Chapter 155: The Ghost Princess Boards the Ship

Chapter 155: The Ghost Princess Boards the Ship

In the first half of the Grand Line, near the Red Line that soared into the clouds, countless islands formed a cluster, slowly floating above the cloud layer.

At the center of the largest island, surrounded by the archipelago, stood a magnificent palace.

A giant ship trailed behind this island. To call it a ship was a stretch; it was, in fact, a massive, semi-oval-shaped giant rock, with countless oars protruding from its sides.

And at its bow, a giant lion's head was carved, its wild mane draping over it, majestic and ferocious.

On the ship, in a lavishly decorated room.

Bok—Bok—Bok!

Strange footsteps sounded one after another. A person in a white scientist's lab coat, with exaggerated, clown-like makeup on his face, walked into the room and stopped in front of a man with shoulder-length blond hair.

The man was tall. His legs were only half-length, with two double-edged swords strapped to them. He wore a yellow-and-orange striped kimono, and half a ship's helm was conspicuously stuck on his rugged face.

The scientist raised his hands and made a series of gestures at him. Seemingly feeling that the other didn't understand his meaning, he spoke directly under the other's puzzled gaze:

"Admiral, the pirate crews we've summoned have started to arrive one after another. They are gathering in the nearby sea area and are estimated to be fully assembled by tomorrow."

"So you can talk!!" Golden Lion roared, his eyes wide.

The cigar at the corner of his mouth trembled. He turned and walked to the wall, looking down through the window.

"This place is too close to Marineford. I'll sink the island when we're a bit further away. You'll be responsible for receiving those captains on the island. I'm going to make a personal trip to Marine Headquarters to give those old geezers a warning."

"Understood, Admiral."

The scientist took out a newspaper and said with a grin, "Also, the experiments we conducted in the East Blue have been published in the papers."

"Shiki-hahaha!!"

Upon hearing this, Golden Lion threw his head back and laughed sinisterly, his long golden hair dancing wildly behind him. "This is just the beginning! Feel the fear! I'm back to overturn this world!"

—

Meanwhile, in the fog-shrouded Florian Triangle.

The banquet lasted for a day and a night until everyone was exhausted, lying scattered across the hall, and then slept for most of the day.

Only a few people woke up earlier and were busy preparing to set sail again.

Under the steering of the Blue and Red Ogres, Thriller Bark slowly sailed out of the Florian Triangle.

"The course is correct. We'll be able to leave this fog soon."

Nami closed one eye, carefully checking the Log Pose on her wrist. Then she turned to look at a gothic lolita holding an umbrella at her side, her tone carrying a warning:

"Let me make it clear first, we're only giving you a ride temporarily. You'd better not have any funny ideas. Don't think I'm as easy to fool as that idiot captain."

"I know, I know. You're not cute at all. If I had a ship, I wouldn't want to follow you guys," Perona said, one hand on her hip, the other carrying her umbrella on her shoulder, as she turned her face away, pouting.

Two days ago, she had personally witnessed Moria being taken away by Kuma. She had searched the island for the past two days, but there was no sign of Hogback or Absalom.

She had originally wanted to steal the Straw Hats' ship to leave, but it turned out there were so many experts guarding the ship. They subdued her after just a few rounds of fighting.

Then she was captured by the undead and brought before them.

Perona thought she was dead for sure at the time. After all, they were enemies, and she had tried to steal their ship. They would definitely not spare her.

Surprisingly, after her pleading and begging, their captain actually forgave her and even agreed to give her a ride!

Perona found it truly magical!

"Honestly, I don't know why Luffy agreed to take her with us, even though she was our enemy just a short while ago."

Nami sighed, then suddenly thought of something. She leaned down and asked, "Hey, since you were Moria's subordinate, do you know where all his treasure is hidden?"

"Hororororo, but of course. My ghosts can pass through anything. This island has no secrets from me," Perona said, lifting her chin proudly.

Upon hearing this, Nami, who had been wary of her, immediately had her eyes turn into two large '$' signs. She cozied up to Perona like an old friend.

"Good sister, quickly tell me where Moria's treasure is. Big sis can give you a little cut later, how about a ninety-ten split?"

"Who would tell you for a ninety-ten split! Besides, I'm older than you!"

Perona shrieked, exasperated, while crossing her arms in front of her chest as if to hide something.

Then she pouted her lips again and said with an arrogant air, "Unfortunately, the treasury has already been emptied. Otherwise, I would have taken it myself."

"Then what were you being so smug about, you old hag!!"

Thump!

Nami bared her teeth and shouted, leaving a large bump on Perona's pink head with her fist. Ignoring Perona, who was pitifully squeezing out two tears, she turned and roared at someone behind her:

"You bastard! It was you again, wasn't it! When did you do it!"

"While you were resting back on the ship."

At a stone table, Reiner sat leisurely with his legs crossed, put down the newspaper in his hand, and took a sip of coffee.

"Of course, everyone defeated the enemies this time, so everyone gets a share of the treasure. We'll talk about that later. There's some news you can come and see."

"At least you have some conscience, hmph."

Nami walked over, sat unceremoniously on his lap, picked up the newspaper, and began to read. Then her brow furrowed, as if she had seen some incredible news.

"Whitebeard's second division commander, Portgas D. Ace, has been taken to Impel Down... Wait a minute, I remember Ace is!"

Nami exclaimed, looking up at Luffy, who was sleeping soundly in the distance.

At the side, Sanji noticed the commotion and came over curiously. "Did something happen?"

"Luffy's brother has been captured and is now imprisoned in Impel Down."

"The impenetrable Great Underwater Prison, Impel Down?!" Hearing this name, Sanji couldn't help but frown.

For pirates, that place was a hellish existence that made them pale at the mere mention of it.

The Great Underwater Prison, Impel Down, was one of the three major institutions directly under the World Government, along with Enies Lobby and Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

It housed countless serious criminals and was the nightmare of all pirates. Many legends circulated about it on the seas.

All criminals sent there would suffer severe torture every day, tormented for the rest of their lives in a state worse than death.

"It's said that since its establishment, no prisoner who has been locked up there has ever come out alive. It's a veritable impenetrable fortress."

At this moment, Robin also walked over, her expression serious.

"Besides the extremely tight security, it's also located in the Calm Belt, with a large number of giant Sea Kings living in the surrounding waters."

Several people sat around the table, all with furrowed brows.

Most ships were powered by wind, and the Calm Belt was a sea area with no wind and no currents.

The Merry had cola to provide power, so that wasn't a problem, but the large number of giant Sea Kings was a very troublesome existence.

Even if they could reach Impel Down, which suppressed countless heinous criminals, the garrison there would definitely be extremely large, not to mention how close it was to Marine Headquarters.

"What are you all thinking about? Luffy hasn't even made a decision yet, and you're already worrying. Do you want to go break someone out of prison that badly?"

Reiner put down his coffee, leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and said faintly, "In any case, let's wait for Luffy to wake up before we talk about this."

"That's true. The preparations are almost done, and we can set off at any time. Now we're just waiting for them," Sanji said, slowly standing up.

Soon, the others also dispersed and began to busy themselves with their own affairs.

Reiner went onto the ship and summoned a large number of undead, taking this time to give the Merry a thorough cleaning from inside out.

Soon, it was noon, and everyone woke up one after another.

Thriller Bark had also sailed to the edge of the fog, and a large, mouth-like gate slowly opened.

On the Merry, the crew, led by Luffy, stood at the stern, waving goodbye to Lola and the others.

Reiner's undead were busy operating the ship, slowly moving away from this massive vessel that carried an entire island.

On the shore, Lola led a group of people, waving and shouting with tears of gratitude.

"See you again if fate allows, everyone!"

"Thank you for helping us get our shadows back!"

"Be careful on your journey, great benefactors!"

"Ah! You all take care too!" Luffy stood on the railing, responding with a wide grin.

Until Thriller Bark became a black dot and disappeared into the thick fog...

"Those guys were pretty nice."

Luffy jumped down from the railing with a smile, placed one hand on the straw hat on his head, and strode towards the first-floor aquarium bar. "Let's continue on our way. What's for lunch today, Sanji?"

"That depends on what ingredients Reiner can get. Although we bought a lot in Water 7, we've used up most of it with the banquets these past two days."

Sanji blew out a smoke ring and spoke slowly, "Also, Luffy, there's something I need to tell you."

Inside the first-floor aquarium, a long mahogany table was placed in the center. Its surface was smooth and polished, its edges carved with exquisite patterns, and a dozen or so chairs surrounded it.

Besides being used for leisure, the first floor was also used by them as a meeting room. At this moment, everyone was sitting around it, their expressions serious.

"Besides Ace, there's another matter."

Reiner stood up, spread the newspaper on the table, and sat back down, saying in a low voice:

"A major incident has also occurred in the East Blue recently. Many towns have been destroyed one after another. The culprits are strange beasts that appeared out of nowhere. The report has no other clues."

"East Blue?!"

Upon hearing this, several figures paused, their gazes immediately falling on the newspaper.

"The ones destroyed are all towns on the edge of the Calm Belt. The islands where we're from haven't been affected yet."

Nami scanned the paper. After knowing Cocoyasi Village was safe, she felt a little more at ease, but couldn't help but worry, "I just don't know how long they'll be safe."

"By the way, Luffy, Reiner, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, six of us on this ship are from the East Blue," Chopper explained to the puzzled Brook at the side.

"I see. So your hometowns are facing a crisis."

Brook nodded in understanding. "And at such a time, what a coincidence."

"So now it's a choice of three. Either we continue our own voyage, or we storm Impel Down to save Ace, or finally, we return to the East Blue, which would coincidentally allow Brook to meet Laboon."

Reiner's gaze fell to the end of the long table as he said in a low voice, "What do you say, Luffy? No matter what you choose, we won't have any objections."

Regarding the matter in the East Blue, although the newspaper didn't give details, based on the blurry photos of various strange animals, he associated it with Golden Lion Shiki. It's just...

The other party was flying in the sky. Unless they were lucky enough to run into him, he wouldn't know where to find him.

"Yohohoho~~, please don't consider me, everyone. I don't want to affect everyone's voyage because of my affairs," Brook said with a chuckle.

"Wait a minute! I say, what's wrong with you guys?!"

At the end of the table, Perona hurriedly spoke, looking at them in disbelief.

"Can storming Impel Down even be considered an option? No one with a brain would have such an idea! That's the last place on earth any pirate wants to go!"

"Ah?"

Zoro glanced at her faintly. "Is there a problem?"

"Is there a problem?!" Perona rushed forward and pulled his hair in exasperation.

"Don't say it so lightly, you bastard! You're a directionally challenged idiot who can get lost and walk into a trap in a castle! You wouldn't last two minutes in there! I'm not going to a place like that with you!"

The moment getting lost and falling into a trap was mentioned, Zoro was instantly angered with shame:

"Stop pulling my hair, you bastard! You're just temporarily following us! You're living under someone else's roof, you don't get to call the shots, understand?! Let go, or believe me, I'll cut you down!"

"Negative Hollow!!"

"...To get angry at a girl, I'm so useless."

"Stop fooling around, you two."

Reiner held his forehead, looking helpless. "Hey, Perona, we made a deal. You're not allowed to use your ability on anyone on this ship. If you do it again, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish."

"Hmph! This guy isn't a gentleman at all! I request an exception for him!" Perona pouted, raising her hand angrily.

"As for Ace, let's forget it. He wouldn't want me to see him in a pinch."

At this moment, the silent Luffy finally spoke. Thinking of when they met in Alabasta and the expression on Ace's face when he talked about Whitebeard, he couldn't help but grin.

"That guy has reliable comrades too. They will definitely go save Ace. They don't need my help."

Luffy said with a cheerful laugh, "As for the East Blue, I've decided..."

Boom!!!

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted, followed by a violent tremor. The entire sea surface instantly became turbulent.

Bang! Bang!

The room suddenly tilted. All the objects were thrown about, constantly falling to the ground.

"What's going on! I just checked the temperature and wind pressure. There shouldn't be such a rapid weather change in a short time!"

Nami gripped the table tightly, gritting her teeth to keep herself from being knocked over, until a flash of blue passed by.

A large hand wrapped around her waist and lifted her up. Only then did she subconsciously glance at her wrist, and her pupils suddenly constricted.

"The Log Pose is no longer pointing down! Shouldn't it be pointing to Fishman Island? Take me outside to see, Reiner!"

"Ah."

Kicking open the main door and rushing onto the deck, Reiner leaped lightly, carrying Nami as he jumped onto the forecastle deck.

It was clearly a sunny day, and there was no wind, yet the sea was unusually rough, with giant waves crashing against the Merry's hull one after another.

And in the far distance of this small boat swaying with the waves, several islands of varying sizes were falling into the sea one after another!

"Just like in Skypiea, the magnetic field of the Log Pose has been taken away." Looking at the falling islands before her, Nami's face was filled with disbelief.

"This isn't a problem with the pose anymore," Reiner's gaze was fixed on the distance.

Near the falling islands, many ships, countless times larger than the Merry, were also swaying continuously, their masts flying various pirate flags.

"...Islands are falling from the sky?!"

The others also rushed out of the room, one by one leaning over the railing, utterly shocked by the scene before them.

"Looks like we don't need to go back to the East Blue either."

Reiner's gaze was like a sword, seeming to pierce through space and land straight on the horizon, where a floating island ship was gradually becoming a black dot.

"The only one who can do this is probably that man, Golden Lion Shiki!"

(End of chapter)

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