Chapter 131: Bonds, Rewoven"Oh! You're strong! A pretty good opponent indeed!"Zoro flicked his hand, and his three swords unsheathed in response.fire dance emitted an eerie glow, while Enma exuded a chilling aura."Although I don't know where these two swords came from, they handle surprisingly well!""Three Sword Style, huh? How interesting! But Markis very strong, you know!"Luffy sat on the ship's railing, legs swinging, his Straw Hat tilted to the back of his head."Stop it! Don't fight in my house!" Merry stood in the center of the deck, cheeks puffed out, her small fists clenched.Zoro's intensely burning fighting spirit suddenly deflated, and his grip on his sword loosened instinctively.Mark rubbed his temples, his tone full of helplessness: "For such an absurd thing to actually happen to me!"He swept his gaze across the deck, pausing when his line of sight landed on Nami."Nami ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, and the ship spirit has even appeared..."Changing the subject, he pressed his chest, his voice deepening."And there's this terrifying power in my body, along with an uncontrollable, monstrous killing intent!"Mark closed his eyes and thought to himself: "Ciel, help me stabilize my emotions!"[Acknowledged. Negative emotions sealing in progress — Killing intent suppressed by 70%, irritability level decreasing. Current status: Stable.]The mechanical voice faded, and only then did Markopen his eyes, sweeping his gaze across everyone.Finally, his gaze landed on Luffy, and he asked in a deep voice: "Luffy, what is your last memory?""Huh? Mark, have you regained your memory?"Luffy's eyes lit up. He darted over like a monkey and grabbed Mark's arm, shaking it.Mark got a headache from the shaking and reached out to press down on his head: "Only a part of it — I've forgotten everything since we set sail.""Let me think!" Luffy let go, touched his chin, and squatted on the ground, counting by poking the deck with his finger."We left Windmill Village, and not long after, we encountered a big storm. You stuffed me into a barrel, and then I was blown away... When I woke up, I was on this ship!""In that case, I think I understand." Markstraightened up, his tone relaxing a bit. "You don't need to worry. Let's eat first."He turned his head to look at Sanji and raised an eyebrow: "You wouldn't leave hungry people to fend for themselves, would you, Cook?""Well said. A gentleman would never let a beautiful lady go hungry."Sanji raised his hand to adjust his tie, a familiar smirk playing on his lips: "Where's the kitchen?""The lounge is connected to the kitchen, I'll take you..." Merry was just about to step forward when she saw Mark swipe his hand through the air—Without any warning, a huge pile of ingredients "clattered" onto the deck, almost burying Luffy, who was squatting on the ground.A whole shaved black goat; next to it lay a turkey bigger than an ostrich; the bamboo baskets were filled with juicy tomatoes, crisp green lettuce, and several fresh sea fish; even seasonings like garlic and herbs were wrapped in cloth and arranged neatly.Except for Robin, who remained composed with her fingertips against her chin, everyone else was stunned—Luffy popped his head out of the pile of ingredients, grabbing a tomato to gnaw on, laughing vaguely; Chopper's eyes went wide, whispering: "So, so amazing... What kind of ability is this? It's too convenient!";Usopp's jaw hit the deck, and he even forgot his previous fear of Zoro and Mark: "Isn't this ability a bit too convenient?";Nami, who had been hiding behind the warehouse door crack peeking, forgot to hide when she saw this spectacle and poked her head out to stare at the pile of ingredients."Hahaha! This is my logistics general!" Luffy jumped up, chewing the tomato, and slapped Mark on the back with enough force to make him stumble. "It's super convenient!"Mark steadied himself, pointed at the pile of ingredients, and looked at Sanji: "I'm a bit hungry, make something delicious!""No problem. These are all great ingredients. Leave it to me." A flash of excitement crossed Sanji's eyes—Good ingredients were the best motivation for a chef. He rolled up his sleeves, hoisted the black goat, and said, "I guarantee I'll make a meal so good it'll make you want to swallow your tongue.""I'll lend a hand too!" Usopp immediately followed, grabbing a basket of lettuce and running toward the lounge—he was genuinely afraid that Zoro and Mark would start fighting again, and now he had an excuse to stay away from the "trouble zone."After running a few steps, he turned back and shouted: "Cook! I want to eat stir-fried bean sprouts!" "Got it, coward." Sanji replied without looking back, his steps light as he entered the lounge."Since we aren't fighting, there's no need for me to stay on the ship." Zoro sheathed his swords, the "click" of the blades entering the scabbards crisp and clean. He turned and walked toward the railing, actually intending to jump into the sea and swim away..."There's alcohol." Mark hurriedly spoke up. Just two words, but they acted like a magnet, halting Zoro's steps.Zoro's movements paused, and his ears twitched. After two seconds of silence, he turned around, his tone stiff: "Oh, I happen to be hungry, so I'll have a meal before I go."After saying this, without looking at the others, he walked straight toward the lounge, his back still straight, but the coldness from before was gone."Don't think about sneaking off! Cat Burglar." Mark's gaze drifted back to the warehouse entrance, where the figure who had been peeking hadn't managed to hide yet.With a "creak" of the warehouse door, Namisheepishly put down the wiper in her hand and shuffled out, her hands still stuffing something into her pants pocket: "Haha, who said I was trying to sneak off! I was just taking a look..."Before she could finish her sentence, with a "clatter"—a piece of gold jewelry, stuffed bulging in her pocket, fell out. "Ah! This is... Haha! It ran into my pocket by itself, haha!" Nami's face turned red instantly.Mark looked at her embarrassed expression and shook his head helplessly. He waved his hand again—three half-person-tall wooden crates "thudded" onto the deck, making Merry let out an "eep" from the impact."Take them. I have as much of this junk as you want." Mark's tone was flat, as if he were saying "take some rocks."Nami's hand, which was picking up the gold, froze, her eyes staring straight at the crates—she pounced over and lifted the lids, instantly gasping: the crates were filled with gold, gems, gold coins, and even a few golden crowns.She looked up abruptly and grabbed Mark's arm, shaking it: "Are all of these for me? You really are a good sister!""Um... I'm a man." Mark pulled his arm back, his temple twitching."Hahaha! The weather is nice today!" Namiimmediately changed the subject, hugged the gold crates, and ran toward her room. After running a few steps, she turned back and shouted: "I'm going to put away this 'junk' first! Call me when it's time to eat!"Before long, the enticing aroma of food drifted out of the lounge—roast lamb, with a hint of cumin; then the greasy fragrance of pan-fried chicken, mixed with the freshness of herbs; finally, the savory scent of fish soup wafted out, making Luffy circle around the lounge entrance, his nose twitching."It's time to eat—" Sanji walked out wearing an apron, carrying a huge platter with a golden-brown roasted leg of lamb, the aroma overflowing."I'm digging in!" Luffy was the first to pounce, grabbing a piece of lamb and shoving it into his mouth.Zoro sat opposite Mark with a sake flask in front of him—Mark had taken it out at some point. He poured himself a cup of sake and poured one for Mark, his tone softer than before: "Drink."By the time everyone had finished eating and the table was a mess, Luffy was lying on the ground, rubbing his round belly and groaning: "I'm full, I'm full!"Mark glanced at the messy table and raised his hand to use his cleaning ability on the tableware—a flash of blue light, and when they looked at the table and tableware again, they were sparkling clean, without even a speck of grease.Everyone was stunned again—Usopp pointed at the empty table and shouted: "Isn't this ability too useful?"; Zoro raised an eyebrow, took a sip of sake, and said nothing—but his look clearly meant "interesting"; Sanji paused while wiping a plate and smiled helplessly: "What a convenient guy. You're quite the expert at cleaning the kitchen."Robin put down her fruit fork and said softly: "Very efficient, Mr. Mark.""Just a convenience." Mark retracted his hand without further explanation.Just then, Sanji finished tidying the cupboard and leaned against the doorframe, his tone tinged with melancholy: "Although I don't know why I would leave that old geezer, I'm starting to believe Miss Robin's words."He pointed to the kitchen: "The position of the spice jars, the placement of the frying pans, even the orientation of the salt shaker—they are all in the positions I'm most familiar with—just as if I'd been cooking here every day.""Now that you mention it, I feel the same way." Nami touched the journal in her pocket, her brows furrowing. "The photo of Belle-Mere at my bedside, my handwriting in the journal, the tangerine trees. It doesn't seem fake; it feels like I've actually lived on this ship for a long time.""Mark, do you know something?" Zoro put down his sake cup, his eyes becoming serious—Just now, Mark asked Luffy about their memories, grabbed ingredients, and cleared the tableware; he was clearly more clear-headed than the rest of them. He was definitely hiding something.Mark tapped his fingertips on the table and said in a deep voice, "We have lost our memories; that is already a fact. Robin has not lost her memories. What is the difference between her and us?"Everyone looked at Robin, who nodded calmly. "I didn't sleep that night—I was reading the ancient texts I brought back from Sky Island until dawn. I didn't notice anything unusual.""Exactly!" Mark suddenly raised his hand, his tone certain. "It means that while we were asleep, something stole our memories!"As soon as he finished speaking, the kettle in the kitchen suddenly began to "whistle"—the water was boiling, and steam was venting from the spout, sounding like a flute."I think... I've heard that sound before!" Choppersuddenly lifted his head, his little face full of confusion. "Before I went to sleep, I was lying in bed and heard a similar flute sound, very faint...""Now that you mention it, I heard it too!" Usoppimmediately chimed in, slapping his thigh. "I thought it was the sound of the sea breeze and didn't pay it any mind! Now that I think about it, that sound came from outside the ship!""There was also a little boy!" Zoro pointed toward the ship's railing. "When I was groggy, I seemed to see a little boy standing on the ship, holding something...""Then the matter is clear." Mark pushed the wine flask on the table aside, his tone growing colder. "After we fell asleep, a little boy played a flute and stole our memories.""Robin, you are knowledgeable. Do you have any information regarding this?" Only Robin would know the answer to such a strange occurrence.Robin nodded, her tone calm. "Mm-hmm, there is indeed. I read in an ancient text that near certain islands in the Grand Line, there is a monster called a 'Memory-Eating Demon' that feeds on the memories of living beings.""That means... there's that kind of monster on this island?" Usopp's face turned pale instantly, and he retreated a step to hide behind Chopper, his voice trembling. "Devour... devour memories... if it eats them all, won't we turn into idiots?""So it seems we just need to take care of that monster?" Zoro gripped the sword at his waist, his eyes reigniting with fighting spirit—whether it was an opponent or a monster, as long as it could be fought, it was fine."Hey! That's just a guess!" Usopp immediately retorted. "What if that monster is really powerful? We don't even know what it looks like!""Who cares!" Luffy scrambled up from the floor, hands on his hips, laughing. "Find the monster, beat it up, and get our memories back—how simple is that!""Don't you find it strange?" Mark suddenly spoke up. His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly drew everyone's attention back to him.Everyone looked at each other. Usopp scratched his head. "Strange? What's strange?""Why do you still remember who you are?" Mark's gaze swept over everyone, his tone serious. "If that monster really feeds on memories, why didn't it eat our'self-awareness' too? For example, forgetting your own name or what you do—wouldn't that make it easier for it to ambush us again?""Why?" Usopp was stunned and subconsciously touched his own face. "Of course I remember who I am! I am Captain Usopp, the great pirate with 8,000 subordinates!""No, that's not it. He means that since it feeds on memories, it should be like Luffy eating meat—eat as much as you can." Nami realized, turned to look at Luffy, and poked his stomach. "Rubber-man, if there was a pile of meat in front of you, what would you do?""Me?" Luffy's eyes lit up. Without even thinking, he shouted, "That goes without saying! I'd definitely eat it all! Not a single bite left!""Then, under what circumstances would you not finish it all?" Nami asked again, her tone guiding him.Luffy scratched his hair, thought for a long time, and suddenly laughed. "Haha! I'd be stuffed! But don't underestimate me! As long as I move around a little, I can eat another pile!""Sss... I see!" Sanji suddenly understood and tapped his fingers on the table. "That means the monster feeds on our memories, but it can't eat that much at once—we have too many memories since we set sail, so it can only devour a portion at a time.""That means it might come back tonight?" Zoro's eyes sharpened—the monster knew how to "save for later," but that was fine, it saved him the trouble of looking for it."As expected of our Vice Captain Mark, you are truly clever." Robin looked at Mark, her eyes carrying a trace of a smile—from analyzing the memories to guiding everyone to think about the key issues, Mark's calmness and train of thought impressed Robin."Huh?" Mark was stunned and pointed at himself. "What Vice Captain? When did I become the Vice Captain?""It seems to have been back in the East Blue, before I joined the crew, so I'm not entirely clear on the details." Robin explained, pointing at Nami's pocket. "However, it should be written in the logbook—Miss Nami, haven't you been keeping the logbook?""Nami, take out the logbook so we can take a look!" Mark immediately looked at Nami, his eyes full of urgency—the logbook might help him remember more things."Fine." Nami took out the logbook but didn't hand it over immediately. Instead, she hugged it to her chest, raised an eyebrow at the group, and said, "But you have to pay—one hundred Berries per page, or five thousand Berries for the whole thing, I'll give you a discount!""..." The group was speechless—this woman, at a time like this, was still thinking about money!In the end, it was Luffy who made the call: "Fine, fine, fine! After we read it, I'll have Mark give you more gold!"—it wasn't his money, anyway.Only then did Nami happily open the logbook and spread it out on the table.The group gathered around, looking at the handwriting in the logbook—there were Nami's accounts, Usopp's "adventure records" (most of which were bragging), Sanji's "menu of the day," and even Luffy's crooked doodles of sea beasts.Flipping to the middle pages, there was indeed a line: "Vice Captain, responsible for logistics and combat support—written by Luffy," and next to it was a stick figure holding a stick, labeled "Mark.""Arlong was defeated? No wonder..." Nami looked at the record in the logbook about "Defeating Arlong, liberating Cocoyasi Village," and her eyes softened—so she had already avenged Aunt Belle-Mere."I actually fought Hawkeye already?" Zoro suddenly pulled open his collar, revealing the long scar on his chest—the scar was still there, but the memory was gone. He traced the scar with his fingertips, his eyes becoming more determined. "Next time I meet Hawkeye, I will definitely win.""The doctor's experiment was a success..." Chopperlooked at the words "Chopper joined, became the ship's doctor" in the logbook, and his eyes turned red—so he really had left Drum Island and become the ship's doctor for the Straw Hat Crew, no longer the "monster" despised by others.Just like that, the group huddled around the logbook for half the afternoon, and fragmented memory pieces slowly pieced themselves together—they had already traveled through the East Blue, defeated Arlong, Krieg, and Buggy, and even encountered Hawkeye; Mark was indeed the Vice Captain, having followed Luffy out to sea from Windmill Village, always responsible for stocking supplies, fighting, and occasionally managing Luffy's "antics."By the time they finished reading the logbook, it was already dark. The sea breeze blew with a hint of chill. Merry leaned against the sail and whispered, "The stars are so bright tonight... but it seems a bit cold.""Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night." Markleaned against the lookout tower, holding the wine flask in his hand, his eyes fixed on the sea—that "Memory-Eating Demon" would definitely come tonight.Zoro stood beside him, the sword at his waist already unbuckled and ready to be drawn at any moment. "It's good if it comes; it saves me the trouble of looking for it."Usopp hugged his slingshot, huddled between Robin and Chopper, his voice trembling. "D-do you think that monster will be scary? Will it be like a dragon?"Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke and patted his shoulder. "Being afraid is useless—it won't come until late at night. Go drink a cup of coffee to refresh yourself first."Meanwhile, in the bushes on the other side of the island, a little boy with curly hair was holding a round, chubby seahorse, his eyes staring straight at the lit-up going merry in the distance, his voice laced with greed. "It's been so long since I've eaten... such a 'delicacy' filled with happy memories."
Chapter 132: Memories, Fists, and Reunion"Chopper, are you sure?"Mark lowered his voice, his gaze fixed on the pitch-black sea.The little reindeer sniffed the evening breeze, his ears twitching alertly:"Mm! I can't be wrong, it's this scent, he's here!"The deck fell into instant, deathly silence. Everyone took their positions according to the previous plan—Zoro stood on the back of the beast-transformed Ink Meteor, like a guardian deity of the sea, sealing off the entire surface;Usopp and Nami lurked in the lookout tower, one gripping a special net projectile, the other with tiny sparks of electricity dancing at her fingertips;Robin and Merry crouched behind barrels, eyes closed in concentration, the power of Hundred Flower Bloom already covering the entire bow area;And in the tangerine grove at the stern, Sanji leaned against a tree trunk with Chopper close by; the two of them guarded the rear of the ship, their keen senses acting like the most precise alarm system;Luffy crouched excitedly behind the main mast, his rubbery body tensed and ready.He's here.A little boy with curly white hair, like a night-prowling sea cat, silently climbed up the rope ladder to the bow.He looked around warily, and after confirming everything was "normal," he pulled a strangely shaped seahorse flute from his chest.Now!"Hundred Flower Bloom: Hook Finger!"Several arms instantly sprouted from the boy's body, precisely locking onto his joints and the seahorse flute.A flash of panic crossed the boy's eyes. At the critical moment, he brought the flute to his lips and blew a sharp note!"Bzzzz—!"The eerie sound waves didn't just affect memory; they were like a physical impact, slamming hard against everyone's psyche.Robin groaned, and the manifested arms instantly dissipated;Usopp's hand, pulling the trigger, jerked, and the special net projectile flew off-course, accurately covering Chopper, who was poking his head out, completely."Waaaah! Usopp, you idiot!" Chopper struggled inside the net."S-sorry!"Merry turned into a streak of light and rushed toward the flute, but her sense of direction was disrupted by the sound waves; she hit the ship's rail with a "thud," slid down seeing stars, and a large bump rose on her head."So painful..."In the chaos, the boy turned to jump into the sea, but a sharp blade wind skimmed across the water, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.Beneath the sea, the massive shadow of Ink Meteoremerged, golden beast pupils locking off his escape route."Gum-Gum—Bullet!"Luffy's arms shot out like cannonballs, but the boy, relying on his small stature and the interference of the unceasing flute sound, narrowly grazed past the rubbery fist, tapped his toes on the rail, and tried to launch himself into the air."In your dreams! Thunder Cloud: Discharge!"Nami pointed her clima-tact, and a dark cloud instantly condensed above the boy's head. A faint but blinding bolt of lightning struck down, scaring him into a scream as he fell back onto the deck. (The goal was to capture him alive.)As soon as he steadied himself, a golden figure attacked like a whirlwind from the stern—Sanji's speed was astonishing."Collier Kick!"Sanji's kick precisely blocked his movements, making him stagger.Meanwhile, Usopp's second net projectile finally didn't miss— "Net Star: Capture!"A special large net descended from the sky, covering the boy along with the seahorse flute in his hand.Merry, enduring the headache, rushed forward with quick eyes and hands, snatching the still-vibrating seahorse flute through the mesh of the net.Capture successful!The boy, tightly wrapped in the net, was dazed at first, then burst into a cry with a "waah," big tears falling:"Mama... I want Mama... Who are you... Why are you catching me..."He cried with genuine emotion, like a truly lost child, which caught the originally aggressive group off guard.Mark stepped forward, his gaze sharply fixed on the seahorse flute in Merry's hand that was still twitching slightly:"We caught the wrong 'person.' The criminal isn't this child; it's this 'flute.' It is the true body, a seahorse monster that feeds on memories. This child is just a puppet controlled by it."As if to verify his words, the seahorse flute suddenly vibrated violently, broke free from Merry's hand, and hovered in mid-air. Its tip aimed at Merry, who was close by, and an invisible mental wave shot out!"Merry, watch out!"Chopper, who had just crawled out of the net, slammed his small body into Merry to push her away.The seahorse missed its attack, seized the chance to turn into a beam of blue light, and shot straight toward the sea!"Trying to escape?" Zoro on the sea surface snorted coldly.Just then—"Splash!"Ink Meteor's massive head broke through the surface, shot into the sky, and landed steadily on the deck.It opened its mouth casually and, with a "pfft," spat the wet, struggling seahorse onto the center of the deck.The seahorse clearly refused to submit; its body suddenly erupted with blinding blue light, and a stronger mental shockwave blasted directly at Ink Meteor, who was close at hand!After the shockwave, Ink Meteor shook its mane. Its golden pupils were full of confusion, as if asking "Is that it?", and it even snorted, releasing a scent of seafood."Impossible! Why is my ability ineffective against you?!" A sharp mental screech emanated from within the seahorse."It's talking!"Chopper immediately perked up his ears and translated in real-time, "It says, 'What kind of monster are you? I worked so hard to get so many beautiful memories, I was about to become a Millennium Dragon! Why is my ability useless against you!'"Ink Meteor seemed to find this noisy seahorse annoying, so it raised its huge front claw and pressed it gently onto the seahorse's soft belly."Pfft..."A few strands of crystalline blue light, like fireflies being squeezed out, floated from the seahorse's mouth, wobbling as they drifted into the nostrils of Luffy, who was nearby.Luffy shuddered, his originally confused eyes instantly becoming clear and familiar. He sniffed hard, looked at Mark, and a huge, sun-like smile bloomed on his face. He lunged forward and hugged Mark:"Mark! I remember! My memories are back!"Chopper immediately translated the mental scream emitted by the seahorse in a panic: "It says,'Stop! Don't press! The memories... the memories are coming out!'"In an instant, all eyes on the deck focused on the seahorse being pressed down by Ink Meteor's claw.A silence of realization permeated the air.Zoro had returned to the deck at some point and slowly grinned, revealing a smile that could only be described as "vicious," his fists cracking: "In other words... the harder we beat it, the faster the memories come back?"The next moment, the Straw Hat crew collectively "darkened.""How dare you steal the memories of my eight thousand followers!" Usopp charged forward first."Give my memories back!" Sparks of electricity danced at Nami's fingertips."Cooking a seahorse is a first for me, but I guarantee it'll be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!" Sanji's figure turned into a black whirlwind."Three Sword Style... uh... Fists!" Zoro felt using his swords was a bit excessive, so he sheathed them and used the hilts instead."Gum-Gum—Barrage of Slaps!"Fists and kicks fell like raindrops; every strike made the seahorse's body vibrate violently, spraying out large, splendid clouds of blue memory light.These light particles seemed to have a life of their own, precisely finding their respective owners and merging into their bodies.The torrent of memories finally broke through the fog:· In Nami's mind, the despair of Arlong Park and the back of Luffy fighting for her time and again intertwined, finally freezing at that moment—after the battle, she was crying, but smiling, as she personally placed her Straw Hat back on Luffy's head.· Zoro stroked the scar on his chest; the shame of defeat and the vow to "never lose again" roared in his heart.· Before Sanji's eyes appeared the face of Zeff, feigning ferocity, and the memory of their farewell, when he knelt on the deck, his forehead pressed against the planks, tears falling: "Old man Zeff! For so long... thank you for taking care of me!"· Chopper saw the cherry blossoms filling the sky of the Drum Kingdom, Luffy holding up Hiriluk's cherry blossom flag for him, and that Straw Hat pirate flag personally draped over his shoulders, accompanied by that shout that rang through the heavens: "Let's go! Doctor!"· Usopp remembered Syrup Village, remembered Kaya's smile, and also remembered what Mark said when he handed him that strangely shaped slingshot: "Give it a try, you might really become Sogeking."· Merry's thoughts flew to the distant moon, with her companions surrounding her, cheering and jumping for joy as she obtained her new body; those smiling faces were her most precious treasure.When the last wisp of memory light returned, the panting group on the deck stopped their movements. Looking at each other, there was no longer the slightest confusion or estrangement, only the wild joy and relief of finally being reunited after being lost.I don't know who laughed first, but immediately after, hearty laughter and cheers rang out across the going merry.
Chapter 133: The Memory Thief and the Way of the PirateThe seahorse lay limp on the deck, like a wrung-out rag.The faint, ghostly blue light in its eyes had faded to mere embers, flickering uncertainly in the darkness, as if ready to extinguish at any moment."Alright," Luffy said, hands on his hips, pointing at the limp heap, "I don't know if this guy has spat out all the memories yet. Maybe we should beat it up again!"As he spoke, he rolled up sleeves that didn't exist, eager to try.Under the gaze of the group (especially Luffy's look of pure destructive intent), the seahorse emitted an extremely weak mental wave.Chopper immediately twitched his ears and translated, "It says... the memories are too many... we must go to its 'Ryugu' on the island. By borrowing the ancient power gathered there, it can comb through the memories like silk threads and return them completely...""Ryugu?" Caution toward the unknown had just surfaced in Nami's eyes, but at the thought of the treasure that might be hidden in "Ryugu," her wariness was instantly overwhelmed by irrepressible excitement."That sounds like the name of a treasure vault!"But she immediately looked out the porthole—under the Moonlight, on the pitch-black sea, jagged coral reefs looked like the fangs of lurking monsters."No!" Her voice was resolute. "We absolutely cannot sail at night! We can't see all the reefs by Moonlight, and the going merry's keel will get damaged! Wait until dawn!""Then... what about this guy?" Usopp's voice carried lingering fear as he pointed a trembling finger at the seahorse. "What if it waits until we're asleep and secretly plays that cursed flute again?"When Mark stepped forward, his black hair swayed like a waterfall with his movement, the Moonlightslanting across the tips, diffusing starry specks of light into the darkness.He examined the seahorse carefully, his gaze finally locking onto the pair of round eyes on its forehead."Its mental attack requires visual guidance," he judged. "Tie it to the mast, cover its eyes, and stuff its mouth with one of Usopp's smelly socks. Make it blind and mute."He patted the huge head of Ink Meteor beside his feet, and a low, reliable purr rumbled from the giant beast's throat."As for the guard," Mark continued, "leave it to Ink Meteor. It is completely immune to that thing's ability. It's foolproof."Thus, under the cold Moonlight, the seahorse was tightly bound to the main mast with thick ropes. A heavy black cloth was wrapped securely over the pair of eyes that held such eerie power. Perhaps unable to bear the stench of the stuffed Usopp sock, it couldn't stop foaming at the mouth.Ink Meteor lay quietly in front of the mast, golden slit pupils half-closed, locking onto the tiny "piece of dried meat" without blinking—if there was the slightest movement, this thing would become a snack by its mouth.All that remained around them was the sound of the tide lapping against the hull, mixed with the steady, rising and falling snores of his companions.The next morning, the going merry, under Nami's precise command, carefully navigated around the last coral zone and successfully docked.According to the vague description of the location of "Ryugu" that Chopper translated from the seahorse, they let the little boy Milo return to town on his own to avoid any complications.The Straw Hat chose a quiet path to enter the mountains.The morning mountains were filled with thin mist and the fresh scent of grass and trees.At the entrance to the mountain trail, Robin's gaze was drawn to a few pieces of rubble scattered in the grass, covered in moss.She crouched down and gently brushed away the wet mud and moss from the stone surface, revealing deep, ancient carvings underneath."These are... poneglyph fragments..." she murmured, carefully deciphering the lost script. "It records... that this was once the nest of a Millennium Dragon, an abandoned old nest. Later, the dragon flock flew toward more distant skies, and ever since then... this island has been shrouded in mist, and sailors who land here inexplicably lose the memory of their voyage..."Mark walked to her side, his gaze sweeping over the stone carvings before looking into the depths of the mountain forest. "It seems our 'guest' is nothing more than a Crow occupying a magpie's nest, imitating a song of the great dragons it will never be able to understand."As the altitude increased, the mist gradually dispersed.When they finally pushed aside the last cluster of dense, dew-covered bushes, the scene before them made everyone hold their breath slightly.The mountaintop was not a steep, rocky peak, but a clear pool of water as calm as a mirror, like a huge sapphire.Around the pool, white, jade-like coral rockeries naturally embraced it, casting a soft and sacred halo in the morning light.How similar this was to the dragon nest they had discovered with Apis in a previous adventure!One could even see some natural, smooth, circular depressions on the edge of the pool, as if they still retained the warm breath of some life, telling the story of how this place was once a cradle for birthing legends.However, this sacred scene once again ignited the greed and delusion deep within the seahorse's heart.In its simple mind, devouring the Straw Hat's memories—memories containing such incomparably intense and precious emotions and adventures—was the only shortcut for it to transform into a true Millennium Dragon!An insidious and despicable plan formed in its chaotic consciousness.Through Chopper, it emitted a seemingly sincere mental wave: "Must... enter the center of the sacred pool... communicate with the core of the dragon nest... to... safely guide... all memories back..."Mark closed his eyes, and his powerful Observation Haki spread out like invisible ripples, gently touching the small town at the foot of the mountain.He did indeed perceive a chaotic, intertwined, tangled mess of mental waves; that was the confusion and pain brought about by the displacement of memories."It's not lying," he said, opening his eyes and frowning slightly. "The minds in town are in a state of chaos."Looking at the weak, combat-incapable, and blindfolded seahorse creature in his hand, the companions looked at each other and felt that in this sacred dragon nest, it dared not and could not pull any more tricks.Ink Meteor received the command, and with a gentle flick of its huge head, it accurately tossed the seahorse into the center of the clear pool that reflected the sky.The turn of events happened in the next second!The seahorse dove like a ghost the moment it hit the water, then suddenly burst out of the water; the blindfold had been shaken off at some point!Its originally weak body swelled up as if inflated, and the pair of eyes on its forehead erupted with an unprecedented, blinding red light. Its form twisted, becoming like a huge, ominous megaphone!"Voom——!!!" A mental storm, ten times more powerful than the night before and carrying a substantial, tangible impact, accompanied by a terrifying suction force, instantly enveloped the entire poolside like an invisible giant net!"Urgh!" Except for Mark, who had been mentally prepared, and Ink Meteor, who was composed entirely of heterogeneous matter and completely immune, everyone else felt as if their minds had been struck by an invisible heavy hammer!The memory images they had just retrieved, still warm, were like scrolls being violently torn apart, once again becoming fragmented and forcibly extracted from their minds!Their eyes instantly lost focus, becoming hollow and vacant."I... where is this?" "...So scary... someone..." "What happened? My head hurts..."Chopper, Nami, and Usopp curled into balls almost instinctively, as if they had returned to being the versions of themselves from when they first boarded the ship, filled with inner unease.After a brief moment of distraction, Zoro, Sanji, and Robin used their strong willpower to forcibly suppress the chaos. Their eyes quickly sharpened, and they began to calmly scan the environment and analyze the situation.And Little Merry blinked her clear, large eyes again, leaving only pure curiosity and a trace of unease, like a blank sheet of paper waiting to be written upon.Mark looked at the familiar and head-scratching chaotic scene before him, sighed helplessly, and pressed his fingers firmly against his throbbing temples. "What is all this nonsense..."The energy around his body had just begun to circulate, and he was preparing to step in and clean up the mess, when he saw the amnesiac Luffylooking up, his rubber neck stretched long, his face full of pure curiosity and excitement, staring at the seahorse in the air—which was now round-bellied from having gorged on memories, its form vaguely swollen and manifesting a twisted dragon-like state."Whoa——!" Luffy exclaimed in idiotic awe, and a shining thought popped into his rubber head: "That... round thing... looks like it could be a trampoline, or... I could ride it and fly!""Gum-Gum... Rocket!"He shouted without hesitation, his rubber arms shooting out like cannonballs, flexible in the air like two giant pythons, instantly coiling layer by layer around the spherical seahorse, tightening more and more!"Pfft... Pfft..."Because he squeezed so hard, several exceptionally bright and solid specks of blue memory light were forcibly squeezed out from the seahorse's bulging body, like fireflies finding their way home, precisely merging into Luffy's body.Luffy's whole body shook violently! His originally dazed eyes widened instantly, and sparks seemed to explode deep within his pupils!Countless familiar scenes, sounds, and emotions rushed back into his mind like a flood—the laughter on the going merry, the faces of his companions, the aroma of meat, the excitement of adventure!"I remember!!"He let out a deafening roar, his voice filled with the anger of being deceived, "You bastard! How dare you play us for fools twice!!"He abruptly retracted his arms, his fists instantly turning into a dazzling blur, carrying a whistling wind, smashing towards the seahorse like an angry thunderstorm: "Gum-Gum... Gatling!!!"The companions below watched Luffy suddenly "go crazy" beating that "poor creature," and were about to speak up to stop him, but as the seahorse was pummeled by this storm of fists.More and denser specks of memory light burst out brilliantly, scattering everywhere, merging into their blank minds.Their eyes, like lit lamps, went from initial confusion to instant clarity and realization, finally turning into a monstrous, even more intense rage than the last time!"How dare you... how dare you steal what belongs to us... a second time!"Golden lightning crackled uncontrollably in Nami's hands, leaping around her body. "Unforgivable!"Zoro's hand rested on his sword hilt, his eyes as fierce as if he wanted to eat someone; Sanji was filled with killing intent, the tips of his shoes tapping against the ground, making a dangerous clacking sound."Everyone... beat him up! We absolutely cannot let it go this time!"The Straw Hat crew, having just recovered their memories, carrying the shame and anger of being teased twice and doubled fury, like a bursting flood, joined the righteous team beating up the seahorse again!Luffy grabbed the object that had been beaten back to its original form, looking like a rag, and held it up: "I've seen a real Millennium Dragon!"His gaze was clear and firm, as if piercing through time and space, seeing that kind little girl and her dragon friend, "They are gentle, kind, and protect important companions and heritage! They don't need to survive by stealing others' precious memories! A guy like you who only knows how to plunder and never understands what is precious, is absolutely, absolutely impossible to become a Millennium Dragon!"Mark stepped forward, tapping his finger on the seahorse's cold body: "Eternity lies in protection and inheritance, passing the torch to the next generation. But you chose the most despicable path of devouring and plundering. From the very beginning, you were walking on the completely opposite path."Robin also gently stroked the most important stone carving by the pool, providing the final footnote to Luffy and Mark's words: "The ancient texts here also clearly record that the Millennium Dragon is the continuation of love and protection, the sharing and sublimation of memories. Everything you have done is nothing more than the clumsiest and most pathetic imitation of this sacredness.""The very existence of this guy is too outrageous, too dangerous." Mark had a swirl of colorful rainbow mist appear in his hand. "I'll lock it in first. If it still doesn't know how to reflect..." He paused, as if searching for some distant memory fragment, "It is said... one can make seahorse wine.""Seahorse wine?" Zoro's ears twitched instantly. He stepped closer, looking at Mark, "How does it taste? Is it strong enough? Will it increase strength after drinking it?"Mark shook his head, a trace of helplessness appearing on his face: "I've only heard of it, I don't know the specific taste... Perhaps... it's okay."After dealing with the root of all this, everyone went down the mountain with excitement and happiness to visit the town. Deep down, perhaps there remained a tiny bit of expectation—Sanji fantasized about grateful beautiful ladies giving him kisses; Luffy's mind was already piled with mountains of imaginary roasted meat; Nami seemed to see the villagers rushing over with treasure chests...However, stepping into the town, what met their eyes was a scene even more chaotic and absurd than when they had amnesia. The sudden return of memory did not immediately bring joy to the villagers. The long-term emotional displacement and relationship confusion erupted violently the moment the truth was revealed: a couple who had been incredibly loving during their amnesia were now looking at each other in horror, the wife screaming: "You... you are my brother-in-law?!" The husband was holding his head, squatting on the ground...In the tavern, the former boss and employees were fighting over who was the real owner, with tables and chairs shattered all over the floor. Others discovered that the child they had treated as their own and loved for years was actually blood-related to Old Wang next door; the confusion and anger of being played by fate were almost enough to drive people crazy...In this complete chaos and despair, the villagers' red eyes instinctively searched for an outlet to vent all their pain and anger. At this moment, they saw the group of suspicious, strangely dressed outsiders who had just landed on the island. Although Milo was jumping up and down on the side, explaining hoarsely, that weak voice was quickly drowned out in the collective mania."It's them! It must be these outsiders who used sorcery!" "It's them who ruined our lives!" "Drive them out! Get off our island!"Watching these people who were filled with righteous indignation and had almost lost their reason, the Straw Hat crew stood in place, silent for a moment. Suddenly, Luffy broke the silence first. He wasn't angry; instead, he let out a burst of extremely hearty, even somewhat carefree laughter: "Hee hee hee... Hahaha! Guys, run away!"He laughed so openly and purely, as if all the adventures, anger, and battles they had just experienced had turned into lighthearted fun. As if infected by his laughter, Zoro pulled up a corner of his mouth in a disdainful arc, "Who told us to be pirates!"Nami shrugged helplessly, Sanji lit a cigarette, Robincovered her mouth and chuckled, and Usopp, Chopper, and Merry also looked at each other and giggled. They exchanged a look, and in that look, there was no grievance, no excuse, only a kind of "as expected" tacit understanding and relief.They no longer wasted any breath, turned around, just like finishing a grand and interesting game of hide-and-seek, amidst the villagers' chasing curses and waving farm tools, they ran across the beach laughing, one by one, jumping onto their loyal going merry in various postures."Set sail—!!" Luffy stood on the sheep's head, spread his arms, and shouted loudly into the sea breeze. The ropes were pulled, and the white sails puffed out fully under the golden morning sun, as if also filled with joy. The going merry nimbly turned its bow, plowed through the blue sea, and sailed away from this island that had brought them laughable experiences, but ultimately ended in them being expelled.Mark watched Sanji, who was chasing Luffy to steal smoked meat, watched Zoro and Usopp who had already started bickering again about who had beaten the seahorse harder, and watched Nami and Robin who were surrounded by Chopper and Merry, laughing and sharing the absurd scene in the town just now. The corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted into an incomparably peaceful and warm arc.Their bond, having gone through two losses, became even tougher; their adventure, carrying the unique and misunderstood romance of pirates, finally continued, complete once again, towards the unknown distance.
Chapter 134: Meeting Foxy AgainIn the calm ocean of the Grand Line, a tall figure was leisurely riding a bicycle on the surface of the water.He held two bounty posters in his hand, his eyes scanning the portraits of Luffy and Mark, and he muttered under his breath:"What is wrong with this family? Not a single one of them is normal."Meanwhile, the two people on the bounty posters were completely unaware of this.The going merry was struggling in this violent sea, like a helpless little boat.Fortunately, Nami, this genius navigator, was in command. Under her precise orders, the going merry was as agile as a fish, weaving thrillingly through the stormy waves."Hard to port! Furl the main sail!"Nami's voice remained clear amidst the storm. She braced herself against the railing, her long golden hair soaked through by the seawater.What was both laughable and infuriating was that at this life-or-death moment, Luffy's carefree laughter could be heard from the deck."This is so much fun!"The rubber man was sitting on an empty barrel, sliding back and forth across the wet, slippery deck as the ship rocked violently."So fun, just like ice skating!""Stop playing, you idiot Captain! What time do you think it is to be playing around!" Usopp roared irritably while struggling to tighten the sail ropes."Ice skating, really? Maybe Foxy will suddenly show up to play a Davy Back Fight with you again!" Usopp said casually as he tightened the ropes."They seem to be having a lot of fun!" Robin and Nami stood on the second-floor corridor, watching the farce below."Honestly, I've told him so many times that we might capsize, but he's still giggling!" Nami was quite speechless at Luffy's behavior."Compared to capsizing, this mast is about to give out!" Zoro and Sanji hugged the cracked main mast tightly, using all their strength to maintain balance.In the control room, Mark held the helm steadily, with little Merry assisting on the side."It seems that repairing the going merry is imminent!" Mark frowned tightly."It's all thanks to everyone's care that I've made it this far! Thank you!" Merry said sincerely."It is we who should be thanking you!" Mark gently patted Merry's hood."The mast is going to break..." A faint voice came from a distance.Chopper lay on the ship's rail, trying hard to look behind them.He saw a small lifeboat rolling in the stormy waves; it was a miracle it had lasted this long.What was even more surprising was that iconic pompadour on the boat..."Hey! Long time no see! You guys!" Luffy also spotted the small boat behind them and waved excitedly."Hey, Boss. It's the Straw Hat!" Porche exclaimed."It really is fate! Hehehe!" Hamburg covered his mouth and giggled."Damn it! Straw Hat, don't look over here! I haven't fallen so low that I need to ask you for help!"Foxy hid his face behind the mast, his voice full of embarrassment.Thinking back to how high-spirited he was when he first met Luffy, he was now reduced to nothing but a small lifeboat.But while he wanted to save face, Porche and Hamburg were the ones suffering! The two hugged each other tightly, looking in terror at the towering waves crashing down behind them."Oh! See you later then!" Luffy replied bluntly."Hey! You're supposed to be polite! Hey, hey, hey, save us!" Foxy completely panicked."With that small boat of theirs, no matter how good their navigation skills are, they're bound to capsize in these conditions."Nami crossed her arms, assessing the situation with a professional eye."Watch me!" Luffy grabbed a rope, his rubber arm stretching out suddenly, "Rubber Rocket!""Slow-Slow Beam, beam, beam, ah! We're doomed!"Foxy fired his beam futilely at the dozens-of-meters-high waves.The result was obvious—the waves were too wide; he slowed down one part, but the rest immediately filled in.Just as he thought he was doomed, a rubber hand stretched out in front of him.Foxy didn't care about saving face anymore; he grabbed Luffy's arm, and Hamburg and Porchewere pulled up along with him."Ah! Idiot! I told you to grab the rope... We're going to be dragged over!"Seeing that Luffy was about to be dragged over in return, Usopp was quick-witted and grabbed Luffy's feet, pulling him back with all his might.Finally, the three of them were hauled onto the going merry like fish, crashing heavily onto the deck, each with a large bump on their heads.A moment later, in the lounge, the three of them were curled up in blankets."It's so shameful; not only did I lose 500 crewmates, but now I've lost my ship too!"Foxy's voice choked with sobs, tears still hanging from the corners of his eyes,"It seems my life as Foxy has come to an end; I might as well just sink to the bottom of the sea!""Boss!" Hamburg and Porche bit their collars, tears streaming down their faces."What do you think?" Nami whispered to Usopp."This looks fake no matter how you look at it!" Usopp hit the nail on the head."So, Straw Hat, have some pity on me! Just let me stay on the ship." Foxy held Luffy's hand, his eyes full of pleading."Alright! I guess there's no helping it! After all, you don't have a ship anymore!" Luffy agreed without hesitation."Drink something to warm yourselves up first!" Sanjibrought over three bowls of hot soup."Oh! Sanji, I want some too, I want some too!" Luffyprotested."Didn't you just eat!..." Sanji responded helplessly."Oh my! I'm going to drink with little Chopper!" Porche took her bowl and went to find Chopper.Foxy stared at the soup, motionless."What's wrong?" Sanji asked curiously, thinking he couldn't drink it because he was in a bad mood.Who knew that Foxy's next words would make Sanji explode instantly:"What the hell is this? Are there no sesame seeds?""You, say that again!"Sanji was furious; if it weren't for Usopp holding him back, he would have made Foxy understand why flowers are so red.Meanwhile, in the storage room, Chopper was hiding between the shelves with a candle to avoid Porche.He was panting, covered in sweat, and didn't dare to make a sound."Where is little Chopper?" Porche's voice echoed outside the door.Chopper just let out a sigh of relief—"Little Chopper, I found you!" Porche suddenly appeared!"What the, it's just a candlestick! Where is little Chopper? Oh no, the soup is going to get cold!" Porche walked out slowly.The "reindeer-head candlestick" on the shelf moved slightly—it was actually Chopper disguised in his reindeer form.The next day, the weather was exceptionally clear. And because it was so clear with not a breath of wind, the Straw Hat Crew started a new fishing competition."Fishing is impossible, I will never fish in this lifetime."Foxy wandered into Nami's orange grove, licking his lips as he stared at the golden oranges among the branches, "Finding something to eat isn't hard at all!"He reached out to grab a "tangerine" the size of a basketball—"Thump, thump, thump, clang... clang"Foxy was covered in bumps, his whole body charred—It turned out he had mistaken Nami's head, as she was watering the plants, for an orange. This scene made Hamburg in the distance cover his mouth and giggle.Suddenly, Hamburg's eyes widened, and he stood up excitedly:"Boss, it's the sexy fox!"
Chapter 135: This Is What A Pirate Is"Boss, it's the sexy fox!"Hamburg stood up excitedly, pointing at the large ship drawing closer, its figurehead shaped like a bewitching fox.Foxy was instantly revitalized, dashing to the ship's rail in one stride. The previous dejection was swept away, replaced by the slightly exaggerated high spirits belonging to a "Captain.""Hey! Brothers! I've missed you all to death!"He waved his arms vigorously, as if he weren't a castaway who had just been rescued, but a king coming for an inspection.The "sexy fox" slowly approached, retracted its oars, and stopped alongside the going merry.Foxy couldn't wait, grabbing the dangling rope and nimbly climbing up.Halfway up, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and faced everyone on the going merry, wearing that familiar smile of his, a mix of cunning and provocation."Straw Hat! Although we didn't spend much time together, you guys really are... too... annoying!"He drew out his tone, "Remember this! Sooner or later, I'll make you pay it back with interest!""Get lost!" Usopp and Sanji said in unison, their tones filled with disdain."Alrighty!"Foxy complied readily, nimbly flipping onto the deck of the "sexy fox."However, he was not greeted by the cheers of his crew, but by a sharp and arrogant voice."Mr. Foxy, allow me to remind you,"A short, stout man wearing a cowboy hat and sporting a handlebar mustache walked out, toying with a whip in his hand,"This ship now belongs to our Tooth Frog Pirates, and your cute crew members are now my subordinates."The atmosphere instantly froze. The smile on Foxy's face stiffened.On the going merry side, Mark, who loved to watch the chaos, pulled out sunflower seeds, drinks, and small stools from nowhere, skillfully distributing them to everyone."Hurry up and grab a seat, today's drama is ripe!"He was the first to climb the wooden ladder connecting the two ships, jumping onto the deck to claim the best viewing spot.Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami immediately followed, sitting down next to Mark, cracking sunflower seeds, and watching the confrontation between the two sides without blinking."Since that's the case, there's nothing for me to do here, I'll just leave!"Foxy turned around dashingly, looking a bit dejected, but he was willing to accept the loss."Wait a minute!"The Captain of the Tooth Frog Pirates—Tooth Frog, pointed his whip at Foxy,"I want to defeat you, Foxy!"He pointed at the group of original Foxy crew members behind him, who were still wearing their iconic fox masks,"These guys still refuse to take off these eyesores of masks; it seems they are still attached to you, their former Captain!"Foxy stopped, slowly turning his head. In that moment, he actually exuded a bit of the aura belonging to a Captain."This just goes to show that they all really hate you, their new Captain!""Oh, this guy actually has some presence!" Usoppcommented."Even though he's a Split-Head," Luffy added."Overestimating yourself! You think you can beat me? Fe-fe-fe!" Foxy turned his body, facing Tooth Frog head-on!"Boss!" Porche and Hamburg exclaimed!Foxy pulled out his pistol, his mouth curling into that familiar "Fe-fe-fe" laugh,"What's wrong, Porche, Hamburg? You two should be happy! Because today I'm going to win back the ship and my crew!"He fired a shot into the air, loudly declaring:"I, the Foxy Pirates, officially initiate a Davy Back Fight against the Tooth Frog Pirates! One-on-one, Captain duel!""Full of energy, huh! Split-Head!" Nami was a bit surprised."Because he has that, right?" Usopp explained."He only has that to use, right?" Sanji said, cigarette in mouth, his tone certain."Here I come! Noroma Beam—"Foxy confidently pinched three fingers together. Just as he finished chanting the skill name, a sudden change occurred!On the Tooth Frog Pirates' side, four underlings suddenly raised shiny blades, accurately reflecting the beam of pink light right back!Foxy was caught off guard and was hit by his own Noroma Beam; his movements instantly became like a slow-motion movie."Wha..." Foxy spat out one word!"t..."The Straw Hat Crew helped him finish it.Taking advantage of Foxy being slowed and unable to move, several members of the Tooth Frog Pirates swarmed him, beating and kicking him.Some of the original Foxy crew couldn't bear to watch and wanted to help, but were whipped down to the ground by Captain Tooth Frog, their skin torn open.Hamburg's eyes were bloodshot with rage; he swung his iron baseball bat, about to rush forward to help.But just then— "Don't move!"An enemy crew member shouted sharply, a sharp blade pressing tightly against Porche's neck.Hamburg's steps came to an abrupt halt. He looked at Porche's terrified eyes,and in the end, could only squeeze a low growl of unwillingness through his teeth, letting go and letting the bat drop with a "clang."Captain Tooth Frog triumphantly picked up the weapon, walking unhurriedly toward the immobile Foxy."Is this the boss you worship? See his stupid look? Why talk about loyalty with an idiot like this!"While cursing, he violently beat Foxy with the baseball bat until he collapsed to the ground, in a sorry state."Hey! That's too despicable! How is this one-on-one!"Luffy stood up abruptly, fists clenched, his face full of anger.Captain Tooth Frog glanced at him disdainfully:"The audience should just watch the show! I never agreed to play any Davy Back Fight with him!""Forget it, Luffy."Zoro pressed down on Luffy's shoulder, looking at the other side with sharp eyes,"This is his battle, it concerns his dignity; we have no need to interfere.""That's right, Straw Hat!"Foxy, lying on the ground, braced himself against the deck and wobbled back to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth,"Watch closely, this is a great battle concerning my, Foxy's, dignity!"Foxy suddenly pointed to the top of the mast: "Look! A flying dragon!"While everyone looked up, he scrambled to put on a woman's outfit.An underling of the Tooth Frog Pirates, being very "cooperative," shouted: "Boss, he's gone!"Foxy hurriedly pinched his throat and pointed daintily to the other side: "He jumped into the sea and swam that way!""Oh! That's great!"Captain Tooth Frog exaggeratedly slapped his forehead, responding in a tone even more exaggerated than Foxy's,"Thank you so much, this... helpful lady!"He deliberately drew out his tone, then his face turned cold, and he turned to rip the cover off the cannon beside him,"To thank you, please have a taste of this! Fire!""Boom"The cannonball accurately hit Foxy, blowing him away again, landing heavily, and that ridiculous woman's wig rolled to the side.This time, he looked like he really couldn't stand up again.Amidst Porche and Hamburg's tearful cries of "Boss," Foxy raised his head with difficulty, his gaze fixed on Luffy on the going merry.He tremblingly reached out his hand and threw that iconic afro wig over."Straw Hat... I give this to you... The battle with you... was my happiest battle..." He said with a thread of breath, as if giving his last words.Luffy caught the wig, his eyes full of emotion."Please... Straw Hat..."Foxy's voice was full of "sincere" pleading,"Help me... at least... help me teach that shameless guy a lesson... I beg you..."Seeing this, Tooth Frog immediately switched to a slick tone, spreading his hands to signal to Luffy and the others that he had no malicious intent:"Hey, hey, hey! Don't misunderstand, the famous Straw Hat Crew, I don't want to have any unnecessary conflict with you guys, the real 'great pirates'!"Hamburg and Porche nearby immediately seized this opportunity to stir the pot.The two pretended to whisper, but the volume was just right for Tooth Frog and his subordinates to hear clearly:"Sigh, it's a pity... on the Straw Hat's ship, especially in that navigator's room, there's quite a pile of gold and jewels...""Yeah, if our boss was still on the ship, maybe..."These words accurately struck Tooth Frog's greed.A greedy light flashed in his eyes instantly, but he seemed to be weighing the risk of going to war with the Straw Hat Crew.At this moment, among the original Foxy crew members on the deck still wearing half-masks, someone shouted sarcastically:"If the new Captain doesn't have the guts to make a move, then we might as well just ask Boss Foxy to come back!"This provocative remark completely ignited Tooth Frog's anger and desire to show off.He could no longer appear cowardly and incompetent in front of his old subordinates!He turned sharply toward Luffy, as if the caution from just a moment ago had never existed, and roared sternly:"Men! Turn the cannons! Rob the Straw Hat Crew, and all that gold will be ours!"On the going merry side, Nami was instantly alert: "How did Porche and the others know I have gold?"Usopp had an "is that even a question" expression, whispering:"It must be because when Porche was chasing Chopper all over the ship yesterday, she accidentally overturned your treasure chest!"Nami was so angry she gnashed her teeth, her fists cracking:"Those two bastards... I'll have to 'check' the warehouse later!"However, Captain Tooth Frog's order fell on deaf ears.The hundreds of former Foxy crew members on the deck stood still like statues, all tilting their heads."What did you say? We didn't hear you!"The only ones who moved in response were the dozen or so subordinates he had originally brought."Since no one listens to you," Luffy grinned, but his eyes became sharp,"Then there's nothing for it!" His rubber arm stretched out suddenly, "Gum-Gum—Bullet!"The battle had no suspense.The meager strength of the Tooth Frog Pirates was no match for Luffy.In just a few breaths, all the enemies, including Captain Tooth Frog, were like bowling pins hit by a bowling ball,all cleanly beaten away, falling into the sea with splashes like dumplings being dropped into a pot."We won!"Luffy raised his fist happily, his smile as pure as a child who had just received candy.After the Tooth Frog Pirates were completely defeated, Foxy returned to the going merry with Hamburg and Porche."Thank—you so much! Straw Hat!!"Foxy's voice was filled with exaggerated sobbing, and he had "miraculously" regained his vitality,almost pouncing on him, opening his arms enthusiastically, and grabbing Luffy's hand with a clear objective, shaking it vigorously."You are truly my best brother! I will never forget this kindness as long as I live!"Luffy suspected nothing, still wearing an unguarded, brilliant smile.In the split second Luffy was stunned—"Noroma Beam!"Foxy pinched three fingers at Luffy, and a pink light flashed insidiously!Luffy's movements instantly froze in time, the look of complete trust on his face not yet faded, stiffening where it was."Fe-fe-fe-fe—!"Foxy yanked his hand back, triumphantly bursting into a harsh, grating laugh. He jumped onto the ship's rail, looking down at the frozen Luffy."Do you see clearly now, Straw Hat?! This is the true rule for surviving on the sea!"He waved his arms, his voice filled with twisted triumph and mockery."If you want something, you have to use any means necessary to grab it!So-called promises, gratitude, friendship... are all tools to be used!Betrayal, deception, playing dirty... this is the daily life of a pirate!An innocent idiot like you will sooner or later be buried at the bottom of the sea along with your dreams! Goodbye!"Having said that, he waved his hand in high spirits, ordering his newly reunited crew to set sail.The "sexy fox" turned quickly, sailing away without a backward glance.Thirty seconds later, the effect of the Noroma Beamwore off.Luffy stretched his stiff neck, silently watching the pirate ship that had already become a small dot between the sea and the sky.He lowered his head, spreading his palm—the hand that had just been tightly held by a "brother," only to be ruthlessly betrayed.Then, his gaze fell on the abandoned, ridiculous afro wig on the deck.Zoro walked to his side, holding his sword, his voice calm but carrying weight:"Do you understand now? On this sea, kindness and a helping hand don't always get you gratitude in return."Sanji lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled the curling smoke:"This is the other side of the world. For the sake of profit, there are always people who can trample on the purest goodwill without changing their expression.""This is the true portrait of most pirates; you must always be on guard!" Mark also said!Luffy was silent. The sea breeze blew through his black hair and red vest.Then, he slowly, firmly raised his hand. No anger, no hesitation, he just gently picked up the afro wig and placed it on the edge of the ship's rail.A gust of sea breeze blew by, and the wig tumbled into the blue sea, instantly swallowed by the waves.He turned around, his face devoid of the anger or grievance everyone expected. In those eyes, which were always clear to the bottom, something deeper seemed to have settled.It was a kind of calmness—having seen through the darkness, yet still choosing to face the light."It's fine." He said, his voice not loud, but exceptionally clear and firm,"He can be his kind of pirate, and I'll be my kind of pirate."His gaze swept one by one over these companions beside him, to whom he could truly entrust his life,finally looking at Nami, revealing his signature smile—one that was the same as always, yet seemed to contain a new strength."The wind is picking up! Nami, let's set sail! Let's go to the next island for an adventure!"The going merry's white sails billowed full once again, carrying them, leaving this lesson about betrayal and choice forever behind them.Just as the going merry sailed toward the horizon, on the sea not far away, a tall figure was leisurely riding a bicycle,beneath the wheels was the instantly frozen sea surface, making a faint cracking sound of ice.
Chapter 136: Aokiji AppearsThe morning after bidding farewell to the Foxy Pirates, the sails of the going merry had just been filled by the sea breeze when a shout erupted from the crow's nest — "Island spotted —!"Usopp hung over the edge of the crow's nest and shouted down: "It's all trees! A huge one!"Nami had already grabbed her monocular and leaned against the ship's rail:"Looks like an uninhabited island.""Drop anchor! Let's land!" Luffy was more impatient than anyone, bouncing on the sheep's head figurehead at the bow.Sanji "clicked" his lighter to ignite his cigarette, smoke curling around his curly eyebrows:"Perfect. A whole island full of trees—there's bound to be fresh ingredients. We'll do a teppanyaki barbecue for lunch today.""Yay —!"Mark instantly stuck to Luffy's side, the two foodies hooking arms and swaying back and forth, drool dripping down their chins onto the deck, while they shouted in unison, "BBQ! BBQ!...""Both of you, stop right there!"Nami suddenly stood with hands on her hips, bristling with anger, blue sparks crackling at the tips of her fists."Who was it that skewered rats last time? This time, if you dare to use rats or frogs as ingredients again, I'll smash your heads into grilled meatballs!""What a willful woman."Zoro leaned against the mast without even lifting his eyelids, his voice indifferent:"It's all meat once it hits your mouth anyway. What's the difference?""Exactly!"Mark immediately chimed in, counting on his fingers seriously,"Ginger-marinated frog is tender and juicy, spicy water-boiled frog has a real kick — you layman don't know jack about gourmet food!""Layman! Layman!"Luffy clapped his hands and joined in the clamor, shouting even louder than Mark, the two of them dancing around like a pair of begging monkeys."Thud, thud, thud —!"Three dull sounds exploded in succession. Nami, clutching her sparking fists, knocked swollen lumps onto all three heads.Zoro, Mark, and Luffy immediately quieted down, heads bowed until they were almost touching their knees:"We were wrong... we won't do it again..."Within a few minutes, the going merry was moored at the shallows.A bonfire burned brightly on the shore, with skewers of meat arranged on the iron plate —Lamb skewers sizzled with oil, bacon wrapped around green peppers, shrimp grilled to a reddish hue, oil droplets "sizzling" as they popped into the fire, the aroma mixed with cumin drifting far away."Come, come, drink this today!"Mark raised his hand and pulled two large wine jars, each featuring a Q-version caricature of himself, from his Rainbow Space. He tore off the red cloth seal,and a sweet fragrance "gushed" out, making even Chopper lean over to sniff it.Zoro wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and tapped his empty wooden mug:"How long have you been hiding this in that space of yours? It smells potent.""Wow! It smells so good!" Nami had long since cast her previous anger to the back of her mind, holding her wooden mug high,"Hurry up and fill it for your Nami-sister!""What about me?"Merry approached holding an empty mug, her cheeks puffed out like two little meat buns, poking the bottom of the mug aggrievedly,"I want to drink too...""Minors can't drink alcohol."Mark laughed and handed her a round Sky Islandpumpkin coconut, poking a straw "pop" into the center,"This is sweet and fragrant, better than alcohol — give it a try."Merry took a big sip, her eyes instantly narrowing into crescent moons, the straw still making slurping sounds in her mouth:"It really is delicious! Chopper, you try some too!"Chopper held a cup of orange juice and swapped with Merry to take a drink."Cheers —!"Wooden mugs "clanged" together.Zoro downed his in one gulp and handed the empty mug to Mark:"Another one! This fruit wine really has a kick!"Amidst the clinking of cups, even someone who had been standing while sleeping woke up —Aokiji lifted his eye mask, rubbed his eyes, and walked toward the bonfire."Robin! Hurry and eat!"Chopper ran over holding a skewer of grilled mushrooms, "If you don't eat now, Luffy will snatch it all!"Robin sat on a rock reading, her fingertips gently turning the pages: "I'll finish this page in a moment, no rush.""No, no!"Chopper frowned and held the skewer to her nose,"If you read too much, you'll turn into a bug! That's what people say... a bookworm, a bookworm!""A bookworm?"Robin finally stopped turning the pages, looked up, rubbed Chopper's head, and smiled faintly:"Alright, alright, I'll eat.""Eh? What's this? This is an uninhabited island, you know!"Usopp suddenly crouched on the grass, his finger poking at a straight mark —The lawn was pressed down firmly, with tracks leading into the woods, looking exactly like they were made by a bicycle."It's bicycle tracks."Mark sipped his wine slowly, pointing his chin toward the woods, his eyes showing no panic,"And this island isn't uninhabited either — there's someone inside, and their stomach is growling with hunger too.""Yeah! I can sense it too!"Luffy shouted toward the woods,"Hey — person inside! Do you want to come eat some meat? Sanji's barbecue is super delicious!""Ara ara~ Then roast two skewers for me too,"The voice didn't come from the woods!It came from behind a wind-blocking rock as tall as a person to the side.The Straw Hat Crew only saw a black mushroom bobbing up and down behind the rock."A moving mushroom!"Chopper's eyes lit up, and he trotted on his hooves around to the back of the rock —Just as he poked his head out, he suddenly screamed, "Ah —!"He slumped on the ground, head tilted back, eyes wide, voice trembling:"N-not a mushroom! It's, it's a person! A huge person!""Chopper! What's wrong?" Usopp shouted at the top of his lungs, his hand already subconsciously reaching for his slingshot.Mark sipped his wine slowly, toying with his wooden mug —He had long since sensed this aura; it was none other than that Admiral."Don't panic, Usopp!" He said softly, "It's just someone who came to mooch a meal."Just as he finished speaking, a tall figure walked around from behind the rock.Explosive curly hair sat on his head like a dark, large mushroom. His forehead was covered by a green-patterned eye mask.He was very tall, wearing a dark blue shirt with a white vest — it was none other than Aokiji.He strolled over to the bonfire, without any airs, looking more like a tourist stopping by:"I was just taking a walk and followed the scent of meat. No other intentions."But Robin, who was always calm, dropped her book with a "clatter" the moment she saw his face.Her face turned deathly pale instantly, and she pushed herself backward with her hands on the ground, breathing rapidly — that was a fear carved into her bones."Robin? What's wrong?" Luffy immediately felt something was wrong with the newcomer.The Straw Hat Crew instantly tensed up.Usopp "whooshed" out his slingshot and pulled the string taut, Nami raised her clima-tact, which was crackling with lightning, and aimed it at Aokiji.Zoro's hand pressed onto his sword hilt, the blade itself exuding a chill, Sanji shielded Merry behind him, his curly eyebrows twisted into a knot, and Mark also slowly stood up, Ink Meteor quietly sticking to his palm.The air felt frozen, even the crackling of the bonfire seemed to quiet down, and no one dared to move."Who, who exactly is he?" Nami swallowed, — someone who could scare Robin like this was definitely not an ordinary person.Robin took several deep breaths before saying with a trembling voice:"Marine Headquarters Admiral... Aokiji.""Admiral?""Just how capable is he?" Sanji looked grave."In the Marines, there are only three people with the rank of Admiral —Akainu, Kizaru, and him — Aokiji.Above them is only Fleet Admiral Sengoku.And the person in front of us is one of the three Admirals, known as the Marines' highest combat power.""Then, then why isn't he out catching the Four Emperors, why come to this crappy island!"Usopp's voice was extremely low as he hunched his shoulders and hid behind Zoro,"How about we set sail and run away! Please!""Ara ara ara~" Aokiji suddenly lowered his eyes to look at Nami."Wh-what's wrong..." Nami stepped back, holding her clima-tact in front of her.Aokiji's tone was light and breezy, "I didn't expect such a cute young lady here.""Bastard! How dare you have designs on Nami-san!"Sanji instantly bristled, rolling up his sleeves to charge, but as soon as he raised his arm, his waist was tightly restrained by Usopp —Usopp's face turned red as he held his breath, pulling him back with all his might:"Calm down, Sanji! He's an Admiral! Do me a favor!""Hey — don't be so nervous."Aokiji spread his hands, looking innocent, though his eyes drifted to the iron plate,"I really just came to mooch a meal... Oh right, your meat, it's about to burn.""Oh no!"Sanji immediately forgot about the argument and frantically flipped the meat skewers on the iron plate —He didn't waste the burnt ones either; he grabbed them and stuffed them into Luffy's mouth.Luffy opened his mouth and took a bite, chewing until his mouth was blackened, and still gave Sanji a thumbs up: "Delicious!"Anyway, except for cherry pie, Luffy thought everything was delicious."By the way, you guys are that... what was it again?"Aokiji rubbed his chin and thought for a long time, his brows furrowed into a knot, as if it took a lot of effort."That what?" Luffy tilted his head to look at him, full of curiosity."Haiya, I can't remember!"Aokiji patted his mushroom head and simply waved his hand,"Forget it, I won't think about it.""Don't leave things half-said and keep us in suspense!" Usopp stomped his feet in anger."Robin, is this guy really a Marine Admiral? Could it be a mistake?"Usopp pointed at the tall guy who didn't fit the image of a "strong person" at all."Hey, hey, hey, don't judge a book by its cover. As a Marine, I practice Lazy Justice." Aokiji said lazily."Heh, just like your lazy self!" Usopp couldn't help but retort, and after saying it, he quickly shrunk his neck back.Aokiji ignored him and reached out to grab a skewer of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing with a "crunch," praising it vaguely:"The taste is not bad, curly-browed young man. Much better than the Marine cafeteria.""Glad to know your tongue hasn't failed you."Sanji's mouth was sharp, but his hands added another handful of skewers to the iron plate —Even if he was an enemy, there was no reason to let him starve,"A hundred times better than that idiot Captain of mine who snatches meat the moment he sees it.""Hey! Aokiji!" Mark suddenly spoke up, pointing at the meat skewer in his hand, his tone a bit fierce,"Do you even know how to eat skewers?"Aokiji stopped chewing, raised an eyebrow at him, looking puzzled."You have to drink.If you don't drink while eating skewers, you lose more than half the joy."Mark scooped up a full mug of fruit wine and handed it over, raising an eyebrow,"This is Sky Island fruit wine I brewed, you try it."Aokiji's eyes lit up, he took it and tilted his head back to chug it down, wiped his mouth, and slammed the wooden mug onto the ground:"Hiss — that's true, this wine with meat, it's perfect! Another cup!"Before long, the bushes suddenly "rustled."A dozen people crawled out from inside —There were old people leaning on canes, women holding children, and a few gaunt young people, all in tattered clothes with pale faces.The man in front asked tremblingly:"P-please... are you Marines? We... we are requesting help.""Are they the indigenous people of this island?" Usopp scratched his head and muttered."No."Aokiji chewed on the meat and said vaguely, "There was a report a while ago that a cruise ship disappeared nearby —These people must be from that ship."Chopper immediately took out his medical kit to apply ointment and bandage the wounds of the injured;Sanji grilled two more iron plates of meat.After Chopper's treatment and the barbecue provided by Sanji, these refugees finally regained some spirit and recounted their experience:While the ship was sailing, it was smashed into two pieces by a giant frog that was doing the freestyle stroke,everyone else disappeared, and only these dozen people were lucky enough to drift to this island."If it's a normal frog, shouldn't it be the breaststroke?" Sanji wondered."Hey! The point is how can a frog break a ship!" Usopp retorted."That guy must be Yokozuna." Aokiji poured himself more wine."Yokozuna?" Nami asked."Well, I'm full, it's time for me to go."Aokiji stood up slowly, pointing at the refugees,"You guys should also get ready, there's an inhabited island not far from here, it will be much better to recuperate there.""Hey! Everyone don't listen to his nonsense!" Luffypointed at Aokiji, "This big guy is a Marine, you know!"Silence fell over the scene.A few seconds later, a refugee with cold sweat flowing down asked tremblingly:"And then?"Luffy stood there dumbfounded with his mouth wide open."Ah... ah..."He suddenly clapped his hands, "Right, to ordinary people, we are the bad guys! Hahaha!""Is now the time to laugh?" Usopp slapped Luffy."By the way, does he have a ship? How can he help?" Usopp pondered with his chin in his hand."Besides us, there are no other ships!" Chopper said."Then how did he get to this island?" Zoro pointed at Aokiji."Riding a bicycle." Mark said calmly."Stop joking, are you trying to say he rides a bicycle on the sea? Hahaha! How is that possible!"Usopp held his belly and laughed."If it's him... it is possible."Robin broke out in a cold sweat, as if recalling some terrifying event.A moment later, all the refugees had packed their luggage with the help of Aokiji and the Straw Hat Crew, and they were also provided with enough water and food."Phew, occasionally moving around is quite refreshing." Aokiji wiped away sweat that didn't exist."Then, how are you going to take them to the island? Are you going to swim in front and pull them?" Luffyasked."How is that possible." Aokiji walked to the seashore and crouched down, putting his hand into the sea.A few seconds later, suddenly a giant sea beast sprang out of the sea, opening its bloody mouth to swallow Aokiji!"This is definitely the king of this sea area!" Usoppwas terrified.Zoro immediately got into a drawing-sword stance."No good, there's danger! Gomu Gomu —" Luffystretched his arm.Just at this critical moment, Aokiji softly uttered four words:"Ice Age."