-bearded skull tattoo covered his entire back.The entire restaurant was so quiet you could hear a fly, and even the sound of the wind outside seemed to have vanished!Suddenly, with a "bang"—the man slumped at the table jerked his head up.The cowboy hat slid to the back of his head, revealing a young face with some freckles. His eyes held the confusion of someone who had just woken up, blinking repeatedly. A few grains of rice were stuck in his hair.The onlookers recoiled in unison, the ones in the front row nearly falling over. Some had their mouths open wide enough to swallow a fist, yet not a single person dared to speak—everyone was so shocked their breathing became shallow.Even more shocking were the three words the man uttered:"I fell asleep.""Eh~?!... Fell asleep?"A waitress in a linen dress summoned her courage and walked over with a glass of water, her voice soft: "Sir, are you alright?"Just as she reached the table and tried to set the glass down, the man suddenly reached out and grabbed her skirt, rubbing it against his face—his face was still smeared with rice and tomato sauce, instantly leaving several stains on the pink fabric."Ah—!" the waitress screamed in terror, jumping back. The glass of water fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. She clutched her skirt and turned to run out, her steps so frantic she nearly hit the doorframe.The man remained in the posture of grabbing the skirt for two seconds before slowly letting go. He scratched his head and muttered in confusion: "Eh? What's wrong? What happened? Are these people behind me stage actors hired by your restaurant?""It's because of you!" everyone answered in unison, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand!Ace shrugged nonchalantly, rubbed his face, and picked up the fork again. He speared the leftover piece of roasted meat, stuffed it into his mouth to chew, then picked up a spoon and shoveled a few mouthfuls of fried rice.After just two bites, he slumped back onto the table with a "thud," his head once again burying itself in the fried rice plate as he fell asleep—this time, a loud snore erupted, making the table vibrate slightly."He... he fell asleep again?""What kind of creature is he?""Disperse, disperse. Turns out no one died, just a guy who can sleep!"The onlookers gradually scattered, some still laughing and discussing as they looked back. The tense atmosphere from before vanished instantly.In the shadows by the restaurant entrance, a man as sturdy as a steel tower remained standing.He was a head taller than those around him. His dark gray padded coat looked particularly conspicuous in the heat, his collar open to reveal a black T-shirt underneath. He carried a black Jitte on his back, its metal handle glinting coldly in the sun. Two cigars were clamped in his mouth, smoke slowly billowing from the corners of his lips.Only his eyes, sharp as a hawk's, stared fixedly at Ace sleeping at the table inside the restaurant, his gaze full of icy coldness—it was Smoker, who had pursued the Straw Hat Pirates to Nanohana.His fingers rested lightly on the handle of his Jitte. Passersby detoured around him, no one daring to approach—the oppressive aura radiating from him was more uncomfortable than the scorching Alabasta sun."Whitebeard's Second Division Commander... why would he appear here?" Smoker muttered under his breath, the fire of his cigars flickering. "It looks like Nanohana is about to get lively."