Pekoms looked helpless, taking a step back as Luffy was so close, almost touching his face.
"But he's also a son of the Vinsmoke Family, isn't he?
And I'm just stating the facts, don't get mad at me! Ga-oh!"
Luffy tossed Pekoms aside. "Sanji will definitely refuse that kind of marriage!"
Pekoms fell to the ground, rubbing his aching backside with a grimace, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Between Mama and that ruthless Vinsmoke Family, who can say for sure about such things?
Refusing this marriage, whether he can keep his life is still a big, unresolved question!"
Luffy stared intently at Pekoms. After a moment, the corner of his mouth suddenly curved into his signature bright smile, his eyes shining with undeniable determination.
"I've decided! I must bring Sanji back!"
Just then, Robin's slender fingers held a piece of paper, raising her arm high, letting the paper catch the light. Her eyes narrowed into slits as she concentrated on deciphering the tiny, almost imperceptible writing on the back of the note.
"Ah… if Luffy intends to come after me, those accompanying him should be aware, especially certain individuals who were lazy and didn't fight well in Dressrosa.
P.S. If he doesn't come, that would be even better."
Robin finished muttering, then sighed softly, saying helplessly, "Hmm… Orochimaru wrote this."
At the same time, Brook and Chopper, who felt they had been "shot," were already crying and hugging each other.
Chopper yelled, his voice choked with tears:
"Ah!!!! Do we really have to go?! We just said that casually!! The Four Emperors' wedding feast must be terribly unappetizing!"
Nami, though worried, couldn't help but cover her face, tears flowing uncontrollably.
A hundred times over, she didn't want to go. After all, whenever she acted with Luffy, she would be forced to fight even if she didn't want to.
"Waaah, waaah, waaah, Orochimaru is so heartless, why does he want us to follow… Luffy, look, Orochimaru even said it!
You'd best not go! He'll handle it! Orochimaru will definitely bring Sanji back!!"
Brook, Chopper, and Nami clung desperately to Luffy's legs as he tried to leave, a truly pathetic sight.
"Luffy, don't be so willful! Orochimaru can definitely handle things. Look, isn't he going? How about we go to Wano Country and wait for him, okay?"
Nami sniffled, pleading tearfully, her tears streaming down uncontrollably.
Chopper also yelled from the side, his voice choked with sobs: "Exactly, exactly, Luffy, let's go to Wano Country first!"
Brook cried so hard that his old bones trembled: "Master Luffy, please consider everyone's opinions."
Robin reached out a hand, gently stroking her chin, and spoke thoughtfully: "Hmm… that might not be bad… By the time Orochimaru returns, Sanji might even have children."
As soon as these words fell, the group instantly became as silent as if their mute points had been struck; you could hear a pin drop.
The group suddenly realized that with Orochimaru's free-spirited nature, if they didn't catch him and bring him back, him wandering around for several years wouldn't be a big deal.
Having understood this, Nami and the other two could only wipe their tears, whimpering, as they reluctantly went to pack their luggage.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru was comfortably nestled in Bege's castle, legs crossed, slowly sipping tea.
Sanji stood opposite him, his brows furrowed into a "river" shape, looking at Orochimaru with a headache, his lips slightly parted, as if he wanted to speak but couldn't.
"You…"
He had barely uttered a word before his voice seemed to catch, abruptly stopping.
His face was filled with confusion and bewilderment. After all, he had just said one sentence to Bege before being drugged and carried away, only now slowly waking up, his mind still a mess, completely unclear about the situation. He could only stammer again:
"I…"
But the words were on his lips, yet he still didn't know where to begin.
Orochimaru gently placed his teacup down with a crisp "ding," looked up at the bewildered, dumbfounded Sanji, his tone calm yet undeniable.
"You marry, I'm with you."
"Marry? What marriage?"
Sanji's face was filled with confusion, his eyes wide, his bewilderment almost overflowing. He had no idea what Orochimaru was talking about.
Orochimaru remained calm, continuing unhurriedly:
"It's about your father calling you back to marry into the Big Mom Family. The other party is also a beauty.
I've agreed to this for you, and I'll go with you."
Based on his trust in Orochimaru, Sanji's ears at this moment only registered the words "beauty."
"Is she really a beauty? Don't lie to me."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to recall Pudding's appearance in his mind. After a brief thought, he picked up a pen and quickly sketched on paper.
Soon, a black-and-white sketch, roughly outlining her features, appeared before him.
He handed the drawing to Sanji, saying seriously, "Yes, she really is a beauty, definitely to your taste.
And she loves making desserts, so you have common interests, and she has a kind heart (to Orochimaru, Pudding was indeed kind). Her personality is also strong, and she's a good match for you."
At this moment, two hearts instantly appeared in Sanji's eyes, and he stared fixedly at Pudding's portrait, beginning to swoon.
The slight concern he originally had for the Vinsmoke Family instantly vanished from his mind: The Vinsmoke Family? What's that, completely unimportant!
He knew in his heart that if Orochimaru set his sights on those broken things at home, the one who would suffer would definitely be that old man Judge, as he knew Orochimaru's methods all too well.
Orochimaru agreeing to come along must be because he's worried about him, hehe, this guy, he doesn't say it, but he really cares about me in his heart.
This concern warmed Sanji's heart. His gaze fell back on the portrait, the corners of his mouth curving up uncontrollably: "But Pudding-chan is really beautiful…" That infatuated look, as if everything around him was irrelevant.
Although Sanji had a smile on his face, in his heart, he was absolutely certain about one thing.
He knew very well that his so-called brothers—though he didn't consider that group as brothers and detested them from the bottom of his heart—he had to admit that when it came to aesthetics, they were surprisingly consistent.
Although he loved ladies, every time he saw Orochimaru, he couldn't help but be moved. Just based on this, he could guarantee that his brothers, upon seeing Orochimaru, would also instantly be mesmerized and completely defenseless.
Thinking of this, Sanji couldn't help but let out a cold snort in his heart, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, revealing a hint of a mocking smile, thinking to himself: "Hmph, just wait and see, those guys are in for a show, they're going to have a hard time."
As if he had already seen his brothers' disheveled appearance when facing Orochimaru, Sanji's mood inexplicably brightened considerably.
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