"Yohohohoho, why is everyone so quiet? Are you all just too happy to see me?"
Brook gracefully landed on the ground and tipped his hat toward the golden cloud beside him.
"Yeah! I really am happy to see you, Brook!" Luffy nodded vigorously, speaking with complete sincerity.
"..."
Clearly, the rest of the Straw Hats didn't share his enthusiasm.
"That mask..." Zoro, who had been resting against a rock, had already straightened up. Usually the calmest member of the crew, he was now tense from head to toe. He stared at the monkey mask worn by the man beside Brook, his expression incredibly complex.
He remembered the man named Inoshi whom he had met in Shimotsuki Village shortly before setting out to sea. That man had shown him just how vast the ocean truly was, and what a genuinely powerful fighter looked like.
More importantly, whenever Zoro had felt a little too pleased with his own strength since setting sail, remembering the power Inoshi had displayed in Shimotsuki Village was enough to bring him right back down to earth.
Inoshi wasn't a swordsman, but he had nevertheless become one of Zoro's benchmarks for strength.
"..." Sanji had just finished reading the newspaper as well. He stared at the monkey mask with a conflicted expression, his lips moving slightly as though he wanted to ask something.
As for Nami and Usopp...
"Ahhh..." The two cowards, and two of the few people among the Straw Hats who still possessed common sense, had also vaguely realized who the man was. But they simply couldn't bring themselves to believe it.
"B-B-Brook, this guy... uh, no! I mean, this gentleman..." Usopp nervously managed half a sentence before Nami mercilessly pinched his hand, making him instantly much more polite.
"I have something to take care of for now. You all carry on." As Usopp finished speaking, the man wearing the monkey mask casually patted the golden cloud behind him.
The cloud instantly shot into the sky and disappeared into the atmosphere above. Once the golden cloud had flown off, the man turned around and spoke in a loud, straightforward voice.
"I don't care for unnecessary formalities. Just call me Monkey."
His body was lean and small, but his voice was energetic and commanding.
"Mo-Monkey?!" Hearing that unmistakable code name, Nami and Usopp finally confirmed their suspicions.
They had only just been talking about the Twelve Zodiac, and now an actual highest-ranking officer of the organization was standing right in front of them. They had never heard this particular code name before, but every top officer of that organization supposedly carried a bounty exceeding two billion Berries!
"Hahaha! Your name is pretty funny! You're Brook's friend, right? Come join the feast!"
"LUFFY?!" Nami and Usopp shrieked together.
The invitation from their hopelessly carefree captain made the already terrified pair glare at him furiously.
Monkey, however, simply looked at Luffy. "You're an interesting kid." Then he burst into laughter. "Hahaha! As it happens, I'm hungry too. Since there's a feast, there's no way I'm missing out."
He glanced around at the battered surroundings. "But if this is going to be a feast, this place is a little too rough for a banquet hall."
With that, he pointed a finger at the ground. "Transform."
The moment he spoke, a streak of golden light shot from his hand and scattered across the dirt like rain.
The next instant...
'Tap!'
'Click!'
The rocks scattered across the ground suddenly grew arms and legs. They came marching over to everyone, then quickly transformed into a round table and a set of exquisite chairs. One of the chairs even thoughtfully added more firewood to the grill.
Small blades of grass picked up the brush Sanji had dropped onto the ground and began imitating him, brushing sauce over the grilled meat and serving the dishes in batches.
"Now that's more like it." Monkey smiled and sat down in one of the chairs.
"Oh!!" Luffy's eyes immediately lit up.
"Gahahahaha! So you're a Devil Fruit user!"
"Gyahahahaha! Even we get chairs?"
Dorry and Brogy, who didn't know Monkey, looked at the enormous chairs formed from nearby rocks and laughed as they sat down.
The other Straw Hats reacted differently to the scene. By now, rumors were spreading across the sea that the highest-ranking officers of the Twelve Zodiac were all extraordinarily powerful Devil Fruit users.
Hearing about it was one thing. Seeing it with their own eyes was another.
"Why are we suddenly having a feast with someone from the Twelve Zodiac?" Nami's voice trembled as she stared helplessly at Luffy's ridiculous decision.
"Can't be helped. That's just how Luffy is." Zoro stood up instead. He stretched, exchanged a glance with Sanji, and then the two of them walked over and sat at the table.
"Hey! You guys... honestly... you're all such reckless idiots!" Nami and Usopp exchanged glances, both looking ready to cry. They were convinced they must have temporarily lost their minds when they decided to go out to sea with these people.
But at this point, being scared wasn't going to change anything. The two of them could only reluctantly walk over to the table as well.
And so, the interrupted feast continued.
However, things were clearly different now. Aside from the carefree Luffy, who was still happily shouting, "Brook, play us a song later!", everyone else, including the two Giants, kept curiously watching Brook and Monkey, who had so suddenly appeared.
"Brook, you said Mr. Monkey is a colleague of your benefactor. Doesn't that mean you're actually... a member of the Twelve Zodiac...?" That was obviously the question on the mind of a normal person like Nami.
"This food is so delicious it almost makes my tongue melt, oh, although I'm a skeleton, so I don't actually have a tongue! Yohohohoho~" After yet another skeleton joke, Brook's expression became slightly more serious.
"Yes. I wasn't given permission to tell you before, so I couldn't say anything." Brook spoke sincerely. "My benefactor is Mr. Shinryu, one of the highest-ranking officers of the Twelve Zodiac. He has shown me a kindness I could never repay in a lifetime."
"Shinryu?" At the mention of that code name, Usopp swallowed hard.
Compared to the unfamiliar "Monkey," that name was far more well-known across the sea. Shinryu was the top-tier powerhouse who had killed two Warlords, a monster whose bounty had already reached 2.5 billion Berries.
And the place they had passed through earlier had actually been one of that man's bases?
Brook, however, didn't seem to notice Usopp's expression. He simply continued.
"Although I haven't formally joined the Twelve Zodiac, I could be considered a guest of the organization. Not long ago, I contacted Mr. Shinryu through a Den Den Mushi and told him that I intended to join your crew. He happily agreed. As it happened, His Excellency Monkey was nearby, so he brought me here."
With that, Brook sighed. "Destiny really is full of coincidences, isn't it, Your Excellency Monkey? Yohohohoho!"
"Indeed." Monkey, who was also eating grilled dinosaur meat, nodded. "I didn't expect it either."
Interestingly, Monkey had a rather unusual way of eating. Whenever he brought a piece of delicious grilled meat to his mouth, the monkey mask on his face would open on its own, as though alive. There appeared to be a thin veil behind the opening, keeping his face hidden.
But his words were completely sincere. He hadn't expected that, shortly after deciding to seriously search for Luffy's whereabouts, he would receive a call from Brook right after Shinryu left the Abyss.
That was how this meeting in Little Garden had come about.
---
[Devil Fruit user detected: "Monkey D. Luffy."]
[Devil Fruit confirmed as "Zoan: Human-Human Fruit, Nika Model." Analysis underway. Data will be stored in the "Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."]
[Devil Fruit Ability: Grants the body the properties of rubber and absolute freedom.]
[Ability Levels]
[LV3: Unlocks the full basic effects of the Devil Fruit. The body becomes rubber-like, allowing the user to freely stretch their body and fight using the elasticity of rubber. Requires 300 million Berries to unlock.]
[LV4: Advanced Devil Fruit development. By compressing blood flow within the body, the user can stimulate their organs and activate Second Gear. By inflating their body, they can create a "Bone Balloon" and activate Third Gear. By applying powerful Armament Haki to the Third Gear body, they can activate "Fourth Gear." Requires 2 billion Berries to unlock.]
[LV5: Devil Fruit Awakening: Nika Model. Activates the Devil Fruit's true power, incarnating the legendary liberation warrior Nika, who embodies absolute freedom. The Devil Fruit's abilities undergo a fundamental enhancement. The user gains the flame clouds characteristic of a Zoan, along with a tremendous increase in vitality and physical strength. Anything touched by the user can be assimilated into their attacks, and objects can be freely transformed into any desired shape or weapon. This state consumes an enormous amount of stamina. Requires 80 billion Berries and Eternal to unlock.]
[Wish: Freedom · Liberation Drums]
[The user can make the Drums of Liberation resound through their heart. Their rhythm can restore the user's stamina and vitality to their peak even after both have been exhausted. However, repeatedly sounding the Drums of Liberation within a short period consumes the user's lifespan.]
[When the Drums of Liberation resound, everyone within the surrounding area, including the user's allies, can gain "freedom," preventing their bodies from being bound by external forces.]
[Analysis Progress: Complete]
---
There was no doubt about it. Monkey had already accomplished what he had come here to do. During the feast, the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia had completed its analysis of the Nika Fruit.
More importantly...
'"Let everyone gain 'freedom.'"'
'So it really is this.'
The information recorded in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia finally confirmed Monkey's theory. The Nika Fruit was the "freedom of the body" mentioned in Davy Jones's final words.
But before Monkey could think about it any further...
"Hey, Monkey Uncle." He heard Luffy's voice beside him.
"Hm? What is it, kid?" Monkey turned toward Luffy. Though, seriously, what kind of nickname was "Monkey Uncle"?
"Sanji wants to ask you about that... Germa thing." Luffy said it while chewing on a piece of meat. "Can you tell us what happened?"
"'Pfft!'" The rest of the Straw Hats immediately spat out their food.
"L-Luffy?! Wh-what are you talking about?!"
Even Sanji himself was stunned. He didn't even have time to complain about Luffy's ridiculous pronunciation of "Germa."
Because it was true. He really did want to ask what had happened. He had simply been hesitating over whether this was the right time to bring it up.
After all, the other party was a member of the Twelve Zodiac. If his questions made them suspicious or displeased and a fight broke out, his crewmates could be put in serious danger.
"'Gulp.' Sanji, if you want to ask, then just ask." Luffy swallowed the meat in his mouth and grinned at Sanji.
Clearly, for all his usual recklessness and carefree behavior, when it came to his friends, Luffy had an uncanny ability to sense what they were feeling.
"Oh?" Monkey looked thoughtfully at Sanji. "I just remembered. That lazy old Tiger mentioned you to me not long ago. You're Germa's third prince, Vinsmoke Sanji, the one who left the kingdom after turning against them, right?"
Sanji's expression immediately stiffened.
Monkey, however, didn't seem to care in the slightest. He casually picked at his ear and flicked away whatever he had removed. "I'm guessing you wanted to ask about your older sister. She's still alive. She might even come looking for you after a while."
The moment Sanji heard that, his body visibly relaxed.
"Reiju is still alive..." He let out a quiet sigh of relief and slowly took a drag from his cigarette. "That's good."
"Eh?!" The Straw Hats erupted in an uproar.
"Prince?! Sanji?!" Nami's eyes widened.
"That perverted cook is actually..." Zoro was clearly surprised as well.
"Wait. If Sanji is a prince of the Germa Kingdom, doesn't that mean the Twelve Zodiac destroyed his country? And hold on, I remember hearing that Germa's King and princes were killed too. Those were Sanji's father and brothers?!" Usopp immediately picked up on the crucial point.
"Hey, don't get the wrong idea." Sanji calmly shook his head. "I'm Sanji. Not 'Vinsmoke Sanji.'"
Thinking of the man he was supposedly meant to call his "father" and the three "brothers" he had been born alongside, his voice turned cold. He looked directly at Monkey. "I don't consider those people my family."
The meaning was obvious. He had no interest in avenging them, nor did he feel any obligation to do so.
"Heh. Old Tiger did tell me you'd probably choose that path." Monkey grinned. "But if you do want to fight, I don't mind. I don't get out this way often, and I'm itching for a good brawl myself."
Then he suddenly turned toward Dorry and Brogy. "Speaking of which... those two big guys over there are the Blue Ogre and Red Ogre of Elbaf, right?"
"Gahahahaha!" Brogy burst into laughter at the question. "You know about Dorry and me?"
"Naturally. Aside from bringing the skeleton here, meeting you two was another reason I came to this island." Monkey grinned. "There are two things I'd like to ask of you."
Dorry looked curious. "What things?"
The Straw Hats were curious too. They knew Dorry and Brogy hadn't appeared on the sea for more than a century. Yet the Twelve Zodiac not only knew they were on this island, they actually had something to ask of them?
"I have a colleague who may be visiting Elbaf in the near future. He wants to meet the people in charge of your country and ask them a few questions. So I'd like to ask if you two could introduce him when the time comes, if it's convenient."
Dorry and Brogy exchanged glances.
"The ruler? You mean King Harald?"
"No, wait. Are you talking about Leaders Jarul and Jorul?"
Monkey remained silent for a moment. He had forgotten one thing: these two had been away from Elbaf for over a hundred years. Naturally, they didn't know much about the current situation.
But this really was another reason Roy had sent Monkey to Little Garden.
Roy was extremely curious about Elbaf. According to the original story, Elbaf clearly held many secrets from the past. Its ancient history and the legendary Devil Fruit passed down through the Giant royal family were both extremely attractive to Roy.
And now he knew two additional things. First, Rocks had been constantly on the move after leaving God Valley. But one thing was certain: his final known appearance had been in Elbaf, and there was a very good chance he had shared certain matters about himself with someone there.
Second was what they had just learned from the mural: the Giants and Fish-Men were the only two races that had received a "Wish" from Davy Jones during the Void Century.
Roy was deeply interested in both pieces of information. But as mentioned before, Elbaf was not an Allied Kingdom of the World Government. And although it wasn't as completely isolated as Wano Country, it had also become rather unwelcoming toward outsiders in recent years.
That made Dorry and Brogy the best bridge for Roy to establish contact with Elbaf.
"Gahahahaha!"
"Gyahahahaha!"
"So that's what this is about!" both Giants boomed.
After a moment of confusion, Dorry and Brogy broke into laughter again. "We don't know who you want to meet, but Elbaf is a nation of hearty warriors. We naturally welcome enthusiastic friends!"
Having no idea how much the world had changed during their century-long absence, the two Giants readily agreed. "We'll be happy to introduce him."
"But..."
Just as they were saying this...
'RUMBLE!'
The entire island of Little Garden began shaking violently. The two Giants immediately stopped talking, their eyes turning toward the center of the island.
A massive volcano was erupting, spewing lava into the sky.
Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance, their expressions instantly turning sharp.
"Not yet." They spoke together and picked up their weapons. "We cannot return to Elbaf until our duel has been decided. That is the honor of warriors."
The Straw Hats understood what the Giants meant. Earlier, Dorry and Brogy had already explained why they remained on the island. They were here to finish a duel, and every time the volcano in the center of the island erupted, it signaled the start of their next clash.
But then...
"I know." Monkey spoke up again. "That's actually the second thing I came here for."
He raised his head and looked at the two Giants, who turned back toward him in confusion.
"I heard that two Giants are fighting a duel here that has lasted for a hundred years, a duel fought for the honor of warriors." He grinned. "I'm very interested."
No one could see the expression beneath his Sea Beast mask, but from the excitement in his voice, everyone could tell exactly how he felt.
"You two are former captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates. That makes you some of the strongest warriors among the Giants of your generation."
Monkey's battle intent continued to rise as he spoke. "I've heard about Elbaf's traditions. When warriors have a dispute or disagreement, they settle it through a duel. The winner's position is considered correct."
As mentioned before, Elbaf was the nation of warriors.
"Coincidentally, I'm also one of the strongest 'warriors' among the Twelve Zodiac."
As he spoke, Monkey slowly raised his hand and pointed toward the two Giants.
"So, the two of you..."
"Dare to fight me?"
"If I defeat you, you'll end your duel immediately and return to Elbaf."
"How about it?"
(End of Chapter)
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