Shanks's Dilemma
Shanks and others returned to the dock and boarded the ship one after another.
Everyone was laughing and joking, the atmosphere was relaxed, and no one was affected by the misunderstanding at all.
When Beckman was about to step onto the deck, a voice suddenly came from behind him: "Please wait a moment."
It was Bellmère who had just fired the shot.
Bell-mère chased after them with a serious expression on his face and stopped several meters away from the pirate ship.
She raised the purse in her hand and looked Beckman straight in the eye: "The money you gave me is too much."
Beckman was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, saying in a relaxed tone, "Too many? Then please sell us some more oranges."
Bellemeier was stunned by the hearty laughter and friendly attitude. She hesitated for a moment and shouted to the villagers behind her, "Bring a few more baskets of oranges over."
When the villagers heard the shouting, they immediately went to move the oranges.
Nami and Nojigo were still hiding in the police station, their tense expressions relaxed a lot.
"These pirates don't seem to be bad people."
"But Bell-mère said pirates are bad people. She won't lie to us."
"Yeah, it must be because we have more people and the pirates are scared."
Soon, the villagers moved a few more baskets of oranges and placed them about ten meters away from the dock.
The trainee crew members moved the oranges onto the boat with great skill, and Merry, Shanks and others also returned to the boat.
"Set off!"
The pirate ship slowly sailed away from the dock.
Nami and Nojigo ran out of the police station, came to Bell-mère's side, and watched the pirate ship go away.
"Bell-mère, is this a pirate?"
"It doesn't seem that powerful, why are you all so scared?"
"Pirates are still very dangerous, but the pirates who came today are a little different."
Standing on the deck, Merry looked at the figure on the dock. She clapped her palms suddenly and suddenly realized: the little girl with short orange hair is Nami!
Oops! Merry grumbled with some regret. She didn't recognize Nami-chan just now!
I wonder how long Shanks and the others will stay in the East Sea? Perhaps she can sneak over here on her own sometime?
After all, Shanks and his pirate ship are too big and are often misunderstood and excluded.
If I had come here alone, maybe I wouldn't have been chased away.
After secretly making up his mind, the regret in Meli's heart disappeared.
"Everyone, come and eat oranges. They are very sweet!"
Uta transformed into an orange-delivering elf, holding a cut orange, and walked around each of her friends, delivering the freshest oranges.
"Thank you Uta-chan~"
"It's really sweet!"
Uta came to Meli's side and said, "Meli, what are you thinking about? Do you want to eat an orange?"
"Nothing, I want to eat." Meili came back to her senses. She took the orange handed to her by Uta, took a bite, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "It's really sweet."
"Rusang said that it's the season for oranges to ripen recently, and the quality of these oranges is particularly good. He wants to prepare an orange feast for us tonight."
"Orange banquet? Can oranges be used for banquets?" Meli was a little curious.
"Of course, oranges can be used to make orange cake, orange marmalade omelet rice, orange steamed eggs, orange soufflé, orange spare ribs..." Uta said as she gestured, as if those delicacies were right in front of her.
"Slurp~" Merry couldn't help swallowing, his eyes sparkling, "They all sound delicious!"
She couldn't wait for tonight's orange feast.
"Yes, Rusang's cooking skills are first-rate, and we can feast on it again."
......
The moon was high in the sky, as silver as silver, and the waves on the sea were shimmering.
The orange party came to an end, and the two children, Meli and Uta, had gone back to their rooms to lie down.
Many crew members in the restaurant were drunk, staggering and snoring.
Shanks came to the roof of the stern wheelhouse alone, his broad back looking a little lonely in the moonlight.
Next to him was a wooden box with the lid half open, revealing a dark blue devil fruit.
Shanks looked up at the moon in the sky and took a sip of wine. The wine slid down his throat, bringing a hint of spicy warmth.
In a trance, Shanks seemed to see the voice and smile of the late Captain Roger in the night sky.
That hearty laugh echoed in Shanks' ears: "Shanks, everyone has their own time to appear. It seems that I came too early."
The laughter was open-minded and free-spirited, but it made Shanks' heart tighten. He could feel that the captain seemed unwilling, but helpless.
A light breeze blew by, ruffling Shanks' fiery red hair. A few strands of hair were scattered by the wind, covering the darkness in his eyes.
Shanks raised his head and took a sip of wine, pondered for a moment, then stared down at the devil fruit in the box, a little absent-minded.
His thick, dark eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his gentle eyes showed a depth and solemnity different from usual, as if he was thinking about a century-old problem concerning the future.
A steady sound of footsteps came from the cabin.
Beckman came out, glanced around the deck, and finally his eyes fell on the roof.
When he saw Shanks, he showed an expression of "as expected".
Beckman jumped up, jumped onto the roof, and sat next to Shanks. He lit the cigarette in his mouth, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled a wisp of green smoke.
"Shanks, what are you struggling with?"
Shanks was slightly startled, then took another sip of his wine. He reached out and stroked the wooden box beside him, then asked, "Beckman, do you know why the navy is chasing us so closely?"
"The answer is obvious." Beckman's eyes also fell on the wooden box, "For this devil fruit."
"As expected of Beckman!" Shanks gave a thumbs up.
Beckman raised an eyebrow. "It's just a Rubber Fruit, why is the World Government so nervous?"
Shanks tapped his fingers on the wooden box, his expression somewhat unreadable: "Have you heard of the prophecy of the Child of Destiny?"
"Child of Destiny? Prophecy? Boss, do you believe in such imaginary things?"
"It's vague, indeed. But there must be some reason why a prophecy could be passed down for so many years."
Beckman realized that things might not be that simple. His eyes became serious and he said with certainty, "So, that's why the World Government is so afraid of someone getting this fruit!?"
"Ah, I haven't said anything yet, how did Beckman know?"
"You've said enough. Boss, other things are not important. Don't forget why you went to sea."
"Why go to sea..." Shanks looked into the distance, the endless sea and sky stretched as far as the eye could see. He suddenly laughed out loud, with a heroic and unrestrained laugh, "Of course, to become the freest person on the sea!"
Beckman also laughed: "I believe you can do it, and we will always be by your side."
"Ah, Beckman, you are really awesome!" Shanks hugged Beckman's shoulders with emotion.
"Boss, are you drunk?" Beckman smiled and pushed Shanks away. "Why are you so cheesy all of a sudden?"
"Hahaha, maybe it's because the moonlight tonight is too beautiful."
Shanks seemed to remember something and his smile gradually faded. "The next adventure will be even more dangerous. Perhaps I should leave Uta in the East Sea?"
Beckman was silent for a moment, then exhaled a puff of smoke. "Uta will definitely cry."
Shanks's face froze at the thought of his daughter crying.
Uta is very cheerful and optimistic most of the time and is not a crybaby.
However, Shanks' thoughts drifted back to when Uta was still young, and he couldn't help but feel a headache.
He remembered that when Uta was a baby, her crying could keep all the members on the ship awake all night, and everyone tried their best to coax Uta.
Shanks grumbled helplessly, "Let's just work on becoming stronger. That way, we won't have to worry about any dangers we encounter during the voyage."
"That's right. As long as we become stronger, we can protect our friends and our dreams."
"Fight for freedom!"
——————
East China Sea, Xiluobu Village
The sun had sunk behind the other side of the sea, and the sky gradually darkened, leaving only a few rays of orange afterglow lingering on the horizon.
Seven-year-old Usopp sat alone on a cliff by the sea, his legs dangling in the air, holding a slingshot in his hand, aiming at a seabird not far away.
"Swish—" the stone flew out, but fell into the sea some distance away from the seabird.
Usopp put down the slingshot in frustration. His mother told him that his father was already very good at shooting when he was only seven years old.
As the son of a sharpshooter, he was still far from perfect.
Can't embarrass Dad!
Usopp unwillingly raised the slingshot again, squinted one eye, aimed, and pulled tight...
Eh?
A dark shadow gradually appeared in the distance of the sea.
Usopp quickly put down his slingshot, leaned forward, and stared at the dark shadow that was getting closer and closer without blinking.
The shadow grew bigger and bigger and gradually became clearer.
Usopp's heartbeat couldn't help but speed up, and his eyes lit up instantly.
That's a huge pirate ship!
Usopp couldn't believe his eyes. He had never seen such a big ship before.
Could it be that Dad is back!?
Usopp stood up suddenly and ran down the slope with an excited look on his face.
The little figure ran to the beach, waving his arms wildly, jumping and shouting, "Dad! Dad! I'm here!"
The pirate ship was getting closer and closer, and its huge hull cast a huge shadow in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Usopp looked up at the huge and unfamiliar pirate ship. His initial excitement gradually faded away, and an inexplicable fear rose in his heart. His hands and feet began to tremble uncontrollably.
If his father wasn't on such a big pirate ship but other vicious pirates, everyone in the village would be in danger!
Thinking of this, Usopp's face turned pale, and he turned around and ran towards the village.
No! He must hurry and warn everyone!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
