Orochimaru raised his hand, a hint of reluctance in his eyes, and gently stroked Shirahoshi's head.
"Don't worry, it's easy. As long as there are bones, and there's a tomb right here, it's very simple."
Shirahoshi's eyes were wide open, looking at Orochimaru with a slightly dazed expression.
"We have to dig up a grave?"
Orochimaru nodded, then explained,
"There are two ways to revive someone now. One is to use a living person as a sacrifice, and the other is to find a human dummy that a soul can attach to.
The first method can restore the physical body, but the eyes will be different from ordinary people, without whites, which looks a bit scary. However, as long as I don't release her revival, she can live on indefinitely.
The second method's duration is uncertain, as it's a doll, and might depend on the quality of the doll itself. For specifics, you can ask Pirate King Roger; I haven't tried it myself.
Or you could ask Luffy."
Orochimaru turned his head towards Luffy, who was still in a state of confusion.
"Hey! Luffy! Is there anything unusual about Roger?"
Luffy scratched his head and, after a moment of thought, replied, "Ah... you mean that nose-hair uncle. He only taught me Haki for about half a year, and he seemed very impatient.
And he kept touching himself and examining his body for no reason.
His expression was occasionally a bit disgusting.
Then he said he was going to ask my grandpa for news about his wife, and he left with Buggy and Shanks.
Overall, he was pretty normal, I guess.
After he left, Rayleigh guided my training most of the time."
Shirahoshi slightly furrowed her delicate brows, her expression focused and solemn, pondering seriously for a while, then slowly began to speak.
"Let's wait until Father is rescued and discuss this matter with my brothers.
Moreover, I believe Mother would never wish for a stranger to lose their life for her revival, even if that person were an evil wrongdoer."
Jinbe stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and spoke with a grave expression.
"The current situation is dire; we must discuss our countermeasures carefully.
The King and soldiers have been captured by Hody Jones's group.
And the four of your Crewmates are currently missing.
This is all the information we have at the moment."
Hatchan looked at everyone, his face full of pain:
"Boss Jinbe, according to Hody's scheme, this country is probably now plunged into an even more terrifying disaster.
Hody's hatred for humans far surpasses that of Arlong Big Brother.
He's like someone who feeds on the hatred and anger of the Fish-Man Race, nurtured by resentment as he grew up.
But there's a clear difference between him and Arlong Big Brother. Although Arlong Big Brother disdained humans, he wouldn't harm fellow Fishmen.
Yet this Hody, he shows no mercy even to those Fishmen who wish to befriend humans.
This year is the year for the World Conference, which happens every four years, isn't it?
And many signed letters from those who wish to live on land have been collected.
This time, King Neptune is finally going to express the Fish-Man Race's desire for migration to the world.
Jinbe's expression suddenly darkened, his brows tightly furrowed, and he murmured, "Are you saying his goal is to prevent this?"
Hatchan slowly shook his head, his expression solemn: "No... it's not just as simple as preventing it."
Just then, a giant transponder snail slowly wriggled into view, projecting an image onto a bubble membrane. As the light flickered, a large screen appeared before everyone.
The person on the screen was Hody Jones.
Nami frowned, looking at the person on the screen.
"This guy..."
And Hody Jones on the screen began his speech.
Hody Jones decided to replace King Neptune as the new King and planned to execute the former King and some Fishmen who agreed to be friendly with humans in the plaza.
Nami, feeling a bit guilty, glanced at King Neptune, who was tightly bound on the screen, and muttered, "By the way... was the King's capture because of us, or Zoro?"
Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, nonchalantly retorted, "Miss Nami, you really don't need to be so conflicted. The fault is definitely entirely on that savage bastard Mosshead."
(⊙,Д⊙) Jinbe's eyes widened, staring intensely at Nami, veins bulging on his forehead, and he suddenly let out a thunderous roar.
"What are you all doing here?!"
Camie awkwardly stood in front of Jinbe.
"Boss Jinbe, it was Neptune's army, for some unknown reason, trying to capture Luffy and his Companions, which is why this happened."
Before she finished speaking, Usopp, Zoro, and Brook suddenly appeared on the screen, locked in a giant iron cage.
Immediately after, Hody Jones gave an order, and the iron cage was quickly hoisted by thick chains, suspended in mid-air.
In an instant, surging seawater, like a monstrous beast, rushed in from all directions, and the room was immediately filled with churning waves.
Hody Jones threw his head back and laughed maniacally.
"When the execution begins, this cage will be filled with seawater. Inferior beings like humans will surely die just like this!
Straw Hat Luffy, with a bounty of 400 million Berries, today we'll use your heads to teach those foolish humans on land a harsh lesson. This is the best possible outcome!
Cut off the fragile past! Seize a strong future! In three hours, this country will be reborn, becoming a Fish-Man Island with dignity, ah ha ha ha!"
Orochimaru looked up at Hody Jones's endless speech, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth, and surprisingly applauded with appreciation: "What an excellent speech..."
This sudden applause instantly drew everyone's gaze to him. Orochimaru, however, looked innocent, spreading his hands and asking, "Why are you all looking at me?"
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette, his brows slightly furrowed, and said helplessly, "Orochimaru... applauding at a time like this isn't appropriate."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression calm yet righteous as he said,
"But he did speak wonderfully.
Look, where the hostages are held, clear as day.
What he's going to do, crystal clear.
Why he's doing it, logically explained.
Even the time of action, and where it will happen,
He's given us the location.
It's like he's practically telling us,
"Come quickly, I've set a trap and am waiting for you."
To make even an idiot like Luffy understand, he must have done a lot of homework.
Given all that, shouldn't I give him some applause?"
After speaking, Orochimaru slowly clapped his hands, the crisp sound of applause particularly jarring in the solemn atmosphere.
Everyone first stared blankly, then exchanged glances, as if...? There was some truth to it?
Sanji's brows furrowed into a 'river' character, his mouth slightly agape, seemingly wanting to say something but momentarily speechless;
Nami, on the other hand, blinked, tilted her head, her face completely bewildered.
Everyone's gaze collectively focused on Luffy.
Luffy's head was bowed, the brim of his straw hat covering his eyes, only his tightly pressed lips and slightly trembling chin visible, as if a fierce ideological storm was raging in his mind.
The surroundings were so quiet that only faint breathing and the sound of surging seawater could be heard, and everyone's surprise became even more apparent.
"Did Luffy really understand? Then they really should applaud Hody Jones..."
And Luffy, being watched by the group, suddenly turned his head.
୧(˭̴̵̶͈ᗢ˭̴̵̶͈)✧
Smiling like a complete idiot, he scratched his head, his voice tinged with shyness.
"Hey... my bounty is 400 million Berries now~ When did it increase~?"
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