The atmosphere was a bit strange. Shirahoshi was the first to break the silence, greeting Jinbe, "Master Jinbe, it's been a long time."
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Jinbe's stern expression instantly softened, his face full of warmth: "Oh, I didn't expect Princess Shirahoshi to be here too. Long time no see!!! Ah ah ah????"
Mid-sentence, Jinbe seemed to suddenly realize something and cried out in astonishment ∑(❍ロ❍ฺlll)
"Princess Shirahoshi!! How did you end up here!"
At this moment, Chopper seized the opportunity while everyone was present, pulling the injured Hachi downwards, yelling, "Hey... Franky, I need to move Hachi downstairs, hurry and give me a hand."
Jinbe heard the name "Hachi," turned around in confusion, and blinked a few times.
When he saw Hachi, wrapped up like a mummy, his eyes widened again:
"Hey!!! Hachi!! How did you get all those injuries? By the way, weren't you supposed to be captured with Arlong? How are you on Fish-Man Island!!"
Orochimaru looked at the group of people around him and found it dull, thinking it would be more comfortable back on the sunny. So, he reached out and patted Luffy, saying,
"Put me down... I want to go back to the sunny.
Also, don't carry me on your shoulder anymore! It's uncomfortable! I've grown taller! Don't just carry me around anymore!"
Luffy, however, ignored Orochimaru's protest, simply moved him from his shoulder, and held him in a bridal carry, muttering, "So troublesome... still acting spoiled at this age."
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's face instantly flushed red, and he transformed into a shark-faced roar:
"Who's acting spoiled!! Where did you lose your emotional intelligence these past two years!
Also, how are you so skilled at the bridal carry? Who exactly have you carried!"
(Empress next door shyly flinched (⸝⸝ᵕᴗᵕ⸝⸝)... It was me...)
Luffy completely disregarded Orochimaru's roar, his gaze instantly shifting to the male Fishman who had suddenly appeared on the sunny, his tone a bit displeased.
"Hey! Who are you! Why are you on the sunny!"
Franky walked over at this moment and explained to Luffy,
"He's my shipbuilding master, Tom's younger brother, Dan.
He's helping to coat the ship."
Luffy understood after hearing this, a smile appearing on his face.
"So that's what it is. Franky's younger brother... and a coating master."
As he spoke, Luffy casually handed the Orochimaru in his arms to Franky.
Franky instinctively took him, and for a moment, the air seemed to freeze, quiet and a bit awkward.
Franky blinked a few times, looking at Luffy.
"Alright, that's about it..." Franky placed Orochimaru on his shoulder and gave Luffy a thumbs-up.
ヾ(ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́)✧
The Fishman Dan on the ship tried to maintain a stiff smile. How did his seniority drop a level so suddenly? Did no one care about his feelings?
On the other side, Jinbe frowned, gazing at the massive Mermaid Princess, and spoke earnestly, "Princess Shirahoshi, I understand your intentions, but this action is far too dangerous. You know in your heart that someone has always been secretly watching... But..."
Before he could finish, Luffy abruptly interjected, cutting off Jinbe's words.
"Don't worry, that guy has already been flattened into a meat patty by the coward, and I don't know if he's dead or alive.
Besides, I'll be responsible for protecting her."
Shirahoshi also nodded with a look of trust.
Jinbe's face was filled with disbelief, first looking at Luffy, then at Shirahoshi, for a moment suspecting he was hallucinating: "Mr. Luffy, are you saying you flattened that person?"
Luffy blinked a few times: "Not me, the coward did it."
Jinbe mentally pieced it together: "Could it be that someone named coward knocked Vander Decken flying?"
"Shirahoshi is the coward (°ー°〃)." Luffy pointed at Shirahoshi.
Jinbe was stunned for a moment, then burst into a loud laugh, no longer discussing the topic.
"How is that possible, Mr. Luffy, you're quite the joker."
After a while, Luffy looked at Shirahoshi, who was still maintaining a praying posture, a hint of worry in his tone.
"She's been standing there like that for a long time."
Jinbe sighed softly and slowly said,
"Her mother, Queen Otohime, rests here. Vander Decken also began relentlessly pursuing Princess Shirahoshi shortly after the Queen's death.
Therefore, the Princess didn't even attend her mother's funeral, spending ten years in the Hard Shell Tower.
She must have a thousand words she wants to tell her mother."
Luffy stared at Shirahoshi's back, lost in thought.
Suddenly Nami's voice reached them.
"Luffy! Orochimaru!"
The two looked in the direction of the voice and saw Nami and Camie in the Fishman bus.
Luffy's voice held a hint of joy as he greeted the two.
Orochimaru also, for once, smiled and waved at Nami.
Nami, who had reunited with Luffy and the others, had a heavy expression as she recounted how Ryugu Kingdom had been occupied by Hody Jones, and how King Neptune and others had been captured.
Upon hearing this, Shirahoshi couldn't help but cry.
Jinbe, however, suddenly stood up and bowed, apologizing to everyone.
"Mr. Luffy, I am truly sorry. I didn't want to cause you trouble, which is why I sent a message, but it seems I've already dragged you into this.
Although the situation is urgent now, two years ago, when I met you, the situation was much more severe than it is now.
I express my heartfelt gratitude to the people who stopped Arlong's brutal acts in the East Blue.
That would be you all, thank you for allowing me to thank you again.
At the same time, please accept my apology. Eleven years ago,
the culprit who exiled that Arlong to the East Blue,
was this old man."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces instantly darkened.
Nami's right hand uncontrollably pressed on the tattoo, and she took a step forward.
"What exactly happened? You said you exiled Arlong to the East Blue?"
Sanji lit his cigarette with a lighter and took a deep drag.
"I've heard about it too. The first time I heard the name Shichibukai Jinbe with Luffy, Joseph said this:
"Jinbe, in exchange for joining the Shichibukai, released a dangerous fellow into the East Blue."
Two years ago, when I learned from the newspaper that you were with Jinbe, a question mark appeared in my mind.
I always thought Jinbe was the mastermind behind Arlong's group.
I thought you were manipulated by Orochimaru and forced to act with him, which is why you were so angry with Orochimaru.
After all, Orochimaru knows everything.
But looking at the current situation, it doesn't seem to be the case."
Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Orochimaru, who was watching the show from Franky's shoulder.
Franky also felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at by the group. He hurriedly hammered out a chair, placed Orochimaru on it, and joined the onlookers himself.
Orochimaru, who was enjoying the gossip, suddenly realized he was about to be blamed and, with a strong will to survive, raised his hand.
"I didn't! I didn't! I didn't do anything! I have nothing to do with this fathead fish! Don't listen to Sanji's nonsense!"
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