Chapter 169

Moreover, it can strengthen the ability for next use—although the magnitude of the boost is unknown, it's still a gain no matter how small—after all, Aizen himself doesn't have this amplification effect.

"Not bad."

"Hey! Di! Say something!" Luffy shouted: "Did Sima Di Kulukai accept the position?"

The newspaper was in Sima Di's hands, relayed by him through the telepathic link.

"Oh oh, let me see."

Faced with the position of Provincial Military Commander of the North Sea Lubunier Kingdom's expeditionary force, Kulukai rejected without hesitation, and declared loudly—

"My companions are still waiting for me. I will work hard to grow stronger, retrace the route my ancestors sailed, until I reach Laugh Tale!"

This was a declaration to the whole world that he was determined to be a pirate.

"Haha! I knew he'd definitely refuse!" Luffy grinned broadly: "He's a companion I acknowledge!"

"Kulukai, well done! I really look forward to the day he rejoins the crew!" Laboon praised.

"Not bad, just like me, the brave Usopp, cherishing companions." Usopp didn't forget to praise himself.

"Woo—this is the bond of companions! Wuu wuu—" the iron macho Franky cried as usual.

Sima Di casually used his Word Spirit ability to frame the newspaper, and handed it to Sanji.

"Hang it in the kitchen, at least let him get a whiff of your cooking."

Sanji nodded, turned around to hang the picture.

"Everyone! I spotted an island!" Merry suddenly shouted.

Everyone looked in the direction Merry pointed, and saw a horseshoe-shaped small island with wooden buildings on it, standing there like a lone boat at sea.

"Oh? Sail over and ask for directions." Nami said happily.

Although she knew the next island was Fish-Man Island, the Log Pose was currently pointing straight at the seabed—the Going Merry couldn't exactly dive, could it?

Franky had prepared a diving device, but there was no way to make the entire Going Merry submerge.

"Aye aye!"

Merry responded, and the Going Merry immediately sailed toward Horseshoe Island.

As they drew closer,

they discovered that at the center of Horseshoe Island there was an iron cage, inside which was locked a person with an octopus head......

A fish-man?

Nami's gaze suddenly hardened!

Sparks of electricity burst out of control, showing that her emotions were greatly fluctuating at the moment.

And veteran members like Usopp also recognized who that person was......

Zoro even considerately explained to Sima Di and the others: "That fish-man is called Hatchan, he was once...... a member of the Arlong Pirates who tyrannized Nami's village."

Hearing this,

Vivi and the others all showed angry expressions. They had all heard about Nami's past—the entire Arlong Pirates deserved death!

Only Sima Di wore a strange expression.

He didn't care whether it was Hatchan or not......

But this timing, this location—seemed like there was an interesting plot coming up?

Kureha also seemed to have noticed something, and revealed a meaningful smile.

"Shwa shwa shwa—"

Figures flew out from beneath the sea one after another. They rode fish that could fly, wielding guns and cannons, surrounding the Going Merry.

"Down below, we are the Flying Fish Riders! Drop your weapons and we'll spare your lives!"

"Hm?"

Merry's brow shot up. Dozens of cannon ports opened on the side of the deck, cannon barrels of varying sizes poked out from them, and the dark, hollow muzzles silenced the Flying Fish Riders.

Ah, this......

Look at the Going Merry's thick, hefty cannon barrels—then look at their own short, thin ones.

The disparity in strength was obvious—they clearly couldn't win......

The leader was considering how to surrender with dignity, when he inadvertently glanced at the Straw Hat Pirates' Jolly Roger—and his eyes widened!

"—they're the Straw Hat Pirates! They're Dibaru boss's enemies!"

"What?"

"The Straw Hat Pirates?"

"Look! That blond one, that's Black-Leg Sanji!"

"For Boss Dibaru, charge!"

The Flying Fish Riders, who had already been considering retreat, now resolutely launched a suicidal charge against the Straw Hat Pirates.

Merry wasn't polite either. The energy cannons lit up as they finished charging, preparing to fire a volley and shoot them all down......

"Merry, wait." Sima Di called out.

Merry immediately shifted the cannon muzzles. The energy beams wove into a giant net, yet didn't harm the Flying Fish Riders in the slightest.

And Sima Di slicked back his hair, secretly activating "Hairspray Hand."

His hair instantly became a gleaming slicked-back style, with a few curls hanging down at the brow. His aura and temperament both rose dramatically, the whole person seeming to shine dazzlingly.

"Buzz buzz buzz—"

An unmatched domineering aura like a king's arrival swept the field, knocking all the Flying Fish Riders out cold on the spot. The riderless flying fish plummeted into the sea like dumplings.

The power was raised to mid-level?

This boost is nice.

At this moment,

Sanji said, puzzled, "You're usually not this eager. You avoid fighting whenever you can — what's up today?"

"Hehe." Sima Di looked toward the wooden hut at the center and said mysteriously, "Sanji, don't be too surprised later, okay?"

"Surprised about what?" Sanji felt completely baffled.

"Tap—tap—tap—"

The sound of leather boots striking the wooden floor came, and a burly figure walked out from the hut. Beneath an iron mask, his gaze burned like fire as he stared fixedly at Sanji, as if Sanji were a mortal enemy with a towering grudge.

Both Sima Di and Crocus revealed expectant looks.

He's here, he's here!

He's come bringing a great show!

Now please enjoy — a discussion on how one abstract-style bounty portrait can break two men's defenses!

? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick? Incense stick?

Debt repayment progress: 【29,000 characters / 144,000 characters】!.

58. Iconic Scene Triple Combo! Everyone's Conqueror's Haki!

How does one abstract bounty portrait destroy two men?

Now it appears right before Sima Di.

He exchanged a glance with Crocus, and both of them saw the "enjoying the show" look in each other's eyes.

Sima Di hurriedly sent over a telepathic link to share his gossipy mood!

Sima Di: 【Old man, is your Observation Haki the clairvoyance type?】

Crocus: 【Yours is too?】

It's actually the same as the Observation Haki that future Usopp will awaken — looks like Crocus's self-positioning also leans toward support.

Sima Di: 【Pretty much. Let's begin!】

Two men, one big and one small, watched without blinking as the iron-masked man "Diba Lu" on stage pointed at Sanji's nose and started cursing wildly.

"I swear to god I really want to kill you!!! You bastard Black-Leg Sanji!!!"

That gnashing-teeth intensity — Sanji must have slaughtered his entire family for him to be this way.

So much so that their companions Nami and the others all looked at Sanji in confusion.

"Sanji, who is that guy? He seems to hate you to the bone?" Franky asked, puzzled.

"Hey hey, Sanji, is he someone you offended back at Baratie?" Nami asked.

"Yo ho ho ho — just how terrible a thing did Sanji do?"

Sanji was also completely dumbfounded.