Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Nami turned to Pagaya with an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry, Uncle, please ignore him." She then glared at Luffy, "Apologize!" and her "fist of love" quickly followed, leaving Luffy with a bruised nose and a swollen face.
Luffy, looking a bit disheveled, rubbed his face and sheepishly said to Pagaya, "Extremely sorry~"
Pagaya, taken aback by the spectacle, just waved his hands dismissively, "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."
Meanwhile, Robin, standing next to Conis, remarked, "Although Luffy seems very unreliable, I assure you he means well."
"I haven't doubted that," Conis replied, shaking her head with a laugh. She glanced at her father, who was attempting to intervene before Nami could launch another punch, and smiled warmly. "It's refreshing to meet you. My father hasn't been this cheerful in a long time."
Robin simply nodded, her gaze wandering around the room. Zoro and Bai Ye were busy peeling shrimp for Chopper and Merry; Sanji, ever the attentive host, presented a specially prepared dish to Nami; Usopp was deep in conversation with Pagaya; and Luffy, ever the opportunist, was sneakily snagging food from Zoro's plate.
Observing all this, Robin realized that since joining the Straw Hats, she too had found a happiness she hadn't known in years. A content smile spread across her face as she looked around.
Outside, night had fallen over the island, but the darkness did nothing to dampen the lively sounds of laughter echoing from Conis's home.
-----
In the sacred grounds of Upper Yard, before a shrine-like structure, sat four solemn figures in meditative poses. They were enveloped in silence, each waiting with bated breath as if anticipating a momentous event.
Suddenly, one of the figures grimaced, biting his lower lip so fiercely that his face paled and his body shook with visible tremors, betraying his agony. Observing this, one of his companions chided him gently, "Hey, Gedatsu, how many times must I remind you? Don't forget to breathe."
Jolted by the reminder, the suffering figure—Gedatsu—gasped audibly, drawing a deep, desperate breath. After a moment of recovery, he admitted sheepishly, "I...I forgot."
Gedatsu, known for his octopus-like hairstyle and draped in a purple suit, serves as one of the four priests under the rule of Enel. He presides over the "Ordeal of Swamp," notorious for its 50% survival rate.
Beside him, a man clad in sunglasses, bald, and gripping a formidable long sword, remained quiet. This was Ohm, another of Enel's priests, entrusted with the "Ordeal of Iron." His demeanor and weapon suggested his expertise in swordsmanship.
A chuckle broke the silence, "Oh ho ho, why would God Enel summon us at such an hour?" This came from Satori, the most rotund of the group, his curly red hair and oversized white outfit with yellow gloves marked his distinctive presence. As the guardian of the "Ordeal of Balls," he oversaw a trial with a mere 10% survival chance.
The last of the group, who had yet to speak, finally offered his thoughts, his voice tinged with seriousness, "Probably those Shandia guys." His striking mustache, aviator cap, and goggles, along with a heavy flight suit, identified him as Shura. He was in charge of the "Ordeal of String," feared for its brutal 3% survival rate.
The tension among the four priests of Enel was palpable. Shura, with a flicker of confidence, boldly claimed, "If Mr. Enel had entrusted the Shandia tribe to me, this matter would have been resolved long ago."
Satori couldn't help but sneer, his eyes narrowing as he retorted, "Oh ho ho, such arrogance. I can't just let that slide."
Before the conversation could proceed further, Gedatsu chimed in eagerly, "If Lord Enel had appointed me as the sole priest, I would certainly..." His voice trailed off as Ohm cut him short, scoffing, "An idiot who forgets to breathe could hardly handle being the only priest."
Gedatsu's face contorted with offense, "Huh?!" he exclaimed, as the air thickened with tension. The four priests eyed each other warily, hands inching toward weapons, poised on the brink of confrontation.
Just as the standoff reached its peak—
Crunch.
The door swung open.
The imminent clash was disrupted, drawing the priests' attention as they stepped into the inner sanctum of the shrine. Inside, other figures lingered; some were lesser servants of Enel, clutching cattail fans or plates of food, while others exuded an aura nearly rivaling the priests themselves, a testament to their might as part of Enel's elite forces.
As the priests entered, one of the senior figures stood, his voice cutting through the tension, "You dare to brawl here? Do you seek to rebel? Show respect before the god!"
Chastened, the priests halted, their bluster deflating under the weight of authority. Though they were ambitious, their fear of Enel's wrath was greater.
Shura, undeterred, gestured toward Enel's empty throne, his tone edged with challenge, "Commander, where is our god?"
Ohm added with a hint of insolence, "He summoned us. Why does he not appear?"
Their discontent was palpable, a rare crack in their usually unshakeable loyalty.
Gedatsu murmured apprehensively, "Master Enel..."
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A fierce thunderbolt tore through the night sky, crashing into the temple with divine fury!
Ohm barely had time to look up before the overwhelming power of the thunder struck, "What?!!"
The four priests were hurled against the shrine's walls, engulfed in smoke and debris. Amidst the chaos, a sinister chuckle resonated through the air.
As the dust settled, the figure of God Enel materialized, his presence commanding and absolute. Adorned with a white turban and gold adornments, his bare upper body stark against the backdrop of his throne, Enel exuded the raw power of the storm itself. Unlike other Sky Islanders, he bore no wings but a thunder drum on his back.
Sitting leisurely on his throne, Enel's gaze swept over the stunned priests, his voice dripping with disdain, "Where am I? As a god, I am everywhere!"