Getting up from the bluestone, Merlin approached Yol and took his backpack and katana from her hands:
"Nothing left behind?"
"Mmh, don't worry." Yol responded with a smile.
Yol was also carrying a backpack, but she held a suitcase in her left hand and wore an ancient-style rapier on her left hip.
As for Lami, she held a compass in her hand.
She was responsible for reporting their direction at any time.
Shouldering the backpack and strapping on the katana, Merlin smiled and said: "Then let's go!
"Let's strive to walk out of here within three days."
Yol laughed: "Should be possible. After all, we haven't been doing useless exercises for the past half month.
"With the supplement of Monkey Wine and sufficient high-energy meat, our physical fitness has improved considerably."
Merlin smiled. It was true; the efficacy of that Monkey Wine was indeed extraordinary.
Now that the three of them had finished drinking the Monkey Wine here, their physical fitness had indeed been conditioned to be more resilient.
Lami looked back at the giant tree with some reluctance. "Will we have a chance to come back to this home in the future?"
Merlin rubbed her head and said with a smile:
"There will be opportunities in the future."
A smile appeared on the corner of Yol's mouth: "This place actually isn't important. As long as we are still together, anywhere can be our home."
Lami's eyes lit up. She looked up at Yol and nodded heavily:
"Mmh! Sister Yol is right."
Then, the three left the place without looking back.
Guided by the compass.
They climbed over mountains and ridges along the way.
When thirsty, they looked for water sources; when hungry, they hunted and roasted food on the spot; at night, they found a suitable place to light a bonfire for warmth and sleep.
Noon, two days later.
Standing on an earthen slope on the outskirts of the Fulton Mountains, looking into the distance, they could see a seaside port town situated there.
Before long,
The three walked into the town from a dirt road.
Stepping into the bustling streets.
The faces of pedestrians passing on the street were filled with peace and satisfaction.
The shouts of various vendors rose and fell.
Seeing this harmonious scene after a long time, a subtle feeling of unreality appeared in the eyes of the three.
This was Casra Town.
A port town belonging to the territorial waters of the Kingdom of Fulton.
Walking on the street,
Yol pursed her lips, but a touch of sadness unconsciously appeared in her eyes. Seeing this bustling street, she thought of Flevance. The place used to be just as peaceful and prosperous:
"Where are we going now?"
"Eat, buy clothes."
Merlin thought for a moment and added: "Let's buy a few sets of clean clothes first!
"Our clothes have been damaged quite a bit due to training during this period."
Yol looked at the jeans on her legs, which had holes and were stained with mud. Her face turned slightly red, and she nodded repeatedly:
"Then let's go buy clothes first."
Saying this, she smiled at Lami:
"We'll have new clothes to wear soon. Is Lami happy?"
Joy appeared on Lami's now slightly round face: "Mmh, Lami is happy!"
A moment later.
The three walked out of a clothing store looking brand new.
Each person bought three sets of clothes.
At this moment.
Merlin's upper body was covered in a coffee-colored stand-collar shirt, his lower body in black trousers, and he wore a pair of black short boots.
Yol wore an aqua-blue long-sleeved collared T-shirt as an inner layer, with a sleeveless brown V-neck sweater over it.
Her lower body was covered in a black midi skirt reaching her calves. Her shapely calves were wrapped in black pantyhose, and she wore a pair of black low-heeled leather shoes.
Her beautiful body curves appeared particularly moving under the outline of this outfit.
As for Lami, she looked like a mini version of Yol, wearing an identical outfit just a few sizes smaller.
Wearing clean new clothes, the mental state of the three seemed to be refreshed as well.
Soon, the three arrived at a restaurant and sat at a table near the back by the window.
They ordered a table full of delicious food, mostly various vegetables. In front of each person was a bowl of white, distinct grains of rice and a bowl of hand-pulled noodles.
They gorged themselves on the restaurant's tasty signature dishes.
A long-lost meal of noodles and rice kept the smiles on their faces constant.
After the meal.
Leaning back in his chair, Merlin sipped a cup of tea slowly and sighed unconsciously:
"Although various meats are delicious, we can't just eat meat! A balance of meat and vegetables is the right way."
Yol smiled in agreement: "Indeed, eating only meat does get tiresome. Fortunately, our fruit supply was constant during this period.
"Otherwise, I really don't know how we would have lived."
Lami also nodded heavily, then grinned and sighed with emotion:
"It has to be rice; it tastes even better with meat!"
After a short rest.
After paying the bill,
They strolled together on the street.
This was a prosperous port town. On the streets, all kinds of people engaged in various professions could be seen.
Pirates, local ruffians, gang forces, various merchants, security forces.
A seaside port town vividly interpreted the general situation of this era.
As time passed,
Merlin gradually figured out the power structure in Casra Town.
On the surface,
It was managed by an administrative officer sent by the royal family of Fulton.
But behind the scenes,
It was jointly ruled by nobles, who kept gangs and ruffians as tentacles for control.
At this time, they stopped in front of a bulletin board at an intersection in the town center.
Merlin's gaze narrowed slightly. The main items pasted on it were the wanted posters of various famous pirate groups currently in the North Blue.
The most eye-catching one was a group of famous pirates located in the C-position (center) of the bulletin board.
The Donquixote Pirates.
Pirate Captain,
Donquixote Doflamingo.
This was a handsome young man in his twenties wearing red sunglasses, a suit and tie, and spiky blond hair shooting up to the sky.
And the amount on his wanted poster was far ahead of all the surrounding pirate wanted posters by a landslide.
Ninety-seven million Berries.
In areas like the Four Blues where there were almost no pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million, they could be called a top-tier pirate group.
At this moment, looking at the photo on his wanted poster, a subtle look quietly appeared in Merlin's eyes.
It seems this guy hasn't left the North Blue yet!
Thinking of this, pieces of intelligence related to this guy from his previous life emerged in Merlin's mind.
It could be said with certainty that Doflamingo was a ruthless and ambitious formidable character.
Taijutsu (physical arts) and Devil Fruit abilities were both well-trained.
Moreover, he possessed all three types of Haki.
He had a good brain too.
And he had everything in terms of various resources.
Marine Six Styles, Life Return.
Channels for learning Taijutsu, swordsmanship, and marksmanship.
He was a famous broker who could mix well in the underground world. He even held some trading channels involving resources like Devil Fruits.
He could be called a "treasure boy."
At this time, seeing Merlin staring intently at Doflamingo's wanted poster, Yol said with some hesitation in her eyes:
"Are you interested in him? He's a great pirate who has been active in many sea areas of the North Blue for more than ten years!
"I heard he is cruel and a desperado who kills people and destroys towns at the slightest provocation.
"You..."
Just then, Lami tugged at Merlin's sleeve and pointed to a corner at the bottom of the bulletin board. Merlin looked over and saw a wanted poster there.
And it was a wanted poster jointly stamped by the four surrounding countries.
However, the portrait on it wasn't a photo, but a sketch drawn in pencil.
And it bore a seventy percent resemblance to Merlin's face.
Below the picture were a name and some introduction.
[Laplace Merlin]
[A Platinum Lead Disease infected person who escaped from Flevance.
Nature is ferocious and bloodthirsty.
The general public is asked to be wary of this criminal.
If his traces are found, you can report to the security forces of the four countries. If the intelligence is true, a reward of 50,000 Berries can be obtained.
If this criminal is killed, his head can be exchanged for 1 million Berries.]
Seeing Merlin withdraw his gaze from the wanted poster, Lami immediately whispered:
"Merlin-niichan, is this you?"
The corners of Merlin's mouth pursed slightly:
"Mmh, unsurprisingly, it is.
"They really are rich and overbearing!
"Actually offering a bounty of 1 million Berries for my head!"
Lami asked in confusion: "Why only you? Why aren't Sister Yol and I on it?"
Yol's gaze rarely became somewhat gloomy, and she said calmly at this time:
"I was wearing a nun's habit before, my face was dirty, and my body was wrapped very tightly. None of the soldiers who saw me survived.
"As for those survivors, few have seen my face.
"As for why you aren't wanted either, Lami, it's because you hid in the dark every time, and almost no one would pay attention to a child. Moreover..."
At this time, Merlin took over Yol's words and said softly:
"And at that time, I was the one who brought them the greatest 'pain'. Many have seen my face, so it's normal to have me on it."
"Merlin..." Yol spoke worriedly.
Merlin reached out to stop her, chuckling, but there was a chill in his laughter:
"Wanted is wanted! Anyway, for me, it's just a trivial matter that doesn't itch or hurt."
However, speaking of this, Merlin smiled helplessly at Yol:
"It seems we can't go to the Volgala Kingdom. Then let's go to Petrel Island, which doesn't belong to the territory of the four countries, shall we?
"Hopefully, the Rock Heart Sword Dojo there can give us some gains!"
Yol nodded. "Then shall we leave now?"
"Tomorrow morning!" Merlin said, "Let's find a hotel to stay in first, then go to the port to see if there are passenger ships or merchant ships going there or passing by.
"There are plenty of ways to get there."
"Mmh, then let's go find a hotel now!" Yol agreed with a nod.
Before long, Merlin and the other two arrived at the hotel street. However, at this moment, Merlin was wearing a gray peaked cap on his head and a pair of sunglasses on his face.
On his hands, he also wore a pair of brown gloves that fitted snugly.
Although he was no longer afraid, doing some simple disguise could avoid some unnecessary trouble.
After all, under a hail of bullets, Merlin still couldn't withstand it head-on.
Cowardice when necessary is wisdom!
Not shameful or shabby.
They checked into a nice hotel.
Inside a standard room with twin beds.
Merlin, Yol, and Lami took turns washing up in the bathroom, then went out together to the port.
Without spending much time.
They found a tourist passenger ship going to Petrel Island. However, it was expensive; a ticket cost 100,000 Berries per person.
They didn't even give half price for children.
Money-grubbers.
Sailing at nine tomorrow morning.
But, bought it.
Paid the deposit.
Got the invoice.
Pay the balance tomorrow morning to board the ship.