Chapter 197: Everyone Is Joy Boy

Thump-thump~ Thump-thump~

Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump~

At first, the dull sounds were spaced far apart, then at a certain critical point, the rhythm suddenly accelerated, each thump becoming brighter and shorter.

Finally, they merged into an unstoppable torrent.

Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump—

【Guess?】

Deep in Zunesha's eyes was utter astonishment.

It never expected that this white-haired child before it, who was beating the Drum of Liberation and suspected to be Joy Boy, would answer like this.

Actually letting it guess?!

Zunesha blinked its eyes,

able to communicate with it and able to beat the Drum of Liberation, confirming without doubt that he is Joy Boy.

【Joy Boy!】

Saint Saint Saiwen reached out and touched the spot between Zunesha's eyebrows.

【Big guy, I'm not the Laughing Boy, or rather, everyone is the Laughing Boy.】

【The Laughing Boy?】 Zunesha understood.

Joy Boy did indeed laugh often, bringing joy and liberation to those around him; calling Joy Boy the Laughing Boy was indeed no problem.

【After eight hundred years, hearing the Drum of Liberation again, there's no mistake, you are Joy Boy!】

Saint Saint Saiwen explained no further.

In such a situation, let alone Zunesha would misunderstand.

Even Imu, the little sister who had been thinking of Joy Boy for eight hundred years, would absolutely take Saint Saint Saiwen for Joy Boy at this moment.

The Age-Age Fruit can indeed mimic,

but one must have seen it at least once before; given Saint Saint Saiwen's age, it was absolutely impossible for him to have seen Joy Boy.

【How nostalgic, Joy Boy!】

Saint Saint Saiwen smiled.

It wasn't just a foolish laugh; the Nika form mimicked by the Age-Age Fruit would not be overridden by the fruit's will.

Moreover, Saint Saint Saiwen did not transform completely; he merely beat the Drum of Liberation with the sound of his heartbeat.

【Big guy, as long as one holds the people in their heart—】

【Everyone is Joy Boy.】

Although Zunesha did not understand why the white-haired child kept refusing to admit he was Joy Boy, it deeply agreed with this statement.

Only one who holds the people in their heart would take liberating all slaves as their dream.

【Joy... are you here to see me?】

【I have come to send the Mink Tribe home.】

【By the way, I am now the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma; Inazuma is the former Wano Country.】

Just as Saint Saint Saiwen was preparing to return to fetch Cat Fushe and land on Zou Island, Zunesha suddenly spoke.

【I'm sorry, Joy Boy...】

Saint Saint Saiwen understood: the big guy was apologizing for the events of eight hundred years ago, though exactly what those events were, Saint Saint Saiwen still did not know.

The existence of the Void Century covered too many secrets and truths.

The inscriptions on the final island, Laugh Tale, recorded only an important part of them.

【It's fine, I forgive you.】

After all, it had no direct relation to him; Saint Saint Saiwen didn't mind being a good person and, in the name of Joy Boy, lifting Zunesha's punishment.

Could it be that Joy Boy is Saint Saint Saiwen at some point in the future, traveling back eight hundred years?

【From today on, you are free.】

【However, to prevent Imu from noticing anything amiss, you had best continue strolling as before.】

Regarding Zunesha, Saint Saint Saiwen held a guess: Zunesha was most likely a contingency left by Joy Boy, such as smashing open the mountains beneath Wano Country—

thereby retrieving the Pluton buried at the mountain's base.

Of course, this was merely a guess; not guaranteed.

After asking a few more questions, Saint Saint Saiwen instantly flashed back to the Donghai Dihuang, and amidst the crew's admiring gazes, touched the Donghai Dihuang with his hand.

He then quickly simulated the Swallow-Swallow Fruit ability, manipulating the Donghai Dihuang to fly toward Zunesha's back.

The most excited was Cat Fushe.

"Saint Saint Saiwen Taro."

"You... you... can really communicate with Zunesha?"

Cat Fushe discovered: Zunesha treated Saint Saint Saiwen Taro with extreme respect, even willing to use its trunk to lift the Donghai Dihuang and land it on Zou Island.

Better treatment than Captain Roger and Lord Oden received.

It's over; the young master probably won't become Shogun.

Given Zunesha's attitude toward Saint Saint Saiwen Taro, the Mink Tribe of the Mokomo Dukedom would surely, loving the house, also love the sparrow, and respect Saint Saint Saiwen.

It's done for, all done for.

Young Master Momonosuke has lost another major asset.

The reality was exactly as Cat Fushe thought.

The Mink Tribe, who had always hated humans, upon learning of Zunesha's attitude toward Saint Saint Saiwen, wished nothing more than for Saint Saint Saiwen to ascend the throne immediately and succeed as King of the Mokomo Dukedom.

Before long, Cat Fushe, with a downcast face, was pushed forward by the Mink elders to act as an envoy.

"Saint Saint Saiwen Taro..."

"In any case, being one is the same as being another. You are already the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma; one more title won't hurt..."

Cat Fushe understood that the elders of the Mink Tribe mostly hoped to receive Saint Saint Saiwen's protection.

It was also his fault for saying 'Saint Saint Saiwen Taro' for no reason, smashing Marineford with a single hammer blow.

With the Elephant Lord's favor, the elders hoped Saint Saint Saiwen would succeed as king, then marry Mink women to bear several young princes.

In this way,

the Mink Tribe's bloodline would be secured, and Zou would gain protection from Saint Saint Saiwen and the Morning Star Crew.

"Saint Saint Saiwen, just give in."

Even Mihawk, enjoying the chaos, stood aside and fanned the flames wildly.

Sky Island's Lei Shen, Inazuma's Raiden Shogun, soon to become Celestial Dragon Saint Saint Saint Saiwen; becoming king of the Fluffy Duchy was no big deal.

"Yes." Cat Fushe took up the thread.

"Saint Saint Saiwen Taro, you wouldn't want our Mink Tribe to be bullied in the future, would you?"

Having spoken, Cat Fushe picked up a Mink child.

"Such a cute little fellow; if slave traders caught him, his life would be ruined forever."

Cat Fushe actually didn't want this either, but the elders said that if he failed to bring this about, he would never return to Zou in his life.

"I'll ask the Elephant Lord."

Saint Saint Saiwen had no choice but to use his ability to hear the voices of all things to communicate with the Elephant Lord once more.

【Big fellow, how about moving the Mink Tribe into the Inazuma Realm?】

【If they continue staying on your back, once powerful enemies invade, their strength will hardly ensure their safety.】

Wano Country has already been renamed Inazuma; how could it lack yokai? Besides, the Mink Tribe is much like yokai, and occasionally they can hold the Hundred Yokai Night Parade.

The Elephant Lord hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

【Very well; thus I shall have no more concerns.】

In past battles, the Elephant Lord had to consider whether Zou Island on his back would be affected; if the Mink Tribe moved to the Inazuma Realm, there would be no need to worry anymore.

After negotiating with the Elephant Lord, Saint Saint Saiwen decided to temporarily serve as king of the Fluffy Duchy.

After all, the Mink Tribe's combat strength was quite good.

As for moving, forget it; let's just move Zou Island itself near Inazuma.

Inazuma originally had six regions: Kuri, Himi, Udon, Soshiki, Bai Wu, and Flower Capital; adding one more Zou was no problem.

Kaido could carry away Onigashima.

He, Saint Saint Saiwen, could certainly carry away Zou.

"Let's hold a banquet first."

When the Morning Star Crew attended the Mink Tribe's banquet, in the Vegapunk Laboratory on Punk Hazard—

Kizaru rubbed his brow.

"Didn't you say there was still one month? Why change your mind suddenly?"

Vegapunk vomited blood and stammered.

"I have delayed as much as possible, but the Five Elders are pressing hard. Saint Saturn's CP0 will arrive at Punk Hazard in two days."

"Borsalino."

"You have less than two days."

Kizaru looked at Sakazuki lying motionless on the hospital bed, his body pierced with countless IV tubes, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses flickering constantly.

Old friend, you have truly made things difficult for me.

For your sake, I, this Navy Admiral... am about to address Barzab as: Captain.

How terrifying!