Chapter 153: Don't Act Rashly, Kuma.
Dawn was approaching. The horizon glowed with a faint light, piercing through layers of thin fog to illuminate a scene of ruins.
At the edge of the nearby forest, a group of people in tattered clothes, looking like vagrants, cheered, their faces streaked with tears of joy.
"My shadow! My shadow is back!"
"After so many years, finally!"
"Quick! There's sunlight over there!"
"Let's go try!"
One after another, figures rushed out of the forest, heading towards a patch of ground illuminated by the dawn's light.
Among them was a woman with a fat, oval-shaped body, her pink hair in two braids. Two swords were crossed on her back, and she had thick, fiery red lips.
Lola followed behind her excited crewmates. They had been drawn over during Luffy and Moria's battle.
They had been hiding in the bushes at the edge of the forest, peeking, and had witnessed the fierce battle firsthand.
Even now, she wore an expression of disbelief. The Warlord Gecko Moria, who had stolen their shadows and controlled countless powerful zombies...
...had actually been defeated by an unknown young man!
Lola slowly walked over to Moria's side. His body was currently wrapped in raging azure flames.
The azure flames slowly died down, retracting along his body back to his fat stomach, into the hand of a man standing above him.
The man's face was calm, without any expression. His form-fitting blue shirt vaguely revealed his sturdy physique. After noticing her arrival, he merely glanced at her briefly before ignoring her.
"Um..."
Lola's face flushed red. She bent down and shouted loudly, "Excuse me, will you marry me?"
"Get lost," Reiner's voice was cold.
"Captain Lola got rejected again!!"
"Proposal number 4,444 has failed!!"
Two men in tattered clothes exclaimed loudly. They were Lola's subordinates, the Risky Brothers.
Lola wasn't too dejected by this. She just smiled faintly and walked forward, saying:
"In any case, thank you so much for helping us get our shadows back. If it's convenient, may I ask Straw Hat... to express my gratitude in person?"
"You're going to propose to our captain, aren't you."
"Damn it, I was found out," Lola turned her face away, gritting her teeth.
"A party is always better with more people."
Click!
Reiner jumped down from Moria's body and walked straight back into the main mast mansion, saying faintly, "Let's go. I'll take you inside first."
"Thank you very much."
Leaving behind the people who were shedding tears of emotion over the long-awaited sunlight, Lola followed him with the Risky Brothers.
"Alright, you guys can wait here for a bit."
Before long, Reiner led the three to the outside of a dining hall, spoke without turning his head, and then went inside by himself.
The dining hall was brightly lit. After some searching, Chopper had found plenty of ingredients, and Sanji was now cooking in the kitchen at the side.
Luffy, bored with waiting, was sitting at the dining table dozing off, a snot bubble rising and falling with his snores at the tip of his nose.
Pop!
"Hee hee hee."
As soon as the bubble inflated, a finger would pop it. Chopper and Usopp stood to the side, snickering, having the time of their lives.
At the end of the table, Franky and Brook sat opposite each other, drinking cola and coffee respectively, chatting idly.
Zoro sat leaning against the back wall, arms crossed, with his three swords propped up beside him, quietly resting with his eyes closed.
A sofa was placed by the door. Nami was curled up on it, her face drowsy as she rested on the armrest. Robin sat on the other side, quietly reading a book.
Creak~~
"Luffy's already asleep?"
"You're back. What took you so long?"
Seeing the man who opened the door and came in, Nami propped herself up and shifted her position, patting the sofa with one hand as an invitation.
Reiner sat on the sofa and leaned back, saying, "There are a few people who want to see Luffy. They're waiting outside."
"They want to see Luffy?" Nami asked softly, leaning down to lie on his lap.
A few strands of hair hung down, covering her fair cheek, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
Seemingly finding the sunlight outside a bit too bright, Nami turned over to face Reiner, resting her head on her arm and wrapping her other arm around his waist, speaking softly:
"Aren't you going to let them in?"
"Let's forget it for now. We'll talk when Luffy wakes up."
Reiner said in a low voice, one hand gently caressing her face, his fingertips passing through the hair by her ear, gently rubbing her head.
"Mm, whatever you say," Nami smiled faintly, closing her eyes to slowly feel this moment of peace.
The soft whispers of conversation occasionally filled the room, and the familiar sounds of laughter immersed her.
Outside, Moria lay unconscious on the ground. A huge rock stood beside him, and Kuma was sitting on it, reporting the situation here via a Den Den Mushi.
The heavy voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi was firm and allowed no rebuttal.
"Leave Moria for now as long as he's still breathing. Have you met with the Straw Hat Pirates? If they refuse that matter, kill them, then bring Moria back. The Warlord position cannot be left vacant right now."
"I haven't made contact with them yet. I was stopped. It seems they don't wish to be disturbed right now," Kuma said in a low, expressionless voice.
"What do you mean, stopped? Who? Is there someone there who can stop you? Black Snake Reiner?"
The other end of the Den Den Mushi asked tentatively.
Kuma couldn't help but raise his head and shift his gaze to the distance, to the figure standing straight with arms crossed, a few black patterns drawn on his face like mysterious symbols.
"No. He calls himself Sukuna..."
The Den Den Mushi fell silent, its expression seeming to recall something.
"I'm not yet sure if he is a member of the Straw Hat crew. Let's leave it at that for now. I'll contact you again later."
Kuma spoke coldly, then hung up the Den Den Mushi and put it back in his pocket.
Tucking the Bible under his arm, he reached out and took off one black glove, revealing a palm with a paw pad on it. His gaze fell straight on Sukuna as he said in a low voice:
"A name I haven't heard. First, are you one of the Straw Hat crew?"
"Not even introducing yourself before asking questions. A Warlord, how rude."
Sukuna tilted his head up and looked at him with great interest, a corner of his mouth curling into a sneer. "I told you not to disturb us. It seems you're not planning to listen to my advice."
"Us? Are you a new member?"
Kuma spoke faintly, then raised his head and shifted his gaze towards the top of the mansion, where a pair of eyes was meeting his through a window.
He had a strange feeling. It seemed... a bit similar.
Pop!
A crisp sound was heard. The next moment, his entire person vanished from the spot.
Clang—!
Almost simultaneously, a sword light flashed and disappeared.
Kuma's figure stopped. A crack suddenly appeared on the ground, stretching straight between the two of them, blocking his path.
The gash wasn't deep, but its cut was extremely smooth, extending and cutting across the entire open space.
"The Straw Hat Pirates are truly full of masters. No wonder the World Government wants to recruit you."
Kuma looked warily at the crack at his feet. He had no doubt that this slash had the power to cut through his steel body.
"Don't act rashly, Kuma. Our captain is not available to see guests right now. Just wait here quietly."
Sukuna's eyes were slightly closed. He sat down directly on the spot, holding the black blade Shusui and resting it on his shoulder. "Also, you just mentioned the World Government's recruitment. What do you mean?"
Kuma stood in silence for a while. After a moment of hesitation, he took out a crumpled piece of paper and said slowly, "The Warlords..."
Hmm?
In the mansion, Zoro's closed eyes suddenly opened. He and Robin, who had her arms crossed, were both startled. They looked at each other, a bit of confusion in their eyes.
Then they quieted down again, paying attention to the communication outside.
After a while...
"Dinner's ready, everyone!" Sanji walked out of the kitchen, carrying plates.
The freshly cooked meat patties were steaming, and the aroma of succulent meat mixed with perfectly matched seasonings filled the air.
Sniff!
"Meat!!"
Luffy's eyes snapped open with a start. He whipped his head around, his gaze precisely locking onto the food in Sanji's hands.
"It smells so good, haha! I'm starving to death!" Before the food was even served, Luffy couldn't wait and stretched out his hand to grab it.
"Don't be in such a hurry. There's more."
Sanji kicked his hand away, placed the food on the table, and then lit a cigarette. Behind him, several undead walked over, carrying plates and bowls one by one.
After a full day and night of fooling around and fighting, everyone was starving. They all moved to sit around the table.
"Let's go eat something too."
Nami sat up, sleepy-eyed, patted her cheeks with both hands, let out a long sigh, then turned and pulled Reiner's face.
"Take me back to the ship to rest later."
"Mm, let's go."
Reiner picked her up and walked to the dining table, sat down, got some food, and began to eat.
Before long, after simply filling his stomach, he turned back to look at Luffy, who was devouring his food like a whirlwind.
"There are a few people who want to see you, Luffy."
"Eh? Who?" Luffy asked with wide, curious eyes, his hands not stopping their motion of stuffing food into his mouth.
He tilted his chin towards the door. An undead opened it, and Lola walked in with the Risky Brothers.
"Greetings, members of the Straw Hat Pirates. I am the captain of the Rolling Pirates. My name is Lola. I'm here specifically to thank you, and also..."
Lola walked opposite Luffy, bowed very politely, then looked up at Luffy very seriously.
"Will you marry me?"
"No."
After her 4,445th failed proposal, Lola began to chat with everyone about their experiences and some things about the island.
The free-spirited Luffy quickly became familiar with them, grinning and saying that on such a happy day, they should of course gather everyone for a banquet.
At the side...
"I'm finished."
Nami took the napkin he handed her, wiped her mouth, and then stood up, smiling. "Let's go."
"Mm." Reiner took her and walked towards the door.
At this moment, Sukuna walked in with Kuma.
Click!
Feeling the powerful aura from Kuma, Zoro instantly placed his hand on his waist, ready for battle.
Bang!
Sanji also slammed his hands on the table and stood up, his brow furrowed as he looked at the other.
"It's alright, everyone. Luffy, he's one of the people looking for you too."
Reiner said, turning back. He left Sukuna there and, to Nami's surprised and curious gaze, left with her.
"Straw Hat Luffy, this is for you."
Kuma took a crumpled letter from his pocket, flicked it to Luffy, and said in a low voice:
"I'll give you some time to discuss it. Tell me your answer after you've read it."
(End of chapter)
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