His Story

"You guys really know how to pick a place."

Mid-air, Merry chuckled as she looked down at the Highland, saying, "We won't be caught by other bounty hunters here."

"Hala hala hala~"

Of course.

Perona smiled and said, "That's exactly why we came here."

If they hadn't chosen this place because it was easy to defend and difficult to attack, they wouldn't have gone to all this trouble to come here.

Then Perona continued, "Alright, let's go down quickly."

"Profound!"

Merry nodded, and then quickly followed Perona to Nico Robin and the others.

"Robin!"

"They arrived just in time."

Nico Robin, having put away the Den Den Mushi, smiled and reached out to ruffle the little guy's hair; she liked it more and more the more she looked at it.

"So you're Merry, the Straw Hat Crew's intern."

Galette leaned closer and said, "So cute."

As she spoke, Galette reached out to hug the little one, but Merry nimbly dodged her.

Who are you?

Merry, who was hiding behind Perona, peeked out and said, "I don't know you."

Galette felt somewhat helpless upon hearing this. What he said was true, but she didn't mean any harm. There was no need for her to avoid him.

"She..." Perona thought for a moment, then said with a mischievous smile, "She's Xi Yan's fiancée."

"Ah?"

Merry looked at Perona with a face full of questions. What did she mean by this person being Xi Yan's fiancée?

Does Xi Yan still have a fiancée?

How come she didn't know?

Upon hearing this, Galette subconsciously rubbed her fingers together. Although she quite liked hearing such words, the little guy's reaction still made her a little embarrassed, after all, her identity had not yet been confirmed.

"Are you Xi Yan's fiancée?"

Merry flew out from behind Perona, looked at Galette with a questioning gaze, and said, "Really?"

"Forehead..."

Galette was momentarily speechless. This couldn't be true, after all, the other party hadn't agreed.

Thinking of this, she said, "I hope it's true."

"Oh, so it's fake then."

Galette:...

Why is this girl so stubborn?

"Merry, now is not the time to talk about this," Usopp said weakly, lying on the ground. "The most important thing is to deliver the key first."

Regardless, this woman is from one of the Four Emperors Crew, so it's best not to offend her if possible.

"Okay, I understand..."

Before Merry could finish speaking, she noticed how miserable Usopp was lying in the distance.

"Usopp!"

Merry flew over quickly, looking at Usopp lying on the ground with a pained expression, and said, "How did you get so hurt?"

As she spoke, she reached out to touch Usopp, but considering that it might cause him more pain, she gave up.

"Does it hurt?"

"It's nothing, just a fight with the enemy, it doesn't hurt," Usopp laughed.

As expected, their Merry knows how to care for people.

For a moment, Usopp was so moved he almost cried.

"Meli Landu, Uso Landu incredibly brave!" Leo leaned closer and said earnestly, "It was because of him that the curse that had shrouded this country for ten years was finally lifted."

"It's fair to say he saved a very... very... very many people!!!"

By the end, Leo was practically jumping up.

"Really!"

Merry's eyes sparkled. So Usopp really did it!

He's amazing!

"Hahaha, not bad, not bad." Usopp grinned and said, "Just basic stuff."

While being worshipped by these Tontatta might feel good, seeing that look in his own little one's eyes makes him feel even better.

This feeling of exhilaration is indescribable.

"I'll tell you about the situation here when I have time," Usopp said with a smile. "For now, let's take care of some important business."

Well, let's give him some time to develop the story.

"I understand!" Merry nodded vigorously and said, "Then you rest here and we'll take care of the rest."

"Profound!"

Usopp gave Merry a thumbs-up, indicating that he was waiting for good news.

Then, Merry returned to Nico Robin's side and said, "Let's go."

Nico Robin nodded, then turned to the others and said, "Those who want to leave, come over here."

"They're here!"

Bartolomeo, who had just been speechless with excitement, got up from the ground with a look of exhilaration and said, "Let me fight alongside Senior Merry!"

"Senior or something..."

Upon hearing Bartolomeo's words, Merry's face immediately turned red. Was she being idolized?

Is this what it feels like to be worshipped?

It's really amazing.

"He's the guy I was just talking about," Nicole Robin chuckled. "How does it feel?"

Upon hearing this, Bartolomeo's expression immediately lit up with anticipation. What kind of impression did he have of Merry?

I'm really looking forward to it!

Upon hearing this, Merry tilted her head and thought for a moment before saying, "He seems like an interesting person."

"Is this a compliment?"

Bartolomeo jumped up excitedly from the ground, and his senior, Merry, praised him for being funny!

Haku:...

So this person is really sick, right?

Haku's face darkened as he glanced down at his arm, which had been broken by the rebound.

It's really embarrassing to be defeated by such a jerk.

A stain on one's life...

Thinking about this, Haku wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground.

Fortunately, no one noticed his expression.

"Since you're coming along, then come along." Nico Robin finished speaking, then turned to Rebecca and said, "Rebecca, we should go."

"They've arrived."

Rebecca, who had just been saying goodbye to her aunt, immediately ran away from Violet and went to Nico Robin's side.

"I won't go with you," Galette said. "Someone needs to stay here."

Since Xi Yan's purpose in having her stay here was to protect his companions, she didn't need to leave with Nicole Robin and the others; she could stay here and protect the wounded.

Moreover... her identity is rather sensitive, and it's not appropriate for her to go with Nico Robin to meet Doflamingo.

"And me," Perona said, "I'm not going with you either."

Since Merry has taken so many people over there, there's no need for her to go with them. She can stay here and protect Usopp.

As for Galette?

Although the other party claimed to be Xi Yan's fiancée, and Xi Yan's expression was quite complicated, she was ultimately not a member of the Straw Hat Pirates.

So, just to be on the safe side, it would be better for her to stay.

I enjoy gossiping, but there are still things I need to do.

"Okay, I understand."

The clever Nicole Robin immediately understood Perona's meaning, but she didn't point it out.

Some things are better left unsaid.

Then, everyone followed Merry and flew up into the sky into the distance.

"Robin," Merry whispered in Nico Robin's ear, "What's with this fiancée?"

"But Sister Hancock is..."

"We'll talk about this later," Nicole Robin interrupted softly. "Let's get on with the business first."

Let Xi Yan handle these matters himself; the most urgent task is to save lives.

"Okay, I understand..."

Merry nodded, then quickly led her people away.

After watching the people leave, Perona turned her gaze to the enormous stone statue.

"Let me see what that idiot Zoro is doing."

As she spoke, Perona created a Ghost Clone and manipulated it to fly swiftly toward the distant stone statue. Soon, streaks of sword light could be seen in the distance.

"I see," Perona muttered, "They've already started fighting the opponent's main body."

No wonder that big guy stopped moving.

That's good, it's a good thing for them.

"Could you tell me about Xi Yan?" Galette leaned closer to Perona and said, "I'd like to know more about him."

Didn't I already say that?

Perona opened her eyes with a hint of helplessness and said, "I came to the ship two years later, so I don't know much."

As she spoke, Perona's eyes glanced at King Riku and Violet, seemingly unintentionally.

It means: If I were to talk about things two years from now, wouldn't it expose the fact that Xi Yan is still alive?

Galette immediately understood; this was something that couldn't be discussed two years from now.

"If you really want to know, just ask him." Perona gestured towards Usopp, who was lying on the ground. This guy had been with Xi Yan for two years, so he definitely knew more than she did.

"The Sniper King, huh?"

Galette fixed her gaze on Usopp's face, unsure whether he was willing to speak.

Just call me Usopp.

Usopp smiled, then said seriously, "Since you want to know, I'll tell you."

"Of course, only two years ago."

"Good."

Galette nodded, then sat down next to Perona, intending to listen to Xi Yan's story.

Perona, however, didn't care much about such things; all she wanted to do was see how Zoro would beat up the Stone Monster.

"Let me tell you, back in the day, this guy was Luffy at sea..."

Usopp began telling Galette the story of Xi Yan joined their Straw Hat Pirates, and Galette listened intently.

"The story of the Blood-Eyed Ninja...?"

Hearing the commotion, Violet paused for a moment, then silently went to her father's side, choosing to gaze into the distance with him, ignoring Usopp's words lest she hear something she shouldn't.

"Viola," King Riku said in a deep voice, "Do you think we will win?"

"Father, we have no other choice but to win now."

King Riku paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled wryly and said, "You're right."

If the Straw Hat lose this battle, then what awaits them... no, what awaits this country is destruction!

Therefore, they had no choice but to win.

'Straw Hat, you absolutely have to win!'

"Alright, now we need to go meet up with them." Luffy said, looking ahead, "After we get the key, I'm going to beat up Doflamingo!"

"Um."

Luo nodded in agreement. Once he was freed, he could join forces with Straw Hat to take down the enemy!

"Then let's go quickly," Kyros said in a deep voice. "I can't wait."

As he spoke, Kyros clenched his fist.

Today, he's determined to make that bastard Doflamingo die a horrible death on the spot!

"Yes, hurry up and go with..."

Cavendish realized his mistake before he could finish speaking; he hadn't agreed to take this man to the Flower Field, you bastard!

"Get off me, you bastard!"

"My Farul, can only run gracefully and nimbly when ridden by two or fewer people!"

"Hey, are you guys even listening to me?!"

Cavendish furiously flaring up, but Luffy and Kyros remained unresponsive, leaving him feeling like he was punching cotton.

'Actually, being on the back of an ox is much more comfortable than being on the back of a horse,' Luo thought to himself.

But there's no other choice now, and besides Cavendish would definitely kill him if he said that, so it's better not to say it.

"Damn it, they're all so self-centered..." Cavendish cursed in annoyance, displaying a kind of impotent rage.

"Speaking of which..." Luffy looked at Kyros and said, "Uncle, why did you rush out by yourself first?"

"Because I'm going to kill Doflamingo!"

Kyros said in a deep voice, "No matter how the situation changes, all I have to do is defeat Doflamingo and take back this country!"

This is not only for the promise he made, but also so that his daughter can live in a peaceful country. Therefore, Doflamingo must die!

Kyros then continued, "Besides that, there is one more thing!"

"Among the Top Executive of the Donquixote Family, there is one person I must personally kill no matter what!"

At that moment, Diamante's image appeared in his mind.

If it weren't for that bastard, his wife wouldn't have died there.

So... this bastard must die!

"Uncle..."

Looking at Kyros, Luffy said in a deep voice, "You're not planning to take us all down with you, are you?"

He had promised Rebecca he would bring the living uncle back, and he didn't want the guy to die here.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Kyros said. "How could I, with a human body, possibly lose?"

Back then, with his toy body, he was no match for Diamante, but things are different now. With a human body, he can unleash 100% of his power!

At a time like this, how could a bastard like Diamante possibly be a match for him?

"That's good."

Luffy grinned; at that moment, he felt the old man's will.

Then choose to trust the other person.

"What a load of rubbish!"

Cavendish turned around and said irritably, "Get down here!"

"Why are you still saying things like that?" Luffy said, displeased. "You can just go down there."

"Ha?"

Cavendish stared blankly at Luffy, wondering what he meant by "it'll be fine once he goes down."

"That's my horse, you bastard!!"