Chapter 65: Hawk-Eye Is On His Way

"Anyway, leave it to me; I have experience."

Zoro skillfully dodged Sister Sister Guyina's claw-like hand, vigorously wiped his nose, and strode into the kitchen with an air of arrogance.

Moments later, he returned triumphantly carrying a cup of hot water, handing it to Nami. "Here, take it. Drink this, and you'll feel better immediately."

Nami looked up in astonishment at this green-haired idiot.

"... Thank you," Nami whispered. "But I don't think a cup of hot water will do anything..."

"Oh!!!"

Zoro slapped his forehead, suddenly enlightened, and clattered back into the kitchen, this time emerging directly with six cups of hot water.

"I failed to consider this properly. You are Big Brother Siano's sister; your constitution isn't something ordinary people can compare to. It must take this much hot water to be effective."

Thud!

Nami could endure it no longer; she delivered a heavy punch to the top of his head. "It's not about the quantity! Are you an idiot? You must be an idiot, you jerk!!!"

"Pwahahaha!!!"

Sanji doubled over, roaring with laughter. "There really are idiots like you who think hot water works. You'd be better off learning cooking from me and serving a bowl of cream of mushroom soup. Of course, the most useful thing is actually just taking painkillers!"

"Laughing my ass? And you too!" Nami smashed a fist onto his head as well. "Why did you suddenly kneel before me? Acting all solicitous like some perverted old man is terrifying, you know!!"

"Boo-hoo-hoo, so scary..."

The two boys, bruised and battered, curled up in the corner, trembling and daring not to speak another word.

"Anyway."

Nami turned to Siano, reverting to that aggrieved, fragile demeanor. "You saw it too, right, Bro~! I started getting my period two years ago; I'm really not a little kid anymore. I'm completely a mature lady now, so just take me with you~!"

Thud!

What greeted her was a punch from Siano; three bumps instantly swelled on Nami's head, emitting white steam.

"You're getting more and more mischievous; if I don't beat you for three days, you'll climb onto the roof and tear off the tiles."

Siano clapped his hands expressionlessly. "I told you to go upstairs to comfort Bell-mère, yet you want to run off too. Do you intend to leave her crying alone until nightfall?"

"I'm not crying!"

An irate voice came from the stairs. "I told you to scram quickly; why are you still loitering in the house?"

"Then close the door properly and stop eavesdropping!" Siano shouted back.

It immediately fell silent upstairs.

Just after finishing their meal, everything had been fine, but suddenly Bell-mère had lost her temper with him.

She claimed it was the last time eating at home, that with so many people dining, the dishes were piled into a mountain, yet he didn't even help wash a single bowl, calling him utterly worthless.

Then she had stormed upstairs alone, declaring that he should finish washing the dishes and scram immediately, and that before she came back down, she didn't want to see his unfilial face again.

Was she afraid she wouldn't be able to stop crying?

Or was she afraid her adopted son, seeing her state, wouldn't be able to harden his heart to leave?

Such clumsy acting.

Siano shook his head, lifting the bundle beside the sofa. Inside were packed all his winter clothes: hand-knitted socks, scarves, woolen hats... and various snacks and pastries that he and Nojiko loved to eat.

Heavy and dense; if thrown into the sea, it would probably sink straight to the bottom. What is this? It's just like Bell-mère's motherly love; one cannot bear to shed a single tear over it.

"We're really leaving this time!"

Siano shouted with all his might again, making the roof tiles hum and vibrate, fearing that the woman, who truly cared about her pride and had closed the door, wouldn't hear clearly—

"Remember to hide your body when you peek at our backs from the window later! Don't let Nojiko turn around and catch you crying there. Anyway, I won't be turning around to look!"

That's excessive; why use me as a shield again?

Nojiko angrily pinched the flesh at his waist. Perhaps it was too hard to pinch, as it ended up hurting her own fingers instead. She turned her head, and her eye sockets unwillingly turned red.

The few of them picked up their long-packed bags and finally stepped out the door formally.

While the door was opening, Nami quietly slipped something into Siano's bundle, then hid to the side, sticking out her tongue and making a funny face at Siano's departing back.

Looking back toward the stairs, she hesitated for a moment, then picked up the tissues from the coffee table and went upstairs.

Meanwhile, Teacher Teacher Gengsilang, Zoro, and Sanji, who had come to see them off, silently approached the doorway, standing there to watch those figures gradually fade into the distance.

"You stinky old man!!!"

Sanji suddenly stepped forward, cupped his hands around his mouth, and yelled, "You must find ALL BLUE! I hate trouble the most; I'm waiting until I come of age to set sail and enjoy the fruits of your labor!!"

The old man in the distance didn't pause his steps in the slightest; he merely raised his right hand high and flipped the bird.

"You too, Sister Sister Guyina!!!"

Zoro had been holding it in the whole time, but now he no longer needed to suppress himself. He stepped forward several paces, blocking Sanji's path, and roared in an even louder voice:

"Hurry up! Hurry up and become the World's Greatest Swordsman!! That way, when I set sail, I'll only need to defeat you. I hate trouble the most too; I certainly don't want to go around challenging other swordsmen one by one!!!"

Sister Sister Guyina likewise did not turn around. She raised her right hand; it seemed she intended to flip the bird as well, but somehow, in the end, it formed an "OK" sign instead.

"Do I have to start it?" Sanji, fuming, stomped on Zoro's foot, and the latter retaliated by stomping back without yielding.

Teacher Teacher Gengsilang stood quietly leaning against the doorframe nearby.

He made no sound, maintaining that smiling expression, yet his gaze never shifted from Sister Sister Guyina, not even for an instant, until that figure gradually became blurred and indistinct...

Blurred?

I clearly held back and didn't cry?

Teacher Teacher Gengsilang subconsciously pushed at the bridge of his nose, only then realizing something was wrong. Eh, where are my glasses?

On a tree-lined path shaded by coconut palms.

A group of four, carrying a heap of bundles, headed toward the newly constructed pier to the northwest.

That pier had been newly built to facilitate the transport of large-displacement cargo ships.

The quality of the tangerines in Cocoyasi Village was truly outstanding; in recent years, the workshop processing business had become increasingly prosperous. Merchant ships coming for trade arrived in an endless stream every year, driving the entire village to become much wealthier.

Walking along the path.

The road was well-maintained, and many new, spacious houses had appeared; the changing scenery along this route was the best proof.

But it was a bit strange.

Everywhere was empty; almost no people were seen.

"Man Scar took the villagers and is all waiting at the old dock to see us off; they still think we will leave on my family's small boat."

Sister Sister Guyina said with a smile, "But they didn't expect that the large cargo ship that just docked at the new dock this afternoon is actually the one we will take."

"It's Old Gatt's new ship."

Siano grinned, "He has saved quite a bit of money over these years, and since the previous ship had hidden dangers after being hit by a Sea King, he simply traded his old gun for a new one. Hearing that I was going to set sail this time, he voluntarily offered to see me off."

"So that's how it is."

A few years ago at the Itto Dojo, Sister Sister Guyina had pestered Siano into telling her about his first temporary sea voyage adventure, so she still remembered the name Old Gatt and immediately looked enlightened.

In a short while, everyone arrived at the new dock.

As expected, since the diversion tactic worked, this place was also empty, with only Old Gatt and a few sailors waiting on the pier, smoking their pipes and smiling.

"Long time no see, Lord Siano!"

And behind him, a colossal object was prominently moored, over a hundred meters long, much larger than the flagship of the Krieg Pirate Crew that Nojiko had seen at the old dock before.

Was it because the King of the Near Seas had almost smashed it apart back then, giving him a fear of insufficient firepower?

Siano laughed and went forward to greet him, while Sister Sister Guyina, who hadn't expected the merchant ship to be so shocking up close, couldn't help but spread her arms and exclaim:

"Wow, so big..."

"Wow, so small..."

At some island in the Grand Line, a grocery store assistant huffed and puffed as he moved food and fresh water to the shore; seeing the coffin-like small boat before him, he couldn't help but widen his eyes, "Guest, do you really want to take this ship to the East Blue? Aren't you afraid it will capsize?"

"No need to ask unnecessary questions; just help me put the things I bought on board."

The man carrying the broad black sword glanced at him, his tone cold.

(End of this chapter)