[One Piece] Inferior Star

Chapter 116 Stepping Stones

"What is that……"

Ace looked at the mountain-like shadow that appeared in the distance, and he sighed.Now he was following Olu to the possible location of the ship, and when he looked up, he saw something like a mountain in the distance.

"It's not a good thing." Olu also looked up, and he said unexpectedly calmly, "Your ship and the straw hat and their ship should be in the same place. After you find them, put them in a port on the back of the island. Bar."

"Ah, I see." Ace responded, and he said, "Did you know Youxiang a long time ago?"

"I guess we know each other." Olu raised his eyebrows, and he said, "But... the relationship is not very good. You don't have to worry about me now, I will not betray Qian."

"... Mansfield?"

"Mansfield."

That guy is really amazing... Ace shook his head, and he said, "That guy is a casual and mysterious person. Although Youxiang and Matthew don't seem to care much, I think I need to be wary of him."

"Ah. That little girl really doesn't know who is dangerous... However, there are other reasons why you should be wary of Mansfield." Olu glanced back at Ace slightly, and he said, "I've seen it too. Newspapers, there are many reports about his beautiful face. Do you have a sense of crisis?"

"Huh...?" What the hell are you talking about...although...youxiang really has no resistance to that kind of 'handsome guy'.She's been like that since she was a child, she's used to it.Ace said, "The relationship between us is not so fragile."

"That's true. She rushed to the battlefield of the top battle for you." Olu raised his eyebrows, and he said, "Although I don't know what method she used to really save you, but because of this The price is quite high. Otherwise, Emerald Island would not conclude that she is dead."

"..." Ace didn't answer the question, he didn't want to talk about this kind of thing.

"Since you have this kind of relationship and connection, you don't need to feel a sense of crisis." Olu didn't care, and he continued, "You are a lucky person, Portgas."

"Lucky? Me?" Don't be kidding... Until now, I have been the one the whole world is hunting down.Ace said, "Where are you lucky?"

"Where is luck? Isn't there luck everywhere? Brothers and companions, fame, and the lover of your dreams. What more do you want?"

"Well~~ I didn't get the last one."

"Stop kidding yourself."

"I'm not lying to myself... I took it for granted at first, but Matthew reminded me that she is alive. So...she has the right to choose. Right?"

"…………"Yeah.Are you willing to let her choose...no.You think she is born with the right to choose.Accidentally got the idea of ​​'those people' again.Olu began to hate his own thoughts, he didn't look at Ace, but quickened his pace, "Then you are also very lucky... At least, she chose to never give up on you, didn't she?"

That's what I said... But why do you think there is something in Olu's words?Ace felt a little strange, but he was not interested in delving deeper, but changed the subject: "Don't you want to talk about yourself?"

"I'm just an unknown mercenary. Even in the field of mercenaries, I'm just a member who has no sense of presence at all. Even with the ability of devil fruit, in this new world, guys who are stronger than me and more famous than me can fill almost Twenty warships." Olu said lightly, "Compared to you, I haven't done anything worthy of being remembered. So there is nothing to say."

"Come on, what did you do before you became a mercenary?"

"Ninja."

"Ah?" What?

"..." Olu looked back at Ace, but didn't continue to explain.He pointed to a mountain ahead, "There is a bay behind that. Your ship should be there."

"Ah... the terrain of this place is quite complicated." Ace didn't ask, ninja or something... Seriously?Or are you just deliberately perfunctory yourself?In any case, Olu doesn't seem to want to talk about his past.Still don't ask.

"Some of them were specially created by Caesar's subordinates, in order to make people who stray here get lost, and then retreat in spite of difficulties." Olu said and continued walking, "However, this time, Caesar seems to be still planning What other things... When I was in the research institute, I heard him bragging about the 'news media' with that woman named Monet... He seems to have secretly contacted some 'buyers' of arms."

"Arms? Well... Luo mentioned that Caesar is a scientist who is very good at making biological and chemical weapons. Could it be that he made something—oh wait...poison gas? Caesar is...poison gas, right?"

"Poison gas? Ah, his fruit ability is gas...and he seems to be keen on making poison gas. What's wrong?"

"Sabo and the others have been investigating the matter of 'poison gas weapons'." The rebels have intelligence that someone is manufacturing a biochemical weapon with great lethality and plans to sell it on a large scale. This is also an opportunity, Ace and the others Just reunited with Sabo.In this way, the guy from Kagawa did say that this weapon might find clues in Punk Hazard.

Because so many things happened at once, I almost forgot about it.Think about it carefully, is it possible that the maker of the biochemical weapon that Sabo and the others investigated is Caesar Courant! ?And combined with the current information...

Ace suddenly looked at the huge shadow in the distance, and he had a not-so-optimistic guess in his mind: "I said, Olu... that thing could be..."

Olu also looked at the shadow. The two of them watched for about two seconds, and then quickly walked towards the bay almost at the same time.

"We confirmed that the ship was there, and then returned to the research institute immediately." Olu said, "Leave the rest alone."

"Ah, you are right. Even if the ship is not there, we have to return to the research institute quickly! By the way! Use the communicator to contact Sabo and the others first!" We must tell them this information!I'm afraid that shadow is Caesar's 'weapon', and this weapon is probably something... something like poisonous gas!

With such a big thing, the whole island might not be filled with poisonous gas, and Caesar's 'research institute' should be the safest place.Fortunately, Youxiang followed Luo Xian back to the research institute!

"Hey! Sabo! Can you hear me!" Ace turned on the communicator, and he said while running to keep up with Olu, "We're in trouble!"

"Ace! Where are you?!" Sabo said with a little nervousness in his tone, "Caesar Courant has come after us!!"

"What did you say?!" Myself!Is the target... those children? ?Ace immediately said, "Olu and I will be on the boat soon! I'll make a long story short, maybe that Caesar guy wants to spread the 'poison gas weapon' he made all over the island. I suspect it's the thing that the rebels have been investigating. Olu said that he has contacted many buyers, and now he may want to give a demonstration to all buyers while there are so many people on this island!!"

"Perform, demonstrate..." That's right!Now on this island, there are the navy of the G-5 branch, the vice admiral, the colonel, and Qi Wuhai, as well as the big pirate (Luffy) who has a bounty of over [-] million and has caused quite a stir.If here Caesar killed everyone with a weapon of his own making—

This is the most convincing 'marketing meeting'!

"Sabo! We seem to have seen that thing. I mean, the weapon he made." Ace continued, "It's very big, like a mountain... We have to go to his research institute as soon as possible. Soon, That's the only place that should be safe. Do you want to help?!"

"No. I understand." Now that Sabo knew the truth, he calmed down. He said, "We will meet at the research institute." He looked at the entrance and exit, surrounded by gas, holding the Cesar Courant, of Poison for Children, said: "I will make sure that the children and everyone else arrive safely."

"Hey..." Caesar had a confident smile on his face. He looked at the children running towards him excitedly, and then at Sabo and the others. These mice belonged to the Straw Hat Pirates, right?Hehe, your captain has been caught by me, what else can you do?Caesar didn't pay attention to Sabo and others at all.

"Children!!?" Nami yelled in despair, but she also understood that for those children, Caesar was the 'savior'.They were 'kidnapped', 'hijacked', by those drugs, by those poisons, and became victims of Caesar's evil experiments!

Help us, big sister.

We are not sick.

We still want to see mom and dad...

The voices of the children reappeared in Nami's mind, this is their true heart, this is their true selves, using these innocence, using these innocence: "It's you! That'master', abducting these Children's murderers!!" Nami said, "No matter what you want to do with them... we will definitely save them!!"

"Haha... kidnapping?" Caesar had a smile on his face, he opened his hand and said, "Look, is there anyone here who wants to leave?"

"Master!" cried the children and ran to Caesar.

"Master! Give me candy!"

"Master! Can you give me candy!"

"Master, master!! Candy!!"

Whether it was the crazy child or the tied child, they broke free and ran towards Caesar as if they could not hear any other sound!Nami and Usopp wanted to stop them, but were stopped by Matthew: "It's useless."

"But Matthew!!" Don't you want to save them? !Those children, them... If they just go back like this... Nami wanted to refute something, but when she turned around to reason with Matthew, she found that Matthew's eyes were shining different colors of light...

That, is that... text?Huh?

"Caesar Courant, right?" Matthew turned his head and smiled slightly. He walked up to Sabo, put his hands on his shoulders to calm him down, and then said to Caesar, "I heard someone said your name."

"Oh? It's unbelievable...I didn't expect you pirates to understand science." Caesar spread his hands, ignoring the children who ran to him and pulled his clothes for candy, but said to Matthew, "Where did you hear that?"

"Probably in the magazine... In the report that mentioned Vegapunk, you were mentioned a little bit." Matthew raised his eyebrows, and he said, "The former colleagues of Vegapunk will always be the only Ranked second, ambitious but lacking in talent, and finally made a mistake because of jealousy and was wanted by the navy... or something."

"Hmm... that kind of report—"

"I don't think it's worth mentioning." Matthew said immediately before Caesar got angry, "In fact, I have something to admire about you."

"Aha?"

"Humans study science for nothing more than two reasons, struggle and sex. Love and peace are nothing but self-comforting nonsense and self-deception. Compared with Vegapunk, you are the one who has captured people's 'hearts'." Matthew He curled his lips, completely ignoring the unbelievable gaze cast by Sabo beside him.He went on to say, "Although it may not be understood by people - but this is the era of pirates. Making some killing weapons is not so evil, is it?"

"I didn't expect you to understand it~" Caesar seemed to stop being angry immediately, and he said, "I found an exquisitely made robot on the captured ship before. If I guessed correctly, it was made by you, right? The order has never seen you, are you Luo's crew?"

"That's right. I generally don't call people with low IQs brothers and sisters."

"Hahahaha! I understand how you feel...those guys are so stupid...even a little cute."

What's going on? Why is Matthew talking and laughing with the enemy suddenly? !Sabo subconsciously felt that Matthew didn't want to do good things, so he decided to calm down and retreat to Nami and Usopp to hear what they thought.As soon as he stepped back, Nami (Sanji body) grabbed his arm, and Nami said softly, "Matthew said he had a plan."

plan?That's right, Matthew is the kind of person who can formulate several sets of plans the moment he learns about the situation, so what is his plan now... Sabo is not confident that he can keep up with Matthew's thinking, but he In the final analysis, he is also a chief of staff, and he can still guess.

Matthew must have heard Ace's contact just now. Caesar wants to use the navy and pirates scattered all over the island to demonstrate his weapons to the 'investors' behind the camera.In other words, Sabo's top priority now is not to let the children stay here where the wind is everywhere, but to let them return to a place where they will not be disturbed by weapons——

That is Caesar's research institute.

Although after returning, it is likely to be given those 'candy' again, but when the whole island is covered by poisonous gas, the threat of 'candy' obviously becomes smaller and more controllable.The children are now out of control due to withdrawal reactions, and it may be a good thing for the current situation to let Caesar willingly take them back.

It turns out, Matthew, that it's quite a risk, but it's better than escaping gas with a bunch of out-of-control kids.

But ah, Matthew.Sabo tightened his grip on the hose, he didn't think that Caesar would let the others go if he brought the child back.In other words, Matthew's plan must include——

"Mr. Sabo, I will leave it to you!"

This part! !

As soon as Sabo thought of this, Matthew really turned his head and said: "Although we had a very happy conversation, there are two tigers in one mountain - I am the smartest! Humans are all hot chickens!!"

"You bastard!!" If you want someone to hit you, can't you just keep your mouth shut! !Sabo immediately rushed to the front, Caesar is a natural fruit ability user, use domineering!Sabo swung the hose and broke Caesar's body, and then punched him in the face!

It seemed that he didn’t expect that there were still people who could use domineering power here. Caesar was immediately kicked out. He flew outside, and the children were stunned. Before they could react, Caesar suddenly yelled: “Children! Guys! It's dangerous here! Get on the gas balloon boat outside! Only those who return to the biscuit house obediently can eat candy!"

When he said this, the children immediately yelled that they would be good, and then ran out of the building!Caesar didn't want to talk nonsense with anyone, he got up and took out two sheets of different colors that were tied together, then pressed them with his fingers, and pointed straight to the inside of the shelter:

"Although we had a great conversation, two tigers cannot fit in one mountain!" He repeated Matthew's words, and then laughed, "Let's go to that world to admire my future masterpiece!!"

When Caesar's finger pressed down on the sheet, there was a huge explosion in the entire shelter with a bang!The explosion was enough to bring the precarious structure crashing down!Caesar doesn't think anyone can get out of this, even if they are lucky enough not to die... Then in another ten minutes——

So, have, people, all, meet, die.

That's what a homemade weapon can do, and that's what the guys sitting behind the camera in those fancy, velvet satin chairs want to see.You are right, Matthew.Is this your name?

This is the era of pirates.Don't tell me about 'justice', nowadays that word only appears on the navy's self-defeating overcoats and white fortresses!Look at Virgo, do you think he deserves the word 'justice'?Of course not, but he has held on to these two words for 15 years.

Now, at least, on this island...

No one can 'exercise justice' anymore.

A smile appeared on Caesar's face, and he stepped onto the gas balloon ship that was about to leave here, without even looking at the ruins behind him.Maybe he should take a look, after all then he'll find out—

"Scared me...it was almost too late!" Sabo stood up from the ruins, he pushed away the rubble covering it, and pulled Usopp who came out from behind him by the way, "Remind me earlier La Matthew!!"

"It's already very early. I can't predict the future, I can only judge based on the current situation." Matthew also climbed out of the ruins and helped Nami up, "However, long time no see, you have become stronger, Sabo Jun."

"Did you just find out?" It's true...but it's true that there is not much chance to fight with Youxiang.She turned against Caesar's subordinates (Olu) by acting like a baby!Sabo said, "I will not lose to Luffy or Ace now."

"I can see it." Just at the moment of the explosion, Sabo punched a hole in the ground with his bare hands, which prevented all the collapsed rubble from falling on them.Hiding in this pit successfully escaped a catastrophe, but it was only a 'catastrophe'.Matthew said, "Okay, now let's go back to the institute as we agreed with Mr. Ace!"

"Matthew! Those kids..." Nami was still worried, he said, "What's your plan? Is it really okay for them to go back?"

"It's impossible for Caesar to let them die easily... Besides, Miss Nami, don't forget that Dr. Chopper is looking for poison samples and tranquilizers in the research institute. It is wise to shorten the distance between him and the children now What's more, I don't know how long it will take for this island to be enveloped in poisonous gas."

Matthew emphasized, he looked at the pale snow and said: "I guess it won't be long, we have to run or have some means of transportation..."

Speaking of which, there was a sudden voice of someone screaming in the ruins. Just as he was about to go over to have a look, someone jumped out of the rubble and shouted: "Caesa!!!"

"Ah, it's brown..."

"His name is Tea Beard!"

Alive, this guy!It was one of Caesar's subordinates, who was shot by that snowman before, didn't he die... Usopp looked at the tea beard, and then said, "Means of transportation."

"...Enslaving animals is a 'stepping stone' for human beings to civilization." Matthew also looked at Teabeard, and he said so.

"Is he a human being?" He was a person who trusted and appreciated Caesar, but found out that he was used, deceived, and then abandoned, and now he was filled with anger... Maybe it was this resentment that made him lucky to survive ?In any case, the body is quite strong."But half of them are animals," Szabo said.

"Matthew, in your plan, we need to hurry up to keep the children from ingesting those poisons, right?" Nami asked seriously.

"..." Matthew looked at her, but it wasn't actually.He has a better plan.Their participation was originally a backup plan after the better plan could not be launched.But... heck, it's not impossible to change the order a little bit for the sake of 'lovely lady'.He said, "Ah, yes."

Nami looked at the teabeard who was still ignorant of what was about to happen, then pointed at him with her hips on her hips and said to Sabo: "Come on, brother!! Enslaving animals is a 'stepping stone' for human beings to move towards civilization!"

"Is it me?!" Wait!Has a similar conversation happened before and why did you call me second brother? !Sabo almost didn't react, but he couldn't help it. He was also very worried about Youxiang, wondering if that Telaan was protecting her well.Thinking of this, Sabo walked towards the tea beard, and then showed him a hearty smile——

"Tawny. How about we make a deal?"

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The author has something to say:

Matthew: At least call someone by the right name before enslaving, Sabo-kun.

Sabo: Sorry.teapot.

Usopp: I always feel like we're getting worse than before...

So do you remember... Rosie who ran out to find Matthew? !Why didn't Matthew come here after they were all done!Where did he go?The next chapter, little Rossi's big adventure! (Nah)

There is another chapter today, oh chirp!