Inside the gloomy castle, Lina and the others walked down a long corridor.
Stone walls lined both sides, with a cluster of torches mounted every few meters. Their dim, yellow light barely illuminated the passage.
Numerous paintings hung on the walls, all abstract close-ups of various people.
Lina walked in front, with Nami and Usopp close behind, one pace back on either side.
The far end of the narrow corridor seemed swallowed by darkness. They couldn't see where it ended.
"This whole island is so creepy, no matter where you go." Chopper, sitting on his shoulder, couldn't help feeling a chill run down his spine.
From the moment they had landed on the island, they had encountered one eerie place after another: a dark forest full of all kinds of strange and bizarre creatures, a graveyard wasteland crawling with ugly zombies, and now this haunted castle.
"If only I were as brave as Luffy." Chopper couldn't help sighing dejectedly.
Usopp patted his back and tried to reassure him.
"Chopper, people like Lina, Zoro, and Sanji are what you call brave. Luffy's different. His brain doesn't even have that kind of emotion in it. You can't compare him to a normal person."
"That's true."
Chopper lowered his head and sighed, then tilted it to the side with a puzzled look.
"By the way, Lina, you said you were coming here to find someone. Who is it?"
"The doctor who helped Moria modify the zombies, Hogback."
Lina glanced at him, then turned back and continued walking. "I want to turn some of the zombies here into undead. He knows more about zombie bodies, so I figured I'd see if I could run into him while I was here."
"Hmph! I'm going to find him too!"
A flash of anger crossed Chopper's eyes.