Chapter 58: Pokémon Public Showcase! [+11]

With desperation etched on their faces, the crowd instantly looked up.

To their astonishment, a massive screen had materialized above them. On the screen, a good looking young man appeared, smiling warmly down at them.

That soothing voice washed over them, inexplicably calming their fears. Curiosity and wonder replaced the dread in their hearts.

The reporters quickly regained their composure and professional instincts, frantically snapping pictures with their cameras. A shared headline flashed through the minds of every reporter present:

"Shocking! A Colossal Monster Appears in the East Blue Sea – Man-Made Creation or is it a Poseidon(King of Sea)?!"

"What...what in the world is going on?" Sanji, mid-task of preparing the ship's sails, froze in disbelief as he stared at the giant screen in the sky.

Unlike the others who had been instantly pacified, Sanji's resistance to superpower hypnosis held strong, leaving him just as shaken as before. However, his fellow crew members and the other waiters had already regained their calm, their eyes now filled with curiosity.

"Sanji! Get over here!" shouted Zeff. Despite his gruff tone, it was clear from his expression that he hadn't been much affected either.

After all, as a retired pirate from the Grand Line, he had developed some resilience to strange occurrences. While still shocked and uneasy, he kept his composure, waiting to see how things would unfold.

...

...

Above the sea restaurant, Leo, concealed by his powers, observed everything below, taking in the reactions of everyone present.

"That blonde boy must be Sanji," he murmured, watching Sanji approach Zeff.

His aura, infused with a mix of superpowers, surged outward, probing every corner of the sea restaurant. 

Then a wide smile spread across Leo's face as he sensed the wealth stored within the restaurant's vault.

"I knew it! A renowned high-end restaurant like this wouldn't be short on funds!"

Detecting deposits of at least 50 million Berries, Leo's grin widened, already imagining those riches converting into points. To him, the entire sea restaurant had become a treasure trove of points just waiting to be claimed.

His gaze then shifted to the reporters and diners below, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Everything happening today had been meticulously orchestrated by Leo. He had first contacted the heads of several prominent newspapers in the East Blue Sea through Kaya's father, leaking news about Admiral Akainu's presence in the region.

When they managed to confirm traces of the Navy's movement, Leo capitalized on their trust in him as a reliable intelligence source, gathering the reporters at this very location.

And now...

The stage was set for the Pokémon!

...

...

Suddenly, the massive Wailord let out a thunderous roar. Its enormous body, previously advancing, now came to a halt. Slowly, it began to turn, swinging its island-sized tail towards the sea restaurant.

A radiant, magical light surged from Wailord's tail, stretching upwards. In an instant, a staircase leading to the sky appeared before everyone.

Leo's face reappeared on the screen, his smile growing even wider:

"Alright, the entrance has been prepared. Please proceed in an orderly manner to enter the venue!"

...

...

The reporters exchanged glances, understanding flashing between them. Without hesitation, they sprinted towards the staircase on Wailord's back, cameras in one hand while holding a den-den mushi on the other hand.

"Hello, Editor! I'm at the Sea Restaurant Baratie, and there's definitely a major scoop here. Send backup immediately! Hurry!"

"Boss, tomorrow's front-page headline is mine! I've got something big. I'll transmit the footage live through the den-den mushi!"

...

...

With their fears subdued by Leo's powers, the reporters now charged towards Wailord like bloodhounds on the scent of fresh meat. Despite the climb up the thousand-meter-high staircase, they showed no signs of fatigue—a testament to the physical demands of being a reporter in the Pirate World.

Watching them, Zeff's eyes trembled slightly as he looked up at the giant screen in confusion.

Sanji, curious, asked, "Old man, do you know what a Pokémon Show is?"

Zeff shook his head, sighing, "There are too many mysteries in this sea... too many unknowns. Standing here in the East Blue, our vision is limited to these waters."

Recalling the powerful figures and magical phenomena he had witnessed in the Grand Line, he shook his head again but kept a watchful eye on Sanji. Though he was trapped in the East Blue, Zeff secretly hoped that Sanji wouldn't be bound to the same fate.

"Oh..." Sanji responded, disappointment evident in his voice as he continued gazing at the top of Wailord.

He could have sworn he saw a massive venue atop Wailord's back—a place that resembled a small town.

At that moment, Zeff suddenly stepped forward with his prosthetic leg, placing it firmly on the staircase leading up Wailord's tail.

"Hey! Old man, what are you doing?" Sanji called out, startled, as he rushed to stop Zeff.

Though not fully hypnotized, Sanji couldn't shake the fear that had settled within him at the sight of Wailord. Who knew what this monstrous beast and the mastermind behind it had in store?

However...

Zeff merely smiled, his eyes sparkling with determination, as he replied, "What am I doing? Of course, I'm going to see what kind of banquet they've set up!"

"Daring to host a banquet next to Baratie! Are they underestimating the chefs of this sea restaurant?"

"Ladies and gents, let's go up and show them what we're made of! Let's see if they can live up to their arrogance!"

With a spirited roar, Zeff rallied his crew, who immediately grabbed their pots, pans, knives, and rolling pins, laughing and shouting as they followed him into the unknown.

Sanji, watching the scene, was momentarily stunned by their antics. But then, with a chuckle, he tied his apron tighter and muttered, "These idiots... they're actually kind of cool."

With that, he joined the chefs on the mysterious stairway to the sky.

...

...

High above, Leo watched as the people from the sea restaurant began to ascend Wailord's back, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"Everything's going according to plan. Now, let's see when Akainu will show up."

Stroking the small Eevee in his arms, Leo smiled warmly, "Little one, after this Pokémon Show, you'll be famous worldwide."

"Maybe there'll even be a plushie dedicated to you~"

With a flash of superpower, Leo vanished, reappearing atop Wailord, silently awaiting the arrival of the audience.

(End of this chapter)