Chapter 109: Long Time No See, Momoo
"Alright, now we need to pick a lucky Sea King to serve as our power source. Who could be so lucky?" Rodney chuckled as the Black Pearl continued its descent. The sea creatures they encountered grew larger as they descended, and among the many Sea Kings, he was searching for one that caught his eye.
"Hmm, isn't that...?"
He noticed a sea cow lurking among the long, red mangrove roots, eyeing them hungrily. This sea cow had a nose ring, green scales, and a massive figure. It looked oddly familiar like he had seen it somewhere before!
Yes, wasn't that Momoo?
Rodney snapped his fingers, and it was settled.
"Captain, have you found a suitable target?" Reiju asked.
"Of course, did you see that sea cow?"
"I saw it, but it seems rather weak," Reiju's intuition told her that this Sea King wasn't particularly strong, possibly even quite weak.
"Yeah, you're right. Momoo isn't strong at all. Back when I was in the East Blue, I had beaten it up. And you know what? I rode on its back when I entered the Grand Line. Before I met Robin, I was on my own all that time," Rodney laughed and patted the ship's railing. "Brook, get me some Bubble Coating."
Rayleigh had given him some notes explaining how to temporarily transfer a portion of the ship's bubble coating to a person, allowing them to move freely in the seawater without being affected by the pressure.
Although the water wasn't too deep now, with sunlight still penetrating the surface, the water pressure could hinder Rodney's movements.
"Alright, Captain, have you chosen Momoo?" Brook, having received a Bubble Coating, asked as he handed it to Rodney.
"That's right, from start to finish. Since it was Momoo that brought me into the Grand Line, let it take me into the New World as well," Rodney said, jumping out of the bubble coating.
This coating was quite robust. Unless it was hit by a large-scale attack or an immense force, it wouldn't break. Rodney trusted Rayleigh's craftsmanship.
Entering the seawater coated in a bubble, Rodney felt no pressure at all, and he could move easily and swiftly.
Moonwalk!
He used the technique to propel himself forward.
Before him were the long, dangling roots of the Yarukiman Mangroves, home to various creatures, both predators and prey, creating a miniaturized food chain.
And Momoo was part of it, now at the top of the food chain. As a Sea King, it was unbeatable for ordinary sea creatures; in the sea, you needed another Sea King to defeat one.
"Hey, Momoo, do you remember me?"
Rodney approached a sea cow busy munching on a large fish. Since leaving East Blue, Momoo had returned here and started hunting for food, though it was accustomed to eating cooked food.
Suddenly, a human voice echoed in the sea, and it sounded somewhat familiar. Momoo snorted in disbelief. How could there be a human voice in the ocean? That was impossible! How could humans speak underwater? It must be a hallucination due to hunger.
"Momoo, look up at me. We've known each other for a long time."
Seeing that Momoo was ignoring him and continuing to eat, Rodney called out again.
Momoo paused, its body stiff, as it looked at Rodney underwater. On this day, Momoo remembered the fear of being controlled by this human! Damn it! Why was this human here? Wasn't he supposed to be on the surface of the sea? How could he appear on the ocean floor?
"Hey, Momoo, it's been a long time! I'd like to ask you for a small favor." Rodney said.
Go away! Who wants to help you?
Momoo felt a terrifying pressure from Rodney's swinging arm, as if it had been targeted by a more powerful Sea King. Momoo fell silent; it didn't want to provoke this human further. Fine, fine, let's consider this a good deed. After all, Momoo was the kindest Sea King in the ocean.
"Haha, don't make that expression, Momoo. You've always been a good helper. You brought me into the Grand Line, so let's entrust you with taking me into the New World this time," Rodney patted its head, reassuring it that he wasn't that scary. He swam forward, guiding Momoo towards the Black Pearl.
"Bring some ropes," Rodney called out. Robin handed him several sturdy ropes. One end was tied to the ship's bow and sides, while the other end was secured to Moo-Moo's horns.
"Momoo, take us to Fish-Man Island. We're counting on you," Rodney waved his strong arms.
Momoo nodded vigorously and swam through the depths of the ocean.
Originally, they had seen the colorful and beautiful ripples of sunlight as it filtered through the seawater. However, as the Black Pearl continued to descend, they encountered more and more creatures, the surroundings grew darker, and the water became colder. Robin and the others donned warm sweaters.
"Yohohoho! It's so cold! The water temperature has dropped quite a bit. Even as a skeleton, I'm feeling chilly, even though I don't have skin. Thanks, Mr. Leicester," Brook said as he received a steaming cup of tea from Leicester. He took a sip, feeling the warmth seep into his bones. It was an indescribable comfort.
"In this cold environment, sipping a cup of hot tea is truly enjoyable," Brook remarked.
"Captain, won't you have a cup?" Leicester offered.
"Oh, thanks," Rodney replied. He stared intently into the dimly lit sea, sipping the tea. It did taste good.
"Captain, what's on your mind?" Robin asked curiously.
"I just feel like the sea is so mysterious," Rodney said pensively.
"The sea is incredibly mysterious, especially when compared to space. Humans have a much better understanding of space than the ocean. In this world, the Fish-Men probably have the most knowledge of the underwater world. Humans haven't even fully explored the surface of the sea, let alone the depths."
"There are many mysteries in this world," Robin said, shaking her head. "The Void Century, the Will of the D., the Three Ancient Weapons... There are so many enigmatic things."
"Yeah, and we're going to explore them all. But before that, we need to establish a base and develop our strength. The monsters in the New World are beyond imagination, far surpassing anything in Paradise. While I can roam the seas freely on my own, I have all of you behind me now. So, I must build my own power! We'll use that power to protect ourselves and those who choose to follow us. It will also be the sword in my hands!"
"I'm going to conquer a vast territory and make the world tremble because of me! Hahaha!" Rodney said, striking a dramatic pose, leaving Brook clapping in admiration.
The others who knew Rodney well turned their heads away awkwardly, not wanting to engage with his teenage fantasies.