"Shirogai, have you predicted that some major event is about to happen?"
Before Robin could continue, Zoro spoke first in his usual blunt manner.
Zoro was still Zoro. Even after being affected by the Horm-Horm Fruit, his personality remained direct and unwavering, regardless of gender.
"Just say it," Zoro said seriously. "We're ready to face anything."
"..."
"Hm?"
"Yeah, Shirogai's tone feels strange..."
The rest of the crew also noticed the unusual atmosphere and turned toward Shirogai with questioning looks.
"Hehe..."
Facing the curious gazes of his crewmates, Shirogai did not try to hide anything. He smiled lightly and spoke calmly.
"Yes. Through the power of the Straw-Straw Fruit, I've foreseen that an unavoidable event is about to occur."
"For the Straw Hats, this won't entirely be a good thing. Even though all of you will gain unimaginable fame because of it, still..."
Shirogai paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the crew with a slightly complicated expression before he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Even so, for the world as a whole, the benefits far outweigh the losses. This is something that must happen, and only you all can accomplish it."
"What is it?"
Luffy blinked curiously with wide eyes.
"Shishishi, nobody else can do it?"
"As for that..."
Shirogai looked at Luffy and grinned.
"Other than you all, no one can accomplish it. Even monsters like the Yonko or the Admirals would be powerless before it."
"And because you'll achieve what nobody else could, you'll become the heroes of the entire world."
"Huh? We're gonna become world heroes?"
Luffy instantly raised his arms excitedly.
"Woah! That sounds awesome! Sounds fun too!"
"Really!? We're going to save the world and become its saviors?"
Usopp, who had been sulking over his feminized appearance moments ago, suddenly lit up.
"That's amazing! We're going to save the world!"
His excitement immediately overwhelmed his previous depression. Adventure and glory reignited his spirit, pushing aside all thoughts about the Horm-Horm Fruit.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho! The saviors of the world?"
Brook, who had regained flesh because of the Horm-Horm Fruit and now possessed unusually fair skin, laughed while lightly playing his violin.
"To think these bones would reach the level of a world savior, yo-ho-ho-ho! What a marvelous fate!"
"We'll become heroes known across the world?"
Chopper looked at Shirogai excitedly, his little blue nose twitching.
"Will Dr. Kureha see it too? Then I'll become a real man who saved the world!"
Shirogai gently patted Chopper's head and smiled warmly.
"Of course. By then, Chopper will be a true hero who saved the world. Not only will Dr. Kureha see it, but Dr. Hiriluk will too."
The moment he heard that, Chopper became overjoyed.
"Really!? Hee-hee-hee! That's awesome, Shirogai!"
Chopper never doubted Shirogai's words.
Experience had already proven how reliable Shirogai's predictions were.
Unlike Usopp's lies, Shirogai's words always came true.
"SUPER~!"
The robot girl Franky struck a dramatic pose as her chest shook exaggeratedly.
"A WOMAN who saves the world!? That's SUPER cool!"
"Saving the world, huh..."
Sanji, currently in his female form, casually held a cigarette between his fingers while releasing a pink cloud of smoke.
"This beauty isn't interested in becoming some hero. But if saving the world also means saving every beautiful lady on the sea, then I guess it's worth doing."
"I have no desire to become some world-saving hero."
The shark girl Jinbe instinctively reached for his beard before awkwardly realizing it was gone.
"However, if it means eliminating the source of the Fish-Men's suffering and allowing my people to finally live in peace, then it's something worth doing."
"This sounds suspicious."
Nami narrowed her eyes behind her mask as she stared at Shirogai.
Something about his words bothered her deeply.
"What exactly are you talking about? What do you mean by 'only you all can accomplish it' and 'you'll become the saviors of the world'...?"
Why was he saying "you all" instead of "us"?
Nami immediately noticed the subtle detail in Shirogai's wording. Somehow, he had excluded himself from the group.
"Shirogai, what exactly is going to happen?"
Nami pulled him to the side and lowered her voice uneasily.
"Hehe, I can't say. If I reveal it, destiny itself might hear."
Shirogai gave her a dazzling smile, speaking like a mysterious sage.
"You're seriously irritating sometimes!"
Nami clenched her fists, resisting the urge to punch him. If Shirogai did not look so ridiculously handsome right now, she would have already hit him.
Shirogai simply chuckled softly, his eyes briefly lingering on Nami's annoyed expression with obvious amusement.
"You'd still look beautiful even while angry, Nami-san."
"Hah! Flirting won't save you this time!"
Even so, the corner of Nami's lips twitched slightly upward before she quickly turned away.
Robin quietly watched the interaction from the side, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"Tch, idiots."
Nearby, the blindfolded giantess Loki scoffed coldly.
"Saving the world? What's so impressive about that? Destroying it sounds far more interesting. Only fools become heroes."
Loki's life experiences had taught her one cruel lesson.
Heroes were idiots.
Most heroes sacrificed themselves for others, throwing away everything just to protect what they cherished.
And in the end, many of them still failed.
Just like her foolish father.
He sacrificed himself, became a slave to others, and died in chains.
Yet he still failed to save Elbaf.
Failed to save Ida.
"Yeah... heroes really are fools."
Shirogai's smiling voice suddenly echoed beside her.
"Even so, they're exactly that kind of fool."
"The kind willing to sacrifice themselves just to save the world."
===
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