Chapter 158

Sima Di laughed.

Tyrant Bear's Paw-Paw Fruit sure hits hard!

"Is there anyone among you who still wants to travel?" Tyrant Bear suddenly said. "The payment is fine as long as you use the same kind of bag as before."

Eyeing the spatial pouch?

But then Sima Di thought — Tyrant Bear most likely wasn't asking for himself; this spatial pouch would be an absolute divine artifact for the Revolutionary Army to use in transferring supplies and the like.

Sima Di didn't refuse outright either, and looked toward the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Everyone shook their heads,

and then their gazes gathered on Brook, Crocus, and Laboon — the three of them.

The bond between these three needs no further words; they are also the people most likely to leave the crew right now.

Especially Crocus.

His goal was to help Laboon find the Rumba Pirates, and that dream has already come true; on his last journey he also stopped by Laugh Tale along the way.

It seems he has no further pursuits?

"Yo ho ho ho — although I really miss the West Blue's fine wine and music festivals, I still have to carry the will of the Rumba Pirates and reach Laugh Tale!" Brook was the first to declare.

Although the promise with Laboon was what kept him going for these fifty years, the Final Island was likewise the shared goal of the Rumba Pirates!

Now only he remains, and he must go see that place on behalf of his mates.

And also......

"How could I leave such an interesting pirate crew halfway?" Brook continued. "Yo ho ho ho — I won't be satisfied until I see Luffy become the Pirate King!"

Luffy grinned foolishly.

Then,

Brook looked at Laboon and suggested, "Laboon, how about you go back to the West Blue and find your......"

"No!" Laboon refused. "I've been in the Grand Line with the Rumba Pirates since I was little, and grew up together with Grandpa Crocus. The West Blue is only my hometown, not my home — wherever you and Grandpa Crocus are, that's home! And Di! Robin! Everyone! Let's all stay together, okay?"

Laboon, teary-eyed, looked at Crocus; she also understood that among those present, Crocus was the most likely to leave.

The Straw Hat Pirates were also holding their breath in anticipation. As the mentor aboard the ship, everyone respected Crocus, and had long since come to treat him as family.

What would Crocus's choice be?

???????????????

5000+ words!

Just 4 more monthly tickets to break a hundred! Please~

Begging for auto-subscriptions, quack.

52. Perona was actually...

Facing everyone's expectant gazes,

Crocus smiled affectionately and rubbed Laboon's head.

"Silly girl, where could I possibly go?"

Wasn't he also someone with only Laboon as family?

Brook could count as half.

As for his former companions in the Luo Jie Pirates...

There might be a few with whom he was very close, but everyone has grown old and retired, each living their own lives.

"Yay!" Laboon cheered and jumped up.

"Yo ho ho ho — at a moment like this, it really brings tears to my eyes, makes me want to sing a song!" Brook took out......

A piano!

Good heavens!

This guy didn't actually stash a bunch of instruments in his spatial pouch, did he?

Tyrant Bear, seeing this, silently turned to leave.

Although he was interested in the spatial pouch,

it was, after all, Luffy's pirate crew; since there was no way to take it by force, staying would be pointless.

"Wait a moment!" Sima Di called out again.

This time Tyrant Bear turned around directly, his gaze resting calmly on Sima Di.

As if asking, "What else?"

"Let's step aside to talk."

Sima Di walked toward an open area in the distance, and Tyrant Bear silently followed.

Once they were at a distance where the Straw Hat Pirates couldn't hear, Sima Di used his Voice-Voice ability to open a "Silence Barrier."

Only then did he speak: "Basolo Miu...

Tyrant Bear's previously unruffled gaze finally shifted, and he stared at Sima Di solemnly.

"How do you know?"

This was something even the Marines and the World Government didn't know!

Sima Di didn't explain too much.

He took out a "urea sack" from his system space — that's right! A "urea sack"!

Call it his own little quirk.

This was a "super-large capacity" sack he had specially crafted using Dragon's Breath language, and there was only this one.

Since he happened to run into Tyrant Bear today, and the Revolutionary Army happened to need it,

he might as well lend them a hand.

It wasn't out of interest in the Revolutionary Army or the World Government.

He simply admired Dragon's dream—the ideal of fighting for the freedom of common people—deserving of his aid.

"Take this to them, and tell Dragon this: When we met in Loguetown, I didn't know who he was. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. It's important to secretly build your own nation, but public sentiment must not be ignored."

Tyrant Bear stood silent, his gaze utterly changed.

"By the way..." Sima Di asked curiously, "Why did you willingly become the prototype of a Pacifist? With your abilities, you could leave anytime, couldn't you?"

Tyrant熊 stood silent, his gaze utterly changed.

Did Sima Di know this too?

How did he find out?

"You know, we just raided Enies Lobby recently—and triggered a World Government Buster Call," Sima Di said, shrugging.

Tyrant Bear didn't know what he was imagining, or perhaps he had no interest in Sima Di's sources.

He said gravely: "The modifications... aside from the Revolutionary Army's arrangements, the World Government has threatened my nation. If I refuse, they'll very likely... My physiology is unique—they'll definitely do it."

So that's why!

Tyrant Bear's nation was both lucky and unfortunate to have him as its king.

"Just like the World Government's usual style..." Sima Di sneered.

Then he waved his hand and turned to leave.

Tyrant Bear watched calmly as Sima Di departed, then saw the Straw Hat Pirates gathering around, pressing him for details of their conversation.

The warm atmosphere stirred a flicker of envy in him.

Then came resolve.

He would bring a new revolution to his nation and this world—so all could run free upon the land!

Necessary sacrifices...

"Po—"

Tyrant Bear's form vanished, heading for the next destination.

He had to speak with Dragon—time was tight, he must hurry.

Sima Di glanced in the direction Tyrant Bear had left, feeling a pang of regret.

The Dragon Spirit Language was still on cooldown,

or else he could have manifested a "super storage chip" or something similar, to ensure Tyrant Bear wouldn't be fully erased.

Not for any other reason,

but because of the frustration and regret he'd felt when he first saw Tyrant Bear become a Celestial Dragon's mount in the anime.

"Come on, tell me—what exactly did you talk to that guy about?" Luffy tugged Sima Di's hand, pouting.