"Look over there!"
Merry, hovering in the air, stared at a massive rock ahead and said, "There are a lot of people behind that rock. Are they companions of those two from earlier?"
As she spoke, Merry carefully observed their appearances—they were all special Centaurs!!
"They do look similar," Usopp remarked after scrutinizing them closely. "Look, they all have unique lower bodies."
"So they really are..."
Zoro showed a surprised expression. Just how many of these Cyborgs were there?
Meanwhile, Nico Robin chuckled and said, "It seems we've found our lead on the intel."
As she spoke, Nico Robin glanced at Meiser, her meaning all too clear.
Hearing this, Meiser smiled and said, "Indeed."
Then, Meiser raised his hand and pointed toward the group, continuing, "Merry, fly over there. Let's see if we can get some information from these guys."
"Okay!"
Upon hearing Meiser's words, Merry nodded and then manipulated the wind to fly toward Brownbeard and the others.
"Hmm?"
As if sensing something, Brownbeard instinctively looked up at the sky, then his pupils contracted as he shouted, "Stay alert! Someone's flying toward us from the air!"
Hearing Brownbeard's voice, his subordinates glanced upward and exclaimed in disbelief, "Why are there people in the air?"
"Are they Ability Users?"
"They must be Ability Users. Otherwise, there's no way to explain how they can fly."
As they spoke, Brownbeard drew the large sword at his waist, his eyes growing wary.
"Boss, are they the intruders this time?"
"Most likely..."
"Then what about our companions on the other shore?" one person asked. "Does their appearance here mean..."
Listening to their words, Brownbeard took a deep breath and said, "They've probably already met their end..."
After sighing quietly, Brownbeard said, "Alright, everyone, stay sharp! Use the cannons to blast them!"
The loss of their companions was undoubtedly painful, but now was not the time to dwell on such matters. The priority was to eliminate the intruders before them!
"Understood!"
His subordinates nodded upon receiving the order, then aimed their cannons at Meiser and the others in the air and pulled the triggers without hesitation.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
The next moment, several howitzer shells flew out, heading straight for Meiser and the others in the air.
"Such things are useless against me!" Merry shouted. "Explode, all of you!"
As her words fell, a powerful gust of wind shot from Merry's hands, accurately striking the shells mid-air and detonating them instantly!
"Boom!!"
"Boom!!"
"Boom!!"
"So it's not that simple after all..."
Brownbeard, who had witnessed everything, furrowed his brows.
Though he didn't know what kind of Ability Users they were, from the current situation, it seemed the cannons weren't very effective.
Just as Brownbeard was pondering what to do next, Merry swiftly descended with Meiser and the others, landing precisely not far from Brownbeard and his crew.
"Whoosh~"
"Clack~"
After steadying themselves, Meiser glanced at these guys with a smile and said, "Hey, how's it going~"
Brownbeard: ??
Wait, is he really this arrogant?
"Kid, do you know who I am!" Brownbeard raised his large blade, pointing it directly at Meiser, and declared, "I am Brownbeard!"
"How dare you act so arrogantly in front of me?"
Does this kid not know how to spell 'death'?
Hearing this, Meiser paused for a moment, then stared intently at Brownbeard and said in surprise, "So you're that Brownbeard?"
Is this guy the boss that person mentioned earlier?
If that's the case... this guy should know something, right?
Thinking this, Meiser narrowed his eyes.
"Well, well, you actually know my name." Brownbeard smirked. "It seems I'm quite famous out there~"
After saying this, Brownbeard paused briefly, then placed his hands on his hips and declared, "That's right, I am the great pirate Brownbeard, with a bounty of 80 million Berries!"
"Pfft~"
Upon hearing this, Meiser couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
80 million... great pirate?
Then what does that make him?
A super pirate?
"Bastard, what are you laughing at!" Brownbeard roared angrily.
Is this guy looking down on him?
"It seems this guy hasn't recognized who we are," Merry, floating in mid-air, remarked.
"Probably not," Nico Robin also nodded in agreement.
Brownbeard: ??
What do you mean they haven't recognized who they are?
Who are they?
Then, Brownbeard noticed the straw hat Luffy was wearing.
"Wait... this straw hat..."
"You are..."
As if realizing something, Brownbeard's expression immediately changed.
"You're Straw Hat Luffy, with a bounty of 500 million Berries!!"
Damn it, why is the Straw Hat Crew appearing on Punk Hazard!
Huh?
"5... 500 million Berries?!"
The other centaurs stared at Luffy in shock. This kid who looks only about twenty years old actually has a bounty of 500 million Berries?
Isn't that a bit too terrifying?
No... that's not the point!
The point is, they can't possibly defeat an enemy like this!
Thinking this, these people immediately started running into the distance, shouting, "Everyone, this kind of enemy is way beyond us, run for it!"
"He's right," Brownbeard also started running backward, adding, "Let's get out of here quickly and report this to the master!"
After all, he's just a pirate with a bounty under 100 million Berries. There's no way he could be a match for Straw Hat Boy, so he has to escape!
"What do we do? They're getting away," Merry said.
"We can ignore the others, but that guy called Brownbeard must be caught," Meiser pointed at Brownbeard in the distance. "He probably knows a lot."
Hearing this, the others immediately understood Meiser's intention—to extract information from his mouth.
"Then let's catch him," Luffy grinned. "He can carry us to find Nami and the others."
Meiser was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then looked at Luffy in surprise and said, "Are you treating him like a transport vehicle?"
"..."
"Hehe~"
"Don't you think it's fun?"
Though he didn't understand what Meiser meant by "transport vehicle," he just thought this crocodile centaur looked really cool!
Hearing this, Meiser fell silent for a moment. Using a crocodile centaur as a transport vehicle?
It felt a bit odd.
But since Luffy had already spoken up, he couldn't really say much more.
"I say, if we don't act soon, they'll get away," Usopp said.
With that, he pulled a few explosive pellets from his pocket, raised his slingshot, and fired them off.
"Special Attack—Tenfold·Exploding Star!"
"Whoosh~"
The explosive pellets grew in the wind, instantly swelling to the size of cannonballs.
The next moment...
"Boom!!"
"Boom!!"
"Boom!!"
"Ah!"
The enemies hit by the cannonballs immediately let out screams, then collapsed to the ground with their eyes rolled back.
Seeing this, Usopp grinned and said, "Looks like I'm still pretty amazing."
Hahahaha~
Seeing Usopp take action, the others didn't say anything more and decisively launched attacks on the distant enemies.
In the end, under the assault of Meiser and the others, all of them were lying on the ground.
"Ahem..."
Brownbeard, who had been beaten up by Luffy, said with a grim expression, "What a bunch of monsters..."
As expected of the Straw Hat Pirates, their strength is truly terrifying.
Then, Brownbeard tightened his grip on the long sword in his hand, ready to fight Luffy and the others to the death.
Seeing this, Meiser calmly spoke up, "Brownbeard, are you sure you want to do this?"
"If you keep fighting, you won't be so lucky."
As he spoke, Meiser glanced at the trembling enemies lying on the ground, his meaning clear.
Upon hearing Meiser's words, Brownbeard immediately fell silent.
Was this a threat using his subordinates?
"Dammit, you despicable pirate!"
"Boss Brownbeard, don't worry about us!"
"That's right, please leave quickly and find the master!"
"Hurry, boss!"
Brownbeard: ...
Was it that he didn't want to leave and find the master?
The problem was, he simply couldn't do it!
These powerful guys would never give him the chance.
But to give up just like that... it was really...
At that moment, Meiser punched a nearby boulder, shattering it with a single blow!
"Boom!!"
Brownbeard: !!
Seeing this, Brownbeard was utterly stunned.
A boulder as big as a small hill, shattered with one punch?
Is this guy a monster?
After a moment of silence, Brownbeard very sensibly dropped the large sword in his hand to the ground.
His expression made it clear he had given up resisting.
Then he said, "You can do whatever you want, but please don't hurt my subordinates any further."
Resistance was meaningless now, so he chose to be sensible.
Hearing this, Meiser felt somewhat speechless.
Why did it sound like they were the villains?
"Let's go, carry us to the front," Luffy stepped forward, patting Brownbeard's crocodile leg and said, "We're going to the front to find our friends!"
"Friends?"
Brownbeard was taken aback for a moment, then said in surprise, "So those people we captured earlier were members of your Straw Hat Pirates?"
No wonder they came here to cause trouble for us—turns out we captured one of their people!
What a mess...
"That's right, they're our people," Usopp nodded and said.
Brownbeard pursed his lips upon hearing this, momentarily at a loss for words. Who could have imagined that the pirates they captured were from the Straw Hat Pirates?
They really... stirred up a hornet's nest!
Just then, a figure came running from the distance, shouting, "Everyone!!"
"I finally found you!"
"Huh?"
Merry was startled by the voice, then looked toward the hilltop with delight. "It's... it's Brook!"
"Why is he here?"
Zoro wondered, "Shouldn't he be at the front right now?"
Weren't they supposed to meet up at the front earlier? How did he end up here?
"Maybe he wanted to reunite with us sooner," Usopp guessed.
This time, Zoro simply nodded without saying anything more.
Soon, Brook ran down from the hill and rushed over to Luffy and the others.
"Why do you look so flustered?" Nico Robin asked curiously. "Is someone chasing you?"
As she spoke, Nico Robin glanced in the direction behind Brook but didn't spot any suspicious figures.
"Someone?"
Recalling the strange fellow he encountered earlier, Brook shook his head and said, "Not exactly."
That headless, lower-body-less creature probably didn't count as a person.
Then, Brook glanced at the people lying on the ground and asked, "What's going on here?"
"Ah, these guys tried to attack us, so we knocked them down," Luffy grinned, showing his teeth.
"Yohohohoho~"
"I see."
As expected of his crewmates—their strength is truly formidable!
"Alright, hop on first," Zoro said, patting the crocodile hide as he arrived on Brownbeard's crocodile body. "We can talk while we move."
They didn't have any extra time to waste here, so it was better to talk while on the move.
Hearing this, Brook looked curiously at Brownbeard and asked, "What's his... deal?"
Did they keep him specifically as a means of transportation?
"Ah, I plan to have him carry us forward," Luffy grinned, showing his teeth. "It's fun, isn't it?"
After all... this is a cool crocodile centaur!
Having such a creature carry them is pretty awesome!
"Yohohohoho."
"Indeed, it is fun~"
Brook chuckled, then followed the others and jumped onto Brownbeard's back to sit down.
Afterward, Brook glanced at Merry and said, "Miss Merry, could you please give me a cotton coat too~"
Everyone has a cotton coat, so... he wants one too!
Merry blinked upon hearing this, then took out a large cotton coat suitable for Brook from her pocket.
"Here you go~"
"Thank you~"
Brook smiled, then put on the cotton coat that fit him.
Usopp, who was nearby, looked curiously at Brook and said, "Brook, don't you lack skin? You shouldn't feel cold, right?"
"Yohohohoho~"
"That may be so, but we're still crewmates after all~" Brook chuckled. "So I want to share the same warmth as everyone else~"
"Yohohohoho~"
He truly didn't have skin that could feel temperature, but he loved the feeling of wearing the same clothes as his companions~
So... he would wear a winter coat too!
Yohohohoho~
Usopp smiled upon hearing this, so that's how it was.
Meanwhile, Merry seemed to recall something, her face showing concern as she said, "Speaking of which... when Nami and the others were captured, they probably weren't wearing winter coats, right? Will they really be okay?"
Would they get frostbite?
Hearing Merry's words, Nico Robin said, "Let's just hope they don't freeze their hands and feet off..."
Merry: ??
Usopp: ??
Merry looked at Nico Robin with a face full of question marks. Wasn't her thinking a bit too terrifying?
And Usopp directly opened his Shark Mouth to say, "Don't say things like that, Robin!"
That's way too scary!
In response, Nico Robin just smiled and said nothing more.
Seeing Nico Robin's smiling face, Meiser rolled his eyes.
Then, he said, "Don't worry, Nami and the others should be fine."
"Really?"
Looking at Merry who raised her head to gaze at him, Meiser smiled and ruffled her hair, saying, "The temperature inside that experimental base probably isn't low, so they'll be fine."
"Right?"
At the end, Meiser glanced at Brownbeard, clearly asking him.
"Ah, the temperature really isn't low..."
Brownbeard replied instinctively, then his expression changed as he said, "Damn pirates, actually tricking me into talking."
Hearing this, Meiser rolled his eyes. This guy was stupid and still blamed him?
Then, Meiser thought to himself: Hmm, it seems I don't even need the Sharingan to extract information from this guy.
Oh well, since Luffy seems to like this guy, I won't use the Sharingan to interrogate him. That way, I won't have to silence him either.
After that, Meiser pondered how to trick this fool into talking.
Meanwhile, Merry sighed in relief and said, "Then it seems there's no need to worry."
"Don't celebrate too soon," Usopp said. "If Nami and the others escape, they'll still feel cold."
"They're not idiots either."
Zoro shook his head and said, "If it really comes to that, they should think to snatch some clothes to wear."
Although Nami and the others aren't particularly strong, Sanji's strength is nothing to scoff at!
So grabbing some clothes for everyone shouldn't be a problem at all.
"Snatching clothes, huh."
Merry, who had been staring at Brownbeard's winter coat, nodded and said, "That's true..."
With Sanji and the others' strength, snatching clothes from these guys shouldn't be an issue.
Hearing their conversation, Brownbeard said with a grim expression, "You really are barbaric pirates..."
"Do you have the right to say that?"
Zoro glanced at Brownbeard and said, "You're a pirate too, aren't you?"
Being a pirate yet looking down on them as barbaric pirates... what kind of logic was that?
"I'm not a pirate anymore."
Brownbeard first shook his head, then proudly raised his head and declared, "Now I am the proud captain of the centaur warrior patrol!"
Upon hearing this, surprise appeared in everyone's eyes.
So he really is a centaur?
"Ahahahaha, I told you so!" Luffy laughed, patting Brownbeard's body as he said, "There really are centaurs in this world!"
"Ahahahaha~"
Hearing this, Usopp's mouth twitched. So they really exist?
Weren't they said to be products of experiments?
Meanwhile, Meiser looked at Luffy speechlessly. What on earth had this guy been listening to earlier?
This was clearly the result of some kind of experiment.
Shaking his head, Meiser couldn't be bothered to deal with this idiot.
Then, Meiser turned to Brook and asked, "Brook, did you find any clues over there?"
"Not at all."
Brook shook his head and said, "I never went inside that building."
If it weren't for that strange Upper-Body Person, he wouldn't have ended up running all the way here.
"Is that so..."
Upon hearing this, Meiser stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "Then it seems those people really did mistake you for a pile of bones."
As he finished speaking, a hint of emotion appeared on Meiser's face.
In a way, Brook's appearance was quite suitable for infiltration.
After all... anyone who didn't know Brook would never imagine that this skeleton could move!
"Yohohohoho~"
"It seems so." Brook nodded with a smile.
And precisely because of that, he had the chance to share the information about this place with Meiser and the others~
Then, Brook asked, "Did you find anything on your end?"
"Yes, we did."
Meiser glanced at Brownbeard, then curled his lips upward and said, "I interrogated a centaur and managed to extract some information from him."
As soon as these words were spoken, Brownbeard's expression immediately changed.
"Impossible!" Brownbeard said. "A proud centaur warrior would never betray information!"
"You're lying!"
He simply couldn't believe that one of his subordinates would betray their master's secrets.
After all... that was their savior!
"Believe it or not, it doesn't matter." Meiser, crossing his arms, said calmly, "Because I've already gathered enough information."
"Then tell me, what do you know?" Brownbeard frowned.
Clearly, he didn't believe Meiser's words.
"Everything."
Meiser said, "For example, you have a master who treats you very well, that guy is a scientist, and... there's also a Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea here!"
The first and second statements were true, as he had indeed learned this from that person's mouth.
As for the third statement... the information came from the Lower-Body Person, so it wasn't wrong to say so.
Upon hearing Meiser's words, Brownbeard's face immediately grew even more unpleasant.
"So you already know this much... Damn it, which bastard betrayed this information?!"
How despicable!
Taking in Brownbeard's reaction, Meiser quickly drew a conclusion.
That was... the scientist truly was their master, and at the same time... that Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea was still here!
Thinking this, Meiser nodded to himself.
Then, he glanced at Brownbeard and said, "Tell me, why do you think that guy conducting human experimentation is a good person?"
"Someone like that sounds like an evil person from the start."
"What do you know?!"
The tea-bearded man with the carving knife spoke, and immediately grew furious, then said, "If it weren't for my master, I would have died long ago!"
How could these people possibly understand the greatness of my master?
"What do you mean?"
Merry looked curiously at Brownbeard. What did he mean by saying he would have died long ago if not for his master?
What had this guy been through?
"See these legs of mine now?" Brownbeard pointed at his Crocodile Lower Body and said, "If the master hadn't taken pity on me and brought me back back then, I would never have been able to stand up again!"
At this point, Brownbeard's eyes suddenly filled with deep gratitude.
"What happened to your lower body?" Usopp asked curiously.
"That's a long story..."
As his expression gradually grew more complicated, Brownbeard walked while explaining, "You must know a guy named Hawkins, right?"
"Hawkins?"
Luffy tilted his head and thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Don't know him."
He didn't remember ever meeting anyone named Hawkins.
Brownbeard: ??
As fellow members of the Worst Generation, how could he not know Hawkins?
Was this guy messing with him?
"You mean that Supernova with the title of Magician, right?" Nico Robin spoke up.
She had some understanding of the information regarding these Supernovas.
"That's right, it's him!"
At this point, Brownbeard's eyes filled with a look of hatred as he said, "That bastard, during our fight, cut off all our legs..."
"At that time, we were all in despair, just wanting to die."
"Until we met the master..."
As if recalling something, Brownbeard's expression gradually grew excited.
If not for the master, he really wouldn't have had the courage to live on at all!!
Seeing Brownbeard's reaction, Usopp said, "No wonder you're so grateful to that guy..."
Giving them hope in their moment of despair—wasn't that just like a savior!
"Exactly!"
Brownbeard raised his head and declared.
To him, the master was no different from a god.
Yes, a god!
Kami-sama!!
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