Chapter 147 A New Beginning
That night.
Violet arrived at the banquet with Chopper and Robin.
It seems that the battle between Violet and Kaido has depleted all the rain clouds near Wano Country. Tonight, there isn't a single cloud in the sky. Countless stars, like icing sugar, are scattered across the dark purple night sky, and a crescent moon hangs high in the sky, draping everything in a soft, white veil of moonlight.
Hiyori, Yamato, Sakura, and Dr. Shiyo have already taken their seats. Hiyori and Yamato spent the entire day dealing with the chaos following the coup, reorganizing various personnel, and personally knocking on the doors of any discontented individuals to "persuade" them one by one, armed with a spiked club.
So this banquet was mainly prepared by Sakura and Doctor Ziyang. The two geishas, who had been carefully trained since childhood, had excellent aesthetic sense. Without the need to match the grotesque decorations and food that had to be put together with the rough pirates, the banquet, which was prepared entirely by the two women's wishes, changed Violet's stereotypical impression of banquets as messy. She was pleasantly surprised as soon as she got close.
There was no pungent smell of alcohol, nor any gaudy piles of treasure; there was only delicious food, beautiful young women, and softly flickering candlelight.
Violet led Chopper and Robin to their seats, while Yamato, who had been busy all day, was frantically chugging juice.
Unlike Violet, Yamato, a pirate, is not a heavy drinker. However, she is not picky; she enjoys strong liquor, rice wine, and fruit juice.
Yamato, who had been so busy all day that he didn't even have time to drink water, looked listless. It wasn't that he was tired, but rather that he was incredibly bored.
She'd rather fight that bastard father again than do this job again.
After obtaining the list of nobles in the general's mansion, Hiyori instructed them to come and meet the new general. Of course, some of them were dissatisfied, so Hiyori personally went to each of them to "invite" them.
Yamato had initially thought these guys were somewhat capable given their toughness, and she was looking forward to a few good fights. However, when she kicked open the door and slammed her spiked club on their heads, the guys immediately cowered and cried, declaring that they had no ulterior motives towards the new general.
Yamato was sick of hearing all sorts of flattery.
Sitting at the banquet, feeling the refreshing night breeze and the beautiful moonlight, I finally calmed down a little.
After Vera took her seat, Hiyori, who was holding a shamisen, looked at her expectantly. Vera didn't keep everyone waiting and took out "The Moon's Magic Codex" to read.
Everyone felt a gentle breeze, and the silvery moonlight that had been shining fairly on everyone seemed to favor her after Violet opened the book with its mysterious patterns and orange-yellow crescent moon, making the moonlight on her even more intense.
Hearing a small gasp from the usually composed Physician Ziyang beside him, Rihe looked up and saw a sight she would never forget.
Under her gaze, the crescent moon, which had been missing a corner, gradually filled in. Whether it was her imagination or not, Hiyori felt that the full moon was bigger and more beautiful than any she had seen before.
"This is... an illusion?"
To liven up the banquet atmosphere, geisha would also learn some techniques and illusions, among which water illusions and fire illusions were common performances at banquets.
As for Violet... although it was a bit extravagant, considering the series of earth-shattering and awe-inspiring actions she took after arriving in Wano Country, they couldn't completely reject it.
“No,” Vera rubbed her throbbing temples, “it really did change the phase of the moon.”
This means that at this very moment, anyone who is not asleep can witness the entire process of the moon's phases changing!
However, in order to fulfill the promise and to allow her to play "Tsukihime" under the full moon, he made such a bold move!
Violet wasn't too worried. The sudden change in the moon's phase would naturally raise suspicions, but finding out she was responsible would be virtually impossible. Besides, Violet didn't think her actions were anything outrageous; skills were meant to be used, and if she liked them, she would use them!
Violet thought whimsically, "Nothing is more important than the players' happiness!"
Violet: "We can see such a beautiful moonlight, thanks to you, Hiyori."
If it weren't for Hiyori's shamisen technique that increases sanity, no one would have seen such a beautiful full moon!
Others should really thank Hiyori!
No need to pretend to be mature, nor to force herself to suppress her emotions, Hiyori laughed so hard that her hairpin trembled.
“That’s true, Lady Violet.”
Hiyori calmed herself down, raised her hand and gently plucked the shamisen, and after confirming the tone, she began to play.
Like pearls rolling on a jade plate, the pure and elegant Tsukihime, accompanied by the sound of the shamisen, seems to emerge from the full moon and slowly descend to earth...
——
"This is the last time I'm confirming with you." Violet stood on the ship, looking at Sakura. "Are you sure you want to leave Wano Country?"
"Yes, sir!"
Sakura changed out of her gorgeous but heavy kimono and stood on the shore in just a simple dress. Beside her was the "handmade toy fanatic" whom Violet had only heard of but never seen.
He had a bulging backpack on his back, and through the torn bandage, you could see a corner of a fluffy doll standing next to Sakura, seemingly holding her hand as if to encourage her.
Sakura grabbed his hand first, causing his face to suddenly turn red.
"We've already thought it through. Although Hiyori and Yamato have succeeded each other as Shoguns of Wano Country, we don't know when the matter of opening the country to the outside world will be confirmed." Sakura longed for the world outside Wano Country.
"Sir, we are already extremely grateful that you can help us leave here. Just drop us off on a small island, and we can take care of ourselves."
That's a bit naive. Although Wano Country was oppressive and dark under the rule of Kurozumi Orochi, it still managed to maintain a normal social order to some extent. However, most of the islands on the Grand Line were pirate territory, governed by the naked law of the jungle.
If Sakura and that craftsman were to arrive on an unfamiliar island with a considerable amount of money, they could start preparing to practice scuba diving the very next day.
Although the mission would be considered complete once Sakura left, Violet certainly couldn't just abandon her on some random island like Sakura suggested.
Violet currently has two options. One is to have Sakura and the others come to Raleigh. However, the problem is that although Violet now has the title of Shichibukai and doesn't need to worry about the Navy's threat, the probing attacks from the pirates have suddenly increased.
Every single person in R'lyeh, except for Bonnie who is still learning to speak, is capable of protecting themselves and even fighting multiple opponents. Sakura and the others have not received any martial arts training, and Violet cannot guarantee that they will not be injured in the melee.
Another idea is to send Sakura and the others to an island owned by Mr. Newgate.
Given Violet's relationship with the Whitebeard Pirates, asking them to take care of Sakura and the others wouldn't be a problem at all. Moreover, the Whitebeard Pirates' islands are the largest among all the major powers in the Grand Line, so there should be a place where Sakura's dream of becoming an actress can come true.
After confirming that Sakura was determined to leave, Vera told them about her two ideas.
One option is to stay on Violet's island, where there will be danger, but also the personal protection of someone she knows best. The other option is to stay on Whitebeard Pirates' territory, which would require leveraging Violet's favor, and there's no guarantee of receiving more protection...
Sakura paused for two seconds, then decisively said, "I want to go to the Whitebeard Pirates' territory."
Trapped in Wano Country, Sakura knew very little about the Whitebeard Pirates or the Grand Line, but she knew that Violet had helped her a lot. She keenly realized that only by going to that island under the Whitebeard Pirates could she have a chance to find a second spring in her career and possibly help Lady Violet someday in the future!
Looking at Sakura's determined face and the man beside her who seemed to think "Sakura is always right," Vera suddenly smiled and said, "Sakura, you want to be an actress in the future, right?"
"Ah, yes, that's right, Lady Violet!"
"Hmm, then after you become famous..." Via Bapi Er reappeared, "Can you advertise for the R'lyeh Fruit and Vegetable Express?"
Sakura was surprised that Violet would actually invite her. Although she mustered up her courage and thought that she should repay Violet no matter what, she actually had no idea what to do.
But Violet not only helped her leave Wano Country, giving her the opportunity to pursue her dreams, but also gave her the chance to realize her dreams and repay her kindness at the same time.
Sakura looked at Vera with teary eyes: "Definitely, definitely... Your ad will definitely be the first one, and it'll be free!"
Violet: Hey! She's a real genius in the investment world!
Violet was downcast because she failed to woo Hiyori, the artistic genius, but she was also happy because she got a permanent free advertising space.
As for Sakura not becoming famous and only being able to play minor roles for the rest of her life...
Putting aside the fact that Sakura's looks alone would make her a star in the entertainment industry, just look at who Sakura is! She's the second NPC in the Wano Country arc, after Kaido, to give her a mission!
Given her uniqueness and status, it's hard to believe that the planners didn't focus on her and develop a complete storyline.
"Alright, then I'll take you to the Whitebeard Pirates."
It would be a good opportunity to contact Izo and give him the letter that Kikunojo asked her to pass on.
The Den Den Mushi that Marco prepared for Violet was always kept in his medical room. Even if Marco himself was away for some reason, he could ensure that there were his brothers recuperating in the medical room so that any call Violet made could be answered immediately.
Coincidentally, among the people in the medical room this time was Izo.
Izang, Harta, Namir, and Tichi were either standing or sitting in the medical room.
Of them, only Namur and Tich were recovering from their injuries; Izang and Harta were simply there to keep their injured brothers company (and mock them).
This is especially true of Namuel.
It's not because Izo and the others favor one brother over another; it's just that Teach has now become someone the entire Whitebeard Pirates envy the most!
Ever since Violet "sharply spotted" him and made him the bodyguard for R'lyeh Fruits and Vegetables, Teach has been able to easily earn a large amount of Pele every now and then.
This time, because that brat Shanks stirred up trouble on the Grand Line, he accidentally got a minor injury and received a large sum of "medical expenses" from R'lyeh!
It hasn't been that long, and Teach is already the one with the biggest stash of money among his brothers!
Teach felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he listened to everyone's teasing.
He concealed his true identity and infiltrated the Whitebeard Pirates because the chances of finding the Dark-Dark Fruit he craved were greatest within the Whitebeard Pirates.
So he suppressed his ambition, pretended to be uninterested in any treasure or status, and patiently played house with Whitebeard and his so-called "brothers," all in order to one day obtain the key to unlock his path to becoming king!
As a result, because of that brat's interruption, he was actually sent to do something like being a cargo bodyguard?!
Although he was earning more and more money every day, his dream was to become the emperor of the sea or even the pirate king, not just a rich man.
He hardly spends any time on the Moby Dick anymore, and he's more like a member of R'lyeh than a member of the Whitebeard Pirates. But his established persona of "disliking fighting," "having no ambition," and "wanting to be happy and carefree" is so firmly rooted that he can't even bring himself to refuse!
Whenever he heard people's well-intentioned teasing, Teach could only force himself to speak to them despite his breakdown.
Teach was still in a state of collapse, and Namuel was also listless.
Last time, he was on his way to seize Kaido's territory on his father's orders. He was almost certain of success, but he didn't know when that guy, Daiki, had such a powerful subordinate who possessed abilities similar to the Ice-Ice Fruit. As a result, he was frozen before he could even use his water combat skills.
But his "good brothers" didn't believe it. The Ice-Ice Fruit was in the Navy's possession, and besides that, only Violet had a similar ability. It couldn't be that Kuzan joined the Beasts Pirates, or that Violet joined the Beasts Pirates, could it?
Everyone agreed that Namuer must have been hit in the head and was no longer thinking clearly.
Izang: ...
He knew that Violet had indeed gone to Wano Country during this time, and before she left, she even called him to ask about information about Wano Country.
Could it be... such a coincidence?
Blue blue blue...
Namuel, who was closest to the phone, instinctively picked it up.
"Eh, that's Muir?" Vera recognized the other party from the changes in the Den Den Mushi. The bandages on the Den Den Mushi were unusually conspicuous, which suddenly reminded Vera of something.
The injuries on Miu'er's body, it seems, were inflicted by her?
"...Are you feeling better?"
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Author's Note: The Wano Country arc is temporarily over [praise emoji]. Next up, time to find Shanks [shy emoji].
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