Chapter 163: Civet Cat Pato, the Mythical Beast's Ability to Transform into a Civet
Somewhere in the New World, a giant pink-gold dragon soared freely over the sea, twisting and rolling. On its head stood a man. The 2 seemed to be fused, possessing an extremely high degree of synergy. The pink-gold divine dragon occasionally spat out a sharp sword qi, carving out huge waves on the sea surface. There was also a golden lion with wings flying around, with several joyfully shouting girls sitting on its back. In the sky, the dragon and lion flew, looking very harmonious and happy. Below on the sea, a magnificent Sanjuan Wolf followed closely behind.
"So cool!" Bonney, a pink-haired little girl sitting at the very front of the Kirin Lion, was the loudest in her joyful shouts. Behind Bonney were Kaya, Nami, and Baby5. On the Exile Emperor, Nojiko, Maya, and Reiju gave the opportunity to play to these little ones and the playful Baby5. However, once Bonney and the others got tired of playing, they would also take a turn riding the Kirin Lion.
Pato, a tanuki digging at a large oyster on the seashore, suddenly perked up its ears, hearing a series of joyful laughter. It looked up at the sea, its pupils suddenly contracting; it actually saw a divine dragon and a flying lion. Were they monsters? There were humans on the divine dragon and the lion! It then saw the magnificent Sanjuan Wolf sailing behind. Strangers had arrived.
Pato quickly clutched the large oyster in its mouth and hid behind a large reef, secretly observing these strangers. However, the joyful laughter in the sky deeply attracted it. It also wanted to be so happy, to have such companions.
'That divine dragon and the winged lion seemed to be monsters, just like me,' Pato thought. It suddenly looked at these humans with a bit of longing. They could be companions with a divine dragon and a flying lion, so they probably wouldn't dislike a talking tanuki monster like itself, right? This talking tanuki was regarded as a monster by humans on the island. No human was willing to approach it, and some even wanted to expel and kill it. This made Pato feel very wronged. Like the former reindeer Chopper, it really wanted to integrate among humans.
Just then, a black crow flew across the sky, and it was speaking! This made Pato's eyes light up, as if seeing a kindred spirit. This crow could speak. Didn't that mean this group of humans might very well accept it, this little monster? Pato's little heart was beating violently. It really wanted to get to know these humans and animal kin. But its long-standing inferiority and caution made it hesitate to step out from behind the reef.
"Roar, it seems there's an interesting little fellow!" The Seven Stars Dragon Emperor suddenly looked towards some reefs by the sea, its voice echoing in the sky. Issho had already detected a presence on the shore, but the timidity emanating from the little fellow made him not want to disturb this unfamiliar small creature. Kael's Observation Haki also swept over it.
Pato heard that this divine dragon could also speak, and it became even more excited. Another talking monster 'kin'. But the next second, it realized it seemed to have been discovered. It instantly became conflicted between running away and revealing itself. If it ran away, it might never encounter so many kindred spirits again. If it revealed itself, it didn't know if these humans were good people.
"Could it be that little fellow?" Kael sensed the little fellow behind the reef and immediately became interested. If it really was the tanuki that Red Count Redfield would encounter later, this little fellow was not simple. That tanuki was a Mythical Zoan, Bake-Bake Fruit user.
Before Kael could go over, after the voice of the Seven Star Sword Spirit, this little fellow tremblingly emerged from behind the reef, holding a stack of green leaves in its hand, seemingly ready to flee at any moment.
"H-hello, are you... are you good people? Can I become your companion?" Pato seemed to use all its courage, shouting at the crow and the divine dragon in the sky. Its small body was trembling uncontrollably.
"Another talking Treasure Beast? Why does it look a bit silly? Who directly asks others if they are good people?"
"It looks as cute as Chopper."
Whether it was the girls on the Kirin Lion or the people on the Exile Emperor, everyone looked with interest at this tanuki wearing a pink robe. Amidst the humans' words, Pato was so nervous that it kept gulping. Especially hearing others call it silly, which nearly broke its sensitive nerves. Was it being looked down upon and rejected again? It could not help but want to cry and run away.
"Yes, little fellow, welcome to join us. There are many good people on this ship," Kael said directly. Why wouldn't he want such a Mythical Zoan ability user who came to his doorstep? He, Bege, and Laffitte were not necessarily good people, but Issho, Kaya, Nami, and Bonney were truly kind and good people. This was not lying... to a cat, was it?
Pato, who was about to run away, could hardly believe its ears. That human standing on the divine dragon's head seemed to have accepted it, allowing it to become their companion.
"Your Majesty actually spoke personally. It's just a talking animal," Aramaki said, a little shocked. "This tanuki looks even weaker than Chopper." One should know that on Treasure Beast Island, Kael didn't even care for the talking Karasuke and Aum. However, Aramaki did value that little reindeer from Drum Island very much. Could this little tanuki also possess some special ability?
"Kirin Lion, charge! Go pick up our little companion," Bonney shouted joyfully. She wanted this little tanuki. The Kirin Lion immediately flapped its wings, flying down to the reef cluster by the sea and landing in front of Pato.
"Let's go ashore and resupply. See if there are any special delicacies," Kael instructed the people on the Exile Emperor. He also rode the Seven Stars Dragon Emperor directly to the shore. As Kael jumped onto the beach, the massive pink-gold dragon transformed into a small dragon, coiling on Kael's shoulder. Just now, Kael rode it; now it 'rides' Kael. This was very fair.
Bonney had already jumped off the Kirin Lion and hugged the silly and adorable tanuki. This overly intimate attack made Pato stiffen all over, but it felt that Bonney had no ill will, only pure affection. Its body slowly softened, and it began to enjoy the human girl's embrace. These humans really didn't seem to dislike monsters. Pato was almost moved to tears in its heart. This was truly wonderful.
"Welcome to the Goa Empire, little fellow," Kael said. He looked at the green leaves in the tanuki's hand. Indeed, this was that Mythical Zoan tanuki, Red Count's future companion. To gain Redfield's acknowledgment, one could tell how pure and kind this tanuki's heart was. One should know that Red Count had seen through the filth and evil of human nature and did not want to associate with anyone. Of course, besides Pato's kindness and simplicity, its Bake-Bake ability was also one of the conditions for it to become Red Count's only companion. Red Count did not look down on useless and weaklings.
"Captain, my name is Pato, and I am a tanuki," Pato said, speaking from Bonney's embrace. Kael's commanding demeanor just now clearly showed he was the Captain.
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