Zou, New World.
"The Elephant Lord is seriously huge," Enel muttered, craning his neck as he stared up at the colossal silhouette before them.
"I told you to read more," Crocodile said dryly from the side. "Instead of gaping at everything like an idiot."
Enel snapped his head toward him. Every single time he opened his mouth, Crocodile just had to counter him. "Then you explain it. Go on."
Crocodile glanced at him and spoke slowly. "This is called, the elephant is too big for one pot."
Enel paused. "You're messing with me. I remember it as, the Kun is too big for one pot."
"Shut up," Crocodile replied flatly. "You walking escapee from compulsory education."
Lightning crackled faintly around Enel. "You want to fight?"
Crocodile's body began turning into sand. "Perfect. I'll teach you properly."
Before things escalated, a calm voice cut in.
"That's enough," Rolan said. "We're here for business, not to watch you two embarrass yourselves."
Both men turned away at once, clearly irritated but unwilling to continue.
They had come to Zou because Rolan confirmed the existence of a Road Poneglyph here and ordered Kuro's crew to take a rubbing of it.
The secrets of the Final Island interested everyone.
So Kuro, Enel, Crocodile, and Robin had come personally.
Robin had not been part of the original plan, but the moment the word poneglyph came up, she insisted on joining.
As Enel guided the ship upward, slowly ascending onto the back of the massive elephant Zunesha, a towering city gate came into view.
Carved clearly into the stone were the words:
MOKOMO DUKEDOM.
"Mokomo Dukedom," Robin murmured, eyes shining with curiosity. "The atmosphere alone suggests ancient history. There must be countless secrets hidden here."
The walls were tall and imposing. A watchtower stretched upward, disappearing into the clouds. The gate itself was a massive iron door.
"Who goes there?" a monkey shouted from the tower.
A wild boar appeared beside him, staring at the group. His expression changed instantly.
"Pirates," he yelled. "Ring the bell, they're invading."
Dong.
Dong.
Dong.
The alarm echoed across Zou as bows and arrows were raised along the walls.
Robin stepped forward quickly. "Please wait. It's true we're pirates, but we aren't here to invade."
She already knew who they were dealing with.
The Mink Tribe of Mokomo Dukedom, one of the rare genuinely kind races in the world.
The wild boar hesitated. "Are you good pirates? Are you good people?"
Robin thought for a moment. "I suppose we are."
"That's great," the boar said happily. He waved his hand. "They're good people. Open the gate."
Confusion spread across the walls.
"They're good?"
"Really?"
"Oh, then open it."
Weapons were lowered almost immediately.
Creak.
The iron gate slowly opened.
Kuro's crew stood stunned.
They really just opened the national gate that easily.
Enel clicked his tongue. "Aren't you worried we might be lying?"
The boar blinked. "But the beautiful lady said you weren't bad people."
Crocodile pinched the bridge of his nose. What was the point of walls this tall if the residents were this naive?
Robin was equally startled, but considering the Mink Tribe had lived safely atop Zunesha for centuries, it made sense in its own way.
They were led through the city.
The view inside was breathtaking.
Ancient brick houses lined the streets in orderly rows. At the center stood a massive structure resembling an inner fortress, and towering above everything was a giant tree with a unique shape.
If not for the constant reminder of Zunesha's movement beneath their feet, it would have felt like a normal island.
Suddenly, a white blur rushed toward Robin.
A white rabbit Mink leapt onto her, pressing her face against Robin's cheek.
"Karu Chu."
Robin froze.
The wild boar laughed. "That's our way of greeting those we feel close to."
"Please come," he said. "The duke wishes to see you."
…
"You are Rolan's people."
The speaker had canine features, brown fur, and dark ears. A stitched scar ran across his left cheek. He wore a wine red cloak and carried a long sword at his waist.
Duke Inuarashi.
Unlike the others, his eyes were sharp and cautious.
"What is your purpose here?"
It was no exaggeration to say that Rolan and the Ion Tempest were among the most dangerous forces in the world. Their captain's strength was said to rival anyone alive, and worse, he was far too young for that level of power.
If they were here, it was not for sightseeing.
"We heard you possess a large red stone," Enel said lazily, picking his ear. "We came to take a rubbing."
Inuarashi's heart tightened.
A Road Poneglyph.
That secret was known to very few, primarily the Kozuki Clan.
How did Rolan know?
If these pirates decided to take it by force, could Mokomo Dukedom truly stop them?
He kept his composure. "We have no such stone."
Enel's gaze sharpened. "Are you calling us liars?"
A violent aura burst from him.
Inuarashi felt his body lock up, as if his life itself was no longer his to control.
Then a hand pressed down on Enel's shoulder.
The pressure vanished instantly.
...