Jinbe was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond, and could only choose to remain silent.
In that interval, Luffy's eyes darted around, and seeing Jinbe in a daze, he tried to sneak away to settle accounts with Hody Jones.
But as soon as he made a move, Orochimaru's keen senses detected the anomaly.
He quickly lashed out his tail, grabbed Luffy, and forcibly pulled him back.
He looked at Luffy with a profound gaze, as if to say: You want to sneak off and play by yourself? Not a chance! Just stay here and listen to Jinbe's nagging!
Of course, if Jinbe could persuade Luffy with just a few words, then Luffy wouldn't be Luffy.
The two argued endlessly about Fish-Man Island's history and saving their Crewmates by defeating Hody Jones.
From initial verbal sparring, back and forth, neither giving an inch, their emotions gradually grew more agitated, their words more intense, until they finally resorted to physical blows.
After a fight, they would rest a while and continue arguing.
Jinbe painstakingly presented facts and reasoned with Luffy, trying to make him understand the stakes, but Luffy's mind was filled with:
"If I don't like it, I'll fight! Anyway, I'm definitely going!"
He turned a deaf ear to Jinbe's persuasion, no matter how much Jinbe argued, he couldn't convince Luffy of his stubborn idea.
Orochimaru watched the two argue from the side, finding it quite entertaining, even bringing over a small table.
He sat down brazenly nearby to watch this "farce," occasionally taking a bite of a senbei with a "crunch."
Luffy and Jinbe, who were arguing fiercely, seemed to have a telepathic connection, simultaneously turning their heads to glare at Orochimaru, roaring in unison:
"You're too loud! You cunning snake, stop watching the show here!"
Orochimaru watched the two turn their heads, and with lightning speed, pulled out a folding fan from his embrace, opening it with a "swish" in front of him, completely obscuring himself, and grumbled in a sarcastic tone:
"Oh dear, you two are spitting so much, don't get my new clothes dirty."
His narrow eyes narrowed slightly, a playful curve on his lips, as he unhurriedly swallowed the senbei in his mouth, letting out a soft hum.
"You two are arguing so vigorously, and I can't even watch? Don't take your anger out on me, I'm just an innocent bystander."
With that, he picked up another senbei, deliberately biting into it in front of them, making a crisp sound, as if to provoke them.
"You can argue all you want, but I can't guarantee that by the time you're done arguing, Neptune's family won't have turned into sashimi. You two continue."
Jinbe was momentarily speechless, his words swirling in his mouth before he finally said:
"Mr. Luffy, I just want you to use strategy! Don't rush into battle!
Merely defeating Hody Jones will only make the islanders see you as violent humans no different from those before.
That's not what you should do!
You need to become the hero who saves Fish-Man Island!"
Slurp... "Hero? I don't want to!" Luffy frowned, leaning forward, his right hand tightly pressing down on his straw hat, refusing without hesitation and with a serious expression.
Slurp... Jinbe's shark-like face instantly froze, and he shouted at Luffy in shock, "What did you say!!"
Luffy glared at Jinbe, not backing down.
"We're pirates! Although I like heroes very much! I don't want to be a hero!
Do you even know what a hero is?!"
"Hmm?" (・_・) Jinbe was stunned.
Slurp... Luffy gesticulated in the air.
"For example, this is a piece of meat. Pirates will have a feast with it! But a hero has to share it with everyone!
I want to eat meat!!"
Slurp.
After saying this, Luffy could no longer hold back and turned to roar at Orochimaru, who was slurping milk:
"Stop drinking!!! Leave some for me!!! Otherwise, I won't give you any meat! How much milk have you hidden?!"
Jinbe looked at Luffy, who was completely unyielding, and gritted his teeth.
"Then! I'll give you meat! Do as I say!"
As soon as Luffy heard this, he immediately seemed like a different person, obediently kneeling beside Orochimaru and taking a sip of Orochimaru's hot cocoa with narrowed eyes.
"I understand."
"!!! Eh!!! It's settled just like that!!"
Chopper's eyes widened, and he screamed at the top of his lungs, his expression as if he had witnessed something incredibly unbelievable.
Jinbe then sat opposite Luffy, taking the tea handed to him by Orochimaru. "Ah... thank you."
Then he took a small sip, let out a satisfied sigh, and slowly said:
"Simply put, I'll ask for your help, and you just come to save me."
"Ask for help?" After learning there was meat to eat, Luffy became completely lazy, leaning bonelessly against Orochimaru, his gaze fixed on Jinbe opposite him.
"Yes, first, Mekaro and I will deliberately get caught and sneak into the plaza."
Upon hearing this, Mekaro's fins trembled in surprise, and he pointed at himself in shock? ∑(❍ฺд❍ฺlll)
"Shark shark... (It's me again?)"
Jinbe stared intently at Luffy, elaborating on the plan: "While we distract them, one of you must quietly emerge from Mekaro's belly."
"From his belly???" Luffy was full of confusion, a string of question marks appearing above his head.
((유∀유|||)) "Shark shark shark!!!"
Upon hearing this, Mekaro clutched his belly with both fins and began to retch continuously, looking as if he was recalling some very bad past experiences.
"The person who emerges from Mekaro's belly must obtain two key items.
Firstly, the Celestial Dragons' letter held by Hody and his group, which Queen Otohime obtained at the cost of her life ten years ago and holds crucial significance for the future of Fish-Man Island;
Secondly, the key to the handcuffs on the King's wrist.
Can anyone take on this important task and successfully steal these two items?"
Nami did not hesitate, confidently raising her hand high and saying,
"You can rest assured and leave the stealing to me, hmm... Robin and I will work together, and we can easily handle it."
Robin, who had arrived at some unknown time, also nodded slightly in agreement.
Seeing this, Jinbe turned his head in satisfaction and continued:
"Very good, after the King is released, I will send you, Luffy, a distress signal.
At that time, you, Luffy, will openly appear from Mekaro's belly.
This way, everyone will know that Mr. Luffy is on our side.
And Princess Hime will be in a safe area outside the plaza, ready to receive the rescued King, and then escape together.
At the same time, the others will immediately rush to Ryugu Palace to rescue our trapped Crewmates. Once everyone is gathered, we will quickly head to the plaza to rendezvous. As for the specific method to rescue our Crewmates from Ryugu Palace..."
Jinbe paused briefly, then casually turned his head:
"You all figure it out yourselves..."
Sanji immediately saw red upon hearing this, his shark-like face showing displeasure as he roared at Jinbe,
"Are the plans for this side so casual?!"
Orochimaru stated that he would handle such matters; he absolutely refused to go into a shark's belly! He chose to rescue people! Wasn't it better to lie comfortably on the sunny?!
Nami looked at the group with satisfaction, "Since that's the case, we just have to do it!"
Then she looked at the silent Jinbe, puzzled, "Is there anything else?"
..."The code name hasn't been decided yet."
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