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Chapter 148: Do You Believe?
On the street, pedestrians frequently took notice of the three outsiders who clearly weren't locals.
Walking at the front were a petite maiden with ice-blue hair and a boy wearing a straw hat who was constantly looking around.
The height difference between the two was less than half a head. Although their styles and temperaments were distinct, the image of them walking together was unexpectedly harmonious, possessing an indescribable compatibility.
A step or so behind them, a mature woman with long black hair and wheat-colored skin followed closely. Her gaze rested gently on the backs of the two in front, looking intellectual and tender.
Of course, the main reason they attracted so many eyes was that the blue-haired maiden was simply too dazzling.
Her figure was delicate and slender, her height far below the average for women in the Grand Line.
But that blue hair symbolizing noble status, the pair of exquisite horns gleaming with a gentle luster in the sunlight, her tender skin that seemed out of place in this rough sea, and her bold, alluring attire that no one had ever seen before—all of it made onlookers sigh with emotion:
She's probably a princess from some country, right?
Almost everyone who saw the maiden had this thought pop into their heads.
Several pirates squatting in the shadows of an alley exchanged glances. Their eyes swept over the blue-haired maiden and the black-haired woman behind her, clearly harboring ill intentions.
Just as they prepared to step out of the dark alley to cause trouble, several pairs of hands suddenly emerged from nowhere and grabbed them back. With a few crisp cracks, they were laid out silently in an unnoticed corner.
"Apologies. I can't let you disturb the time between the Captain and the Vice-Captain."
Robin lowered her hands, which she had crossed over her chest at some point. Her gaze returned from the alley to the two people in front of her. Seeing their peaceful silhouettes, a faint smile unconsciously surfaced on her face.
Seeing those two walking side by side brought an indescribable joy to her heart.
"Ne, Ganyu, Robin, how did you know I was here?"
Luffy asked with a grin, seemingly completely unaware of what Robin had just done.
However, as he spoke, he did something unexpected—he suddenly reached out and plopped the straw hat from his own head onto the head of the maiden beside him.
The wide brim instantly covered half her face, revealing only a delicate chin and slightly pursed lips. The pair of eye-catching horns poked out from under the brim, actually adding a touch of playfulness.
With half her face obscured, the charm she unconsciously radiated—which sent the hearts of the surrounding men of the sea fluttering—was dampened by a third.
"Wow..." Behind them, a certain intellectual older sister covered her mouth and let out a soft gasp. The sound was quiet and immediately suppressed, so neither Luffy nor Ganyu heard it.
Ganyu was also stunned. Her eyes blinked beneath the shadow of the brim. She hadn't expected Luffy to do this suddenly, but soon, a faint smile slowly emerged on her lips.
She understood, naturally.
This thick-headed guy would always do unexpected things at certain moments.
"We saw you when you entered the shop," Ganyu answered softly, reaching up to adjust the straw hat, mainly to ensure the brim avoided the tips of her horns.
She had privately tested it before; her Qilin horns were as sharp as Zoro's famous swords. If she wasn't careful, she might poke two holes right through the straw hat.
"We knew you didn't bring any money when you left, and since a certain idiot who was supposed to bring you money got lost again, we came back specifically to find you after circling the island."
"Oh, is that so—"
Luffy walked side-by-side with Ganyu, hands clasped behind his head in a leisurely manner. occasionally looking back to exchange a few words with Robin.
"Robin! The meat at that shop just now was super delicious! If you have time, you and Ganyu should go try it too!"
"Sounds good," Robin nodded with a smile. "But even if their skills are good, they can't compare to our cook, can they?"
"Uh... definitely can't compare to Sanji. But hey, changing flavors once in a while isn't bad."
"If Sanji knew you said that, he'd definitely be angry," Ganyu interjected.
"Shishishi! Then let's go secretly and not tell Sanji!"
The three chatted idly as they walked, unknowingly arriving at a remote part of the island.
This area was also near the sea, but it wasn't the harbor where the Going Merry was docked. It was more like the flip side of the island—desolate and uninhabited, save for one or two strange, large ships and a few lonely wooden houses.
Strange equipment was piled around the wooden houses: giant gears, a rusted diving bell, metal components that looked like harpoons or anchors...
Each item exuded an aura of decay and age, as if they were antiques salvaged from the deep sea.
"What is this place?"
Luffy looked at the strange scene before him. He scratched his head in confusion, then his eyes rolled, and he pointed at Ganyu, laughing loudly.
"Haha! Ganyu, did you catch something from Zoro? Did you lose your way back too?"
He looked very excited, seemingly ready to tell Usopp and Chopper later that even Ganyu could be a klutz.
Slap.
Ganyu lightly swatted his shoulder, exasperated.
"Idiot, what are you so happy about?"
Although she didn't know exactly what he was planning, she could read that gloating expression.
She sighed, retracted her hand, and turned to look at the dilapidated wooden houses and the eccentric equipment.
"We came here for serious business."
She first exchanged a glance with Robin, and after receiving an affirmative nod, she looked at Luffy with a serious gaze.
"Luffy, have you ever heard of Sky Island?"
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