Ninja from the Hometown-How Nostalgic

"I wonder what level of strength these guys who came here this time are at," Hogback frowned.

The man who had initially been staring at him put immense pressure on him; even now, Hogback remembers the feeling of cold sweat breaking out on his back.

Are they pirates?

"Hey, Cindry-chan, do you have any information on these guys?" Hogback asked. "Has Perona been here?"

No.

"No?"

Hogback was somewhat surprised. Normally, Perona would come and inform him after bringing the enemy to their territory. Why hadn't she come this time?

Could something have gone wrong...? No, no, Perona's Hollow-Hollow Fruit is invincible, nothing could have gone wrong. She's probably just delayed by something.

Just then, two zombies that looked like Little Squirrel ran in from outside, their expressions extremely panicked.

"Lord Hogback!!"

"How did you get here?!" Hogback exclaimed, his eyes wide. "It's not even midnight yet!"

"What if the prey discovers us?"

He's still in the same building with them. What if they find out?

He had gone to great lengths to convince those people with his story, and he didn't want his problems to be discovered so easily.

Hogback instinctively shuddered at the thought of that terrifying man.

If the other person knew he was lying, they might come and chop him up.

And what kind of ability user is that Doctor Chopper?

It can transform into a raccoon dog or Masira.

"Excuse me, Lord Hogback..." the Little Squirrel said cautiously, "We have something very important to tell you."

"Speak."

"First, let's talk about the pirates who have come here this time," the Little Squirrel said earnestly. "Lord Moria said that the Straw Hat Pirates have come here this time, and their total bounty is over 1 billion."

"Huh?!!"

Hogback's eyes bulged in shock as he exclaimed incredulously, "Ten... ten... ten billion?!?"

This is such an unbelievable number, especially considering this is the Grand Line!

Why don't pirate crews with bounties this high go to the New World?

Swallowing unconsciously, Hogback muttered, "That guy just now... could he be the captain?"

No wonder the opponent isn't afraid of the Shichibukai title; a fighter of this caliber would probably be very eager to fight Shichibukai.

After all... this will make them even more famous!

'Looking at it this way, it makes sense that the other party can put so much pressure on me...' Hogback thought to himself.

Ultimately, he was just an ordinary person.

"Captain?" The Little Squirrel paused for a moment, then took out Luffy's Wanted Order from its pocket and said, "Is this the person?"

Hogback glanced at the photo, shook his head, and said, "No, it isn't."

"Is that it?"

"Yes, it's him..." Hogback hadn't finished speaking when he noticed the bounty amount below, and his face instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

"4...400 million?"

The person he just faced was actually a pirate with a bounty of 400 million Beli?

That's like walking right next to God of Death... That's incredibly thrilling.

Luckily, my acting was good enough, otherwise they would definitely have killed me!

After taking a deep breath to calm himself down, Hogback asked, "What are Lord Moria's instructions?"

"Lord Moria said that the shadow of the strong is more useful."

Hogback immediately understood that they were planning to take down this group of pirates.

It seems that even pirate crews with total bounties exceeding 1 billion are not enough to frighten Lord Moria.

After all, he's one of the Shichibukai.

As if given a reassuring pill, Hogback immediately calmed down.

"Cindry-chan, go and inform Ryuma that we can make our move," Hogback said.

Against pirates of this caliber, his actions would be tantamount to suicide; the only option is for Ryuma to coordinate with the zombies to attack the enemy.

"Yes."

After watching Cindry leave, Hogback looked at the Little Squirrel and said, "Go tell Absalom that the Zombie General must be deployed."

Ordinary zombies simply cannot defeat such a powerful pirate crew; only the powerful General Zombie can do the job.

Recalling some of the powerful figures among them, Hogback grinned excitedly.

"Roar roar roar roar roar~"

"That's what I'm going to talk about next..." the Little Squirrel said awkwardly, "Lord Absalom went to raid the Straw Hat Pirates alone, but was defeated and is still unconscious. He needs your treatment."

Hogback's laughter abruptly stopped, as if someone had choked him, and he said with an incredulous expression, "He's going to challenge the entire Straw Hat Pirates himself?"

"Yes."

Hogback:...

What was that idiot thinking? Why did he have to challenge the entire pirate crew all by himself?

Wouldn't it be better to let the zombies go up and test the waters first?

This way, you can not only obtain information from the other party, but also deplete their physical strength.

Now look what happened! Not only did the surprise attack have no effect, but they were also wiped out by the enemy. Hogback was furious.

"I understand, take me there," Hogback said irritably. "I'll also get his head checked while I'm at it."

This idiot whose mind is filled with nothing but colors, maybe we should also re-engineer his brain this time, so he won't mess things up at crucial moments.

"Yes, Lord Hogback, please follow me!"

"Um."

After picking up his medical tools, Hogback slowly followed behind the other man, heading towards the backyard through the passageway.

Just as they were about to pass through the Great Gate, Ryuma came from a side passage.

"Yohohoho~"

"Is there another enemy that requires my intervention this time?"

"Yes, Ryuma!"

Seeing Ryuma boosted Hogback's confidence considerably.

"Oh, right, this is one of the enemy's Wanted Order." Hogback snatched the Wanted Order from the Little Squirrel's hand and handed it to Ryuma to look at.

"Yo ho ho ho, Ninja from Wano Country..." Ryuma remarked with a touch of nostalgia, "It really brings back memories."

I never expected to see a Ninja in this place... that's really... unexpected.

"Ninja?"

Hogback paused for a moment, then subconsciously glanced down at the Wanted Order in his hand; he hadn't really noticed that detail before.

They were only focused on the other person's appearance and the reward amount.

"Could it be that the other party is from Wano Country?" Hogback asked in surprise.

He knew Ryuma's background, and now Ryuma said the other person was Ninja from his hometown... Doesn't that mean this Ninja is also from Wano Country?

This was quite an unexpected discovery.

"Yohohoho, if I'm not mistaken, that's how it is." Ryuma said with a chuckle, "Gentlemen, go do what you need to do. I'm going to meet this Ninja from my hometown."

After saying that, Ryuma turned and left.

"Lord Hogback?"

"Let's go," Hogback said. "Let's get that idiot treated first."

As for the Zombie General Zombie General, let Lord Moria awaken him himself; he doesn't have the authority to do so.

"Oh, right, Cindry-chan, can you hold my tools?"

Cindry didn't move, she just stared coldly at Hogback.

Hogback:...

"Cindry-chan..."

"Just break all the plates and stuff!"

"There are no plates in here, no plates!" Hogback exclaimed, looking quite agitated.

This time, Cindry didn't waste any words. She took the toolbox from Hogback's hand and took out the tray inside.

Then, he threw it out violently.

Hogback:!!!

"Just break the plates and everything else."

After saying that, Cindry closed the toolbox and strode away, closing the door behind her.

"I... I haven't... I haven't kept up yet..." Hogback said, on the verge of tears.

Ah~

"I feel so refreshed after a shower!"

Nami felt a completely different mood after changing into her new clothes.

"Merry thinks so too!" Merry had also changed her clothes, laughed.

"Let's go, we should get out of here too."

"Um!"

Hearing the voice behind them, the three instinctively turned around and immediately noticed the change in the two people.

"Huh?!"

"Why have you even changed your clothes?" Usopp asked in surprise.

"Merry has spatial abilities, haven't you forgotten?" Nami said with a chuckle, "There are my clothes stored inside~"

"Right, Merry?"

"Uh-huh!"

"You really are planning ahead..." Usopp remarked.

Did she anticipate this situation by placing some clothes in Merry's space beforehand?

"If we have a convenient ability, we should naturally make use of it!" Nami laughed.

With such a useful capability, why not use it?

Not only clothes, but most of the ship's important treasures were also in Merry's Space Pocket.

In this way, even if they weren't on the ship, the treasure wouldn't be taken away by thieves.

As a seasoned thief, Nami cannot tolerate her family's treasure being stolen.

"Let's go, we should go find Cindry."

If the other party hasn't deceived them, they will take them to a place to rest.

Xi Yan didn't say anything about this, but simply followed the others and walked away in silence.

Back in the room, Usopp asked in surprise, "That's strange, why are all the lights off?"

"Hey, Cindry, Hogback, are you still there?"

The sound traveled down the corridor, but unfortunately, there was no response, as if the two people didn't exist at all.

Usopp's expression immediately changed, and he subconsciously said, "Could it be that Hogback is really lying...?"

"Phew~"

Before he could finish speaking, the candles in the room were suddenly lit, immediately attracting everyone's attention.

"It's you!" Nami pointed at Hilton and said, "You bastard, how dare you show your face in front of us?!"

"Hilton!" Usopp roared, "Why did you leave us in the graveyard, you bastard?"

Usopp was furious. If it weren't for this bastard, how would they have ever encountered that terrifying zombie?

It's even possible that they could reunite with Xi Yan ahead of schedule!

"Oh ho ho, how can you blame me for this?" Hilton said, "I was just going to urinate with the stable boy..."

"Stop lying!" Nami snapped. "Do you really think we're fools?"

"You weird-looking creatures, you're all zombies, aren't you!"

She now realized that this guy wasn't some kind of superhuman; he was just a modified zombie!

Upon closer inspection, this guy also has quite a few stitches on his body.

Hilton broke out in a cold sweat and said, "Don't get so worked up..."

"Hey Hilton, where's Hogback?" Chopper asked, his face contorted with embarrassment.

"They've both rested," Hilton said.

As he spoke, he flew up the stairs and pointed to the corridor behind him, saying, "Lord Hogback specifically instructed that I be the one to lead you to your bedroom. Just go through this..."

"There's no need to tell such a lie," Nami interrupted. "Is there something dangerous waiting for us behind this?"

"We're not stupid," Merry said. "These lies don't work anymore."

Hilton:...

Seeing that the group wasn't falling for the trick, Hilton was in a bit of a predicament, because his task was to lead them through the corridor and into a pre-designed trap.

But now it seems... the other party isn't falling for it at all.

"Heh, Hilton, you've been seen through~"

"Who is speaking?"

Upon hearing the unfamiliar woman's voice, the group immediately looked around warily, but found no one.

"The sound is coming from this mural." Xi Yan squinted at the mural not far from Hilton and said, "Could this thing be a zombie too?"

"That's right, I am also a zombie who was given life by Lord Moria!"

The woman in the mural burst forth, her upper body contorted in mid-air as she cried out, "Humans, you'd better just let us capture you, or... you'll suffer endless torment!!"

"Ah!!!"

"The mural has come out!!"

The Cowardly Quartet immediately let out a sharp scream and took several steps back in terror.

"How adorable!" the female zombie exclaimed. "Let me hug you!"

However, before he could even get close, Xi Yan kicked him away.

"Whoosh~"

"Boom!!"

His head slammed right into the wall!

"She's been dead for who knows how many years, and she's still calling herself 'sister' here," Xi Yan said disdainfully.

"Asshole!!"

The female zombie angrily exclaimed, "How dare you talk to me like that?!"

"You... Damn it, you can't get your head out."

The female zombie tried desperately to pull her head out, but found it impossible, which is why her voice sounded strange.

Xi Yan ignored the guy and instead glanced at the murals around him, saying, "You're all probably these things, aren't you coming out?"

If this mural can turn into a zombie and rush out, then most of the other murals are probably the same.

Xi Yan's words were like a signal, causing all the murals in the room to come to life.

"Hahaha, the zombies are out!!"

"You lot better be prepared!"

"I'll eat you all!"

"Profound!!"

A massive number of Mural Zombie burst forth, writhing in the air, instantly transforming the atmosphere into something incredibly terrifying!

This scene terrified the Cowardly Quartet.

The group walked shakily to Xi Yan's side, as if only in this way could they gain some sense of security.

This scene greatly pleased the zombies.

What they enjoy most is watching these timid humans tremble with fear; it gives them pleasure!

Just then, the Pig Head's head on the wall twitched, then came back to life.

"Um?"

"Human, aren't you afraid?" Pusichake asked Xi Yan curiously.

"Why should I be afraid of you?" Xi Yan sneered. "On the contrary, once you're pinned to the wall, can you even dodge attacks?"

Xi Yan's words seemed like a signal, causing Usopp to freeze in place.

At that moment, the scene from the cemetery flashed through his mind: Xi Yan descended from the sky, using Fire Release to make the zombies cry out in terror, clearly terrified of flames.

"So that's how it is. Fire is your weakness?!"

A roused Usopp took out his slingshot, aimed at the sky, and shouted, "Fire Star!"

"Whoosh~"

"Boom!!"

The gunpowder exploded instantly, igniting several zombies that were twisting in the air!

"Ah!!"

"Fire!!"

The zombies screamed in agony, as if they were undergoing incredibly cruel torture, causing them immense pain.

"You bastard, don't come any closer!"

"Damn it, stay away from me!"

The other intact Mural Zombie screamed in fright and quickly shrank back, afraid of being set ablaze.

"Hey, looks like this operation is working well," Usopp said with a smirk.

After discovering that he could deal with the zombies, he was no longer afraid.

"Chopper," Xi Yan looked down at Chopper and said, "Do you understand now?"

The fact that the zombies are attacking them means that Hogback is lying to them!!

"Hmm..." Chopper nodded, head down, "I understand now, that Hogback was lying to us... He actually dared to lie to us!!"

Chopper's anger flared, and he raised his head, saying, "I will never forgive this bastard!"

This guy is a disgrace to medical ethics; he doesn't deserve to be called the World's Number One Doctor!