Chapter 146 The Fourth Sea Emperor! ...
The Moon's Grimoire
Consume 100 sanity points and five rubies and five sapphires to temporarily gain the ability to summon the moon.
No matter what time it is, after reading this, the moon will be a full moon that night.
After agreeing to meet Hiyori again that evening and asking Yamato to help confirm the safety of Sakura, Dr. Shiyo, and the other geishas, Violet set off without stopping, following the directions on the [mysterious treasure map] to the location where the treasure was buried.
Chopper and Robin were naturally brought along by Violet to help with digging.
"This is the place, let's start digging!"
Robin and Chopper, who had never dug for treasure with the island lord before, were initially excited and expectant, thinking that the treasure map that the island lord had gone to so much trouble to find must be extraordinary.
What's buried inside? Is it the formula for a panacea that can cure all diseases, a book that records the secrets of a hundred-year gap, or a huge pile of gold that's difficult to move, or dazzling and precious gems?
Unable to glean anything from the island owner's deliberate act of bringing them along, Chopper and Robin excitedly swung their golden shovels, digging and digging and digging...
Ten minutes have passed...
Half an hour has passed...
An hour has passed...
Chopper and Robin went from being enthusiastic at the beginning to having listless eyes and stiff movements later on. The two children, covered in dust and dirt, looked quite pitiful.
Robin's eyes were lifeless: "I feel like I'm going to dig through this island."
Chopper, covered in sand, said, "I think I can smell the sea."
Just as the three of them were feeling sore backs and wondering whether to fight again the next day, Robin finally dug up the third thing besides mud and pebbles.
She was even more excited than the island lord. You see, as the digging progressed, she started using the Flower-Flower Fruit's power, wielding seven or eight shovels at the same time!
Violet: "Finally out!"
The group cleared away the surrounding dirt, following the outline of the gray-white marble.
[You have discovered a mysterious marble statue]
[Search progress for the mysterious marble statue: 3/4]
[The Historical Feast Quest has begun]
[A Historical Feast]
[Find all four mysterious marble statues and move them to the designated location. On a moonless night, repair the incorrect statue to its correct form to unlock the Historical Feast event.]
Is this the past, or the future? What bloody sacrificial secrets lie buried behind those cruel aristocratic activities? A crossroads of the world appears before you: will you choose to live a blissful, ignorant life in a beautiful, illusory dream, or will you choose to explore the historical truth that could shake the world?
"Island Master?" Chopper looked at Violet, who had suddenly frozen in shock, and waved his hand worriedly in front of her face. "Are you... are you alright?"
"I am fine."
Vera suppressed her excitement and replied.
As expected, her guess was correct. Based on the locations of the previous marbles, Vera had been guessing that the four Sea Emperors in the World Government's plan would correspond to four [mysterious marbles].
After the third [mysterious marble] was unearthed, the question marks that were previously marked on the surface finally turned into concrete numbers, confirming Violet's previous guess.
Only one left...
Violet: "..."
Valerie: "What on earth is Shanks doing? How old is he? Why doesn't he try harder?!"
After all these years, he still hasn't become one of the Four Emperors. Doesn't he feel ashamed?!
In the distance, Shanks, who was drinking heartily on the Red Fox with his shirt open, suddenly shuddered, looked up at Beckman's puzzled gaze, and then sneezed several times in quick succession.
Beckman: "..."
Beckman took two steps back in disdain.
Shanks, unconcerned, grabbed the cloak he was sitting on and pulled it up to wipe his face.
"Haha, maybe Marco is thinking of me."
Upon hearing this, Beckman rolled his eyes, stubbed out the nearly burnt-out cigarette on the deck, took a new one, lit it, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and then shouted at the ship's doctor, who was listening to the crew sing "Binks' Wine" not far away.
"Hongo!"
"The boss seems a bit out of his mind, let's take a look at him!" He's started fantasizing about Marco joining the Red-Haired Pirates again, such an unrealistic thing!
"What?! I'm not drunk! I wasn't saying... is that even possible?!" Shanks took another sip of his drink, belatedly realizing that Beckman was indirectly implying he was daydreaming. "Damn it, I'm your captain!"
Beckman hummed in agreement and calmly said, "This is truly the most unfortunate thing that has ever happened to me in my life."
"What? You're not satisfied with a captain as wise, brave, handsome, and powerful as me? Beckman, you're too greedy!"
Beckman was thoroughly disgusted by Shanks. He took a deep breath, grabbed the barrel of liquor next to him, and threw it into Shanks' arms: "Keep drinking."
Because in the last fight, he accidentally destroyed the enemy ship's hold containing important supplies, which Beckman had repeatedly warned him about before the battle, causing them to leave without any spoils and make a wasted trip, Beckman was furious and immediately halved Shanks's alcohol supply until they could find more to replenish it.
Unfortunately, whether it was because their Red-Haired Pirates were too famous or because of the huge commotion they caused after their fight with Whole Cake Island, they managed to wander around the New World several times without a single foolish pirate ship coming to their door.
So Shanks has been stuck with this half-serving treatment until today. He had just finished his last bit of his share, and the bucket that Beckman threw over was a real surprise.
Watching Shanks gulp down the barrel of liquor with one hand, Beckman rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on: "Take it easy, Big Boss."
"Well, this little injury is nothing."
Shanks' remaining right arm was wrapped in layers of bandages, an injury sustained during his battle with Loki in Elbaf. The enormous "cursed prince" was quite powerful, and Shanks almost lost his remaining arm in Elbaf as well.
Shanks was clearly recalling that battle, leaning against the barrel with a hint of reminiscence.
"Elbaf is a nice place."
Beckman calmly said, "Once this news, along with the news of our successful invasion of Whole Cake Island and our safe retreat, reaches the World Government's ears, your title as one of the Four Emperors will probably be confirmed."
Shanks showed neither excitement nor fear; he simply picked up a large bowl and silently drank his wine, his bright red hair framing a pair of sharp eyes.
Elbaf, the land of giants, holds a special place in the world. After Shanks led the Red-Haired Pirates to defeat and imprison the rebellious giant prince Loki, Elbaf was incorporated into the Red-Haired Pirates' territory.
Not long after the Red-Haired Pirates left Elbaf, his... biological father?
That Celestial Dragon somehow found out their whereabouts and sent CP0 to find the Red-Haired Pirates, trying to make Shanks a front man for Figarand.
……ridiculous.
Without hesitation, Shanks dragged the CP0 member to the Dragon Bone. As for the Den Den Mushi that was contacting Grimm, Shanks grabbed it and berated it severely, which angered Grimm so much that he killed the Den Den Mushi with a single sword strike before the conversation was even over.
Any words of disobedience to the Celestial Dragons are punishable by death, but the Red-Haired Pirates, after listening to Shanks' entire speech, raised their hands and cheered for their captain's finally sharp words.
Great, so the Great Leader can be sarcastic and sarcastic too!
Shanks: ?
Why did he feel that this wasn't a compliment?
However, Shanks felt a genuine sense of pride looking at his excited crew.
These are the crew members he selected.
From high-ranking officials to interns, not one was attracted by the conditions offered by Green Gusseng, nor was anyone afraid of Green Gusseng's threats.
Despite their injuries, they were not dejected. They stood together shoulder to shoulder, singing pirate songs in somewhat unison.
They were celebrating yet another victory under Shanks' leadership, cheering for their valiant performance in the battle. As for the Celestial Dragons and Grimm, they became pirates because they loved this unrestrained and free life; how could they possibly become the Celestial Dragons' lackeys for a little favor?
Beckman chuckled as he recalled Shanks knocking on his door in the middle of the night, saying he couldn't sleep because he hadn't performed well when he was scolding Green Gospel during the day.
"Wow..." Shanks squinted at Beckman, "Beckman, your smile is... Shameless. Who's going to be in trouble this time?"
Beckman: "..."
Beckman gave Shanks a cold look, and just as he was deciding to make Shanks suffer today, a newsbird suddenly flew down above them.
"Hey, wasn't today's newspaper delivered this morning?" Yasopp, who was closest to the newspaper bird, was also a little tipsy. He reached into his pocket, confirming that he was out of the coins he usually kept for buying newspapers. He couldn't help but chuckle and point his flintlock pistol at the seagull perched on the railing. "Hey, you want to sell it twice?"
He placed his hand on the trigger threateningly, saying, "Just drinking isn't fun. It feels like it's been ages since I've had roasted bird meat. Lu's roasted bird meat smells so good..."
The messenger bird was so frightened that its feathers stood on end, and it hid behind Gabu amidst the laughter of the pirates.
The ship's doctor raised an eyebrow: "You certainly know how to find someone to hide from."
Although Gabu looks fierce, it has a soft and kind heart. This seagull was quick to spot the most suitable person to shelter it.
Hongo looked at the bulging package it was carrying, thought for a moment, and then took out the money for a newspaper and handed it to it.
The newsbird, which had been trembling with fear at Yasopp's words just a second ago, suddenly lit up its little black eyes when it saw Bailey. It flapped its wings and flew directly from Gabu to Hongo, nuzzled him affectionately, and then took a newspaper from its crossbody bag and handed it to Hongo.
This is truly a case of forced buying and selling.
He now understood why Morgans' business was so successful; with such money-grubbers under his command, how could the business not grow so large?
Speaking of money-grubbers... Hongo suddenly thought of a place that has recently become quite famous in the New World.
R'lyeh.
R'lyeh Fruit and Vegetable Line is quite famous on the Grand Line. Pirates drift at sea year after year, and they can only get water by drinking alcohol, which is less likely to breed bacteria, let alone fresh fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables that can be transported by sea are priced more than ten times higher than those on land.
Although the Red-Haired Pirates have many islands under their control where they can replenish their supplies, and the crew members on board are all meat lovers who can survive by fighting Sea Kings, Hongo, as a doctor, is well aware of the dangers of vitamin deficiency.
So when Hongo heard that there was a freight route called the "R'lyeh Fruit and Vegetable Line" on the Grand Line, promising to trade the freshest vegetables, he was tempted.
...However, he didn't expect at first that this R'lyeh fruit and vegetable express line was actually Violet's business, and that the person in charge of transporting the goods was Teach from the Whitebeard Pirates, and another person who looked like he came from the World Government.
While pirates are known for not considering background when recruiting subordinates, Violet's approach is just too outrageous!
Shaking his head and sighing to himself, Hongo casually prepared to put the newspaper he was forced to buy aside, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of his captain's incredibly handsome photo on the front page.
"The fourth Emperor of the Sea has been born: Red-Haired Shanks!"
"Its subordinate pirate crew is the Red-Haired Pirates, also known as... the Iron Wall Pirates!"
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Author's Note: Congratulations to Shanks for finally becoming one of the Four Emperors!
Violet and Sengoku, urged on by Violet: [doge]
This is what happens when you have connections in high places; it makes things easier! [shy]
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