The moonlight was like water, and the cold wind was sobbing.
Shano walked with a leisurely pace into the ruins, gazing at the already dead Golden Lion, and remained silent for a while.
He extended his right hand and helped close the eyes.
This guy...
Though he was an infamous pirate, he had once had the ambitions and courage to change the world, a legend of the old era.
Falling by his hand is no disgrace.
Then Shano stood up, glanced at the two broken famous swords and then at the blood-stained ship's helm beside them.
Comparing the two...
It seems like the latter has a higher points value, after all, it had become a symbol of the Golden Lion.
It'll be this one!
Shano casually picked up the ship's helm and initiated the sacrifice.
[You sacrificed the Golden Lion's ship's helm and gained 6000 points]
[Golden Lion's Ship's Helm]
[Quality: Legendary]
[Value: 6000 points]
[Appraisal Comment: The symbol of Golden Lion Shiki, bearing the extremely special historical significance of the Aite War. If not for that storm, and this heaven-sent ship's helm, it would have been Gol D. Roger who was defeated. Who would have become the Pirate King then?]
Hmm?
It actually has six thousand points?
Shano was somewhat surprised.
It's worth quite a bit more than the fleece from the current Four Emperors and Three Great Admirals.
Although I didn't have as much fun in this trip, solving the hometown's hidden danger and getting such an extra surprise truly made the journey worthwhile.
"Hope the Dragon Ball World colleagues can snag it next month."
Shano closed the system panel, feeling pleased, and sincerely gave his blessing in his heart.
Rumble!
At this moment, the ground started to shake abruptly.
Shano had anticipated this. He leapt up and returned to the ground, looking around.
Sure enough.
After losing the support of the Float-Float Fruit ability, the main island and surrounding islands alike plunged straight towards the sea below, like giant birds with broken wings.
Shano used Moonwalk to reach a high place, gazing at the distant village, and noticed the panicked people fleeing, which made him slightly stunned.
The island's villagers haven't finished evacuating yet?
Didn't I specifically remind them before...
Where on earth is Aokiji, what's he doing!
Shano furrowed his brows, intending to use Moonwalk to rush over and check.
But suddenly, he noticed something. He landed on the edge of the Floating Island with a Moonwalk, and looked down below.
At some unknown time, dozens of giant ice pillars were erected at an altitude of ten thousand meters, connecting heaven and earth like gigantic jade pillars.
The tops of the ice pillars were umbrella-shaped, slightly concave in the middle, resembling giant trays.
The archipelago had hardly fallen for a few seconds, with the acceleration yet to peak, they were held steady by these trays.
"Ah la la, don't be so anxious."
A lazy voice came from behind, and Shano looked back to see Aokiji walking towards him leisurely with his hands in his pockets:
"I am a Navy Grand Admiral after all. This minor task was entrusted to me, and I managed to handle it well."
He pointed at the ice pillars and shrugged:
"Since you went up to duel with the Golden Lion, I've been preparing for this with all my might. After all, if these many islands crash down, the nearby area of the East Sea might suffer an unbelievable tsunami."
"Not bad."
Shano grinned, looking Aokiji up and down.
This guy appeared nonchalant, but his breathing was noticeably heavier than usual, and his shirt collar and armpits were all soaked with sweat stains.
Tsk, to make the ice maker sweat like this...
It seems creating ice pillars of this scale required quite a bit of effort and skill.
Although exhausting, preserving the villagers' homes intact in this manner was certainly far better than his earlier disaster relief proposal.
Would Akainu and Kizaru do the same?
"Hey."
Aokiji felt creeped out by his stare and couldn't help but say, "What's with those eyes, stop it, just stop it, alright? I don't want to hear more of your nonsense."
This kid...
He didn't know why, but felt as if he was completely exposed in front of the other, as if everything inside and out was seen clearly.
Just like last year in the City of Gastronomy.
Despite being the one who approached proactively, in a few words, he was instead manipulated by the other, almost shattering his dao heart.
On the way back, my bike inexplicably vanished, fell into the sea, and I soaked in cold water for quite a while.
It's a memory best left forgotten.
"Stop being narcissistic, you think I want to recruit you?"
Embarrassed by being exposed, Shano's face reddened, and he scoffed:
"Go on being a Navy Grand Admiral. I'm not short on people for now, but if one day you really find it unbearable..."
He grinned at Aokiji, "Come to the New World and have a drink with me, I won't mind."
Will that day come?
Aokiji made no comment, giving no answer.
His gaze shifted downward, "I just requested support. Looks like the warships have arrived. There are many pirates under Golden Lion, shall I handle them?"
"No problem."
Shano laughed heartily, "Just pay me the bounty. The Golden Lion's head is pretty valuable."
"Do you think that's possible?"
Aokiji glared at Shano, displeased.
A dignified Sea Emperor asking them for a pirate's bounty? This guy really knows how to ask.
Why don't you just go to the Holy Land and ask for Celestial Gold?
Besides, this target was willingly given up by him. Even if Shano hadn't come, he had the confidence to defeat the once mighty Golden Lion.
At most, he just wouldn't have been able to do it as leisurely and quickly as Shano...
Aokiji squinted his eyes slightly.
Including the time to land, the whole battle took less than half an hour; it was really quite startling.
Who knows at what level this guy's strength is now?
If I were to go against him alone, what would be my chances of winning…?
"Really not giving any money, so boring."
Shano didn't notice Aokiji's thoughts. He pouted uninterestedly, "Then I'll take my leave. Oh, by the way, those civilians on the island..."
"Don't worry, I'll arrange everything and keep an eye on it for a while to ensure they can settle down again."
Aokiji looked into his eyes and said solemnly.
"Alright."
Shano nodded. Since Aokiji made a promise, it could be trusted.
He took one last look around this high-altitude battlefield, his gaze sweeping over the Golden Lion's body and the approaching Navy battleship in the distance.
"I'm off."
He casually waved his hand, turned around, and stepped onto a Moonwalk, disappearing into the clouds under Aokiji's watchful gaze.
...
The morning breeze in the East Sea was still as gentle as it was back then.
Two days later.
Shano rode his hoverbike along the increasingly familiar route, and finally saw the outline of Cocoyashi Village on the vast blue ocean.
"Finally back again..."
He couldn't help but smile.
Over the past year, he ventured through the Grand Line. It was indeed eventful and never dull.
But ultimately, this coconut tree-filled land is the most tender place in his heart to call home.
Finding time to come back feels truly wonderful.
After docking at the pier, Shano put away his bike and headed towards the village along the rural path where he once dragged Ah Long to make shark sushi.
His hands were in his pockets, he walked slowly, leisurely enjoying the long-missed scenery on either side.
Even though he was low-key enough, the fields in this season were always full of playing children. Seeing him, they paused in surprise, then burst into excited cheers.
"Hey? Is it Brother Shano!"
"It really is! Brother Shano is back!"
"Quick, go tell everyone!"
Some clever ones rushed back to spread the word, and soon the whole village was in an uproar.
Before reaching the village entrance, Shano was surrounded, his path blocked by passionate villagers including many familiar faces.
Like Uncle Ken, the village doctor Dr. Nagao, and even the tearfully excited Scar, Fatty Ox, Skinny Monkey, and others.
"Shano! Has the big shot from our village finally returned? Haha!!"
"Boss! Finally seeing you again, sob sob..."
Ken parked his bicycle, squeezed to the front with his signature propeller hat, and happily gave him a bear hug:
"You brat, it really is you. I thought those naughty brats were teasing me. Don't leave tonight, let's have a good drink!"
"No problem, Uncle Ken."
Shano laughed heartily, his gaze lingered on the spinning little windmill for a second before moving away, then patted the shoulders of his old subordinates Scar and others.
Then he looked around: "By the way, what about the CP Department people, are they still watching you all?"
This question almost didn't need to be asked.
Because according to the plan discussed with Uncle Ken over the phone, if the CP Department people were still here, he would not be greeted with smiling faces.
Instead, he'd be met with flying eggs, vegetable leaves, and the driving away with brooms and hoes.
As expected.
Ken confidently patted his chest in response:
"Rest assured, we've been keeping an eye on those guys. Since last winter, they've gradually reduced their surveillance."
"In early this year, after news came from the New World about you having a battle with the Navy, they completely withdrew and haven't come back to bother us."
"That's good then."
Looks like all the drama from this year didn't go to waste.
Hmm?
No, something's not right.
Shano suddenly had a feeling, looking to the right in confusion.
The act has ended, so why is there still a big white dog glaring at me with resentment?
"Woof!"
...
At the banquet that night, unsurprisingly, Shano got thoroughly drunk.
The villagers took turns drinking with him, leaving him dizzy, and after at least hundreds of glasses of strong liquor, even a Sea Emperor couldn't handle it.
So he simply lay back and fell into a deep sleep on the spot.
In the end, it was Ken who pushed him home with the bicycle, with Scar and Fatty Ox helping to support him.
The next noon.
Shano rubbed his temples as he walked out of the bedroom, the hangover headache making him feel dizzy, and he sat down on the sofa in front of the fireplace.
Just as he was about to lean back.
A warm cup of ginger ale pressed against his neck.
"Finally awake, huh? Here, drink it while it's hot; it can help sober you up."
A familiar gentle voice came from behind, and Shano froze, slowly turning his head after a long pause.
A woman with a deep red ponytail, wearing an old apron, was sitting down with her legs crossed after pulling out a chair by the dining table.
She lit a slim cigarette, her eyes curved, laughingly tilting her head at him:
"Hey hey, why are you standing there in a daze? Cat got your tongue? Or is it because you've become a Sea Emperor and no longer know how to greet people?"