"Where is it... where is it..."
In his Soul State, Brook swiftly darted back and forth through the ruins below.
But as he searched, a trace of doubt began to grow in Brook's mind: was that child named Momonosuke really here?
Could they have come to the wrong place?
"That guy named Caesar... he wouldn't have lied to us, would he?" Brook frowned.
If that were truly the case, then all their efforts here would be in vain.
Yet, recalling Caesar's previous behavior, Brook felt that possibility was rather low. After all... that guy genuinely seemed afraid of death.
Having reasoned this through, Brook temporarily suppressed his doubts and turned to continue rushing toward another section of the ruins.
This time, however, he clearly found something distinctive.
"This is..."
Seeing that distinctive Samurai topknot, Brook was instantly rendered speechless.
Then, without a word, he flew upward.
Outside, Merry was still diligently clearing away the debris from the ruins.
Due to the frequency of her efforts, her proficiency had increased, and her clearing speed had noticeably quickened.
"Momonosuke, you must be safe and sound," Kin'emon murmured.
Otherwise, he wouldn't know what to do.
Hearing this, Zoro glanced at Kin'emon but said nothing, as he couldn't be sure whether the child was still alive either.
Just then, Brook's soul emerged from the ruins below and quickly approached the three of them.
Seeing this, Kin'emon's eyes immediately lit up.
"Mr. Corpse, have you found Momonosuke?" Kin'emon asked excitedly.
Zoro, however, furrowed his brow. He sensed something was off about Brook's expression.
It clearly didn't look like the expression of someone who had found a living person.
Could it be...
As if struck by a thought, Zoro's heart sank.
"I'm not certain if the one I found is him," Brook said gravely. "But I did find someone with a Samurai topknot..."
At this point, Brook suddenly paused, feeling that stating the truth directly would be too cruel.
Noticing Brook's troubled expression, Kin'emon gradually lost the excitement on his face.
"Mr. Corpse, could it be that Momonosuke is..."
"Yes."
This time, Brook didn't elaborate further. He merely uttered a single word before flying back toward his own body.
Kin'emon fell silent. The young master is dead?
The young master is truly dead?
What should they do?
What should they do?!
No... he refused to believe it!
"I don't believe it!"
Kin'emon's expression suddenly twisted into one of ferocity as he roared angrily, "I don't believe Momonosuke is dead!"
How could the man who carried the fate of the Land of Wano possibly die in a place like this?
The Land of Wano was still waiting for him to save it!
Taking in Kin'emon's reaction, Zoro recalled what Robin had told him earlier, which caused his hand to instinctively move to the hilt of his sword.
Then, he glanced at Merry and said, "Merry, go check out the place Brook went to earlier. No matter what, we have to let Kin'emon see the result with his own eyes. That way... he can accept reality."
"Okay."
Though somewhat afraid of how Kin'emon might react, the thought that Zoro was still here made Merry feel less scared.
She then turned to Brook, who had already stood up, and asked, "Brook, where is the place you mentioned?"
"Over there."
Brook pointed to the side, indicating that moving the debris there would reveal what lay beneath.
This time, Merry said nothing more, simply nodding before flying everyone to that area and beginning to use her ability to clear the wreckage.
Soon, thanks to Merry's efforts, all the debris in the area had been moved elsewhere.
Afterward, as everyone gathered on the ground, they saw what Brook had mentioned earlier.
"Momo..."
Seeing the distinctive samurai hairstyle and the barely recognizable features, Kin'emon immediately fell to his knees, then rushed over like a madman, clutching Momonosuke's mangled corpse and wailing uncontrollably.
This man, who carried the fate of the Land of Wano, was truly dead... What was he to do now?
What could he do?
Watching Kin'emon's heart-wrenching sobs, the three standing beside him sighed silently.
For a moment, they didn't know how to comfort this man.
The only thing they could do now was stand there and accompany him as he bid his son a final farewell.
Noticing Law emerging from the large room, Meiser smiled and asked, "All taken care of?"
"Yes."
Law nodded and said, "I've completely cleared the toxins from their bodies, but it won't be easy for them to fully recover from the effects of the poison. They'll need time to recuperate."
The poison had affected the children too severely, so it would have to be a gradual process.
But that wasn't his concern anymore—his task was finished.
"That's good," Nami sighed in relief.
As long as the main problem was solved, the so-called recuperation Law mentioned could be taken slowly!
"Huh?"
"Law!"
Chopper glared at Law and said, "What kind of treatment method was that?"
Seeing Chopper's expression that seemed to say, "Are you even a doctor?" Law replied expressionlessly, "That's why I told you not to peek."
It was precisely because his treatment methods were so unconventional that he had specifically requested a sealed room for the procedure.
Chopper:...
Did this guy have the nerve not to explain beforehand?
If it weren't for the explanation Meiser had given earlier, he would have taken action right then and there!
With a huff, Chopper trotted off on his short legs toward the room, clearly intending to check on the situation inside.
Law paid no mind to this, instead turning his attention to Meiser.
"What do you plan to do with these kids?" Law inquired.
If these guys were still thinking of finding an island to slowly treat the children, he would have something to say about it.
After all... his plan was set to begin right now!
This time, Meiser didn't speak, but instead turned to glance at Nami.
Seeing this, Nami said, "Torao, so now these children just need a long period of rest to solve the problem?"
"Hmm."
Law nodded and said, "The main issue is resolved, but the psychological dependency will require long-term treatment to fully recover."
That substance is essentially a stimulant in a way, so it can't be solved in just a day or two.
"I see."
Upon hearing this, Nami thought for a moment and said, "Then handing them over to the Marines now shouldn't be a problem."
Although these Marines seemed rather rough around the edges, based on observations during this time, they truly embodied the justice of the Marines.
Even Merry and Sanji, who had spent some time with them, agreed on this point.
Thinking this, Nami said, "Alright then, I'll go communicate with the Marines, so..."
Before she could finish, she noticed the Marine Lieutenant Commander walking over, his expression unusually stern.
Seeing this, Nami was taken aback, then asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Law and Meiser also looked at the Marine Lieutenant Commander with puzzled expressions, wondering why he had come.
"I just contacted Vice Admiral Smoker," the Marine Lieutenant Commander said. "He indicated that we can handle this matter and that we can reach out to Vegapunk."
Just moments ago, he had used the Den Den Mushi to contact Vice Admiral Smoker again.
The other party expressed that he wasn't comfortable leaving the children with pirates, so it would be better for them to take the children back.
"Smoker?"
Law's expression immediately changed, clearly feeling significant pressure from the title of Vice Admiral.
Though reluctant to admit it, he knew he was no match for someone like that at the moment.
In contrast, Meiser and Nami remained much calmer, clearly unafraid of that individual.
Taking in the reactions of the three, a hint of surprise flashed in the Marine Lieutenant Commander's eyes.
"Are the Straw Hat Pirates really unafraid of Vice Admiral Smoker?" he wondered to himself.
Was it because they were extremely confident in their own strength, or did they believe Vice Admiral Smoker wouldn't take action against them?
Come to think of it... Vice Admiral Smoker didn't seem surprised that the Straw Hat Pirates had rescued the children earlier...
Could they know each other?
With this thought, the Marine Lieutenant Commander fell into contemplation.
"If your Marines can indeed enlist Vegapunk's help, then handing these children over to you might be acceptable," Nami said. "But I need a guarantee from you."
"What guarantee?"
"A guarantee that these children will ultimately be safely returned home!"
As she spoke, Nami's gaze grew exceptionally serious.
The Marine Lieutenant Commander immediately understood Nami's meaning—she was afraid that another scoundrel like Vergo might appear among the Marines!
Thinking this, the Marine Lieutenant Commander said earnestly, "Please rest assured, we absolutely will not allow such scum to appear here again!"
"This, I can guarantee you!"
Vice Admiral Smoker is someone who despises evil!
If he were to discover scum like Vergo here, he would undoubtedly take action to eliminate them!
Without even filing a report in advance!
This is their Vice Admiral, the leading figure of the new generation of the Marines!
"Alright then, we'll leave this matter to you," Nami said with a sigh of relief.
Since these guys could be trusted, they could entrust the children to them.
After all... they were pirates.
At this moment, Law also relaxed. It was best if this matter could be resolved this way.
This way... they could continue carrying out his battle plan!
"Please rest assured and leave it to us!" the Marine Lieutenant Commander said with a smile. "We will definitely cure these children.
After all, this matter was ultimately caused by the negligence of the Marines, so it's most appropriate for us to make up for it."
Then, the Marine Lieutenant Commander turned and walked into the distance, saying as he went, "I'll go ahead and make arrangements. After that, you can bring the children over."
"Alright!"
Nami nodded, then turned to look at Meiser, clearly intending to say something.
But before she could speak, the Marine Lieutenant Commander spoke again, "Oh, there's one more thing..."
Hearing this, Nami immediately stopped and turned to look at the Marine Lieutenant Commander with confusion, asking, "What is it?"
Could it be that this guy was planning to go back on his word?
Thinking this, Nami narrowed her eyes.
If this guy dared to say something like that, she wouldn't mind using her own strength to teach him a lesson.
"It's about Vice Admiral Smoker."
The Marine Lieutenant Commander hesitated for a moment, then turned his head and said, "Vice Admiral Smoker said you should leave Punk Hazard as soon as possible."
"Leave Punk Hazard as soon as possible?"
Several question marks immediately popped up in Nami's head. What did that mean?
Could it be that this guy was planning to block their path ahead?
"I don't know either," the Marine Lieutenant Commander shook his head and said. "Those were Vice Admiral Smoker's exact words."
He was also quite curious about the reason behind Vice Admiral Smoker's words.
Could it be that Vice Admiral Smoker intended to let these guys off the hook? The Marine Lieutenant Commander wondered to himself.
Thinking this, the Marine Lieutenant Commander recalled the expression on the Den Den Mushi when he reported the situation to Vice Admiral Smoker...
It wasn't impossible.
But even if he saw through it, he couldn't say it out loud.
After all... the two sides were enemies.
"Did you tell Smoker what happened here?" Nami asked.
"I did."
As soon as he said this, Nami immediately smiled.
Come to think of it, that old smoker Smoker had done something similar back in Alabasta.
"Alright, we understand."
"Hmm."
The Marine Lieutenant Commander nodded, then continued, "Once you finish handling things here, set sail as soon as possible."
So as not to make things difficult for Vice Admiral Smoker.
Then, the Marine Lieutenant Commander turned and walked toward the other Marines, clearly intending to brief those fools on what to do next.
Watching him leave, Meiser said, "Heh, I didn't expect that Marine to be quite flexible in his approach."
If he wasn't mistaken, that guy was probably already on his way here. And that message from the Marine Lieutenant Commander was likely something Smoker had hinted at him to say.
Heh, interesting.
"What, are you familiar with that guy?" Law asked curiously.
"Not really."
Nami shook her head and said, "It's just... this Marine named Smoker is rather special."
Even Nami had to admit that Smoker was an exceptionally competent Marine.
She felt reassured entrusting the children to him.
"Is that so..."
Law slowly narrowed his eyes. It seemed the Straw Hat Pirates' experiences were even more extensive than he had imagined—they even knew this Vice Admiral.
However, that guy was ultimately a nuisance. If not handled properly, it could potentially affect their upcoming plans.
Thinking this, Law said, "Judging by what that Marine said, Smoker will likely come to us soon."
"So..."
Though Law didn't finish his sentence, Nami and Meiser understood his meaning.
"Then you'll have to ask Luffy," Nami said with a chuckle. "After all, he's the captain."
Meiser also nodded in agreement.
"Straw Hat-ya..."
Turning to glance at Luffy, who was grinning with his teeth bared for some unknown reason, Law slowly narrowed his eyes.