"Wow!!! So cool!"
Chopper, who followed Tina into the villa area, exclaimed in disbelief as he looked at the flat asphalt road and the neatly arranged villas on both sides.
"Tina, have you always lived here? I can't believe you managed to build such an amazing town in the desert!"
Hearing Chopper's words, Tina explained with a smile:
"No! We're just camping here temporarily! We'll be leaving tomorrow!"
"What? You're just camping here temporarily? Then these houses, and this road, are all...?"
Chopper pointed at the houses by the road, then at the ground beneath his feet, asking with an expression that said, "Are you sure you're not joking with me?"
"Hmm, the main reason we can do all this is because of this..."
As she spoke, Tina took out a capsule from her cute backpack, pressed a switch, and threw it on the ground.
Bang!
The capsule spewed a thick cloud of white smoke, and when the smoke cleared, a pink children's pedal bike appeared before Chopper's eyes.
"Sugoi (So cool)!"
Chopper's eyes sparkled like electric lights as he looked at the suddenly appearing bike.
"This is called a Space Capsule. It can store real-world objects and release them when needed!"
Tina explained seriously to Chopper.
"Oh oh oh!!! It's really amazing!!!"
Just as Chopper was about to ask where such an amazing capsule could be bought, a gentle male voice reached their ears.
"Tina, you really don't wake up during the day and never sleep at night, still wandering around in the middle of the night!"
Hearing the voice, Tina turned her head and said in surprise:
"Chen Gege! Why aren't you asleep yet!"
"I heard you brought in a raccoon that gets lost even in the middle of the night, so I was curious to come and see!"
After speaking, Zhong Chen looked at Chopper, who was angry and about to say something.
[It really is Chopper. That means Luffy and the others are also nearby!]
In fact, Zhong Chen's appearance here was not accidental. After the guards outside reported to the captain, the captain reported directly to Zhong Chen.
And when Zhong Chen heard that Tina had brought in a talking reindeer, the first thing that came to his mind was Chopper.
Then this scene unfolded. Zhong Chen didn't really have any special views on the Straw Hat Pirates.
Although they were the protagonists in the anime, this was reality. If he could help them, he would, but he wouldn't go out of his way to do anything. Everything would just happen naturally.
"What's wrong? This little raccoon seems very unhappy!"
Zhong Chen looked at Chopper, who was angry but dared not speak, with a teasing expression.
"I... I... I am..."
Thinking of the warning from the person before he came in, Chopper stammered for a long time but didn't dare to say anything.
"Chen Gege! Chopper is clearly a reindeer, you shouldn't tease him!"
Hearing Tina say this, Zhong Chen gave up his plan to continue bullying Chopper, straightened his expression, extended his right hand to Chopper, and said:
"Haha! I was just joking with you. Let's get acquainted, my name is Zhong Chen!"
Looking at the gentle smile on the handsome young man's face, Chopper couldn't help but extend his small hand.
"Hello! My name is Chopper! I'm a reindeer! Not a raccoon!"
Looking at Chopper, who was still emphasizing his identity, Zhong Chen nodded repeatedly and said:
"Of course, how could you be a raccoon when you're so cute! Don't you agree!"
"Hehe! Even if you praise me like that, I won't be happy! Idiot!"
Looking at Chopper, who was completely immersed in being praised, Zhong Chen couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Alright, Chopper, let me ask you a question! Where are the other members of your Straw Hat Pirate Crew?"
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Chopper instantly sobered up from his secret delight.
Then he looked at Zhong Chen warily, already planning to escape at any time.
"You... how do you know I'm a member of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew?"
Hearing Chopper's words, Zhong Chen pulled out a wanted poster from his pocket and showed it to Chopper.
On it was a drawing of Chopper drooling over a handful of cotton candy.
Below the drawing was a detailed bounty amount.
"Isn't this you! The little reindeer with a bounty of 50 Berries!!!"
(In the original work, the bounty only appeared after Enies Lobby. Here, let's just assume the author moved it up for plot progression, as its bounty doesn't really affect anything.)
"Eh eh eh!!!"
Looking at his wanted poster, Chopper's eyes instantly widened, and then he stared at Zhong Chen nervously, saying:
"Are you going to capture me for the bounty?"
Chopper felt that he was probably doomed this time.
Luffy, everyone, I'm afraid I can't go back. I just hope you all can continue smoothly in the future.
Zhong Chen looked at Chopper, who looked like he was about to bravely sacrifice himself, and couldn't help but reach out and stroke his head, saying softly:
"Haha! You little fellow, I didn't say I was going to catch you. Don't worry, I have no ill intentions towards you!"
"If I really had ill intentions, even if your entire Straw Hat Crew came, it wouldn't make any difference!"
"But it seems I don't need to ask you anymore!"
Sensing the Straw Hat Pirates lurking outside the camp, Zhong Chen said to Chopper with a playful expression:
"Your companions really don't trust you, do they? They're all hiding outside the camp. Should I invite them in too?"
Chopper's face instantly showed a look of emotion upon hearing this.
"Everyone... Wuwuwu!!!"
"Alright, stop crying. Let's go, bring your companions in. It just so happens that I also want to meet the famous Straw Hat Crew!"
"Tina, you come too!"
"Oh!"
The little loli nodded gently and followed Zhong Chen back the way they came.
"Eh!!! Wait for me!"
Looking at their backs, Chopper hurried to catch up.
Meanwhile, outside the camp
"Vivi, it's incredible that your Alabasta can build such a prosperous town in the desert!"
Nami put down her telescope and said to Vivi in surprise.
Vivi, however, shook her head gently and said with a solemn expression:
"Nami, I don't know what's going on, but as far as I know, there isn't a town like this in any desert in the entire country."
"Perhaps His Majesty might know something!"
At this, Sanji spoke with a serious expression:
"Then that means the people in this town shouldn't be rebels or Crocodile's men!"
"It's hard to be sure. The entire country is in chaos now, with various forces intertwined. I can't be certain whose people they are!"
Luffy, hearing this, quickly said:
"Then why don't we just charge in directly? Chopper has been in there for so long. What if he gets caught... No, I have to go in and see!"
As he spoke, Luffy was about to rush out, but Usopp, who was beside him, quickly pulled him back, saying helplessly:
"Luffy! Calm down! We should discuss this properly now, not just rush in mindlessly!!!"
Just as the group was looking worried, Zoro raised his telescope and looked into the distance:
"Wait, look, isn't that Chopper?"
"What!"
Hearing Zoro's words, everyone picked up the telescopes hanging around their necks and looked in the direction Zoro was pointing.
They saw a handsome young man walking in front, holding hands with an incredibly cute little loli.
And following behind the two was the Chopper everyone had been thinking about...