Chapter 396 - 235

Chapter 235: Golden Lion's Ambition!!"Puchi~ Puchi!"A comical, unique laugh, like a leaky balloon, interrupted the surface commotion of the banquet hall.A figure in a white lab coat, with an exaggerated afro, and wearing spring stilts, "bounced" to Golden Lion Shiki's throne with a wobbly yet unusually agile posture.His movements and appearance were full of circus-like comedic effect, completely out of place with the solemn and majestic floating fortress, yet no one present dared to show the slightest hint of a smile.This person was Golden Lion's right-hand man, the scientist—Dr. Indigo."Puchi~ King Shiki, your wine~"Indigo spoke in an exaggerated, dramatic tone.The liquid churned, emitting a strange smell, a mix of sweet and pungent."Jie ha ha ha!"The thick cigar in Golden Lion's mouth vibrated with his laughter, and ash fell onto his luxurious robes.His eyes, always glinting with madness and calculation, squinted at the scientist beside him through the rising cigar smoke."Dr. Indigo,""Are my lovely and fierce little darlings... all ready?"Hearing this, Indigo's spring-like body straightened with a "whoosh," and his right hand comically saluted next to his afro.He forced a fawning and excited smile, but his eyes gleamed with the almost pathological light of a mad scientist:"Puchi! Reporting, King Shiki! The 'IQ' Evolution Liquid induced experimental subjects, codenamed 'Rampage Chimera' series, have all entered their final deployment state!""They can't wait to... puchi! run, hunt, and evolve on the new land!""Oh?" Golden Lion's lips curved, and he rotated the cigar with his teeth.He took a sip of the strange liquid in his cup, letting the peculiar burning sensation slide down his throat.The hall became unusually quiet, with only the faint "creak" of Indigo's spring shoes and Golden Lion's gulping of the liquid.Many of the pirate Captains who had been forced to join showed looks of surprise and uncertainty, clearly unaware of the so-called "little darlings" and "IQ Evolution Liquid," but instinctively felt uneasy.After a moment, Golden Lion slowly exhaled a thick plume of smoke, as if making an insignificant decision.He raised the hand holding the cigar, casually pointing downwards."Then... release them."His tone was understated,"Just right, let this ancient desert kingdom... become the first touchstone to test their power.""Jie ha ha ha ha!!!"A more unrestrained, sky-piercing roar of laughter erupted from his chest... On the thousand sunny,Uta leaned half her body over the ship's railing, the breeze blowing her red and white hair in disarray.Below, the emerald-like island slowly rotated amidst the sea of clouds, with winding rivers snaking through the scattered mountains, looking like a vibrant gem embedded in a blue satin cloth."Wow—"She took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling,"So beautiful!"Not far away, Robin neatly tied her slightly wavy long hair into a single ponytail, then pushed up her newly acquired silver-rimmed glasses.Her gaze behind the lenses was calm and focused, observing the ancient contours of the island's terrain."Indeed, it's rare,"A faint smile appeared on her lips,"From the location, Golden Lion's aesthetic sense is quite classical. The ecological structure of this floating island has been operating stably for at least a hundred years.""Hey... I'm talking to you guys!"An angry shout broke the deck's tranquility.Nami stood at the cabin door with her hands on her hips, her orange hair almost bursting like flames.Her gaze was fixed on the other side of the deck, where Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Law, Usopp, Franky, and even Chopper were lined up, all in black suits, white shirts, black ties, their sunglasses reflecting the setting sun."Are we here for an adventure, or a gangster funeral?!""Why are you all suddenly wearing suits?!""Of course, because—"Luffy spun around abruptly, the hem of his black suit forming a sharp arc in the air.He pulled out a small round mirror from somewhere, bringing it close to his face to examine himself carefully:The boy in the reflection was highlighted with rare sharp features by the well-tailored suit, his straw hat still on his head, creating a strange mix-and-match style.He suddenly leaned his face close to Nami's, their noses almost touching."It's so cool!"He widened his eyes, his sunglasses sliding down to the middle of his nose, revealing those eyes that always burned with fire,"Isn't it handsome?! Nami, tell me the truth!""Get away!"Nami's fair, jade-like cheeks flushed crimson, like the evening glow staining the sky.She reached out, with three parts embarrassment and seven parts panic, and pushed Luffy's overly close face away."What's wrong?!"Luffy stumbled back half a step, his rubber body swaying naturally.He scratched his black hair in confusion, his straw hat tilting with the movement.He really didn't understand why the Navigator had suddenly changed her attitude, when she wasn't like this last night.Just then, the cabin door gently opened.Yamato walked out.She had shed her usual dashing white kimono, changing into a black suit identical to Luffy's.The well-tailored fabric neatly outlined her tall and agile figure, with straight shoulders and a cinched waist, giving her a unique and handsome demeanor.Her stunning face was free of makeup, and her silver-white long hair flowed down to her waist like moonlight, shimmering softly in the setting sun.Wildness and elegance, strength and refinement, achieved a striking harmony in her.The deck fell silent for a moment.The next second, Yamato's crimson eyes gleamed, her gaze falling precisely on the Captain, also in black.Her eyes instantly lit up, as if holding the entire sunset's glow."Luffy—!"She cheered, rushing over in three steps, two steps, and crashed squarely into Luffy's embrace.Luffy grunted as she hit him, but held her steadily.Yamato buried her face in his shoulder, her nose twitching as she inhaled the scent of sunshine, sea breeze, and freedom. When she looked up, her eyes were astonishingly bright."You look... so cool!! Even more impressive than at Onigashima!"Her praise was direct and enthusiastic, her arms wrapped around Luffy's neck."Right?!"Luffy snapped out of his momentary daze, immediately infected by her joy, his grin stretching to his ears.He naturally put his arm around Yamato's soft yet strong waist, swaying proudly,"Yamato, you really have good taste! You really get it!!"Both smiled as brightly, like self-luminous binary stars in the sunset.Not far away.Nami said nothing.She stood there with her arms crossed, the sea breeze stirring her orange hair, brushing past her slightly narrowed eyes.In the depths of those eyes, the earlier embarrassment had receded like a tide, replaced by a more complex, subtle expression.She quietly watched the two black-clad figures embracing and laughing, her cherry lips pressed into a calm, straight line... "Hey, Luffy, can we talk about something?"Sanji, Zoro, and Law walked over.Sanji lit a cigarette, glancing at Yamato who was still clinging to Luffy.Zoro, meanwhile, stood with his arms crossed, his gaze like a blade sweeping across the distant, cloud-shrouded island, his fighting spirit almost solidifying.Law leaned against the railing, his fingertips tapping idly on kikoku's sheath."What is it?"Luffy turned his head, his chin resting naturally on Yamato's silver-white hair, his arm still around her waist.Yamato also turned her face, looking curiously at the three."Let us deal with Golden Lion!!"Zoro bared his teeth in a nearly ferocious grin, a burning desire in his right eye.Sanji exhaled a wisp of smoke, which swirled in the sunset:"Mosshead and I... have been'stuck' for a long time."He tapped the deck with his foot,"We need a sufficiently hard whetstone, an 'external pressure' that can push us to the brink of life and death!!"Law picked up the conversation, his voice low and calm:"If the rumored'Sky Pirate' truly has seventy to eighty percent of his legendary strength... he would be perfect. We need this level of actual combat.""Hmm..."Luffy hummed ambiguously.He buried his face in Yamato's soft hair, rubbing it as if drawing energy for thought.How strong was Golden Lion? He didn't know.Movie versions of power levels couldn't be taken seriously at all!!But if... if that old guy really had the "peak strength" to contend with Roger and Whitebeardback then... Luffy weighed it in his mind:Just by himself, without Gear Five, Zoro + Sanji + Yamato + Law, the four of them together, probably wouldn't take too long to deal with it... Yamatostirred in his arms, she looked up slightly, her crimson eyes sparkling, and whispered:"I want to try too!! He's a figure as famous as Captain Roger."Luffy saw the undisguised, almost hungry desire to grow stronger in his companions' eyes, and finally grinned."Alright!"He relented, his voice clear,"If that Golden Lion guy doesn't truly endanger your lives... I won't intervene!""Anyway, a 'legend from his prime'... there's no way he could really appear, right?!"Zoro's ferocious grin deepened, Sanji slowly exhaled his last puff of smoke, and Law's fingertips stopped tapping.A silent yet fervent aura simultaneously rose from the three of them, like unsheathed blades, faintly humming in the twilight.Not far away, Nami still quietly watched everything.She watched Luffy's unclouded smile as he readily agreed, then looked at the almost dangerous glint in the three men's eyes, and finally, her gaze fell on Luffy's hand tightly embracing Yamato.She sighed softly, very softly, so light it merged into the sea breeze."Hey, Luffy—! We're almost there!!"Usopp leaned most of his body out of the crow's nest, his arm pointing straight ahead into the sea of clouds, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.All the whispers, arguments, and brewing fighting spirit on the deck suddenly converged at this moment.Everyone looked in that direction.The distant clouds seemed to be parted by an invisible hand, clearly revealing the core area of a suspended island.Atop the layered emerald mountains, a magnificent complex of buildings stood prominently."That's..."Chopper clung to the ship's railing, his eyes wide.Robin adjusted her glasses, murmuring softly:"The floating legend... 'Sky City'."Sanji forgot to flick his cigarette, Zoro's hand quietly rested on his sword hilt, and Law's lips curled into a cold arc.Yamato straightened up from Luffy's embrace, her crimson eyes burning, as if flames were ignited deep within.Luffy pressed down on the brim of his straw hat.The shadow under the brim couldn't hide his suddenly blossoming smile."I see it!"His voice was loud, cutting through the sea breeze,"Prepare to land!"The thousand sunny's bow lifted slightly, breaking through the last wisps of clouds, and sailed resolutely towards the palace in the clouds