The third time was this [Erudite] advancement quest. (continued)

Chapter 351: Upheaval in Wano Country (this chapter contains the latest material from chapter 1024)

After casting an utterly un wistful glance at the Road Poneglyph hidden deep within, Adrian silently withdrew from the Whale Forest.

Concealing himself, he passed straight through Zou and reached the edge of Zunesha's back, pretending he had only just arrived.

Then Adrian reached out and lightly tapped the casing of the Lead-Gray Pocket Watch, calling Lumi and asking it to release Louf from the Impenetrable Fortress.

"Adrian-sama!"

As faint ripples spread through the air, Louf sprang out of the void with a delighted cheer.

Then she saw the utterly familiar scenery around her, and her two crystal-clear eyes began to sparkle.

Louf raised her head and looked excitedly at Adrian. "Have we already reached the Mokomo Dukedom?"

"Of course."

Adrian smiled faintly and reached out to ruffle Louf's hair.

The Whale Forest was sacred ground to the Mink Tribe, and outsiders had always been strictly forbidden from entering.

That was also why Adrian had not chosen to release Louf directly inside the Whale Forest.

In his view, it was better not to leave Little Fox agonizing over such a trivial matter.

"Awesome!"

Louf cheered and hurried off toward Zou.

She had barely taken two steps when she seemed to remember something. She hurried back, grabbed Adrian's hand, and ran with him toward her familiar homeland.

"Adrian-sama! I'll show you around the Mokomo Dukedom!"

A widely circulated rumor on the seas claimed that the Mink Tribe living on Zunesha's back despised humans, even refusing to speak or associate with them.

In reality, however, that was merely a misconception.

Along the way, Adrian found that most minks treated humans little differently from how they treated other minks.

To be precise.

In the minks' eyes, ordinary humans