章 10: chapter 10
"Why does it feel like you're familiar with this route?" Nia asked, observing Nailu's smooth navigation.
"Because this is our hometown," Nailu replied simply.
"Oh, that makes sense. Then you must know about the sea monster rumors."
"I told you, those are just silly rumors."
"Wait!" Nia exclaimed suddenly, staring at the sea ahead. She spotted a small boat rowing furiously, pursued by several rolling white waves.
"The rowers… and the white waves chasing them. There really is a sea monster!"
"Ah! A sea monster!" Gray screamed, jolting upright despite his injuries. His sudden movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his body, causing another shriek.
"There's a sea monster! Turn around! Now!" he howled, panic-stricken.
As the white waves drew closer, Gray collapsed back onto the deck, muttering in despair.
"It's over. I'm going to be eaten by a sea monster. I shouldn't have come to Mignon Island. If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have been deceived by Felke, wouldn't have gotten hurt, and definitely wouldn't have ended up at sea with you in the middle of the night…"
While Gray spiraled into regret, the small boat approached their vessel. Nia caught sight of the person aboard—a man wearing a fluffy spotted hat. Beneath the hat, his sharp face bore a faint smirk. The scruffy beard on his chin, along with the dark circles under his eyes, gave him a sinister look.
As their eyes met, the man's smirk deepened.
What's he up to? Nia wondered uneasily.
Suddenly, the man snapped his fingers, and something flew toward their ship.
"Enemy attack?" Nia muttered, springing into a defensive stance. As she squinted at the projectile, she realized it was just a pebble.
"Who uses stones as weapons?" she scoffed.
Before she could ponder further, a low voice rang out.
"ROOM—"
In an instant, the man appeared beside her.
Reacting on instinct, Nia lashed out with a swift kick.
Bang!
Her foot connected solidly, but she recoiled in surprise. It felt like kicking a block of iron.
"This guy is strong," she thought, her eyes narrowing.
"Stop, Nia! He's a companion!" Rhodes' voice cut through the tension, his face lighting up with a smile.
"What a unique welcome, Rhodes," the man said, his smirk softening into a grin.
The two exchanged warm glances, their camaraderie evident.
"So, this is the companion Rhodes mentioned waiting on Feiyan Island," Nia thought, still wary. "He's definitely formidable."
---
A White Bear Appears
"Ahhhh!"
A loud cry pierced the air as a massive figure leaped from the sea. Spinning midair, it hurtled toward the ship.
"Sea monster!" Gray screamed once more.
"Wait… it's a white bear!" Nia exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief.
The bear executed several flips in the air before landing on the deck in a dramatic pose, resembling a crane with its wings spread.
"Long time no see! Bepo missed you so much, Boss Rhodes, Boss Nailu!" the bear exclaimed gleefully, throwing itself onto Rhodes and Nailu in an exuberant hug.
"The bear… it talks!" Nia and Gray gasped in unison.
"Apologies…" Bepo muttered sheepishly, stepping back.
"Be brave, Bepo!" Rhodes encouraged.
"Sorry…" Bepo repeated, his ears drooping.
As Nia and Gray struggled to process the talking bear, two more figures leaped from the sea, landing gracefully on the deck.
"This night keeps getting weirder," Nia muttered, her initial shock giving way to resignation.
The newcomers were equally enthusiastic. "Boss Rhodes! Nailu! You're finally back!"
The pair grinned eagerly. "We've been training hard, just like we promised. Now we're ready to set sail with you!"
"Of course," Rhodes replied with a nod, his smile warm.
"YES!" the two cheered, leaping into the air.
"Wait, wait! Who are these people? And you two—put some clothes on!" Nia barked, glaring at the scantily clad newcomers. She landed a sharp punch on both their heads, eliciting sheepish apologies.
---
Introductions
Once things settled, Rhodes made formal introductions.
"This is Trafalgar Law, our ship doctor; Bepo, our crew pet; and these two are Pekin and Hachi, our comrades."
He turned to the others. "This is Catwoman Nia and scientist Gray."
After the introductions, Pekin and Hachi quickly dressed, and everyone gathered on the now-crowded deck.
"So, the sea monster rumor was because of you," Nia remarked, amused.
It turned out that Pekin and Hachi had been swimming between Feiyan Island and Mignon Island every night as part of their training, while Law rowed alongside them in his boat. This nightly exercise had sparked the local legend of sea monsters.
"Swimming a hundred miles every night to train? That's insane," Nia commented, shaking her head in disbelief.
"It's all thanks to Brother Rhodes' training methods," Pekin replied earnestly.
Rhodes chuckled, recalling his efforts to build their strength. Upon arriving in the world of One Piece, he had devised his own rigorous training regimen, inspired by the Turtle Hermit Style from his memories. Over time, more companions joined his unconventional training group.
---
Setting Sail
"Let's save the stories for later," Rhodes said, glancing at Gray, who lay injured on the deck. "We need to treat his wounds first."
Law stepped forward, taking charge. "We don't have the proper tools here, but we can stabilize him once we return."
With Bepo assisting at the helm, the crew prepared to set sail.
"Let's go home!" Rhodes declared, his voice carrying over the waves.
And so, the journey continued.
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