An hour ago.
On the Kirin, sailing along the central axis of the Calm Belt, Hibari stood at the top of the crow's nest with binoculars, carefully searching the surrounding sea.
On the deck, the Marine soldiers weren't idle either. Although they didn't have binoculars, they were all meticulously looking around, trying to find any anomaly.
Bepo, whose eyes were aching, couldn't help but rub them and look at Law standing beside him.
"Lieutenant Commander, there seems to be nothing else in this Calm Belt besides seawater and Sea Kings. Can we really find Teacher Zephyr and the others by searching aimlessly like this?"
"I don't know."
Law's voice was cold with a hint of irritability, as if to vent the unsettling feeling permeating his heart.
During his training period in Marineford, Zephyr had also given him very strict guidance.
Law held great respect for that strict Marine instructor.
Like Rorschach, he was also eager to find the missing Zephyr.
However, half a day had already passed, and Rorschach and Eneru, who possessed ultra-wide-range Observation Haki, had yet to send back any news.
There was even less to say about the Kirin itself; just by looking with the eyes of those on board, they couldn't find any anomalies.
Just then, Hibari, at the top of the crow's nest, suddenly let out a startled cry.
"Oh? I think I found an island ahead!"
Her sudden exclamation greatly invigorated the Marine soldiers below, who all rushed to the bow of the ship, peering into the distance.
At first, they found nothing.
But as the Kirin moved forward, gradually, a hazy island silhouette indeed appeared at the edge of their vision.
Although still quite a distance away, Law could tell that the island in the distance was definitely not small.
Bepo's expression was excited, "Lieutenant Commander, is this considered an anomaly? Should we contact the Major and Eneru immediately and have them come back?"
"An island in the Calm Belt..." Law looked up at the crow's nest and asked loudly, "Hibari, is there any record of an island existing here on the nautical charts?"
Hibari didn't even bother to check the charts. After a brief thought, she decisively shook her head.
"No, islands rarely appear in the Calm Belt sea area. Generally, places with islands are recorded on Marine charts, because apart from a very few privileged ships, only our Marines can frequently enter and exit the Calm Belt, so we have a deep understanding of this sea area."
Law's eyes flickered. He pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket. "Then, this is an anomaly. I'll inform them both..."
Before he finished speaking, Hibari above him interrupted with a smile: "I don't think that's necessary."
"Why?" Law was a little confused.
Hibari smiled and pointed forward, exultantly saying, "Because Brother Rorschach is waiting for us up ahead! It turns out he already discovered that island first."
Law raised an eyebrow, squinting towards the direction Hibari pointed.
Sure enough.
In front of the gradually enlarging, hazy island, a tall, slender figure floated above the sea, smiling and looking their way.
"Since he discovered the anomaly early, why didn't he call the Den Den Mushi?"
Law frowned slightly; he felt that something was amiss.
However, when Rorschach, who was flying in mid-air, landed on the Kirin's deck with an electrical glow, his unease vanished.
"Brother Rorschach, when did you discover that island? Have you already been on the island? Did you find anything? Where's Eneru?"
Hibari lightly leaped down from the crow's nest, ran to Rorschach, and asked with a smiling, upturned face.
A gentle smile appeared on Rorschach's face. He reached out and rubbed her head, chuckling, "I just discovered that island myself. I went to check it out and found quite a few people living there. They're all very easy to get along with, very kind. Oh, and we also found a warship on the island's coast. I don't know if it's Teacher Zephyr's warship. Eneru seems to be on that island too."
"What? You found a warship possibly belonging to Teacher Zephyr? Really?"
Hearing what Rorschach said, everyone on the Kirin cheered up.
"I... I'll contact Grandpa Sengoku right away and tell him this good news!"
Hibari excitedly pulled out her Den Den Mushi and was about to dial, but Rorschach stopped her with a smile.
"Don't rush. That warship is not far ahead. Let's go take a look. If it's not Teacher Zephyr's warship, wouldn't that be a false alarm?"
Everyone heard this and agreed.
So, the Kirin, propelled by its steam paddle wheels, swiftly sailed into the near waters of the island ahead.
As the distance rapidly closed, a vast beach and scattered reefs appeared in everyone's sight.
"Look! There really is a warship docked there!" Sharp-eyed Bepo shouted, pointing to the distant reefs that looked like countless bone spurs.
Hibari quickly shouted to Palmer, who was at the helm, "Quick, bring the ship closer to take a look!"
Palmer immediately complied, turning the Kirin's direction and heading towards the large warship.
Soon, the two large warships slowly docked alongside each other. Hibari, taking the lead, eagerly jumped onto the opposite warship.
Rorschach and a few others followed closely, all boarding the warship moored among the reefs.
Law looked around.
The deck was empty, with no signs of damage. It seemed the warship had docked by itself.
"Speaking of which, does anyone know if Grandpa Zephyr's warship has any special markings? Like Grandpa Garp's dog-headed warship identification," Hibari turned to the others. Seeing them all shake their heads, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"Hehe, I don't think we need any proof."
Rorschach suddenly chuckled.
"Why?" Hibari tilted her head in confusion, but then saw everyone, including Rorschach, looking delighted and pointing behind her.
So Hibari quickly turned around and saw a tall, burly old man with purple hair, wearing a black feathered cloak, chewing on a piece of kelp, and dragging a heavy, massive mechanical arm, walking out of the ship's cabin with a smile on his face.
The man who walked out of the ship's cabin was indeed Zephyr.
Hearing Hibari's words, Zephyr couldn't help but laugh heartily, waving his hand, "That was just a joke on them, don't worry. I already called Sengoku just now."
"Honestly, how can you play such jokes? Don't you know we were worried sick? Grandpa Zephyr, you can't learn bad habits from Grandpa Garp," Hibari pouted.
"Hahaha, alright, alright, I won't play such jokes next time," Zephyr laughed again, then looked at everyone, pointing towards the faintly visible island buildings not far away, "Are you all hungry? Come on, follow me ashore. There are quite a few delicious local specialties here; they'll definitely satisfy you."
"Delicious food?"
Hibari and Bepo, hearing about delicious food, couldn't help but smack their lips and swallow.
After leaving Sandora Island in Alabasta, they had hurried to the Calm Belt and then spent most of the day diligently searching, making them tired and hungry.
Now, upon hearing about delicious food, their eyes immediately lit up.
Hibari looked pitifully at Rorschach. When she saw Rorschach nod with a smile, the soldiers all cheered.
After securing the Kirin, everyone followed Zephyr and Rorschach, stepped onto the beach, and walked towards the town ahead.
On the way, Hibari couldn't help but speak up.
"Grandpa Zephyr, have you been here for the past ten days? What is this place? Why isn't it on our nautical charts?"
Hearing this, everyone looked at Zephyr.
They were all very curious too.
Regarding the Calm Belt, a dangerous sea notorious for its Sea Kings, they had only heard that the legendary Amazon Lily, the Women's Country, was located within it.
"This place," Zephyr grinned, showing a radiant smile, "This is Reunion Country."
"Reunion Country? A strange name," Hibari said, looking confused.
"Hehe, actually, the meaning is very simple: people living on this island can live with those they miss the most, those they most wish to reunite with. How about it? Doesn't that sound very happy?"
Zephyr turned to look at everyone behind him.
"Live with the people you miss the most, the people you most wish to reunite with?"
Everyone looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders.
"The person you miss the most?" Hibari looked stunned, wondering what she was thinking.
Suddenly, Law, who had been silent, let out a low chuckle and whispered, "Can it be dead people too?"
Zephyr and Rorschach's forward steps paused for a moment, then they continued walking forward.
Zephyr's lips curved slightly upwards, and he softly murmured, "Of course. Otherwise, why would this place be called Reunion Country?"
And so, a bustling group of over two hundred people followed Zephyr into the town, heading towards the tavern in the town center that Zephyr had mentioned.
The residents of the island were indeed as Rorschach had described earlier: very friendly.
Even seeing so many of them walking together, they showed no fear. Instead, many hospitable residents smiled and greeted them.
A bearded man named Bess even enthusiastically pulled Bepo, wanting to take him to his house for a meal.
If Law hadn't stopped him, Bepo, who wasn't good at refusing people, would have almost dazedly followed him.
"There are so many people here! I never thought such a prosperous country could exist in a dangerous place like the Calm Belt."
Looking at the buildings and shops lining both sides of the wide streets, with crowded people walking back and forth, each face bearing a happy smile, Palmer couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
No wonder Admiral Zephyr chose to rest in such a place.
The atmosphere here was wonderful: peaceful and tranquil, with friendly, kind, and hospitable people. It was indeed a good place to stay.
This made Palmer think of Water 7.
Soon, everyone followed Zephyr to the tavern he mentioned.
Hibari also saw two familiar faces again.
"Sister Aon!" Hibari happily ran forward and tightly hugged Aon's arm, who was standing at the tavern entrance.
Aon smiled, took her hand, and turned to walk into the tavern behind them. "Hibari, come in quickly! The banquet's already prepared, just waiting for you all to arrive."
Everyone entered with curiosity, then were stunned by the vastness of the tavern hall and the numerous tables and chairs neatly arranged within it.
Especially the platters of delicious food placed on the round tables, which emitted an alluring aroma, stimulating everyone's taste buds, making their throats churn and mouths water.
"So fragrant! So many delicious foods!" Bepo drooled, looking at the large lobsters piled on the table.
"Everyone, please help yourselves. All this food has been prepared for you. Enjoy!" Zephyr pulled out a chair, sat down, and said to the group.
Rorschach also smiled and waved, "Didn't you hear what Teacher Zephyr said? It's a banquet!"
"Woah! Long live Teacher Zephyr!"
The soldiers immediately cheered, dispersed, and sat down at the round tables, beginning to feast heartily.
Law, Hibari, Bepo, and others also followed Rorschach, Aon, Bins, and Zephyr, sitting at a round table.
Bepo looked at the golden-roasted food placed in front of him and curiously asked, "What is this?"
Aon beside him smiled and said, "These are cicadas. Fried cicadas taste delicious, try one if you don't believe me."
"I can already smell it!" Bepo picked one up, popped it into his mouth, and chewed. His eyes immediately lit up. "Delicious!"
He picked up another fragrant cicada and popped it into his mouth, chewing with a crunching sound.
One after another, Bepo couldn't stop eating.
It was the same at the other tables; the soldiers were all eating with gusto.
As soon as they took the first bite, they couldn't help but take a second.
Soon, everyone began to gorge themselves on the food piled in front of them, happy smiles on their faces.
Gradually, in the empty tavern hall, a faint mist began to appear, seemingly from the food.
It seemed to be steam escaping from the food, making the figures of the surrounding Marine soldiers somewhat hazy.
"Hibari, try this," Rorschach placed a bean-sized piece of food in front of Hibari.
"What is this?" Hibari asked, puzzled.
"It's bee larvae, a very delicious specialty of Reunion Country," Rorschach said with a gentle smile.
"Bee larvae? Can you eat those? I've never had them before." Hibari picked up the food, just about to put it in her mouth, but was stopped by Law, who held out his drawn sword. She looked up at Law in surprise. "Law, what are you doing?"
"Don't eat it! This food here, something's wrong!" Law's face turned grim, his muscles tensed, and goosebumps appeared all over his skin. He looked at Zephyr, Rorschach, Aon, and the others, who had gentle smiles on their faces.
"How can that be? This food was carefully prepared by Teacher Zephyr and the others..."
Hibari subconsciously looked at Bepo, who had eaten the food on the table, and her body trembled.
Bepo sat upright, a happy smile on his furry bear face.
In the dim tavern, the smile on his face appeared somewhat eerie.
Seeing Hibari look at him, Bepo grinned and said, "Miss Hibari, why aren't you eating? It's very delicious!"
Not just Bepo, at this moment, all the feasting Marine soldiers around them also stopped eating. Each person's face showed the same contented smile as Bepo's.
"Eat, why aren't you eating? The food here is very delicious," Rorschach's face also held that gentle smile as he looked down at Hibari.
"Brother Rorschach..." Looking at the gentle smile on Rorschach's familiar face, Hibari felt an inexplicable chill.
Zephyr turned to Law, who had his sword drawn, and said in his usual gentle voice, "Why aren't you eating? Is it because you haven't shared the joy of this meal with the person you miss the most, the person you most wish to reunite with? Don't worry, he's already here."
As Zephyr spoke, he turned his head to look behind Law.
Law seemed to suddenly feel something. His pupils dilated little by little, and his body stiffly turned around.
At the entrance of the tavern stood a tall man with a black feathered cloak, short golden hair, and bright lipstick on his lips, smiling awkwardly towards them.
"Yo! Long time no see, Law."
(End of Chapter)
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