Realizing the severity of the situation, Nami immediately flew toward the distant tunnel, saying, "Children, come over here! We're leaving this place!"
With that, Nami began using her Devil Fruit power to create clouds.
To ensure she could move everyone out, she had to create a cloud large enough!
After all... there were a lot of people leaving this time!
"Go on, children," Chopper said.
Hearing Chopper's words, Mocha and the others hesitated for a moment before heading in Nami's direction.
"By the way..."
Meiser, stroking his chin, looked up at the children passing by him and asked, "How did you calm them down?"
Weren't these children supposed to go berserk upon waking up due to the poison?
But they didn't seem that way now.
"Because I gave them sedatives," Chopper explained. "Otherwise, there was no way to calm them down."
The poison was simply too terrifying. Without sedatives, it would have been impossible to keep them under control.
That was why he had Perona help him administer the sedatives to these kids.
"I see, sedatives," Meiser said with a look of sudden understanding. "That's indeed a good solution."
In a way, it was the optimal approach.
"But is this really okay?" Nami glanced back at Law and said, "The outside should be filled with poison gas right now. Wouldn't it be dangerous to go out recklessly?"
That was a terrifying, lethal poison gas!
Anyone who came into contact with it would be killed!
"But it's still better than being crushed here," Law said gravely.
The research facility had already been damaged due to his attack, and collapse was only a matter of time. They had to leave!
Nami pursed her lips at his response. What kind of answer was that?
"It's fine, Nami," Meiser interjected. "Don't forget what Merry's ability is."
At those words, Nami's eyes immediately lit up.
That's right, Merry's ability was wind!
With that, even if there was terrifying poison gas outside, they could use Merry's ability to carve out a safe path!
With that thought, Nami abandoned any further doubts and turned to focus on using her ability.
Meanwhile, Law glanced curiously at Meiser and said, "You're referring to the ability that little girl used when she entered the research facility's main gate, right?"
Thinking back, that little girl had indeed used a wind ability when entering the gate earlier.
"Yes," Meiser nodded.
Hearing this, Law fell into stunned silence.
"Another Logia type..."
To think that little girl wasn't just a legendary Ship Spirit but also an Ability User who had eaten the Logia Wind-Wind Fruit!
That was somewhat terrifying.
"No, she's not," Meiser said.
"She's not?"
Law was taken aback. Not the Wind-Wind Fruit?
What other Devil Fruit can control the wind?
Thinking this, Law cast a puzzled look at Meiser.
"Have you forgotten what she is?" Meiser said.
Robin had already explained this to Law earlier.
Upon hearing Meiser's words, Law fell completely silent.
What was it?
If he remembered correctly, Nico Robin had indeed mentioned that Merry was a Ship Spirit.
So... the ability to control the wind was an innate power of the Ship Spirit?
At this thought, a look of astonishment appeared in Law's eyes.
This was even more terrifying than he had imagined.
Then, Law couldn't help but feel a bit envious of the Straw Hat Pirates.
The Straw Hat Pirates' lineup was truly exceptional!
Not only did they have so many powerful individuals, but they also had so many Ability Users.
Most importantly, they even had a Ship Spirit capable of controlling the wind!
With that... who could possibly capture the Straw Hat Pirates at sea?
Meiser, who had taken in Law's reaction, showed a hint of amusement in his eyes.
In a way, the situation of their Straw Hat Pirates was indeed enviable~
Just then, a commotion came from the entrance.
"Hey, Miss Merry, slow down!"
"Slow down!"
"Can't slow down." Merry glanced back and said, "If we're too slow, we'll be caught by the poison gas behind us."
A large amount of poison gas had somehow entered Building B, so they had to escape as quickly as possible!
"But I... I've swallowed so much wind!" a Marine said with difficulty.
He felt his stomach was icy cold.
"Gurgle..."
"If you know you've swallowed so much wind, then stop complaining!" Sanji yelled. "Everyone, shut your mouths!"
"But Black Leg, we..."
"Shut up!"
"Okay..."
The Marine, having been yelled at, immediately fell silent.
Seeing that they had shut up, Sanji didn't bother looking at them again.
Soon, under Merry's control, everyone rushed out of the passage and entered the relatively safe lobby of Building R!
"Whoa!!"
"We made it!!"
The Marines, upon seeing the lobby of Building R, immediately cheered, their expressions filled with excitement.
They had finally escaped the pursuit of the poison gas!
"Thank you, Miss Merry!"
"You're an angel!"
"No problem."
Merry said, "It wasn't too much trouble bringing you all along anyway."
Though she said that, the little one's face turned slightly red with shyness.
Seeing this, the Marines cheered even louder.
Miss Merry was just too adorable!!
"That's great."
Perona came to Merry's side and hugged the little one tightly, saying, "You all finally made it here safely."
She had been worried for so long.
"We were delayed a bit looking for people along the way," Merry said.
They had specifically searched each floor for traces of the children but hadn't found a single one.
In the end, due to the poison gas, they were forced to head toward Building R.
Then, Merry asked, "How are the children?"
"Did you find them?"
"Don't worry, they're all fine," Nico Robin said.
"That's a relief," Merry sighed in relief.
She had been worried about the children's safety earlier, wondering if her failure to find them might put them in danger.
It's a relief that everything is fine now.
"You little thing."
Perona rubbed the little one's head and said, "You're clearly not older than them, so why do you like calling them children?"
"I'm definitely different~" Merry giggled as she looked at Perona. "I'm a big kid now~"
Perona felt a bit helpless upon hearing this. Where exactly is she big?
This is clearly a child who looks only a few years old.
But since Merry said so, she couldn't say anything more.
Sanji, who had been watching their interaction, smiled, then glanced at Zoro, who was staring at Merry, and said, "It's a miracle you didn't get lost, you bastard."
Zoro: ??
"Who would get lost, you idiot!" Zoro snapped angrily.
What did this guy mean? Did he think he was directionally challenged?
Meiser:
Watching the two of them at each other's throats, Meiser was rendered speechless.
Sanji's method of provoking Zoro was as straightforward as ever.
"Actually, Zoro did get lost earlier," Nami said. "If Perona hadn't used her Negative Spirit to find him, he would have been taken out by the poison gas."
As soon as these words were spoken, the air instantly fell silent.
Zoro: .
Sanji: !!
Upon hearing Nami's words, Zoro's face turned green, while Sanji wore an exaggerated expression and burst into laughter, saying, "Hahaha, I knew this Moss Head would get lost~"
Just as he expected~
"Bastard, you looking for a fight, you perverted cook!"
"Who's a perverted cook, you Moss Head!"
Bang! Crash! Thud!
Just like that, the two of them started fighting again in front of everyone.
Law: ??
Law stared at this scene with a face full of confusion, hardly believing his eyes.
What on earth is the Straw Hat Crew doing?
Internal conflict?
Aren't they supposed to be running for their lives, you idiots!
"Hey, Straw Hat-ya!" Law glanced at Luffy and said, "Aren't you going to stop them?"
Just watching these two fight right here?
"Don't worry about it," Luffy said with a laugh. "They're just playing."
Law: .
What do you mean they're just playing?
They're using Haki, you idiot!!
"You'll get used to it," Meiser said with a chuckle.
Upon hearing this, Law was rendered speechless.
So, what exactly is going on with the Straw Hat Pirates?
"By the way, where are Brook and the Samurai?" Luffy glanced at Merry and asked, "Haven't you seen them?"
"No."
Merry shook her head and said, "When I brought everyone here, I didn't see them.
Maybe it's because there are so many passages here, so she didn't spot those two.
"Haven't seen them?"
Luffy was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then asked in confusion, "Then where are they?"
Could they be with Usopp?
Thinking this, Luffy was about to look up and ask Usopp, but before he could speak, an alarm sounded from the large door behind them, signaling it was about to close.
"?"
"Is this door going to close?" Luffy said.
"It looks like it is..."
Meiser paused after speaking, then looked up at the Den Den Mushi positioned high above and shouted, "Hey, Usopp, are Brook and Kin'emon with you?"
Hearing Meiser's words, Usopp was momentarily stunned before shaking his head and replying, "No, those two aren't with me."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expressions immediately changed.
Not there?
Didn't that mean Brook was still in the area filled with poison gas?
Thinking this, Merry struggled free from Perona's embrace and said, "I'm going to find Brook!"
She absolutely would not allow her companion to die here!
With that, Merry quickly rushed toward the door.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Perona exclaimed. "You don't even know where they are—where are you going to look?
"What if you can't find them and end up not being able to return yourself?"
"Then what should I do?" Merry said anxiously.
"I'll go with you," Perona said. "My ability allows me to pass through walls, so..."
This time, before Perona could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Usopp's voice coming from above.
"Both of you, calm down," Usopp said. "I've already spotted Brook."
Hearing this, everyone's eyes immediately lit up.
"Where is he?!" Perona quickly asked.
"In the tunnel behind you," Usopp said, staring intently at the surveillance screen. "Brook is currently rushing this way, carrying a white statue."
Perona: ??
A white statue?
What on earth is that?
Wait, what is Usopp even talking about?
Meanwhile, Merry said, "So they're in this tunnel? I'll go find them right away!"
With that, Merry rushed toward the door without hesitation.
This time, no one stopped Merry, as her speed would surely allow her to fly back with them in time.
"What's this white statue Usopp mentioned?" Franky wondered.
Why would Brook bring back a white statue?
Hearing Franky's question, Meiser fell silent for a moment before pointing at the humanoid white statue not far away, which had been taken down by Caesar, and said, "It must be that thing."
That was the person Caesar had killed with poison gas.
"This thing..."
Everyone who followed Meiser's gaze fell silent, simultaneously realizing what Brook was carrying.
If they weren't mistaken, that white statue was Kin'emon, covered in poison gas.
Thinking this, everyone sighed.
Who would have thought that the man searching for his son would ultimately die from Caesar's poison gas?
Zoro's expression was also complicated. He had originally planned to spar with Kin'emon after this was all over, but now the other was dead.
"I wonder if his son is among these people," Sanji said with a similarly complicated expression, glancing at the children in the distance.
If Kin'emon's son was here, then his sacrifice wouldn't have been in vain.
After all... his son had been saved!
The only question was whether the child could survive after losing his father...
But with the Marines here, it shouldn't be a problem, right?" Sanji thought to himself.
Although these Marines seemed rather rough, they appeared to be decent people, so entrusting the child to them... didn't seem like a problem.
Thinking this, Sanji nodded.
Just then, Nami called out from behind them, "Hey, everyone!"
"Come over here first!"
"My cloud is ready."
Now all that's left is to take everyone away from here!
"That big?!"
Franky stared at Nami in astonishment, never expecting her to create such an enormous cloud this time!
It was almost as big as a ship.
"If it wasn't made big, how could we take everyone away~" Nami laughed.
"True enough," Franky chuckled.
If the cloud wasn't large enough, there really would be no way to get all these people out of here.
"Everyone, get on the cloud quickly!" Sanji shouted. "We're leaving here!"
"Alright!!"