Three days later, on the sea near Amazon Lily.
"Whoosh—"
A massive Bear Paw Gas enveloped Meiser and the other two, propelling them at incredible speed through the air.
Any obstacles they encountered along the way were instantly repelled by the gas—even Sea Kings that lunged to bite them were flung aside.
Inside the enormous gas bubble, Luffy and Merry, exhausted from fatigue and fright, were sprawled on Meiser, fast asleep.
But Meiser, held tightly by the two of them, remained wide awake the entire time.
Until he knew exactly where they would land, he couldn't afford to sleep.
"We've been flying for three days and nights..." Meiser muttered with a frown. "Where exactly is our destination?"
"And what the hell is Kuma's deal?"
Right now, Meiser was filled with confusion.
He didn't understand why Kuma had sent them flying from Sabaody Archipelago.
From the looks of it, Kuma clearly had no intention of killing them—after all, if he really wanted them dead, he could've just launched them straight into the hands of a Marine Admiral. There was no need to send them flying this far.
So did that mean Kuma was trying to save them?
But why?
What reason could he possibly have?
Could it be that someone in the Straw Hat Pirates had some special connection with Kuma?
If that was the case... then why had Kuma tried to kill them back at the Devil's Triangle Ship Graveyard?
Meiser didn't get it. He truly didn't.
"Wait a minute..."
Meiser suddenly remembered something—before they left the Devil's Triangle, Kuma had seemingly helped Luffy by "repelling" his injuries away.
If Kuma had really intended to kill them, there would've been no reason to do that.
Not to mention, Kuma had said several cryptic things that almost sounded like he was giving them a chance...
Something was off. Definitely off!
"I'll have to ask him properly the next time we meet."
Just then, Meiser noticed an island rapidly approaching and felt the Bear Paw Gas descending swiftly.
"Finally, the destination!" Meiser thought with relief.
Three days... a full three days!
Luffy and Merry had slept soundly the whole time, while he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep!
As for why Meiser hadn't popped the bubble mid-flight—he needed to know their final landing spot. Whether it was the open sea or an island would give him a rough idea of their other crewmates' situation.
"Thud—"
The next moment, the Bear Paw landed, blasting a paw-shaped crater into the ground.
The instant they touched down, Meiser grabbed the two clinging to him and leaped out.
"Huh?"
"What's going on? Is it morning already?"
"Sanji, I want food!"
Meiser: "..."
Listening to Luffy and Merry's drowsy mumbling, Meiser twitched his lips. "Did you two forget what happened?"
As he spoke, he tossed Luffy onto the ground.
"Thud—"
The impact jolted Luffy awake instantly.
"Meiser!!"
The moment Meiser came into view, the scene from three days ago instantly flashed through Luffy's mind.
"Zoro and the others... were sent flying one after another..."
"Don't worry, there shouldn't be any danger to their lives," Meiser reassured him.
As he spoke, Meiser pointed to the Bear Paw marks on the ground: "The force generated upon landing isn't strong enough to kill anyone."
Meiser could sense it—the power was incredibly gentle, almost as if... Kuma had deliberately done this to prevent them from getting hurt.
But this only made Meiser even more curious. Why would that guy Kuma do such a thing?
At this moment, the image of Kuma's final appearance surfaced in Meiser's mind.
("This will be the last time we meet... Farewell!")
Why... would he say something like that?
"No danger to their lives?!"
Luffy immediately sighed in relief. As long as they were safe.
He had truly been afraid his friends might die for no reason—that would have driven him to despair.
"Does that mean... that big guy was actually saving us?" Merry looked up at Meiser and asked.
"From the current situation, yes."
"But why?"
"I don't know either." Meiser shook his head. "We'll just have to ask him the next time we meet."
He, too, wanted to understand the other's motives.
"Kuma was saving us...?"
Luffy froze for a moment before adjusting his hat. "So he's a good guy after all..."
"Most likely." Meiser nodded. "Back in the Devil's Triangle, he probably let us go on purpose too."
Otherwise, Kuma could have easily flung Zoro and the others into the sea to drown!
But he hadn't done that... which led Meiser to conclude that Kuma likely never intended to kill them from the start.
"I see... Got it."
Luffy didn't understand the reason behind Kuma's actions, but since he was a good guy, he decided to forgive him.
After a moment's thought, Luffy took out Rayleigh's Vivrecard and placed it on his palm to observe.
Soon, the Vivrecard began moving slowly.
"Look! This Vivrecard really moves!"
"Idiot, of course it moves!" Meiser said irritably. "How else would we find the ship?"
Luffy didn't mind, just grinning foolishly.
With this, they could all regroup—how could he not be happy?
As for Zoro and the others?
While treating Hachi at Grove 1, Sanji had already distributed the Vivrecards.
"Growl..."
"Growl..."
Two stomach rumbles sounded as Merry and Luffy clutched their bellies simultaneously.
"Hungry..."
Snap—
Just then, the sound of a broken twig caught the trio's attention.
Turning instinctively, they immediately spotted a massive wild boar emerging, glaring at them fiercely.
"Meat!"
The moment he saw it, Luffy's face lit up with excitement.
This was free meat delivered right to them!
Wild Boar: ???
The boar stared at Luffy in confusion. Why wasn't this human afraid of it at all?
In the next instant, its expression changed.
Because... not far away, three humans were giving it greedy smiles, as if they wanted to devour it alive!!
This discovery triggered an instinctive fear in it.
But before it could escape, Luffy's fist came flying in, knocking the wild boar out with a single punch.
"Tch, what's this?"
"Free game delivered right to us?" Meiser remarked.
He had originally planned to take out the Sea Kings meat stored in the Sealing Scroll for three days and prepare it, but now a wild boar had come to them. Their luck was really good.
"Quick, Meiser, let's roast and eat it!" Luffy said excitedly.
"Alright, let me handle it first."
After saying that, Meiser carried the boar to the side, took out his Grass Sword, and began processing it.
Once done, he used the Water Release Technique to rinse it thoroughly, making sure it was completely clean.
Returning to the other two, he chopped some wood and started a fire for roasting.
"Merry, pass me the seasoning."
"Okay~"
After handing the seasoning to Meiser, Little Merry propped her chin on her hands and sat on a log with Luffy, quietly waiting for Meiser to finish roasting the meat.
Soon, as time passed, the aroma of the meat gradually filled the air.
"Ah~"
"So fragrant~"
Luffy drooled.
The next moment, Luffy reached out toward the boar meat, ready to take a bite.
Slap~
Meiser smacked Luffy's hand away and said, "What's the rush? It's not fully cooked yet."
After a pause, he pointed at Merry and added, "Your stomach can handle raw food just fine, but Merry might not be able to."
They still didn't know where they were or what might happen next. What if someone got food poisoning?
Luffy blinked, glanced at Merry, then nodded obediently. "Got it."
That made sense—Merry was still too young, after all.
"Alright, let's discuss what to do next," Meiser said while turning the spit. "We've probably been flying for three days and nights. The others should be in a similar situation."
"Three days and nights?"
Merry was stunned. Had they really been flying that long?
No wonder they were so hungry...
Meanwhile, Luffy declared without hesitation, "Of course, we'll head back to Sabaody Archipelago to regroup with the crew!"
"I'm sure everyone else is thinking the same."
With the Vivrecard in hand, they would eventually reunite—and Luffy believed it wouldn't take too long!
"Fine. Later, I'll check deeper into this island," Meiser said. "If there are people here, we'll find a way to get a ship."
"Why get a ship?" Merry asked, puzzled. "I can just summon the Thousand Sunny."
Her ability allowed her to summon the ship anytime. Why bother getting another one here?
Luffy also looked at Meiser in confusion, unsure why he suggested that.
"Did you two forget what we asked Rayleigh to do?" Meiser said exasperatedly. "If Rayleigh has already finished the Coating, summoning the ship here would just waste all that effort."
"Why?"
Meiser:
Looking at these two guys with eyes full of curiosity, Meiser covered his forehead in exasperation.
"The bubbles will explode if they leave the environment of Sabaody Archipelago, have you forgotten?" Meiser said helplessly.
If they went directly underwater, the bubbles wouldn't explode due to humidity changes.
But this wasn't underwater!
"We can just redo it later," Luffy scratched his head.
"You really don't respect others' hard work..."
Shaking his head, Meiser continued, "The coating can indeed be redone, but do you think we have that kind of time?"
"What if the Marines target us as soon as we reach Sabaody Archipelago?"
"Do you think... the Marines would give us another three days to apply the coating?"
"Next time, they might send three Marine Admirals at once to surround us!"
This time, the Marines dispatched two Admirals simultaneously but still failed to capture them... That was practically slapping the Marines in the face!!
Next time, they would undoubtedly send even more terrifying forces to hunt them down.
By then... would Kuma still come to help?
That was an unknown.
"I see..." Luffy scratched his head. "Then we really can't bring our ship over."
Little Merry also understood Meiser's meaning and didn't bring it up again.
"Actually, not using our ship has another advantage," Meiser said.
"What advantage?"
"At least we won't be targeted by others on the way back," Meiser explained. "Otherwise, the Marines might send Aokiji to hunt down the three of us."
He wasn't afraid of other Marines—his Water Release could easily sink their ships.
But Aokiji was different... That guy could freeze the ocean!
Against someone like Aokiji, his Water Release Technique was practically useless.
"Aokiji..."
At the thought of that ice-wielding guy, Luffy's face scrunched up.
When they had encountered him before, he had almost been killed.
If possible, he really didn't want to meet that guy again.
"Ultimately, I'm still too weak..." Little Merry covered her face. "I can't even help much."
"It's fine, take your time."
Meiser patted the little one's head reassuringly. "No one starts out strong, right?"
This little one had only existed for a short while.
Even if counting from when Luffy and the others got the Going Merry, it had only been a few months.
How strong could such a little one possibly be?
"I... I'll work hard to get stronger too!"
"Good!"
Meiser smiled, then lifted the massive wild boar and placed it on the wooden rack he had prepared earlier.
Using his Grass Sword, he sliced the boar meat into manageable pieces for easier eating.
"Here, dig in!" Meiser gestured grandly. "No matter what you want to do, you have to eat first."
Listening to Meiser's words, Luffy—who had been lost in thought—nodded and immediately took a big bite!
Meiser: "..."
That was certainly a wild way to eat.
Shaking his head, Meiser handed a smaller piece to Merry and said, "Here, eat up."
"Eat more to grow taller!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Merry's eyes instantly lit up.
"I want to grow tall!!"
After making her declaration, Merry also began eating rapidly.
Under the efforts of the three, the meat on the wooden rack quickly disappeared.
"Ah~"
"I'm full~"
Luffy, lying on the ground, said with satisfaction, "Meiser, the meat you grilled is so delicious..."
"Yeah, yeah."
Merry, also lying on the ground, echoed the sentiment.
"Survival in the wild is something I'm quite good at," Meiser said with a chuckle.
Perhaps his cooking skills weren't on par with Sanji's, but at least the taste of what he made was decent.
See, these two were eating quite happily...
"Hmm?"
Noticing Luffy's gradually shrinking belly, a question mark popped up above Meiser's head.
"Wait, your digestion is that fast?"
Most of the wild boar meat had gone into this guy's mouth, and his belly had been round and full. But now... it was already almost gone?
"Huh?"
Luffy said, "Is there a problem?"
His digestion had always been this fast.
Single-minded as ever, Luffy didn't see anything unusual about it.
Meiser: "..."
Looking at Luffy's innocent expression, Meiser fell into deep thought.
Maybe... this guy's stomach was also on a monster's level?
After some consideration, he concluded that Luffy must have some special ability to rapidly absorb energy from food.
That was a good thing.
"That's actually great, hahahaha!"
Luffy stood up, laughing heartily. "This way, it won't slow us down."
"Yeah, you're right."
Glancing around, Meiser said, "You two wait here in the forest. I'll go deeper in to check things out."
"Why not go together?" Luffy protested.
This guy Meiser actually planned to go on an adventure alone?!
"What if there's danger?" Meiser countered. "At least think about Merry for once."
Who knew if Kuma had sent them straight to the New World?
If they were already in the territory of one of the Four Emperors... recklessly charging in would definitely get them attacked.
With his Mangekyō Sharingan, Meiser wouldn't be killed, but Luffy and Merry weren't so lucky.
"Merry..."
Luffy glanced at Merry, who was still lying on the ground, and after a moment said, "Alright, I get it."
Meiser's reasoning successfully convinced Luffy.
As someone who deeply cared for his friends, Luffy didn't want anything to happen to Merry.
After all... right now, these two were the only companions he had left.
Merry blinked, then sat up from the ground. "Actually, I—"
"Alright, Merry, you two wait here," Meiser said.
This little one had just gone through a life-and-death experience and must still be badly shaken.
So... it was better to let her stay somewhere safe.
Once he had scouted out the situation on this island, he'd come back for these two.
Of course, it would be even better if he could secure a boat.
Then they could head straight for Sabaody Archipelago and reunite with the rest of the crew!
"Got it!"
Meiser nodded, then activated the Body Flicker Technique and vanished.
After Meiser left, Luffy sat down on a rock to rest.
"Nami and the others will make it safely to Sabaody Archipelago, right...?" Merry murmured softly.
"Don't worry, Nami and the others aren't the type to die so easily," Luffy grinned, showing his teeth. "They'll definitely make it!"
His crewmates had the same tenacious vitality as cockroaches—he was certain they'd reach Sabaody Archipelago safely!
"That's good to hear," Merry sighed in relief.
She truly hoped all her friends would arrive at Sabaody Archipelago unharmed so they could all head to the New World together!!
She just wondered how they were doing now...
They had Meiser on their side, but the others didn't have anyone like him...
At this thought, a trace of worry surfaced in Merry's eyes.
Perhaps sensing Merry's mood, Luffy suddenly jumped up and said, "Merry, I'll take you to eat something good!"
"Oh?"
"What is it?"
Merry asked curiously.
Luffy chuckled, ran ahead, and plucked a few strangely colored mushrooms. Turning back to Merry, he said, "Merry, these are Laughing Mushrooms!"
"After eating this, you won't feel sad anymore!"
With that, Luffy took a bite himself and immediately burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"My mood... my mood instantly feels better!" Luffy laughed heartily.
Merry's eyes lit up—was there really something so amazing in this world?
Thinking this, she quickly went to Luffy's side, took one of the Laughing Mushrooms, and took a bite.
Then...
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"Luffy, I don't feel sad anymore either, HAHAHAHAHA!"
"See, I told you, HAHAHAHAHA!"
The area was soon filled with the sound of their laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
In the Calm Belt waters near Nine Serpent Island, a pirate ship flying the Nine Serpent Island Flag floated on the sea's surface.
Powered by external paddlewheels, the ship steadily advanced toward Nine Serpent Island.
With two massive Poisonous Sea Serpents escorting them, no Sea Kings dared to cause trouble.
"This time was truly a great haul."
"HAHAHA, that's right!"
"I wonder when our next voyage will be..."
"That depends on what Empress decides."
"True enough."
Though the spoils weren't entirely theirs... even a portion was enough to let them live lavishly for a long time.
Boa Sandersonia glanced toward the door, then turned to Boa Hancock and said, "Sister... we accepted the Marines' summons but aren't going to Marine Headquarters... Is that really alright?"
"And what of it?"
"If we don't go, will the World Government revoke Sister's title?" Boa Sandersonia also looked worried.
If they lost their status as Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea... they wouldn't be able to plunder legally anymore.
"No, they won't revoke this queen's title~" Hancock's lips curled into a smirk. "After all... this queen is far too beautiful."
"Whatever I do, I will be forgiven!"
"Oh!"
"Sister!!"
Sister was right—no matter what Sister did, she would always be forgiven!
Because... she was simply too beautiful!