Night, like a heavy black cloth, completely enveloped Zou. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
Sanji quietly got up, his gaze sweeping over his sleeping Companions, then he silently took out a note from his pocket and gently slipped it into Nami's hand.
Orochimaru hid in the shadows, watching Sanji with a speechless expression.
If he hadn't drugged them in advance, Sanji's actions just now would have prevented him from leaving.
And if he was going to leave, why was he dawdling?
After confirming that everyone was indeed in a deep sleep, Orochimaru stealthily pulled out the note. It read: "I'm going to take care of some private matters, don't wait for me."
Orochimaru pouted, thinking, 'If you're going to write something, can't you be clearer? What does 'private matters' mean?'
However, Bege didn't seem to have mentioned marriage to Sanji.
But none of that mattered. Orochimaru, with a flick of his brush, added a line: "Sanji went to get married, I'm going with him." Then he slipped the note back into Nami's hand.
Afterward, Orochimaru hunched over, his footsteps extremely light, silently following behind Sanji, not daring to breathe, afraid of waking Luffy and the others.
After all, this group of people had very special physiques. The colorless and odorless medicine should normally make a person sleep for a day, but with their abnormal physiques, they would probably wake up by noon tomorrow.
He had to hurry. In a short while, Orochimaru followed Sanji to the depths of the forest.
Bege was already waiting there. The moment their eyes met, the atmosphere instantly became tense.
Bege stood with his arms crossed, a cigar in his mouth, subtly scrutinizing Sanji;
Sanji, on the other hand, frowned slightly, his hands in his pockets, radiating an aura of vigilance.
The two faced each other like this, neither speaking first. Only the chirping of insects, rising and falling, broke the oppressive silence.
Finally, Bege broke the silence, his voice deep and cold: "Vinsmoke Sanji, attending the Tea Party and marrying Big Mom's daughter is your only path. Otherwise, Mama will not let go of the people around you, nor the relatives of Straw Hat Luffy and his Crewmates."
Sanji gritted his teeth, his face alternating between green and pale. After a long while, he squeezed out a few words: "I told you I have no relation to the Vinsmoke Family anymore."
Orochimaru watched the two of them dawdling, feeling a wave of speechlessness, and secretly muttered to himself:
"Don't they know that time is money?! Can't they hurry up?!"
He truly couldn't contain his impatience; he didn't have time to watch them bicker right now.
A hint of impatience flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. His figure suddenly moved, and he instantly appeared behind Sanji like a ghost.
He extended a pale hand, holding a handkerchief soaked in ether, and forcefully covered Sanji's mouth and nose.
Sanji had no time to react. His eyes rolled back, and he fell straight into unconsciousness.
In Bege's eyes, Orochimaru appeared out of thin air. Before he could even make any defensive moves, this person had already knocked out his Companion.
Orochimaru didn't even glance at Bege. He casually tossed Sanji to him like a sack, saying impatiently:
"What are you standing around for?! Kidnapping a groom and still being so slow, can't you just act directly?
Honestly! And resorting to threats, even using Luffy to threaten him. Do you even use your brain?
Do you think Big Mom dares to provoke Garp, or dares to provoke Dragon?
Quickly pack him up and take him away, hurry up, move it!
"I really don't know how you became the Godfather of the Mafia; you didn't buy it with money, did you? You can't even kidnap someone." Orochimaru said with a look of disdain, rolling his Byakugan, his tone full of mockery.
Bege, startled by the sudden turn of events, his hand trembled, and the cigar in his mouth fell to the ground with a "clatter."
He stared wide-eyed, looking at Orochimaru with an incredulous expression, his mind in chaos:
What's going on? Isn't this person the Straw Hat's first mate?
What kind of logic is it to kidnap your own Crewmates?
According to the normal script, shouldn't he righteously tell Vinsmoke Sanji that their Straw Hat Crewmates are a solid backing,
and then Vinsmoke Sanji, in order not to implicate his Companions, would willingly leave with him, and finally, this person would cry and try to keep him, staging a deeply moving farewell scene?
Why is everything messed up now? This script is completely wrong!
Bege opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat dry, unable to utter a single word. He could only stand there, stunned and helpless.
Orochimaru looked at Bege's dazed expression and couldn't help but click his tongue. He thought to himself, 'Why is communicating with this guy so difficult?'
Helpless, Orochimaru could only temporarily imitate Sanji's old gestures for dealing with Zoro. He raised his hand and stiffly made the gesture, saying word by word:
"You! Sanji! Take away! I, follow, together, okay?"
If Sanji were conscious and saw that awkward display, he would surely be half-dead with anger.
Bege looked at Orochimaru blankly, his brain not fully processing, but his body seemed to move uncontrollably,
mechanically nodding. He also mimicked the same gesture, squeezing out an "okay," his voice dry and tinged with bewilderment.
"Then why aren't you faster?? Is your Castle-Castle Fruit a hamburger?!" Orochimaru frowned, his face full of impatience. In his opinion, these pirates always acted so sluggishly and thoughtlessly.
Bege finally fully recovered. Hearing Orochimaru butcher the name of his Castle-Castle Fruit, he felt a wave of speechlessness, but he didn't have time to correct him. He first absorbed Sanji into the castle space within his body.
Although he completely didn't understand what this first mate, with his strange and somewhat "sick" behavior, was trying to do, it thankfully didn't conflict with his own plans, so he didn't bother to delve deeper.
"I have the Castle-Castle Fruit, not the Fort-Fort Fruit," Bege corrected impatiently, then paused and added, "And Pekoms also needs to be taken away."
Orochimaru completely ignored Bege's words. With a look of disgust, he put on gloves, reached out and grabbed Bege by the collar, as if he were carrying a weightless object.
Then, he dragged Bege and strode towards the descending cliff, the fallen leaves underfoot crunching with each step.
"That one won't wake up for a while, he's staying on Zou. We're leaving first."
Orochimaru said without looking back, his tone firm and unquestionable.
Time was short; there was no time to dawdle here. They had to hurry to Cake Island. What if Luffy and the others woke up early and caught up? That wouldn't be fun at all! He didn't want to go to Wano Country with these people so soon!
Meanwhile, Orochimaru's clone, left in the Whale Forest, calculated the time, felt it was about right, and began communicating with Zunesha. Although you're ignoring me now, what I'm saying is, we can at least walk a bit faster, right?
Zunesha:...
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