Chapter 563 - 403

Chapter 404: Adventure on Zou (End)The fires of revelry must eventually fade.When the first gentle ray of light spilled onto the broad back of the Giant Elephant Lord, the entire Kurau was still immersed in the post-hangover silence.The air still held the charred aroma of roasted meat, the sweet scent of fruit wine, and... some indescribable, strange smell mixed with sweat & happiness.Most Mink Tribe warriors were sleeping haphazardly, lying all over the ground with satisfied, silly grins on their faces, occasionally mumbling sleep talk like "Meat..." or "Wine..."However, in this silence, a heart-wrenching scream was the first to burst from the sunny."Waaaah—my head! My head is going to explode!!!"Usopp clutched his head and rolled straight off the hammock, his face as white as paper."Water... someone give me some water... or, just give me a quick end..."He was like a dehydrated salted fish, squirming desperately on the floor. o(＞_＜)o"Yo, Usopp, it won't do to be so listless first thing in the morning!"A metallic and energetic voice rang out. Franky, wearing his signature flowery shirt and briefs, held two bottles of chilled cola and struck what he considered a SUPER cool pose."Have a bottle of my specially made 'SUPER Refreshing Cola'! I guarantee you'll be a hundred times more energetic all week!"Just as Usopp was about to say no, Franky had already opened a bottle with a "pop" and crudely poured it into his mouth."Gulp... Pwah—! Cough cough cough! This is murder! Franky!"The cold bubbles rushed straight to his head, making Usopp instantly much more awake, but also making his eyes water from coughing.On the other side of the deck, Yamato was carrying her Spiked Club, practicing the fist techniques she had seen from Luffy yesterday with "hu-hu ha-ha" sounds. Although the form was completely wrong, the momentum was full."No! It's still not that Luffy feeling! That... feeling like the whole world is happy for him!""Dammit, looks like I have to continue my training!"In this heartwarming morning scene, the door to the Captain's cabin slammed open with a "bang.""FOOD—!!!!"Luffy rushed out rubbing his eyes. His powerful Observation Haki, belonging to one of the Four Emperors and capable of perceiving all things, had only one function at the moment—precisely locating the food."Franky! I'm hungry! I want to eat that kind of smoking big meat leg from yesterday!""I can't just conjure that up, Captain! But I invented a 'SUPER Fully Automatic Toaster', do you want to try it?"The sunny returned to its familiar, energetic, and noisy daily routine....However, while the crew members were busy with their own tasks, a small figure was hiding behind a giant tree in the distance, secretly observing it all.It was Carrot.This young rabbit of the Mink Tribe had eyes like rubies, filled with the reflection of that ship.She watched Luffy and Usopp fooling around, watched Franky excitedly showing off various strange inventions, watched the genuine smiles on the faces of Robin and Uta, and watched Yamatofreely swinging her Spiked Club...That ship was simply a moving paradise filled with sunshine and laughter.Yesterday, when Luffy sent the "drought" flying like a star in the sky with one punch, she, like the rest of her tribe, felt unprecedented shock and relief.But later, when Uta's singing rang out and all of Zou was immersed in the revelry of the banquet, she felt an impulse she had never had before.She wanted to... go to sea!She didn't want to stay day after day on the back of this giant, never-moving Zunesha.She wanted to see the outside world, the "New Era" filled with infinite possibilities and adventure that Uta sang about!She wanted to witness with her own eyes how that man, like the sun, to whom both kings had sworn loyalty, would become the Pirate King!Once this thought appeared, it was like wild grass growing crazily, impossible to suppress.She stole a glance at Wanda, who was handing over work to Pekoms.The new "King of the Day" looked much more stable, methodically arranging the country's reconstruction."I... I can't be a king..."Carrot muttered softly, clenching her small fists."Compared to protecting, I... I want to go on an adventure more!"She made up her mind!She was going! She must go with them!But... how to get on?If she said it directly, Sister Wanda and Big Brother Pekoms would definitely not agree.Her eyes scanned back and forth on the sunny, looking for an opportunity.Just then, she saw Franky and Usopp carrying several large empty wooden barrels, preparing to move them to the storage room."Hey, Usopp, these are all wine barrels. Once we're done moving them, we can set off! SUPER!""I know, I know... my back... my back is about to break..."Opportunity!Carrot's eyes lit up!Utilizing the Mink Tribe's amazing agility, she noiselessly circled to the other side of the sunny.Taking advantage of the gap when Franky and Usopp put down a barrel and turned to move the next one, she took a deep breath and, with a perfect rabbit jump, landed precisely and silently into an empty wine barrel with a half-open lid.Then, she used her claws to gently pull the lid shut, leaving only a tiny crack.Mission accomplished!Hiding in the pitch-black wooden barrel, Carrotcould hear her heart thumping wildly, tense and exciting! o(≧v≦)oThe parting, after all, had arrived.Duke Inuarashi and Master Nekomamushi had changed into light samurai outfits. They stood by the railing of the sunny, accepting the farewells of all their tribespeople."Wanda, Pekoms, I'll leave Zou to you!""Don't worry, Duke! Master! We will surely protect this country!"The two new kings suppressed their tears and responded solemnly.Amidst the cheers of all the Mink Tribe, the Giant Elephant Lord let out a long cry. That long trunk reached into the sea again, steadily lifting the sunny and slowly sending it away from the vicinity of Zou.The moment the sunny was lifted, Luffy, standing at the bow, suddenly stopped fooling around with Usopp. He tilted his head, a playful expression appearing on his face.His Observation Haki, far beyond that of ordinary people, was like the most precise radar, instantly scanning the entire ship.The life signatures of the crew, and the two powerful and steady signatures of Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, were all crystal clear.But...In a corner of the storage room, there was an extra heartbeat—faint yet full of vitality and excitement, thumping like a little rabbit's.A mischievous grin curled on Luffy's lips.But he said nothing, only turned his head and waved forcefully at the receding Zou behind him.The ship was halfway through its journey.On the boundless sea, the sun was bright and the sea breeze was gentle.The crew members were enjoying a rare moment of leisure on the deck.Suddenly—"BANG—!!!"A loud noise came from the direction of the ship's storage room!"An enemy attack?! Is it Kaido's pursuers?!"Usopp jumped up in fright, instantly pulling out his kuro kabuto.Zoro, who was dozing by the mast, also snapped his eyes open, his hand already gripping the hilt of wado ichimonji."CLANG—!!!"A wooden barrel lid was kicked flying from the inside, drawing a perfect parabola in the air before crashing onto the deck.Immediately after, a small figure, accompanied by flying wood chips, sprang out of the barrel, performed a beautiful somersault in the air, and landed steadily in front of everyone.Imitating the Straw Hat crew, she put her hands on her hips, puffed out her small chest, and gave a spirited, somewhat improper military salute, reporting loudly:"Reporting!!""New crew member Carrot, reporting for duty!""Please take care of me from now on! I can help with the watch, and I can also munch on Carrots!""...""..."The entire place was dead silent.Usopp's eyes were nearly popping out.Franky excitedly struck a new pose:"SUPER~! A stowaway rabbit! This week is truly full of surprises!"Robin smiled, as if she had expected it all along.Uta looked at Carrot curiously, tilting her head and asking, "Wow! So cute! Are you also a fan of Luffy?"Only Luffy, with his hands behind his head, laughed brilliantly, letting out his signature laugh:"Shishishishishi! I knew it!""Great! Another fun companion!"The stowaway from Zou successfully boarded! The noisy daily routine of the sunny seems like it's about to become even more lively.