Chapter 232 have been posted today on my Patreon page for my patrons. I only post 1 today on patreon because i'm ill today, so i need to rest for hours
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PeekACoo
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The Giants take Straw Hats to the giant tree to see the poneglyph. They arrived after some minutes, and Robin immediately read the poneglyph. Jon dispell his clones that investigated this place and got a few clues.
Jon now look around to find more clues that can lead him to the culprit. It's very hard to find the clue because it's been a few months since it's happened. Even the place where the poneglyph located, already have mosses grow there.
"They're very careful on their act, and almost leave no trace. They also seem to planned their action thoroughly. They could reached this place undetected, means that they're very good at stealth and their number is small."-Jon
"Who do you think the culprits are?"-Jinbe
"Blackbeard pirates have the highest possibility. Shiryu can turn himself invisible, so he can walk around undetected. We don't know if he can only turn himself invisible or also something or someone else."-Jon
"How about the other Emperor, Red Hair pirates?"-Franky
"Shanks won't do something like that."-Luffy
"That's just an assumption."-Franky
"Well, there is a small possibility, but i doubt that it's them. The reason is because Shanks have went to Laugh Tale. He don't need the Road Poneglyph to find clues, he knew the clues."-Jon
"Hmm, that make sense. So that's why the highest possible culprits are Blackbeards."-Sanji
"That mean we need to go to their base?"-Usopp
"Yeah, that's the only way."-Jon
"Then, let's go to Blackbeard's base!"-Luffy
"Idiot! We need to make a good preparation first. Our opponent is an Emperor, we can't go there without preparation."-Nami
"That's right, Luffy. Blackbeard also have 2 devil fruits and both are strong devil fruits. They also hunt many devil fruits in the last 2 years, so they must have many devil fruit users."-Franky
"Oh, that's bad. Then, let's steal the poneglyph sneakily."-Luffy nod
The other can't believe what they hear & look at Luffy with stinky eyes.
"Did you hear that?"-Usopp
"Yeah, Luffy talk about moving sneakily."-Jon
"That's the biggest joke that i've ever heard so far."-Sanji
"He said that before he went to save you, you know."-Robin
"Yeah, and he did the excact opposite of that on WCI."-Brook
"Huh? Did you guys say something?"-Luffy
""No.""-Straw Hats
They just ignore Luffy and think on how they will take the poneglyph. With Luffy & Zoro here, direct confrontation will be inevitable. They need to think of better strategy to get the poneglyph from Blackbeard.
"Well, thinking about how to get the poneglyph is good. But how will we go there?"-Nami
"By using Log Pose, duh."-Zoro
".... Are you serious right now?"-Nami
"Don't worry, i have the Eternal Pose to Blackbeard's base, Hachinosu."-Jon
Jon get the Eternal Pose from Zetsu who disguised as Burgess. Of course a ship captain will have the Eternal pose to their base. Beside, Hachinosu is considered as Pirates Paradise where many pirates come & go everytime.
Jon give the Eternal Pose to Nami and they set their next destination to Hachinosu. The giants know the Straw Hats want to leave soon, so they invited Straw Hats to a dinner first. The Straw Hats refuse though as thet want to explore the island.
They want to enjoy their trip too, not just thinking about their mission. They haven't explore it completely when the Giants come to pick them up. The King didn't mind and let them enjoy their trip on Elbaf.
Jon order his clones & Zetsus to continue their investigation while he exploring. The strongest country must have hide many things and he want to discover those. Jon is also curious about Prince Loki that didn't showed up at all even when the King met them.
Jon ride his bike to explore the island with Luffy who tag along. They go to many places that seem interesting, and Jon need to make sure Luffy doesn't create any trouble. But Luffy is not Luffy when he doesn't create trouble.
"Oi Jon, let me ride the bike! It can use dial power right?"-Luffy
"No way, you can't even ride a waver properly, don't ever dream of riding my bike. I don't want to spend money for reparation."-Jon
"Come on, just one time."-Luffy
"No, one time or two times doesn't matter, if you ride it, the bike will get destroyed completely."-Jon
"But i am the captain, you need to listen to me!"-Luffy
"You are the captain, but you aren't the one who control the ship. A captain just need to order his crew and sit right? So just sit there like a good boy!"-Jon
Luffy sulk and just grumble on the back seat. Jon continue the ride, and soon they reach a coast. They see a giant ship is coming toward the island, and Jon use his sharingan to see the ship.
"Hmm? Hajruddin? The New Giant Warrior Pirates, huh?"-Jon
"Ooh, Hajruddin returned huh?"-Luffy
They see the New Giant Warrior pirates return to Elbaf. Jon & Luffy wait on the coast until the ship arrived. Hajruddin & co also see them and greet them.
"OOOH, BIG BOSS, YOU'RE REALLY HERE."-Hajruddin
"I TOLD YOU TO NOT CALL ME BIG BOSS!"-Luffy got angry
"Alright, alright. You should've told me that you want to come here. Luckily we're not too far away from here and can come here fast enough."-Hajruddin
"Hmm? You were in Elbaf?"-Jon
"No, we're about to come here, and almost arrived. When you called about the islands of your territory's management, we were already on our way back here."-Goldberg
"Luckily you said that the problem isn't very urgent, so we can returned to Elbaf first."-Gerd
"If you guys were already on your way, shouldn't you arrived before us?"-Jon
"Well, we stop on an island to repair the damage on our ship."-Stansen
"Why did you return?"-Luffy
"Hehe, it's because we want to celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival."-Road
"Festival?"-Luffy sound excited
"Yeah, it's a yearly event."-Stansen
The giants then explain about the Winter Solstice Festival. It's a yearly event where they celebrate the 'death and rebirth of the sun'. It is said that afterwards, the sun will return to end the winter season.
Before the festival, the participants will need to fast for 12 days. However, before the fasting, they will eat Semla for nutrition during the fasting. It is believed that the more one struggle in their fasting, the more they will appreciate the return of the sun.
Luffy immediately got displeased when he hear about 12 days fasting. There's no way he can survive that long without eating anything after all. He can't even last for a day when he didn't eat on their mission to rescue Sanji.
"Did everyone need to fast?"-Luffy
"If you want to join the festival, then yes. It's not for everyone and no one is forced to join. However, that mean you can't eat the Semla too."-Gerd
"Is it that good?"-Luffy
"It is very good."-Stansen
Luffy start to get tempted now, but he also didn't want to fast. But if he didn't fast, he can't eat that semla. Now he is in a big dilemma on wether to join or not.
"Hmm, join or not, join or not.... Hmm, but we need to get the road poneglyph, so we need to leave, but i want to try the semla, hmm.... GAAHHH! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"-Luffy is frustated
"Why don't you ask the others if they want to participate? If we want to participate, might as well participate it together."-Jon
"Hmm, you're right, let's ask the others."-Luffy
"And even if we don't participate, i think we need to stay here for a while."-Jon
"Why?"-Luffy
"This is Usopp's dreamed island right? He really want to go to Elbaf, and learn how to be a great warrior. So why don't we stay here for a few days?"-Jon
".... You're right. Usopp must've wanted to join the festival even if we don't."-Luffy
Jon & Luffy agree to stay here until the festival. They will ask the other crew members later after they return. But they're sure that the other members will agree with them.
After talking for a minute, Jon & Luffy continue to explore the island. Hajruddin & co also return to their home for fasting preparation. They also want to meet their family.
Jon & Luffy return to Astrid's house when the sky start to get dark. The other crew members also have returned from their exploration. They start to talk about their exploration and tell the others about what they found.
Unsurprisingly, they also found out about the festival. Of course they will find out, because the giants must've talk about it everytime now. All of them also have the same dilemma as Luffy, wether they will join or not, except Usopp.
"I want to join the festival, so can we stay here for some days?"-Usopp
"You want to join?"-Nami
"Yeah, i want to be a great warrior of sea, that's why i really want to come to Elbaf. I want to learn from the warriors of Elbaf, and i think this festival can make me understand about being a warrior better."-Usopp
Everyone look at each other, and they know what the others think.
""Ok.""-Straw Hats
"Really?"-Usopp got excited
"If you want to join the festival, then all of us will join too."-Zoro
"You guys..."-Usopp
"We're a crew right? A crew go through hard and easy times together."-Jon
"That's right, Usopp. This is your dreamed island right? So enjoy it as much as you want."-Luffy
"But the poneglyph-"-Usopp
"It won't go anywhere, and i doubt they have someone that can read it."-Robin
"Yeah, the reason why they stole the poneglyph is so that we can come there. They know that only Robin can read the poneglyph, so they want to get the information from Robin."-Nami
Usopp got touched by this and have his eyes teared up a little.
"Don't worry you guys, after we leave this island, i will be a great warrior and not disappointed you."-Usopp
The others smile and encourage Usopp for that.
"But, are you sure you want to join the fast, Luffy?"-Nami
"Of course, i want to eat that semla too."-Luffy
"Ooh, i bet Luffy will not last for 3 days."-Nami
"I think it will be 2 days."-Robin
"No, he won't even last for a day."-Franky
The Straw Hats start to bet on how long Luffy can fast. Of course it infuriate Luffy, because his crew didn't believe that he can do it. The others just laugh and continue their betting.
Sometime later, Sanji leave to prepare the dinner with Astrid & her mother. Sanji have learned some Giant's cuisine, so now he want to give the Giants some of his cuisines. Astrid & her mother also want to learn, so they help Sanji to cook.
It didn't take long for the food to be ready, and everyone start their dinner. The Giants family got very surprised by Sanji's cooking. They really like the taste, and keep asking for more until they're full.
After dinner, the Straw Hats ask the Giants family about the festival. They gladly explain it to the Straw Hats. They also explain that the Giants will make the Semla for fasting preparation tomorrow.
Sanji decide to help the Giants cooking the Semla. The other Straw Hats also start to plan what they'll do in the 12 days of fasting. They need to use this time effectively but also enjoy their trip to this island. They can't waste their time by doing nothing, because their goal is getting closer.