In the forest, Luffy swung through the trees like a monkey, moving at high speed.
Below him, Goku sprinted with his arms wide, his legs moving like a blur as he kept pace.
"Don't worry. Even though people like us aren't allowed in there, it won't stop me."
Luffy laughed loudly.
After receiving directions from Makino, he led Goku toward the capital of the Goa Kingdom at top speed.
Although it had been many years since he'd been there, he knew the island's terrain by heart. Unlike his usual self, he didn't get lost and led Goku straight toward the city.
"Mm-hmm! Thanks for taking me there!"
Goku looked up and said with a grin.
"We're friends, after all!"
Luffy looked down and returned the sentiment with a massive smile.
Then, with a loud thud, he slammed face-first into a towering tree.
"Ah! Are you okay?"
Goku skidded to a halt and asked with concern.
Luffy, flattened against the tree, peeled himself off and adjusted his straw hat. He laughed and said, "I'm fine! Don't forget, I'm a Rubber Human. Stuff like this doesn't hurt a bit!"
"Is that so?"
Goku's mouth hung open in a daze as he looked at the vertical red mark on Luffy's face. He thought to himself:
'If that were me, I'd be crying from the pain.'
After that little episode, Luffy successfully led Goku to the outskirts of the Goa Kingdom's capital.
Looking up at the massive, imposing walls, Goku tilted his head. "Is it inside those walls?"
Luffy nodded. "Exactly. These walls might keep others out, but they can't stop me."
With that, he wound up his arm and shouted, "Gum-Gum Rocket!"
Whoosh!!
His arm stretched out instantly, grabbing the very top of the high wall in the blink of an eye.
He wrapped his other arm around Goku and yelled, "Here we go!"
The two of them were instantly launched toward the top of the wall.
Before long, they successfully made it inside the city.
Taking in the opulent surroundings, Goku remarked instinctively, "This place is so different from the outside."
In Foosha Village, people lived in small, simple houses, but here, everything in sight was a vibrant, exquisitely designed building.
The contrast was night and day.
"That's how it is. But I'd never want to live here. The outside suits me much better," Luffy said, clasping his hands behind his head.
"Yeah, I agree," Goku nodded.
"Weren't you looking for someone? Let's go ask around."
Luffy grabbed Goku and dashed over to a passerby, asking with a bright smile, "Excuse me, Ma'am! We're looking for two people. One is named—"
"Who are you calling 'Ma'am'?!"
Before Luffy could finish, the heavily made-up, elegantly dressed, and rather portly woman snapped at him.
Her eyes, narrowed to slits by her puffy face, scanned them suspiciously. "Judging by your clothes, you're not from the city. Don't tell me you snuck in from the outside!" she said coldly.
While Goku's Turtle School martial arts uniform was somewhat presentable, Luffy's outfit was an eyesore in her opinion.
His cheap red vest, blue shorts, and those straw sandals—something only a bumpkin would wear—made her frown with deep disgust.
"Ahaha, of course not," Luffy laughed, rubbing the back of his head.
He then grabbed Goku and made a quick getaway.
"Sorry to bother you! We're leaving!"
After rounding a couple of corners, Luffy finally stopped and exhaled a sigh of relief as he scanned their surroundings.
Goku asked, confused, "Hey, why did we leave? I didn't even get to ask her yet."
Luffy replied casually, "That woman was already suspicious. It's better if people don't find out we snuck in too early, or it'll be hard for you to find anyone."
Goku nodded thoughtfully. "What happens if they find out we snuck in?"
"Uh, I guess the City Guard would come to arrest us."
"I see."
As they talked, they continued down the street, looking for a suitable 'target' to ask.
Before long, they spotted a kind-looking old man strolling slowly along the sidewalk.
They exchanged a look and nodded in unison.
In the next second, they appeared in front of the old man. "Hello, Grandpa! Have you seen Krillin or Master Roshi? They look like this."
Goku pulled a piece of paper from his shirt and held it up for the man to see.
This was a sketch Makino had drawn for him after hearing he was looking for people without any pictures.
Goku had carefully kept it tucked away, waiting for the right moment to use it.
The old man adjusted his reading glasses and squinted at the drawing for a long time before exclaiming:
"Oh!! These two..."
Goku's eyes lit up instantly. "Have you seen them?"
He felt a mix of nerves and excitement.
Luffy also grinned happily. He hadn't expected finding Goku's friends to be this easy.
Under their expectant gazes, the old man spoke tremulously, "These two... these two..."
Goku clenched his small fists, staring intently at the old man's mouth.
While not as eager, Luffy also leaned in, listening intently.
Finally, after dragging it out for over ten seconds, the old man shook his head decisively. "I've never seen them."
*Faceplant!*
Both Goku and Luffy instantly fell over.
"Grandpa! Were you messing with us?!" the two of them shouted in unison, glaring at him.
...
"Excuse me, Ma'am, have you seen these two?"
"No? Then do you know where the World Martial Arts Tournament is being held?"
"You don't know that either? Okay, thank you anyway!"
...
"Sir, have you seen these two?"
"Oh... then do you know where the World Martial Arts Tournament is?"
"I see, thank you!"
...
Over the next while, the two of them continued to stop people on the street and ask.
But without exception, no one had the answers they were looking for.
Just as they turned another corner, they saw the same portly woman from earlier talking to a squad of City Guards.
When they appeared, the woman happened to glance their way and immediately pointed at them. "That's them! Arrest them quickly! They're definitely low-lifes who snuck in!"
The captain waved his hand. "Apprehend them!"
The City Guards charged toward Goku and Luffy with aggressive intent.
Seeing this, Goku and Luffy didn't hesitate for a second—they turned and ran.
As they ran, Luffy grinned as if nothing were wrong. "Looks like we've been spotted, Goku. Do you want to keep looking or what?"
Goku thought for a moment and shook his head. "Let's stop. I don't think Master Roshi and Krillin would be in a place like this anyway."
With that, they headed back toward the place where they had entered the city.
Before long, the two of them ran into a dead-end alley. The exhausted guards caught up, sneering, "Run! Let's see where you're going to go now!"
In the next instant, their smiles froze, and they looked as if they'd seen a ghost.
One of the two they were chasing stretched his arm out and easily launched himself to the top of the wall.
The other was even more ridiculous, leaping dozens of meters into the air like a monster and landing effortlessly on top of the wall.
"Bye-bye!"
Standing atop the wall, Luffy and Goku gave a cheerful wave and jumped down, disappearing completely from the guards' sight.
—
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]