Usopp, Nami, and Chopper stood before a wide passageway. Its arched ceiling was lined with cracked stone and vines. The air was damp.
"This is strange," Nami murmured. "It looks like the inside of a tunnel… but I can see a courtyard on the other side," she added.
Usopp squinted into the gloom. "Is Hogback's out there?" he asked.
"If he is not, that's bad. If we go back, the zombies will catch us," she replied.
Suddenly, a light snapped on overhead. It casted a harsh glow onto a brick wall at the far end of the passage. Two thick ropes hung from the ceiling.
"A light just turned on," Chopper whispered.
Nami narrowed her eyes. "It's not just any light… it looks like a stage spotlight," she replied.
Usopp took a step back. "Why would there be stage lighting in a tunnel?" he asked.
At that moment, a tall and slim woman appeared. She had various stitches across her body and pale blue skin. Her eyes were flat and dull. She did not smile. Her left leg had a web pattern across the inside of her thigh and the number 400 tattooed on her calf. She wore a short black evening gown and black high-heeled boots, with a red-orange fur boa wrapped around her neck
"Welcome," the maid said sweetly, balancing a stack of porcelain plates in her arms.
Usopp, Chopper, and Nami froze, their eyes bulging comically. "This is bad," Usopp whispered.
Without warning, the woman hurled three plates straight at Usopp. "One, two, three!" she counted cheerfully.
The plates smacked Usopp square in the face, sending him stumbling backward.
"What the!" Usopp yelped as he clutched his nose.
"Four, five," she added as she launched two more.
"She's attacking us with plates," Usopp shouted as he flailed his arms to block the incoming barrage.
"Six, seven," she added as she tossed another pair.
Usopp got hit and fell back. "Why is it only me. What did I do," he said.
"Cindry, that's enough," a voice boomed.
Chopper blinked. "Who was that?" he asked.
Usopp groaned from the floor. "No more scary things. Please. I'm at my limit," he said.
From the shadows stepped a tall man appeared. "Can't you make just one exception, Cindry?" he asked. He had thin arms and legs. He had a long nose. He had sharp and long canine teeth and ears. His face had a scar in the shape of a semi-circle that went above his eyes. He had black hair. On the left side of his neck, there was a black tattoo consisting of two slashes. He had a fishnet vest, purple leather pants, a thick black tie, and a pair of purple gloves. He also had a pair of purple high-heeled boots. "Long ago, this woman tested her lover`s love by destroying all the plates," he said. "She is the plate hating servant Cindry," he said.
"Okay, whatever," Usopp muttered, rubbing his sore face.
Doctor Hogback stepped forward. He adjusted his coat. "Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner," he said. "I am the world-renowned Doctor Hogback. A genius of surgical science," he added,
"Ten," Cindry said as she hurled another plate at Usopp's face.
Usopp stumbled backward again as he was hit in the face by the plate.
"Cindry, wait," Hogback called out.
"I wish plates would disappear from this world," Cindry replied coldly. Her eyes were blank.
"I understand your feelings, truly," Hogback said. He sighed. "But I'm trying to have a conversation here," he added.
Chopper's eyes sparkled. "Doctor Hogback… it's really him," he said.
"We can continue inside," Cindry said. Her tone was robotic. "An exception will be made. All three of you are welcome," she added.
"Yes, yes, come in," Hogback said, gesturing toward the grand doors.
"Strange," Nami murmured as they stepped inside. "But honestly, it's better than being out there with zombies," she added. She shivered, remembering the graveyard.
Inside, the mansion was dimly lit. A long dining table stretched across the room. They were surrounded by antique chairs. Portraits of animals and nobles lined the walls, and a candlelit chandelier flickered overhead.
"Welcome to my home," Hogback said as he took a seat at the head of the table. "You're all filthy. What brings you here?" he said.
"A lot of reasons," Nami replied cautiously.
"I want to speak with you later," Chopper added. His eyes were wide with admiration.
"We were attacked by zombies in the graveyard," Nami explained. "We ran here to escape," he added.
"Zombies?" Hogback repeated.
"We've seen all kinds of creatures," Usopp said. "You live here but shouldn't you know what's crawling around your own backyard?" he asked.
"Oh, you were attacked?" Hogback said. He smiled thinly. "I'm glad you made it safely. As for those creatures… I don't know what they are," he replied.
"So you're researching zombies, Doctor?" Chopper asked.
Hogback leaned forward. His eyes gleamed. "Of course. Humans fear zombies. But what if we saw them differently, not as monsters, but as people returned from death? Isn't that the immortality we all secretly desire?" he said. He gestured dramatically. "Everyone has someone they've lost. Someone they'd give anything to see again. With medical science, we can control life and death, defy the gods themselves. That's why I came to this island. To begin my research in peace," he said.
Nami watched him carefully. She thought something felt off.
"If you succeed," Chopper said, "you could make a lot of people happy. I'll cheer you on," he added.
"Thank you, Doctor Chopper," Hogback said with a smile.
"Even if you call me doctor, It is not going to make me happy," Chopper beamed as he started to dance.
At that moment, Cindry entered. She was carrying a tray of pudding. "Cindry, please serve the pudding on plates," Hogback said.
"I wish all plates would vanish from existence," Cindry replied as she placed the pudding directly on the tablecloth.
"That's why we keep the cloth clean," Hogback muttered.
"I've prepared a bath. You're all filthy," Cindry added.
"Hey, old man," Usopp said, eyeing the pudding. "You haven't seen a weird skeleton around here, have you? Tall guy. Big afro," he added.
Hogback froze. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. "No," he said quickly.
They all headed off down the hall. Nami entered the bathroom. She took her clothes off. Her large breasts were out. She walked over and sank into the bath. She let the warmth soothe her nerves. She stretched her long legs and exhaled slowly.
"You two stay out here," she had said firmly.
Outside, Usopp leaned against the wall. "Why do we have to wait? If you are scared, then you should not bathe here," he said.
"We're all filthy," Nami had replied through the door. "I just want to feel clean again," she added as she relaxed in the water. She felt the warm water around her body. Her butt was in the water.
Chopper nodded. "Still… I got to meet Doctor Hogback. That was amazing," he said.
"We did," Nami said as she lifted her leg up. The water splashed. "And we're leaving after this," she added.
"Leaving?" Chopper asked. He was surprised.
"They offered to let us stay," Usopp added as he laid back.
"Have you looked around?" Nami said as she put her leg down. "The walls, the halls, this place is crawling with zombies. And Doctor Hogback? He's definitely lying," she stated. "If he's not connected to the undead, why live in a mansion full of them?" she questioned.
Usopp turned to Chopper. "What do you think? If this is true?" he asked.
Chopper lowered his head. "No," he quietly said.
"We'll pretend for now that we don't know anything," Nami said. "But we leave tonight," she said. She leaned back in the bath, letting the silence settle. Then she heard a faint creak.
"Usopp? Chopper?" she called out.
She sat up. The water dripped from her shoulders. Her breasts were wet. "Did one of you say something?"
Suddenly, a cold grip wrapped around her wrist. She was pushed back to the wall. She looked in front and there was no one there. Nami gasped. "Wh-what," she said in shock.
Another hand clamped around her waist, pulling her back against the tub. "You are a lot weaker than the women on that ship. You are my type," a voice said.
Nami's eyes widened. She struggled. Her breath hitched. "Let go of me," she screamed. "Usopp! Chopper! HELP!" she shouted.
The door burst open. Usopp and Chopper rushed in. "Nami," Usopp shouted. "What happened?" he asked.
Nami grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body. "Something grabbed me," Nami cried as she clutched the towel around her. "I couldn't see it." she said in shock. She thought to Ben. It made her heart beat slow down.
Chopper scanned the room. "There is something here," he said as he sniffed the room.
Usopp pulled out his slingshot. The window opened.
"Usopp, he is there," Chopper said.
"He is going out of the window," Nami said.
"What is there?" Usopp asked. "Deadly Gun Powder Star," Usopp said as he fired his weapon. There was a big explosion.
"An invisible man," Nami said. At that moment, Nami pushed Usopp and Chopper out. She quickly dressed. "Let go," she said.
The three of them then walked down the corridor. "There is no such thing as an invisible man," Usopp said.
"There was one," Nami responded as she held a candle. "Did you not see him attacking me?" Nami asked.
"Well I did not," Usopp responded.
"Yes you did," Nami stated.
"No, I did not," Usopp responded. "Anyway, I don't believe anything I see on this island," he added. "Not the zombies, weird creatures, underground dwellers, ghosts," he said. "The only expectation to the rule is the skeleton who was brought back to life with a devil fruit and two people cannot have the same fruits," Usopp said. "And there is no way people can be brought back to life right Chopper?" he asked.
Chopper looked at Usopp. "Even with medicine, something like this is not possible but Doctor Hogback is really amazing and he is researching it then it could be possible," Chopper responded.
"Dont you trust him a little too much?" Nami asked.
"Doctor Hogback is an amazing man," Chopper said as he walked forward.
"I can't shake off the feeling we are being watched," Nami said as she looked at a painting of a pirate. She walked behind them.
The eye in the painting moved.
They walked forward in the dark. "That is room right?" Nami asked.
"Why is it so dark?" Usopp questioned as they entered the Dining Room once again.
"Thank you for the bath," Nami shouted.
The candles flickered to life one by one. Hildon hung upside down from the ceiling. His wings were folded like a bat. "The two of them have retired for the night," he said calmly.
Usopp stepped forward. "You left us outside in the graveyard earlier," Usopp shouted.
"It wasn't my fault," Hildon replied, flipping down and landing lightly. "I went to tend the horses, and when I turned around you were gone," he added.
"Don't lie," Nami snapped. "You're all ghouls on this island. Every last one of you," she added.
Hildon frowned. "That's quite insulting," he responded. He dusted off his coat. "Now, if you'll follow me, I'll show you to your rooms," he added.
Usopp blinked. "You're just going to ignore everything and show to our rooms," Hildon said nervously.
Nami eyed the hallway ahead. "I wonder if that's the door to hell," she remarked. She turned around. "Anyway, we're leaving. Sorry," she added.
Chopper looked conflicted. "Wait… please. Let me talk to Doctor Hogback one more time," he requested.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the walls. "They've figured us out, Hildon," she said.
The trio spun around. They looked around trying to locate the voice.
"Please ignore that," Hildon said quickly. His voice was tight. "Let me just show you your rooms," he added once more.
There was a painting on the wall with a woman with a serene smile. She resembled the Mona Lisa however she had stitches. "It's alright," she said.
Chopper's jaw dropped. "Eh! The...," he said.
"Painting….." Nami whispered.
"It is taking," Usopp muttered.
Suddenly, the painting leapt from the frame. It stretched into a long-bodied figure with pale arms and a twisted grin.
"You're adorable when you tremble," she cooed, grabbing Chopper by the shoulders.
"Chopper," Nami shouted as she lunged forward.
"A zombie came out of the painting!" Usopp cried.
The woman dragged Chopper toward the painting frame. Nami grabbed Chopper's hoof, pulling with all her strength. "Let go of him," she demanded.
The painting woman hissed as she tightening her grip.
At that moment, a cartoonish pig who was mounted on a frame gave a mischievous grin. It had large sharp teeth and a stitched-up face. Its one eye was wide open while the other was winking. The number "298" was tattooed on its forehead. The pig's ears, snout, and limbs were also stitched together. It grabbed a sword and threw it at Usopp.
Usopp saw the blade coming and dodged, Usopp looked up.
"The leader of the zombies in this room is I, Buhichuck," Buhichuck said. "Dont think you will be able to take one step out of this room, oink," Buhichuck added.
"The mounted head just talked," Usopp said.
"Ow who just stabbed my back," said a white rug. The rug had the face of a bear which was stitched together. It had sharp teeth and claws.
Usopp screamed. His eyes were wide as the chaos unfolded. "It's just like Nami said," he shouted. "This mansion really is crawling with zombies," he added.
The Rug Bear lunged forward. Its body rippled unnaturally. Usopp leapt onto its back like a rodeo rider. He then launched himself toward the chandelier and then grabbed it. Usopp then snatched a flaming candle, and hurled it at the creature. "Take this, you stupid rug bear," he said.
The candle struck its shoulder. "No! Not fire," Rug Bear shrieked as its fur ignited. "Hot Hot I'll burn. Someone put it out," he said.
The paintings on the walls began to panic. Their faces were twisted and mouths were open. "Put it out. Put it out," they cried.
Usopp grinned. "I know your weakness now," he said as he grabbed more candles from the chandelier and began hurling them across the room. Flames erupted across the floor. Smoke billowed upward. "Nami! Chopper. Get to the door," Usopp shouted. "We're getting out of here," he added.
Nami and Chopper sprinted through the smoke towards the door. Nami grabbed the door handle and twisted it.
"It won't open," she cried.
"Open, open, open," Chopper said as he tugged with all his strength.
"You've done it now," Rug Bear growled. He was still on fire as he looked at the three of them.
From the paintings, zombies began to crawl out, their limbs stretching unnaturally as they slithered toward the trio.
"They're coming out of the walls," Usopp yelled.
They turned and bolted and landed straight into the fireplace.
"We're in the fireplace," Usopp gasped as he looked around.
"There's nowhere left to run," Chopper said as he trembled.
Suddenly, the wall behind them opened. The back of the fireplace gave way, and the three of them tumbled through the hidden passage, landing hard on a dusty stone floor below.
"Ow… my everything," Usopp groaned.
"Where are we?" Nami asked as she looked around.
They all look around. The passage was dark, damp, and lined with paintings. "The painting," Chopper said.
"Run," Usopp said.
The trio sprinted down the dim hallway. Their footsteps echoed as grotesque hands clawed out from the walls behind them.
"We need to get away from these paintings," Nami shouted as she dodged a skeletal arm reaching from a cracked frame.
Ahead they saw a door. "There," Usopp pointed. They burst through the doorway.
Usopp collapsed onto the floor, panting. Chopper spun and locked the door.
Usopp looked up and froze. "More paintings?" he groaned.
Nami stepped forward. "No… these aren't paintings. They're photographs," she responded. It was of a blonde woman.
"So… no zombies?" Chopper asked.
Usopp squinted at one of the portraits. "Wait—isn't that the plate-hating maid?" he asked.
"Cindry," Nami confirmed. "But she looks different. No stitches. No blank stare," she added.
"She looks alive," Chopper added softly.
Nami walked toward a small bookshelf and picked up a leather-bound album. She flipped through the pages. "She was beautiful," Nami said quietly. "Elegant. Confident," she added.
Usopp glanced around. "Why would a servant have this many pictures of herself?" he questioned.
Nami turned the page and gasped. "Maybe because she wasn't a servant at all," she said. She looked at the article. "Cindry was born into a wealthy family. Famous stage actress. Died tragically ten years ago after falling from a theater balcony during a performance," she said.
Usopp and Chopper stared at her. "What?!" they said in unison.
"She died," Nami repeated.
"Sorry we don't keep treasure here," a stitched-up clown creature said as he came out of a box. It had several nails in its head and the number 256 printed on its collar.
"A Jack in the Box," they all said together and sprinted out.