Chapter 36

Therefore,

Sima Di signaled the Straw Hat Pirates to calm down, then dragged Valpo, bound like a dumpling, out of a wooden barrel.

"Look at this fellow—isn't he from your country?" Sima Di called out loudly.

Immediate unrest erupted above!

"It's Valpo!"

"He's back!"

"What do we do?"

"He's been taken hostage by pirates—should we rescue him?"

"Do you still want to go back to how things were before?"

After a brief flurry of agitation,

all eyes turned to the burly man who had spoken just now—he was Dalton, who had rebuilt the shattered kingdom and was now the leader of everyone present.

"Pirates, state your purpose!" Dalton shouted again.

"We mean no harm," Sanji replied. "We only wish to restock supplies, then leave."

Dalton stared at the pirates before him, then glanced at Valpo, tightly bound.

Finally, he nodded. "You have half a day to procure goods, but you must remain under our surveillance, and you must surrender your... hostage. Any objections?"

The terms were perhaps harsh, but no one present cared.

As pirates themselves,

being permitted to enter town to shop was already a generous gesture.

Yet at this moment, Sima Di flew straight toward Dalton with Valpo in tow.

"What are you doing!"

"Stop!"

"Or we'll shoot!"

A villager shouted a threat, but Dalton raised a hand to silence him.

He calmly watched Sima Di land before him, then regarded Valpo with complex eyes.

Once the king of this nation, he was cruel and tyrannical, and fled when the country faced disaster.

Now that he has returned to Drum Kingdom, what calamity might he bring to this land that had only just found peace?

Indeed,

upon seeing Dalton, the listless Valpo's eyes lit up with hope!

He struggled to speak, but Ussop's stinking sock stuffed in his mouth rendered him mute—only his stern glare remained, fixed on Dalton.

As if to say: "Base peasant! Don't you dare fail to save me!"

Born into privilege, he had no concept of respect.

This made Dalton's gaze flicker uncertainly, then harden further—as if he had made a decision.

"What do you plan to do with him?" Sima Di asked.

Valpo gave no direct answer.

"Hand him over to me. Someone will guide you to town for shopping."

Dalton reached out to seize Valpo, but Sima Di dodged aside.

"You haven't answered me yet—what will you do with him?" Sima Di asked with interest. "Will you let him remain your king to oppress you, or... will you kill him yourself and shoulder all the blame for this nation?"

Dalton was stunned!

He had not expected the boy before him to voice the very thought he had just conceived!

Valpo, upon hearing this, could not believe it—he struggled as if to shout at Dalton: How dare you, base peasant!

"Bang!"

Sima Di delivered a black fist blow, knocking Valpo unconscious.

"Still tied up and still noisy."

Sima Di turned to Dalton, awaiting his answer.

"Lord Dalton! This nation needs you!"

"Let me do it!"

"I'm an orphan—let me do it! After killing this tyrant, I'll become a free pirate on the seas!"

Clearly, Dalton's prestige remained strong.

Sima Di smiled.

This man is worth helping.

"How about I give you a solution..."

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35. Chopper's Reverse Body Movement! Iconic Scene Check-in!

"How about I give you a solution."

Sima Di drew Tang Dao, raised it high before all, and prepared to sever Valpo's dog head...

"Shhh—"

Dalton knelt halfway before Sima Di, clasping his hands together to catch the blade.

Sima Di: "..."

Dalton: "......"

The villagers: "......"

Damn!

He'd forgotten that Sima Di still had the passive skill "Hundred Percent Empty-Handed Catch Blade."

Sima Di coughed, sheathed his Tang Dao into the scabbard.

A blue ray shot from his eyes, landing on Wapol and petrifying him into a stone statue, the terrified expression perfectly frozen on his face.

Petrification Ray!

"I see you don't really want to kill him either, so I'll help you kill him while I'm at it," Sima Di said. "As payment, I'll pick a partner from your country. How about it?"

Dalton looked at the little stone man Wapol with mixed feelings, falling silent.

After a long while,

He said steadily, "As long as the person you choose is willing to go with you, I have no right to stop him from pursuing his dream."

"Oh?" Sima Di grew interested. "What if the one I've taken a liking to is you?"

Dalton really would make a reliable partner.

However......

"Sorry, I've already sworn that my whole life will be spent atoning for the Drum Kingdom," Dalton refused outright.

Just as expected!

Hearing those words, he does sound reliable.

But Dalton is too kind-hearted — he doesn't have what it takes to become a pirate.

"Alright then, I'll go scout for a partner. Pass the word to my companion for me."

With that,

Sima Di rose into the air, locked onto Drum Peak as his landmark, and flew straight there.

Have to say,

Telekinesis is genuinely useful — it can attack, defend, and assist. Flying while using it to block out the wind and snow is just too convenient.

Very quickly,

Sima Di landed in front of the castle on Drum Peak. Rather than going straight in, he politely knocked on the door.

He wondered whether Dr. Kureha and Chopper had gone out to practice medicine or not.