A group of people looked at the excited Orochimaru, always feeling that something was off, but they couldn't quite pinpoint it.
Sanji held a cigarette with one hand, took a puff, and blew out a smoke ring. He suddenly thought of a certain unlucky Krieg at Baratie. He raised an eyebrow.
"Orochimaru... you're not thinking of taking out all those warships, are you?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, a cunning glint flashing in them, and he let out a sinister chuckle: "Of course not... those are ten warships and five Vice Admirals. I don't have the ability to make all of them stay here."
Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, but confusion still lingered in their hearts. They knew Orochimaru wasn't keen on fighting, so why was he so excited?
Orochimaru seemed to sense their doubts. He chuckled and explained, "I just want to study the structure of Marine cannons. The Buster Call warships should be different from ordinary warships, right?"
Everyone suddenly understood. So that was it. No wonder Orochimaru was so excited; it was because he had developed a strong interest in the structure of Marine cannons... so that's it.
Usopp, knowing the kid wasn't causing trouble, smiled broadly and waved at Orochimaru. An Orochimaru who wasn't causing trouble... was still very reliable.
"Have fun! Have a safe trip! Remember to grab a warship to pick us up! You can rest assured about Robin; I, sniper king, will protect Robin well!"
Watching Orochimaru fly away, Usopp sighed, "As expected of Orochimaru, he truly loves science. The Buster Call has only appeared for less than three minutes, and he's already made plans for their cannons."
Orochimaru flew in the air, looking at the sea, examining the golden transponder snail in his hand, and pressed it with a smile. The Buster Call Spandam just used was a Shadow Clone; the one in his hand was the real one.
But what was the difference? It was only a few minutes, and it gave Luffy and the others more time to fight. As expected of him, Orochimaru, he thought of everything.
However, it was really vexing. How could he quickly dismantle the cannons without causing any damage to them? Orochimaru couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Should he just make it easy and take a whole ship? That would also be giving Garp some face. As for the remaining nine ships, he could leave them for Luffy and the others to play an escape game.
But then he remembered Usopp had asked him to help prepare a warship, so he'd subtract another one. It could serve as spare timber for the new ship.
Having figured it out, Orochimaru began to search for a rooftop with an open view, easy for observation.
Standing on the rooftop, Orochimaru quietly observed the fierce battle between Luffy and the others, patiently waiting for the Marine's arrival.
Looking at Nami, who was already resting on the side, he was a little surprised, "This clima-tact, crafted by Orochimaru and Usopp together, is indeed very suitable for her. She was actually able to defeat Kalifa, who ate a Devil Fruit, so quickly. She uses lightning very skillfully. Is it talent?"
Furthermore, almost everyone else had finished their respective battles. Robin's handcuffs were also removed, leaving only Luffy and Lucci still in a standoff. Seeing this scene, Orochimaru couldn't help but ponder, "It seems that occasionally increasing their difficulty does help them improve their strength. Perhaps I should consider gradually increasing the difficulty in future battles, allowing them to constantly break through their limits."
Just then, the Buster Call warships had arrived at Enies Lobby. Ten warships began firing at Enies Lobby, and the entire Enies Lobby was destroyed by cannon fire, leaving only the high ground where Luffy and the others were. Amidst the smoke, Orochimaru seized a warship, put it into his system backpack, and suddenly sensed something, looking into the distance.
"As expected... merry... do you really want to complete this final voyage...?"
He once again used his tail to swat away attacking Marines and spoke to the few people whose battles had ended.
"Hey... everyone... jump down. Let's welcome merry together... Oh, right, don't mind Luffy; let him keep fighting."
Usopp, Nami, and Sanji were a little excited to hear this and led everyone to jump towards the sea.
Ah... looking at the people who jumped down into the whirlpool... Orochimaru suddenly realized... he didn't know how to swim either ᓫ(° ⌑ °)ǃ... It should... be fine, right...? He seemed to have seen Kokoro with them and swimming over. Mermaids, then it should be fine. Indeed, everything was within the plan.
Sure enough, not long after, Kokoro threw a group of people up.
"Ah hahaha... that handsome young man, it really was a perfect plan!" Kokoro said, wiping the water from her body, smiling at the group of people.
Orochimaru walked over, looking bewildered, "But why did they faint...? It hasn't been that long, just a few minutes."
Kokoro unconsciously put her hands on her hips, her Fishman tail splayed on the ground, "I don't know, maybe their swimming skills are too poor. Luckily I was there, otherwise your plan might have gone to waste."
Orochimaru checked each person's body, "They seem to have received some huge shock and entered a state of suspended animation; they didn't choke on water."
Kokoro smiled, "That's really good. But what kind of shock did they receive to enter suspended animation?"
Franky was the first to wake up, after all, he really did choke on water. He knew Kokoro's identity as a Fishman and pointed at her Fishman tail.
"It's because of you, isn't it...?"
As soon as he said this, the others also woke up one after another. Usopp screamed when he saw Kokoro.
"Ah!! This is actually real!! Mermaids really don't exist!"
Zoro even had tears in his eyes, "So the legend of mistaking dugongs for mermaids is true..."
Orochimaru looked at the tears in Zoro's eyes, his expression subtle. So Zoro also wanted to see a Mermaid Princess?
Sanji cried inconsolably, refusing to accept reality, "Don't talk nonsense! She hasn't even said she's a mermaid! Don't give up on your dreams!"
Kokoro walked up to Sanji, "I'm a silver Fishman."
Sanji knelt on the deck, crying and pounding the deck with his fists, "Wuwuwu... Stop it... Don't mention silver Fishmen. Mermaids should have more... more symmetrical and sexy figures, smooth, fair skin, and beautiful long hair that is soft and shiny."
Sanji looked at Kokoro... his dream shattered. Then he turned to Orochimaru, crying, "Wuwuwu... Don't be like this! Orochimaru, you lied!"
Usopp was a little surprised and ignored Sanji, "I've never heard of mermaids having legs."
Kokoro smiled at the group, "Mermaids are a mysterious race. Once they pass 30 years old, their fins will split into two, allowing them to adapt to life on land. You'll understand when you go to Fish-Man Island later."
Sanji continued to cry incessantly, even standing next to Orochimaru and crying at him (꒦ິ⌓꒦ິ)
Orochimaru covered his forehead, "Stop crying... It's just a mermaid; you'll see one later."
Sanji still looked at Orochimaru with tears, "I want to see a mermaid now... Otherwise, you're definitely lying to me... about the Mermaid Princess or something."
Orochimaru felt his scalp tingle from being stared at, "Sanji! What do you want?!"
Sanji, with tear-filled eyes, said, "Snake-men and Fishmen only differ by a tail... Orochimaru, pretend to be one for me... Wuwuwu... I want to see a mermaid."
Sanji wouldn't dare ask Nami or Robin to pretend to be a mermaid for him... so he settled for Orochimaru.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"