"Isn't this fusion happening a bit too fast?"
Watching the colossal entity moving toward them from behind, Brook was utterly dumbfounded.
At this rate, the opponent would soon reach its complete form.
"Could it be that this thing has had its eyes on us from the very beginning?" Zoro said with a grim expression.
Was it because they had done something to anger it when they passed through the scorching lands earlier?
For example... killing that Giant Dragon?
That wasn't impossible.
"Probably not."
Meiser looked up toward the direction of the snowy mountain and said, "The thing it spat out initially was aimed at the research institute, so I suspect its target is likely there."
"That's the same direction we're heading!"
"That's true," Meiser replied somewhat helplessly.
Although they weren't the target, their destination was the same.
"Then we must reach the research institute before that thing does," Zoro said.
This would also prevent Luffy and the others from being attacked by this inexplicable entity.
Just then, Brook shouted, "Hey, everyone, look! There's a ball up ahead."
"A ball?"
"No... that looks more like candy," Meiser said.
Rather than a ball, it seemed more like candy to him.
"Candy?"
Brook was stunned. "Why would there be such a huge piece of candy?"
Was that even reasonable?
"Maybe... it's for that thing behind us?" Meiser said uncertainly.
A candy this big was definitely meant for a creature of that massive size.
"You mean..."
Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, glanced back at the Giant Salamander Beast and said, "This thing came all the way here just to eat candy?"
If that were really the case, he'd have reason to suspect someone was raising this creature.
"It's just a guess."
Meiser also glanced at the colossal entity and said, "But it's not an impossible scenario."
"Should we go take a look?"
"Look at what?"
Meiser shot Kin'emon a look and said, "Don't you know curiosity killed the cat?"
He had an Undying Body and could afford to take risks, but Zoro, Sanji, and Brook did not!
If those two were killed, they would truly die!
So before taking any action, he had to consider the safety of these three.
Kin'emon blinked upon hearing this, realizing it made sense.
Forget it, never mind. They should hurry to the research institute to rescue Momonosuke!
"I'm coming, Momonosuke!"
"Whoa!"
Watching Kin'emon charge forward with a roar, Sanji twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "This guy's energy is really something..."
To be so spirited right after a life-and-death ordeal was truly remarkable.
"Well, he is going to save his son, after all~"
"Yohohohoho~"
Although Brook didn't know what it felt like to have a son, he imagined it was similar to wanting to save a comrade, so he could understand Kin'emon's feelings.
The others sighed helplessly but didn't say anything more. Instead, they quickly chased after Kin'emon and soon caught up with him.
"Hey, look over there, there's someone under that candy." Zoro pointed at the sled beneath the candy.
"Not just someone, there's also a dragon."
Meiser stared at the dragon in front of the sled, showing an intrigued expression as he said, "I never expected there to be another living dragon besides that big guy. Interesting~"
Could this guy also be a dragon created by that Vegapunk or something?
Hmm...
...Would it taste a little better than that big guy?
"Your eyes..."
Sanji twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "Don't tell me you're thinking about tasting this guy."
"Yeah, that's the idea."
"Drop that thought right now, you idiot!" Sanji roared with his shark mouth wide open. "Don't forget there's a big guy chasing us from behind!"
Hearing this, Meiser felt somewhat helpless. If he couldn't eat it, then so be it—why the need to shout?
"Enough chatter," Zoro said. "Quickly change direction and don't get close to that candy."
Although they didn't know whether the big guy was heading for the candy, they couldn't afford to take the risk!
So... better to hurry and go around it!
Seeing that even Zoro said so, the others gradually shifted direction and quickly moved to bypass the candy from the side.
After putting some distance between themselves and the candy, Brook turned his attention to the people there.
He was curious why these guys weren't running.
"Master."
A man in a protective suit, holding a Den Den Mushi, said, "We've arrived near the giant gelatinous substance and have also transported the candy here."
"Right now, we're setting up the Visual Den Den Mushi."
As he spoke, the man glanced at the giant Den Den Mushi covered in a protective membrane.
With that bubble membrane, this big guy wouldn't be harmed by the poison gas.
"Good," Caesar said. "Once you've placed the Den Den Mushi, return to the research institute as quickly as possible, or else it'll be dan—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he heard a series of exclamations coming from the Den Den Mushi.
"What's wrong?"
"It's bad, Master!" the man said with a grim expression. "There's a malfunction!"
"The sled of the dragon sled has started melting for some reason and can no longer be used!"
"The ropes connecting the dragon have also snapped..." another person added.
"Dammit, what's going on?"
"Could it be a reaction from the drugs?"
"This way, we won't be able to return to the research institute quickly!"
"Oh no, the dragon ran away too!"
Watching the dragon rapidly fleeing into the distance, the man was completely stunned.
What should they do now?
"Damn it, how could so many unexpected things happen?" Caesar said with a grim expression. "This is absolutely terrible!"
Standing nearby, Monet twitched the corner of his mouth upon seeing Caesar's expression and said, "What a fake performance..."
Only those fools would believe it, right?
Ignoring Monet, Caesar continued speaking into the Den Den Mushi, "Anyway... run as fast as you can, or you'll be in danger!"
"Oh, and protective suits and such are useless, so remember to take them off before running."
"Run toward the research institute at top speed!"
"Yes... yes!"
"We understand!"
"Take off the protective suits?" the man beside him asked, dumbfounded.
Without these protective suits, could they still withstand the poison gas?
"If our master says so, then it must be right, so let's take them off!"
"That's right, our master must have a reason for saying this, so let's trust him!"
"Alright!"
Soon, these guys took off all their protective suits and then ran toward the distant area, clearly intending to return to the research facility as quickly as possible.
"Shurororororo~"
Caesar, who had heard all of this, decisively hung up the Den Den Mushi, then curled his lips into a smile. "Such obedient children~"
Since these guys can no longer return, let them serve their greatest purpose~
Shurororororo~
Use their deaths to prove the power of my weapon!
Shurororororo!
Afterward, Caesar walked over to the Visual Den Den Mushi, making his image appear in the snowy mountains.
"Hmm?"
Glancing at the image that appeared in the sky, Brook said in surprise, "Hey, look, there's a person's figure in the sky."
"Don't worry about it, just keep running," Sanji said.
They didn't have time to stop and observe the situation now; they had to leave this place as quickly as possible.
"But that guy swallowed the candy..."
"He swallowed the candy?"
The others immediately turned back curiously to look at the salamander, then showed expressions of surprise.
Was that guy really here for the candy?
Just then, a sound came from Meiser's chest.
"Buro buro buro~"
"Buro buro buro~"
"Buro buro buro~"
"A Den Den Mushi?"
Meiser showed a surprised expression, clearly not expecting someone to call him at this moment.
As he thought this, Meiser jumped onto Sanji's back, signaling for him to carry him while running.
"Hey!"
Sanji stared dumbfounded at Meiser and said, "Run on your own, you bastard!"
Even though he was using Franky's body, which was very large...
Carrying someone while running was still tiring for him!
"I have to answer the call, so just bear with it."
"Huh?"
Sanji was immediately filled with confusion. What did that have to do with answering a call?
Meiser ignored him and took out the two Den Den Mushi from his chest.
"Kacha~"
"Hello?"
"It's me."
?
It was actually Shakky?
Meiser showed a surprised expression and said, "Didn't we just talk? Why are you contacting me again?"
Could it be that she had obtained some interesting information again?
"Because I discovered something," Shakky said, holding a cigarette and looking at the visual image in front of her. "Something related to you."
"What do you mean?"
"You're running in the snowy mountains right now, aren't you?" Shakky said. "And there's a huge gelatinous thing chasing you from behind."
"How do you know?"
Meiser showed a shocked expression. How did Shakky know what was happening to them here?
Could it be...
As if he had thought of something, Meiser turned to look at the huge Visual Den Den Mushi in the distance.
"Because I saw it," Shakky said. "Through the Visual Den Den Mushi."
"So that's how it is..."
It seemed just as he had thought. Shakky had indeed seen the scene through that Den Den Mushi.
Then, Meiser asked with some confusion, "By the way, why do you have the channel for that Visual Den Den Mushi?"
Could it have been given by Caesar?
What was Caesar's purpose in doing this?
To showcase the strength of this giant beast?
"Because Caesar gave it," Shakky said. "Just now, he sent a message to the underground world that he was going to test a weapon."
"According to him, the power of this weapon is enough to destroy an entire island!"
"The rest goes without saying."
As Shakky spoke, the expressions of Zoro and the others gradually darkened.
A weapon capable of destroying an island?
What kind of weapon could have such an effect?
Meiser, on the other hand, showed a look of sudden understanding. No wonder Shakky hadn't mentioned this when she contacted him earlier—it turned out Caesar had decided to start this broadcast on a whim.
Then, he glanced at the salamander that had eaten the candy and said, "Can this thing destroy an island?"
What kind of poison would it take to destroy an island?
"I wouldn't know," Shakky replied. "But that's what Caesar announced."
"Isn't he afraid his location will be exposed?"
After all, that guy is also a wanted criminal.
Once news of his presence on Punk Hazard gets out... it'll be the end for him!
"He never mentioned where he was conducting the experiment," Shakky explained. "I only knew the location... because I saw all of you in the footage."
Otherwise, she wouldn't have known where the experiment was taking place.
"Seems this guy is pretty cunning," Meiser remarked with a twitch of his lips.
Now he understood—Caesar intended to use all their lives for this experiment!
This way, he could not only obtain excellent experimental data but also ensure that all the witnesses died here!
How ruthless!
"So, get as far away from that thing as quickly as possible," Shakky said without hesitation. "I suspect Caesar's weapon is that thing, and it's likely highly toxic!"
Although Caesar hadn't described his weapon, her intuition told her that it might be exactly what he was referring to.
"We're already running," Brook shouted without looking back. "It's just... just so exhausting..."
Running all the way from such a distance, he felt like his lungs were about to burst!
Ah~
Though he doesn't have lungs to burst, yo-ho-ho-ho-ho~
"Exhausted or not, keep running!" Shakky urged. "Otherwise, you might die there!"
"No, I absolutely cannot die here!"
Kin'emon roared, "I still have important things to do!"
With that, Kin'emon charged forward, his expression turning fierce.
Sanji: ...
Has he tapped into his hidden potential?
He wished he could do the same.
"Interesting."
Meiser chuckled, then looked at the Den Den Mushi in his hand and said softly, "Shakky, is there anything else you need to tell us?"
"Nothing else, just this one thing."
Shakky gently tapped her cigarette ash before continuing, "I hope to hear news of you all alive soon."
She didn't want these promising youngsters to die in Caesar's weapon.
"Don't worry."
Meiser said with a smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "We're not going to die in this damn place!"
"Like that~"
"Click~"
Looking at the hung-up Den Den Mushi, Shakky sighed helplessly.
She wasn't worried about Meiser, after all, this guy had an Undying Body, so even if he were attacked by Caesar's weapons, he wouldn't die.
But... the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates couldn't do that.
However, with Meiser's abilities, bringing little Monkey and the others out alive shouldn't be a problem.
Thinking this, Shakky gradually relaxed.
Just then, Rayleigh pushed the door open and walked in, holding a jug of wine in his hand.
"Yo~"
"If it isn't Mr. Rayleigh." Shakky glanced at Rayleigh and said: "Decided to come back?"
Hearing this, Rayleigh cleared his throat and said: "I just missed you, that's all."
Of course, the real reason was that he had run out of money, so he came back.
Shakky rolled her eyes at his words and said: "I think you just ran out of money for drinks."
She knew Rayleigh's nature all too well.
Missed her?
If he had said that twenty years ago, she might have believed it, but now?
Don't be ridiculous!!
Rayleigh chuckled at her words but didn't argue.
"Alright, I'll give it to you tomorrow morning."
Tomorrow morning?
Which meant, tonight...
Looking at Shakky, who wore a half-smiling expression, Rayleigh fell silent for a moment.
He was starting to regret it.
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