"Seriously, what kind of weird weather is this again?!"
Looking at the lightning-streaked, thunderous sky, Chopper was completely dumbfounded.
Could it be that they had returned to the Mobius Sea... Please, no!
"This weather really is abnormal," Franky said, staring at the sky. "But when I remember this is the New World, it suddenly feels reasonable."
In this sea full of dangers, he wouldn't be surprised by any kind of weather.
"More than that, I'm more curious about that red ocean ahead," Perona said, pointing toward the sea in front of them.
"Red ocean?"
Everyone turned to look ahead and then froze.
There really was... a red ocean?
The New World had scenery like this too?
How astonishing.
"That's no red ocean," said Meiser, observing with his Sharingan. "That's burning flames!"
It just looked like a red ocean because of the distance.
"Flames?" Perona said in surprise. "I thought it was a red sea."
So it's burning flames after all?
How unexpected.
"Yes, that's right."
Meiser nodded and said, "Not only that, there's also an erupting volcano behind it."
As soon as he said this, Luffy's eyes immediately lit up.
He... smelled adventure!
Seeing this, Usopp instinctively felt that things were about to go wrong.
"Luffy, you're not planning to..."
"Hey, everyone!" Luffy grinned, showing his teeth. "Let's go to that island!"
Such an interesting island—we absolutely have to go check it out~
Hahahaha.
"That island ahead..."
Nami lowered her head to look at the Log Pose in her hand, then her expression changed. "No... something's wrong!"
"What's wrong?"
Merry looked at Nami in confusion. What was wrong?
"None of the needles in my Log Pose are pointing toward that island ahead," Nami said. "That means that island has no magnetic field!"
"Even in the New World, this situation is very abnormal..."
If what the Left Minister said wasn't wrong, then there must be something truly terrifying on that island!
So... if possible, she really didn't want to go to such a place.
"Is this the special island that fish uncle mentioned before?" Merry asked curiously.
If she remembered correctly, fish uncle did talk about the relationship between the Log Pose and islands.
"Yes."
Nami nodded, then looked at Luffy and said, "Luffy, let's leave this place.
Such a dangerous island—if we don't have to go, we shouldn't."
"No way!"
Luffy widened his eyes and said, "That island ahead looks so interesting, why should we leave?"
"But the Log Pose..."
"But we've already seen the island, haven't we?" Luffy pointed ahead. "So the Log Pose doesn't matter anymore."
Isn't the Log Pose's purpose just to find islands? Since we've found one, why keep looking at the Log Pose?
Then, Luffy waved his hand grandly and declared, "Everyone, let's land on the island!"
"Alright!"
"What are you all cheering for?!"
Nami said frantically, "Didn't any of you understand what I said?"
"Besides, there's a Sea of Fire ahead! How are we supposed to land on this island?"
Watching the Sea of Fire draw closer, Nami felt a headache coming on. Did these guys even realize how serious the situation was, damn it!
"The Sea of Fire shouldn't be too hard to deal with," Meiser said.
Whether it was his Water Release Technique or Merry's Power of Wind, either could easily solve this problem.
"Meiser, why are you like this too..."
Nami was at her wit's end. Meiser, why are you joining in on this nonsense?
"Because I'm very interested too~" Meiser said with a smirk.
He was also quite curious about this island with no magnetic field.
Nami: ...
I almost forgot about this guy's personality—he's another troublemaker!
"A Sea of Fire, huh..."
Sanji, holding a cigarette in his mouth, stared at the red area ahead and said, "Let's go check it out then."
With that, Sanji hauled out a Giant Shell.
"Isn't that the Giant Shell Uncle Panz Fry gave us?" Usopp said.
"Yep."
Sanji nodded and said, "It's a rare opportunity, so I was thinking we could use that Sea of Fire to grill this thing."
Hearing this, Luffy immediately started drooling.
A shell grilled with that kind of fire must taste amazing.
Meanwhile, Chopper stared at Sanji in disbelief and said, "Sanji, is now really the time to talk about this?"
That island is extremely dangerous!
Sanji sighed helplessly and replied, "Well, Luffy isn't going to change his mind anyway, so we're going up there sooner or later, right?"
Since we're going up, we might as well make good use of what's on the island.
So... using the flames there to grill a shell shouldn't be a problem!
Chopper:
That's true, but... he really didn't want to go!
"Hey, hey, hey, stop arguing for now," Usopp shouted from the bow. "In a little while, the flames are going to reach our Pirate Ship!"
Driven by the storm, they were quickly approaching the area ahead.
"It's fine, the Thousand Sunny isn't afraid of something like this," Franky said, giving a thumbs-up. "Don't underestimate this ship!"
Usopp: ...
Is this really about underestimating it?
They were about to enter a Sea of Fire!
"Leave it to me!" Merry said with a laugh.
With that, Merry used the power of the wind to push the Pirate Ship forward. Just as they were about to enter the fiery area, she forcefully stopped the ship with the wind.
Seeing this, Franky marveled, "Merry's power is really convenient."
Aside from docking, they didn't even need to use the anchor to stop the ship normally.
Merry just grinned in response, saying nothing more.
Just then, an extremely eerie sound suddenly echoed across the ship, sending shivers down everyone's spines.
"Whoa!"
"Ah!"
Startled, Chopper jumped up and looked around in terror. "What was that sound?"
Could it be Ghosts again?
?
Why did he say "again"?
"It seems to be coming from the cabin." Meiser glanced back toward the cabin and said, "It sounds a bit like crying."
After listening carefully for a moment, Meiser nodded with great certainty. "It definitely is crying."
His ears couldn't be wrong—it was unmistakably a man's crying.
"Crying?" Usopp, upon hearing this, fearfully clung to Zoro beside him. "Could there be something strange on our ship?"
Zoro: ...
So, what exactly is this guy afraid of?
Haven't they encountered plenty of strange things along the way?
"Let's just go check it out and find out," Luffy said.
With that, Luffy quickly dashed toward the cabin and soon arrived at the place where the Den Den Mushi was stored.
"Huh?"
"Hey, look at this!" Luffy exclaimed in surprise, staring at the weeping Den Den Mushi. "Why is this Den Den Mushi crying?"
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Does your stomach hurt?"
As he spoke, Luffy walked over and poked the Den Den Mushi, trying to see if it was crying because of a stomachache.
"Stomachache..."
Meiser, who had followed him in, twitched the corner of his mouth upon hearing this. Even if a Den Den Mushi had a stomachache, it wouldn't make human-like crying sounds.
"This is the Den Den Mushi's emergency signal," Sanji recalled what the old man had once told him. "Someone nearby must be seeking help."
If he remembered correctly, this was indeed an emergency distress signal.
The only question was who was sending the distress signal.
"So, if we answer, we can talk to them?" Luffy asked curiously.
"Yes," Sanji nodded.
After receiving a definite answer, Luffy focused his gaze on the Den Den Mushi, clearly intending to answer the call and see what was going on.
Nico Robin, seeing this, quickly stopped him. "Wait, Luffy!!"
"What's wrong?"
Luffy looked at Nico Robin in confusion, not understanding why she was stopping him.
"The credibility of emergency signals is very low," Nico Robin explained. "Most of the time, it's a trap set by the Marines to lure pirates in."
"Once we answer the call, they'll know we're nearby."
Using emergency signals to attract nearby pirates, making them think there's something to gain—this is how the Marines draw pirates in.
And then... they capture them!
"Such a thing exists?!" Perona exclaimed in shock.
To think they'd use such methods to set traps... the Marines are too cunning!
"Did you hear that, Luffy!"
Usopp turned to Luffy and said, "So you better think carefully about this..."
Before Usopp could finish speaking, Luffy picked up the Den Den Mushi and answered the call.
"Kacha~"
"Hello!"
"I am Monkey D. Luffy!" Luffy announced as he answered the call. "The man who will become the Pirate King!"
Usopp: ??
"Thwack!"
After slapping Luffy on the back of the head, Usopp opened his Shark Mouth and roared, "You idiot, wasn't your decision to answer the call a bit too quick?"
"And who introduces themselves right off the bat like that!"
Was this fool afraid the other side wouldn't know it was the Straw Hat Pirates answering the call?
The others also looked at Luffy with some exasperation, clearly not expecting him to reveal his identity so directly.
"Luffy, you..."
Before Chopper could finish his sentence, the Den Den Mushi began to cry out.
"Finally, someone answered... Help me!" the man on the other end of the Den Den Mushi shouted. "Come save me!!"
His voice sounded as if he had encountered something utterly terrifying, filled with immense fear.
"What's wrong?" Luffy quickly picked up the Den Den Mushi's receiver and said, "What happened over there?"
"Is that the boss... I'm so cold."
"Cold?"
Hearing the other person's words, a flicker of surprise flashed in Meiser's eyes. Why would someone feel cold in such a hot place?
Could this really be a Marine trap?
Or perhaps... the other person was feeling cold because they were on the verge of death?
Both were possible...
"I'm not your boss," Luffy asked again. "What exactly happened over there?"
"A samurai appeared here, and he killed all my companions..." the Den Den Mushi cried out. "Oh no, he's coming!"
"Whoever you are, come save me. This is Punk Hazard, hurry..."
"Thud~"
"Gah~"
Before he could finish speaking, the sound of a blade cutting into flesh was heard, and then the Den Den Mushi was disconnected.
"Ah!!"
"He was killed!"
Seeing the suddenly disconnected Den Den Mushi, Chopper and Usopp both showed expressions of horror.
That person was definitely killed, right?
How terrifying!
Meanwhile, Luffy fell into deep thought as he looked at the Den Den Mushi, then stroked his chin and said, "Hmm... I just have a feeling something is about to happen."
Usopp: ??
"What are you analyzing so seriously, you idiot!" Usopp opened his Shark Mouth and roared. "Someone was just killed!"
"This is something that already happened, you idiot!"
Ignoring the interaction between these guys, Meiser said, "Could it be a trap?"
Clearly, this question was directed at Nico Robin.
"Although it sounds very realistic, this could also be an act deliberately put on by the Marines," Nico Robin said. "This is a common tactic used by the Marines."
"Deliberately by the Marines..."
Hearing Nico Robin's words, the expressions of Nami and the others grew somewhat serious.
If that were truly the case, it would be better for them not to get involved, or they might fall into the Marines' trap.
"More than that, I'm more curious about what he said earlier," Zoro said. "He mentioned a samurai, right?"
"He did say samurai."
"Hey, Brook," Zoro turned to look at Brook and said, "Do you remember the samurai we saw at Moria's place?"
"Yes, I remember."
"Are you talking about that guy named Ryuma?" Perona chimed in.
If she remembered correctly, that guy named Ryuma was indeed a very powerful samurai.
"What's a samurai?" Merry asked curiously.
"Samurai is the title for swordsmen in the Land of Wano,"
Brook said. "And those swordsmen are incredibly strong, so even the Marines dare not approach the Land of Wano lightly."
"I see," Merry nodded.
Usopp, however, said with some surprise, "That impressive?"
Even the Marines, with combat power at the level of a Marine Admiral, dare not approach lightly?
Just how strong is this country...
As if remembering something, Nami turned to look at Meiser and said, "I remember Granny Nyon mentioned before that there are ninjas in the Land of Wano."
"That's right," Meiser nodded.
Hearing this, Perona looked at Meiser curiously and asked, "Are you from the Land of Wano?"
She remembered that Meiser was also a ninja.
"No," Meiser shook his head. "Although I am a ninja, I'm not from the Land of Wano."
This time, Perona just nodded and didn't say anything more, clearly not intending to dig deeper.
"Let's talk about the Land of Wano later. The priority now is to figure out what that person just said," Franky turned to look at the island engulfed in flames behind them and said, "That person mentioned Punk Hazard. I think... it must be this island."
"If they were using a small Den Den Mushi, then it's most likely this island," Nico Robin said.
After all, the signal from a small Den Den Mushi can only travel so far.
Then, Nico Robin continued, "Of course, if this was done by the Marines, then they must also be on this island."
After all... if it's too far, they wouldn't be able to lure people over!
"So it's the island ahead..."
Putting down the receiver in his hand, Luffy grinned and said, "Let's go save him!"
"Hey, Luffy!"
Usopp stared at Luffy in disbelief and said, "Didn't you hear what Robin said?"
"You should think this through properly!"
What if it's a Marine trap, you idiot!
Hearing Usopp's words, Luffy didn't say anything more but instead gave him a big, bright smile.
Usopp: ...
Oh no, that expression again.
"It looks like we have to go~" Nico Robin said with a chuckle.
"Robin, why are you like this too?!"
"Well, it's what Luffy decided~"
He's the captain. If he decides to go check it out, who can oppose him?
As if understanding what Nico Robin meant, Usopp slumped to the ground in resignation, his whole demeanor becoming somewhat dejected.
Damn it, why do we have to go to such a dangerous island...
"Then let's go," Sanji said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "But we can't all go this time."
"Yeah, agreed," Zoro nodded.
After all, this whole thing sounds a bit suspicious, so it's better not to send everyone.
"Then let's bring out the Mini Merry," Luffy said. "I'll go on that."
"Wait a minute!"
As if realizing what Luffy intended to do, Nami said, "Are you planning to go alone?"
"Yeah," Luffy replied. "Is there a problem?"
Since everyone else didn't seem too keen on going to that island, he'd just go by himself.
"Of course there's a problem!" Nami widened her eyes. "If we really let you go alone, who knows where you'd end up wandering off to."
It's true that Luffy is incredibly strong, but it's also a fact that this guy loves to act recklessly!
So... we absolutely cannot let this idiot go by himself!
"Then it's settled," Sanji said. "Besides that directionally-challenged idiot, let's pick a few more people to go with him."
"What the hell do you mean by that?!"
Zoro glared angrily at Sanji. "You wanna get cut, you pervert cook?!"
"Who are you calling a pervert cook, you directionally-challenged Moss Head?!"
"Bastard, you looking for a fight?!"
"Bring it on!"
Clang! Bang!
Watching the two start fighting again, everyone sighed helplessly.
Here we go again...
Meiser just watched the two brawling with a strange expression.
Then he thought to himself: Wait... did Zoro just admit he's directionally-challenged?
After all, when Sanji mentioned "directionally-challenged idiot," Zoro immediately lost his temper.
Thinking this, Meiser nodded with certainty.
Hmm, it seems Zoro does have some self-awareness after all~
"You two, quiet down!" Nami shouted angrily.
With that, she flashed over to the two of them and punched each of them once.
Thump!
Thump!
Two punches later, both were knocked flat on the ground.
Seeing this, Perona shook her head helplessly—these two really could be quite annoying sometimes.
"So how are we deciding this time?" Meiser asked, crossing his arms. "Is Luffy picking a few people to go with him?"
"I really don't want to go!" Usopp gulped nervously.
That island looked way too dangerous!
"Then let's draw lots," Nami suggested.
With that, she took out several slips of paper and gestured for everyone to draw to decide.
"How could this be..."
Usopp's face turned pale—drawing lots meant there was a chance he'd be chosen!
"What a hassle," Zoro said, scratching his head. "Fine, let's draw."
He hoped he'd draw the lot to go with Luffy—that way, he could meet the so-called samurai Luffy kept talking about.
He just wondered how strong they really were.
"Zoro..." Chopper said tearfully, looking at Zoro. "If I get chosen, you go in my place, okay?"
Zoro sighed helplessly at this—this kid's courage hadn't grown at all.
And so, everyone began drawing lots to decide who would accompany Luffy.
"Heh, looks like my luck is pretty good."
Looking at the slip of paper with a red mark in his hand, Meiser smiled. "Now I can go have some fun."
He was really looking forward to this volcano adventure~
"Thank goodness, I didn't get chosen..." Chopper sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, Usopp's face fell. "Why did it have to be me..."
"Didn't get chosen either," Franky said, somewhat disappointed. "My luck's really bad today."
Shaking his head, Franky turned to Meiser, Nico Robin, Zoro, Merry, and Usopp. "So, you guys are the ones going with Luffy this time, huh?"
"Seems that way," Nico Robin said, waving her slip of paper.
"Dammit... I really don't want to go!" Usopp said frantically.
Why did it have to be him?!
"Then how about we swap?" Perona offered. "I can go in your place."
As soon as she said this, everyone immediately turned their attention to Usopp.
"Don't underestimate a brave warrior of the sea, you bastards!" Usopp bristled. "It's just an island, I'll go up there!"
Though somewhat fearful, since he was chosen, he couldn't back down now, damn it!
Seeing this, Meiser gave Usopp a thumbs-up and said, "Truly a brave Sea Warrior~"
Meanwhile, Chopper looked at Usopp with admiring eyes and said, "Usopp, you're so brave!"
Unlike himself, who didn't even have the courage to go to the island at a time like this.
Usopp:
If possible, he didn't want to go either.
"Well, it seems I can only stay on the ship," Perona said helplessly.
"You can go if you want to," Nami chimed in.
"No."
Perona shook her head and said, "Since we drew lots, we should respect the result."
If we act recklessly, drawing lots would be meaningless.
"Then it's settled."
After tapping the ash off his cigarette, Sanji said, "You guys go with Luffy to check out the island."
"No problem," Zoro nodded.
With him around, Luffy definitely wouldn't get lost.
Luffy raised his hand and said, "Sanji, prepare some Pirate Bentos for me!"
"Don't worry, even if you didn't say it, I'd prepare them for you," Sanji smiled, then turned and headed toward the kitchen, adding, "Wait a bit, I'll go make the bentos for you now."
"Alright!"
Watching Sanji leave, Luffy turned his expectant gaze toward the distant island and said, "I'm really looking forward to it~"
Who knows what kind of adventure awaits this time~
"Don't get careless, Luffy," Nami said. "It might really be a trap set by the Marines."
Hearing this, Luffy snorted and said, "If the Marines really tricked me, I'll knock them all away!"
Nami felt a bit helpless upon hearing this—it was so typical of Luffy's personality.
Franky chuckled at the scene and said, "Since Merry is going along, we probably don't need the Mini Merry, right?"
"Of course."
Merry nodded and said, "With my ability, we can easily reach that island."
"Then it's decided!" Luffy waved his hand and declared, "Once Sanji finishes making the Pirate Bentos, we'll use Merry's ability to go to this island!"
"Alright!"
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
In a stretch of sea not too far from Punk Hazard, a warship was floating at that moment.
"Punk Hazard..."
Staring at the Black Den Den Mushi, Vergo's expression gradually darkened.
If he remembered correctly, Monkey D. Luffy was the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, right?
Why would the Straw Hats appear there?
After a moment of silence, Vergo suddenly looked up and said, "Turn around immediately. We're heading to Punk Hazard!"
"?!"
The Marines from the G-5 Branch, who were busy dealing with pirates, were taken aback and looked at Vergo in confusion. "Boss, didn't you just say we were returning to the branch to wait for Vice Admiral Smoker? Why are we suddenly changing course?"
This might delay our schedule.
"This matter isn't urgent."
Vergo, having returned to his usual demeanor, said calmly, "The top priority is to capture that group of audacious pirates."
He needed to confirm whether the Straw Hats would affect Doflamingo's plans.
So... he had to go to Punk Hazard!
"But Boss Vergo, Punk Hazard is currently off-limits," a Marine nearby spoke up.
"Yeah, if we go like this, we'll be held accountable, won't we?"
"Hehe, boss, you better think this through~"
"Hmph."
Upon hearing this, Vergo sneered and said, "You lot have the nerve to say such things?"
"Haven't you done plenty of things the Marines forbid?"
As he spoke, Vergo glanced at the pirates they had strung up and dealt with—the implication couldn't be clearer. The other Marines laughed upon hearing this.
Indeed, they truly didn't care about laws or regulations. As long as they could take down pirates, they paid no mind to anything else.
"But Boss Vergo, what about Vice Admiral Smoker?" one Marine inquired.
Vergo thought for a moment upon hearing this, then replied, "Tell him to head straight to the G-5 Branch. After I finish dealing with that pirate crew, I'll return to meet up with him."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines nodded, then turned and ran toward the distance, clearly intending to change course and head for Punk Hazard.
Meanwhile, Vergo walked to the edge of the warship, staring intently in the direction of Punk Hazard.
"The Straw Hat Pirates, huh..." Vergo thought coldly to himself, "I'll make sure you stay there for good!"
Just a bunch of rookies who've only just arrived in the New World—he alone could wipe out the entire Straw Hat Pirates!
As for the Marines accompanying him this time...
If they happen to learn something they shouldn't...
Then he'd just eliminate them all!
At this thought, a flicker of killing intent surfaced in Vergo's eyes.
Anyone who could potentially threaten Doflamingo must be killed!
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