Bubble Cable Car

Kane and his group did not stay at Red Port for long, because Tsuru had already used Marine Headquarters to directly issue a requisition order for the Bubble Cable Car at Red Port.

So, as soon as the warship docked, Tsuru led Swift and Grey Pigeon under the cover of the deep night and secretly escorted Doflamingo's group onto the Bubble Cable Car.

As for Kane, Cuckoo, and Hina, they remained below with part of the Marines to provide support, preventing anyone from causing trouble. They would head to the Red Line once everything was secure.

Watching the Bubble Cable Car smoothly rise along the tracks and disappear into the clouds, Kane stretched lazily.

"I've been drifting at sea for so long that standing on solid ground suddenly feels a little strange."

As he spoke, he seemed to have truly come down with landsickness. He staggered unsteadily and leaned backward.

"Careful!"

"Mr. Kane!"

Robin, who was disguised, and Monet beside her moved at the same time. Each of them caught one of Kane's arms.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting in midair, yet both used their slender bodies to support Kane with all their strength.

Kane laughed heartily, patting Monet on the shoulder before rubbing Robin's head. He was clearly in a good mood.

Only after confirming that he was truly fine did Robin let go. Behind her round glasses, her eyes shot Kane a reproachful yet bashful look.

Monet, meanwhile, lowered her flushed face and walked two steps away, nervously wringing her hands with a shy, timid expression.

Hina, standing a little farther away, watched everything unfold and felt her chest tighten while her teeth itched. The lollipop in her mouth somehow tasted sour.

Cuckoo crossed her arms and watched with interest, wondering whether she had successfully drained that detestable fellow dry.

But when she carefully recalled his performance, she felt that thought was probably just an illusion.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Kane stopped joking around and swept his gaze across the crowd waiting to board the Bubble Cable Car.

Though it was nighttime, quite a few people had chosen this hour to travel to the Red Line, especially merchants carrying large quantities of goods and commoners who did not want to encounter the Celestial Dragons.

Soon, Kane spotted two tall, burly men.

One had a head of purple explosive hair and an astonishingly large head.

The other was tall and powerfully built, with black woolly curls, thick limbs, and rugged features.

Kane's eyes immediately lit up as he recognized them.

Emporio Ivankov and Kuma!

The two wore hoods and cloaks, doing their best to reduce their presence, but their massive builds made them especially conspicuous.

Kane's scrutinizing gaze quickly drew their attention, and they immediately looked over.

But when they saw Kane, joy appeared on both their faces. Then they turned and left the crowd, soon vanishing from sight.

It seemed they had learned about my situation from Rosinante...

Good. That saved us the time of recognizing each other...

Kane also withdrew his gaze and quietly waited for news from Tsuru.

He waited for half an hour. By the time baby-5 had started dozing off on Kane's head, Tsuru finally gave the order for them to head to the Red Line.

It was nearly midnight by then. Robin and Monet were both getting sleepy; one kept yawning while the other occasionally rubbed her eyes, yet both remained quietly at Kane's side.

Hina walked toward the Bubble Cable Car with a stern expression. As she passed Kane, she rammed him hard with her shoulder, gave a soft snort, and entered the car.

Cuckoo covered her mouth and chuckled at the sight, finding the scene especially amusing.

However, just as she was about to board the Bubble Cable Car, Kane suddenly stopped her.

Then she saw Kane's lips move slightly as his familiar whisper sounded beside her ear.

"Wait for me. I'll fly you up there."

Cuckoo blinked in astonishment, then remembered what Kane had once told her. Her jewel-like eyes immediately lit up.

An excited smile appeared on her face. She stopped, stepped aside, and watched Kane lead everyone onto the Bubble Cable Car.

"Cuckoo, aren't you getting on?"

Hina, who had boarded ahead of her, looked at Cuckoo in confusion. She did not understand why Cuckoo had remained outside after Kane said something to her.

"I'll take the next one."

Cuckoo answered briefly, but a radiant smile hung on her face, as though something wonderful was about to happen.

What did Kane say?

With doubt rising in her heart, Hina instinctively glanced at Kane and inexplicably felt that tonight was truly irritating.

Even after the cabin doors shut and the Bubble Cable Car slowly rose into the air, disappearing into the clouds, Cuckoo continued waiting with anticipation.

Suddenly, a hand settled on her waist. As the familiar scent of pine filled her nose, the voice she had long awaited drifted into her ears.

"Instructor Cuckoo, aren't you afraid I tricked you?"

"You wouldn't."

Cuckoo turned and tightly embraced Kane, tilting her head up to gaze into his eyes. Her jewel-like eyes gleamed brilliantly.

She did not ask why Kane, who had clearly boarded the cable car, had appeared beside her again. Her heart was simply filled with happiness.

"Why not?"

"As long as I believe in you, you'll never be able to deceive me."

Even through their clothes, Kane could feel Cuckoo's joyful heartbeat. He gently brushed his lips against hers, then took her hand and led her away from the crowd.

When they reached a deserted corner, Kane wrapped his arms tightly around Cuckoo and whispered:

"Instructor, hold on tight."

"Mm!"

Cuckoo obediently wrapped her arms tightly around Kane's waist. Then a fierce gale suddenly rose, and she saw a pair of enormous bat wings grow from Kane's back.

Before Cuckoo could cry out, the wings lifted high and beat down fiercely. A tremendous force carried her straight into the sky!

The raging wind swept past Cuckoo, tossing her hair wildly.

Yet her eyes remained fixed on Kane's face, the affection in them rich enough to intoxicate.

In the blink of an eye, the two flew into the clouds and then burst through them. A huge crescent moon appeared above their heads.

Moonlight spilled across Kane's face like frost. Cuckoo could not help raising her hand to touch it. The familiar warmth beneath her fingertips remained the same, yet it stirred an attraction she had never felt before.

Above the clouds, it was unbelievably quiet. Cuckoo could even hear their heartbeats merging together. She breathed in rhythm with Kane, and now even their breathing had become one.

She looked toward the moon, then at their shadows cast upon the clouds, feeling that everything before her was so wondrous.

Kane clearly felt Cuckoo's joy and held her as they soared above the clouds.

As they skimmed across the cloud layer, Kane held Cuckoo's hand and lightly brushed the cloud surface. The white mist churned and surged as though startled by them, rising and falling as if to match their movements.

"Instructor, is this fun... mm."

Before Kane could finish speaking, Cuckoo sealed his mouth.

The surrounding clouds seemed to grow excited as well, gathering around to watch. In the blink of an eye, they swallowed the two figures whole.

Kane and Cuckoo's shadows were blurred by the clouds, rolling and blending with their movement until they gradually became impossible to distinguish.

Inside the Bubble Cable Car, as time passed, everyone's viewpoint rose higher and higher. The novel experience drove away the drowsiness brought by midnight, and they all looked out the windows.

baby-5 excitedly ran back and forth inside the car, shouting happily.

People occasionally looked at her, but their gazes were filled with indulgence and affection, as though they were watching the group's beloved mascot.

Hina, who often rode the Bubble Cable Car, had long become immune to the scenery outside. Her gaze kept falling on Kane intentionally or otherwise, while her brows alternately tightened and relaxed.

Suddenly, the lollipop moving unconsciously in her mouth went still. Her brows furrowed tightly, and the words displeased could practically be written across her face.

Monet seemed to have grown tired of watching the scenery and shyly walked over to Kane, who had his eyes closed as he rested.

She bit her lip and hesitated for a moment. A faint blush suddenly colored her face, then she resolutely yet carefully sat beside Kane, looking too shy to disturb him but longing to be near him.

What a pretentious woman!

Hina immediately felt restless. She viciously ground the lollipop between her teeth, and with a crunch, a large piece broke off. The sweetness of watermelon spread fiercely through her mouth.

She looked toward Robin, who had already been sitting beside Kane, hoping that Kane's personal aide would bravely stand up and slap Monet hard.

Hina had already made up her mind. If Robin truly dared to do that, she would definitely go help.

However, Robin did not do as Hina wished. She had naturally noticed Monet's intentions, but she did not care that Monet had moved closer.

In her eyes, Monet's behavior was far too petty.

Robin knew very well that the coy and affected Monet would never understand Kane's helplessness in the face of straightforward advances, much less experience the blazing love he possessed.

Thinking this, Robin looked toward Hina, who was sulking by herself, and could not help laughing inwardly.

She felt that Hina was just as petty as Monet. The only difference was that Monet was putting on airs and playing hard to get, while Hina could not let go of her own pride.

Suddenly, Robin felt Kane, who had been resting with his eyes closed beside her, move. She turned and found that he had opened his eyes and was adjusting his sitting posture with a strange expression.

"What's wrong?" Robin asked softly.

"Nothing."

Kane shook his head with a smile, signaling that everything was fine. He fought the urge to shift his body, closed his eyes again, and focused most of his consciousness on the clone within the clouds.

For him now, controlling five Flower-Flower Fruit clones at once was more than manageable.

What was more, his strength had greatly improved along the journey, allowing his Flower Clones to travel farther from his main body. That was why he could fly around in the sky with Cuckoo.

But he had never expected that this act would seemingly awaken some hidden trait in Cuckoo. Not only was she delighted that Kane had taken her into the sky, but now she wanted Kane to send her even higher.

Kane could not divide his attention during such a thing. Nearly all of his focus was on the clone as he and Cuckoo fought fiercely amid the clouds.