Two days later, the first half of the Grand Line.
"Red bean soup, red bean soup, hurry up and bring me some red bean soup! I'm so bored, I need some red bean soup to cheer myself up!"
On a pirate ship, a large, fat man wearing a onesie jumpsuit is roaring.
His blond hair was tied up like a string of candied hawthorns hanging down his back, and he had two blond whiskers that reached his collarbone. Well, never mind, this fat guy doesn't have a collarbone, so what I just said doesn't count. Anyway, this fat guy is really sleazy.
"Yes, yes, Brother Queen, we'll go prepare right away!"
I am filled with trepidation, for Queen is somewhat capricious, ruthless, and acts on a whim; many of my men have died at his hands.
"Why is time passing so slowly? This Brachiosaurus is so slow! When will I be able to get back to Wano Country?"
No, I absolutely have to find a way to modify my flagship when I get back. That bastard Jin is always causing me trouble. Remember that!
Queen lay on the deck, rolling around, seething with resentment.
"Brother Queen, I'm not in a hurry. I've always lived in the first half of the Grand Line, so a few more days won't make a difference!" said a short guy next to Queen.
" Auston! Have I been too kind to you? Kaido values you, but I don't care."
Don't think that just because Kaido sent me to pick you up, you can act arrogantly in front of me.
He's just an Ancient Zoan user, what does that amount to? He might not even be able to become Tobi Roppo.
Come talk to me as an equal when you become All-Stars.
I just want to go back to Onigashima to do my research as soon as possible. I have another idea for a poison bomb, and I really want to go back and study it!
Your research is utterly insignificant compared to mine!
You're just a small task for me; there are countless people like you in the New World!
Queen said with a disdainful look. He was a veteran under the big boss, and these pure Devil Fruit User were no match for him.
"Yes, yes, Brother Queen, I was ungrateful and didn't know my place. I'll need your help when we get to Onigashima, and I'll definitely follow your lead!"
Auston quickly bowed his head, but his eyes held a hint of resentment.
He was considered Supernovas- like figure in the first half of the Grand Line, with a bounty of 150 million Beli.
When have I ever been treated like this, being scolded like a grandson in front of so many lackeys? It's like being slapped in the face.
He has to put up with this like a grandson. If word gets back to the Beasts Pirates, how will he ever face them again?
No matter how high a position you achieve in the future, it won't matter; there will always be a stain behind the glory.
"I'll pretend to side with him first, and once I have the power, I'll kill you first, you fat pig!" Auston thought to himself.
"Hmm, at least you have some self-awareness. From now on, when we get to Onigashima, you'll follow me. Stay away from that scumbag Jin. I'll take care of you from now on!"
Queen paid no attention to Auston's feelings.
In the world of One Piece, might makes right, just like when Queen went to Auston to join the Beasts Pirates.
"You're Auston? I'm the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates, and I'd like to invite you to join our crew."
"What? You don't want to?"
" Brachiosaurus Great Strength Fist!"
"He's too weak. Let's carry him onto the boat! As long as he's not dead, we'll see!"
That's why Auston was on this ship. Since he couldn't resist, he might as well lie down and enjoy himself. Auston was very pragmatic.
"Yeah, I joined the Beasts Pirates because I saw their potential, not because I was scared of being beaten up!"
You must believe in my determination to become the Pirate King! Joining us is just a temporary measure; I will find an opportunity to defeat Kaido and take his place. I believe I can do it!
Auston's inner monologue was powerful and awe-inspiring; Kaido praised it, saying it showed great ambition!
"Brother Queen, there's a boat ahead!"
The lookout's shouts interrupted Auston's reverie, and Queen, who was utterly bored, also became interested.
"Haha, bring the binoculars over here, let me see if there's anything funny to see!"
Queen eagerly jumped up, went to the edge of the boat, and looked into the distance.
A henchman quickly brought over a pair of binoculars, which Queen took and began to look into the distance.
At first, he didn't see it. After scanning around and waiting for a while, a warship of a very different color appeared in Queen's eyes.
"Hmm! An unmarked warship, it probably doesn't belong to any famous naval officer."
"Don't worry about those nobody 'A, B, and C' who aren't even worth mentioning; they pose no threat to us!"
"Hmm? What's that at the bow? Such a huge wave... Oh, it's a sea monster! That sea monster pulls the boat really fast!"
"I'm so envious of those who have sea monsters pulling their ships! It's a pity that on our ship, either the crew members are too weak to catch sea monsters, or the crew members are superhuman but can't go into the sea."
What a pity! If only we had sea monsters to pull the ship, we could have gotten back to Wano Country much faster. My research! My experimental subjects, just wait for me for a few months. I'll definitely pamper you when I get back! Wahahaha!"
Queen, always a master of exaggerated facial expressions, began his performance once again, dancing a bizarre dance.
"Brother Queen, since you want it so badly, why don't we just steal that sea monster?"
Queen heard Auston's voice beside him.
Queen's eyes lit up. He thought to himself, "Why didn't I think of that? What a great idea! This kid's got a sharp mind. I can do a few little experiments on him as a reward sometime in the future!"
I can't let my older brother down now, I have to put on a good show!
Queen was still dancing when his underlings, looking utterly hopeless, joined in. Queen then began his own dramatic facial expressions, which were absolutely cringe-worthy, as he talked while dancing.
"Zi Mu... Zi Mu... Zi Mu, didn't I know? You have to tell me! I wanted to wait until it was closer before seizing it. How could you reveal my strategic intentions?"
Don't do that again, kid. You still have a lot to learn. Follow me around and observe how great pirates operate. Hmph! Zimu..."
Queen was earnestly instructing his underlings beside him; he really had the demeanor of a good older brother!
"Yes, yes, it's my fault. Brother Queen should have realized it sooner. I was too talkative!"
Auston rolled his eyes and quickly echoed Queen, "Pah, shameless! Fatty."
"Men, get ready! If they show any sign of escaping, row with all your might! We must seize this sea monster!" Queen commanded.
"Oh!!!"
The henchmen shouted loudly.
"A bunch of idiots, why are you yelling so loudly? You've scared away the navy! Go down and pull the ship away!!!"
The scene shifts to the warship, where Vic is sitting on the deck enjoying nature – sunbathing and feeling the sea breeze!
Vic looked quite relaxed; it was rare for him to be so carefree. He had finally gotten rid of a huge weight on his mind and was able to unwind.
" Vic, this is the seahorse I drew. What do you think? Hehe!"
Gion handed Vic a piece of drawing paper; it was a drawing he had made of the sleeping seahorse the night before.
Vic took it and looked at it carefully, occasionally turning his head to glance at the seahorse, then at the painting, and then at Gion's smiling face.
"Hmm, not bad. Don't draw anymore!" Vic said calmly.
Yesterday, Vic displayed his amazing painting skills on the warship, creating a painting for Gion that she will never forget!
The woman in the painting was breathtakingly beautiful, with a gentle smile. Gion collected it, saying that the painting was her biggest find on this trip.
Then the three women picked up their paintbrushes and began to paint, eager to try their hand at it.
Vic is seeing now is Gion's masterpiece, which she meticulously drew last night: a seahorse with its eyes rolled back, its mouth wide open, and its tongue lolling out, its entire face contorted!
Even a seahorse would cry out, "I don't look like that at all! If I died like that, I wouldn't be able to get into the ancestral grave or be listed in the family genealogy! This is definitely not me! It has absolutely nothing to do with me! I'm not Ma Bangde!"
Gion was delighted when she heard the first half of Vic's sentence, but her smile froze on her face when she heard the second half.
Rebecca and Wendy next to her were laughing so hard they almost smashed the deck. Gion glared at the two girls, then looked at Vic with an angry expression.
"What's wrong with my drawing? I just added a little bit of imagination to the realism. Why can't it please you? Yes, you draw very well, I admit that, but mine isn't bad either!" Gion argued.
" Little Yellow, look back, just one look! The painting this girl made for you is guaranteed to be a surprise!"
Vic didn't reply, but instead spoke to the seahorse pulling the boat ahead, and raised the painting in his hand.
That's right, the white seahorse was given Little Yellow name by Gion.
The seahorse turned around and was immediately shocked. Was this really a depiction of a creature from this world? It had transcended all things!
Little Yellow vomited up its breakfast, as well as the breakfasts from yesterday and the day before, vomiting everything up, as if leaving even a little bit would be a desecration of the painting.
Little Yellow turned its head back, the entire beast lost in enlightenment, its fins moving mechanically.
Vic saw that Little Yellow had lost its color and turned grayish-white, with a gloomy aura permeating it.
" Little Yellow, it's not right to lose your life just for taking a look. Don't think like that, cheer up, keep pulling the boat, the better days are yet to come!"
Vic comforted Little Yellow, telling him not to do anything rash.
"Just one glance and I'm half dead. Do you even have any manners?"
If Little Yellow could speak, I think it would refute in this way.