Chapter 24

Now Eden was covered in wounds. His body had abrasions, burns, cuts, and even his bones ached faintly all over.

Originally, Eden had many bandages wrapped around his body, but now those bandages were soaked red with his blood.

After crashing through several thick walls, the wounds on Eden's back, which had almost healed, reopened, causing him so much pain he nearly fainted.

Glancing at the white dog that had just saved his life, Eden noticed it was not only dirty but also injured, with wounds that seemed to have been caused by a beast's sharp claws.

Eden also saw tears clearly visible in the dog's round eyes, and its dirty face was stained with tear marks.

This white dog was likely Chouchou. If it was crying, then the pet shop it had guarded for so long, filled with memories of its deceased owner, had probably been burned down by Buggy's men.

Its wounds were likely from fighting a fierce lion to protect the pet shop.

A dog fighting to the death against a lion many times its size to protect what was important to it was a testament to its loyalty and courage, which was deeply moving.

Eden looked at the burning buildings not far away. Beside him, Chouchou was crying and barking continuously in that direction.

Damn it, why did the Buggy Pirates suddenly come out and wreak havoc? Could it be because the noise from my fight with Luffy was too loud, causing Buggy to send people to check it out?

Hearing distant noises, Eden panted heavily, crouched down, and patted Chouchou's head. "Don't be sad. How about we go beat up the bad guys together?"

"Woof! Woof!"

Chouchou barked, looking at Eden's deeply wounded hand.

"Haha, you're smart. Don't worry, this little injury won't stop me from fighting!"

Eden was telling the truth. After Buggy had twice used cannons on him, he had already decided to give Buggy a good beating.

Besides, if it weren't for Chouchou, he would have been blown to bits by Buggy's cannonball.

Chouchou had saved his life, and Buggy's men had destroyed what was most important to Chouchou. Whether it was for public or private reasons, Eden decided to find Buggy.

He didn't know if Luffy had calmed down. If he was still going crazy, it would complicate matters.

Dragging his severely injured body, Eden walked forward slowly with Chouchou. With each step, he left a bloody footprint, showing just how serious his injuries were.

After walking for a while, Chouchou barked happily, ran ahead, grabbed an empty pet food bag, and brought it back to Eden, wagging its tail and rubbing against his leg.

Eden immediately understood. This empty pet food bag was the last one that Luffy had taken back from the beast tamer Mohji.

It seemed likely that Chouchou had found him because of Luffy. Luffy had helped Chouchou, deeply moving it, and Chouchou had detected Luffy's scent on Eden, which made it friendly and woke him up in a critical moment.

In this way, Luffy had indirectly saved him.

Thinking this, Eden felt speechless but also wanted to laugh. Sometimes things in this world are so coincidental that you wouldn't believe it.

Actually, there was another reason Eden, despite being severely injured, decided to find Buggy. He wanted to know for sure about the situation with Luffy and Nami. Otherwise, he couldn't rest and recover peacefully.

Since the time Zoro almost died under a volley of bullets, Eden knew that every decision he made in this world could lead to extreme consequences if he hesitated.

If he believed that Luffy and the others would be fine no matter what and hid to recover, resulting in some irreversible mistake, where would he cry?

Just like in the Marine base at Shells Town, if Eden hadn't acted decisively and thrown a rock to hit Morgan's head, Zoro would have really died.

So Eden didn't dare to take chances. Even if he had to crawl, he would personally confirm the safety of Luffy and the others.

After walking through a few streets, Eden unexpectedly saw Mohji, with a bruised face, dejectedly riding on his pet lion, Richie.

"Woof! Woof!"

As soon as Chouchou saw Mohji and his lion, it rushed forward, barking loudly, its fur bristling, ready to pounce.

"You again, you mangy dog. Get lost!"

Although Mohji had been beaten badly by Luffy, he wasn't afraid of a dog and immediately commanded his lion, Richie, to teach Chouchou a lesson.

"It seems you haven't been beaten enough. Do you want to get beaten again?"

Eden panted heavily but endured the excruciating pain from his wounds, coldly staring at Mohji.

At first glance, it looked like Mohji had a doll's head on his head, which was quite funny, but it was actually his hair.

Mohji, riding on the lion, looked down at Eden with a whip in his hand. Seeing Eden's pale face and blood-soaked body, it was clear he was severely injured. Mohji's confidence returned. "Do you know who I am? I'm the vice-captain of the Buggy Pirates. How dare you speak to me like that?"

"Woof!"

Chouchou suddenly lunged at the lion Richie, but the lion swatted it away with a paw.

"It's just a broken pet shop. That brat with the straw hat came after me just for that. You're too annoying, you mangy dog. Bite it, Richie!"

Mohji, recalling the beating he received from Luffy, shivered in fear but hated Chouchou even more.

Seeing Chouchou again, Mohji couldn't hold back. He immediately commanded his lion to attack Chouchou, intending to tear the dog to pieces.

"With me here, you dare to touch it!"

Eden stepped forward, shielding Chouchou, his gaze towards Mohji and the lion turning icy cold.

"You're covered in wounds and can barely stand, yet you want to protect a dog? Are you insane?"

Mohji saw Eden swaying as he stood, looking like he could collapse at any moment, yet he still dared to stand up to protect the dog. Mohji thought he was crazy.

"I really pity you."

Eden glanced at Chouchou, who was struggling to get up after being swatted by the lion, then slowly walked towards Mohji. "You and your stupid lion were just beaten, and soon you'll be beaten again. Are you ready?"

"What? With your severely injured body? With your crippled hand and barely able to walk, you want to fight me?"

Mohji and his lion laughed at Eden's words, especially the lion, which snorted in disdain, clearly not taking Eden seriously.

It's no wonder, considering Eden's severe injuries and weak aura, with his right hand hanging unnaturally, and the exposed bone fragments between his fingers visible to anyone. Mohji assumed Eden was just bluffing.

"I'm covered in wounds? My hand is crippled? I can barely walk? Even if I'm a cripple, none of that is a reason for me not to beat you up!"

Eden's voice grew stronger as he spoke, becoming like thunder, shocking Mohji and his lion into silence.

Before Mohji could react, Eden leaped up and kicked him off the lion.

Boom!

Mohji was kicked heavily to the ground, screaming in pain and rolling around, dropping his whip somewhere.

"Roar!"

The lion, seeing its master kicked down, roared angrily and charged at Eden with its mouth open.

"Your breath stinks, keep your mouth shut!"

Eden kicked upward, snapping the lion's mouth shut.

"Ow!"

With its mouth suddenly closed, the lion bit its tongue, crying out in pain but becoming even more ferocious.

As the lion raised its giant paw to attack Eden, he dodged and headbutted the lion, making it dizzy and causing it to cry out in pain.

"Damn!"

Eden's forehead turned red, but he ignored it, grabbing the lion by the neck and performing an over-the-shoulder throw with all his strength.

Boom!

With just one hand, Eden slammed the large lion to the ground, causing the ground to tremble slightly and kick up a cloud of dust.

The lion, now thoroughly defeated, lay twitching on the ground, unable to get up.

"Now it's your turn."

Eden shook his left hand and slowly walked towards the trembling Mohji, who had just managed to stand up.

Panting heavily, Eden's steps were slow but steady. However, the blood flowing from his wounds seemed to increase.

As Eden drew closer, Mohji felt a chill all over, his eyes filled with fear as he trembled, looking at Eden as if he were a monster.

Mohji's instincts told him to run, but Eden's cold, sharp gaze rooted him to the spot, as if something unknown and terrifying had bound him.

What terrified Mohji most was that Eden, who had been swaying just by standing, now walked steadily, showing no signs of shaking once he entered battle mode.

This guy's injuries couldn't be fake. Any other person would have fallen by now, but he not only remained standing but easily defeated Richie. Is he even human?

Mohji's dry throat barely managed to form words, "How can you still stand, you monster?"

"Sorry, but when fighting enemies, I don't have a habit of falling first!"

Eden's face grew paler as he approached Mohji, raising his left hand to deliver a final blow.

"Are you really going to go against the Buggy Pirates for a dog? Wait, are you with that straw hat kid?"

Seeing Eden's gaze, Mohji suddenly remembered the young man who had beaten him up earlier. The look in Eden's eyes was exactly the same as that young man's.

Holding onto this thought, Mohji's body trembled, his face turning pale as cold sweat trickled down his forehead. In a desperate attempt to avoid being beaten, he made a last-ditch effort.

"Congratulations, you guessed right. We are indeed together. I will soon find your captain, but beating up the vice-captain first isn't bad. And as for the dog, it saved my life. It's only natural that I do what I can for it."

As Eden spoke, he punched Mohji hard in the face. "Is bullying a loyal and brave dog with your stupid lion that much fun?"

With a loud bang, Mohji was sent flying into a building, where he lay motionless.

"Huff, huff!"

Eden panted heavily, taking a few steps back and shaking his dazed head. He turned to Chouchou, who was trotting towards him, and said, "Let's go beat that bad guy named Buggy together."

"Woof! Woof!"

Chouchou rubbed against Eden's leg, barking loudly as if it understood him.

With that, Eden and Chouchou started walking forward, one step at a time.

At that moment, Mohji, whose face was swollen and distorted from Eden's punch, struggled to crawl out from the rubble. He glared at Eden's back with hatred, but his face quickly turned to one of fear.

Mohji could clearly see that every step Eden took left a bright red, orderly trail of bloody footprints, but his back remained straight, like someone who would never fall.

Captain Buggy, we're in trouble. It seems we've provoked some truly terrifying monsters!

This was Mohji's last thought before he passed out.

The blazing sun shone down on Eden and Chouchou, casting long shadows as they slowly moved forward...