OPTC Chapter 257 Destination
While Zhang Da Ye was speaking with Vice Admiral Gion, the Golden Lion Shiki had already drifted back to his main base — the largest of his many floating islands. Upon it stood a grand palace surrounded by the Flying Pirates' ships.
The figurehead of the Flying Pirates' ship was a lion's head — not the cute, cartoonish kind like the Straw Hats', but a majestic, fearsome beast.
Shiki landed at the ship's entrance and walked inside. The clinking sound of his twin swords echoed as their blades struck the stone floor — perhaps specially modified, since most floors in the ship were made of stone. Even after ten years of being used as his prosthetic legs, Sakura Ten and Kogarashi hadn't dulled in the slightest — their quality was undeniable.
A blue-haired clown in a white lab coat and a brightly dressed gorilla came forward to greet him.
As the clown walked, his shoes made strange "poof-poof" noises, oddly in rhythm with the metallic clinks of Shiki's steps.
Inside, dozens of people sat at various monitoring devices. When Shiki entered, they stood and shouted in unison, "Welcome back, Lord Shiki!"
Some of them were monitoring the islands' conditions, while others were weather specialists, analyzing atmospheric data with their instruments.
After his bitter loss at the Battle of Edd War, one of the first things Shiki did after escaping prison was to assemble a professional meteorological team.
Of course, while they looked professional, their collective accuracy — even with all their fancy instruments — was still nowhere near Nami's natural talent.
After everyone greeted him, the clown waved his arms around dramatically for a while. When no one understood what he was trying to say, he finally gave up and said, "You've worked hard, Lord Shiki!"
"So you can talk!" everyone, including Shiki, shouted in unison.
Perhaps due to the rudder lodged in his head, the Golden Lion often displayed a strange sense of humor. He now turned toward the colorfully dressed gorilla and shouted in surprise, "Grandma?!"
The clown yelled in his ear, "That's Scaletto! Why would you think it's your grandma? Are you part gorilla?!"
"Ah, right. Scaletto and Indigo," Shiki muttered, lighting a cigar. "How's the exploration team coming along?"
"They're all waiting at Melview, ready to depart anytime," the clown Indigo replied. "With the beasts we caught on Rare Beast Island, our research should advance much faster."
"Then let's begin." Shiki's mind stirred, and the Crown Island slowly drifted toward the island called Melview. When their edges collided, a minor quake rippled through both lands — the two islands connected roughly but firmly.
If one looked closely, there were still gaps between them — definitely not a place for someone afraid of heights.
But Shiki's exploration team was well-trained and unafraid. Dozens of muscular men with thin legs calmly held large snails, placing them along the island's edge at even intervals.
The snails blinked their big eyes as they slowly crawled inland, glancing around. The view from their eyes was transmitted onto the monitors in the control room, allowing the researchers to observe everything happening on the island.
The men didn't leave right away. They stood ready with rifles, bows, and iron cages, waiting for the scientists to identify capture targets before moving in.
Meanwhile, Flag Demon Sui Feng'er crouched on a tree, observing everything. Hidden among thick foliage, his dark green body blended perfectly with the environment.
Melview was the island he had discovered earlier — the one still inhabited by villagers. When he saw Shiki's exploration team arriving, he momentarily abandoned his investigation of the village to monitor them instead, reporting everything to Ye Yan.
"So that earlier tremor was caused by two islands colliding," Ye Yan said. "And those big snails are… what, surveillance devices?"
Zeoler nodded. "Their full name should be Automated Propulsion Imaging Den Den Mushi. Basically, mobile surveillance units."
Zhang Da Ye sighed. "While other pirates and even most kingdoms still rely on sentries and scouts, the Golden Lion's already running a full smart surveillance network. Talk about staying ahead of the times — impressive."
"We've arrived," Artoria reminded them.
By now, they had reached the riverbank where they'd originally docked their ship. Zhang Da Ye was quietly thankful that the volcanic eruption near Crown Island had pushed them into the inner river. If their ship had stayed outside, it would've drifted away when the island moved, and they'd never have found it again.
But—
"Where's my ship?" Zhang Da Ye looked around but saw no sign of the Amber. "They hid it that fast?"
Ye Yan said, "Without a prearranged location, it's hard to find. Just use the Life Card."
Artoria shook her head. "No need. The Amber's right across the river."
"Huh?" Everyone blinked, doubting their eyes.
Then, a cat's head peeked over the opposite riverbank and waved cheerfully when it saw Zhang Da Ye.
Only then did they realize the Amber had been there all along — right where they left it. It was docked tightly against the riverbank and covered with a camouflaged tarp. The pattern and colors blended perfectly with the surrounding terrain. Unless someone touched it directly, they'd never notice it was there.
The group climbed aboard through the flap Tom had lifted. "Which genius came up with this idea?" Zhang Da Ye asked.
Tom crossed his arms proudly. Zhang Da Ye immediately understood.
Shark Chili explained, "Since it's hard to find a good hiding spot for a ship, Tom modified one of the parachutes into camouflage fabric. Unless you're underwater, there's no way to spot it."
Brook chuckled. "Even when I saw it myself, I almost bit my tongue from shock! Yohohoho—though I don't have a tongue."
Though Zhang Da Ye and the others were initially startled, they quickly accepted it as reasonable.
Only Zeoler looked utterly dumbfounded. "That… cat did this?"
Seeing how everyone else treated it as normal, the zoologist began doubting reality itself. He'd never seen such an incredible cat. Even when he met the King of Beasts, he hadn't felt this level of awe.
Oh right — he'd heard during the banquet that this very cat almost became the new Animal King. Back then, he thought it was absurd, but now… maybe those animals had a point.
"Da Ye-chan, can you hear me?" Vice Admiral Gion's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Loud and clear. Have you pinpointed our location?"
"Yes, but you're still moving. At this rate, you'll soon enter the Calm Belt."
"Which one?"
"The one between the Grand Line and the East Blue."
Where was that man heading? The plan to destroy East Blue shouldn't happen until ten years later, when Luffy sets sail. What's he doing heading there now — visiting Garp for old times' sake?
[Powerstones plz...
patreon.com/GuessMyName33 for 50 chapters ahead
If you like this novel, check out my other novels in my profile!]