Chapter 25: Giant Broggy
The next day dawned bright and clear as the Going Merry sailed on a calm sea.
"The weather’s nice today."
Nami gazed at the blue sea and sky, a rare smile gracing her lips. "I didn’t expect the Grand Line could have such good weather."
"You guys must have had a tough time entering the Grand Line, huh?" Vivi, standing nearby, smiled knowingly.
"Right after crossing Reverse Mountain, that stretch of sea is affected by seven different routes simultaneously, making it the most unpredictable..."
Vivi currently found it easiest to talk with Nami on the ship; she clearly hadn’t quite adapted to the personalities of the rest of the crew yet.
Karoo, on the other hand, had already blended right in and was having a blast playing with them.
"Pair of Aces! I only have one card left~"
"Pair of Twos! Declaring a pair." Luffy intercepted Reiner’s play.
"QUACK QUACK!!!" (Sound of Karoo playing a Bomb)
"Quack." (Sound of Karoo playing final card)
"Nice one, Karoo!" Reiner couldn’t help but praise Karoo, who had played a bomb hand to let him win against the ’Landlord’ Luffy. "A single nine. Game over."
Having defeated Landlord Luffy, Reiner and Karoo high-fived (wing-fived?) in celebration.
As for why a duck could play cards?
Luffy grumbled and tagged Usopp in, running upstairs himself. "Sanji! I want juice!"
"Got it! Anyone else want something?"
"I want orange juice!"
"No way! You guys are going to strip my tangerine trees bare!" Nami refused, delivering two punches for emphasis.
Watching the boisterous group, a long-unseen smile appeared on Vivi’s face.
She had become accustomed to being constantly on edge since leaving home. This was the first time in years she had felt such a warm and joyful atmosphere.
In Reiner’s words, it was a ’feeling of relaxation’.
She began trying to interact more with the others, tiptoeing carefully behind Karoo to observe how Reiner and the others played.
"Oh, it’s Vivi! Want to give it a try? Playing card is really fun," Usopp invited.
"No, no, I don’t understand how to play this," Vivi waved her hand dismissively in response.
"Come over here, little delinquent," Reiner beckoned. "This happens to be a good hand. I’ll teach you how to play."
"Thank... uh, um, why do you call me ’little delinquent’?" Vivi asked, puzzled and slightly embarrassed.
"Heh," Reiner chuckled softly, directly pulling out the photo and placing it in front of Vivi. "Well? Look good?"
"Bwahaha~" Usopp collapsed laughing, pounding the floor with one hand. "Reiner, when did you take that!?"
"QUACK QUACK!!" Even Karoo spread his wings and let out a loud quack towards the sky.
The photo vividly captured Vivi standing on Karoo, striking a pose with a supple waist and flourishing hands.
Vivi’s face flushed completely red. She lunged forward, trying to snatch it back. "Give it back!"
"Dame (No)." Reiner simply placed a hand on Vivi’s forehead, letting her flail her arms and grasp at empty air.
"Give it up, little delinquent."
Sanji emerged carrying juice. Seeing this scene, he instantly flew into a rage, flames seemingly burning above his head. "Damn you, Reiner! How dare you bully my lovely Princess Vivi!"
Sanji’s loyalties were always firm: always side with the beautiful woman!
"Whoops! Usopp, catch!"
"W-wait, wait! How am I supposed to handle Sanji!?"
"Quick, throw it to Luffy!"
"Woahahaha! Looks like fun!"
"This ship really is something else." Watching the group roughhousing on deck, Nami smiled slightly and walked back into the cabin.
Even the gloomiest person could cheer up after arriving here.
Three days passed . The Going Merry sailed through the sea as usual. On the crow’s nest...
"I see an island!" Reiner shouted down, his gaze returning to the sight before him: a lush green island standing solitarily in the blue sea.
"An island frozen in prehistoric times, huh."
A fervent glint flashed in Reiner’s eyes. Besides coveting the bodies of the two giants, he had other expectations. "As a kid, I always dreamed of riding dinosaurs. I never thought I’d actually get to see living prehistoric creatures in this life."
Little Garden had an inland river connected directly to the sea. The Going Merry slowly sailed up the river into the island’s interior.
It was a tropical rainforest environment: dense forests cast layers of shadow, tangled vines snaked everywhere, and moss covered the riverside stones.
The fresh air, mingled with the fragrance of soil, grass, and trees, was refreshing and invigorating. Melodious birdsong echoed sweetly.
"I smell adventure! Sanji, I want an Adventure Bento!" Luffy called back excitedly from his spot on the Merry’s figurehead.
"Adventure Bento?" Sanji was puzzled; that was a dish he’d never heard of.
"It’s just meat," Reiner explained to Sanji with a laugh. "A bento box filled entirely with meat, no vegetables. Luffy’s favorite."
"Absolutely not!" Sanji’s face turned green. "As a chef, I must ensure your nutritional balance! Luffy, if you dare throw out the vegetables, I won’t forgive you!"
"Wh-what was that sound?!" Usopp and Nami shrank back in fear.
On the riverbank, several giant forest wolves were licking the carcass of a fierce tiger.
Seeing the approaching Going Merry, they all stared fiercely at the crew, yet seemed somewhat wary, lowering their bodies and slowly retreating into the forest shadows.
"That’s terrifying! I’m absolutely not going ashore!"
"It’s hopeless! I’ve contracted the disease where I die if I set foot on land~~"
Compared to the shivering Nami and Usopp, the others had already jumped off the ship, ready to explore. Even Vivi decided to go for a walk with Luffy.
Zoro and Sanji planned to have a hunting contest to see who could bring back the bigger prey.
"A hunting contest? Sounds interesting! Count me in!"
"Sure, Reiner. Let’s make a bet while we’re at it. How about five hundred thousand Beri?" Sanji casually tossed Reiner a cigarette.
Reiner grinned upon hearing this. Heh heh, trying that, are you?
"Too small! Think bigger! Whoever loses has to wash their hair while doing a handstand tonight."
"Interesting. I accept," Zoro smirked, agreeing before heading off.
Reiner dropped anchor, securing the Going Merry, then turned back to the two remaining on board with a smile. "Are you sure you don’t want to go for a walk? Staying cooped up on the ship for days must be boring."
"No way, no way! I’d rather die than go ashore!"
"Isn’t it possible that staying behind is actually the most dangerous option for you two?" Reiner grinned strangely.
Nami paused, then turned to look at Usopp. Their eyes met, and sudden realization dawned on both of them.
The two weakest members staying here alone... isn’t that just waiting to die?!
"Wait! Reiner, wait for us!"
"Waaah~~ Don’t leave us behind!"
Nami and Usopp yelled, rushing forward and desperately grabbing onto Reiner’s arms, one on each side.
"Heh, the Weakling Trio’s journey begins."
Reiner chuckled softly, released several undead to guard the ship, and started their jungle adventure with the two clinging to him.
However, they hadn’t taken more than a few steps...
Rustle, rustle, rustle~~
The crisp sound of rustling leaves came from deep within the primeval forest. A massive dark shadow suddenly materialized, effortlessly pushing aside several large trees in Reiner’s path as if they were mere weeds.
Reiner stared intently at the shadow, ready to summon his undead at a moment’s notice.
A huge face suddenly popped out – rough features split by a wide grin, a large yellow beard, messy hair spilling out from under a helmet.
Panicked screams erupted from behind Reiner. Nami and Usopp immediately scrambled onto his back, clutching tightly to his clothes.
"A giant? That’s insane," Reiner murmured in awe.
Even so, actually seeing a giant still felt unbelievable.
The big, yellow-bearded giant spoke with a booming laugh, "Gahahahaha! Name’s Broggy! Been a long time since this island had guests!"
"Hey! Watch out behind you!"
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