Chapter 141 Romantic Fantasy! Lighting the Lights of Shandora
The sky seemed to have collapsed.
That black lightning ball, powerful enough to destroy an island—"Lei Ying".
It descended slowly, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression, preparing to devour the entire White Sea along with Angel Island.
"It's too much of an eyesore!!!"
Luffy stood on the back of Waver, looking at the enormous black sphere that blotted out the sky, without a trace of fear in his eyes.
He swung his right arm violently, and the heavy golden ball, propelled by his monstrous strength, pierced into the thundercloud with a whooshing sound.
"Rubber, Fireworks, Golden Peony!!!"
Luffy's arms thrashed wildly, and the excellent conductivity of gold, combined with the high-speed rotation and rebound of rubber, actually created a golden storm inside the black sphere.
The already extremely unstable structure of the cumulonimbus cloud collapsed instantly.
"Sizzle sizzle..."
The "Thunderclap" that brought despair to everyone was like a punctured balloon, turning into countless tiny lightning bolts that dissipated at an altitude of ten thousand meters.
The darkness receded, and the long-awaited sunlight pierced through the clouds, once again shining upon the land of the floating island.
On the deck, Vaipa was covered in blood, and Zoro was looking up at her.
And all the residents on the ground, who were praying in despair, were stunned at this moment.
That was a miracle.
"Unforgivable... mortals!!!"
With his ultimate move broken, Enel on the Ark went into a frenzy.
He frantically pounded the thunder drum behind him, absorbing all the lightning energy from the ark into his body.
"Two hundred million volts Thor!!!"
With a roar, Enel's body rapidly expanded, transforming into a blue giant god composed entirely of lightning.
His eyes blazed with lightning, and his voice boomed like thunder.
"Hey you! Why are you still here?!"
"I am an omnipotent god!! I cannot lose to mortals!!!"
The enormous hand of Thor, carrying an aura of destruction, slammed down on Luffy.
But Luffy neither dodged nor avoided.
He leaped high into the air once more, facing the thunder.
His gaze passed through Enel's massive body and looked into the depths of the clouds behind Enel—there, buried was the enormous, silent Shandora Golden Bell, which had been silent for four hundred years.
"Ring, Golden Bell!!"
Luffy roared, stretching his arm backward, stretching it further and further, until it reached its limit.
The enormous golden sphere shone brilliantly in the sunlight, a testament to the weight of countless dreams.
Luffy took a deep breath and, facing the sea of clouds below and the distant blue sea, let out a soul-shaking roar:
"Diamond-shaped Uncle!!! Can you hear me!!!"
"The Golden Land...it's right here!!!"
This punch embodied all the anger, all the hope, and a promise spanning four hundred years.
"Rubber, rubber—the golden boomerang!!!"
"bite."
Luffy's fist, carrying a golden ball weighing hundreds of tons, was actually covered in Armament Haki.
The enormous black fist shattered Enel's invincible Thunder God form with overwhelming force.
Then, it slammed heavily into Enel's stomach.
boom!!!
"Pfft—!!!"
Enel's eyes rolled back, and he, along with the giant golden ball, was blasted like a golden meteor by Luffy's punch, crashing into the clouds behind him and towards that enormous target.
The next second.
when!!!!
Enel's body, along with the golden ball, crashed heavily onto the surface of the enormous golden bell.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
A clear, melodious, and magnificent bell sound, beyond description, instantly resounded throughout the world.
The sound pierced through the clouds, through the gale and thunderstorm, reaching the seabed of Qinghai.
In the earth-shaking tolling of the bell, all hatred and strife seemed to become insignificant.
On the deck of the ark.
"Did you hear that...?"
The moment Vaipa heard the bell, the clapper slipped from her hand.
This iron-willed warrior, who had never shed a tear before, now knelt on the deck, tears streaming down his face, and roared at the sky:
"Calgarra...can you hear me...?"
"The lights of Shandora... are lit!!"
...
Jaya Island (Qinghai).
While diving for clues, Wenbrand Couric and the ape brothers suddenly stopped moving.
The chimes from the heavens pierced through the deep sea and echoed clearly in their ears.
"This is..."
Kurik suddenly surfaced and threw away the cigarette butt in his mouth.
He looked up at the sky, and the middle-aged man, who had always been ridiculed as the descendant of the "King of Liars," was now crying like a child, looking up at the heavens:
"Rolando...did you hear that?!"
"The Golden Land exists! It's in the heavens!!"
"Your story... is true!!!"
"You're not a liar!!"
...
On the deck of the Merry.
"Waaaaah! Luffy! You did it!!"
Usopp and Sanji hugged each other excitedly, wiping each other's snot and tears.
Viktor lay on the deck, still unable to move, but as he listened to the soul-stirring chimes, he slowly closed his eyes, a relaxed smile appearing on his lips like never before.
"...Is this the voice of history? It's so...beautiful."
"Even if it transcends time and dimensions... this romance is enough to move people."
Just as he was feeling sentimental, a warm and soft touch suddenly came over him.
"Huh?!"
Viktor paused.
An excited Nami suddenly pounced on him and forcefully sealed his lips with hers.
It was a kiss mingled with tears, joy, and the relief of surviving a catastrophe.
Viktor paused for a second, then the surprise in his eyes turned into a gentle smile.
He reached out his still-functioning hand and cupped the back of Nami's head, and the two kissed passionately amidst the ringing of bells.
In the sky.
As the clouds completely dissipated, the sunlight poured down without reservation.
Above that pristine white cloud wall, Luffy's enormous figure was projected onto it by the sunlight, like a giant standing in the sky, proclaiming his existence to the world.
The battle in the Skypiea arc has come to an end.Chapter 143 The End of the War and Nami's "Punishment"
High in the sky, the thunderclouds that seemed capable of devouring everything finally dissipated.
"Waaaaahh...
Having delivered the final blow, Luffy exhausted all his strength and fell from the clouds like a leaf.
"Luffy!"
Robin, who was already prepared, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and countless arms grew out from behind her, forming a gentle net that belonged to her.
"A Riot of Colors: Flower Net!"
Countless arms intertwined to form a giant net, steadily catching the falling captain.
"Luffy!!" Chopper rushed over crying and hugged the injured Luffy tightly, wiping his snot and tears all over him.
Not far away, the seriously injured Vaipa lay on a stretcher.
This "war demon," who had never bowed his head to anyone, looked at the figure of the straw-hatted boy, tears streaming down his resolute face.
His lips trembled as he whispered:
"...Thanks."
...
The other side of the sky.
Although he was defeated, Enel did not die.
Piloting the severely damaged ark "Proverbs," he resolutely flew towards the distant stars in his final moments.
"Hmph, those monkeys from Qinghai..."
He gazed at the increasingly distant floating island, his eyes filled not with lingering attachment, but with a yearning for the unknown.
The gloom that had shrouded the sky island completely dissipated, and the Ark transformed into a shooting star, flying towards the "infinite land" he had always dreamed of.
Above the ruins of Angel Island.
Gan Foul and the chief of Shandia stood together at the age of 30.
Under the witness of the golden bell that had just resounded through the sky, both sides finally realized...
The "Island of the Gods" they fought over for four hundred years was actually their common homeland—Bath.
Hatred melts away with the tolling of the bells.
At such a moment, no need for many words, just a grand feast.
Although homes have been destroyed, as long as people are alive, there is hope.
...
Night falls, and the makeshift stone house campsite is set up.
"Everyone, don't move! The bandages aren't properly applied yet!"
Chopper was busy running around, changing the bandages for Zoro, Waipa, and Victor, who were all seriously injured.
Inside Victor's room.
Although the vital organs were avoided, the body had indeed reached its limit.
Viktor lay weakly on the stone bed, his upper body wrapped in thick bandages, revealing only his deep eyes.
Even so, he still held the black notebook and a pen in his hand, and was painstakingly writing something down.
"Click".
The door was pushed open.
Nami came in carrying a tray of medicine.
When she saw Viktor still working in this state, her brows furrowed instantly, her eyes filled with both heartache and a hint of suppressed anger.
"You're injured like this, what are you still writing in that tattered notebook for?"
Nami strode over, snatched the pen and notebook from Viktor's hand, and threw them onto the table.
Then, she turned to Chopper, who was mixing the ointment, and said:
"Chopper, you go take care of Luffy and the others. I'll handle Viktor's midnight dressing change."
Chopper paused for a moment, then nodded, touched.
"Okay! Then I'll have to leave it to you, Nami! I was just worried about how busy I was! You'll be a huge help!"
The innocent little reindeer was unaware of the unusual atmosphere in the room.
He ran out with his medicine box in his arms, and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
...
Late at night, moonlight streamed through the holes in the stone roof, spilling onto the stone bed like mercury.
The surroundings were so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing, and the occasional cheers from the banquet outside the window.
Viktor looked at Nami standing by the bed, backlit, and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth:
"My navigator, your eyes don't look like you're applying medicine to me, they look more like you're… murdering your husband."
Nami didn't say anything.
She put down the medicine tray in her hand without expression.
The next second, she made a move that shocked Viktor.
Nami took off her sandals and climbed directly onto the stone bed.
She spread her legs and straddled Victor's waist and abdomen.
Because Viktor was severely injured and unable to resist, he could only let her look down at him from above.
Her long orange hair fell to Victor's chest, the ends brushing lightly against his bandages, bringing a tingling, itchy sensation.
Viktor's breath hitched, his eyes instantly darkened, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
"Nami... I'm seriously injured right now, I can't take any more strain..."
"Shut up."
Nami suddenly leaned down, placing her hands on either side of Viktor's head, trapping him beneath her.
By the moonlight, Viktor could see her face clearly—her eyes were red-rimmed, and there were still traces of fear and tears in her eyes.
"It's always like this..."
Nami's voice trembled, yet carried an unprecedented firmness:
"Always protecting everyone behind him while risking his life... whether it's fighting Crocodile or that Enel..."
"Who do you think you are? A god? Or immortal?"
Nami's icy fingers gently traced the charred bandage on Viktor's chest, her fingertips trembling violently, as if it were a wound etched into her heart.
"Do you know... I thought you were really going to die..."
"This is punishment."
Before she could finish speaking, Nami lowered her head and kissed Viktor's lips.
Unlike the kiss on the deck before, this time she was extremely aggressive.
She was in complete control of the relationship.
Nami forcefully pried open Viktor's teeth with the tip of her tongue, stealing his breath.
It was as if she wanted to convey all her unease, fear, and love to him through this kiss.
"Hmm..."
She rubbed slowly against Victor, even through his clothes and bandages.
Viktor could still clearly feel the girl's amazing softness, her gradually rising temperature, and her rapid heartbeat.
As a man, how could I possibly remain indifferent in a situation like this?
Although Viktor's arms were weak, he still managed to raise his hand and hold Nami's slender waist.
He responded to her enthusiasm with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence, letting her run rampant in his territory.
a long time.
At the moment of parting lips.
Their breathing became rapid and heavy.
Nami, panting, pressed her forehead against Viktor's, their noses touching. Her brown eyes were hazy, yet held a domineering air of assertiveness.
"Listen up, Viktor."
"You are my first mate, and your life... is mine too."
Nami's fingers dug into Viktor's hair, gripping it tightly.
"From now on, without my permission... you are not allowed to die, nor are you allowed to get yourself into this state."
Viktor looked at the assertive little wildcat in front of him, his eyes full of affection, and chuckled:
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Nami bit her lip, a fleeting hint of shyness in her eyes, then leaned down again, whispering sweetly in Viktor's ear:
"besides..."
"Tonight, even if you can't move... you have to stay with me..."
The camera slowly pans to the bright moon outside the window.
Inside the stone house, the candlelight flickered.
The faint rustling of clothes could be heard, along with deliberately suppressed yet still alluring breaths.
That night was more moving than the chimes of the Golden Bell.Chapter 144 A Night of Revelry! A Symphony of History and Gold
At the top of the island of gods, above the clouds.
Robin went alone to the base of the huge golden bell.
Beneath this golden glow and shadow, a piece of historical text stands silently.
Robin's fingers gently brushed over the cold stone inscriptions, deciphering the information from eight hundred years ago.
"The location of the ancient weapon...'Sea King'."
Robin's eyes flickered slightly, but that wasn't what she cared about most.
Her gaze continued upwards, and on one of the massive golden pillars supporting the golden bell, she discovered a bold inscription that had clearly been added later.
"I have come to this point, bringing this article to its end. — Gol D. Roger"
Robin stared at that name, his heart filled with turmoil.
"The Pirate King... He's been here too? And he even deciphered the Poneglyphs..."
...
The following evening, beside the ruins of Angel Island.
To celebrate the end of the war and the reconciliation between the two races, a grand bonfire party, worthy of being recorded in the history of Skypiea, began.
A huge bonfire shot straight into the sky, illuminating everyone's rosy cheeks.
"Yahoo!!!"
Luffy had two chopsticks stuck in his nostrils and was holding a huge meat bone in his hand.
They were leading the once fierce but now bewildered white wolf from the sky island in a dance around the campfire.
His comical actions amused the surrounding Shandian warriors and Angel Island residents, who burst into laughter.
"Glug glug... Ha!!"
Zoro held a wine jar that was even bigger than himself in his arms and drank it down in a big gulp.
The liquor dripped down his chin, wetting the bandage on his chest, but he didn't care.
"Hey!! You bunch of bastards!!"
Not far away, Sanji was sweating profusely, tending to a dozen or so grills, his spatula flashing in a blur.
"Hey, someone come help me out!! I can't keep up with the grilling!! And you over there, Algae Head, stop just drinking!!"
"belch--!"
Zoro let out a long hiccup, glancing at Sanji through his blurry, drunken eyes:
"Ah! That feels so good!...Shut up, you lecherous chef. Can't you even grill this little bit of meat properly?"
"What did you say?! You want to fight, you drunkard?!"
Another corner of the battlefield.
"Back in the day, when that Thor Enel saw me, he was so scared he peed his pants!"
Although Usopp was wrapped in bandages like a mummy, he was standing on a wooden box, spitting as he boasted about his "heroic deeds."
But obviously no one listened.
Apart from the three animals on the boat.
Rasu, the dachshund, was very cooperative. Whenever Usopp got to an exciting part of his story, it would bark twice to cheer him on.
Clay the Raven completely ignored Usopp's words and was focused on tackling a roasted chicken.
As for Chopper... this little reindeer was too tired from treating the wounded during the day, and was currently holding a glass of juice, his head nodding, about to fall asleep.
...
On the quieter side of the campfire.
Victor was reclining on a soft chair.
Because of his previous serious injuries, coupled with Nami's somewhat "excessive" torment of him last night.
This has resulted in the first mate now suffering from back pain and difficulty moving around.
Therefore, he was forced to enjoy Nami's "exclusive feeding service".
Come on, ah—
Nami carried a bowl of steaming soup, carefully blew on it to cool it down with a spoon, and brought it to Viktor's lips.
Having gone through that life-or-death ordeal and the passionate night together, their relationship had become completely intimate.
Nami looked at Viktor with eyes overflowing with love, so much so that even the surrounding air seemed to turn pink.
"Nami…" Viktor said helplessly. "I can eat by myself…"
"No, you can't." Nami smiled and put the spoon in his mouth. "Open your mouth."
Just then, Robin, carrying a glass of red wine, walked over with elegant steps and sat down next to Victor.
She looked at the noisy crowd in the distance, as if the excitement had nothing to do with her.
"I saw Roger's message on the Golden Bell."
Robin gently swirled her wine glass, turning her head to look at Victor with a probing gaze:
"'Bringing this article to its end'... Victor, you don't seem surprised that the Pirate King has been here?"
Viktor swallowed the food in his mouth, took the handkerchief Nami offered and wiped his mouth, his eyes becoming deep and thoughtful.
"The fact that the Pirate King has been here is not a secret in certain circles."
"He has traversed the Grand Line, so he naturally knows everything."
Victor looked at Robin and asked in return:
"The key question is... Robin, have you found the answer you're looking for?"
Robin gazed at the flickering flames, remained silent for a moment, and then a relieved smile appeared on his lips:
"I haven't found it completely yet. But... I know the direction."
"The historical texts are not isolated. What I want to do is not only to find them, but also to connect their information and 'guide' them to that final destination—Laugh Tale."
"That's right."
Victor put on a smiling expression again, raised his glass and clinked it against Robin's:
"Then let's keep going. That idiot Luffy will definitely lead you to that destination. And..."
A glint of light flashed in Viktor's eyes:
"I'm also very curious about what interesting stories happened during those 100 blank years."
"But now…" Victor pointed to Luffy, who was doing the chopstick dance.
"Put those heavy things down and go to the party. Cheer up, Robin."
Robin paused for a moment, then smiled, a smile warmer than the firelight: "Mm."
...
Late at night, the banquet was drawing to a close.
Except for Chopper, who was still fast asleep, the Straw Hat crew members gathered together, drunk, and started a "secret operations meeting."
Hey everyone!
Luffy let out a burp, a mischievous grin on his face, and lowered his voice:
"Although the uncles were very hospitable, treating us to dinner and even asking us to dance... we're pirates!"
"How can pirates return empty-handed? Right?"
"That's right!"
Even though Usopp was wrapped in bandages, his eyes lit up the moment the treasure was mentioned.
He looked around and said mysteriously:
"I just checked! That giant snake's belly... is full of ancient gold!!"
"We'll execute our 'Gold Heist Plan' first thing tomorrow morning! Grab it and run before everyone wakes up!"
"gold?!!"
Upon hearing those two words, Nami, who had been massaging Viktor's shoulders, instantly snapped out of her daze.
Her eyes instantly transformed into two enormous Pele symbols "$", and an astonishing aura erupted from her body:
"I want the most!!!! Don't anyone try to take it from me!!"
The group immediately agreed and let out a sinister laugh.
Actually, they didn't know.
In a tent not far away, the Shandian chief and Gan Foul were discussing something.
To express our gratitude to these benefactors, we plan to give them the massive, priceless golden bell pillar that collapsed.
But the pirates decided to steal the gold and fled with several bags of broken gold.
For pirates, this is... more romantic and more foolish.Chapter 145 A Triumphant Return! Plunging Towards Qinghai
The first light of dawn had just illuminated the ruins of God's Island.
"Huff...huff...run!!"
On the jungle path, Luffy, Zoro, Chopper, and Sanji were carrying huge packs that were almost as tall as them, running frantically like thieves.
A clattering sound came from inside the package, clearly the sound of countless gold items colliding.
"Don't look back! If you get caught, you're done for!!" Luffy stuck out his tongue and his legs moved like wheels of fire.
Behind them, dust billowed.
A large group of Sky Island residents and Shandian warriors are roaring and chasing after them.
Even more outrageous, the leading group of strongmen were carrying an enormous, priceless golden pillar!
"Wait!! My benefactors!!"
"Don't run away!! Take this with you!! It's from our hearts!!"
However, this enthusiastic shout took on a completely different meaning in Luffy's peculiar thought process.
Luffy glanced back at the pillar, which was thicker than a cannon, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock.
"Aaaaaah!! Run!! They're going to crush us with that giant pillar!!!"
"That must be a heavy weapon!!" Zoro exclaimed, sweating profusely. "So taking all the gold really made him too hated after all!"
"I'll never let go of Nami's treasure, even if it kills me!!" Sanji ran fast, but he held onto the bundle on his back tightly.
"Huh? Their expressions look weird to me." Chopper panted.
...
On the Merry.
Victor sat leisurely on the ship's railing, a cup of tea in his hand, watching the comical chase in the distance.
In fact, based on his observations and snippets of conversation, he had already guessed that the residents wanted to give him gifts.
"However..."
Victor pushed up his glasses, a mischievous smile playing on his lips:
"As a pirate, this 'grab and run' exit method is definitely more romantic."
Not wanting to spoil the rare atmosphere, he stood up and shouted like a true villainous commander:
"All personnel, prepare! Load up anchor!!"
"Usopp! Prepare the Wind Shells! Help them board the ship!"
"Oh!! Leave it to me!"
Just as Luffy and his two companions jumped onto the deck with strange cries, Usopp activated the wind-blown shell at the stern of the ship.
boom!!
A powerful gust of air erupted, and the Going Merry, propelled by the recoil, shot off the shore like an arrow and headed towards the horizon.
"Goodbye!! Uncles! Stop hitting us with pillars!!" Luffy waved from the stern of the ship, still shaken.
On the shore, the Shandian chieftain carrying the golden pillar and Gan Fall stood there, looking completely bewildered.
"...You run really fast."
"That's strange. It seems they don't like this golden pillar."
...
On the deck of the ship.
After confirming that it was safe, everyone collapsed to the ground and burst into laughter.
Besides the four large bags of gold, Victor also patted a large sack next to him.
It wasn't filled with gold, but rather with all sorts of Sky Island Shells—which he had specifically asked the Shandian warriors to collect yesterday.
"This is…" Usopp leaned closer curiously.
"It's a shell."
Victor picked up a wind shell, tossed it around, and said to Usopp:
"When we get back, we're going to have a big showdown, Usopp."
"Nami's weather stick is ingenious, but its power is insufficient; your slingshot has also reached its limit."
A light gleamed in Viktor's eyes:
"We need to make full use of all these shells. Impact Shells, Flame Shells, Wind Shells... and then give your weapons a complete upgrade."
Upon hearing this, Usopp's eyes instantly lit up like searchlights:
"Wow!!! A complete upgrade!!!"
He excitedly hugged the bag of seashells and rubbed it against them:
"I almost forgot about these treasures! You're something else, you damn first mate! You've thought of everything!"
...
The ship sailed to the edge of the clouds, where a bottomless abyss lay ahead.
"If we don't take the Sky Current, how are we going to get down?" Chopper asked worriedly, looking down.
Just then, a whistle sounded from the sky.
"Everyone--!!"
Connie and her father, Piga, arrived in their Wiba to see them off.
Connie blew the special whistle.
"Waaah—"
A giant octopus, resembling a hot air balloon—the "octopus balloon"—emerged from beneath the sea of clouds.
Its tentacles gently gripped the hull of the Merry, and its massive body inflated, transforming into a natural parachute.
"With this, we can land safely in Qinghai!" Connie shouted, waving her hand.
The Merry was caught by a giant balloon and slowly descended into the sea of clouds.
As the altitude decreased, the dreamlike scenery of the floating island gradually faded into the distance, becoming an unattainable memory.
In the sky.
"唳——"
Sky Knight Gan Fall rides his winged horse Pierre, hovering above the Merry.
The old knight removed his helmet and offered the highest knightly salute to the group of pirates who, though rude in behavior, were kind at heart.
High up in the ruins.
Vaipa was still wrapped in bandages, but he stood ramrod straight.
He watched the departing ship, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
"Straw Hat Luffy...and that terrifying Guren..."
"This sky will always welcome you."
Luffy's carefree shouts echoed in the wind:
"Guys! The food on Skypiea was delicious!!! See you next time!!!!"
Victor stood at the stern, his trench coat fluttering in the wind high above.
He didn't speak, but with his back to everyone, he gently waved to the sky where they had once fought.
Goodbye, Kingdom of God.
"I'll just stay here when I'm old," Viktor thought to himself.
...
The octopus balloon carried the Merry into the long, vertical cloud tunnel.
The air currents surged all around, and the white mist swept by rapidly.
As the adrenaline subsides, a wave of fatigue washes over you.
After all the battles, scheming, serious injuries, and last night's not-so-easy revelry, Victor finally couldn't hold on any longer.
Instead of returning to his room, he leaned against the pile of bags full of gold on the deck.
All I could hear was the noisy commotion of Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper fighting over snacks, and Zoro snoring.
Amidst this reassuring noise, Viktor closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
"Shh..."
Nami raised her finger, signaling everyone to be quiet.
She picked up a coat, tiptoed over, and gently draped it over Victor.
Looking at that face, whose brows were slightly relaxed even in her sleep, Nami did not leave.
She turned to the side and snuggled into his arms like a kitten, finding a comfortable spot to lean against him.
Through the gaps in the clouds, the view below was no longer pure white, but gradually revealed a deep and vast azure blue.
That's the ocean.
Nami looked down at her hometown, which was gradually approaching, and a beautiful smile appeared on her lips.
"Ah... what a wonderful trip."
She murmured softly, her fingers tracing circles on Victor's chest:
"Soaring into the sky for dreams, challenging gods for friends... I suddenly understand Luffy's idiot thoughts a little better."
"Hey, Victor."
Viktor did not answer, only his even, long breaths could be heard.
Nami turned her head to look at her sleeping lover, her eyes filled with love and dependence that no longer needed to be hidden.
"I hope you'll take good care of me in the future."
"My... Anathapindika."
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the salty scent of the sea.
And so, the Straw Hat crew ended their miraculous adventure at 10,000 meters in the sky, returning to the chaotic yet wonderful Qinghai with a ship full of gold, legends, and bonds.Chapter 146 Return to Qinghai! A Wealthy Pirate Ship!
With a loud screech of air, the octopus balloon gradually deflated.
"Thump!"
Like a feather, the Going Merry, though somewhat turbulent, eventually landed smoothly on the azure sea.
A sea breeze swept by, bringing with it the long-lost salty and damp smell and the cries of seagulls.
"Hahaha!! The ocean smells so good!!"
Luffy lay on the bow of the ship, took a deep breath, and opened his arms to embrace this familiar blue world.
Although returning safely from 10,000 meters is something to celebrate.
But seeing the deck full of messy supplies, gold, and various shellfish, everyone had no choice but to resign themselves to starting a thorough cleaning.
The noise woke Viktor, who was still catching up on sleep.
He stretched and felt that the soreness in his body had subsided considerably.
"Nami, help me remove these bandages." Viktor walked over to Nami, who was giving instructions.
"Huh? Are we going to demolish it now?"
Although Nami complained, she had already picked up the scissors and gently cut open the gauze on Viktor's body:
"The wound has only just scabbed over. What if it reopens? Besides..."
Nami looked at the bandages wrapped around Viktor's body, her cheeks slightly flushed, and muttered softly:
"I think the way he looks with bandages wrapped around his head... has a kind of decadent coolness, it's actually quite good-looking."
Viktor smiled helplessly and let her do as she pleased.
Finally, as the last bandage fell to the ground, Viktor's strong and scarred upper body was revealed.
Nami glanced at the newly added scars, her eyes flickered, and without saying a word, she silently helped him put on his shirt.
With everyone's concerted efforts, the deck was quickly restored to its original condition.
Then, everyone's attention was focused on the center of the deck—the mountain of treasure.
Under the sunlight, the gold artifacts reflected a dazzling light.
"Wow! So much glittering treasure!" Chopper exclaimed happily.
Nami was about to direct Luffy and Usopp to move the gold into the warehouse.
Seeing Viktor approach, she naturally took his arm and pressed herself against him.
Sanji, holding a plate, watched this scene with unusually calm eyes.
He sighed and lit a cigarette.
"They're not angry at all... It seems I've gotten used to the 'old married couple' kind of sour smell they give off."
...
After cleaning, everyone sat around the pile of gold.
Luffy picked up a gold cup and took a bite, only to bite into a diamond, nearly breaking his teeth: "So hard! How much meat could all of this buy?"
Nami was now completely enraged, her eyes transforming into giant Beli symbols:
"So much...at current market prices, it's probably around 500 million Berries, right? I'm rich!!"
"No, Nami."
Victor reached out and picked up an antique-looking gold candlestick, examining its patterns closely in the sunlight:
"Look at these craftsmanship techniques. The gold from the Sky Island is extremely pure, far exceeding the circulating gold from Qinghai."
"Moreover, these are all antiques from the Shandora civilization hundreds of years ago, and have extremely high historical and collectible value."
Victor adjusted his glasses and gave a professional assessment:
"If the right buyer is found... this gold is worth at least 1 billion berries."
"1...1 billion?!"
Nami gasped, feeling so happy she almost fainted.
Robin, who was standing next to him, smiled and nodded, adding:
"Considering the added value of the legend of Shandora's 'Golden Land', the price will definitely be even higher if it encounters an enthusiastic collector."
"Yay!!! We're going to get a bigger ship!! And we're going to buy designer brands!! I'm going to buy a whole wardrobe full of clothes!!"
Nami screamed and clung tightly to Viktor's arm, refusing to let go, like a koala clinging to him.
However, just as everyone was immersed in the joy of becoming rich overnight...
"Hey... everyone..."
Usopp climbed up from the bottom of the cabin, his face devoid of any smile, instead filled with solemnity.
He was also holding a hammer covered in sawdust in his hand.
"What's wrong, Usopp? You look terrible," Luffy asked.
"I just went to check the bottom of the ship…the keel, and there are cracks."
Usopp's voice trembled slightly.
These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing everyone's enthusiasm.
The fierce battles on the floating islands, the impact of the towering ocean currents, and the pressure of falling from a height of 10,000 meters had already overwhelmed the small goat boat named "Golden Merry".
Like a battered and bruised veteran, it finally let out a painful groan after persevering to complete its final mission.
The atmosphere became somewhat heavy.
Nami released her grip on Viktor and looked at the ship with concern.
Victor walked to the ship's railing and gently patted the somewhat worn railing of the Merry:
"It was very strong and persevered to the end."
Viktor turned around, looked at everyone, and said firmly:
"Now that we have money, our next goal is clear."
"City of Water".
"There are the best shipbuilders in the world there."
"We'll take these 500 million Berries with us and find the best craftsmen to completely repair the Going Merry, and even make it stronger."
Upon hearing this, the gloom in Luffy's eyes vanished.
"oh!!!"
Luffy leaped onto the ram's head in the VIP section, raised his fist, and shouted:
"Hehehe! That's right! As long as you have money, you can fix it! Let's go! Let's fix the Going Merry!!"
...
The Merry sailed on the calm sea for a short while.
Victor returned to his room.
He brought up the system panel, looked at the numbers on it, and frowned slightly.
[Current Ninja Way Value: 6500 points.]
"After the battle on the Sky Island, plus the rewards for changing the plot and defeating the priest, I have indeed accumulated quite a bit."
Viktor looked at the red icon in the exchange list—[Mangekyou Sharingan (Awakened)], with a cold price tag below it: [20,000 points].
"There's still a long way to go to reach 20,000 points..."
Victor sighed.
Although this amount of money can be exchanged for quite a few A-rank or even S-rank ninjutsu, his current combat methods are already quite diverse.
Water Release, Fire Release, taijutsu, Haki, and the Sharingan's perception are enough to deal with most enemies.
and...
Viktor glanced at the new skill item that had appeared in his skill bar.
[Lightning Release: Kirin] This is a ninjutsu that I obtained unexpectedly after the battle with Enel.
This is a powerful weapon capable of attracting heavenly lightning. Although it has many limitations, it can still be considered a trump card.
Victor closed the system panel.
"Let's save it for now. We absolutely must get our hands on the power of the Kaleidoscope."
Just then.
"Whoa!! What is that?!"
Suddenly, Luffy and Chopper's exclamations came from outside.
Victor pushed open the door and stepped onto the deck. Following everyone's gaze, he paused for a moment, startled.
A very strange island appeared on the sea ahead.
The trees on the island grow as long and thin as noodles.
Even the animals running along the shore had elongated bodies, creating an absurdly comical scene.
"Everything... is long and thin?" Robin asked in surprise.
Long Chain Island, arrived.