Jack the Drought

"Hm?"

At these words, everyone's eyes turned to Pekoms.

Even Inuarashi and Nekomamushi looked over.

Caesar, meanwhile, hid behind Law with a tense expression, terrified that they would hand him over. Pekoms was one of Four Emperors Big Mom's men!

Seeing this, Pekoms did not seem to care and looked at the Straw Hat Crew.

"As you know, I came this time under Mama's orders to take Sanji of the Straw Hat Pirates away and attack your ship. Caesar was merely incidental. But you are the heroes who saved my country, so I'll only take Caesar. Leave this place quickly."

"Take Sanji away?"

Everyone's hearts tightened at those words. Sure enough!

They had come for them.

Back on Fish-Man Island, they had offended this Four Emperor quite badly. As one of the Four Emperors, how could she let it go so easily?

What they could not understand was why she had specifically demanded Sanji.

Did she not care about everyone else? Nami was the first to speak. "Why?"

"That's right. It's no surprise that Big Mom would target us, but why specifically name Sanji?"

Usopp asked as well.

It was not just the two of them. Everyone had the same question.

Sanji, on the other hand, darkened, looking deep in thought, as though he had remembered something.

After all, this place was not far from the North Blue, where he had been born.

And the area around the North Blue was precisely Four Emperor Big Mom's territory! If that was the case, then could it be...

He immediately thought of something, yet could not be certain!

After all, he was no longer one of those people!

"The reason? It should count as a good thing, but it doesn't matter now. You should leave quickly. Otherwise, once my two companions make their move, you won't get away so easily."

Pekoms shook his head.

How could he know Big Mom's true intentions? He only had a few guesses. But since he had decided to let them go, there was no need to discuss the matter further.

He could find an excuse to persuade Mama later! "Hey, hey, hey! You're not really going to abandon me, are you? Don't!"

At those words, everyone fell silent. A Four Emperor... they were still far too distant for them right now.

Caesar, however, leaped up in panic when he heard that he would be taken to Big Mom.

Rather than fall into Big Mom's hands, he would rather stay with the Straw Hat Crew.

These people were not particularly friendly to him, but they at least treated him like a person, and he had been living fairly well with them. But if he fell into Big Mom's hands, he would probably become nothing more than a tool!

Where else could he go? "Shut up. Who would offend Big Mom for someone like you? Straw Hat Kid, make your decision quickly."

Pekoms shook his head and looked at Luffy.

Opposing Big Mom was an exceptionally foolish thing to do, especially for someone like Caesar.

Caesar was cruel by nature and had created a weapon like Death Land, a scourge upon the world. No one cared what happened to someone like him.

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi both looked at Luffy. There was no time to waste; it would be best to leave immediately.

After all, they were facing Big Mom!

"Luffy!"

At this, Nami and the others could not help looking at Luffy as well.

As Pekoms had said, although they had already declared war on Big Mom, it was far too early to fight her now. Their strength had indeed risen greatly over the past two years, but compared to a Four Emperor, the gap was still enormous!

Especially since they had already planned with Law to go to Wano Country and deal with Kaido. Before they had even dealt with Kaido, confronting Big Mom would be far too unwise.

Zoro did not care either way, while Sanji breathed a sigh of relief. Robin looked at Moonlight, hesitation flashing in her eyes.

This island clearly held tremendous archaeological value, and she did not want to leave just like that. But the threat of a Four Emperor was simply too great, and she had to consider it. After all, she was no longer alone!

"I won't leave now. I still have something to do here."

However, an unexpected voice rang out at that moment.

It was Momonosuke! This somewhat timid child had completely changed from his usual self, his expression incomparably resolute. Even Kin'emon of the Foxfire and Kanjuro beside him wore serious expressions as they supported Momonosuke.

They had clearly come here for a purpose. At present, Law had achieved his goal of rejoining the Heart Pirates, but they had not.

Therefore, they absolutely would not leave now!

"Momo..."

Everyone was stunned by this, and Nami could not help crying out.

They had never expected them to step forward at a time like this!

Nekomamushi and Inuarashi exchanged glances. The two seemed to know Momonosuke's identity and were just about to say something when thunderous roars suddenly rang out, violently echoing throughout the island!

"Rooar..."

"Rooar..."

They were Zunesha's cries!

For some unknown reason, Zunesha had suddenly let out these earth-shaking cries. In an instant, everyone on the island felt their ears lose all hearing from the shock. Their heads throbbed as if splitting apart, their minds unable to focus, and their entire bodies felt as though they would burst from the sound! "It's Zunesha! What happened to Zunesha?"

Nekomamushi and Inuarashi reacted at once, their expressions changing! "That cry sounds pained. What's going on? It's completely different from before!"

Wanda's expression turned grave.

The Mink Tribe had lived on Zunesha's back for a thousand years, so they naturally knew much about Zunesha's habits. But they had never seen anything like this before. Something had clearly happened!

"Zunesha? Could it be under attack?"

Carrot cried out in surprise, then immediately leaped up and ran toward the outskirts of the city.

"That's right. It's under attack. And the one attacking Zunesha is the culprit responsible for destroying this country: Jack the Drought, one of the Three Calamities under Kaido of the Beasts Pirates!"

Moonlight nodded. As his Observation Haki spread out, he immediately saw Jack ordering his men to fire cannons at Zunesha from the sea not far away! Although Zunesha's body was unimaginably enormous and there was normally nothing Jack could do to it, there was now a wound on Zunesha's leg. As long as he kept widening that wound, it would be enough to bring Zunesha down!

Thus, he acted without hesitation!

"The Beasts Pirates? Jack the Drought, one of the Three Calamities under Four Emperor Kaido?"

Everyone's expressions changed at these words!

Especially the Mink Tribe!

Of course they were no strangers to this man. He had first destroyed their country, and now he intended to destroy Zunesha as well?