Not a single relevant topic could be found in the top fifty of TikTok's trending list, and no general had submitted any works to the creation rankings; even the accounts of the Charlotte Family's children were stuck on tea party videos from three months ago.
This abnormal silence was particularly glaring in the boisterous online battlefield.
Ron put down his phone, his brows unconsciously furrowing.
He leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window in his Dressrosa office, the setting sun casting a long shadow behind him.
"Something's not right..." he murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the glass. "With Big Mom's personality, how could she be absent from something like this?"
He then decided to go to Totto Land to investigate, his intuition telling him that something extraordinary must have happened there.
....
Ron stood at the port of Dressrosa, the sea breeze ruffling his white trench coat.
He raised his hand and let out a crisp whistle, and the calm sea surface suddenly churned violently.
Accompanied by a deafening splash, a colossal creature broke the surface—it was "Little Wang," the giant Sea Kings he had once tamed, only now it had gotten fatter by two circles, its round belly gleaming with oil under the sunlight.
"You scoundrel..." Ron shook his head helplessly, patting Little Wang's nose as it surfaced. "It seems the food in Dressrosa is too good." The Sea Kings let out a spoiled whine, stirring up a wave.
Lightly leaping onto Little Wang's broad head, Ron unfolded the sea chart he carried with him.
The route from Dressrosa to Totto Land was clearly visible, passing through Zou. Thinking of the walking giant elephant and the Mink Tribe living on it, Ron's lips unconsciously curved upwards.
"Little Wang, let's go to Zou first." He lightly stomped his foot to signal, and the Sea Kings immediately understood, wagging its tail fin. Its massive body carved a graceful arc in the sea, speeding towards the distant horizon.
During the voyage,
Ron leaned back in Little Wang's custom-made saddle, thinking that it had been a long time since he last visited Zou. He wondered how those guys were doing now.
"I wonder how Pekoms is doing now..." Ron murmured to himself. The last time they parted, that Mink Tribe young man still wanted to join the Marine with him.
On the third morning, the breathtaking silhouette finally appeared on the distant horizon—the towering elephant legs, like giant pillars connecting heaven and earth.
As the distance closed, Zunesha's wrinkled skin became clearly visible, each step stirring up a small tsunami.
"Still so magnificent," Ron stood up, his robes flapping in the sea breeze. Little Wang consciously slowed down, carefully avoiding Zunesha's huge descending foot.
Ron stood on the sea surface, looking up at the towering Zunesha.
This giant elephant, which had lived for thousands of years, caused the sea surface to tremble with every step, its thick legs like moving mountains.
He patted Little Wang's head: "You wait in the nearby sea area, don't get too close." The chubby Sea Kings obediently nodded, and after splashing a huge amount of water, it dived into the deep sea, leaving only a string of bubbles rippling on the surface.
Taking a deep breath, Ron's feet suddenly burst with powerful force.
"Moonwalk!"
With a soft shout, his figure shot up into the sky like an arrow released from a bowstring, circles of ripples exploding on the sea surface beneath his feet, while his body had already soared tens of meters into the air.
As the altitude continuously climbed, the whistling wind roared in his ears.
Ron's black trench coat flapped loudly, and the surrounding scenery rapidly receded—the azure sea surface gradually turned into a flowing gem, and the outline of Dressrosa in the distance was faintly discernible.
He continuously stepped out Moonwalk in the air, each step precisely utilizing the force to ascend, his figure as agile as a hawk.
"Three hundred meters... five hundred meters..." Ron silently counted the height in his mind.
Zunesha's rough skin was within reach, and unknown birds nested in its wrinkles, scattering in fright at his movement.
When the last Moonwalk was executed, Ron performed a beautiful somersault, landing steadily on Zunesha's broad back.
In an instant,
The whole world fell silent. Zou's forest was right before his eyes, ancient trees towering and lush, sunlight dappling through the canopy.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, and in the distance, the unique melodious flute sound of the Mink Tribe faintly drifted.
"It's been a long time..." Ron gently caressed a nearby tree trunk, the rough texture under his fingertips.
Ron strolled along the lush forest path of Zou, sunlight dappling through the dense canopy.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound from the surrounding bushes, and several agile figures leaped down from the treetops—it was the Mink Tribe's patrol team.
"Stop! Who dares trespass on Zou—" The leading Inuarashi Mink Tribe warrior's words were cut short as his eyes suddenly widened.
He rubbed his eyes hard, looking at the familiar figure before him in disbelief: "Ro... Ron?!"
Other Mink Tribe warriors immediately crowded forward upon hearing this, and when they clearly saw Ron's face, their fur stood on end with excitement.
"It really is Ron!"
"Oh my god! You're still alive!"
"We all thought you..."
Before Ron could speak, he was surrounded by a group of furry individuals.
The Inuarashi Mink Tribe warrior Wanda directly pounced on him, giving him a bear hug, her soft fur tickling his cheek.
"Uncle Ron!" She pounded Ron's shoulder, her eyes red, "You haven't come to see us for so many years!"
"Exactly!" The jaguar Mink Tribe warrior Pekoms also squeezed forward, his golden fur sparkling in the sunlight, "How many years has it been since we last parted? We've been eagerly awaiting news of you every day!"
Ron was amused by these passionate old friends. He reached out and rubbed Wanda's ear: "It's not that I didn't want to come, it's just that I was delayed by many things."
As he spoke, he looked Pekoms up and down, who had grown quite a bit taller, "You, on the other hand, shot up in height so fast."
Pekoms proudly puffed out his chest: "I'm one of Zou's strongest warriors now!" He suddenly grabbed Ron's hand, "This time, no matter what, I'm going to join the Marine with you!"
Ron shook his head with a wry smile: "Join the Marine? I haven't been a Marine for a long time."
"What?!" The surrounding Mink Tribe exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide. Wanda's ears even perked up: "How could that be? You were the youngest Marine Commodore!"
Ron shrugged, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather: "Same old, same old, because of that incident where I ambushed those Celestial Dragons."
After a brief silence, a thunderous laughter erupted in the forest.
Pekoms laughed so hard he slapped his thigh: "Hahaha! I knew it! You're still the same Uncle Ron!" Other Mink Tribe warriors also laughed heartily, some even sparking electricity.
"Let's go, let's go!" Wanda wiped away tears of laughter, pulling Ron's arm, "Duke Inuarashi and Boss Nekomamushi will surely be overjoyed to see you! We must have a banquet tonight!"
.....
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