Chapter 358: The Aftertaste of Dawn! The Approaching Marine and the Blocked Port
The morning sunlight, like shards of gold foil, pierced through the half-open, old wooden window of the attic, quietly spilling onto the messy bed.
In the air, there still lingered a faint aftertaste of the intense intimacy from last night.
Accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds outside the window, it seemed exceptionally peaceful and serene.
Tatsuya was the first to wake from his slumber.
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping gently across this small space.
He then lowered his head slightly; their sleeping faces were tranquil and charming, their even breathing brushing softly against his chest.
Tatsuya's eyes became incredibly tender.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He leaned down slightly and planted a gentle kiss on each of them, using the softest way possible to wake them from their sweet dreams.
Accompanied by two lazy hums, Nami and Robin slowly opened their watery eyes.
The three of them got up from the bed and began to tidy up.
Because the physical exertion last night had been a bit too much.
Nami stretched languidly, exposing her stunning, graceful curves to the fullest.
She rubbed the corners of her slightly red eyes and suggested in a soft voice that she wanted to find a place to take a comfortable bath first.
Upon hearing this, Robin also felt she wasn't feeling very fresh and indeed needed a good wash.
But she walked to the window and glanced at the crude wooden cabin below, as well as the forest nearby that was still undergoing post-disaster cleanup.
After thinking for a moment, she turned back and smiled as she suggested to Nami:
"Let's just bear with it for now and wait until we get back on the Thousand Sunny to wash."
"After all, it would be troublesome to boil water for a bath in this simple wooden cabin, and if we were spotted by those guys downstairs, it would only lead to unnecessary awkwardness."
Hearing Robin's thoughtful consideration, Nami nodded and agreed.
However, just as they were dressed and preparing to go downstairs, the scenes from last night involuntarily flashed through Nami's mind.
Her fair cheeks instantly flushed with an alluring crimson, like a sunset cloud.
You have to know, during the latter part of last night, in order not to wake the sleeping companions in the hall downstairs.
She had tried very hard to bite her lower lip, desperately suppressing her own voice.
But in the end, she couldn't help it and let out a few intermittent sounds...
The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed and annoyed she felt, fearing that she would be teased by her companions once they went downstairs.
Nami stopped, couldn't help but turn back, raised her pink fist to lightly punch Tatsuya, and glared at him coquettishly.
It's all the fault of this energetic guy!
He knew the soundproofing was bad, yet he still kept finding new ways to torture her!
Tatsuya laughed in spite of himself, took the opportunity to hold her hand, and placed a light kiss on it.
The three of them finally composed themselves and slowly walked down the old wooden stairs.
As soon as they arrived in the hall on the first floor, the rich aroma of food that made one's mouth water hit them.
Looking around, except for Usopp, who was still snoring loudly in the corner, all the other companions had already woken up early.
Everyone was sitting around a large, makeshift wooden table, devouring their food like a whirlwind.
Luffy, who was holding a huge piece of meat on the bone and eating until his mouth was greasy, heard the movement from the stairs.
He looked up, saw the three people coming downstairs, immediately grinned widely, and greeted them indistinctly:
"Mmph! Good morning!"
Nami stood at the foot of the stairs, her gaze quickly scanning the faces of every companion.
Seeing that everyone was focused on eating and their expressions were natural, without showing any strange look of having "heard something odd,"
She finally let out a silent sigh of relief in her heart, putting down her last worry.
She raised her usual bright and radiant smile and waved naturally:
"Hi! Good morning, everyone!"
Then, she led Tatsuya and Robin down the stairs, took seats at the table, and joined the lively breakfast time.
Just as everyone was enthusiastically and happily enjoying their delicious breakfast, Luffy's chewing suddenly stopped.
He swallowed the food in his mouth, stretched his neck to look around, and asked with a puzzled face:
"Hmm? That's strange. Why does it feel like someone is missing? Where did Tra-guy go?"
Hearing the Captain's question, Sanji walked over from the makeshift stove with a freshly cooked clear soup.
He lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and casually began to mock his nemesis sitting opposite:
"Who knows? Maybe just like this hopeless Marimo, he got lost even while walking on a flat road."
Zoro, who was gulping down alcohol, froze at these words.
The corner of his eye twitched, he turned his head sharply, and glared fiercely at Sanji:
"Do you want to die, you Curly-brow bastard! Who gets lost walking on flat ground!"
"Isn't it you!"
Sanji retorted without showing any weakness, and it looked like they were about to get into a fight as usual.
Watching this familiar daily bickering, Tatsuya waved his hand with a smile, interrupted their argument, and explained to Luffy:
"As for Trafalgar, he went out just as the sky was beginning to brighten."
"He said he wanted to go to a certain place in Dressrosa to pay his respects to Corazon."
"Considering the time, he should be back soon."
Luffy nodded in realization, stopped asking, and immediately buried his head back into his food, starting his storm-like eating mode.
Just in this relaxed and cozy daily atmosphere.
The already somewhat dilapidated wooden door of the cabin was suddenly pushed open with a loud "bang" from the outside.
Kyros rushed in, his chest heaving violently.
This legendary gladiator, who was always composed, was now shouting a warning with a panicked expression:
"Everyone! It's bad!"
"The Marine, the Marine are here!"
"Our outpost at the coastline just sent urgent intelligence; a large number of Marine warships are about to dock!"
Hearing this news, which was like a thunderclap, the Straw Hat crew, who had been relaxed and lazy in the room, instantly put down their tableware.
Luffy still had his mouth stuffed with food, his cheeks bulging high, and he exclaimed indistinctly:
"Mmph?! The Marine?!"
Immediately after, this pirate Captain's first reaction upon hearing that a strong enemy was approaching was not to run away.
Instead, his hands instantly turned into afterimages that were hard to catch with the naked eye, and he actually began to sweep away all the remaining food on the table at a terrifying speed that chilled one's bones!
The roasted meat, bread, and soup on the plates were all stuffed into his mouth with lightning speed.
Robin maintained her usual calmness. She turned to look at the anxious Kyros and asked softly:
"Mr. Kyros, what about our supplies for sailing..."
Kyros nodded heavily and gave the most firm reply: "Please rest assured, everyone!"
"Just in case, King Riku has already ordered us to transport a large amount of supplies to your ship overnight."
"All kinds of food, fresh water, and repair materials needed for sailing are available; it is absolutely sufficient."
"You can weigh anchor and set sail at any time!"
"All done! I'm full!"
Accompanied by a "gulp," he struggled to swallow the last piece of huge meat on the bone.
Luffy patted his now round belly with great satisfaction and excitedly raised his arms in a cheer.
Everyone quickly gathered together to briefly discuss the current situation.
Dressrosa had gone through ten whole years of darkness and suffering, and had only just ushered in this hard-won peace and the dawn of reconstruction.
If their group of pirates continued to stay here and had a head-on, intense clash with those legendary Marine generals leading the massive fleet.
It would inevitably bring new disasters and immeasurable destruction to this war-torn country.
In order not to cause trouble for the friends they had just made.
Everyone unanimously decided to give up unnecessary fighting and immediately evacuate the island as a whole.
Without delay, Zoro grabbed Usopp, who was still snoring in the corner, and slung him over his shoulder as neatly as carrying a sack.
Everyone quickly gathered their equipment and weapons and rushed out through the wooden door.
Under the personal guidance of Kyros, who was familiar with the terrain.
The Straw Hat crew ran at full speed along a little-known hidden path towards the direction where the "Thousand Sunny" was docked.
Along the way, everyone had a solemn expression, and their pace was fast.
They had thought this evacuation would encounter heavy interception and tight control by the Marine.
However, to everyone's surprise, they unexpectedly found that the road to the east coast was exceptionally smooth.
Let alone defensive lines and traps, they didn't even see the shadow of a single Marine soldier along the way.
"What's going on? Is the Marine's defense so lax? Could there be some conspiracy?"
A trace of doubt rose in Nami's heart, and she looked around vigilantly.
However, when Luffy took the lead and was the first to arrive at the open port on the east coast, he suddenly stopped his running.
The rest of the Straw Hat crew following behind also slammed on the brakes, staring at the scene in front of them in astonishment.
They saw that the long coastline, which should have been wide and flat.
Was now completely blocked by a dense, endless crowd of people!
Standing at the very front of this sea of people were not Marines in white uniforms.
It was actually the heroes of the colosseum, including Bartolomeo, Cavendish, the giant Hajrudin, and Sai of the Happo Navy!
More than five thousand fully armed, fanatical warriors had gathered into a massive and awe-inspiring, terrifying force.
They held various weapons and were arranged in a neat and uniform formation.
Facing the slightly salty morning sea breeze, these more than five thousand pairs of eyes were staring intently at the Straw Hat crew coming from the forest with an incredibly solemn and expectant gaze...
Loving Book So Far Check Out 80+ Advanced Chapters At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FicTonic1