Udon Prison.
When Luffy woke up, his first feeling was that his whole body ached.
The bones in my chest felt like they had been disassembled and reassembled; I could feel a sharp pain in my ribs with every breath I took.
Wearing heavy Seastone shackles around his neck, his Devil Fruit power was completely suppressed, and his entire body felt limp and powerless.
"It hurts..."
He struggled to open his eyes and found himself lying in a dark, damp cell.
The ground was made of cold stone slabs, the corners of the walls were covered with moss, and the air was filled with a strange smell of mustiness and sweat.
"Are you awake?"
Zoro's voice came from the side.
Luffy turned his head with difficulty and saw Zoro leaning against the corner of the wall, his hands and feet also wearing Seastone Handcuffs, and his face still bearing bruises from Kaido's attack, but his eyes had regained their usual calm.
" Zoro... where am I?"
" Udon Prison."
Zoro flexed his wrists.
" Kaido has locked us up here."
Luffy was silent for a few seconds, then grinned.
"Very good!"
"What's good about it?"
"Still alive?"
Zoro rolled his eyes speechlessly, but a very faint smile appeared on his lips.
This guy is injured like this and he can still laugh. I don't know whether to call him optimistic or stupid.
"Ding--!"
Just as the two were feeling fortunate to be alive, the sound of metal clanging came from deep within the cell.
A figure emerged from the shadows, with Red Hair and bulging muscles, also wearing Seastone Handcuffs.
He walked up to Luffy and looked down at the Straw Hat Boy was still lying on the ground.
" Straw Hat Boy?"
Kid's voice carried a hint of unexpected mockery.
"You fell to Kaido too?"
Luffy tilted his head and looked at him, frowning as he thought for a long time before saying something that almost made Kid lose his temper.
"Hmm? Who are you... again?"
The veins on Kid's forehead bulged, and his rugged face turned a deep liver color.
"I am Eustace Kid!"
Have you forgotten about Sabaody Archipelago?!
The Worst Generation!
A bounty of 470 million!
"Oh--the redhead!"
Luffy Satori.
"You bastard, remember my name!!!"
Zoro silently delivered the final blow from the side:
"The one in Sabaody Archipelago that was being chased by Pacifista, right?"
Kid completely exploded:
"You all look down on me!!!"
·······
at the same time,
The atmosphere at the Kozuki Oden residence was extremely oppressive.
Nami paced back and forth in the corridor, her wooden clogs making a rapid clattering sound on the floor.
Her fingers were twisted together, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Usopp was crouching in the corner, drawing circles on the ground with his slingshot, muttering something to himself.
Chopper sat on the doorstep, clutching the first-aid kit, tears welling in his eyes.
"Why isn't he back yet... why isn't he back yet..."
As Nami repeated the phrase for the fiftieth time, a semi-transparent light barrier suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
"Brush!"
Luo's figure appeared out of thin air.
He knelt on one knee, one hand supporting himself on the ground, the other hand clutching his chest, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his breathing rapid as if he had just finished a marathon.
He escaped from Kaido's clutches only after three consecutive space displacements, and each time he activated his ability just before the spiked club was about to strike him, which took a tremendous toll on his physical and mental strength.
"Luo!"
Sanji was the first to rush over and help him up.
Law pushed Sanji's hand away, stood up, and took a breath.
" Luffy's leader... Zoro's leader..."
Nami rushed in front of Law, grabbing his shoulders with both hands, so tightly that Law felt pain:
Where's Luffy? Where's Zoro? Where are they?
"Calm down, Nami!"
Robin comforted Nami for a moment.
" Torao, continue!"
"They... were captured by Kaido and sent to Udon Prison."
The courtyard was eerily quiet.
"Is Luffy... still alive?"
"Alive."
Luo's voice was hoarse.
Kaido didn't kill them, he just knocked them unconscious.
I saw them being loaded onto the prison van with my own eyes.
Chopper burst into tears, tears streaming down his face like a fountain.
" Luffy -- Zoro --Waaaaaah--"
Usopp slumped to the ground, his face as white as paper.
" Luffy and Zoro can't even beat Kaido... so how are we supposed to fight him..."
Sanji smashed the cigarette butt on the ground and stubbed it out with his toe.
His expression didn't change much, but his clenched fists were trembling slightly.
Nami released Kairo, took two steps back, and leaned against the wall.
She had her head down, so her expression was obscured, but you could hear her taking a deep breath, then another, as if forcing herself to calm down.
"It's all my fault."
A voice came from the doorway.
Kin'emon knelt in the corridor, his hands supporting his knees, his forehead almost touching the ground.
His weathered face was etched with self-reproach and guilt.
"It was only because I asked for your help Straw Hat Lord, that he found himself in such a dangerous situation."
If anything happens to you, Straw Hat Lord, I... I...
Raizo stood behind him, head bowed as well, two streams of murky tears streaming down his wrinkled face.
"Don't rush to apologize."
Luo walked to the center of the courtyard, Kikoku slammed his fist on the ground.
" Luffy and Zoro are still alive."
As long as the person is alive, there is a chance to rescue them.
"But--"
There are no "buts".
Luo interrupted him, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable certainty.
"I promised Luffy that we would cooperate."
Even if he falls, this alliance will not be void.
The atmosphere in the courtyard eased slightly.
Nami raised her head, hope rekindling in her eyes.
Chopper wiped away his tears and sniffed hard.
Just then, a strange, sarcastic voice came from the inner room.
"Cooperation? What kind of cooperation are we talking about?"
Apoo emerged from inside, a clear mockery on his long face.
" The Straw Hat Boy and the swordsman were defeated in just two moves, and Kaido immediately sent them to jail."
Why should we cooperate with this kind of scum and go to our deaths?
Hawkins, Bege, and Drake followed behind him.
The four Supernovas had different expressions, but they all shared the same emotion—wavering.
Kid was captured, Luffy was captured, Zoro was captured—the three strongest Supernovas couldn't even last five minutes against Kaido.
What use are the four of them combined?
"I told you going against Kaido is suicide."
Apoo spread his hands, his tone growing increasingly agitated.
"Now look what's happened! The operation hasn't even started yet, and two of the people who initiated the collaboration have already been arrested!"
I think we should disband as soon as possible and leave Wano Country first!
Hawkins flipped through his tarot cards as usual, a rare frown appearing on his usually calm face.
He turned over a card; the card depicted the Hanged Man—reversed.
"The divination indicates that we are heading towards destruction."
Hawkins ' voice remained calm, but those who knew him could sense the heaviness within it.
"If we continue to fight Kaido, it's only a matter of time before our entire crew is wiped out."
Bege, with a cigar in his mouth, didn't say anything, but he had already started walking towards the door.
Drake followed at the back with his head down, his steps hesitant.
Apoo waved to Luo:
"Good luck, Surgeon of Death. I'm not playing along."
The four of them walked towards the door.
However, a semi-transparent light shield unfolded beneath their feet.
Apoo's steps suddenly stopped.
He looked down at the thin, light-like barrier beneath his feet, and his expression changed slightly.
Trafalgar, what do you mean?