Chapter 386: The Cat Burglar's Jealousy! Tender Moments and a Call from the Deep Sea
The celebratory banquet at Zou was still in full swing.
The massive bonfire in the center of the plaza illuminated the night sky in a fiery red.
The cheerful drumbeats of the Mink Tribe, accompanied by singing, echoed long and loud over the ruins of the entire city.
The rowdy sounds of eating meat in huge bites and drinking wine from large bowls highlighted the intensity of this victory celebration.
Under the cover of the hazy night, Victor took Nami and Robin by the hand and quietly slipped away from the noisy central area.
The three of them strolled along a hidden forest path until they reached a quiet viewing platform on a giant tree at the edge of the Whale Forest.
The elevation here was extremely high and the view was expansive, completely removed from the clamor and heat waves of the bonfire below.
All around, there was only the cold, silver moonlight pouring down like water, and the cool night breeze that rustled as it brushed through the giant canopy.
The atmosphere, which had just been boiling with excitement, became quiet and beautiful the moment they stepped into this place.
As soon as they stood still, before Victor could even begin to appreciate the beautiful night scenery, Nami turned around.
This beautiful Navigator crossed her arms, lifted her fair chin slightly, and gazed at Victor with a mischievous smile in her moist, lively eyes.
She poked Victor's solid chest in annoyance and drawled with a playful, enigmatic smile:
"Vice Captain, how did it feel to be surrounded by so many furry little girls back at the camp?"
"Were you enjoying yourself so much that you almost forgot your own name?"
Facing Nami's sudden "interrogation," Robin, who was standing to the side, leaned elegantly against the wooden railing at the edge of the viewing platform and joined in with a smile:
"Indeed, I saw everything quite clearly just now."
"Several young fox ladies had their tails wrapped intimately around the Vice Captain's waist."
"That furry sensation must have felt very comfortable, right?"
Robin generously covered her red lips with her jade-like hand and let out a soft laugh, her deep eyes sparkling with teasing mischief:
"If the Vice Captain really can't bear to part with that tenderness, it's not too late to turn back now."
Facing the "pincer attack" from the two women, Victor remained calm and composed.
He stepped forward and pulled them both into his broad embrace.
Victor lowered his head, brought his cheek close to their ears, and whispered softly:
"It didn't actually feel like anything special."
"Because in my eyes, my two wives are the most charming and elegant women in this world."
"As for anyone else, I have absolutely no interest."
Hearing these blunt, intense words of affection, Nami's face, which she had originally intended to keep stern, instantly crumbled, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.
She struggled symbolically in Victor's arms for a moment, then gave up the resistance and docilely rested her cheek against his warm chest.
Robin also took the opportunity to snuggle against Victor's shoulder.
Looking at the two delicate and alluring women in his arms, the smile in Victor's eyes deepened.
The word "serious" naturally didn't exist when it came to him.
Under the quiet moonlight, Victor's long, slender hands were not idle either.
His hands skillfully navigated through the gaps in their clothing, working both sides at once.
Such proficiency caused the breathing of Nami and Robin in his arms to become increasingly rapid.
However, at this perfect moment.
The special communication snail shell he kept close to his body suddenly transmitted a slight vibration and an unusual warmth.
Victor's movements came to an abrupt halt.
Because he knew better than anyone that this was a call from Shirahoshi, far away in the deep sea.
If he took out the shell to answer it, the perfect atmosphere he had just built would absolutely collapse instantly, turning into a disastrous scene of total failure.
Victor's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.
Under the somewhat curious gaze of the two women, he naturally stroked their silky hair:
"You two wait here for a moment."
"You haven't eaten yet, right? I'll go get some fruit wine and snacks to tide you over."
Victor hooked his mouth into a mischievous smirk and lowered his voice to add:
"After all, we still have a very intense battle ahead in the long night, so we need to replenish our energy."
Hearing this explicit hint, Nami and Robin were not shy, but looked at him with playful, knowing smiles.
They didn't have the slightest suspicion, nodded in agreement, and watched as Victor turned and left.
Victor turned around and walked quickly into the shadow of the dense, dark canopy behind the viewing platform.
After confirming that there was no one around, he quickly pulled the heating snail shell from his pocket and pressed it to his ear to connect.
As soon as the connection was made, the familiar, incredibly delicate voice of Princess Shirahoshi immediately came through:
"Lord Victor!"
On the other end of the line, Shirahoshi excitedly told Victor that the entire Ryugu Palace had already seen the latest headlines.
They had learned the shocking news that Lord Luffy and Lord Victor had defeated the Four Emperors Big Mom on the sea and successfully ascended to become the "Fifth Emperor."
Now, all the citizens of Fish-Man Island were cheering and celebrating for them in the plaza.
However, this excitement did not last long.
Immediately after, Shirahoshi's voice became filled with self-blame and grievance:
"I'm sorry, Lord Victor... Shirahoshi is really too stupid."
"I thought that once the peripheral fleets that came to intercept you retreated, you would be safe, so I let my Sea King friends go back first."
"I had no idea that the terrifying Big Mom would rush over there herself..."
"I wasn't able to help you when you were in the most danger and needed help the most..."
Listening to the sobbing coming from the shell, Victor softened his voice and whispered gently to comfort the sensitive Mermaid Princess.
He used the gentlest tone to tell Shirahoshi that she didn't need to blame herself at all, and that she had done a great job.
If she hadn't cleared those troublesome peripheral obstacles in advance and disrupted the enemy's encirclement, the thousand sunny would never have been able to break through the siege so smoothly.
Victor even praised her without reservation, saying that she was his best helpmate in this battle and an irreplaceable existence.
Victor's sweet talk always had an immediate and miraculous effect.
Sure enough, upon hearing this praise, Shirahoshi on the other end of the shell immediately stopped crying.
She shyly touched her long pink hair, and her huge, beautiful fish tail swayed happily in the clear seawater, creating ripples:
"Lord Victor just knows how to make me happy..."
"Since Lord Luffy has now become a Sea Emperor who shakes the ocean."
"You... your business over there should be done for a while, right? When will you come back to see Shirahoshi?"
Listening to the slightly rapid breathing from Shirahoshi on the other end of the shell due to shyness, as well as that soft, sweet tone unique to the Mermaid Princess.
Victor couldn't help but recall that wonderful and magical experience in that spacious princess room.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he gave his promise in a low voice:
"Sorry, Shirahoshi, I can't go back right now."
"Our next target is Wano Country,"
"But don't worry, once I finish dealing with matters in Wano Country, I will definitely come back to Fish-Man Island to see you first thing."
"During this time, you must take good care of yourself, Shirahoshi."
The other end of the shell was silent for a moment, and then came Shirahoshi's reply, which, although unable to hide her disappointment, was still very obedient and sensible, urging Victor to be sure to stay safe.
Victor smiled and put away the shell.
In order not to let Nami and Robin, who were waiting on the viewing platform, get suspicious, he dared not delay too long.
He hurriedly used the "Body Flicker Technique," his figure turning into an afterimage, and instantly arrived at the edge of the banquet venue at the foot of the mountain.
He quickly selected some exquisite food with excellent taste and a few bottles of sweet, low-alcohol fruit wine from the sumptuous dining tables.
Then he used the Body Flicker Technique again and hurried back in the direction of the giant tree viewing platform.
...
Meanwhile, in the deep sea ten thousand meters below the ocean surface.
The huge and beautiful Princess Shirahoshi sat quietly on her soft, spacious seashell bed.
She stretched out her fair, huge hands and carefully placed the communication shell, which had ended the call, into the deep cleavage on her chest.
She pouted her rosy lips slightly and muttered a complaint in a low voice:
"Geez, Lord Victor is always so busy; he hung up in such a hurry before I could even finish speaking."
Along with this mutter, Shirahoshi's originally clear, azure eyes suddenly dimmed uncontrollably in the dim deep-sea light.
She lowered her head, looking at her beautiful fish tail, her voice filled with a hint of loss and resentment:
"What a pity..."
"I had even specifically asked Madam Shyarly for advice and learned several new, interesting poses just to welcome Lord Victor."
"Now it seems they won't be used for the time being..."Chapter 387: A Pleasant Night in Zou! Tacit Intimacy and the Commotion Outside the Window
The night sky, like a massive blanket of black velvet, gently draped over the entire island of Zou.
In the distant plaza, the rhythmic beats of celebration and singing continued to rise and fall.
Yet, here on the edge of the tranquil Whale Forest, all the clamor seemed blocked by an invisible barrier.
Victor, carrying a selection of carefully chosen, exquisite pastries and several bottles of sweet fruit wine—a specialty of the Mink Tribe that glistened like rubies and exuded a rich, fruity aroma—strolled back to the giant tree viewing platform with a leisurely pace.
The evening breeze blew gently, stirring the soft hair of the two women.
Watching the two stunning beauties waiting quietly in the moonlight, a smile played on the corners of Victor's mouth.
He walked up to them, set the tray down steadily, and announced in his deep, resonant voice, "Beautiful ladies, our 'nightlife' officially begins now."
The three of them sat around the edge of the platform, enjoying the cool night breeze as they nibbled on the delicious pastries and sipped the fruit wine.
The sweetness of the fruit wine spread across their palates, dispelling the fatigue from the recent days of intense naval battles and allowing their minds to gradually relax.
After a brief rest, Victor stood up, opened his strong arms, and swept the two women up into his embrace, one on each side.
"Eek!" Nami let out a soft cry, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
Robin pursed her lips in a light smile, obediently resting her head on his shoulder.
Amidst their sudden exclamations and playful protests, Victor strode forward with steady steps, walking through the quiet, dim forest path.
The only company they had was the occasional flickering of fireflies and the rustling of leaves.
They soon arrived at the private treehouse that the Mink Tribe had meticulously prepared for them.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the interior of the treehouse appeared both cozy and luxurious.
The spacious room was covered in incredibly soft, high-grade animal furs, feeling like stepping onto a cloud, and in the center of the room sat a large, comfortable solid wood bed.
Victor closed the wooden door behind him.
With a soft "click," the thick door completely shut out the noise and cheers of the banquet below.
The room instantly fell into a quiet space belonging only to the three of them, where even the sound of each other's breathing was clearly audible.
The temperature inside was pleasant, and the air was filled with a faint, refreshing scent of vegetation, making one feel relaxed and refreshed.
Victor casually took off his trench coat and shirt, revealing his broad chest and well-defined, toned muscles.
By the faint candlelight, Nami leaned in closer.
Her fair, slender fingers, warm to the touch, gently traced the newly added scars on his body.
Her eyes held a hint of lingering fear and an unshakeable ache of heartache. She rolled her eyes at him and complained softly, "You guy, you never know how to dodge when you're fighting. Do you really think you're made of iron? If something were to actually happen to you, what would you expect us to do?"
Victor chuckled, reached out to pull Nami into his arms, and naturally rested his chin on her orange hair, which emitted a faint scent of oranges, rubbing against it.
He gently brushed his fingers across her cheek and coaxed her in a light, teasing tone, "Alright, I've noted that. Next time I encounter danger, I'll be sure to hide obediently behind you, the majestic 'Queen of Lightning,' and let you protect me."
Nami was amused by his shameless attitude and lightly punched his chest with her small fist, her previous worry significantly eased.
She said no more, simply resting obediently in his broad embrace, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat.
At this moment, Robin had already changed into a comfortable, form-fitting black silk nightgown.
The silky fabric clung to her skin, accentuating her mature and graceful curves to perfection, radiating a deadly attraction.
She walked over with elegant steps, carrying three glasses filled with red wine.
She handed one glass to Victor and one to Nami, then took a small sip from the remaining glass herself.
As the mellow wine bloomed on her tongue, she lazily leaned against Victor's other shoulder.
Robin did not look at the two of them, but instead gazed quietly at the watery moonlight outside the window, a hint of reminiscence flashing in her eyes.
She sighed softly, "It's so good like this. Every time we finish fighting those troublesome enemies, as long as we are still together, I feel especially at peace."
Hearing this heartfelt confession, Victor tilted his head slightly and planted a gentle kiss on Robin's smooth forehead.
His affectionate gaze lingered on the faces of the two women; everything was understood without words.
The three of them tacitly raised their glasses and clinked them together lightly.
The crisp sound of glass clinking resonated in the quiet treehouse, like the romantic prelude to a beautiful nocturne.
After finishing the mellow, sweet red wine, and with a light tipsiness, the atmosphere in the room naturally became romantic.
The air was thick with an unshakeable scent of hormones, and the temperature seemed to rise steadily and invisibly.
Nami tilted her head back slightly, wrapped her fair arms around Victor's neck, and took the initiative to kiss his lips skillfully.
As their lips intertwined, their breathing became rapid and hot, the fragrance of the fruit wine passing between them.
Robin watched the two of them, a gentle smile curving her lips.
With tacit understanding, she used the power of the Hana Hana no Mi; several arms appeared out of thin air, silently drawing the treehouse curtains and extinguishing the extra candles in the room.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy and the slightly open window frame, casting dappled light onto the large bed.
The faint light and shadows flickered over their intertwined figures, adding a hazy and charming allure to this private space.
Accompanied by warm, intermingled breaths, suppressed gasps, and the faint sounds of clothing rubbing and slipping against skin.
The three of them fell onto the soft, high-grade animal fur bed.
In this world that belonged only to them, there was no deliberate affectation, nor were there any superfluous words—only the tacit cooperation of those who deeply cherished one another.
Victor's movements were gentle, guiding them as they drifted and rose within the waves.
The night breeze blew gently, causing the giant leaves to rustle like a lullaby from nature, concealing the romantic splendor within the treehouse.
Time passed, and the island of Zou, which had been celebrating all night, gradually returned to peace.
The next morning, accompanied by a few crisp, pleasant bird calls.
Warm sunlight pierced through the morning mist and streamed through the gaps in the window into the treehouse, draping the room in a layer of golden gauze.
Victor was the first to open his eyes from his deep sleep.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping softly over the large bed.
He saw Nami and Robin on either side, curled up beside him like two gentle, lazy kittens.
Their sleeping faces were sweet, their breathing even and long, with a faint, satisfied smile still lingering on their lips.
Their black and orange hair was scattered across their fair shoulders, radiating an astonishing charm.
Looking at his two wives, Victor's deep eyes were filled with an unshakeable tenderness.
He couldn't bear to disturb their pleasant dreams, so he carefully withdrew the arm they had been using as a pillow all night.
He meticulously pulled the blanket that had slipped to the side back over them, covering their alluring figures to ensure they wouldn't catch a chill from the morning coolness.
Afterward, he stood up, picked up the clothes scattered on the floor, and dressed himself properly.
Victor walked to the window and gently pushed open the wooden frame.
He let the fresh morning breeze of Zou brush against his cheeks, dispelling the last remnants of sleepiness in his mind.
Looking out from the treehouse window, he could overlook the silhouette of the forest below and a corner of the campsite.
After a night of rest, the scent of nature made him feel unprecedentedly relaxed.
However, just as he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and was quietly enjoying this rare morning tranquility.
A chaotic, noisy commotion suddenly erupted without warning from the previously quiet campsite below.
"Stop! Don't run!"
"What's happening?!"
"Quick, stop that guy!"
The clamor of shouting, the sound of messy running, and the thud of heavy objects falling were all intertwined.
It instantly broke the peace of the morning and immediately captured Victor's attention, causing him to curiously turn his gaze toward the source of the commotion.Chapter 388: Morning Commotion! The Shura's Rage and the Drawn Blades of the Samurai
Victor stood with his arms crossed, watching the chaotic, bustling scene in the camp below.
Awakened by the sudden commotion outside, Nami and Robin lazily rose from the large, soft bed covered in high-quality animal furs.
The two women casually draped themselves in light, silky robes, concealing their graceful and charming curves.
Rubbing their sleepy eyes, they walked to the window with languid steps.
Leaning against Victor's broad, sturdy shoulders on either side, they followed his gaze down toward the open clearing of the camp.
In the clearing below, three unfamiliar figures were sprawled unceremoniously on the grass, panting heavily.
They were none other than Kin'emon and Kanjuro, who had been missing for some time, along with the young boy Momonosuke, whom they were tightly shielding in their midst.
They had endured days and nights of arduous climbing up the thick, sturdy legs of the elephant.
Having endured great hardships, they finally climbed, disheveled and covered in dust, onto the cloud-piercing back of the elephant.
The trio's original plan was to take advantage of the thick morning mist and the sparse crowd in the camp to sneak around the forest and search for their companion, Raizo.
However, man proposes, God disposes.
Just as they poked their heads out of a dense bush, they collided head-on with Zoro, who was doing his morning sword practice in the clearing, and a group of the Mink Tribe passing by with fresh fruit and breakfast.
Upon seeing the large number of the Mink Tribe gathered before them, Kin'emon's face turned deathly pale, and his forehead was instantly covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.
He knew well that "Drought" Jack had launched a brutal massacre on this island in order to find Raizo.
He feared that this group of the Mink Tribe, having just suffered a catastrophe, would harbor hatred toward samurai because of the Raizo incident.
Once their identities were exposed, the others would definitely draw their blades against them in anger.
In order to hide his identity as a samurai, Kin'emon, in this critical moment, hurriedly began his clumsy performance.
He gestured wildly like a comical monkey.
While speaking in a strange accent, he forced himself to disguise as a lost "monkey Mink Tribe" member, attempting to muddle through.
Kanjuro, standing beside him, followed suit and painted himself to look like a bizarre frog.
This ridiculous sight left Luffy, Usopp, and the others, who had just walked out while yawning, completely bewildered.
"Are these three guys monkeys and a frog that have turned into spirits?"
Usopp remarked while rubbing his chin, the scene being quite comical for a moment.
Just as Kin'emon was sweating profusely and desperately trying to cover his tracks, a steady, powerful sound of footsteps came from behind the crowd.
The crowd parted automatically for the two supreme rulers of Zou.
Duke Inuarashi, the King of Day, and Master Nekomamushi, the King of Night, arrived upon hearing the commotion, supported by their guards.
Seeing these two powerful and majestic kings of the Mink Tribe appear, Kin'emon's heart instantly sank to the bottom.
He thought his disguise had been seen through, his identity as a samurai exposed, and disaster was imminent.
He gritted his teeth, his hand already quietly resting on the hilt of his sword, even preparing to draw his blade and fight to the death to cover the young master Momonosuke's escape.
However, a scene occurred that was completely unexpected to all the pirates present.
The two kings of the Mink Tribe, who were usually deeply respected by their people, trembled violently after seeing the little boy behind Kin'emon.
They pushed aside the guards supporting them and walked quickly to the young Momonosuke.
"Thud! Thud!"
The two kings, who had once dominated the New World, fell to their knees without the slightest hesitation.
Ignoring their injuries, their voices choked with emotion:
"Young Master! You have suffered!"
"All members of the Zou Mink Tribe welcome your arrival!"
Following the kneeling of the two kings, all the Mink Tribe members around, regardless of age or gender, also put down the items in their hands in unison and knelt on the ground.
Witnessing this heart-shaking spectacle, and watching the exaggerated expressions of Luffy, Usopp, and the others, whose jaws had dropped in shock.
Kin'emon finally let down all his defenses.
He couldn't help but wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes and released his grip on the sword hilt.
Kin'emon walked up to the Straw Hat, knelt with his knees together, and bowed solemnly to these benefactors who had saved their lives.
With the dull sound of his forehead hitting the ground, he finally confessed the truth he had hidden for so long:
"My benefactors, I am truly sorry for hiding this until now!"
"Momonosuke is not my son at all."
"He is the lord of the true ruling family of Wano Country—the Kozuki Clan!"
"He is the only flesh and blood left in this world by the great Lord Kozuki Oden!"
Hearing these words, Momonosuke, who had been timidly hiding behind them, finally puffed out his chest.
He assumed the posture of a superior and nodded slightly to the astonished crowd.
Everyone looked curiously at this little boy of noble status; no one expected that this seemingly timid brat carried the fate of a country on his shoulders.
At this moment, Victor, accompanied by Nami and Robin who were now fully dressed, slowly walked down the wooden stairs of the treehouse and arrived at the center of the clearing where everyone had gathered.
Seeing Victor and the others arrive, Kin'emon remained kneeling on the ground.
He looked up and, with tears streaming down his face, recounted the horrific tragedy that had befallen Wano Country.
"That despicable villain Orochi, who usurped the throne, colluded in secret with the Four Emperors 'of the Beasts' Kaido."
"They used every insidious and vicious method to kill the highly respected Lord Kozuki Oden, who should have become the Shogun."
"Now, that once beautiful and prosperous land, the country that opened its borders, has been transformed into a massive weapons factory."
"The clear rivers are polluted by toxic gas, the fertile land has become barren, and innocent people are dying in pain from hunger and despair every day..."
After hearing this heavy history, young Momonosuke seemed to be infected by the atmosphere.
He immediately turned around and knelt straight before Luffy and Victor.
He pressed his forehead tightly against the cold ground and began to wail, his voice filled with grief, indignation, and pleading:
"Lord Luffy! Lord Victor!"
"I want to defeat Kaido! I want to avenge my father!"
"Please lend me your strength! Please help Wano Country!"
This tragic and tear-jerking scene moved many of the surrounding Mink Tribe members to tears.
However, his tragic act was not yet over.
Momonosuke's gaze, which had been filled with tears, unconsciously drifted the moment he lifted his head.
His eyes fell upon the young, beautiful, and scantily clad female Mink Tribe members, greedily scanning their shapely curves.
Subsequently, his gaze was like a magnet, fixated squarely on Nami and Robin, who were standing behind Victor with their incredibly hot figures.
Momonosuke, who a second ago was crying bitterly and bearing the weight of national hatred and family vendettas, suddenly had eyes that became hollow and dull, and his cheeks flushed with an abnormal crimson.
A strand of crystal-clear drool even uncontrollably leaked from the corner of his mouth, and his face was full of lecherous expressions.
Victor, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly lost the calm expression on his face.
He walked forward expressionlessly, his movements as fast as lightning.
Victor, without the slightest hesitation, lifted his right foot, clad in a black military boot, and unceremoniously stomped on Momonosuke's head, which was styled in a samurai topknot.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, Victor slammed Momonosuke's entire face deep into the moist soil.
"Waaahhh—!"
Momonosuke let out a miserable howl under the heavy military boot.
The sudden sharp pain and humiliation made him struggle wildly on the ground, using both his hands and feet.
His hands clawed aimlessly at the surrounding turf, stirring up dust, but he could not budge the iron-like foot on his head in the slightest.
Victor looked down from above at the boy wriggling like mud beneath his feet, his deep eyes devoid of even a shred of pity.
"If this is the resolve you have as the lord of a country."
"To prevent Wano Country from being ruined by a good-for-nothing like you after it is restored."
"I think executing you right now would be a very good method."
This scene happened so fast that it instantly stunned everyone present.
The members of the Straw Hat were all standing there, somewhat at a loss.
They completely failed to understand why their Vice Captain, who was usually smiling, would suddenly perform such a brutal act against a seemingly powerless little boy.
Luffy blinked his clear eyes, looked at Momonosuke struggling desperately in the mud, and then looked up at the expressionless Victor.
He finally reached out to hold his Straw Hat, lowered the brim, and did not intervene.
On the other side, Duke Inuarashi, Master Nekomamushi, as well as Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and the others were all looking completely dazed.
Their jaws were slightly agape, their minds blank.
It seemed they had not yet recovered from the massive shock of seeing their noble young master being stomped into the mud by a pirate as if he were a stink bug.
After a moment of suffocating silence.
The loyal Kin'emon and Kanjuro suddenly reacted.
Seeing their lord suffer such a great humiliation, both of their eyes instantly turned bloodshot and red.
"Clang! Clang!"
Accompanied by two crisp sounds of metal leaving their scabbards, Kin'emon and Kanjuro drew their samurai swords from their waists without hesitation.
The sharp tips of the blades glinted with a cold light, pointing directly at the motionless Victor.
Kin'emon let out a roar filled with grief and rage:
"Lord Victor! What are you doing!"
"He is just a child who doesn't understand anything, please do not humiliate our lord like this!"Chapter 389: Shura's Heart-Piercing Words and the Captain's Trial! Awakening in the Mud
Faced with the sharp blades drawn by Kin'emon and Kanjuro in a fit of rage, there was no need for Victor to deal with them personally.
"Clang!"
A crisp, melodious sound of metal leaving its sheath pierced the morning silence.
Zoro's figure instantly blurred into a green afterimage, blocking the path at Victor's side.
The sandai kitetsu in his hand shimmered with an eerie, icy gleam. His eyes were sharp as knives, and the corner of his mouth curled into a sneer filled with disdain:
"Don't get too carried away, you ignorant samurai."
"If you want to draw your blades against our Vice Captain, you'd better weigh yourselves first and see if you actually have the ability to do so."
On the other side, the air suddenly heated up.
Sanji's right leg instantly ignited with the dazzling flames of Diable Jambe, the scorching fire dispersing the surrounding morning mist.
With his hands in his pockets, he stood firmly in front, blocking all of the samurai's attack routes.
As long as the opponents dared to take one more step forward, they would be met with a destructive barrage of kicks.
Seeing both sides ready to clash in the blink of an eye, Duke Inuarashi and Master Nekomamushi instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
They had personally witnessed the terrifying power of this pirate crew when they faced the Four Emperors on the sea.
If the conflict were allowed to erupt, Zou, which had only just caught its breath from the ruins, would likely face total destruction today.
The two rulers exchanged a glance and immediately, with tacit understanding, turned into two afterimages, rushing desperately into the middle of the two opposing sides.
They spread their arms, sweating profusely as they frantically tried to smooth things over.
Duke Inuarashi turned around, his usually dignified face now full of apologetic smiles.
He bowed repeatedly to Victor, his tone filled with a hint of pleading: "Lord Victor, please, I beg you to calm your anger."
"Everyone here is a benefactor of Zou. If there are any misunderstandings, we can sit down and discuss them properly. Please, do not fight here!"
Master Nekomamushi turned around and roared at the samurai behind him:
"Kin'emon! Put away your blades immediately!"
"Are you idiots crazy! How dare you draw your blades against our benefactors!"
Faced with the desperate dissuasion of the two Mink Tribe rulers, Victor stood his ground without taking a single step back.
There was not the slightest ripple in his deep eyes; he merely looked coldly at Kin'emon, who was furious but held back by the two rulers, with undisguised mockery:
"He is just a child?"
"What, is this the excuse you fallen subjects use to escape reality and comfort yourselves?"
Victor's voice was not loud, but every word pierced straight to the heart.
"Do you think that when 'of the Beasts' Kaido swings down his blood-stained mace,"
"he will show mercy just because your lord is a wet-behind-the-ears child?"
"On this cruel sea, the enemy's butcher knife never pauses for even a fraction of a second just because of weakness."
Victor ruthlessly tore away their last shred of dignity.
These samurai were standing here now, begging a newly risen "Sea Emperor" to go to all-out war with another veteran "Sea Emperor" who had entrenched himself in the New World for years.
This would absolutely not be a game-like contest; it would be a cruel war, like a meat grinder.
Once the war began, the entire New World would be dragged into it.
Countless innocent people would bleed and die, and countless families would be torn apart.
Saying this, Victor applied a little pressure with his foot, pressing Momonosuke's face, twisted with fear, back into the damp soil:
"To overthrow one of the Four Emperors, one must pay a price unimaginable to ordinary people."
"If the lord you have gone to such great lengths to support is just a lecherous piece of trash who only cries when encountering difficulties, hides behind others when facing danger, and even indulges in women without shame,"
"then tell me, why should I risk the incredibly precious lives of my companions to avenge a piece of trash that cannot be helped?"
"Your lives are lives, but are the lives of my companions not lives as well?"
"Are the lives of the Mink Tribe not lives as well?"
These cold words made the faces of the samurai and the Mink Tribe present turn as pale as paper.
The lips of Kin'emon and the others trembled violently, but they could not refute a single word.
The impulse that had supported them in drawing their blades was extinguished as if doused by a basin of ice water. Their hands holding their weapons lost strength and hung down powerlessly.
However, amidst the oppressive atmosphere, Kanjuro, who had been keeping his head down beside Kin'emon, felt a flash of satisfaction and mockery deep in his eyes.
As a veteran traitor planted by Orochi inside the Kozuki Clan.
Kanjuro felt that the situation before him was simply an excellent opportunity bestowed by the heavens to destroy this group of samurai.
As long as he could provoke the Straw Hat crew here and use the hands of these powerful pirates to kill Momonosuke, his undercover mission could be brought to a perfect conclusion.
Kanjuro sneered inwardly, then quickly put on his mask of being loyal and devoted, heartbroken at seeing his lord humiliated.
He pretended to be blinded by rage and let out a roar like a trapped beast.
He completely ignored the obstruction of the two rulers and disregarded Kin'emon's exclamation.
He raised his giant brush-shaped blade with both hands and slashed it down at Victor's head like a madman.
"I will not allow you to insult Lord Momonosuke like this!"
"Die! Pirate!"
However, this seemingly aggressive strike appeared incredibly ridiculous.
Accompanied by a sound of breaking through the air, Sanji's figure flashed past like a ghost.
His leather shoe, burning with high-temperature flames, traced a perfect arc in mid-air, kicking Kanjuro in the abdomen with ease and precision.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, Kanjuro spat out bile, and his whole body flew backward like a kite with a broken string.
He finally slammed heavily into the muddy ground a dozen meters away, rolling a few times before stopping, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Seeing that the opponent actually dared to make a move, the expressions of the entire Straw Hat crew instantly turned gloomy and unfriendly.
The two rulers and Kin'emon were also terrified by Kanjuro's reckless action.
They stepped forward repeatedly to rebuke him sternly, fearing it would trigger an irredeemable bloody battle.
But Kanjuro, lying on the ground, held his chest with blood on the corner of his mouth, still loudly rebuking Victor for his disrespect toward their lord, trying to continue provoking trouble.
Watching this clown jumping up and down on the ground with such clumsy acting, Victor's eyes turned dark and gloomy.
He slowly raised his right hand, and violent, deep blue lightning faintly flickered at his fingertips.
He was never a kind-hearted person with a good temper.
Since someone was in such a hurry to die, he wouldn't mind sending this traitor to hell right here.
"Enough! Everyone stop!"
Just at the critical moment when a bloody conflict was about to break out, Luffy, who had been silent on the side, suddenly spoke up loudly.
Luffy's voice was not hoarse, yet it contained a kind of majesty.
With his voice, an invisible pressure belonging to a Captain instantly enveloped the entire scene.
The camp, which had been noisy and chaotic just a moment ago, instantly quieted down under the shock of this aura.
Everyone turned their gaze toward the boy wearing the Straw Hat.
Luffy raised his head and looked at Victor with serious eyes.
Victor met his Captain's gaze, and the lightning in his eyes slowly dissipated.
He understood the meaning in Luffy's eyes, shrugged slightly, and very graciously withdrew the military boot that was stepping on Momonosuke's head.
He stepped back half a pace, returning the initiative to Luffy.
Momonosuke, regaining his freedom, was covered in mud and crawled up from the ground in a sorry state.
He thought Luffy's "stop" was to stand up for him and rebuke that terrifying Vice Captain.
He immediately wiped his tears with his dirty sleeve, crying aggrievedly, and thanked Luffy repeatedly.
After all, from childhood, he had always been held in the palm of his retainers' hands, and no one had ever dared to treat him so sternly and without mercy.
Everyone stood still, holding their breath, not daring to make a sound.
They watched Luffy quietly, waiting for the "Fifth Emperor" to make his final statement regarding the Wano Country alliance.
However, Luffy's next move exceeded everyone's expectations.
He did not smile as usual, nor did he bend down to help up the crying Momonosuke on the ground.
He strode forward with a blank expression and walked straight to Kin'emon.
In Kin'emon's terrified and bewildered gaze, Luffy reached out and snatched the katana he was clutching tightly.
Faced with the palpable pressure radiating from Luffy.
Kin'emon's Adam's apple bobbed, he swallowed hard, his whole body stiffened, and he dared not make any move to resist.
Luffy, holding the katana that shimmered with an icy gleam, turned around and walked step by step to Momonosuke.
"Clang."
A crisp sound of metal hitting the ground rang out.
Luffy loosened his wrist and dropped the heavy sword directly onto the mud-stained grass, landing right beside Momonosuke's feet.
Looking at the sharp blade dropped in front of him, Momonosuke seemed somewhat at a loss.
With his face covered in tear stains, he looked up and, in a childish voice filled with sobs, shouted with confusion:
"Lord Luffy... what are you doing?"
Luffy put away his usual gentleness, and his clear eyes were now filled with seriousness and indifference.
He looked down at Momonosuke from above:
"Pick it up. Swing it at me."
"Let me see... your determination."Chapter 390: The Lord's Sword Swing! The Dragon-Slaying Alliance and Setting Sail
The morning sunlight pierced through the mist, spilling onto the mud-stained grass.
Kin'emon's sword lay there quietly, its sharp blade glinting with a chilling cold light under the refraction of the sun.
Momonosuke knelt on both knees before the cold sword, his young face covered in tear stains.
Large teardrops fell one after another, splashing onto the muddy ground.
The fear in his heart reached its peak at this moment.
Standing before him was a newly ascended "Emperor of the Sea" who had just struck down a hegemon of the old era and was renowned throughout the world.
To swing a sword at such a superior being with terrifying power would surely result in being killed on the spot.
Moreover, this sword was simply too heavy for him.
It was not just the physical weight of the cold steel, but also the heavy expectations of the hundreds of thousands of people in Wano Country struggling in deep water and scorching fire.
This invisible pressure made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
He instinctively turned his head, looking towards Kin'emon behind him with a gaze seeking help.
However, he despairingly discovered that under the invisible, powerful pressure emitted by the Straw Hat, all the retainers were frozen in place, not daring to make any rash moves.
He understood that no one could help him at this moment; he had to face this heavy pressure alone.
Looking at his young master's helpless gaze, the loyal Kin'emon bit his lip until it bled.
He could no longer suppress the anxiety in his heart and subconsciously took a step forward, wanting to help.
"Clang!"
However, before he could take a second step, a cold scabbard was placed horizontally across his chest.
Zoro held wado ichimonji in one hand, blocking Kin'emon's path like a gate guardian.
Zoro looked at the weeping Momonosuke on the ground and shook his head slightly:
"Samurai, just watch quietly from there."
"If he doesn't even have the courage to pick up this sword with his own hands, then he should find a place where no one is and live out his days in wretched survival."
"Don't think about any revenge, and don't come to get involved in the cruelest war on this vast sea."
Listening to Zoro's words and looking at Luffy's deep, calm eyes.
Momonosuke's body trembled violently. He gritted his teeth, and his mind flashed with those painful memories that kept him awake at night, like a revolving lantern.
He remembered his father, Kozuki Oden, in the boiling oil pot, using his arms, which were cooked to the point of tearing, to forcefully carry all his retainers with his imposing stature.
He remembered the burning Oden Castle, where his mother, Toki, shedding tears before her death, entrusted him with her high hopes in her final words.
"Momonosuke, you must live on; you must become the dawn of Wano Country."
Under the breathless gaze of everyone, Momonosuke stopped crying.
He slowly extended his small, mud-stained, trembling hands, inch by inch approaching the katana, and finally gripped the cold sword hilt tightly.
"Ahhhhhh—!"
He gritted his teeth, his entire face flushed red.
He raised the katana high up.
Then, he closed his eyes, tears flying along with his shout, and swung the sword fiercely at Luffy in front of him!
Without any suspense, this disorganized slash stopped abruptly in mid-air.
Luffy just casually extended his right hand and easily grabbed the middle of the blade.
Because of the excessive force used in the swing, combined with extreme mental tension, Momonosuke was instantly drained of strength after swinging the sword.
His legs went soft, and he fell backward onto the grass in a sorry state.
He gasped for air, his chest heaving violently, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably.
But surprisingly, his small, mud-stained hands were still tightly gripping the hilt, with no intention of letting go.
Looking at this wretched little brat.
Luffy put away the serious, intimidating face he had just worn.
He extended his left hand to press down on the Straw Hat on his head, his mouth widening again, revealing that signature bright smile:
"Hehehe, although this sword swing was really terrible, you couldn't even cut a mosquito. But I saw your determination."
Luffy let go of the sword and extended his right hand towards Momonosuke, who was sitting on the ground, his eyes full of confidence and light:
"Then, let's go and beat that guy Kaido to a pulp together!"
Looking at Luffy's infectious smile and feeling the goodwill released by this young emperor.
Momonosuke's hanging heart finally dropped.
He immediately wiped the tears off his face hard, revealing a hopeful smile:
"Okay! Lord Luffy!"
"I will follow all your arrangements!"
The surrounding samurai also breathed a sigh of relief, revealing gratified smiles.
But Victor, who had been standing on the side, clearly still had something to say.
He strode with his long legs and slowly walked in front of Momonosuke.
Seeing this terrifying man who had just mercilessly trampled him into the mud walk over.
Momonosuke, like a startled bird, immediately dropped the sword in his hand and covered his head with both hands, afraid that the other party would give him another hard kick.
Victor stopped and looked down at the trembling little brat from above:
"An alliance is fine; since the Captain has agreed, I naturally have no objection."
"However, there are some rules we must set beforehand."
Victor raised his right hand, his fingertips rubbing gently in the air, and instantly a flash of black-red lightning filled with the aura of destruction flickered.
"From now on, put away all those messy thoughts of yours."
"If you make me feel even the slightest bit displeased..."
Victor leaned down slightly: "I guarantee that before Kaido dies, your head will be gone first. Do you understand?"
Facing this blatant death threat, Momonosuke was so scared that he nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.
Nami and Robin, standing in the back, looked at each other, their bright eyes full of unconcealable smiles.
After admonishing Momonosuke, Victor straightened up.
His gaze swept vaguely over Kanjuro, who was standing silently on the side.
Kanjuro keenly noticed this cold gaze, and his heart was suddenly terrified.
He thought that Victor was holding a grudge about him drawing his sword earlier and was preparing to find an opportunity to take revenge on him.
The cold sweat on his back instantly soaked through his wide kimono.
He could only lower his head with a guilty conscience, not daring to have any eye contact with Victor again.
After the disturbance subsided, everyone collected their feelings and returned to the spacious camp arranged by the Mink Tribe.
In the council hall, Nami laid out a detailed, hand-drawn nautical chart of Wano Country on the large wooden table.
Kin'emon stood by the table with a solemn expression and began to explain in detail to the Straw Hat the complex terrain of Wano Country and the simple troop intelligence of the current shogun, Orochi.
After hearing the disparity in military strength, the meeting fell into a brief period of contemplation.
To ensure that this war of revenge, which concerned the survival of the country, was foolproof, Master Nekomamushi took a sharp puff from his pipe and decided on the spot to set sail immediately.
He was going to find his old acquaintances who had fought side by side with him in the past—the "Whitebeard Pirates"—to join this battle as powerful external reinforcements.
When Luffy heard the name "Whitebeard Pirates," he immediately thought of his brother, Ace.
He patted Master Nekomamushi on the shoulder with a big smile and loudly requested:
"Master Nekomamushi!"
"If you see Ace, please take the opportunity to convey our current situation to him!"
"Tell him I've already beaten one of the Four Emperors!"
"I'm going to be the Pirate King! Hehehe!"
Master Nekomamushi tapped his pipe on the corner of the table and immediately nodded seriously in agreement.
Meanwhile, Duke Inuarashi stated that Zou had suffered heavy damage in this catastrophe.
He would lead the Musketeers to stay on the island to rebuild their home while letting the warriors rest and recuperate.
After everything was settled, they would act as the most solid backup force and then rush to Wano Country to follow up on the war situation.
The war council proceeded to the end.
Because the biggest variable—the Four Emperor Big Mom—had already been crippled in advance, and the Totto Land Fleet had also been routed.
The current Straw Hat had absolutely no need to split their forces to go to Cake Island to rescue Sanji like in the original story.
Luffy pressed his hands on the table, his eyes burning with intense fighting spirit, and excitedly announced his battle strategy loudly:
"No need for that much trouble! We'll all go together! We'll strike straight through Wano Country from the front!"
Everything was ready.
A few hours later, all the Mink Tribe gathered on the steep cliff at the edge of the elephant's leg.
They waved the weapons and flowers in their hands, seeing off this allied army that had saved them and was about to head to the center of the New World to change the world's landscape.
Wanda, Carrot, and several other Mink Tribe girls stood at the very front, their eyes slightly red, waving goodbye to their benefactors on the sea with reluctance.
Accompanied by a huge splash, the Thousand Sunny and the Heart Pirates' Polar Tang landed together on the turbulent sea.
The two pirate ships hoisted their full sails, riding the wind and waves, and sailed side by side towards the unknown sea.
Kin'emon and the other samurai stood at the edge of the deck, looking back at the giant elephant Zou, which was getting further and further away in the clouds and mist.
Thinking of the hardships along the way and the powerful support they had received, everyone felt mixed emotions, filled with hope for the future.
Luffy, like an agile monkey, jumped onto the special lion-head seat at the bow of the thousand sunny in a few leaps.
He sat cross-legged, letting the fierce and salty sea breeze blow against his signature red vest.
He extended his hand, pressing tightly on the Straw Hat on his head, facing the violent wind and waves ahead.
"Set sail! Boys! Full speed ahead!"
"Target! Wano Country!"