Standing atop the ocean, a giant elephant, which has been walking for an unknown length of time due to past transgressions, seems to be weeping. Yet, no tears flow from its decayed eyes, and apart from its unimaginable size and somewhat decayed appearance due to the passage of time, this elephant looks no different from an ordinary one.
However, Vlad hears a sound resembling crying, filled with immense pain. "Hey, interesting," Vlad chuckles. "What sadness could you be feeling, a giant elephant?"
"Woo—!!!!" A long and immense sound arises in Vlad's mind, not in a physical sense. He could see that the elephant's mouth didn't move, yet the sound unmistakably occurred in his mind.
"Hey, elephant, can you hear me talking?" Vlad shouts. "Can you hear me!!!"
"Woo woo woo!!!!!" An even larger sound bursts forth, causing Vlad's eyes to bulge as the overwhelming volume almost knocks him into the sea.
"Alright, alright! Enough already!" Vlad waves his hands, shouting, "It's loud enough! Stop it! Any more, and I won't be able to handle it!"
The elephant understood Vlad's words as the tremendous noise gradually subsided, and tranquility returned around Vlad.
"Whew—" Vlad sighs deeply, rubbing his head, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the elephant's cry, which felt as loud as thunder.
Then, a meaningful smile curls up on Vlad's lips. "It can understand." He mutters, "This elephant seems to understand what I'm saying?"
It's indeed astonishing. Even for an elephant that has lived for over a thousand years, even one as large as an island, it is, after all, just an elephant—a super-sized one. But being able to comprehend human language is both thrilling and terrifying.
"Very interesting!" Vlad speaks to himself, "Zunisha can understand me, but I can't understand its sounds. That's fascinating!"
Zou Island may be shrouded in mystery, but it is a tangible part of the New World. Many have visited this place, including the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, who was also a guest on Zou Island.
"I faintly remember Roger saying he could hear a grand voice, but he couldn't communicate with it," Vlad tries to recall the manga he read in his past life; it's been a long time, and apart from the significant events, he doesn't remember much.
"Oh, and Oden and later Luffy could also hear Zunisha's voice, but they too seemed unable to communicate with it. Only that little guy, Momonosuke, seemed to be able to command Zunisha," Vlad strokes his chin thoughtfully, "That kid was special, huh?"
"Zunisha has been walking with Zou on its back by command of its previous master as punishment for its sins, but Momonosuke can command Zunisha, which means—"
Vlad laughs, "I need to visit the Kozuki Clan!"
"Speaking of which, my situation differs from that of Roger and Luffy, right?" Vlad contemplates, "Roger and Luffy could hear Zunisha's voice, but their voices couldn't be understood by it. This situation is the exact opposite of mine."
"Zunisha can understand my voice, but I can't understand Zunisha's!"
"Whahaha! How interesting!" Vlad laughs heartily, taking flight and heading directly towards the cloud-covered Zou.
"The secrets hidden in this world are becoming more and more fascinating!" Positioned high above, able to overlook the sea of clouds, this is the proper form of Zou.
It's not the rugged back of a giant elephant, as one might imagine, but a lush, verdant forest.
Flying high—so high that even a vast place like Zou could be seen in its entirety, Vlad could see a thriving city nestled quietly within the dense forest.
The island is called Zou, and the city built on the back of this elephant forms a nation known as the Mink Tribe, not inhabited by humans but by a species akin to those only found in fairy tales.
Like beings evolved from different animals into human-like forms, these beings, both human in shape yet retaining animalistic features, exist only on this unique island known as Zou. This incredible phenomenon makes one wonder why humans evolved in such a man-only herener.
"Well, I've arrived at the location, but what should my next move be?" Vlad floats in the sky, deep in thought, "Ah, this feels super troublesome!"
Vlad's arduous search for Zou wasn't for tourism; there isn't much interest in Zou besides the Mink Tribe. He's here for something else—a Road Poneglyph.
As is well known, the Void Century's hidden history is recorded in the Road Poneglyphs, which includes the location of the final island, Raftel, now erased from history.
To reach Raftel, one must first locate it, which is recorded on four special Poneglyphs known as the Road Poneglyphs. One can only obtain the "ticket" to the final island by gathering all four.
Vlad knows the locations of three of the Road Poneglyphs; one is with Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, and another with another Emperor, Big Mom. Despite their formidable power, these two Emperors treasure these Poneglyphs as if they were their lives. Having spent years with the Big Mom Pirates, Vlad never saw that Road Poneglyph.
Those two are currently beyond Vlad's reach, limited to mere thoughts. But the last one he knows of, hidden here on Zou, is within his grasp.
Yes, the Road Poneglyph is hidden on Zou!