"Do you feel guilty now?"
a cold voice came from behind.
Hancock barely stopped retching, clutching her chest, and turned her head in shame and anger to look at the black-haired boy approaching.
"Your back is exposed," Shano glanced at her. "Dragon hoofprints! So, you were a slave to the Celestial Dragons?"
Hancock's pupils shrank, and her whole body trembled. She frantically tugged at her torn collar, trying to cover it up, but her panic backfired.
Snap!
With the sound of fabric tearing, the brand was completely exposed to the sunlight. For some reason, she felt an inexplicable burning pain.
"Turn around... Don't look!"
Inferiority, shame, resentment... all kinds of emotions lingered in her heart, and she couldn't help but sob.
"If you have a loose tooth, stop talking. I don't understand. It's very rare for Celestial Dragon slaves to be stranded outside... Judging from your age, I guess you are one of the slaves rescued by Fisher Tiger back then."
Shano turned a blind eye and said lightly:
"Tiger is a hero who stands tall and proud. The feat of climbing up Mary Geoise to liberate the slaves is something that few people in the entire Haiyuan calendar can do. It's a pity that his vision is a little lacking after all."
Hearing the name of her benefactor, Hancock was stunned:
"You...what do you mean?"
"What do you mean!"
Shano looked at her coldly, "Tiger climbed up the Red Earth Continent with his bare hands and risked his life to save you, but he didn't expect that there were absolute garbage mixed in there. Let me ask you, your current temper and your usual actions, what is the difference between you and those arrogant and disgusting Celestial Dragons?!"
"I...I..."
Hancock subconsciously wanted to defend herself, but found that she seemed to be really like what the other party said, and she couldn't find a reason to refute for a while.
"You may not know this, but Fisher Tiger was once a slave of the Celestial Dragons. It was precisely because of the hellish torture he endured at the hands of the Celestial Dragons that he developed a deep hatred for humans. Even when bleeding profusely, he refused to accept human blood and died because of it."
"But what if that wasn't the case?"
Shano sneered.
"What if Tiger hated not the entire human race, but only the Celestial Dragons?"
"You were a slave he rescued himself. If you had been by his side when he was dying, I think the outcome would have been exactly the same. He would rather die than accept the blood of someone like you."
Hancock froze in place, as if struck by lightning.
"True beauty lies in the soul, not the skin. So even if Tiger is a fishman and doesn't meet my aesthetic standards, he's still incredibly handsome."
"As for you? Humph, you're so ugly you're disgusting."
Shano spat contemptuously, then, without even a glance back, strode away.
"Let's go, Mom. Open your eyes. If you see a woman like that next time, stay away from her."
"Well, after hearing what you've said, it seems she's really not a good person. Got it."
"Haha, that's my mom. I thought you'd be like other elderly people, once fooled, you'd give up..."
"Who are you calling elderly?" The woman, who had just been feeling guilty, suddenly flew into a rage.
Boom!
"Oooooh, that hurts!"
The motorcycle roared as the engine gradually receded.
Hancock stared blankly in the direction of the motorcycle, not moving for a long time. She looked around at the civilians lying on the ground, the scattered pirate ships...
Her fingers unconsciously touched the brand on her back, the burning pain still lingering.
"Disgusting..."
Shano's words echoed in her ears, like a sharp knife piercing her heart.
"Lady Snake!"
At this moment, several female warriors who had barely regained consciousness stumbled over, their faces filled with worry. "Are you alright? That man was truly terrifying. We..."
"Shut up!"
Hancock suddenly raised her head, her eyes red and her voice hoarse.
The female warriors were instantly terrified.
She slowly stood up, her torn robes rustling in the wind.
"Go... go back to the Nine Snakes."
Hancock spoke hoarsely, as if she had used up all her strength to squeeze these few words out from between her leaky teeth.
"Huh? But aren't we going to..."
"I said, go back to the Nine Snakes!"
she roared furiously.
The female warriors had never seen Lady Snake so out of control. For a moment, they looked at each other, at a loss.
Hancock ignored them and stumbled towards the cabin.
With every step, those words echoed in her mind—
"What's the difference between you and the Celestial Dragons?"
"You're so ugly you're disgusting!"
"Tiger would rather die than accept your blood!"
"You're truly a piece of shit..."
The words echoed endlessly, unstoppable.
Her steps grew increasingly unsteady, her heart growing even more confused. Her mind couldn't hold anything else but the undisguised disdain on the black-haired boy's face, the look of disdain he'd cast upon him, as if he were looking at trash...
As soon as she stepped into the cabin, her vision spun.
"Snake Princess!"
The panicked cries of the female warriors echoed behind her, but she couldn't make them out.
"I... I..."
She tried to grasp the doorframe, her fingers scraping in vain, and she fell heavily to the ground as everyone watched in horror.
In her final moments before consciousness faded, she vaguely saw, as if she had struggled beneath the surface, the raging fire and the tall, crimson-skinned figure...
Was I wrong, Tiger...
...
...
The motorcycle continued its rapid journey through the doldrums.
The large sea kings along the way also fled in panic as soon as they sensed the terrifying aura, like waves split by a motorcycle.
There were no obstacles, and the route was straight. If this continued, within ten days at most, Shano and Bell-mère would enter the New World.
Meanwhile,
during these ten days, in the first half of the Grand Route, which ran parallel to the Calm Belt, in this sea called "Paradise," something was also quietly happening.
...
Kraikana Island, in front of the castle gate.
Tashigi looked up into the distance. It seemed like good weather for sailing. She took a deep breath and subconsciously tightened her grip on the two swords at her waist.
One was called "Shigure";
it was just an ordinary sharp sword.
But it had accompanied her through countless days and nights, soaked in years of tears and sweat. Even though it was no longer as skilled as it is today, she was reluctant to replace it.
The other was a wooden sword called "Toyako."
This sword was even more precious. She polished it daily, hung it on the wall as a treasure, and was reluctant to unsheathe it even during training.
It was a gift she had received in Rogue Town, the memory left by the black-haired boy she had admired since childhood. It
held a weight in her heart, heavier than any famous sword, even greater than her own life.
She turned, her gaze complex, at Hawkeye, seated on the throne in the hall.
He was slowly polishing his Black Blade, not even looking up.
"Mr. Khomi,"
Tashigi finally resolved. She knelt on one knee and spoke solemnly to the man above her.
"Thank you for your guidance over the past year. The time we agreed upon has arrived, and it's almost time for me to set off."
Oh?
Has it been a year already?
Hawkeye paused as he polished the blade.
Outside, fog thickened the window, and faintly, the distant sobs of baboons could be heard.
"That Baboon King..." He spoke calmly, not looking up. "It seems you've been giving him a hard time these past two days."
"Yes,"
Tashigi nodded, a proud smile on her face.
A month ago, after a day of agonizing battle, she finally defeated the Baboon King for the first time.
And yesterday,
it took only three strikes to defeat the Baboon King. She
recalled arriving outside this castle last year, helplessly attacked by ordinary baboons...
everything seemed like a dream.
"Go."
The black sword scabbed back into its sheath with a resonant clang, and Hawkeye finally raised his hawk-like eyes. "Since that's the case, you're now barely worthy enough to stand behind him."
"I'll never forget your guidance."
Tashigi bowed deeply, her forehead touching the ground, her voice choking with a sob.
"If there's a chance, I'll definitely repay you."
There was no response.
She only heard Hawkeye rise and walk leisurely towards the dining room, as if to enjoy breakfast, not even a proper farewell.
"..."
Although she had grown accustomed to his indifferent attitude, Tashigi couldn't help but feel a sense of loss at the impending separation.
However...
when she finally stood up, she was startled to find a steaming cup of black tea in front of her.
"Drink before you go,"
Hawkeye said indifferently, returning to his seat, folding his arms again and closing his eyes.
"The winds on the Grand Line are strong. You could catch a cold if you're not careful."
Tashigi's eyes widened suddenly, looking at Hawkeye, then down at the cup of tea.
This...
were these words coming from Mr. Khomi?
She carefully lifted the cup with both hands, and just as her nose approached, the lingering heat somehow blurred her vision...
——————
Drum Island.
This land, now renamed the "Sakura Kingdom," is gradually regaining its former fame as a medical powerhouse.
The snow continued to fall.
But today's snow was different.
Thanks to the relics left by the quack doctor, a sky full of "cherry blossoms" danced in the cold wind, their pink and white petals intertwining with the pure white snow\...
a breathtaking sight.
Chopper stood in the snow, the small bag on his back bulging with herbs, notes, and several packets of his favorite marshmallows that Kureha had forced upon him.
It lowered its head, its hooves rubbing the snow restlessly, its eyes red.
"Hey, idiot Chopper,"
Kuleha said, a cigarette in her mouth, leaning against the doorway and looking at him with a grin. "What are you dawdling about for? That yellow-haired brat has been waiting for you for ages. Go!"
Chopper turned around and glanced at Sanji, who was silently looking up at the sky under the tree, smoking a cigarette with a melancholy look on his face.
I'm the one saying goodbye, why is this guy trying so hard to be cool?
It turned back, tears welling up in its eyes. "Doctor Doriel... I..."
"Why are you crying?"
Kuleha slapped him on the head. "Be a man, go out to sea. Don't make it like you're parting forever!"
Chopper sniffed, trying to hold back his tears. "But, if I'm gone, you'll be all alone..."
"Huh?"
Kuleha scoffed. "Who do you think I am? Over a hundred years, how much of that time have you, a little brat, taken up? Even without you, I can still live well, right?"
She paused, her eyes softening. She reached out and rubbed Chopper's furry head. "But you, follow that pirate, don't embarrass me."
"What pirate? I'm the captain of the Chef's Adventure Group. My dream is to find All Blue, not One Piece, you old woman!" Sanji shouted in discontent.
"How dare you call me captain, you rude brat!" Kuleha flew into a rage and launched a flying kick.
The two men engaged in a clattering sparring match. Chopper, watching from the side, tilted his head, and suddenly burst into laughter.
What Brother Shano had said was true.
Even if I didn't know his name, the moment I saw the blond chef clamoring about going to find something called "ALL BLUE," I knew I'd found the right partner.
However, there was one thing that didn't add up.
Brother Shano had clearly said that this guy should be accompanied by a guy with algae hair...
but there was no sign of him at all.
Chopper scratched his head.
They weren't together?
How strange! Where was that algae-haired guy now?
—————
On a tattered little boat.
"Hahaha, cooking isn't that hard, Curly. The adventure group can still handle it without you, right? Why are you so cocky?"
The algae-haired boy lifted the door curtain and emerged from the kitchen, hands on his hips, laughing with the smugness of a successful mission.
He sat cross-legged on the rickety plank, holding a chipped, coarse porcelain bowl in his hands.
The dark, sticky mass in the bowl barely made out to be noodles, a few charred vegetable leaves floating in the broth, emitting a whistling smell.
He had just scooped up a strand with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth when he glanced ahead.
His eyes widened, and he spat out the noodles in his mouth.
"Huh?"
Zoro stared dumbfounded at the towering peak before him, the lonely lighthouses on either side, and the turbulent currents rushing down from the summit.
Is this...
Upside-Down Mountain?!
"Why am I back again?"
He cried in agony, tears streaming down his face.
———
Alabasta.
Law adjusted his leopard-print hat as he stood at the port of Alabasta, gazing at the vast desert kingdom before him.
This seemed to be where Lord Shano's fame began.
And now, he had finally set foot on these lands.
Keep going!
Following Lord Shano's path, he would complete the first half of the Grand Line.
And then, head for the new world!
He spread his arms, grinning.
He didn't even notice that, a few meters behind him...
Bebo's tongue dragged on the ground, his body covered in sweat, as if he had just stepped out of a sauna. After a few more steps, he finally reached his limit.
With a muffled groan, he fell to the ground with a clang.
————
Whiskey Peak.
"Hey, hey, hey, Kira, if I remember correctly, that Shano killed the sand crocodile here, right?"
Eustace Kidd stood on the hillside, his red hair dancing wildly in the wind under the setting sun, like a burning flame. He grinned with his signature wild smile and asked.
"Yes, Kidd."
The masked weirdo said in a low voice, "Also, let me remind you that this is an active place for bounty hunters. It seems that we have been targeted."
"Oh? Really?"
Kidd raised his eyebrows and looked around.
As expected, he saw that the lights of many houses in the town had been turned off. Through the cracks in the doors, at the entrances of the alleys, on the roofs... he could vaguely feel that many eyes were peeking in this direction.
"You're treating us like fat sheep."
Kidd grinned strangely, "Shano is almost my age. He just entered the Grand Line and he's making such a big fuss here. We can't show weakness, right, Kira?"
"That being said." Kira crossed his arms and said lightly, "There are no Seven Warlords of the Sea here, so you can have a good time."
"It doesn't matter, you can also become famous in other ways!"
Kidd clapped his fists together, a bloodthirsty red light flashed in his eyes, and he laughed wantonly:
"There are probably thousands of people in this town in total, right? Whether they are bounty hunters or not, just kill them all! The World Government and the Navy Headquarters will definitely be scared and increase our bounty several times!"
"Go, Kira!"