"Are you leaving already?"
Watching the Freedom drift away.
Inuarashi let out a sigh of relief subconsciously.
Then, as if remembering something, he looked in the direction the Freedom had sailed, his expression changing slightly.
"Is it for the Road Poneglyph?"
Although he had guessed the goal of the silver-haired group, he had no intention of following.
The gap in strength between them was too vast, almost a world apart.
If he brought his people along, it might provoke the silver-haired one's hostility.
That would then be a disaster for the Mink Kingdom.
To be honest, after the silver-haired one killed Kaido, both he and that guy Nekomamushi felt a sense of gratitude towards the silver-haired one.
After all, the feeling of being thrown into a boiling pot by that guy nineteen years ago was still vivid in their memories.
And Oden Kozuki had died there to create an opportunity for them to escape.
To save Wano Country, the first person they had to face was Kaido.
Now that Kaido was dead, as long as they overthrew Orochi's rule, Wano Country would once again regain its peace.
Therefore, he and Nekomamushi had once again put aside their differences and decided to go to Wano Country to fulfill Lord Oden's dying wish.
However, as kings of the Mink Kingdom, they still had many things to arrange, which was why they hadn't left immediately.
Whale Forest.
As the name suggested, it was named after a colossal tree whose trunk resembled a whale looking up.
This tree was enormous and clearly visible from the edge of the island, making it very conspicuous.
The Freedom sailed across the kingdom's town and directly into the depths of the forest, landing before this giant tree that looked like a whale.
"Let's go! No one should bother us."
Kouta looked at the large door carved into the trunk and smiled, "The second Road Poneglyph I know of is inside the trunk of this tree."
As soon as he finished speaking, he jumped off the ship.
His companions looked at the strangely shaped giant tree above them, a hint of awe flashing in their eyes, then they lowered their heads, jumped off the ship, and followed Kouta's footsteps.
This world held many wonders, too many to count.
If humans weren't unwelcome here, if they weren't unwelcome, they might even have had the mood to stay and explore for a couple of days.
But as it was, they could only pass through in haste.
After copying the Road Poneglyph, they had to leave and head to the next destination.
Before long, everyone emerged from the door carved into the trunk.
At the bow of the Freedom.
Kouta glanced up at the whale tree, then withdrew his gaze, tapped his toes in mid-air, and steered the Freedom to soar into the sky.
Instead of returning the way they came, they flew from behind Zunesha towards the unknown.
Soon, they disappeared from Zunesha's perception.
"Ang~"
After sensing Kouta's aura vanish, Zunesha let out a loud cry and then began to walk, continuing its path of atonement.
Its lifespan was incredibly long, so long that a country had sprung up on its back.
During the Void Century, 800 years ago, Zunesha became Joy Boy's companion.
For some reason, it committed a sin and was punished with a command to keep walking, its destination unknown.
Kouta did not know if this command was issued by Joy Boy, or if Zunesha had always had a master, issued by its master from 800 years ago, or perhaps even by Im.
Kouta did not know, nor did he intend to find out.
Leaving the Land of Zou, leaving the zone of mist created by Zunesha's immense aura.
Kouta steered the Freedom to land on the sea.
Then, he handed over the control of the ship to Momotaro and Aokiji.
He, on the other hand, continued to lie on the lounge chair at the bow, basking in the sun.
Two days later.
"Kouta, land has been sighted ahead."
Aokiji lowered his binoculars and raised his arm, looking at the recording needle on his arm, and said in confusion, "That's strange, normally any island would affect the recording needle, why is the island ahead not having any effect at all!"
"What's so strange about that!"
Leaning against the railing, Momotaro raised his hand, a cigarette held between his fingers, and exhaled a puff of smoke towards Aokiji as he tilted his head and smiled, "Either it's like Zou, or it's like Moria's lair in the Thriller Bark. It's not an island, but a ship."
"A ship?"
Hearing Momotaro's words, Aokiji turned around, raised his binoculars, and looked carefully.
After a moment, he lowered his hand, turned to Kouta, who was lying on the lounge chair, and said with a hint of excitement, "Kouta, Momotaro's guess was right. It really is a ship, a ship as large as an island."
"Oh..."
Kouta looked up at the excited Aokiji and also became interested.
He put down his teacup, sat up, slipped on his slippers, walked to the bow, and looked forward.
He wasn't Aokiji, so he could clearly see the golden dot ahead without binoculars.
"A ship..."
"A ship like an island,"
"And it's golden."
"..."
As if realizing something, a knowing smile spread across Kouta's face.
"So it's you, you guy!"
Just then, hearing that an island had been discovered, the others on the main deck also came to the bow.
Hearing Kouta's whisper, Robin pushed up her sunglasses, cradled the thick history book in her arms, tilted her head to look at Kouta, and asked with a smile, "Mr. Kouta, do you know this ship?"
"Yes!" Kouta nodded, withdrew his gaze, turned around, leaned against the railing, and smiled at his companions, who were looking at him curiously, "I do know it."
Before his companions could ask.
Kouta, with a thought, made the sake gourd on the coffee table fly over. He caught it, took a large gulp, and then said.
"If I'm not mistaken, that giant ship ahead should be the world's largest entertainment city, 'Gran Tesoro'."
"Gran Tesoro."
Robin pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She looked up at Kouta and smiled, "I've seen it in the newspaper."
"Gran Tesoro is a giant ship, 10,000 meters long, forged entirely of gold, with a town on it. It's the world's largest entertainment city, an independent nation recognized by the government, and a demilitarized zone, a 'Absolute Sanctuary' where even the World Government cannot casually attack."
"Yes!" Kouta nodded, "It should be."
Hearing the conversation between Kouta and Robin, the others on the ship became excited.
They had just obtained a large amount of wealth on Whole Cake Island, and now they were coming to the world's largest entertainment city, so they had to enjoy themselves.
Looking at the eager eyes of his companions.
Kouta smiled slightly, then told them to prepare themselves, and that they would board the ship later and have some fun.
After all his companions had gone to the cabin to change clothes and make preparations.
Kouta turned around, looked at the giant ship that was gradually becoming clearer ahead, the corners of his mouth turned up, and a hint of amusement appeared on his face.
Then he put away his smile, casually hung the sake gourd at his waist, and also went to the cabin to change clothes.