On this ocean, the gap between the rich and the poor is as vast as the disparity in strength between individuals, and the way tycoons think is worlds apart from that of ordinary people.
Take the "City of Gold" that countless people long for; Sherlock had little interest in it. In his eyes, the allure of all that gold probably couldn't compare to a single specially roasted rabbit from Alabasta.
Sherlock really didn't want to waste time on such "meaningless" matters. After all, having heard news of his sister, his only desire now was to return to the Blue Sea as quickly as possible to gather intelligence regarding the New World.
Unfortunately, the "Sorcerer" wasn't the captain.
"What kind of pirate leaves treasure right in front of them without taking it?" the airheaded captain had declared.
"..." Sherlock was speechless.
Nami and the others were deeply moved. Although Luffy was usually quite unreliable, there were moments when the Straw Hat idiot's words and actions carried an unexpected weight, making one subconsciously agree with his perspective.
Perhaps this was what they meant by "great wisdom appearing as folly"?
Ancient roots intertwined within the dense jungle where overgrown weeds teemed with vibrant life. Bright sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, painting countless mottled spots of light upon the ground.
Four people and a reindeer were making their way slowly toward the east.
"Sherlock, how are you feeling now?" Chopper asked, looking at the slightly haggard Sorcerer with concern. "If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, you have to tell me immediately."
"Yeah, I'm alright for now. My mind just feels a bit foggy."
Sherlock tried to activate his Devil Fruit powers. He found that basic moves like Mirror Reflection and Mirror Entity were as easy to use as always. However, moves that consumed significant energy, like Mirror Fusion and Multiple Mirror Reflection, were out of his reach. His combat strength had plummeted.
Otherwise, Sherlock would have long since used his magic carpet to fly everyone across directly; there would be no need for such a struggle.
"Something's not right—not right at all."
After hearing the Sorcerer's words, the reindeer doctor's worried expression only deepened. "Judging by your recent reactions, the side effects of Insamona are getting weaker and weaker. This means your body is gradually adapting to the drug's potency."
"I suspect after a few more times, your body will become completely immune to Insamona. This phenomenon is highly abnormal!"
(And by then, your hair might even...) Chopper thought to himself as he stared at Sherlock's hair, which was a mix of silver and black, looking like it had been streaked with highlights.
"Oh? Isn't that a good thing?" Zoro surveyed the surrounding scenery and adjusted the strap of his bag, sounding indifferent. "No matter how effective a potion is, it's ultimately an external aid. Rather than relying on it, it's better to just get stronger yourself!"
To this training fanatic, a monstrous physique and transcendent swordsmanship were the most reliable assets for the green-haired swordsman.
"You're suggesting there might be other side effects we haven't discovered yet, aren't you, Doctor Reindeer?"
Nico Robin adjusted the brim of her cowboy hat. Her beautiful blue-black eyes examined the Sorcerer's hair with curiosity. "If the only side effects of this forbidden drug are drowsiness, headaches, and hair discoloration, it seems far too mild."
"Exactly. Insamona was a byproduct of my earlier research on Rumble Balls. Therefore, like the Rumble Ball, it should have an impact on the wavelength of Devil Fruit powers."
Hearing this, the airheaded captain's eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh? Does that mean Sherlock will be able to use a seven-level transformation later? That's amazing! If so, it would be so cool!"
"Not necessarily. After all, Sherlock ate a Paramecia type, not a Zoan. But similar changes aren't entirely impossible!" At this point, a hint of worry flashed in Dr. Chopper's dark, beady eyes. "Perhaps your body is undergoing some kind of change without you even noticing, Sherlock!"
(Changing my body?) Sherlock gently pushed up his glasses, the clear lenses reflecting two streaks of white light.
(But if it were to change, how would it change? After all, even though my fruit is called the Mirror-Mirror Fruit, it doesn't actually have anything to do with glass mirrors...)
Shaking his head, the Sorcerer stopped thinking about it. He took a deep breath. The fresh air of the jungle refreshed his spirit, and even that nagging headache seemed to lessen quite a bit.
"It looks like we'll be walking for a while. Why don't I use this time to analyze the current situation on this island for you?" An elegant curve formed at the corners of Sherlock's mouth. "After all, I managed to get a fair amount of intelligence from the former 'God' last night."
"Last night???" The group of four was stunned in unison.
"Sherlock, weren't you dancing the campfire dance with everyone the whole time last night?" the little reindeer asked, deeply confused.
"Well, I actually left after dancing for a bit. What remained was just an illusion." Pushing up his glasses, Sherlock ignored the shocked looks of the group and gave a small smile. "Though, the way you all danced was quite interesting. Especially you, Zoro. You managed to integrate your own understanding of swordsmanship into the spontaneous flow of the campfire dance. It was very innovative and quite the spectacle."
Ahem, asking the Sorcerer to truly fool around with this bunch for an entire night was a bit much to ask.
Luffy grinned. "Yeah, Zoro's dancing was great!"
Trust me, having your dance moves called "great" by an idiot like Luffy is definitely not something worth being happy about.
"Damn it! To think that you, the guy who dragged me into it, actually snuck away!" Zoro suddenly felt the urge to draw his sword and slash someone. One had to understand that his stiff dance moves had been mocked by a certain annoying curly-browed cook for the entire night!
"What a cheater you are, Sherlock..." Robin sighed with a calm expression.
Before a certain enraged "Marimo" could lash out, the Sorcerer spoke first.
The past of Upper Yard, the centuries-long grudge between the Skypieans and the Shandians, the invasion of "God" Enel and his priests six years ago... Sherlock recounted it all concisely, then summarized:
"Actually, based on the Ordeals of the four priests and the trials designated by that 'God,' it's not hard to see that this so-called God has been playing a [Game]."
"A game?" The group expressed their confusion.
"Precisely. A game—a [God's Game] where this 'God' participates himself and sets the rules."
Sherlock nodded and continued, "For all these years, that 'God' has been forcing the people of the Sky Island to follow his laws. Not only that, but his priests have done the same, strictly staying within their respective assigned areas and never crossing the boundaries."
("However, since you were the ones who left the sacrificial altar and violated God's law, don't blame me for being merciless!")
Chopper suddenly recalled those words spoken by the Priest Shura and nodded in agreement, his head dripping with sweat.
"And now, this island suddenly has us 'Blue Sea dwellers' as participants. Furthermore, the Shandian warriors, who want to take back their ancestral land, have launched a general offensive because we defeated two of the priests..."
At this point, Sherlock paused for a moment before continuing, "Under these circumstances, I suspect this [God's Game] is about to take on a new form. Unfortunately, we don't know the new rules he's designated."
"So for now, we should try our best to avoid contact with the enemy. We'll take it one step at a time and see how things play out."
After hearing Sherlock's analysis, Robin, Zoro, and Chopper all nodded in agreement.
"My, it seems this 'God' is quite 'playful.'" This intellectual beauty still maintained a calm and collected air.
"Tch, I have no interest in playing games with him," the green-haired swordsman spat, sounding coolly detached. "Especially when the game looks this boring!"
"Shishishi! To be honest, Sherlock, I didn't really understand much of what you just said." Luffy adjusted his precious straw hat and grinned thoughtlessly. "But no matter what, as long as I send that 'God' flying, it'll be fine, right?!"
"...."
Even though he was long since accustomed to his airheaded captain's signature single-mindedness, Sherlock couldn't help but feel a wave of frustration, as if he had been talking to a brick wall.
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