Chapter 250: Enies Lobby: The Second Gate

"I've been wondering… it's already strange that this area has no night, but what's up with those waterfalls around the island? We're in the middle of the ocean, right? How can there be waterfalls here?" Enel asked, somewhat bewildered, as he scanned the area below the ship. The massive waterfall that encircled Enies Lobby plunged vertically down into an endless abyss.

Kaku responded, "This is the Grand Line. Anything is possible here. This isn't even the strangest thing. If we ever have a chance to visit the New World, you'll see that waterfalls in the middle of the ocean aren't that unusual."

"The New World?" Enel rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then turned to Takumi with interest. "Captain, when are we going to the New World?"

Takumi replied calmly, "Soon."

Kaku added, "It's not so easy to reach the New World. From what I know, there are two ways to get there. First, you can petition the World Government for permission to pass directly over the Red Line at the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. If you take that route, though, you'll have to abandon your ship. It's safe, but it costs a lot to buy a new ship, and the process is time-consuming. The second option is to travel through a massive underwater tunnel beneath the Red Line and pass through Fish-Man Island, which is located 10,000 meters below the surface. However, the deep sea is full of dangerous Sea Kings, making it a highly perilous journey."

Kaku paused for a moment before continuing, "Although our ship can fly and we could theoretically fly over the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, if the Government were to discover us, they would send powerful forces to intercept us. And if, by any chance, the Five Elders themselves were to take action, the likelihood of us being wiped out is over 95 percent. So, flying across is risky."

"The Five Elders?" Enel recalled something Garp had once said to scare him. "You mean those old guys who outrank the Admirals?"

Kaku nodded. "Exactly. The Five Elders may be old, but they are still incredibly strong. I'm not sure even Captain Takumi could escape unscathed, and as for us, we'd be dead within seconds."

Enel scowled. "Are they really that strong? Those old men…"

"Of course," Kaku said with a shrug. "The Five Elders are the highest-ranking officials in the World Government, and they hold more power than anyone else in this world."

Looking at Takumi, who seemed unfazed by everything, Kaku added, "Your and Captain Takumi's bounties were likely ordered directly by the Five Elders."

"Damn it," Enel muttered angrily. "What a load of crap. Once I get stronger, I'll take down those five stubborn old fools myself! I'll show them who's really in charge!"

Kaku chuckled. "You wish. You're so lazy that I have to hound you just to get you to train. With your three days of work followed by two days of slacking off, I hate to say it, but I doubt you'll ever be able to take down the Five Elders in this lifetime."

"You damn long-nose! You're tired of living, aren't you? No amount of beatings seems to work on you!" Enel shouted.

"Right back at you," Kaku laughed. "You get beaten up all the time too, but you never learn! I'm just being honest. Why are you getting so mad?"

"Damn it, I'll kill you!" Enel snarled, sending a bolt of lightning toward Kaku.

Kaku, having anticipated the attack, dodged it effortlessly.

When his first strike missed, Enel launched a series of continuous lightning bolts. Kaku dodged whenever he could, and when he couldn't, he used his modified mini lightning rod to absorb the attacks.

Kaku had calculated that Enel's regular strikes carried over a million volts. His lightning rod could currently absorb only two of Enel's strikes before it would explode.

After absorbing two strikes, Kaku suddenly signaled for Enel to stop. "Wait a second."

Surprisingly, Enel stopped and, still angry, asked, "Now what?"

Smiling, Kaku pointed his lightning rod at Enel. "I've added an output function. It can release the absorbed lightning. Since electricity doesn't affect you, let me try it out."

Enel blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

Before Enel could protest, Kaku pressed a button on the device.

A loud bang followed as the lightning rod exploded in Kaku's hands.

Enel stared in disbelief at the now charred Kaku.

"Hahaha, another failure," Kaku laughed without a care. "Looks like I need to make more adjustments."

Enel, now thoroughly uninterested in fighting, sighed. "Keep it up, and you'll end up killing yourself with one of your inventions. Wouldn't it be better if you just focused on your job as a shipwright?"

"You don't get it," Kaku replied cheerfully. "Learning another trade gives you more options for the future. Besides, I've already mastered everything in those shipwright manuals. I've read them so many times they're falling apart. So, why not pick up something new?"

Enel, too frustrated to argue further, turned to Takumi. "Captain, long-nose is losing it. Is there any hope for him?"

Takumi chuckled lightly but didn't respond.

Instead, he shifted his attention to the second gate of Enies Lobby. The airship had already passed through the first gate and was now approaching the second, a narrow passageway guarded by two enormous giants.

Takumi recognized the giants—they were from Elbaf, members of the Giant Warrior Pirates. They were stationed here as guards because the World Government had deceived them. The government lied, claiming that their leaders had been imprisoned and that if they served the government for 100 years, their leaders would be freed. Believing the lie, the two giants had been guarding Enies Lobby ever since.

In truth, their leaders were still on a small island called Little Garden, locked in an eternal battle with no victor after decades of fighting.

"Kashii, look, a ship is flying toward us," said the larger of the two giants, Oimo, gazing lazily at the airship. "We got orders earlier, didn't we? We're supposed to destroy that ship and its intruders, right?"

"Yeah, Oimo," replied the other giant, Kashii, gripping his enormous battle axe. He grinned and added, "This is the first time I've seen a flying ship, but these guys have no luck running into us. Oimo, let's take them down together."

"Alright, Kashii!"

The two giants raised their weapons in unison and swung them toward the approaching airship.

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