"Big Mom Pirates?"
Hearing Skull's alarmed exclamation, both Deuce and Jerry immediately turned their attention toward the hazy island visible in the distance, straining their eyes to make out more details of what lay ahead.
"That's perfect," Jerry said after a moment of consideration, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Let's find a way to get ourselves a proper ship while we're there."
The decision seemed obvious to him—their current ship was barely seaworthy, and this represented an opportunity to solve their most pressing problem.
"Jerry, come on..." Deuce's voice carried a note of genuine concern. "This isn't something to joke about."
Seeing Jerry's eager expression and hearing him talk about venturing into one of the Four Emperors' territories as casually as if he were planning a trip to the local market, Deuce found himself questioning whether following Jerry on this adventure had been a wise decision.
Skull turned his skull-adorned head to stare directly at Jerry, his body language clearly asking whether his captain was being serious about this incredibly dangerous plan.
"Hey, don't worry so much!" Jerry said with characteristic confidence, waving off their concerns. "I just want to acquire a boat from the island ahead. Once we get what we need, we'll leave immediately. Simple and clean."
He gestured toward their damaged ship with obvious disdain. "Deuce, don't be so timid. You just came out of the Whitebeard Pirates—how can you be afraid of the Big Mom Pirates?"
Jerry pointed toward Kotatsu, who was lounging peacefully in a sunny spot on the deck. "Look! Even Kotatsu isn't worried about this!"
His tone became more persuasive as he continued. "You don't seriously intend to keep sailing around the New World in this floating wreck, do you? It would cost more to repair this thing than it's worth, and it might fall apart completely in the next storm."
Seeing that his friends were still hesitant about the plan, Jerry continued his argument with a mixture of logic and emotional appeal.
Deuce and Skull exchanged meaningful glances, both recognizing the truth in Jerry's assessment. Their ship was indeed in such a state of disrepair that it would never survive the harsh conditions of the New World. Every storm risked being their last, and finding replacement parts for such an old ship would be nearly impossible.
"Alright," Deuce finally said with resignation, "but let's make this absolutely clear from the start—we go in, get what we need, and leave without causing any unnecessary trouble."
"You have my word," Jerry replied with a grin, already taking action.
With a casual wave of his hand, Jerry began manipulating the ocean currents beneath their damaged ship, guiding them steadily toward the island that loomed larger with each passing minute.
Perhaps it was because the previous night's massive storm had also affected this particular area of the ocean, disrupting normal patrol schedules and communication networks. Or maybe the surveillance ships that typically guarded the edges of Totto Land had been called away for some urgent business elsewhere.
Whatever the reason, the reconnaissance ships that should have been patrolling the outer perimeter of Big Mom's territory were notably absent. No one appeared to intercept their obviously damaged ship as it approached the coastline.
The small crew managed to make landfall secretly in an inconspicuous corner of the island, beaching their ship among some natural rock formations that provided cover from casual observation.
Now they found themselves walking boldly through the streets of one of the most dangerous territories in the New World, and the experience was unlike anything they had encountered before.
Many of the buildings around them appeared to be constructed from edible materials—walls that looked like chocolate, roofs that resembled frosting, and architectural details that seemed to be made from various candies and confections. Some structures even emitted delicious aromas that made their mouths water involuntarily.
"If I remember correctly, Big Mom has an obsession with sweets and desserts," Deuce observed, his initial nervousness beginning to give way to fascination. "There must be countless shops selling incredible treats throughout her territory, and they probably taste amazing too."
Looking at this unprecedented island with its whimsical, food-themed architecture, the creative spirit within Deuce's heart could no longer be suppressed. His worries were overwhelmed by professional curiosity as his hands moved at lightning speed, scribbling notes and observations in his journal while they walked.
Skull was walking quietly with his head down, apparently deep in thought about something important, though he didn't share his concerns with the others.
"Well then, let's find ourselves something to eat first," Jerry suggested cheerfully. "We can take care of business after we've had a proper meal."
Seeing that his friends seemed absorbed in their own activities and observations, Jerry took the initiative and casually strolled toward a nearby dessert shop that looked particularly inviting.
When they stepped inside the establishment, they were immediately struck by the bright, colorful decoration that created a childlike and wonderfully warm atmosphere. The interior design seemed to prioritize whimsy and comfort over sophistication, with curved lines and pastel colors dominating the space.
It was probably still quite early in the day, as the shop had apparently just opened for business. There were no other customers present, leaving only a woman wearing a flour-dusted apron working behind the counter alongside a young child who was presumably her son or daughter.
"Welcome!" the shopkeeper called out in a friendly voice when she noticed them entering. "Please feel free to look around and take your time deciding what you'd like."
She continued working on what appeared to be an elaborate dessert preparation while speaking, her hands moving with the practiced efficiency of someone who had been perfecting her craft for years.
"Excuse me," Jerry said politely, approaching the counter with his two friends and Kotatsu trailing behind him. "Could we please have something to eat?"
He pointed at the menu board displayed prominently behind the counter and began ordering various items somewhat randomly, trusting in the local reputation for quality that Deuce had mentioned.
"Of course! Just give me a few moments to prepare everything," the shopkeeper replied warmly, glancing at his selections before turning back to her work area.
As she busied herself with their order, a small drama began unfolding in the kitchen area that was partially visible from the main shop.
"Mom, I want to eat that too," came a child's voice, clearly expressing the kind of immediate desire that was typical of young people.
"Be good, sweetheart," the shopkeeper replied patiently while continuing her work. "Those particular items are custom orders for other customers and need to be delivered soon."
Her voice carried the practiced patience of a parent dealing with familiar demands. "If you want something like that, I'll be happy to make it for you afterward."
"But I want to eat it right now..." the child persisted with the stubborn insistence that only children could maintain.
Listening to the ongoing negotiation between mother and child, accompanied by the various sounds of baking and preparation, Jerry found himself amused by the familiar domestic scene. It reminded him of similar interactions he had witnessed in countless shops and restaurants throughout their travels.
Jerry didn't pay much attention to Deuce and Skull, who remained absorbed in their respective activities—Deuce frantically scribbling observations in his journal while Skull continued his contemplative silence. Instead, Jerry focused on playing with Kotatsu, who seemed perfectly content to explore this new environment through his enhanced feline senses.
After what felt like a reasonable amount of time, the shopkeeper emerged from the kitchen area carrying a tray laden with an impressive assortment of colorful desserts. She placed them carefully in front of Jerry and his friends, then immediately hurried back toward the kitchen with obvious urgency, suggesting that she was dealing with multiple orders simultaneously.
"Let's eat," Jerry announced cheerfully, distributing some of the treats to Kotatsu before reaching for his own portion. "This should definitely count as experiencing one of the local specialties."
He began eating the food in front of him without hesitation, confident in the quality based on both the appearance and the tantalizing aromas rising from the various confections.
Seeing their captain's enthusiastic approach to the meal, Deuce finally put away his notebook and encouraged Skull to join them in sampling the local cuisine.
"This is incredible!" Jerry exclaimed after tasting several different items, his appreciation for the craftsmanship evident in his expression.
"By the way," Deuce said suddenly, pausing in his own eating, "when we were still on the boat earlier, it seemed like our Den Den Mushi picked up some kind of signal and started ringing. Did either of you hear that?"
Jerry was about to respond when Skull suddenly jerked upright as if struck by lightning.
"Boss Jerry!" Skull exclaimed with obvious alarm. "I just remembered something important—there are surveillance systems throughout this entire territory! We've probably already been detected!"
His words had the effect of a wake-up call, reminding them all of something crucial they had overlooked in their focus on immediate concerns like food and shelter.
"Hmm?" Jerry looked up from his meal, his mouth still full of dessert. "Well, if we've been found, we've been found."
His casual attitude toward what was potentially a very serious situation reflected his confidence in their ability to handle whatever consequences might arise.
Several people were about to continue their conversation when they were interrupted by a commotion from within the shop.
"Excuse me, sir!" the shopkeeper's voice suddenly rang out with obvious panic. "I think I may have served you the wrong items!"
She came rushing out from the preparation area, her face flushed with distress and her hands gesturing frantically toward the food Jerry was currently enjoying.
Jerry looked at her with genuine puzzlement as she pointed with a trembling finger at the desserts he had been eating.
"Those... those were custom-made for very important customers and were supposed to be delivered..." she explained, her voice shaking with what appeared to be genuine fear about the implications of this mistake.
The shopkeeper's obvious terror suggested that whoever had ordered these particular items was someone she absolutely could not afford to disappoint.
Jerry could only look at her with innocent confusion, since he had simply ordered randomly from the menu without knowing the specific names or significance of any particular items.
"Oh? Is that so?" he replied with characteristic directness. "But I've already eaten most of them."
"I... I'll try to remake everything as quickly as possible," the shopkeeper said, taking a deep breath and clearly steeling herself for what would be a challenging task. "I just hope it won't be too late."
Her decisive response showed that despite her obvious distress, she was someone who faced problems head-on rather than simply panicking.
However, at that precise moment, the sound of multiple footsteps and voices could be heard approaching from outside the shop.
Then several large, intimidating men dressed in what appeared to be formal service uniforms pushed through the door and entered the establishment with the kind of confidence that suggested they were accustomed to being obeyed without question.
"How's everything going, shopkeeper?" the apparent leader of the group asked in a business-like tone. "Are all the items from our special order ready for pickup?"
But then their attention immediately shifted to Jerry and his friends, and their expressions changed dramatically when they noticed the partially consumed desserts in Jerry's hands.
"Who are you people!" one of them demanded with growing anger. "And what do you have in your hands!"
"Damn it! He's eaten our master's food!" another exclaimed with obvious outrage.
"They don't look like they're from around here," a third man observed with suspicious eyes. "Quick! Sound the alarm!"
"You!" the leader pointed directly at Jerry with clear hostility. "Surrender immediately!"
After entering the shop with apparently routine expectations, the group had quickly assessed the situation and identified Jerry and his friends as unauthorized intruders who had somehow consumed items that were clearly meant for someone very important.
Their faces had transformed from casual professionalism to genuine fury, and they were now pulling out guns and various weapons, clearly prepared to resort to violence at the slightest provocation.
The shopkeeper, caught between her customers and these threatening individuals, appeared to be on the verge of stepping forward to explain the innocent mistake, but Jerry stood up and raised his hand to stop her intervention.
"You can't really blame me for this," Jerry said calmly, turning to address Deuce while completely ignoring the weapons being pointed in his direction. "They were the ones who decided to point guns at me first."
After making this observation to his increasingly alarmed friend, Jerry completely disregarded Deuce's expression of concern and walked directly toward the armed men with casual confidence.
"Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!"
The sound of multiple gunshots filled the small shop as the men opened fire, but Jerry simply waved his hand with practiced ease and caught the bullets in mid-flight with his bare hands.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent the projectiles flying back toward their original sources with deadly accuracy.
The enemies were completely unable to react in time to this impossible display of skill, and they were struck down one after another in rapid succession, falling to the ground while clutching their wounds and crying out in pain and shock.
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