Chapter 24: Arrival at Shimotsuki Village [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

If it's flattened, then it needs to be inflated.

Siano suddenly exerted his strength, lifting the boat and hoisting it onto the sea surface, while Junichi immediately squatted down to begin performing CPR on Sanji.

After bustling about for a while, Sanji's upper body suddenly twitched; he coughed violently, and just as his eyes struggled to open a mere slit, his neck lolled to the side and he fell unconscious again.

However, his breathing had become long and steady, so Siano temporarily relaxed, instructing Junichi to carry Sanji into the cabin.

He himself went back to the other side of the reef to help Zeff over.

Upon seeing that Sanji was still alive, the old man finally set his mind completely at ease and obediently lay down on the bed.

Both of their bodies were extremely weak; one was unconscious and unawake, while the other still required treatment for his severed limb.

They needed to find a reliable doctor for treatment as soon as possible.

"Does Shimotsuki Village have a hospital?" Siano asked.

"A hospital?" Junichi scratched his head. "No, not exactly, but there is a small clinic. Grandma Shiran in the clinic has excellent medical skills; even people from neighboring villages make a special trip over the mountains to see her."

"Then we'll still go to Shimotsuki Village!"

Siano unfolded the nearby sea chart. "We've been sailing for two days; how much longer until we arrive?"

The islands of the East Blue were scattered like stars, countless in number; for a small village like Shimotsuki Village, which rarely saw outsiders, commercially sold sea charts would not specifically mark it.

But fortunately, they had a local from Shimotsuki Village with them.

Junichi pointed to a certain spot, spread his Hukou to estimate the distance, and said, "Very close, Boss. Three or four days at most."

"Three or four days... Let's use up all the cola. Full speed ahead; afterward, the two of us will row with all our might. That should compress the time significantly."

Siano turned his head. "Can you hold out, old man?"

Zeff struggled to raise his right hand, making an "OK" gesture; seeing black lines float up on Siano's forehead, he grinned slightly, then lay back down.

Two days later, at dusk.

The continuous drizzle that had fallen for a long time gradually ceased.

Siano and his companions finally arrived at a small island covered in hills; on the southern side of the central mountain range lay Shimotsuki Village.

Several half-grown boys were playing by the dock; the sharp-eyed ones noticed the small boat approaching rapidly from afar.

"Eh, that boat looks familiar..."

"It's Senior Brother Junichi, you idiot! Senior Brother Junichi is back!"

"Senior Brother Junichi!"

The boys happily rushed forward one after another, surrounding Junichi the moment he stepped off the boat.

Meanwhile, Siano remained in the cabin; glancing at the sleeping Zeff, he fished a small bag out of his pocket, which contained less than half a bag of blood.

This was what Sanji had coughed up while semi-comatose today; the scene at the time had been quite frightening, but fortunately, the situation had stabilized afterward and there was ultimately no major issue.

Blood...

Siano pinched his chin, lost in thought; this should be the most valuable item currently obtainable from Sanji, right?

After all, this child had only recently escaped from Germa; the chef's uniform he wore was from his time as an intern chef on a passenger ship, so he possessed nothing on his person imbued with special emotional attachment.

Hesitating no longer, he chose to Sacrifice this bag of blood.

【Sacrifice: Sanji's Special Blood】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Value: 1000 Points】

【Appraisal Comment: As a member of the North Blue Wang Zu Vinsmoke family who has undergone lineage factor modification, Sanji's blood naturally possesses special qualities. Though he hates his lineage, there is no doubt that the blood flowing in his veins holds greater value than that of ordinary people.】

【Remaining Points: 10325】

"Indeed, very valuable."

Siano's eyes brightened slightly, his mood improving instantly.

Like Nami, Sanji was still just a little kid, so one couldn't expect bonus points from strength or authority; managing to shear wool worth a thousand points was already an unexpected joy.

Sliding the Masamune blade back onto his back, he walked out of the cabin, glanced at Junichi, and smiled: "You're quite popular in the village!"

Ever since the Masamune blade had made an appearance before Junichi, he had made a habit of carrying this sword with him; after all, now that his height had increased, carrying it on his back actually looked quite fitting.

"Hehe."

Junichi scratched his head embarrassingly, but upon noticing Siano's exhausted face, he immediately turned away, his expression turning solemn as he assumed the demeanor of the dojo's senior disciple:

"Business first; there are two patients here who urgently need to be taken to the clinic. Who will lend a hand?"

Being able to arrive within two days was basically entirely due to Boss Siano rowing with superhuman strength and endurance to accelerate; for this wrapping-up work, they couldn't trouble him again, and it was time to let him get some proper rest.

"Me! Me!"

The group of children were all extremely enthusiastic; four of them lifted Sanji, while two supported Zeff, heading toward the clinic.

Junichi followed closely behind, but suddenly noticed a figure within the bamboo grove and immediately shouted:

"Zoro!"

"Hah?"

A boy with green algae-colored hair popped his head out, panting heavily and covered in sweat; upon seeing Junichi, his eyes instantly lit up with surprise: "Senior Brother Junichi! When did you get back?"

"Just arrived. Training alone again?"

"Yeah."

"Stop for a moment; I need to take the patients to the clinic. This is Boss Siano, someone I respect greatly. Please help me take him to the dojo to rest; I'll come over a bit later."

"Understood, don't worry, Senior Brother Junichi!"

Watching Junichi and his companions depart into the distance, Zoro picked up his bamboo sword, slung it over his shoulder, and only then walked out of the bamboo grove.

He looked at Siano, his gaze lingering for a moment on the Masamune blade strapped to Siano's back.

"Let's go! Follow me!"

Zoro said carelessly, "There are still quite a few empty rooms in the dojo; you look exhausted, so let me find you the most comfortable bed!"

"Alright."

Siano smiled and followed behind.

"By the way, your name is Siano, right?"

As they walked, Zoro suddenly asked without turning his head, "Senior Brother Chunyi seems really convinced by you, even calling you 'Boss,' yet you don't look older than him; are you two very close?"

"We've only known each other for a short while, but you could say we're friends who have faced life and death together."

Siano replied casually, his attention completely captured by that head of green algae.

Zoro was currently less than one meter fifty tall, a little bean sprout; watching that clump of lush green hair swaying below his own chest, it was hard for anyone to resist plucking a few strands.

"Is that so? Among the disciples of his generation, Senior Brother Chunyi is the most formidable; if he acknowledges you, it seems your swordsmanship must be quite strong too!"

"However, I am also very strong; among the dojo disciples of these recent years who are about my age, I am the most formidable one!"

Siano was speechless.

That most reliable fellow from the Straw Hat Crew, classmate Liu Zoro, currently could only be described as having just taken human form.

He was still a bold and naive ten-year-old brat, boasting and chatting shamelessly every day, which was one of the most prominent characteristics of this age group.

"Really?"

Siano cleared his throat lightly, putting on a curious expression, "Then what about Sister Sister Guyina?"

Zoro's face instantly turned red.

What is this? Did Senior Brother Chunyi tell this person even about these matters!

"A... about the same! Sister Sister Guyina is also very strong; I've fought her many times, and it's roughly a fifty-fifty split!" the green-algae-headed kid gritted his teeth and insisted stubbornly.

Siano chuckled softly.

Children have thin skin, so he didn't expose him, continuing to follow Zoro toward the village.

Until...

As they walked, something felt off; inexplicably, they had arrived at the end of an alleyway, where next to the gate of a Japanese-style building hung a signboard blatantly reading "Shimotsuki Kitayama Hot Spring Bathhouse."

"What does this mean?" Siano looked at Zoro in confusion, "Aren't we going to the Isshin Dojo?"

"That's not right; it was clearly this direction..." Zoro grabbed his hair, pondering painfully, "Which fork in the road did I choose wrong just now?"

Only then did Siano realize.

You damn well managed to get lost even in Shimotsuki Village!

————

There will be a second update this afternoon; monthly ticket data is also quite important during the new book cycle, so I'm weakly asking for support—not greedily asking for many, but if any fellow readers have monthly tickets, casting just one would be great~

(End of Chapter)