chapter 185 part 3
As she lathered up, she hummed a happy tune, full of life and joy.
Carrot noticed Ren Arakawa's gaze and turned to look at him with a brilliant smile, not at all embarrassed at being discovered. Instead, she asked generously, "Captain, want to wash up together? It took me forever to heat up this much water with the ship's tools. It's so comfortable!"
Ren Arakawa gave an awkward laugh. "I think I'll pass. You go ahead and enjoy your bath."
"La la~ la la la~" With a cheerful song, Carrot immersed herself in her own little world, contentedly washing and humming in the huge tub.
First, she applied the foam to her round shoulders, then slowly slid down her arms, covering her entire body in bubbles.
After washing for a good while, Carrot seemed to have built up a full store of energy. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and an incredibly brilliant smile bloomed on her face. With a powerful kick of her legs, her entire body leaped gracefully out of the tub.
Coincidentally, a perfectly sized bubble floated down right in front of her, landing in just the right spot to cover the parts that needed covering, exactly like a scene out of a manga.
At this time, Ren Arakawa had his back to Carrot, staring off at the distant horizon.
Hearing the commotion behind him, he said without turning his head, "You said you were a chef before, so go make some food."
"Yes, sir!" Carrot gave a sharp salute.
Then, she skipped off toward the kitchen, still humming that cheerful melody.
Before long, a peculiar smell wafted to Ren Arakawa's nose.
Ren Arakawa's nostrils flared, and his brows instantly furrowed into a deep crease.
This smell... was somewhat hard to describe.
Full of doubt, he followed the smell to the kitchen door.
The moment he peeked inside, his eyes went wide, and he stood rooted to the spot.
The kitchen's counters, cutting boards, and even the baskets on the floor were all filled to the brim with carrots.
Looking at the stove, there were several dishes laid out: sweet carrot soup with steam rising from it, chunks of carrot faintly visible in the broth; carrot fried rice with each grain distinct, yet enveloped by the essence of carrot; carrot juice in a glass, its color slightly pale; carrot noodles arranged neatly, with the only side dish being, well, more carrots; and a cold carrot salad that exuded a unique aroma.
There were certainly many types of dishes, but it was a world dominated entirely by carrots.
What "gathering of heroes"? This was clearly a carrot convention!
Ren Arakawa's mouth fell slightly agape. Just as he was about to roast this kitchen-full of a "carrot feast," Carrot turned around from the stove.
Fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and a few strands of hair, damp with perspiration, clung to her cheeks.
She wiped the sweat from her face with a towel, then looked up. Her big, watery eyes were full of sincerity and anticipation, staring straight at Ren Arakawa as if waiting for his praise.
The words on the tip of Ren Arakawa's tongue were forcefully swallowed back down. He opened and closed his mouth, finally sighing helplessly. He could only pick up a plate of carrot fried rice and force himself to start eating.
Fortunately, the ship was stocked with ingredients like dried salted fish and ham. He cut them into small pieces and mixed them into the rice, which finally made it barely edible.
"Is it good?"
"Yeah, it's good... good."
Over the next few days, whenever a pirate ship passed nearby, Ren Arakawa would fly over to their vessel and politely ask them where they came from and where they were going.
Most of the answers were that they were heading for the Sabaody Archipelago to enter the New World from there.
So, Ren Arakawa did the opposite, directing Carrot to steer their ship in the opposite direction of these pirate ships.
Late at night, the sea was silent, with only the sound of waves gently lapping against the hull.
Carrot yawned, her hands gripping the helm tightly, trying her best to stay awake.
Her eyelids felt as if they were lined with lead, constantly drooping, but she stubbornly lifted her head, her eyes showing her persistence.
Meanwhile, Ren Arakawa sat cross-legged in a corner of the wheelhouse, fully focused on studying how to open the third of the Eight Inner Gates, the Gate of Life.
His brow was tightly furrowed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The Chakra within his body circulated, attempting to break through that mysterious barrier.
"BOOM!"
Suddenly! A deafening crash came from the bottom of the ship. The vessel shook violently, and objects on the table tumbled off, clattering loudly on the floor.
Immediately after, a piercing scraping sound rang out, instantly jolting Carrot completely awake.
Her eyes flew open in terror, and her hands subconsciously tightened on the helm.
After steadying the ship, Carrot, looking panicked, hurried to the bow and stared ahead.
By the faint moonlight, the reef below the bow was barely visible. The sharp rock, like a sharp blade, had pierced the ship's hull.
Ren Arakawa quickly scanned their surroundings. A thick fog had appeared on the sea at some point. The fog was so dense it seemed capable of swallowing a person whole, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. It was incredibly bizarre.
He hurriedly activated his Observation Haki, his perception spreading out around him like ripples. But even so, his range of perception was still empty. There was only the endless fog and the cold seawater.
Now, the two of them were truly trapped on this vast sea.
Carrot's eyes instantly turned red, and tears welled up. "Waaaah!" she cried out. "Wuwuwu, it's the middle of the night, where are we supposed to find someone to fix the ship? The ship has such a big hole, we definitely can't sail it anymore! If we keep going, the ship will sink! Our... our ship..."
Ren Arakawa quickly reached out and patted Carrot's shoulder, comforting her in a low voice. "It's okay, don't cry. I'll fly out and take a look first, see if there are any islands nearby."
As he flew up, he saw a massive pirate ship.
No, to call it a pirate ship...
It was more like a moving island.
(end of chapter)