Paper Paper Fruit In One Piece

Ryugu Palace

"So, we haven't even entered the New World yet, and we're already enemies with the 'Four Emperors'?"

Roman calmly clapped his hands.

"Back when we first entered the Grand Line, Vivi faced off with the Seven Warlords. This time, we haven't even stepped into the New World yet, and we're already declaring we'll take down 'Big Mom.' It's progress."

"Hehehe, it's just average~~"

"That's not a compliment!" X2

Usopp and Chopper were crying, and the Fishman Island King, Neptune, seemed hesitant to speak. He remembered the report from the right minister earlier:

The treasure chest given to Luffy was originally supposed to contain their family heirloom "Tamatebako "—although the medicine had serious side effects, it was clearly a secret weapon left by the royal family of Fishman Island to train assassins.

Later, the deadly medicine was stolen, and the right minister filled the chest with explosives. This meant...

"It's fine, didn't I already give the chest to that 'Big Mom'?" Luffy waved his hand casually.

"It's all good, it's all good, no worries."

Giving it to Big Mom... now that's a big deal! If she opens the chest and it explodes, she'll definitely take it as a "challenge letter" from Luffy.

"Hahaha, let's set off for the New World!!"

Luffy ran off excitedly, while Roman, Zoro, and the others, who were used to the thrill of battle, weren't bothered. But the others:

"We're doomed, Big Mom is after us..."

Usopp fell to his knees, crying:

"Do you think after giving her the treasure, will she let us off?"

Chopper also knelt down, tears in his eyes:

"How can we tell her we've sent her a bomb..."

The Fishman Island King Neptune, covered in cold sweat, looked around nervously.

"What are you two doing?"

Nami walked over, causing Usopp and Chopper, once known as the "cowards" of the Straw Hat crew, to cling to her legs for comfort.

"Wuwuwuwu, Nami!"

"You don't know, Luffy just provoked Big Mom, threatening to knock her out..."

"We're doomed, entering the New World is a death sentence!"

"Oh," Nami calmly nodded.

"Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, that's really a problem."

?!

"Nami, have you lost it? Shouldn't you be despairing with us right now?"

Facing the crying Usopp, Nami covered her forehead with one hand and pointed to the other side with the other.

"Do they look like they're afraid?"

"Hehehe, leave it to us!"

Luffy clenched his fist.

"I'll definitely knock out that 'Big Mom'!!"

"If I want to become the 'Pirate King,' I have to face the Four Emperors. —Because they have clues to 'Raftel,' and they also have the ambition to become Pirate King themselves. They'll never share that with anyone."

Roman stroked his chin and calmly analyzed:

"And also..."

Big Mom won't let Jinbe go.

Meanwhile, Sanji's father is preparing to marry Sanji to Big Mom's family.

"In any case, once we enter the New World, it's only natural we'll clash with the Four Emperors. Even if both Luffy and I might fail, so—"

"Crying doesn't help, let's face it with a smile! Keep going!!"

Roman's words of encouragement made Usopp and Chopper collapse on the ground.

"We're doomed! Even Roman says we'll fail..."

"I've caught the 'can't enter the New World' disease..."

"The right minister, that bomb is from ten years ago, and we have so much humidity in the Ryugu Kingdom... and Big Mom might not even open it herself..."

"The treasure chest has already been sent, all we can do now is pray..."

"What have you two been doing this whole time?"

Robin looked at Neptune and the right minister, feeling like something was off... no, the fishman was dripping with sweat, and he was sweating a lot, way too much~~

"It's nothing, nothing!" X2

They frantically shook their heads!

"Hey, Nami, why do you have three log pose needles on your wrist?"

Anyway, they had to move forward. So, Usopp and Chopper quickly got distracted by Nami's new wrist bracelet, which had three log pose needles pointing in different directions.

"Oh, this?" 

Nami lifted her wrist to explain to them.

"The New World is different from the first half of the Grand Line. Not only is the weather more unpredictable, but even the 'magnetic' fields of the islands can disappear. —After all, there are too many creatures in the New World that can destroy entire islands. So, we need three compasses, each pointing to a different island."

"The tremors of the compass needles indicate how dangerous an island is—"

Swish!!

A head with a straw hat popped into view, followed by Luffy's excited voice.

"Wow, this island with the needle shaking so much looks like it's going to be so much fun~~~"

Oh no! X2

Usopp and Chopper immediately made distressed faces, but Nami calmly grabbed Luffy by the neck and pulled his head aside.

"This island is 'Thunder God Island.' There's thunder striking nonstop, 24 hours a day. —But for you, Luffy, it's no different from any regular island."

"No, actually, it might even be more boring. Since neither the lightning-adapted beasts nor anything else can hurt you, the Rubber man~~"

"What?!"

In an instant, Luffy lost interest, and Usopp and Chopper sighed in relief.

After all, just the name "Thunder God Island" made everyone instinctively recall Enel from Skypiea, with his invincible, long-eared form! Even now, the Straw Hat crew…

"Alright, everyone, the preparations are complete!" 

Franky, who had already finished fixing the Going Merry, shouted from the deck, and Luffy immediately became excited again.

"Let's go!!"

"We must come back again~~"

Faced with the mermaids from the Mermaid Café, who were reluctantly bidding them farewell, Sanji nearly turned to stone once more. Only at Roman's glance did he act a bit more composed; otherwise, Roman would be the kind of person who'd get Chopper to inject him with 'hormones' without hesitation.

"We are deeply grateful. As long as the Straw Hat crew needs us, Fish-Man Island will not refuse!"

Fukaboshi, the bandaged prince, thanked Luffy.

"Jinbe!"

Luffy turned to the silent blue fish-man and just smiled.

A man's promise is spoken without words.

"Luffy, next time we meet, would you like to go 'for a walk' with me?"

"Eh, you still want to go to Mama's grave?"

The giant mermaid princess, lying by the ship's side, shook her head.

"Next time... I want to go to a farther place, a place truly called a 'forest'..."

"Alright, next time we meet, I'll definitely take you there."

"Can we pinky swear?"

Facing the giant pinky finger, Luffy stretched his own thumb out and wrapped it around hers without hesitation, and Roman chuckled beside them.

"Too bad," 

?

"Next time I take Shirahoshi to see the forest, it's going to be me, Roman!" 

?!

Boom!!

"Cough, cough, Nami, your Armament Haki has improved." 

Under the strange gazes of the Straw Hat crew, Roman cleared his throat and explained. "The 'World Conference' is coming up soon. It's held every four years in the Holy Land of Mariejois, and if Fish-Man Island wants to change its situation, it will definitely attend the conference…"

"I understand," 

Nami nodded. Roman was a candidate for Marine Admiral, but secretly a Celestial Dragon. He would surely attend the conference. So,

"Shirahoshi's safety will be in your hands."

Nami patted her shoulder, and Roman nodded.

"Of course, I won't let Fish-Man Island suffer. —But how much international benefit we can gain will depend on the ability of the Fish-Man Island royal family."

"Mm-hmm, it's a very important conference."

Beside them, Luffy acted as if he understood, making the Straw Hat crew facepalm and sigh.

"Alright, enough of that!"

"Crossing this underwater area leads us to the strongest seas in the world!"

Although Luffy still remembered his promise with Shanks, he had unknowingly changed. He was no longer the naive boy he once was. He had gathered a crew of companions around him!

——————

'I got this Devil Fruit after killing my captain, and now you want me to be your crew member?'

He was a cold boy with a hint of brokenness.

"I owe you my life, but I also have my own ambition. I want to be the world's greatest swordsman!"

He was a three-sword style man with eyes like a beast.

"I hate pirates the most. I like money and oranges, but I will never join your crew!"

She was an orange-haired girl with a face full of disdain.

"Yo...yo...Luffy, Roman, you guys are setting out to sea too?"

He was the long-nosed man, wanting to join but afraid of being rejected.

"My name is Sanji. I won't join your crew because I have my reasons to stay and work here."

He was a man with blonde hair and curled eyebrows, holding a cigarette, his eyes full of tenderness and longing.

"I'm just a reindeer, with horns, hooves, and a blue nose—"

He was a little reindeer, half his body out, desperately seeking acceptance.

"I want to live! Take me with you to the sea!"

She was a woman, tears streaming down her face, crying desperately in front of her friends.

"Fine, I'll help you guys! I, Franky, accept your invitation and will be your shipwright!"

He was a perverted older man, wiping his tears and putting his sunglasses back on.

"Being alive... it feels so good! Can I join the crew?"

When the song ended, the skeleton, now truly alone, calmly stood up.

Unlike the naive and passionate beginning, the Straw Hat crew had become a mature team. Through all the struggles and fierce battles, everyone believed they would continue on...

"Hehehe, comrades! Off to the New World—let's set sail!!"

Our journey will never end!

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 ----You can read 10 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu