As the voices drew closer, Bellemere and Nojiko finally saw who was coming.
That ferocious golden dragon head.
On this sea, only that guy used something like that.
"They're here?"
The corner of Bellemere's mouth lifted.
Nojiko looked at the rapidly descending ship, anticipation written all over her face.
"Ahhh!"
Chopper, that adorable little thing, was hanging from White Ghost's calf, his face filled with terror as he stared ahead with wide eyes.
White Ghost tugged at Chopper.
He failed to pull him off.
The little guy was hugging his leg with all his strength.
"Is it really that bad?
"You've already experienced this twice. Do you need to react like this?"
"Bastard! This is all your fault! I already said we could fly over, but you insisted on experiencing it one last time, you crappy captain!"
Chopper's face was pale with fear as he clung tightly to White Ghost's calf.
"Hahaha!"
Everyone was amused by the adorable little guy.
He had the smallest courage, yet loved joining in the fun. No matter what happened, he always wanted to be part of it.
White Ghost rubbed his head.
"When I suggested this, you didn't object, did you?"
"You're the captain. Would objecting even work?"
Chopper sounded like he was about to cry.
"Alright, we're almost there."
White Ghost snapped his fingers, and the Dragon Emperor slowly began to slow down.
The moment the ship stabilized, Nami vanished in a flash.
Crackle.
Nojiko was startled by Nami's sudden appearance beside her. Before she could react, Nami had already hugged her.
"Hahaha! Nojiko, I missed you so much!"
"Nami… is it really you?"
The two sisters, who had not seen each other in a long time, hugged each other tightly.
"Ahem."
Bellemere coughed twice from the side.
"What? You only missed Nojiko? Nothing for me?"
"Heeheehee!"
Nami let go of her sister and threw herself straight into Bellemere's arms.
Thirteen-year-old Nami was already one and a half meters tall. With enough nutrition and training, she was growing even faster than she had in the original timeline.
"You heartless girl. You didn't even know to call me on a Den Den Mushi."
Tears glistened in Bellemere's eyes as she hugged her daughter tightly.
"Mm! From now on, we won't be separated anymore, Bellemere, Nojiko."
Nami raised her head, her eyes watery.
"Mm. We won't separate anymore. Our family won't be separated again."
Bellemere nodded.
"Ahem."
A sudden cough interrupted the three of them.
Bellemere looked over and saw the bastard who had taken her daughter away. Her face immediately stiffened, and she placed both hands on her hips.
"You bastard. I've handed both my daughters to you, and now even I'm on your pirate ship. If you ever treat my daughters badly, hmph!"
White Ghost glanced strangely at Nojiko.
Seeing the little girl lower her head shyly, not daring to meet his eyes, his expression became even stranger.
"What are you looking at? I'm warning you, treat my daughters well."
Bellemere looked like a pirate whose treasure had been stolen, furious to the extreme.
Nami and Nojiko each hugged one of her arms and looked at Bellemere pitifully.
White Ghost smiled.
"Alright, don't overthink it. You'll experience what life is like from now on yourself.
"You wouldn't believe me even if I said it now. Just watch later."
After saying that, White Ghost looked around.
There were still corpses floating on the sea, and his Observation Haki could sense ships approaching from the distance.
"Franky, give those people over there a shot."
"Leave it to me!"
After saying that, Franky ran into the cockpit and calmly operated a series of buttons and switches.
Buzz.
As Franky opened the mechanism, a barrel extended from the dragon head's mouth and aimed at the pirate ship ahead.
The others also watched seriously.
This was the first time Franky had fired this thing after modifying it. Before, they had always handled enemies themselves.
"Boys! Mountains of gold and silver are right in front of us! Kill that guy, steal the treasure and women, and we'll enter the New World as kings!"
"Roar!"
The small fries on the pirate ship all had bloodshot eyes, as if those mountains of gold and silver were already in their hands.
In their minds, the treasure was already right there, waiting for them to take it.
Buzz.
Blue light gathered and compressed inside the dragon's mouth.
"Hahahaha! Let me show you how amazing this master is!"
After taking aim, Franky slapped the red button.
Boom!
A blue beam shot from the dragon's mouth, carrying destructive force straight toward the pirate ship in the distance.
Boom!
The blue laser instantly blew the ship to pieces.
There was not even a scrap left.
"Direct hit."
Franky proudly struck his signature pose.
"Franky, you're amazing! This weapon's pressure is even stronger than a laser."
Jango slapped him on the shoulder.
"Hahahahaha!"
Franky stood there in his underwear, laughing wildly.
"Of course! This is something the doctor and I carefully modified. The materials and everything else are top-grade."
Crocus looked at the pirate ship in the distance, now gone without a trace, then looked at the smoking dragon mouth. He shook his head and sighed.
"I'm old. Too old. I can't keep up with the times anymore."
Bellemere's eyes widened as she stared at the scene.
"Is it that I haven't seen enough of the world, or is this guy just too ridiculous?"
Kuro rubbed his chin and turned to Acier as he came out.
"Can this thing be modified for the clones? It doesn't matter if the power is smaller. Quantity can make up the gap."
Acier was writing something in his notebook. Hearing Kuro's words, he answered,
"The captain mentioned this problem before too."
"And then?" Lafitte could not help looking at him.
"It should be possible, more or less. But the cost is rather high, so…"
Acier trailed off.
Kuro rubbed his chin and muttered,
"Money is a problem. Although we have many ways to make money, it's still limited.
"The captain said we're going to Skypiea again this time. He's probably planning to take all the remaining gold."
Reiju had also seen that scene just now.
She was shocked that this group's technological level was so high.
That had been a laser.
They could even build something like that.
At the same time, she was considering the question Acier had discussed with her before.
Could the clones be modified?
At the time, Reiju had shaken her head. Clones needed at least five years to mature. If they wanted to know for sure, they would have to wait five years.
But they could prepare now.
After White Ghost heard that, he told her about Shinobu's ability.
Reiju remembered being shocked for a very, very long time.
Even the way she looked at him had changed.
After that, she and Acier discussed it. In the end, the answer from the scientists was roughly the same.
If the funding was enough, it could be done.
But they also told White Ghost to prepare himself mentally.
This thing burned money.
A lot of money.
"Brothers! The banquet starts now! Let's celebrate the successful end of our journey through the Four Seas!"
White Ghost's shout pulled the thinking people back to reality.
"Roar!"
Jango and the others cheered.
Wanda consciously began preparing ingredients.
White Ghost flew into the Calm Belt and brought back two Sea Kings.
Today's theme was barbecue.
The crew happily began the banquet.
Near the end, Brook pulled out his violin and sang Laboon's favorite song.
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