Just then, a Mink Tribe scout ran out of the forest, his face extremely grim.
" Inuarashi! Lord Cat Viper! Over at the Whale Tree — Raizo, he—"
Kin'emon's expression changed instantly.
He rushed forward and grabbed the scout's shoulder with such force that the man winced in pain.
"What happened to Raizo!"
"He was injured by the Beasts Pirates! His injuries are severe! And—they took the Poneglyph!"
Kin'emon released his grip, standing rooted to the spot as if all his strength had been drained away.
Inside the hollow of the Whale Tree, Raizo leaned against a rock, his body wrapped in bandages.
This ninja from Wano Country, who was usually always laughing and joking, was now ashen-faced, with cracked lips and breathing so weakly it looked like he might stop breathing at any moment.
" Raizo!" Kin'emon rushed to his side and placed his hands on his shoulders.
Raizo struggled to open his eyes, saw Kin'emon's face, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"I... am incompetent... and failed to protect the Poneglyph..."
"Don't speak yet, Chopper! Chopper!" Kin'emon called towards the door.
Chopper trotted in carrying a first-aid kit, and gasped when he saw Raizo's injuries.
He has at least three broken ribs, a fractured left arm, and was struck in the back of the head with a blunt object. His blood loss has exceeded the safe limit.
"The injury is too severe! Surgery is necessary immediately!"
"It's up to you."
Inuarashi's voice came from the entrance of the tree hole.
He limped in, using a makeshift wooden stick as a crutch; the bandage around his chest was soaked with blood.
" Inuarashi, your injuries also need treatment--"
My injury isn't urgent.
Inuarashi interrupted Chopper, walked over and sat down next to Raizo.
Save him first.
The Cat Viper also entered through another entrance, its left arm in a sling around its neck and its tail dragging on the ground as it walked, looking more languid than usual.
"Old dog, the Poneglyph are gone."
How do you plan to explain this to the Kozuki Family?
"Tell the truth."
Inuarashi's voice was hoarse and calm.
" The Beasts Pirates stole the Road Poneglyph, and we couldn't protect it."
That's true, but the most urgent thing now is to figure out what to do next.
He looked up at Kin'emon, who was standing at the entrance of the tree hole.
At this moment, Kin'emon's fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and the feeling of powerlessness he had felt when facing Kaido came rushing back.
Moreover, the whereabouts of young master Momonosuke are still unknown.
At this point, Kin'emon could only take things one step at a time, placing his hopes for Oden on Luffy.
He turned around and walked towards Luffy.
Luffy was still sitting on that rock, showing no sign of distress after his defeat.
Chopper had just finished wrapping the last bandage around him and was using small scissors to cut off the excess strips of cloth.
" Straw Hat."
Kin'emon walked up to Luffy and bowed deeply.
The angle of his bow exceeded ninety degrees, and his wooden clogs made a slight sound as they stepped on the gravel.
"I have a favor to ask."
Luffy looked up at him.
"Please help us—to reclaim Wano Country."
Kin'emon's voice trembled, not from fear, but from the anger and resentment that had been suppressed for twenty years.
"The grudge against the Kozuki Family, the people of Wano Country, and everything that has been trampled upon by the Beasts Pirates for the past twenty years—"
He took a deep breath, knelt down, and pressed his forehead against the gravel ground.
"Please, help us."
Luffy stared at Kin'emon kneeling before him, remaining silent for a long while.
Then he reached out and pulled Kin'emon up from the ground.
"Good."
Luffy grinned, and that smile was exactly the same as always.
Anyway, I don't like looking at that big guy either.
And that guy named Kaido —isn't he the leader of the Beasts Pirates?
"Just beat him up, okay?"
"Hey, hey, hey, you're making it sound so easy!"
Nami was so anxious that she kept stamping her feet.
"Those are the Four Emperors! Do you even understand what the Four Emperors?!"
"I don't understand," Luffy said matter-of-factly.
"You should be a little more modest!"
Inuarashi and Cat Viper exchanged a glance and smiled as they looked at the noisy group of young people.
There was a sense of relaxation in their smiles that they themselves were unaware of.
" Straw Hat Luffy."
Inuarashi stood up and reached out his hand to him.
" The Mokomo Dukedom is willing to form an alliance with you."
"Let's join forces to defeat Kaido!"
Luffy grasped his hand and shook it forcefully:
"Then it's settled!"
Zoro leaned against the wall of the tree hollow, watching this scene with a slight smile on his lips.
Then his gaze unconsciously drifted towards Robin.
Robin watched with a smile as Luffy and Inuarashi shook hands, her expression no different from usual.
But Zoro noticed that her hands were always hanging at her sides, her fingers slightly bent—a small gesture she only made when she was nervous.
"Hello."
Zoro lowered his voice and walked to Robin's side.
"You know that Jack?"
Robin turned to look at him, a very subtle flicker of emotion flashing in his dark blue eyes.
"Of course I know."
Zoro didn't speak, but waited for her to continue.
Robin looked at the Mink Tribe warriors cleaning up the mess in the distance, her voice so soft that only Zoro could hear her.
" Jack the Drought is one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates, second only to Kaido in status."
I've seen his information in the Revolutionary Army's intelligence.
That's all?
That's all.
Zoro remained silent for a few seconds, then walked away from her.
"Fine, don't believe me if you don't want to."
Robin watched his retreating figure without offering any further explanation.
She lowered her head, opened her palm, and there were nail marks on her palm that she had pinched herself into.
She certainly noticed Jack's last glance at her.
The meaning in that look was clear—what are you doing here? As someone from Hachinosu, what are you doing in the Straw Hat Pirates?
Robin took a deep breath and slowly smoothed out the nail mark.
Meanwhile, Jack was standing on the bow deck, watching the Zou giant elephant recede further and further away on the horizon.
In the cargo hold behind him, the red Poneglyph lay quietly, gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Task completed.
The Poneglyph is in hand.
But Jack's expression showed no sign of relief.
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the hilt of his scimitar, the rhythm chaotic and disordered.
Robin.
Nicole Robin.
The people of Hachinosu.
He remembered clearly that Roy had a woman named Nico Robin under his command who could decipher the Poneglyph and was one of the core members of Hachinosu.
Although she rarely appears in public, Jack had seen her at several meetings on Hachinosu.
Why is this woman in the Straw Hat Pirates?
Jack was slow-witted—and he knew it himself.
But even with a brain that's barely bigger than a walnut, he can figure out one thing:
Roy planted a pawn in the Straw Hat Pirates.
Roy, that guy, never does anything without a reason.
If Robin's Straw Hat Pirates was Roy's arrangement, then my almost killing that Straw Hat Boy kid just now almost ruined Roy's plan, didn't it?
Jack broke out in a cold sweat as he thought about this.
That man, even Kaido, if he knew he almost ruined his plans—just thinking about it sends chills down your spine.
"Retreat to Onigashima!" Jack yelled into the cockpit.
Then he leaned against the gunwale, tossed his scimitar aside, and let out a long breath.
"Let the governor and Roy figure out these calculations themselves."
"I only care about fighting."