"Good that you're fine. From now on, if something happens, tell us beforehand so we don't worry. Remember—you're not just on your own anymore."
Robin stared at Leno and urged him seriously.
"It's really great you're okay! Leno, you have no idea—what just happened was terrifying."
Carmen finally found her moment and launched into a vivid retelling.
"Yeah, my legs are still jelly. That was way too scary," Chopper said, still shaken.
"It was this sword's doing. I was careless for a moment, and my mind was struck by its killing intent."
Leno took out Huangquan and explained what had happened.
"And now that sword…?" Nojiko still looked uneasy.
"It's fine now. It's basically part of me."
He gave the long blade a shake and smiled at them.
Then he casually drew it—scarlet light flashed and vanished.
"Hiss—!"
Cold breaths sounded all around. In the instant the blade left the scabbard, killing intent flooded out; for a heartbeat, everyone saw a vision of a sea of corpses.
"What a terrifying sword! To hold such murderous will… what did this blade go through?"
Kuina was stunned; she'd rarely seen a weapon reek like this.
"Stupid Leno, put it away! I've got goosebumps everywhere."
Nami rubbed her arms, face pale, urging him to sheath it.
Chopper shivered and zipped behind Robin. "I—I think that sword just killed me! Thank goodness it was a hallucination. That thing's too scary!"
"Huangquan—the name fits. A blade born to bring death," Nojiko said gravely. "Leno, be twice as careful whenever you use it." (T/N: Huangquan = Yellow Springs/the underworld or realm of the dead)
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Leno said confidently, patting his chest as he looked around.
"The treasure has been collected, and we had an unexpected gain. This treasure-hunting journey has come to a perfect end. It's time for us to leave."
The group exchanged glances. There was nothing to pack, so they prepared to leave immediately.
"Oh? Looks like we're not leaving just yet."
A red glint flickered through Leno's eyes as he turned to look into the distance.
"What is it?"
Nami and the others paused.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
A regular pounding echoed across the ice. A hulking, pot-bellied old man with a white beard led a troop forward at speed.
Robin's pupils tightened. She spoke quickly to Leno. "Leno, the one in front is the 12th pillar of the Happo Navy—Chinjao. Decades ago, he was a notorious great pirate."
She swept her gaze over the rest. "At his peak, his bounty exceeded five hundred million—higher than yours. He's no joke—be careful. Behind him—the tattooed one is the current pillar, Sai, who's also Chinjao's grandson. Next to him is boo, the vice-pillar." (T/N: these are the only ones we know about this island xD)
Kuina and the others traded surprised looks—so this was an old-era great pirate.
Leno dipped his head—he'd already guessed. That frame, and the bright '12' tattoo at the eye corner—had to be Chinjao. (T/N: it's 13…)
While Kuina, Nojiko, and the rest watched the group warily, Chinjao strode right past them and rushed to the vast crevasse.
The closer he got, the more panic twisted his face; his steps even stumbled.
At the edge, he stared down into the empty vault—then collapsed to his knees and burst into wailing sobs.
"My treasure—my treasure's gone! You damned bastards! The Happo Navy's wealth across generations—gone! Scum! Animals! Mother—!"
He slapped the ice with both hands, cursing and bawling.
Watching a giant over five meters tall cry like a wronged bride, Leno's eye twitched. Nojiko and the others looked at one another, at a loss.
After a long cry, Chinjao suddenly seemed to remember something. He whipped around, glaring at them, then sprang to his feet and strode toward Leno.
"Kid, you seriously injured the leader of the Two Treasures Navy in my Flower Country, killed and wounded their soldiers, and now you've stolen my Happo Navy's treasure! You little punk, you've got some nerve! Tell me, how do you want to die?"
Facing Chinjao's fury, Leno raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know why I attacked the Two Treasures Navy? Or are you saying you're allowed to attack me, but I can't fight back?"
Leno stepped forward, staring at Chinjao with a half-smile... "Besides, your people struck first. I defended myself. What are you here for, exactly?"
Chinjao was speechless for a moment, then began to curse, spittle flying. "Then the treasure! You actually took everything! That was the Happo Navy's hoard— give it back immediately!"
"Not happening."
Leno refused flatly. 'Are you kidding? There's no way I'm giving back something that's already in my pocket.'
"As for that treasure—you should be thanking me. You can't break this ice anymore, can you? Watching piles of treasure under your feet and not being able to reach it—that hurts, right?"
"Now it's solved. I opened the ice and removed the treasure. Out of sight, out of mind—your heartache's gone. Doesn't that deserve a thank-you?"
He spun the nonsense with a straight face. For a second, Chinjao's rage wavered—'If the source of the pain is gone… then I shouldn't hurt…'
"You have a point... my ass! Bastard! You're going too far! That was originally my treasure, it's mine!"
"But you couldn't break the ice. If you can't retrieve it, how is it yours?"
"That was the Happo Navy's wealth across generations—"
"You can't break the ice."
"I put that treasure there decades ago—"
"You—can't—break—the—ice." Leno planted his fists on his hips, mockery cranked to max.
"Aaaargh! Bastard—die!"
"Armament - Hasshoken - Kiryu Kirikugi!¹" (Eight Impacts Fist Secret Technique: Drill Dragon Drill Nail)
Shame and fury boiled over. Chinjao's aura erupted; a green-tinged Conqueror's Haki roared upward, and his bulky body vanished with a whoosh.
Purple arcs sparked around Leno. He stepped in, coated his fist in Armament Haki, and punched straight ahead.
Boom!
Grrrrack—grrack—
Chinjao reappeared before Leno in a blink—their fists collided, his blackened knuckles slamming into Leno's strike.
"Vmmm—"
The blast from the clash howled in their ears. Conqueror's Haki scraped and tangled, and a shockwave laced with red and violet lightning ripped out in all directions.
T/n:
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