Ace awkwardly adjusted his Straw Hat.
"Also, in Wano Country, I met someone named Yamato... She said she was Oden... and Kaido's son." Ace's voice trailed off, finding it hard to comment...
"Oh... so Kozuki Oden revived and finally acknowledged Kaido as his father? Or did Kaido rename his son Kozuki Oden?" Orochimaru leisurely sipped his juice.
"How is that possible!!! That's a girl! She admires Kozuki Oden! So she wants to become him!" Roaring Ace went online.
"Oh... so her worldview was influenced, huh? Did you correct her? Or does she not want to be a girl anymore and wants to become a man... Do I need to help her contact Ivankov... for a painless sex change?"
"No... because Oden is her belief... a symbol of freedom... so... I'm not... it's just..." Ace stammered, unsure how to explain... unable to make it clear.
"Oh~ Well, it doesn't really concern me anyway." Orochimaru casually picked up a senbei and started chewing, giving Ace a meaningful look.
"Uh... there's also something else..." Ace hesitated.
Orochimaru sighed in exasperation, "No, just say what you have to say directly. Why are you being so hesitant, making it seem like you've wronged me? What's with all this dawdling? Is this a bad habit you picked up during your years at sea?"
Ace felt a bit wronged for a moment, wasn't he being considerate of his feelings? "I met Kyoshiro, from the story you told me when I was little. He's gone crazy, he's sided with Orochi for power, and he's searching the world for someone... I fought him... and then... I told him you were still alive."
Orochimaru felt a bit annoyed; why was this broken system creating debts now?
He looked at the guilty person. "There's something else, isn't there...?"
Ace looked up at the sky, "Hahahaha... I left him a photo of us from when we were kids... So... please give me another photo..." He bowed 90 degrees and held out his hand... Orochimaru's mouth twitched... Do you know your character is broken...? Carrying photos of your younger brothers around! Do you think you're Katakuri!!! No, Katakuri doesn't even carry them around!
But in the end, he modified the ornament hanging around his neck, embedding a photo inside.
Then he turned his head, glaring with fierce eyes at the stack of heads peeking and eavesdropping at the door. Luffy and the others laughed awkwardly, instantly scattering.
Ace followed Luffy's Crewmates around Alabasta for a while, confirmed that Blackbeard was no longer there, and then decided to say goodbye. He tossed a piece of Vivre Card to Orochimaru and Luffy each; even though they were together, he couldn't play favorites.
"Well, I'll take my leave now... With a troublesome younger brother like Luffy, as his older brother, I'm very worried. Orochimaru's personality is also incredibly difficult, you must have no idea what to do with these two guys, right? But please take good care of them." Ace bowed very solemnly.
"Luffy, next time we meet, become a strong pirate... Orochimaru... let go a little, don't always dwell on the past. Occasionally, trust Luffy and your Companions more; after all, Luffy is also your older brother." Ace smiled brightly under the setting sun.
"Nagging... you'd better take care of yourself.
Don't die... wait for Luffy and me to save you.
Oh, and Sabo... We'll all come together to see you make a fool of yourself.
Remember to keep your life-saving medicine safe... don't always think about useless things.
There's no inherent meaning to life, but... but only by living can you find interesting things... If you like Whitebeard, live longer. When my research succeeds, you can let Whitebeard live as long as you want him to, even to the point of wanting him to die.
It's not easy to have a father... no... theoretically, you have quite a few fathers.
Pay attention to your image normally.
Blah blah blah @#$_"
Orochimaru turned his head away awkwardly, not looking at Ace, his arms crossed over his chest, muttering incessantly. At this moment, Luffy poked Orochimaru.
"Uh... Orochimaru... Ace has already left."
Orochimaru turned to see Ace running away frantically.
(╬◣д◢)... He threw a kettle wrapped in Armament Haki, *pia*~ Go to hell! He sent it flying!
[Armament Haki get]
After parting ways with Ace,
The group crossed the desert and began heading towards Rainbase in Alabasta. At this moment, Orochimaru was exceptionally popular; under the scorching sun, many people were clinging to Orochimaru... such as Luffy... Chopper... Usopp and so on... In addition, Orochimaru's Water Release could produce fresh water. Although they weren't short on water, the endless desert and the air distorted by the heat along the way made everyone feel dispirited. [As for the principle of Water Release in the desert, perhaps it's the moisture in the air?]
As they delved deeper into the desert, with Luffy's meddling, the group suddenly fell into a giant egg-shaped ruin. However, since no one could decipher ancient texts, they weren't very interested in the huge stone. After having lunch and resting in the cool underground ruins, they continued their journey towards Rainbase... Orochimaru walked at the back, took photos of the ruins, and took away the huge square stone that resembled a poneglyph.
He felt this stone might be useful in the future.
(When Luffy and his Crewmates encountered this stone, Nico Robin wasn't with them yet, so they didn't know its contents. That's why I think this might be useful... Inventory +1)
After several days of long travel, occasionally even picking up a desert crab as a mount, the group finally reached Crocodile's base camp, Rainbase. Even Orochimaru found it difficult... Usopp and Luffy excitedly rushed into a nearby restaurant.
"Ah!!! Water!!! Water! Water! Food!" Usopp and Luffy noisily banged on the restaurant counter.
They hadn't been short on water the whole way, so why were these two so excited...? Usopp and Luffy explained that they were tired of Orochimaru's Water Release, and it didn't taste good at all. ᵕ᷄ ≀ ̠ ᵕ᷅ Furthermore, Orochimaru's Water Release came from the moisture in the air, so they always felt like they were drinking their own sweat... They needed to buy water! Sweet water!
Smoker and Tashigi nearby were still seriously discussing Crocodile and Straw Hat. Orochimaru watched the 'four blind men' and very calmly pulled up a chair and sat between Smoker and Tashigi, openly eavesdropping.
"Indeed, so that criminal organization Baroque Works is connected to Straw Hat, then?" Tashigi looked at Smoker with a serious expression.
"I knew Straw Hat would target Crocodile of the Seven Warlords of the Sea..." Smoker, who had spoken halfway, looked at the two noisy people drinking water next door.
[A silent stare-down]
Orochimaru simply leaned on Smoker's shoulder and greeted, "Hai, does this look familiar?"
After the tease, Orochimaru quickly retreated, watching as the water from Usopp and Luffy's mouths sprayed all over Tashigi and Smoker's faces before they ran off.
The group was chased all over the place by the Marine. Orochimaru used a genjutsu, and as if nothing had happened, he was sitting on Smoker's shoulder, yawning.
People in the Pirate World are so carefree... Doesn't anyone look up...? And doesn't Smoker feel his shoulder is a bit heavy? Genjutsu isn't omnipotent... They can't even notice this... A bit weak.
Never mind... Anyway, I'm fine. Luffy and the others can run around for exercise.
Let's see when Smoker notices.
(⸝⸝ᵕᴗᵕ⸝⸝)... A human mount... quite nice.
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