Chapter 249

"Sorry, but I think you've come to the wrong place. There's no red Poneglyph here on Zou."

In the slightly humble duke's residence, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, the rulers of the Mokomo Dukedom by day and night respectively, were turned slightly away from each other, avoiding eye contact.

Ever since Kozuki Oden's death, the two—who once considered each other as brothers—had begun to drift apart.

The only reason they were both here now was that it was shift-changing time, combined with the extremely high danger level posed by Zyhark's group.

Just moments ago, Zyhark had been direct about his intentions.

Naturally, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had denied it resolutely.

The red Poneglyph was a treasure of the Kozuki Clan they served—how could they so easily expose it to outsiders of unknown origin?

Keep pretending, go ahead and keep pretending.

Zyhark didn't want to waste any more words on this topic and calmly said, "If I'm not mistaken, that thing is currently inside the Whale Tree, right?"

At these words, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, who had been trying to continue deflecting, suddenly stood up, their contracted pupils filled with intense shock.

This was Zou's greatest secret—one that even most of the Mokomo Dukedom's residents didn't know.

How did this young man, whose reputation had recently skyrocketed across the seas, come to know?

"How exactly do you know about this?!" Nekomamushi's expression turned sharp.

The pipe between his large jaws puffed out a plume of smoke, carrying an inexplicable hostility.

Though Inuarashi remained silent, his hand had already moved to the sword at his waist, ready to fight at any moment.

The Mink warriors standing behind the two dukes sensed their leaders' subtle shift in demeanor and immediately tensed, gripping their weapons.

The previously amicable atmosphere instantly grew tense, as if swords were about to be drawn.

"You probably aren't too familiar with my Devil Fruit ability. Let's put it this way—even that cat toy hidden under your bedside is within my perception," Zyhark said with a smile.

This statement was a bluff.

The detection ability of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was indeed incredible, but locating a Poneglyph hidden in a closed-off area on such a vast island wasn't easy. At least, it wouldn't be that quick.

This information naturally came from his knowledge of the original story.

Under normal circumstances, Inuarashi might have mocked his old comrade for such childish habits.

But now, with his full attention focused on Zyhark, all he felt was deep wariness.

There was no doubt—the young man before them was an incredibly troublesome figure!

After a slight cough, Zyhark continued, knowing that without something to prove his intentions, these loyal warriors would resist stubbornly.

"To be honest, we already have copies of two Poneglyphs."

"One was openly taken from Big Mom, while the other was willingly handed over by Whitebeard."

The first part was to make their strength clear, while the latter indirectly hinted at their connection with the Whitebeard Pirates.

After all, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had been members of Whitebeard's crew. Bringing up Whitebeard should make it clear what they needed to do.

If that still didn't work...

Zyhark's eyes gleamed.

Then there was nothing left to say—he would simply beat up these two stubborn loyalists of the Kozuki Clan before having a "reasonable" discussion!

"What did you say?!"

The mention of Whitebeard stunned both Inuarashi and Nekomamushi into silence.

They knew full well what kind of man Whitebeard was.

Moreover, rumors had spread recently of a conflict involving the Sea Restaurant, the Whitebeard Pirates, and the Buggy Pirates.

—Though most of the rumors exaggerated and glorified Buggy the Clown's prowess.

As a result, Buggy's fame in the New World had reached incredible levels, almost resounding across the seas!

Now, it seemed that the so-called "Three Kings Summit" might actually be true!

After a full minute of digesting this information, Inuarashi was the first to lower his guard and speak in a low voice, "If even Pops has acknowledged you, then we have nothing to hide."

"Come, we'll take you to the secret chamber of the Whale Tree."

Nekomamushi followed suit, extinguishing his pipe.

They had no reason to doubt Zyhark's claim, as they still had a way of contacting the Whitebeard Pirates.

More importantly, the strength of Zyhark and his crew was far too intimidating.

The news of the Sea Restaurant wreaking havoc in Totto Land had been spreading like wildfire. Zou couldn't afford to provoke such enemies.

One wrong move, and the entire homeland of the Mink Tribe could be razed to the ground!

"Hey, you little cats and dogs are actually pretty decent," Aqua quipped.

Her blunt and forthright demeanor made Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's expressions rather uncomfortable.

The last time they were called "little cats and dogs" was when they first boarded Whitebeard's ship alongside Oden many years ago.

"Oh right, is this little guy also a Mink like us?"

"This small build doesn't seem too capable—have you been training properly, hahaha."

Nekomamushi's sharp eyes rolled playfully as he glanced at the two-legged Meowth, silently changing the subject.

Meowth: "..."

Damn you and your Minks! Your whole family are Minks!

Daring to say I'm incapable—if not for the fact we're both felines, I'd scratch you to bits right now!

He felt incredibly aggrieved—after finally no longer being mistaken for a pet cat, now he had to deal with this "Mink Tribe" nonsense.

"But, Nekomamushi, you've gained quite a bit of weight compared to a few years ago," Uta said.

"And you're growing more beautiful with every day, Uta. You'll be a true beauty in no time," Nekomamushi replied with a beaming smile.

Unlike his initial caution about whether Zyhark was friend or foe, he seemed relaxed after making his decision, showing his cheerful nature.

With this lighthearted banter, Inuarashi pushed open the wooden door.

They had just stepped out of the duke's residence when a pitch-black, soot-covered Lindbergh suddenly appeared.

Ignoring his tattered, explosion-riddled clothes, he made a beeline for Meowth, his face filled with excitement.

"Dear guest from the outside seas, though it may be a bit abrupt, could you please explain how you knew the jetpack would explode?!"

An inventor's thirst for theoretical knowledge was unimaginable, and in Meowth, a supposed Mink from the outside seas, he saw the dawn of success.

"Hey, Lindbergh, watch your behavior," Nekomamushi frowned slightly.

This guy was definitely a troublemaker when it came to Zou.

If some strange invention were to hurt Zyhark's crew, it would be hard to explain.

Little did he know, Lindbergh had already caused Aqua some damage—emotionally.

"It's simple: your equipment is just too crude, nya," Meowth, a fellow inventor, generously answered Lindbergh's question.

Ever since gaining foundational scientific knowledge from Vegapunk, Meowth's understanding had expanded greatly—to the point where it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him one of the greatest scientists in the world.

"Too crude? But this is my proudest invention!"

Thinking for a moment, Lindbergh added resolutely, "It allows ordinary people to soar through the sky!"

Pfft— Aqua couldn't hold back her laughter.

If the Endless Dream—which incorporated various advanced technologies—was a demon king, then Lindbergh's invention couldn't even be considered a commander of the demon king's army; it was more like a low-level slime.

"Ambitious, but still lacking," Escanor also commented.

The others had similar attitudes.

After all, they were already driving mechas, so a mere jetpack wasn't all that impressive.

"By the way, I was also puzzled—Mr. Zyhark, it seemed like your ship flew in from the sky."

Standing behind Inuarashi, Shishilian recalled when the Endless Dream had descended from above.

At the time, he had been too focused on verifying their identities to notice that detail right away.

"What? A ship that can fly in the sky—are you sure it wasn't some kind of airship?!" Lindbergh's curiosity was instantly piqued, and he eagerly turned to Zyhark. "Please, allow me to observe it!"

"There's nothing else to do now, so I might as well take you there, nya," Meowth generously waved his paw.

For him, having his inventions admired was something to be proud of.

"I'll head back to the ship too," King said indifferently, his arms crossed.

He was more of a homebody who disliked wandering around, and he had no particular interest in the red Poneglyph.

He'd rather go back and continue sweating to become stronger.

Perhaps even King hadn't realized that he hadn't launched his fighting and romance game in a long time!

"I'll go too, I'll go too!" Aqua raised her hand.

Her reason was even simpler—she just wanted to lie down again.

Escanor and Uta, however, remained silent—the former wanting to learn more about the pirate world, and the latter feeling the intense urge to explore new things after setting sail for the first time in a year.

As for Kanna…

Due to her cuteness, she was currently being cuddled and snuggled by a group of Mink ladies, looking rather defeated.

Under the reluctant gazes of the Mink ladies, Zyhark took Kanna back.

With Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, Escanor, and Uta leading the way, they headed towards the core of the Whale Tree.

Passing through forest pathways filled with large animals, they quickly reached the foot of the Whale Tree.

Entering the hidden door in the trunk, they found a dim, slightly damp interior.

A faint red glow enveloped the area, and at the deepest part lay a cube-shaped stone.

Its heavy, solid exterior, neat and delicate shape, and the intricate engravings of special characters...

Though the Kozuki family had produced a highly controversial "foolish lord" like Oden, one couldn't deny that they had real skills in crafting these stone monuments.

Looking up at the red Poneglyph, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were filled with deep emotion.

After introducing the story behind the stone to Escanor and Uta, Zyhark took out a camera he had prepared and took photos of all the inscriptions.

With that, he now possessed three of the Road Poneglyphs.

He was only one step away from finding Laugh Tale!

Whatever the great treasure turned out to be—it was certainly something to look forward to...

The thought of soon uncovering the ultimate secret that spanned the entirety of One Piece filled Zyhark with undeniable excitement.

After completing such grueling conditions, there was no doubt he could seize the title of "Pirate King."

Though the title itself didn't interest him that much, the people summoned and the rewards gained—there was no way they would be disappointing, right?

That was the most exciting part!

"Mr. Zyhark, your next target must be Kaido of the Beasts, right?" Inuarashi said, noticing Zyhark lost in thought, his expression solemn.

The memories of boiling in the pot were still vivid in his mind. As a member of the Nine Red Scabbards who had once followed Oden to fight Kaido, the shadow left by Kaido still loomed large.

Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, and the rest of the Scabbards had always been waiting for the prophesied man who would lead them in overthrowing the tyrant Orochi and driving Kaido out of Wano!

Although there were still twelve years left until the prophesied time, for some reason, in Zyhark, Inuarashi saw a glimmer of hope.

"If you really have that intention, I hope you can take us along!"

Nekomamushi exhaled a heavy smoke ring and said earnestly.

He had the same intuition as Inuarashi.

It seemed inevitable that a great battle between the Sea Restaurant and the Beasts Pirates would be the closest they had come to reclaiming Wano!

If all went well, they might even fulfill their lifelong wish before Momonosuke!

"Aren't you worried I'll become the next Kaido?" Zyhark asked, glancing at the two, who were full of fighting spirit.

"We will not doubt a man whom Pops trusts!" Inuarashi and Nekomamushi replied firmly.

"You really are straightforward."

Zyhark smiled and shook his head.

Considering that the Nine Red Scabbards' strength was respectable, he said calmly, "Leave a way to contact you—when I need you, I won't hesitate."

Just as he finished speaking, Zyhark's relaxed eyes widened sharply, as if he had caught sight of something unbelievable, and his breathing quickened.

That familiar presence…

He hadn't expected that guy to show up here too!

"Much appreciated!" Inuarashi and Nekomamushi gave a formal bow.

Their perceptive ability and Observation Haki were far inferior to Zyhark's, and they hadn't sensed anything out of the ordinary.

Whoosh!

At that moment, Zunesha raised its enormous trunk, which covered the sky, and sprayed its twice-daily "Great Shower."

The surging flood washed away the gloom hanging over Zou Island, bringing plentiful water and food.

And also, a powerful crew of pirates!

By the time Zyhark and the others returned to the duke's residence, the sun had fully set on the western horizon.

The night sky was dotted with stars, and a full moon hung beneath the starry sky.

For some reason, Aqua and the other two had returned from the Endless Dream.

Now, they sat on an open field, drinking fine wine and chatting with a group of rough-looking pirates.

Seeing Zyhark approaching, the pirate captain at the center of the group put away his smile, stood up with one hand on his knee.

A black cape fluttered in the sea breeze, and the bright moonlight illuminated his vibrant red hair.

"Long time no see, Zyhark. And… Uta."

"Indeed, quite an unexpected meeting, Shanks," Zyhark replied with a smile.

Yes, the familiar presence he had sensed earlier belonged to none other than the new Emperor of the New World, Red-Haired Shanks!

"Shanks..."

Uta, standing beside Zyhark, looked startled, her gaze evasive. She never imagined that she'd meet the "father" she longed for just a day after setting sail!

Clearly, she wasn't mentally prepared for this.

"Though I'm surprised as well, before we catch up on old times—Zyhark..."

There was no hint of joy on Shanks' intimidating face, as dark red arcs of electricity began to surge around him.

As he stepped towards Zyhark, his right hand lightly rested on the hilt of his saber, Gryphon, and his eyes grew increasingly sharp.

"Can you tell me the reason you took Uta away from Elegia?"

"To help a child who's realized her mistakes apologize to her father."

Standing amid the turbulent and profound storm of Conqueror's Haki, Zyhark quietly gripped both the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri.

Zzzap.

His own Conqueror's Haki erupted in response to Shanks' challenge, tearing a path through the latter's Haki storm.

Red lightning clashed in the air, as the two Haoshoku Hakis collided fiercely, whipping up a violent gale.

"That's not something you need to be concerned about."

With a stomp of his sandal, Shanks drew Gryphon.

His unmatched Haki exploded, completely suppressing Zyhark's domain.

The surrounding Mink warriors who had been observing instantly collapsed under its might, and the surrounding trees even began to crack!

Though Shanks' Haki wasn't yet at the level it would be twelve years from now, the overwhelming pressure was still terrifying!

"Uta is now a member of my crew, so this is my business!"

Zyhark countered, with black lightning gradually replacing the red arcs.

At those words, the gloom on Shanks' face intensified, and without another word, he forcefully swung the poised Gryphon.

Electricity crackled as Zyhark responded with his twin blades, answering the powerful battle intent.

Boom!

The instant the three blades clashed from a distance, thunder exploded, gales raged, and the ground shattered.

Above them, the clouds broke apart like an avalanche, forming a rift suspended beneath the starry sky.

The sky… split apart!

At that moment, there was only one day left until the World Nobles' extermination campaign.

(End of Chapter)

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