Zunesha was surprisingly careful. After grabbing the Oro Jackson with its trunk, it directly lifted the Roger Pirates into the sky!
The speed was no less intense than the "free-fall" feeling they'd experienced coming down from Skypiea years ago.
The distance of thousands of meters was covered in a dozen or so breaths. That sensation of rapid ascent made everyone's hearts feel like they were about to jump out of their chests.
By the time they regained their senses, the Oro Jackson had been placed steadily in front of a massive city wall!
This wall was clearly the border of the Mokomo Dukedom on Zou.
Many Mink warriors stood on the wall, staring at the scene in shock.
Soon, news spread through the entire Mokomo Dukedom that Zunesha had carried a ship onto Zou.
Not long after, a goat Mink leading a group of members walked out from the gate beneath the wall and approached the Oro Jackson.
This was Hitsugisukan, the current Duke of the Mokomo Dukedom.
If the Roger Pirates had climbed Zou some other way, the Minks might not have been this friendly.
But everyone saw that Zunesha personally brought them here, so the simple-hearted Minks immediately had a good impression of the Roger Pirates.
"My name is Roger, and I'm a pirate. We've come to your esteemed land in search of a Road Poneglyph—a red stone. We'd appreciate it if you could grant us passage!" Roger spoke with a rare display of politeness as he addressed Hitsugisukan.
"A Poneglyph?" Hitsugisukan looked surprised. "How did you know we have one here?"
"Well, that's because we've done a lot of investigating. We have an excellent scholar on our ship who can read the ancient script. We've traveled all over the sea and gathered many clues…" Roger said proudly.
"I see…" Hitsugisukan said with emotion. "Looks like your journey hasn't been easy either. The Poneglyph is an important treasure protected by the Mink Tribe for generations. Normally, we would never show it to outsiders. But since you are people recognized by Zunesha… perhaps this is fate."
After thinking for a moment, Hitsugisukan said, "Come with me. I'll take you to see the Poneglyph."
"I didn't expect things to go this smoothly. Thank you very much," Roger said happily.
Without wasting time, the group followed Hitsugisukan into the Mokomo Dukedom and headed toward the Whale Forest, where the Poneglyph was hidden.
As they walked, Roger and the others chatted with the Minks.
"Speaking of which, have you ever been to Wano Country?" Hitsugisukan suddenly asked.
Roger almost blurted out that they had just come from Wano, but before he could speak, Valthior quickly stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder.
"Wano?" Valthior said with a smile. "We've heard it's the country of samurai, but we've never been there. It seems pretty closed off and doesn't welcome outsiders, right?"
"Hahaha, that's true," Hitsugisukan laughed. "But hundreds of years ago, the Mink Tribe formed a brotherhood alliance with the Kozuki Clan, the rulers of Wano. Later, because of Wano's isolation and Zunesha wandering everywhere, we slowly lost contact. But our alliance will never break."
He paused, then continued, "How about this? Later, I'll write you a letter in the name of the Duke. If you go to Wano in the future, you can use it as proof. Maybe they'll treat you as friends."
"Really? Then thank you very much, Hitsugisukan!" Valthior said with a happy expression.
At the same time, Roger, Rayleigh, and the others beside him all had awkward smiles on their faces. Luckily, the Minks were simple-minded and didn't think too much about it.
"We got the order wrong…" Roger quietly said to Rayleigh as they fell a few steps behind. "We should've found Zunesha first and gotten the introduction letter. Then Wano wouldn't have treated us like enemies, and what happened there… cough cough…"
"Wrong my ass," Rayleigh muttered quietly. "If we didn't get the horn in Wano to call Zunesha, how could we even meet Zunesha? There was no other way."
"Good thing you didn't say anything stupid just now," Gaban whispered. "If they found out we wiped out the Kozuki Clan, we'd be finished. That goat old man definitely wouldn't bring us to the Road Poneglyph. We might even end up fighting. Then your friendship with Zunesha would be over too…"
Unlike Roger and the others, Valthior could lie without changing expression. He chatted happily with Hitsugisukan about many things.
As a scholar, he was very interested in the history, culture, and traditions of the Mink Tribe. He learned a lot from the conversation.
First of all, the Minks didn't think they were very different from humans. In their culture, humans were called "hairless monkeys." There was even an old story saying humans were once part of the Mink Tribe too, but after spreading across the world, they slowly lost their fur and evolved into their current form.
So in Mink culture, humans were basically their blood brothers.
The Minks didn't discriminate against humans at all. Instead, many humans discriminated against Minks.
"We're here!" Hitsugisukan said as he led Valthior and the others into a giant hollow tree.
As soon as he spoke, through the gaps in the leaves ahead, Valthior finally saw it—
The red Road Poneglyph!
This was the last one.
The feeling of finally reaching it made Valthior's heartbeat speed up slightly. It felt like the final island was already calling to him.
Now they only lacked two normal Poneglyphs. Once they got those, they would have everything. They would finally know what happened during the Void Century…
No, more accurately, they would know the version recorded on the Poneglyphs.
David D. Jones, Nerona Imu, Nefertari Lily, the Twenty Kings, Joy Boy…
Complicated and chaotic relationships. Betrayal and struggles for power. Freedom against dictatorship. Slavery and oppression. Gods against gods.
In a daze, Valthior finally saw the full Road Poneglyph clearly.
"This is the one you're looking for," Hitsugisukan said. "The Poneglyph. But we can't read the writing. We only know it will one day bring change and transform the world. That's why our people have protected it for generations."
Roger also walked over and stared at the Poneglyph nervously. "Valthior… translate it."
Valthior slowly read the words aloud.
"When you find this red Poneglyph, perhaps you already understand where it will guide you.
David betrayed the D.
Or perhaps he wanted to become the only 'D.'
But he could never achieve that.
The flames of D are spread across the world. One day, they will become lights that shine upon the world. And Imu will never be able to extinguish every light.
Our defeat was unavoidable. But the future lights will shine brightly.
I left everything in that place. It is my final gift to fate, and also my atonement.
I hope what I left behind can help you light the lamps of the world.
When the two true kings appear, that gift will become the power to free the world.
I will go on ahead, successor.
I hope you can become the true sun, bringing a different light to this world and driving away the ugly darkness.
At the end of my life, I thought I would calmly accept it… but in the end, I still have regrets.
Yohohoho~
Deliver Binks' Sake to your side.
Like the sea wind, free and wild, crossing the waves.
I truly wanted to sail with everyone again… Poseidon… Lily.
Crescent moon. Taurus. Four fingers."
"Binks' Sake? That song already existed back then?" Roger said in surprise.
"Even though the song has always spread across the seas, nobody really knows who made it," Rayleigh said while rubbing his chin. "Joy Boy was the first pirate, so maybe someone from his crew wrote it?"
Valthior looked at them with a confused face as they started talking about Binks' Sake.
Seriously?
Is that the important part!?
We've gone through untold hardships and finally gathered all the Road Poneglyphs!
The point is the Final Island, okay!?
...
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