Chapter 79: Hiriluk's Cherry Blossoms! New Strawhat
Once everyone had descended, patiently awaiting their petite reindeer doctor, Luffy diligently kept the cloud nearby, a means to transport the crew back to the ship at their discretion.
Amidst the anticipation for Chopper's return, some of Luffy's loyal comrades busied themselves constructing a snowman, while Luffy and his trusted vice captain leaned nonchalantly against the ethereal cloud, engaging in conversation.
As the snow fell softly around them, Zoro leaned against the cloud and addressed Luffy with a hint of concern in his voice, "Are you absolutely certain it's a wise decision to involve this particular place in the treacherous realm of the Underworld?"
Luffy, his eyes fixated on the sprawling expanse above, responded with unwavering confidence, "Yup, if there be another spot, perchance this be the most lucrative of all."
Zoro's brows furrowed, his confusion mirroring his doubt, as he observed Luffy speak with an inexplicable fervor.
"How is that possible?" Zoro inquired, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
Luffy's response came swiftly, brimming with a simple logic, "It's simple; the drugs produced in this place can be readily sold and circulated within both the legitimate market and the shadowy black market."
"But we're pirates," Zoro interjected, his gaze fixed intently on Luffy. "We can't just distribute medicine to hospitals or other such establishments," he asserted, causing Luffy to nod in agreement.
"You're absolutely right; that's precisely why we won't have any direct involvement with this organization," Luffy explained, his words bringing clarity to Zoro's perplexed countenance. Yet, before Zoro could voice his further confusion, Luffy continued, preempting his question.
"I will lead this organization incognito, using a pseudonym," Luffy disclosed, prompting recognition to dawn on Zoro as he comprehended Luffy's intended approach within the clandestine workings of the organization.
"I understand," he affirmed, shifting his gaze towards the entire crew, particularly the trio of new recruits hailing from Little Garden. "So, I assume these three will serve as your subordinates in this organization?" Zoro inquired, directing his attention towards the former Baroque Works agents.
"Yes, that's correct. And the strongest among us stay in the ship," Luffy replied with a sigh. Zoro was about to interject with another question, but his words were abruptly halted by a piercing scream resonating from the castle.
"What's happening?" Nami questioned, her eyes fixated on the castle's entrance. "There's a commotion emanating from inside," Zoro deduced. Embracing a sense of urgency, Luffy rose from the cloud and surveyed his crew before addressing them.
"Quick, everyone, up to the clouds!" Luffy exclaimed hastily, leaving the crew bewildered.
"Why? What's going on?" Vivi questioned, rising to her feet.
"We've got an extremely furious doctor headed our way!" Luffy's words spurred everyone into immediate action, as they scrambled to make their way onto the clouds. Luffy, however, remained on the ground, commanding the cloud to ascend higher into the sky.
"Luffy, aren't you coming with us?" Marianne asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Don't worry, I'm just waiting for Chopper," Luffy reassured her, flashing a smile. His attention then shifted back to the castle, where he spotted Chopper sprinting towards them at full speed, towing a snow sled behind him. In hot pursuit was the enraged doctor.
"Everyone, hurry up and..." Chopper's words trailed off as he caught sight of the rest of the crew standing above the clouds.
"Come on, Chopper, hurry up!" Luffy urged, prompting Chopper to resume his sprint towards Luffy. Luffy then mentally commanded the cloud to expand in size, seizing hold of Chopper and his carriage before transforming his own body into lightning and teleporting them safely onto the cloud, out of the reach of the enraged doctor.
Once they were in the safety of the cloud, Luffy ordered it to swiftly carry them towards their ship, putting distance between them and the furious doctor. As they made their escape, Luffy flung spears towards their pursuer, deterring any further attempts at pursuit.
"I could use a little help, guys," Usopp's pained voice reached their ears, causing everyone to frantically search for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Huh? Where are you, Usopp?" Sanji asked, scanning the surroundings for their missing comrade.
"Down here," Usopp's pained voice responded once again, drawing everyone's attention downward. They quickly spotted their sniper, trapped beneath Chopper's sled.
Vivi and Mikita swiftly knelt down, helping to free Usopp from his predicament. Meanwhile, Luffy chuckled gently and shook his head. Turning his gaze to Chopper, Luffy saw the little blue-nosed deer standing atop the clouds, gazing back at the shrinking castle with a sorrowful expression on his face.
Luffy approached Chopper and placed a comforting hand on his head, causing the deer to look up at him with teary eyes. Luffy offered him a warm smile, and the rest of the crew followed suit, their faces filled with empathy and love.
Suddenly, the warm smiles on everyone's faces turned to panic as the deafening sound of cannon shots reverberated through the air. Luffy's expression hardened, his playful demeanor replaced by seriousness.
"Was that a cannon shot?" the Gem questioned, scanning the surroundings for the source of the explosive sound.
"It's coming from the castle," Usopp observed, his gaze fixed on the shrinking structure in the distance.
"They're not firing at us, are they?" Vivi's voice trembled with fear.
"No, if they were, we would see an explosion," the Gem responded in a detached tone. Luffy slowed the cloud down and eventually brought it to a halt.
He furrowed his brows, deep in thought as he tried to discern the reason behind the cannon shots.
"Are they being attacked?" Luffy speculated, his mind racing with concern. He felt a sense of responsibility to protect the island, so if it was under attack, he needed to take action.
Another thought crossed his mind - could it be the old hag who attacked them? Luffy surveyed his surroundings, searching for any signs or clues.
Abruptly, the barrage of cannon fire ceased, and ten seconds later, a brilliant pink light materialized in the sky above the castle, causing everyone's eyes to widen in astonishment.
Their attention was captivated by the enchanting glow.
Soon, a pink-hued smoke enveloped Drum Rockies, surrounding it in an ethereal mist. Luffy's serious expression instantly transformed into a beaming smile as he witnessed the spectacle.
He glanced at Chopper and noticed the little deer gazing at the pink smoke in the sky, tears welling up in his eyes.
"It's a beautiful farewell, isn't it?" Luffy remarked to the little deer, his voice filled with wonder and admiration, as delicate pink snowflakes began to gracefully descend from the sky.
Overwhelmed by the sight, Chopper couldn't contain his emotions any longer, his gaze fixed on the pink snow, he let out a heartfelt scream.
"DOCTORRRRRRR!" he cried out, tears streaming down his face.
"That... that's beautiful," Nojiko managed to say, her voice filled with a mix of awe and melancholy, as she reached out her hand to catch some of the pink snowflakes.
"Absolutely," Johnny chimed in, joining Yosaku as they craned their necks to take in the enchanting sight in the sky.
"It looks like cherry blossoms," Zoro observed, his voice carrying from his perch atop the clouds. Luffy, still mesmerized by the pink snow, commanded his cloud to continue its journey towards the awaiting ship.
After another five minutes of flight, the crew finally reached the ship, securely anchored in the nearby waterway.
The cloud gently descended, allowing everyone to step onto the ship's main deck. Johnny and Yosaku offered their assistance to Chopper, helping him lift his sled from the cloud and setting it aside.
The little deer, still captivated by the sight of Drum Rockies, walked over to the ship's edge, taking a moment to soak in the breathtaking view before him.
As Chopper caught a snowflake, a realization dawned upon him. "Your dream has come true, Doctor," he thought, his heart swelling with determination. "Now it's time for me to make my dream come true," he silently vowed, firm in his conviction.
Giving Chopper some space, Luffy turned his attention to the rest of his crew and issued a command.
"Prepare to set sail!" he declared with a commanding tone, leading the way to the ship's upper deck where his cloud patiently awaited, transforming into a makeshift throne as each member of the crew descended and gathered around him.
Luffy settled himself onto his makeshift throne, pouring a glass of whiskey for himself before issuing a few more commands.
"Raise the anchor!" he shouted, prompting Johnny and Yosaku to hurriedly dash towards the front of the ship and hoist the anchor out of the water.
"Now, release the sails!" Luffy directed, causing Usopp and Gem to untie the ropes holding the sails in place. As the sails caught the gentle ocean breeze, the ship began to move forward, sailing out of the waterway and leaving the first island within Luffy's grasp behind.
As they sailed on, Sanji, Zoro, Vivi, and Nami approached Luffy, gathering around him.
"Shall I begin preparing dinner?" Sanji inquired, to which Luffy nodded in agreement before speaking.
"Prepare for a celebration; let's welcome our little doctor in the grandest manner," Luffy declared, bringing smiles to the faces of his comrades.
"As you wish, Captain," Sanji responded before making his way towards the kitchen. Nami had something to say, but her words were halted by Chopper's sudden cry, capturing everyone's attention and causing them to glance at Chopper with alarm.
Luffy, caught off guard, teleported instantly to Chopper's side, his face reflecting the same sense of panic.
"What's wrong? Who do I need to fight?" Luffy questioned, scanning his surroundings for potential enemies.
"No, it's not that. I was just in such a hurry that I left my medical bag in the castle," Chopper explained anxiously. Hearing this, Luffy let his guard down, preparing to say something, but Nami spoke before he had the chance.
"Your bag?" Nami inquired, her gaze fixed on Chopper. "But isn't this your bag?" she questioned, lifting a small blue bag in her hand.
"Huh? That's my bag! How did you come across it?" Chopper asked, taking the bag from Nami's grasp.
"I found it behind the sled," Nami replied.
"Huh? How is that even possible?" Chopper questioned, a perplexed expression on his face.
"What do you mean?" Nami asked, looking at Chopper. "Weren't you the one with the sled?" she inquired. Chopper stared at her, pondering for a moment before his eyes welled up with tears once again, prompting Luffy to chuckle softly.
"I guess she'll never change," Luffy remarked, a smile spreading across his face as he began ascending the stairs back up to the top deck.
"Nami!" Luffy called out, capturing Nami's attention. "Set the course... for Alabasta!" Luffy declared, settling himself on his throne with a glass of whiskey in hand. His vice captain stood to his right, with his three swords securely fastened to his waist.
"Aye aye, Captain!" Nami shouted, giving orders to the crew.
"Enjoy your time while it lasts, Crocodile," Luffy thought as he gazed towards the horizon.
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In the next chapter, we will start the Alabasta Arc.
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