Chapter 38: Escape of Wapol [VIP]
"Wahahahaha, I'm free! I'm free--!!!"
East China Sea, islands.
Early in the morning, an extremely excited shout rang out in the jungle, startling a group of children who were studying in the kendo hall.
These curious children were not focused on practicing sword skills. After hearing the sound, they quickly stopped swinging their swords and looked curiously in the direction of the sound.
This Shimotsuki Gym, hidden in the jungle, is located in the mountains of Shimotsuki City.
Before the respected Captain Yale occupied this place, Shimotsuki City was still a small village called Shimotsuki Village.
Most of the children in the village are sent by their parents to the Shimotsuki Kendo Hall to learn kendo.
Even if you can't become a powerful swordsman, you can still strengthen your body and consume your energy.
After Captain Yale occupied this place, many changes took place in Frost Moon City.
Not to mention the citizen ID cards and the mayor selection, first of all, things have naturally become more lively.
After Shimotsuki City was merged into the [Island Group], there were many more outsiders here.
Some come here to learn kendo, some come here to settle down, some are optimistic about the development prospects here and want to do business, and some simply want to travel around the islands and broaden their horizons.
Not to mention those outsiders, many people in the village also want to go out and see the world.
Especially the city of Rogue where Roger was executed. They had long wanted to see the execution platform.
Just like that, some people left and some people came in.
The newly established city government recounted the population and found that the number was actually slightly higher than before.
People who were once homeless now have homes, people who were once unable to find jobs now have suitable jobs, and the villains who once bullied men and women have received the punishment they deserve.
Even the children have schools to go to.
Dedicated teachers will take children's education more seriously than their parents do.
While everyone has changed to some extent, Shimotsuki Kozaburou is glad that he has been able to remain the same.
He still runs the kendo gym and leads a peaceful and comfortable life, although his days are much busier than before.
After taking a sip of tea, he put down today's World Trust Newspaper and looked in the direction of the sound with the children.
There was a rustling sound in the woods not far away.
After a while, a huge guy covered in steel leaped out and landed on the ground with cheers.
"I am free—wahahahaha, this king—"
The extremely excited voice stopped abruptly when he saw the gazes of everyone in the kendo hall.
Leaning against several broken branches, Wapol stood there stiffly for a long time before he managed to comfort his pounding heart.
Never mind, never mind, Wapol, they're just a bunch of clueless people.
Just don't tell them that you escaped against the orders of the East China Sea Devil!
"Ahahaha, today... today's weather is so nice."
Wapol laughed stiffly, then suddenly thought of something and quickly broke off a branch nearby and put it in his mouth.
"Wow!"
"It's a puppy!"
Amid the children's cheers, he turned the branches and grass leaves he had eaten into toy puppies and toy rabbits.
"As long as you like me, haha, but don't tell anyone else that you've seen me~"
In a tone that even he himself found disgusting, Wapol reminded himself that he was enduring humiliation.
In the past, how could he have compromised with a few children? But things are different now. The hateful East China Sea devil captured him and made him work in the factory day and night.
His men only had to work 12 hours a day, but he had to work the full 14 hours!
They say it is a punishment for his previous cruel tyranny. How was he cruel in the past?
He even left 20 doctors to treat the people, and all the people had to do was kneel down and beg him!
Unable to endure the abuse any longer, Wapol decided to escape.
The first time he escaped, he informed his subordinates, but they turned around and sold him out - so he had to work a full 15 hours before he could leave.
The second time he escaped without informing his subordinates, he was eating a building in a village when the metal balls flew towards him - he was caught again, and this time his punishment was to have his salary cut in half.
Now, it was Wapol's third escape.
He turned himself into an iron box and escaped by mixing in other boxes.
He learned all the lessons from his previous failure. First, he did not inform anyone, and second, he did not eat anything from the village.
Poor him, he could only go through the most remote woods on the way and could only eat some branches to fill his stomach.
But what Wapol didn't expect was that there were people living in this forest.
It happened just when he was letting himself go and planning to celebrate.
"Hahaha, so cute!"
“I like this little bunny.”
"Shh, the bell is ringing, we should go to school."
In the distance, the first school bell rang.
The children packed up their things, took the small wooden toys they had received from Wapol, bowed goodbye to Shimotsuki Kozaburo, and then ran to school cheering and making noise.
Shimotsuki Kozaburou looked at their backs gently, then looked at Wapol who was moving nervously.
The other party seemed to want to take this opportunity to escape quickly, but was afraid that making too big a move would arouse Shimotsuki Kozaburo's suspicion.
"You..." Shimotsuki Kozaburo had just opened his mouth when he suddenly heard Wapol's stomach make a loud "gurgling~" sound.
He closed his mouth and then smiled gently.
"If you don't mind, would you like to stay here for dinner? We are a guest from afar."
Shimotsuki Kozaburou soon regretted saying this.
Because just as Wapol finished his words, he bit the supporting pillar of the dojo.
…
After a brief panic and resistance, Kozaburo finally saved his house and sat face to face with Wapol to have breakfast.
"The taste of your wood is just average, but I'm tired of metal lately, so something lighter wouldn't be bad."
Wapol chewed the firewood that Kozaburo used to burn for his evening cooking and made a vague comment.
“…As long as it suits your taste.” Kozaburo looked at him with complicated eyes and put a mouthful of rice into his mouth.
"You're the pirate who got caught and then escaped, right?" Wapol sneered as he quickly moved to the side. "Don't be nervous. I won't tell on you."
"Cough cough cough...you...you you..." Wapol looked at him in horror, then looked around in fear, fearing that a metal ball would suddenly appear and take him away.
Fortunately, no metal ball came over. He then nervously lowered his voice and asked, "How did you know?!"
"It's simple, you look like a pirate." Kozaburo laughed.
"Captain Yale can take away other people's fruit abilities, but he didn't take away yours. I think you must be useful to him."
Hearing the word 'useful', Wapo shuddered.
But he still had to correct one thing first, "I'm not a pirate, I'm a king! The king of the Grand Line Iron Bucket Kingdom!"
"King?" Kozaburo showed an expression of surprise, his eyes shifted slightly to the side, and then turned back to Wapol.
"Well, it seems I judged people by their appearance."
"Yeah, don't do that again." Wapol nodded in agreement, but he always felt that there was something wrong with his words.
Wait! Doesn't this mean... he looks like a pirate, not a king?
Feeling offended, Wapol was about to get angry symbolically, but after looking at the other two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, he immediately calmed down.
No, no, he had to finish eating and leave quickly. The longer he stayed here, the more dangerous it would be.
Wapol asked cautiously, "By the way, when will your family come over for dinner?"
"Ah, them..." Kozaburo was stunned for a moment, then smiled and turned his gaze towards the direction where two sets of bowls and chopsticks were placed.
"They... have finished eating."
He spoke softly, his gaze focused as if there really were two people there who had finished eating.
"Hahaha, Dad, this guy seems to be scared by you!"
The girl with short blue hair laughed heartily, holding her stomach and almost fell down at the table with laughter.
Fortunately, a hand was vaguely protecting her behind her back.
The woman who looked somewhat like the girl looked at her tenderly and gently scolded her, "Take it easy, don't kick the table over."
"I-I'm leaving!" Wapol stood up suddenly.
For some reason, he always felt a little uneasy when he saw the look in the man opposite him.
Kozaburo looked at him, but didn't try to stop him. He stood up and said, "Be careful on your way. I remember if you go one island further north, you'll reach the seaside."
"Thank...thank you."
Wapol did not realize that he had learned to be polite to others during this period of negotiation.
After thanking him, he ran away, full of anticipation towards the freedom he thought he would get soon.
Little did he know that at this moment, high in the sky, the terminal that was monitoring Shimotsuki City had allocated a tiny bit of computing power, using the idle camera to closely follow him and display it synchronously in front of its owner.
Shaking his head, Yale turned off the surveillance screen and looked at Morgans, who had not yet completely retracted the pity in his eyes.
"There's no need to be so nervous. Am I that scary?" Yale asked casually, making Morgans even more nervous.
When people are nervous, their minds go blank.
Yale felt bored and didn't know how to relieve his boredom for a while.
I've already visited Future Island, and there's not much to see there that's interesting.
The one he was most interested in - the endless energy that Vegapunk was researching - had just gotten started.
He looked at their research records and design drawings, and after realizing that it was nothing more than controlled nuclear fusion, he lost interest.
What should I do?
Chasing?
The Straw Hat Pirates haven't reached the next island yet.
There have been some updates on Smoker's side, but they're definitely just some trivial things like looking for someone, and it's a bit boring to watch them so frequently.
By the way, the Red Hair Pirates... they are really slow.
I should ask for a few more devil fruits then, or I'll just kidnap their captain.
Ah, he can even broadcast live!
Seeing the surveillance Den Den Mushi installed in the corner of the roof, Yale suddenly thought of the propaganda method that he had almost forgotten.
I have been thinking about looking at the problem with this world's thinking, but as I was looking at it, I forgot about such a convenient means of threat!
The author has something to say:
Others judge whether food is delicious based on its appearance, aroma and taste, but Captain Yale is different. His only criterion for evaluating the deliciousness of food is its energy value.
The higher the energy value, the more delicious it is to him. He eats almost every moment, absorbing the energy around him, so he never feels hungry.
He will take the initiative to eat for the following reasons only: ① curiosity ② want to do it because he wants to ③ no reason ④ just saw ⑤ the food contains more energy.
His favorite thing to eat is something called Earth's core crystal. A small piece the size of a palm is enough to contain tons of helium-3 superfluid.
The chefs of the Eternal Night Pirates are always worried about how to make energy blocks such as core crystals look more like a dish that can be placed on a plate, rather than just a pile of energy-filled stones.
*Helium-3: Thermonuclear reactors using helium-3 do not produce radiation and will not cause harm to the environment.
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