"They really went all out with the farewell gifts, didn't they?" Jerry observed as they boarded their ship.
The deck was covered with an impressive array of supplies—various preserved foods, daily necessities, and specialty items that the generous minks had delivered before dawn. It was easily enough provisions to last them several weeks at sea.
Despite the enthusiastic farewell ceremonies the mink tribe had wanted to organize, Jerry's crew had politely declined and parted ways at the city gates. Now they faced the practical task of organizing the mountain of gifts cluttering their deck.
"Alright, everyone grab something and let's get this sorted before we shove off," Jerry called out, rolling up his sleeves.
After the crew and Kotatsu had finished stowing their new supplies and settled into their usual positions, Jerry looked up at Zou's imposing city walls one final time.
"Well then, time to go," he announced with a satisfied smile.
With a casual wave of his hand, Jerry summoned a massive column of seawater that lifted their entire ship smoothly into the air. They rose beyond the edge of Zunesha's back and began accelerating toward the ocean far below.
"AHHH! Can't you go a little slower?!" Carina shrieked, gripping her seat with white knuckles.
"Woohoo! This is way more exciting!" Deuce laughed, though he was holding on just as tightly.
Skull kept his mouth firmly shut, having learned from experience that protesting Jerry's piloting style was utterly pointless.
As they approached the sea surface, Jerry gradually reduced their descent speed and executed a perfect landing with just the right amount of splash—smooth enough to avoid criticism, dramatic enough to be memorable.
Carina struggled to stand on shaking legs, her face pale but her voice fierce with determination. "Ha... hah... I'm going to kill you for that!"
"You're not very threatening when you can barely stand," Jerry replied smugly, completely unfazed by her glare.
He began manipulating the ocean currents to propel their ship forward at impressive speed, leaving Zou's massive form shrinking behind them.
"Wow! It really is the ocean! It's so huge and beautiful!"
An excited voice suddenly interrupted the ongoing argument between Jerry and Carina.
"How the hell is a rabbit so good at hiding?" Jerry muttered, genuinely impressed.
He'd been aboard the ship for quite some time, had even been chatting near the storage areas while organizing supplies, yet somehow hadn't noticed an additional passenger. His Observation Haki should have detected her easily.
"Carrot?! How did you sneak aboard?" Carina immediately shouted upon spotting the young rabbit mink. "You need to go back right now! Your family and the other Musketeers must be worried sick about you!"
Despite having known each other for only a few days, Carina had grown genuinely fond of the innocent and energetic rabbit. Their similar ages had allowed them to bond quickly, which was precisely why she didn't want Carrot embarking on the dangerous life of a pirate.
"You're still too young for this kind of adventure," Carina continued firmly. "Wait a few years before you try something like this."
"But... but Brother Jerry said the outside world is really exciting!" Carrot protested, her ears drooping slightly. "I really want to see it for myself!"
"Besides, I'll definitely get in huge trouble if I go back now," she added with a weak smile.
"And look! I brought lots of supplies and carrots!" She proudly displayed a small backpack that looked woefully inadequate for ocean travel.
"Jerry?!" Carina's death glare immediately locked onto their captain. "This is your fault again!"
Jerry raised his hands defensively, genuinely surprised by the accusation. "Hey, that's totally unfair! I never tried to kidnap her. I just told her some adapted fairy tales while we were fishing yesterday."
"It's still your fault somehow!" Carina shot back irrationally.
"Skull, didn't you set up those Den Den Mushi communication systems? Call them and let's discuss this properly."
"Sister Carina, please don't send me back!" Carrot pleaded, wrapping her arms around Carina's leg with devastating effectiveness. "I promise I'll be really, really good!"
The sight of the adorable rabbit using the most powerful weapon in existence—puppy dog eyes—proved devastatingly effective. Carina's resolve immediately began to crumble as she gently stroked Carrot's hair.
"We still need to talk to them first," she said, though her voice had already softened considerably.
Skull quickly produced his Den Den Mushi, dialed the communication frequency, and handed the device to Carina. The entire crew gathered around to hear the outcome of this unexpected situation.
"Hello? How do you use this thing?" came Wanda's confused voice from the snail.
"Wanda, it's Carina. We have a situation—Carrot followed us when we left Zou."
"Oh, Carina! I was wondering why she didn't show up for morning drills today," Wanda replied with obvious concern. "You need to bring her back immediately!"
Just as Carrot had predicted, Wanda's initial reaction was completely negative. But before anyone could respond, another voice joined the conversation.
"Ha ha, so Carrot finally made her move?" Duke Inuarashi's amused voice came through clearly. "Wanda, don't be too strict with young people. There's nothing wrong with children wanting to explore the world."
Carrot's face lit up with hope upon hearing the duke's supportive tone.
"But Your Grace, she's still so young..." Wanda protested weakly.
"That's not necessarily a problem," Inuarashi replied thoughtfully. "When Nekomamushi and I were her age, we'd already been traveling the seas for several years."
"Your Grace, do you really support her desire to become a pirate?" Wanda asked with obvious surprise.
"It's not about supporting or opposing—it's about recognizing reality. Besides, Carrot has trained extensively with Pedro and the other Guardians. She has genuine ability to protect herself."
Even among the naturally gifted mink tribe, Carrot was considered exceptionally talented. Her acceptance as a Musketeer trainee at such a young age was proof of her capabilities. She was energetic and sometimes reckless, but possessed lightning-fast reflexes and had already mastered most of the fundamental Electro techniques. Her only real limitation was her age and inexperience.
"Mr. Jerry," Inuarashi continued, "you can ensure her safety, can't you?"
"Ha ha, don't worry about that," Jerry replied confidently. "I'm definitely capable of keeping one energetic rabbit out of trouble."
When Jerry heard Inuarashi directing the question to him, he knew the duke had already made his decision.
"Wanda, this situation is infinitely better than what Nekomamushi and I faced when we first left Zou," the duke added pointedly.
"Well... if Your Grace feels this strongly about it," Wanda conceded with obvious reluctance. "Carrot, come closer to the Den Den Mushi."
Wanda still deeply respected Inuarashi's judgment, so she stopped trying to override his decision. But she wasn't going to let Carrot escape without some serious conditions.
Just as Carrot was about to jump for joy, she quickly approached the communication device with appropriate seriousness.
"Yes, Sister Wanda?"
"You can go to sea, but you must follow some non-negotiable rules," Wanda said sternly. "First, you absolutely must protect yourself and never take unnecessary risks. Second, you will contact us via Den Den Mushi every single week without fail."
"I'll explain the situation to your family when I get home. After that, we can discuss more detailed arrangements during our regular communications."
"Okay! Thank you so much, Your Grace! And thank you, Sister Wanda!" Carrot practically bounced with excitement.
"Well, I suppose that settles it for now," Inuarashi concluded. "Take care of each other out there."
After the call ended, Carrot immediately threw her arms around Carina and cheered at the top of her lungs.
"Woohoo! This is amazing! Thank goodness the Duke was there too, or Sister Wanda would have definitely ordered me home for a serious scolding!"
"Listen carefully, Carrot," Carina said, adopting her most serious big-sister voice. "Even though you've gotten permission to come with us, your safety comes first, always. You absolutely must be obedient and never act on your own, or we really will send you back home."
"Yes! I understand completely, Sister Carina!" Carrot replied earnestly, immediately stopping her celebratory dancing to show proper respect for the warning.
Then she immediately resumed her excited cheering.
Carrot had always been full of curiosity about the outside world, longing for freedom and adventure beyond Zou's borders. But her young age, their isolated environment, and her fear of disappointing Wanda and the other authority figures had kept her dreams locked away in her heart.
Jerry's arrival had provided the perfect opportunity. Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi both held favorable opinions of the Black Star Pirates, and several days of interaction had given everyone a good sense of the crew's character. Otherwise, Inuarashi would never have agreed so readily.
Plus, Jerry's seemingly endless supply of carrots and his captivating adventure stories had completely won Carrot over from the beginning.
"You've really stepped outside your comfort zone now, Carrot," Jerry observed with a mixture of amusement and resignation. "I'd love to step into a comfort zone myself for once."
Looking at the energetic young rabbit bouncing around the deck with pure joy, Jerry could only shake his head and smile. She was definitely too young to fully understand what she was getting into, but her enthusiasm was infectious.
And honestly, having someone aboard who was still capable of seeing the world with such wonder and excitement might be exactly what their crew needed.
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