The doubts Taro had about the name Rest Island vanished without a trace the moment he stepped onto the island.
This was a Summer Island. The entire island was filled with bustling entertainment facilities and commercial streets, with many yachts docked around it. In the center of the island grew a massive tree shaped like a giant parasol, with buildings constructed atop its canopy.
Sunshine, beaches, and beauties in cool clothing—this is the life!
Taro's eyes lit up. He quickly changed into a short-sleeved shirt, beach shorts, and flip-flops that matched the vibe of Rest Island. He lay comfortably on a beach chair, sunbathing while blissfully sipping chilled sherry wine.
Comfortable.
At that moment, Hina walked over. She was holding a glass of orange juice and had only taken off her Marine cloak, still wearing her signature red suit, which looked completely out of place with the island's style.
"Hey, Hina, we're on vacation right now. Why are you still dressed like that?" Taro muttered.
"The fleet responsible for escorting the Baroque Works members reported that Mr. 2 Bon Clay escaped. I suspect he escaped during the brief stop at this island."
Hina sat down on the neighboring lounge chair. "However, he's the only one who escaped. Crocodile and the others have already been delivered to the detention center."
Only then did Taro notice many Marines appearing on the island. He nodded. "That can't be helped. With Mr. 2's Devil Fruit Ability, escaping is indeed too easy for him."
"Don't think so much for now. A vacation is meant for being happy. Quick, go change your clothes; your current outfit is way too mismatched."
Hina hesitated, her face flushing slightly. Just as she was about to get up, she suddenly noticed three people walking over who seemed a bit off.
In Taro's words, their attire was also far too mismatched with the style of this island.
Seeing Hina standing there dazed, Taro also found it strange and followed her gaze.
Holy crap! He saw three people!
A little girl was wearing a blue scarf and a striped sweater, her hair in a massive afro that was obviously a wig, and she was eating ice cream.
A tall, thin man was wearing a fur coat and had a middle-aged man's slicked-back hairstyle.
There was also a woman, also in long sleeves and pants, wearing a pumpkin hat.
Taro's cheeks twitched violently. He felt like his eyes were failing him and his IQ was being severely insulted.
Big brothers, your disguises might involve big changes, but could you use your brains a little!
The three were none other than Miss. Golden Week, Miss. Valentine, and Mr. 5. The Pteranodon they were riding had been drenched by a storm, causing the effect of Miss. Golden Week's painting technique 'Yellow-Green of Friendship' to vanish. The Pteranodon became uncontrollable, so they crashed on this island.
Then, because Hina ordered a search for the escaped Mr. 2, many Marines appeared on the island. The three of them were forced to disguise themselves, eventually ending up looking like they did now.
Hina also recalled the portraits of the organization's high-ranking agents obtained from the captured Baroque Works members, and she finally recognized the identities of the three.
While Taro was speechless, Hina launched a surprise attack, directly throwing a flying kick toward the three.
Miss. Golden Week and the others were caught off guard. Miss. Valentine was hit directly. Hina is a user of the Cage-Cage Fruit; when she activates her ability, any part of her body that touches an enemy turns into iron bars. Just like that, Miss. Valentine was captured in a single blow.
While Miss. Golden Week and Mr. 5 managed to escape the initial strike, the commotion quickly caught the attention of the surrounding Marines, who rapidly closed in.
Mr. 5 is a user of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit. He picked out a piece of nose dirt and flicked it over. The nose dirt landed on the ground and exploded instantly. Realizing they were outmatched, the two helplessly fled amidst the chaos.
This nose-picking Move was a bit disgusting; Taro instantly lost any desire to learn it.
Hina first ordered Fumbudhi and Jango to pursue them, then walked over to Taro's side. "I didn't expect this kind of thing to happen again during this vacation. Hina is sorry."
Taro gave a helpless smile. "It's fine. We are Marines, after all."
Soon, Hina ordered the Marine Soldiers to post a message on the bulletin board in the city center square:
"To the three remnants of Baroque Works: If you do not arrive at the western port by dusk, the Marines will execute Miss. Valentine by hanging!"
Below the message were photos of Miss. Golden Week, Mr. 3, and Mr. 5, while the bounty poster for the already escaped Mr. 2 was also pasted on a nearby wall... At the western port, Hina had put her Marine cloak back on, and the surrounding Marines were all standing ready. Taro sat on a nearby hillside, sighing.
A perfectly good vacation, ruined again!
Just then, a small cart slid down the opposite hillside into the Marine ranks, causing a stir.
Taro looked over and saw a person tied to the cart—it was Mr. 3. Just as the Marine Soldiers were about to escort him onto the Marine transport ship, Mr. 3 suddenly erupted, using a flurry of Okama Kenpo to knock down the surrounding soldiers.
It turned out this Mr. 3 was Mr. 2 in a face-changing disguise. Hina tore off her cloak and stepped forward to fight Mr. 2 Bon Clay.
Miss. Golden Week took advantage of the chaos to snatch Miss. Valentine away. She then used her color pigment ability to control a whole ship of Marine Soldiers, driving them toward the detention center.
Taro stood up helplessly and shouted to the battling Hina, "Hina, I'm going after them!"
He then transformed into a Falcon and pursued them... Facing Taro, who suddenly appeared on the ship, Miss. Golden Week's trio was startled. If Taro hadn't been wearing vacation clothes, they would have attacked immediately.
"Hmm, not bad. I've finally met some people who don't immediately start a fight." Taro chuckled, looking at the adorable Miss. Golden Week. "Little girl, you're quite cute!"
"Who are you? What do you want?" Hearing Taro praise Golden Week, Miss. Valentine pulled her behind her back and asked loudly with a wary look.
"My name is Taro, and I'm a Marine." Taro said with a smile, then quickly reached out and made a calming gesture. "Stay calm. Look at my outfit—I'm on vacation, not on duty, so I won't make things difficult for you."
The three were about to launch an attack when they heard Taro say he was a Marine, but hearing his indifferent tone—as if he didn't take them seriously at all, speaking with the air of a master—they hesitated.
Taro indeed didn't care much about Miss. Valentine and Mr. 5; their abilities were relatively conventional. The key was that Miss. Golden Week's ability was somewhat eerie. So, while Taro appeared relaxed on the surface, he was actually very wary of this little girl.
"Colors Trap: Yellow of Laughter!"
Miss. Golden Week suddenly lifted her brush, dipped it in some yellow pigment, drew a few strokes in the Void Realm, and then a yellow symbol was imprinted on Taro's body.
[Learning Colors Trap: Yellow of Laughter failed]
Taro was stunned, and so were Miss. Golden Week and her companions.
"System, what happened this time?"
"Painting abilities belong to techniques, and additional changes belong to innate talent abilities. They are not Moves, therefore they cannot be learned."
The System's mechanical voice provided the answer.
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