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Lucas was surprised at Makino's sudden request.
"...Can you repeat that again?"
"I want to go too. Actually, I wanted to go with you before since I missed Luffy but I thought it would be too dangerous and that I would become a burden instead. But since you took in those feathered people, then it should also be safe to stay in the floating island as well. I can even run a tavern again. Hehe."
"..."
Lucas opened his mouth to say something but no words came out of it.
Huh...she has a point…
It should be safe for her to remain on the island...yeah, that's fine. More importantly, the bastard that would lay a hand on her and make a baby would also not be able to follow. Un.
...Eh? Wait, doesn't this scenario make me the bastard though?
...
While all sorts of weird thoughts flowed in his head, Makino already greeted Nojiko and Kaya as they got along quite well.
Seeing the three laugh and chat, Lucas sighed and finally agreed.
Anyway, he was not going to take the island for battle. It was just a base for them…
After thinking for a bit, Lucas decided to go back to Shimotsuki Village to see if he can convince Koushiro once more.
He figured that he should agree if he asked him to train the people in the village in case anything happened and the island got invaded.
Koushiro himself wouldn't be fighting.
Koushiro deliberated for a long time before finally agreeing.
"Very well. I will train the young ones on the island. However, I won't be joining your pirate crew."
"That's all I ask."
With this, Lucas can also drop by and ask for pointers about Haki.
Lastly. Before they leave East Blue, Lucas visited Baratie for a meal.
He talked with Owner Zeff about Sanji as he ate and also gave him pictures of Sanji in embarrassing moments.
Zeff and the other chefs laughed hard looking at the pictures and rolled on the ground.
Lucas also tried to ask them to go with him and they could stay on the floating island if they don't wish to fight.
Hearing this, Patty and Carne looked at Zeff.
They both know that Zeff had once ventured the Grand Line as a fearsome pirate and was known as Red Leg Zeff due to the color of his leg changing to blood-red from kicking his enemies.
Zeff might have repeatedly said that he's retired and doesn't wish to return, but whenever he spoke of the Grand Line, they would see a sense of longing in his eyes.
"Owner, how about it? East Blue isn't so fun anymore with Sanji not around."
"Haha! Right, the pirates here are too weak to be a challenge too!"
"..."
Zeff fell silent and looked at his staff members.
They all waited for his answer with urging eyes.
"...Very well. You lot, we'll be entering the Grand Line once more! That place is a totally different level, you better be able to handle it!"
"Oouuu!!!"
Lucas smiled.
Now then, it was time to return!
Everyone got on the island as they flew past the Calm Belt and entered the Grand Line once more.
Lucas actually wanted to go the Little Garden to pick up the two giants as well and also Drum Kingdon to pick up doctor Kureha but Hina has been nagging him to go back to the headquarters so he can only postpone it…
They traveled safely in the sky as it heads towards Marineford and everyone passed these days either training, learning, or resting.
Sometimes, Lucas would drop by Koushiro's new dojo and join in the training. The only thing was that he needed to use a sword...which Lucas sucked at.
Eventually, he gave up and simply pondered on the hint that Koushiro told him.
It wasn't like he learned absolutely nothing though. At times, he could turn his hand black but it would only last for a second. He was still unable to keep it up for a long time.
On the other hand, Kaku was doing well learning from Koushiro…
Lucci went off somewhere on the island to start training on his own too while the others from the former CP9 all did as they liked.
Kohza also finally learned his ability.
It seems he got the Card Devil Fruit. In other words, he's a Card Human.
He can collapse his form into a bunch of cards and he can also make cards from his body. Another use seemed to be the ability to turn anything he touched into cards.
Lucas had him try touching a person but it didn't work. The same also happened with animals. It seemed that it only worked on inanimate objects.
Another thing as well, if he took off his ear by turning it into a card, a new ear would pop back on his head but he can still 'hear' from the card. It was also the same on his mouth, nose, and eyes.
The card only had a drawing of the part as well.
Like this, Kohza said that if he leaves an ear and eye card to various placed, he can easily spy on everyone! It was the ultimate peeping ability!
The card can also stick to any surface and he can control the image on the card, which means, it was possible to camouflage it and no one would know it was there!
Hearing this, all the women instantly glared at Kohza and 'nicely' asked him not to use this ability on them…
As for Nojiko, Lucas has been teaching her different ways she can use her powers to defend herself.
Apart from that, she mainly uses it to cook…
Even Zeff was shocked when he came to the kitchen and saw a bunch of tools and ingredients flying about…
Another day passed and they were nearing the Marineford when a news coo dropped a newspaper on Lucas.
The instant he read this, his expression turned cold.
"...Kohza, meet me in the captain's room."
Holding an ear card from Kohza, he called him to his room while Hina was not here.
When Kohza entered the room, he saw the grave expression in Lucas' face and couldn't help but get tense.
"...Captain, what happened?"
"...Kohza, I need you to do something for me. Listen very carefully…"
Kohza quietly listened to Lucas' requests without speaking.
When Lucas was done, he hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Captain...the reason why you're asking me to do this…"
"...Just do as I ask."
"...Understood."
Kohza nodded and left the room.
The moment he did, Hina just came back. Hina noticed Kohza's expression seemed off so she asked Lucas.
"What happened?"
"It's nothing. Right, Hina. Prepare your things. We'll be leaving."
Lucas stood up and walked to the door to leave as well.
"Leave?"
"Yeah, I mean, it's not like Sengoku will let me bring a huge floating island and park it on top of Marineford right?"
"...Right…"
Hina nodded as well. If Lucas really did that, she feels Sengoku will give her an earful…
"By the way, let's stop by Sabody Archipelago for a moment. It's on the way anyway."
"...Alright."
Hina looked at Lucas for a moment before agreeing. She felt that the Lucas today seemed to be a little different from before…
After a few minutes, with the help of Lucas' powers, they were able to reach Sabody quickly.
"Hmm, it really is a lively place, isn't it?"
Lucas laughed upon seeing the floating bubbles and was a bit excited.
Seeing this expression on Lucas, Hina shook her head.
It seems Hina was thinking too much into it.
With that, Hina no longer bothered and simply followed behind Lucas.
Meanwhile, in another area in the archipelago. Grove 14.
Luffy and the rest had just defeated one of the Pacifistas, PX-4. When two more figures arrived.
PX-1 and Sentoumaru!
"Oi oi, what have they done to you, huh? PX-4...it takes enough funds for a whole battleship to build just one of you Pacifistas, you know? Ugh, how am I gonna tell Ol' Doc Punk about this?"
"Ahhhh! It's another one! Another Shichibukai!"
"D-don't tell me, it's the real thing this time!?"
Chopper and Usopp were badly frightened by the sudden appearance of another Pacifista.
Sanji gritted his teeth.
"Whether it is or it isn't, we just have to deal with them!"
"And who the hell are you, Broadaxe!?"
Franky asked.
"...Calling someone by the names of their weapons...there's no point asking me questions...cause I've got nothing to say to the likes of you! I'm Sentoumaru, the guy with the tightest mouth in the whole world."
…Didn't you just give your name!?
"Oh, by the way, I told you that because I felt like it. I wasn't answering your question or anything."
...Yeah right!
"Now get 'em, PX-1!"
PX-1 raised its palm at the Strawhats and shot out a beam of light.
Unlike in the original where Luffy and the rest were too tired to fight another one, this time, they still had some breath in them due to their recent power-ups with Rokushiki.
Luffy activated his Gear Second once more and reappeared in front of PX-1.
"Tekkai! Gomu gomu no...Jet Rifle!"
The PX-1 just gritted its teeth and took the attack without care. Next, it opened its mouth and started to charge up.
Just in time, Sanji appeared from behind and delivered a kick in the head.
"Tekkai! Concassé!"
Based on their experience from the other Pacifista, they knew the weakness of this one as well. Basically, if they could close its mouth when it was about to shoot a laser from its mouth, then that would easily solve the situation.
However, would Sentoumaru let them?
Sentoumaru reappeared in front of Sanji and stuck out his palm.
"Gh-!?"
The palm and kick clashed but Sanji was the one who was blown away instead.
While Sentoumaru was preoccupied with Sanji, Zoro moved in with a dash and slashed PX-1's knees.
The slash didn't cut off the knees, but it was able to make PX-1 bend down, hence, redirecting the beam that was about to shoot on his mouth.
The beam shot up and hit a nearby tree which exploded upon contact.
Luffy took advantage of the moment PX-1 still had its head raised up and stretched his arms.
"Jet Bazooka!"
This time, the PX-1 was blown away!
Sentoumaru frowned and turned to Luffy.
"You're next!"
"Strawhat, do not think you can deal with me as you did with PX-1!"
Luffy didn't bother to listen to what he has to say and unleashed his next attack.
"Jet Gattling!"
"...Hup-!"
With two palms, Sentoumaru...pushed Luffy back!
"You got some nice fighting strength there...by my guard is world-class! Ashigara Dokkoi!"
Sentoumaru formed a stance similar to that of a sumo wrestler and delivered another palm attack that blew Luffy away.
Luffy crashed on a wall and felt pain all over his body.
"Dammit! Is this Haki!?"
"Oh? So you know about that too."
Luffy and Zoro gritted their teeth and was about to charge at Sentoumaru when suddenly, there was an explosion at the back as they heard Brook scream.
"Usopp!!!"
Luffy turned back and saw Usopp's body on the ground, unconscious. Standing over him was a tall man wearing a yellow suit.
Sentoumaru saw this figure and sighed.
"So damn late! Finally decided to show up, Uncle Kizaru?"
"Kizaru!?"
Robin heard the name and was badly shaken!
"Watch out! That man's a Marine Admiral!"
"WHAT!?"
Everyone was surprised! They didn't think an Admiral would come this fast!
Zoro glared at Kizaru and shouted.
"Dammit! Have you already forgotten the deal with Lucas!?"
"Ohh? That deal? Well, it doesn't matter if he doesn't know it, right?"
"Bastard!"
Zoro clenched on his sword in rage!
He was about to make a dash and start attacking Kizaru when he heard Luffy shout.
"Zoro! Stop it! We can't fight this! We need to run!"
"Ghh-!"
Zoro gritted his teeth. He knew Luffy was right...but he can't just stand this!
"Brooke! Grab Usopp and run!"
Brook quickly took Usopp and ran. Kizaru just let him do so since fleeing is futile with him around.
Luffy turned to Zoro and Sanji.
"The three of us should go in different directions!"
"Got it!"
Zoro ran with Brooke and Usopp, Sanji with Nami and Franky, and Luffy was with Chopper and Robin.
Luffy shouted again.
"Everyone! Meet back at the Sunny in three days!"
"Roger!"
Seeing them scatter, Sentoumaru kicked at the downed PX-1 and said.
"They're scattering and making a run for it! After them, PX-1!"
"Oh my...what a predicament this is."
"Uncle Kizaru! Stop standing there and lend a hand!"
Kizaru smiled and disappeared in a beam of light.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of Luffy.
"Strawhat Luffy, have you ever been kicked in the speed of light?"
"!!!"
Kizaru raised his leg and was about to deliver his kick when suddenly, a figure appeared in front of Luffy.
He had his wings fully open behind him as if to protect everyone behind.
Lucas smiled.
"Kizaru, have you ever drowned in dry land?"
"Lucas!!!"