Watching Usopp get dragged away by Merry toward Chopper, Jin couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Only someone as pure and simple as Merry would actually believe that nonsense.
"I-I'm fine now! I'm really fine, Merry!" Usopp said with tears in his eyes.
"Eh? You're better already?" little Merry asked in surprise.
The moment she said that, Jin laughed even harder.
What kind of medical miracle was this?!
"Since we've already entered the enemy's encirclement, there's nothing left to say," Nico Robin said calmly.
"Prepare for battle."
"Luffy already said it himself," Jin added.
"If they dare to come looking for trouble, we'll knock them flying."
"That basically counts as permission to start the fight, right?"
The enemy had already come knocking—
running away with their tails between their legs wasn't his style.
Besides, they were short on money anyway.
Might as well use the bounty hunters' savings to fill the Straw Hats' treasury.
"Jin, please don't hold back!" Nami said firmly.
At this moment, there wasn't even a trace of fear on her face—
instead, her eyes were sparkling with the glow of money so brightly that Jin subconsciously squinted.
That greedy little thief cat…
"Got it," Jin chuckled.
"I won't hold back."
"I'll strip them completely of every last berry they have."
"So reliable as always, Jin!" Nami said with satisfaction.
Watching the two of them sing in perfect harmony, Zoro pressed a hand to his forehead.
"When is Nami ever going to fix that money-grubbing personality of hers…"
"Idiot, what do you know?!" Nami snapped, hands on her hips as she struck the pose of a financial queen.
"If I didn't do this, you'd all be starving—believe it or not!"
Not to mention Luffy's monstrous appetite—
everyone else wasn't cheap either.
And most importantly…
They were pirates, but they never robbed ordinary people.
Pirates like them were probably one of a kind.
"Even so, you still shouldn't—"
"Zoro, did you forget the money you owed me in Loguetown?" Nami suddenly said.
Her aura skyrocketed instantly.
"You said I didn't need to pay it back at Whiskey Peak!" Zoro shouted in disbelief.
"I only went and cut that booger-nosed guy because of what you said!"
Just thinking about his sword touching snot made Zoro feel sick.
"Hehe~ that just meant the interest was forgiven."
Zoro: ???
"Y-you… you demon!"
Zoro's face flushed red as he pointed at her with a trembling finger.
"You're going to hell."
"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you."
Nami rolled her eyes.
Zoro: ...
"Um… are you really going to fight them?" Kayle asked excitedly.
"If they attack us, of course we'll fight back," Jin replied.
"Then please take us with you!"
"We're not interested in dragging along dead weight," Jin glanced at them.
"You can barely stand—what kind of fighting are you planning to do?"
Kayle: ...
That was because you beat us up!
And then the ship flew at insane speed!
He was lucky he could even stay upright now.
Still, he didn't complain—
this really was their fault.
"We didn't tie you up," Franky said.
"If you want to fight, go ahead on your own."
As he spoke, he leaned over the side of the ship and looked down.
But with the darkness, he couldn't see much.
"Where are those ferocious penguins you mentioned?"
"Underwater," Stansen replied.
"They're hard to detect from the deck. I only saw them after getting knocked into the sea."
"They're extremely vicious. If I'd climbed out any slower, I'd be dead."
"Penguins that can move icebergs…" Jin stroked his chin.
"Their speed and strength must be insane."
"Those bounty hunters managing to raise creatures like that—
that's impressive in its own way."
"Let's head back to our ship first," Sanji said.
"Yeah."
Jin picked up Merry and walked toward the bow.
"Hey—be careful," Stansen suddenly called out.
"They have a special kind of fish that steals pirate flags."
"Got it."
Jin didn't even turn his head as he waved and returned to the Thousand Sunny with the others.
"Everyone, get ready," he grinned.
"Looks like tonight's going to be a sleepless one."
"Yeah!"
Far away, atop a massive iceberg, members of the Aokino family lay in ambush, silently watching the two pirate ships approaching.
"That idiot Sarugo was talking nonsense," Brindy said irritably.
"Saying the ship could fly—this is clearly being carried by water dragons. Where's the flying—"
"Wait…"
"Water dragons?!"
Brindy's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Why are there two water dragons?!"
"That must be the ninja's ability," Kambaccino said coldly.
"It was dark, and the distance was far—Sarugo probably couldn't see what was underneath."
"That's likely why the Straw Hats arrived here so quickly."
Brindy looked surprised—
it was rare for his older brother to explain anything.
Aruberu's eyes lit up with joy.
"Big brother, does that mean you've finally acknowledged my hus—"
"I never said that," Kambaccino interrupted flatly.
Aruberu: ...
The eldest daughter looked visibly dejected.
She'd really thought her brother finally accepted her husband.
Lilou clicked her tongue quietly.
Getting the family to accept that man was never going to be easy—
even she didn't like him much.
As the youngest and most favored daughter, her words still carried weight in the family.
"Let's move," Brindy said.
"No need to wait for that idiot Sarugo."
"Good thing we came ahead of time, or they might've escaped."
"Don't rush," Kambaccino said coldly.
"The ferocious penguins are already moving. We'll probe them first."
"Understood!"
On the Thousand Sunny, Franky stood at the bow, carefully scanning the surroundings.
The others gathered on deck, narrowing their eyes.
"Anyone hungry?" Sanji suddenly asked.
"If you are, I can make a late-night snack."
"With what's coming," Jin said while staring into the distance,
"eating can wait until after the fight."
"The enemy's already here."
Even in the darkness, he could see faint silhouettes standing atop the icebergs.
They appeared only briefly before vanishing again—
clearly afraid of being noticed.
"What?!"
"They're already here?!"
"Where?!"
"Merry wants to fight too!"
Merry pulled out her little hammer, eyes wide and serious.
"They're on the icebergs—still some distance away…" Jin said.
As he spoke, he was already beside Franky.
He glanced at the sea.
"If they're not attacking yet…
then they're probably planning to block our path with ice."
Right on cue, a massive iceberg drifted forward, directly blocking the water dragon's route.
"Just as I thought…"
"I'll handle it!"
Zoro dashed forward, drawing Wado Ichimonji in a single motion.
Slash!
A terrifying sword wave erupted—
The gigantic iceberg was split cleanly in two!
BOOM!!
The divided ice slowly drifted apart, revealing a massive passageway in the center.
Zoro landed on the ice calmly and sheathed his sword.
As if he'd done something trivial.
He glanced around, frowning slightly.
"I don't see anyone."
"They're probably hiding," Jin replied.
"I see."
Zoro nodded, unconcerned.
"Damn it… they cut the iceberg that easily," Hawkru muttered, gripping his ice-club tightly.
The Aokino family's third son looked eager to fight.
"Don't rush," Kambaccino said.
"This is only the beginning."
"What about that pirate hunter on the ice?"
"Ignore him," Kambaccino said coldly.
"Once he's on the ice, he can't escape."
"Our priority is the Straw Hats' ninja."
"If we don't take him out, we won't be able to stop that ship."
His gaze locked firmly onto Jin at the bow.
As long as that man existed, blocking the ship was impossible.
I have to knock him into the sea.
Once a Devil Fruit user fell into the ocean—
they were nothing but helpless prey.
"If we attack together, we can definitely knock him in!" Brindy laughed.
As twins born with special magnetic abilities,
their combined strength was terrifying.
Kambaccino nodded and pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
"How are the ferocious penguins?"
"They're ready at any time."
"Release them."
"Yes, Lord Kambaccino!"
"Move," Kambaccino said coldly.
"We'll go to the nearby icebergs."
"When the penguins strike, we attack immediately."
"Yes, big brother!"
The ferocious penguins were incredibly efficient.
Before long, massive ice pillars were hauled in from below.
From beneath the sea, the beasts surged upward—
and hurled the enormous ice pillars straight toward the Thousand Sunny!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
One towering ice spike after another burst from the sea.
If not for the two water dragons dodging under Jin's control,
the ship's keel would've been smashed apart.
"Bastards! Where are these ice pillars coming from?!" Sanji cursed.
The ship itself was fine, but the violent movement sent everyone stumbling—
Usopp rolled across the deck like a ball!
Sanji stomped on him to keep him from flying off.
"Jin! Can you see where the enemy is?!"
"I see them…"
"…They're coming!"
The moment his words fell—
two figures shot down from a nearby iceberg,
closing in on Jin at terrifying speed.
"Die, pirate!!"
Their eyes locked onto him.
At the instant they reached the Thousand Sunny—
one of them accelerated again, murderous intent surging as he threw a vicious punch.
"We got him!"
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