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Returning to Ringo Province, where the snow had melted and flowers bloomed everywhere.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru and his pet Onimaru were in a daze.
Not only them but all the guards of the Daimyo and his family who have had the opportunity to read the latest volume were also amazed.
The daimyo had requested many copied volumes, which were sent by delivery arrows from the Flower Capital.
Thanks to the delivery arrows, they didn't need to travel to the Flower Capital, where the nearest art store is, to read the manga.
The reason for their stupor was what Zoro had accomplished. In other words, Zoro's sacrifice and his amazing words "Nothing Happened" left a deep impression on them.
"Shusui found a qualified swordsman to carry it... the ancestor did not make a mistake when he passed the national treasure Shusui to Zoro," Ushimaru said with an admiring smile.
At this moment, he felt inferior to Zoro for some reason. This feeling was not limited to him alone, but to many other swordsmen who aspired to become the strongest. Compared to Zoro's will, they found themselves lacking.
"I look forward to seeing your future achievements, the pride of my clan," Ushimaru said with a heartfelt smile.
At this point, he became sure that Zoro was his nephew who had escaped from Wano a few years ago.
(Author's note: I have already decided to link Zoro's origins to the Shimotsuki family from Wano, even if Oda has not yet recognized it. I don't care if I get slapped by Oda.)
The residents of the Flower Capital, including both samurai and ordinary people, still were similarly stunned and speechless by the scene of Zoro. His actions were too grandiose to comprehend.
Zoro became an inspiration for the samurai of Wano, a shining example to follow in their pursuit of the path of the sword.
"... Because not everyone with a sword is necessarily a swordsman," Issho said, sighing with an overwhelming admiration for Zoro's scene.
He was grateful to the art store, which had temporarily restored his eyesight and allowed him to witness such greatness.
"I am increasingly convinced that Zoro will be my most terrifying rival for the title of the strongest swordsman in the manga world," commented Mihawk calmly, his hawk eyes occasionally glowing with a longing for a challenge.
"Hawk-san... One day, you will realize that your biggest mistake in life was challenging him with an apple-peeling knife in your first fight."
Mihawk's eyes darkened when he heard the Shogun's malicious comment.
"Uh, Shogun-san," Mihawk interrupted. "The person who challenged Zoro with a short knife is my version in the manga, and besides, Zoro doesn't exist in this world yet. Don't forget that."
Or what is known as Hunters Island was Rob's destination.
He gracefully descended on the highest point of the Hunters Tower, with feather-like leaves scattering from his paper wings.
As the official Hunters' Guild building, headed by Rob in the New World, the tower was the perfect place to descend with Little Yamato, who arrived on Hunters' Island with Rob's clone, using paper wings for a short flight.
"Welcome to the Hunters' Guild, Little Yamato!" Rob greeted her as he held her in his arms.
The guards who met him showed him respect and admiration that could not be faked on their faces.
"Now, we're going to leave the New World and go to the West Blue. You know Ohara, right?" Rob asked Yamato with a friendly smile.
"Of course! Ohara is the home of Nico Robin... which the Navy destroyed with a buster call," Yamato's tone dropped as she remembered the tragic event.
Rob felt a great desire to console her, as her cuteness was beyond words. "Hahaha... Maybe you didn't realize the fact that the events in the manga are separate from the events in reality... well, you didn't realize yet that I'm Nico Robin's father... right?"
"Eeeeh?" Yamato was completely shocked.
"Guild Master, the criminal surgeon Hogback has been transferred to the Central Prison, awaiting trial. A lot of incriminating evidence has been collected, and he will be punished for the crimes he committed in the past. His status as a genius surgeon will not excuse him from the consequences of his actions," a senior law enforcement officer dressed as a rank A hunter informed Rob.
"Well." Rob nodded with satisfaction. It looked like the Hogback file was locked.
After making sure everything was fine, Rob patted Yamato's head and prepared to enter the art store to send Yamato to Ohara, where the main body and his family were located.
But before that, his personal phone rang. It wasn't a Den Den Mushi - it was a real mobile phone. The only people who could call him on this number were those who knew him well.
"As I expected... it seems that this day has finally arrived," Rob said, knowing who was calling him: Portgas D. Rouge.
Thriller Bark Island:
With a heavy heart, Moria flips through the last pages of the volume.
He feels as though the whole world has abandoned him at this moment, and only those who have suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Luffy and his plot armor can truly understand his current state of mind.
Crocodile serves as a prime example of this.
"Well, at least I didn't die in the manga; otherwise, it would have been too shameful," he muses.
However, seeing Hogback and Absalom's success in smuggling him away from Thriller Bark brings him a slight sense of comfort.
"And so, Luffy's brother was imprisoned in Impel Down?" he exclaims, "What wonderful news to hear! Kishishishishi!"
•———•———•———•———•———•———•———•
"Great, quick, shut the gate!" exclaimed Hogback. "Finally, we've escaped from Thriller Bark!" He cheered. However, the excitement was short-lived as he questioned, "What about Perona...?"
After celebrating their successful escape, Dr. Hogback expressed concern about Perona's whereabouts.
"We can't do anything if we can't find her. Alright, I'm going to release my invisibility," Absalom stated.
Absalom responded half-heartedly, still reeling from the shock of encountering Kuma. "My goodness, I can't believe I broke out in a cold sweat. Why did the tyrant Kuma appear on Thriller Bark?" he wondered aloud.
Hogback then proceeded to share what he knew about Kuma's appearance. "When the zombies were being eliminated, Goro, Nin, and Fao, who reported to Moria-sama, overheard that someone would replace Shichibukai Crocodile," he explained.
"But that's not the most important part," Hogback continued. "The successor is someone named Blackbeard, and this fellow has done some pretty unbelievable feats. Take a look at the news!" he exclaimed, passing a newspaper to Absalom.
Absalom's eyes widened as he read the headline: "Captain of Whitebeard Pirates division number 2: 'Firefist Ace' is imprisoned in Impel Down..."
"Ace was such a famous elite who served Whitebeard... The world government must have found themselves a trump card!" remarked Hogback.
"Indeed," Absalom agreed.
"It seems that this situation may be the one that will turn over the Pirate Era," Hogback concluded.
•———•———•———•———•———•———•———•
On an unknown island in the first half of the Grand Line:
After seeing the content of the latest chapter, it was as if a bomb had exploded in the minds of Roger and his crew.
"Unbelievable..." said Young Shanks.
"Incredible..." added Gaban.
"They have already dared to imprison Ace in Impel Down... They don't fear Whitebeard?" Wondered Crocus.
"It's lucky for them that we can't enter the manga world!!" Buggy exclaimed in an attempt to lighten the mood.
However, it became clear that this was not enough as everyone noticed the sadness in the captain's wife.
"Ace..." Rouge weakly bit her lips, being the only one who knew where this was all headed due to having read some of Rob's thoughts from years ago.
"Rouge... Let's call Rob... He can reassure us," Roger said in a gentle voice, trying to comfort her.
Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
Chapter 435: Bink's Sake is sweeping the Pirate World! (Part 1)
Chapter 436: Bink's Sake is sweeping the Pirate World! (Part 2)
Chapter 437: The eighth member: Brook! (End of the arc)
Join my P@treon at: ( https://[email protected]/BlackStar_BH ) to support me and read advanced chapters, there are 20 chapters ahead of Webnovel!