The Going Merry left Whiskey Peak and reached the entrance of an island.
The ship entered inward along a river connected to the sea, and Nami, observing the huge trees and grass towering on both banks, spoke up.
"This island's called Little Garden... Hot and humid, yet it feels odd to call it 'little' when the trees and plants are so massive."
"I guess this really is a jungle, full of dangerous creatures..."
Screeeee!
As Usopp responded to Nami, a pterosaur larger than a person swooped over the ship.
"Wh-what?! A pterosaur!"
"You're not seeing things, Usopp. That only appears in fairy tales!"
"No way, Sanji! It didn't have feathers like a bird!"
"A pterosaur... No kidding?"
As if recalling something, Nami went below deck. Soon after, the ship came to a stop, and on deck Sanji was the first to speak.
"We need to restock food here, since we couldn't on the last island."
"Ah, of course Vivi-san is a guest, so you can stay on board..."
"No, Sanji, if I just sit here I'll just worry the whole time."
"That's why I want to go too. We've been leaning on you all this time, so I'd be glad to help."
"Even if it's risky, we have Karoo to watch our backs, right?"
Kwaak?!
"This one seems to say it's not okay..."
While Sanji watched the startled Karoo, Luffy spoke up.
"First, let's split into someone guarding the ship and a team to restock and scout."
"The jungle's dense and unfamiliar; if we scatter we'll be hard-pressed to regroup. But let's keep the scout team to one unit, not split it."
"So, who'll go with Vivi and me?"
"I'll go. Luffy, if you're going, I can't just stay behind."
"I want Hancock to guard the ship here since she's the next strongest after me..."
"No way~! Why are you trying to ditch me for that princess!"
"You two plotting without me?! Planning some lewd deeds I can't even mention~!"
"W-what are you talking about...!"
"I'm always ready for an erotic night with you. I thought I'd be wasted if I stayed here! So who do you think I'd try first—those girls eyeing you?!"
"Hancock, what are you always thinking... Okay, Hancock and Usopp will go together, and Zoro, Sanji, and Nami stay here."
"Lu-Luffy, I want to stay on the ship too...!"
"Usopp, you need to build more guts."
So when Luffy led the group ashore, Nami rushed out.
"Wa-wait! I want to go too!"
"What?! Nami-chan, you want to come?!"
"You don't have to force yourself, Nami."
"Luffy, take Nami and me! I have something to tell you first~!"
Sanji, Luffy, and Usopp spoke one after another, and she descended the ship's ladder to join them.
Meanwhile, watching them head into the jungle, Sanji glumly muttered beside Zoro, lying stretched out.
"Have to guard the ship with this mosshead instead of three beautiful ladies..."
"Wake me if you need me, pervy cook. I'm going to sleep."
"Please never wake up again, I beg you."
*****
Walking through the jungle, chatting, Hancock looked at Vivi and said,
"Ahem. I've thought this for a while—sneaking into the enemy's company and all that—you're quite brave for royalty, Vivi."
"Ah, thank you for saying that, Hancock."
"All the nobles and royals I know...they're bloated pigs."
"Well, that makes sense—such creatures aren't born on fields but in comfortable farms."
"If you grow up on fields, you become a wolf; on farms, you become a pig."
"But you, even if you were born a pig, you've become a fine wolf. I like that."
"It's fine, Hancock. I know exactly what you meant by that."
"I owe my being able to grow like the wolf Hancock described to my father and mother."
"My father taught me from childhood the importance of the responsibilities one must bear as royalty."
"Kings and royals aren't a status but more like a job, and citizens are equals, not subordinates."
"My mother passed away early but shared my father's beliefs and raised me accordingly."
"So the parents were wolves to begin with... But no matter how amazing you are, I won't stand by while you go after Luffy!"
"I have no such intention! I haven't known Luffy long enough for that, so it's even more strange that you'd think that!"
"Hmm... I'm glad you don't see how incredible a man Luffy is."
"But not seeing it feels off. Don't you think?"
While they talked, Usopp looked at Vivi and said,
"But Vivi, I didn't get to ask before—how did Crocodile and Baroque Works cause a rebellion among the people?"
"What did those guys do in Alabasta to cause that situation?"
"Usopp, have you ever heard of something called 'Dance Powder'?"
"Hmm, I feel like I've heard it somewhere..."
"Dance Powder is an artificial powder that calls rain, Usopp. I heard it was invented long ago by a scientist in a dry country that didn't get rain."
Nami answered in Usopp's place and continued,
"When the powder is scattered into the sky, it makes it rain rapidly over that area. The first time it was used, the people were so overjoyed that they danced together—hence the name."
"So that's why it's called Dance Powder?"
"Right. But the problem was that the rain it made fell faster by stealing moisture that should have fallen elsewhere."
"Because of that, wars broke out between countries that were deprived of their rain."
"Dance Powder, which steals rain like that, was used among other nations too, and now the World Government has banned its use."
"That's right, Nami. And Crocodile used that Dance Powder."
Vivi continued to explain the details.
For three years, Crocodile used Dance Powder to produce rain only in the capital, Alubarna, while the rest of the country suffered a drought.
Then, with the entire nation parched, he arranged a staged incident by secretly adding large amounts of Dance Powder to supplies shipped from the port to the capital, hoping it would be discovered.
Thus, the people concluded their king was causing rain only in the capital, and they rose up in a massive uprising, leading to the current rebellion.
"Because the royal army was busy fighting rebels, they couldn't deal with the pirates along the coast, so law and order broke down. Crocodile, who made his base in Alabasta, fought those pirates and became a hero in the eyes of the people."
"The people of Alabasta loved our kind king, and I, having grown with those people, love Alabasta."
"So I couldn't bear to watch my country fall into ruin."
"And once I learned the truth... I could never forgive Crocodile."
As Vivi said that, Karoo gently tapped her back with his wings.
When the atmosphere turned heavy, Usopp clenched his fist and spoke,
"That despicable Crocodile! If I ever meet him, I'll put a hole right between his eyes...!"
"Usopp, let's use the insect repellent I asked you to bring—it's full of bugs here."
"Ah, right! I brought them but hadn't used them yet."
Usopp pulled two sprayers from his pocket and handed one to Luffy.
"This is the bug repellent I asked Usopp for. There are too many insects, so let's spray it now."
"Don't spray on the face. Tilt your head and spray each other's bodies. Come here, Hancock."
"Yes, darling~!"
As they sprayed each other, Luffy finally started spraying Nami thoroughly, almost dipping her in the repellent.
"Ugh! What are you doing, Luffy!"
"There's not much left inside, so I'll just use it all."
"You've sprayed me enough! Save the rest for the others!"
'Why do you think I asked Usopp, Nami? It's to save you.'
'In the original story, Nami almost died from a disease she contracted from the island's insects.'
'Surprisingly, there was a recipe in the book Dr. Crocus gave for a medicine that could treat similar symptoms, but without the ingredients, bug repellent is the best we can do.'
"Luffy! Behind you...!"
Just then, Nami suddenly looked shocked and shouted,
"Everyone, watch out!"
"It's a dinosaur!!!"
"Kwaaak!!!"
"Roarrrr!"
Vivi, Usopp, and Karoo, mouths wide open, stared at a massive carnivorous dinosaur running on two legs and screamed,
Slice!
Hancock slashed with her black sword, cutting off the neck of the giant dinosaur that could have swallowed a person whole.
"Don't get so startled by nothing... Worry not, I've handled it."
"Hancock... you're incredibly strong."
"And it's really a dinosaur, an ancient reptile I only saw in books!"
After Hancock's remark, Vivi and Usopp replied in turn. Then Nami, looking as though she'd just remembered something, turned to Luffy and said,
"I almost forgot! With everything going on, I didn't get to tell you!"
"What is it, Nami?"
"Luffy! This island is more dangerous than you can imagine!"
"Because of the dinosaurs?"
"Louis Anote! In the book by an adventurer named Louis Anote, there's a description of this island called 'Little Garden'!"
"Calm down and explain—I'm about to pass out."
'Even if I know it already, it's more natural to act surprised.' Luffy thought as he paused.
Nami took a deep breath and resumed speaking.
"This island is one of the Grand Line's few places that never developed—time has stopped, and it's remained in its ancient state."
"It's because of the Grand Line's unpredictable climate! That's why Louis Anote said the island's owners named it 'Little Garden,' like a small garden island!"
"But the island's real owners weren't dinosaurs...!"
As Nami said that, Luffy and Hancock looked toward the direction the dinosaur had come from,
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
And they heard heavy footsteps growing closer from that direction.
"Luffy..."
"Right, Hancock. Everyone, get ready."
"Whatever's coming must be real monsters."
As the footsteps approached and then stopped, the group looked up.
"It's been a while since I've seen humans. What do you think, Dorry?"
"We already killed the ones we were chasing first—they're not worth being eaten by these guys, Brogy."
Speaking to each other, two figures loomed above. They were giants, each seeming several dozen meters tall.
They each held a round shield in one hand and a sword and an axe in the other.
"First time seeing giants? You seem surprised."
"These two don't look as shocked as the others. Let's greet them first."
"Hahaha! Alright, greetings to you all!"
Luffy and Hancock wore tense expressions, while the others stared up in horror. The two giants looked down and spoke together,
"I am Dorry, the strongest warrior of Elbaf!"
"I am Brogy, the strongest warrior of Elbaf!"
"..."
"Who's the strongest, Brogy?!"
"Obviously me! Why would it be you?!"
They glared at each other and shouted again simultaneously,
"The strongest warrior of Elbaf is me!!!"