Upon hearing Robin's words, Usopp and the others screamed, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
" Robin... did they say why they disappeared from here? What caused it?" Usopp swallowed hard and asked.
"I heard... it's because there are ghosts here! They killed everyone who came here!"
"Ah!"
Before Robin could finish speaking, Usopp and Chopper were already screaming and running around the ship in fear.
They had initially just thought the surroundings were a bit dim, but Robin's comment made it feel even more eerie, and they inexplicably felt a chill run down their spines.
Although Nami was also very scared, she still mustered her courage and said to Robin:
" Robin, ghosts... ghosts don't sound very believable!"
"Idiot, how could such a thing exist? Nami, you should learn from me. An atheist like me would never believe in such things!"
Before Robin could say anything, Zoro taunted Nami from the side.
"Phew~ That's good!" Nami took a deep breath.
Although Zoro was mocking her, she was more concerned about what he actually said.
It's good that there are no ghosts; if there really were, her fragile heart might not be able to handle it!
But just then, Xia Chen's words made Nami's heart, which had been at ease, jump back into her throat.
"Ghosts really do exist! And not only ghosts, but also living skeletons and zombies exist in this sea!"
≡(▔▔)≡!
"It's over!" Nami immediately knelt on the ground, along with Usopp and Chopper.
All three of them wore expressions of utter despair.
But Luffy's story is a completely different story.
"Ghosts, skeletons, zombies!!!"
With each item Luffy mentioned, the excitement in his eyes deepened, until finally the light emanating from them seemed to illuminate the darkness of the entire sea.
Zoro also gave a slight smile.
"That sounds really interesting! I just wonder how durable it is!"
"Hoo~" Sanji slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, and said thoughtfully, "Speaking of which, if you grind up a skull and put the bone powder into the food, would it taste different?"
"That's certainly intriguing!" Robin pondered, stroking his chin.
"Well... I think we should forget about it! I don't think anyone would want to eat this!" Xia Chen waved his hand, his expression somewhat unpleasant.
He's a person of normal taste, and as for bone meal...
Hmm... I really have no ideas!
Nami and the other two kneeling on the ground were going crazy listening to these people's comments. Who were they all?
Can't we at least show some basic respect for paranormal beings?
Perhaps to intensify Nami and the others' fear, a strange laugh suddenly rang out.
"Yohohohoho~ Yohohohoho~"
"Yohohohoho~ Yohohohoho~"
The sound grew louder as it approached, and soon everyone saw a pirate ship that perfectly matched the image of a ghost ship in their imagination slowly emerging from the fog and heading towards them.
"Aaaaaah!"
A loud and piercing sound rang out from the Going Merry, and the three people on the ground jumped up instantly.
Then they each went to the side of someone who could give them a sense of security.
Nami was clinging tightly to Xia Chen, practically hanging on him.
Usopp huddled behind Sanji, clinging tightly to his waist.
Chopper, naturally, went to his usual spot: Zoro's legs.
Looking at Nami trembling in his arms, Xia Chen couldn't help but chuckle. He gently patted Nami's back and said, "It's alright, I'm here. What's there to be afraid of!"
Perhaps Xia Chen's words had an effect, Nami's trembling subsided considerably, but she still clung to his chest, not daring to look around.
"Hey, Usopp, my waist is for ladies to hug, get away from me!" Sanji tried to push Usopp's face away, but Usopp was like a lock, no matter how much Sanji pushed, he wouldn't let go.
He then said, snotty-nosed, " Sanji, you can't just leave me here! What will I do when the ghosts come if you don't leave me?"
"Isn't Luffy still here? Go hug him!" Sanji was still very resistant.
As soon as Sanji said that, Usopp's frightened whimpers stopped, and then he suddenly raised his head, looked at Sanji, and said in a low voice, "What do you think Luffy will do if a ghost really appears?"
(⊙o⊙)...
After hesitating for a moment, Sanji said, "Given Luffy's personality... he'll most likely just charge in headfirst!"
"That settles it then. Asking me to Luffy's place is like me handing myself over to a ghost!"
"No! Sanji, waaaaah~"
Sanji:(ノ`Д)ノ!
Meanwhile, Zoro also faces the problem of having a tanuki (raccoon dog) stuck to his leg that he can't shake off.
"Hey, Chopper, don't smear your snot on my pants..."
"Hooray! A ghost ship!"
(☆▽☆)!
"Let's go on an adventure!" Luffy ran excitedly to the edge of the ship, then grabbed the ghost ship and threw it over.
"Hey, Luffy!" Xia Chen called out, somewhat exasperated. Was it really necessary to be in such a hurry?
Xia Chen then turned his gaze to the crowd and said, " Luffy has already gone over there, and I'm planning to go check it out too. What do you all think?"
"Oh, Xia Chen, you're going too?"
Nami, nestled in Xia Chen's arms, shuddered instantly and looked at him with teary eyes.
"Uh... you..."
"Don't go over there, stay here with me!"
Finally, under the onslaught of Nami's pitiful gaze, Xia Chen gave in and decided to stay on the ship.
So in the end, Zoro, Sanji, and Robin all went over, leaving only the four of them on the ship.
Xia Chen looked at the ghost ship opposite him, his gaze deep and a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Meanwhile, on the ghost ship.
???
" Xia Chen, didn't you say you were staying on the ship? Why did you come back?" Robin asked curiously.
"Have you forgotten that I can Clone?" Xia Chen replied calmly.
Everyone: (⊙o⊙)...
Okay, you're awesome for having Clone!
Robin looked around, surveyed the surroundings, and said, "This place is indeed quite eerie!"
"Indeed, the entire ship exudes an eerie aura!" Sanji nodded in agreement.
"Yohohohoho~ Yohohohoho~"
Suddenly, the singing started again, accompanied by the sound of footsteps.
Everyone couldn't help but turn their gaze over.
A dark figure slowly emerged from the darkness and approached them. The moment the figure revealed its true form...
Everyone except Xia Chen stared wide-eyed, their eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.
After a long pause, Luffy out a strange cry.
"A... a moving skeleton?!"