"What on earth is that thing?"
Looking at the colossal figure appearing on the screen, Caesar's face was filled with astonishment.
"That looks like a dragon," Vergo said expressionlessly.
Caesar: ??
"A dragon?"
Several question marks popped up above Caesar's head. Why would such a huge dragon appear here?
Could it be some backup plan left behind by Vegapunk?
At this thought, Caesar's expression changed.
"That should be a Wood Dragon," Monet said, pushing up his glasses.
"What do you mean?"
Seeing both of them focus their gaze on him, Monet explained, "That Sunglasses Man is an Ability User."
As he spoke, Monet retrieved the Straw Hat Pirates' dossier again and found the relevant intelligence from within.
"This person likely joined the Straw Hat Pirates at Sabaody Archipelago."
"And there, he displayed his Devil Fruit Ability, which is... the Moku Moku Fruit!"
"At that time, he summoned a Wood Dragon!"
"A Wood Dragon, huh..."
Taking the intelligence from Monet's hand for a look, Caesar said in surprise, "I never expected this guy to be a Devil Fruit Ability User too."
"Sunglasses Man..."
After glancing at the name on the Wanted Poster, Caesar asked in confusion, "Why is there no name?"
What kind of nonsense is it to have only a codename like "Sunglasses Man"?
Can that even be considered a distinctive codename?
"There's no name."
Monet said, "Although this person appeared a few times a year ago, he never left behind his name."
Hearing this, Vergo remarked, "It seems this is also a very meticulous person..."
After pondering for a moment, Vergo continued, "What's his bounty?"
"One hundred million."
Monet said, "The Moku Moku Fruit Ability User, Sunglasses Man, with a bounty of 100 million Berries."
"One hundred million, huh..."
Vergo immediately lost interest. Isn't that just small fry?
A bounty like that isn't even worth him making a move.
Caesar also became somewhat disinterested; a 100 million Berry bounty was far too low.
"Then we don't need to worry about him," Caesar said. "Anyway, this guy can't cause any waves."
A mere small fry with a 100 million Berry bounty poses no threat to them.
Hearing this, Monet smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.
"By the way."
As if remembering something, Caesar turned to look at Monet and said, "Monet, is the video broadcast working properly?"
"No problem," Monet said, pushing up his glasses. "The signal is strong."
Although Punk Hazard's magnetic field had issues, it didn't affect the Den Den Mushi's bio-electric waves, so the signal could be transmitted perfectly.
"That's good."
Caesar grinned and laughed, "Now let's enjoy this wonderful scene together~"
"Shurororororo~"
"Dammit, has the poison gas already spread here?"
Standing on Brownbeard's back, Nami looked grimly at the poison gas in the distance and said, "It's spreading way too fast..."
Not long ago, that poison gas was still on the other side of the mountain, but now it's already reached here...
This is no joke!
"Maybe it's because of the blizzard," Merry guessed. "They're being pushed along by the mountain winds."
"Pushed by the wind..."
Nami thought for a moment, then looked down at Merry and said, "Merry, can you use the wind to blow this poison gas away?"
"I can try," Merry replied. "Should I go over and give it a shot?"
With her speed, she could quickly rush into the poison gas.
"Better not," Usopp glanced at the gas and said. "That color looks highly toxic. If your ability doesn't work, it's over."
Although wind can indeed disperse thick fog, the problem is... would Merry inhale the poison gas during the process?
He didn't want the little one to be poisoned.
"That's true..."
Nami also realized this and then showed an awkward expression, saying, "Then forget it."
Just then, a rumbling sound came from behind, sounding as if something massive was charging toward them.
"What's that noise?" Usopp wondered.
An earthquake?
Merry also looked curious, then activated her ability and flew up, intending to see what was happening in the distance.
Once she saw what it was, her eyes immediately lit up.
"It's Zoro and the others!"
"They're charging over on a Wood Dragon!"
Hearing this, Usopp and Nami immediately understood what was happening.
Meiser was using his ability to help Zoro and the others escape!
Meanwhile, Brownbeard showed a puzzled expression and said, "Wood Dragon?"
"What's that?"
As he spoke, Brownbeard looked back at the situation behind him, then widened his eyes and exclaimed, "What a huge Wood Dragon?!"
Is this what the little girl meant by a Wood Dragon?
Isn't it a bit too big?
"Hey!"
"Everyone!"
Merry, floating in mid-air, shouted, "We're over here!"
"Huh?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Meiser paused, then looked toward the distant cliff in surprise and said, "Merry?"
Zoro walked over to Meiser's side upon hearing this, looked into the distance, and said, "Nami and Usopp are there too."
"Strange, weren't they supposed to be inside the cave?" Brook wondered. "Why are they here?"
"Probably because they sensed something was wrong," Meiser guessed. "So they ran out."
"Then why is that Brownbeard with them?"
"I don't know about that," Meiser shrugged. "Maybe they all wanted to escape?"
Aside from that, he couldn't think of a second possibility.
"Escaping together, huh," Brook tilted his head and thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's possible."
In the face of extreme danger, even enemies might join forces, so it makes sense for them to be escaping together.
"Although I don't know what happened, at least Miss Nami and the others are safe," Sanji said.
This way, they wouldn't need to go to the shelter to rescue them first.
The others nodded upon hearing this, agreeing with the logic.
"Alright, let's hurry over there." Sanji also moved closer to Meiser and said, "After picking up Nami and the others, we'll head straight to the research institute!"
"Mm."
Soon, under Meiser's control, the Wood Dragon gradually turned around and swiftly charged toward the direction of Nami and the others.
Once they reached the group, Meiser shouted, "You guys, get on the Wood Dragon quickly!"
"Got it!"
Merry responded, then used her wind power to lift Brownbeard and swiftly flew toward the Wood Dragon.
"Thud—"
Finally, they landed steadily on the Giant Dragon's back.
"Phew—"
"We're finally safe." Usopp sighed in relief.
Although Brownbeard's running speed was also fast, it couldn't match the speed of Meiser's Wood Dragon.
"You all look like you've just been through a battle." Meiser glanced at the three dust-covered individuals and said, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Where did Luffy and the others go?"
"This matter is related to Law." Nami said.
"Law?"
Meiser was taken aback for a moment, then seemed to understand something and said, "Did Luffy and the others go to settle the score with that guy Law first?"
Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't impossible. After all, the children needed someone to guard...
Huh?
Wait a moment...
Where are the children?
"Where are the children?" Meiser said. "Why aren't they here?"
"Did they go with Luffy to cause trouble for Law?"
Nami, who was about to answer Meiser's previous question, was momentarily stunned, then said somewhat helplessly:
"Of course not."
"The children have already been taken away by that guy named Caesar."
"Taken away?"
Kin'emon, who had moved closer, asked in confusion, "What exactly happened?"
"You are... Oh, you're that Samurai."
"That's right, I am the Samurai with a complete body." Kin'emon nodded honestly, then silently looked at Nami, waiting for her answer.
"Not long ago, that guy Caesar came to the place where we were hiding." Nami said. "Then he attacked the three of us."
"The three of us were no match for him, so..."
Upon hearing Nami's explanation, the others immediately understood—they had encountered that Logia-type Ability User.
It made sense. None of the three knew Haki, so it was normal for them to be unable to defeat that guy.
"But that doesn't make sense either." Brook said. "Shouldn't Luffy and the others have been with you?"
Why did that Logia-type Ability User still succeed?
"They weren't there." Usopp explained. "Luffy and the others went to help that guy Law capture someone."
It's just unclear why Luffy and the others didn't run into Caesar.
Maybe... they missed each other?
That's not impossible either.
"Help Law?"
Sanji asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"Why would they help that bastard capture someone?"
Isn't that guy supposed to be their enemy?
"Not long ago, Luffy ran into that guy Law, and then they formed an alliance." Usopp explained. "That's why Luffy helped him."
"An alliance?!"
Sanji stared at Usopp with a face full of question marks, feeling like he had just received a lot of information at once.
"Why form an alliance?" Meiser frowned as he looked at Usopp. "Isn't Law the guy who attacked our crewmate?"
Although it was only a soul swap and didn't cause any real harm...
Still... even so, it was a provocation against their Straw Hat Pirates!
"Because Law made Luffy an offer," Nami said. "Law claimed he has a way to deal with Hundred Beasts Kaido and asked if Luffy would be willing to ally with him."
"So Luffy agreed."
After saying this, Nami paused briefly before continuing, "I think... part of the reason might be Perona."
The Moria that Perona is searching for might be with Hundred Beasts Kaido. Plus, Luffy aims to become the Pirate King anyway—sooner or later he'd have to face the Four Emperors. That's why he agreed.
"So that's how it is..." Sanji grinned. "That guy Luffy really knows what's up!"
Clearly, Sanji agreed with Luffy's decision too.
As for that whole business of swapping their souls?
That's a minor issue. At worst, they could just beat the guy up later.
Zoro's eyes flickered slightly before he said, "If it's Luffy's decision, then I have no objections."
"Yohohohoho~"
"I don't have any objections either," Brook said cheerfully.
Since their captain Luffy had already made the decision, what else could he say?
Hearing the three of them speak, Usopp immediately showed a surprised expression.
He really hadn't expected these three to agree so quickly—it was somewhat beyond his expectations.
Then, Usopp turned to Meiser and asked, "What about you?"
If Meiser disagreed, he'd try to persuade him.
"Of course I agree," Meiser grinned. "After all... I've received news about Moria."
"What do you mean?" Usopp asked, puzzled.
"Based on intelligence analysis, Moria was most likely taken by Kaido," Meiser explained.
Although it wasn't 100% confirmed, it was highly probable that Kaido was behind it.
"Really?!"
Nami immediately looked shocked. "Moria was really taken by Kaido?"
So that once-arrogant Royal Seven Warlord of the Sea was actually captured by Hundred Beasts Kaido?!
"Very likely," Meiser nodded. "So... no matter what, we have to go to Kaido's territory."
That was also why he agreed to Luffy's alliance.
Of course, what Law had done couldn't be forgotten.
So Meiser was considering whether to find an opportunity to beat him up later.
"Then it seems we really have to go," Usopp nodded, then showed a fearful expression. "I wonder how strong that guy is..."
Could he be on the same level as a Marine Admiral?
Fighting someone like that would definitely be extremely dangerous!
"It's not like you'll be the one fighting him anyway," Meiser rolled his eyes at Usopp. "Luffy will handle him."
Hundred Beasts Kaido was naturally someone for Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, to deal with.
Usopp blinked upon hearing this—that did seem to be the case.
Thinking this, Usopp began to calm down a little.
Hundred Beasts Kaido...
Taking in the reactions of these individuals, Kin'emon fell silent. He truly hadn't expected this group of pirates to dare set their sights on Hundred Beasts Kaido.
Were they fearless fledglings unaware of the tiger's might, or did they genuinely possess the strength for it?!
Should he share information about Hundred Beasts Kaido with them? Kin'emon thought to himself.
After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?
Moreover, they were even willing to risk their lives to save him, so...
At this thought, Kin'emon wanted to tell Meiser and the others about Hundred Beasts Kaido.
But the moment he remembered that Momonosuke had not yet been rescued, he fell silent again.
Upon careful consideration, he was merely a retainer and did not have the authority to form alliances with others.
It seemed this matter could only be discussed after rescuing the young master.
Having grasped the crux of the situation, Kin'emon abandoned the idea of broaching the subject now.
It wasn't urgent anyway; rescuing the young master came first.
However...
Even if the young master agreed to ally with them, we know very little ourselves. Kin'emon sighed inwardly.
After all, they had traveled twenty years into the future and were unaware of what had transpired in the Land of Wano during those two decades. Thus, they couldn't provide much useful intelligence.
With this realization, Kin'emon let out another helpless sigh.
"Hmm?"
Sanji, noticing the change in Kin'emon's expression, instinctively furrowed his brow.
What is this guy thinking about?
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