Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 601: Chapter 600: Magikarp and the Chef

In the beginning, the camera on Zou was an antique. The environment on Zou dictated that they couldn’t freely replenish supplies, so many things would be repaired and used for as long as they could.

That antique camera only retired after Setsuna brought back a large number of foreign goods; it has now been taken by Tesoro to serve as a nostalgic decoration.

The whole family took a brand-new photo, with Perona and Kuma also appearing in it as adopted daughter and adopted pet, respectively.

The birth of two new lives brought much joy, but after one night, apart from Zeraora and Setsuna who were still on vacation, everyone else’s life had returned to normal.

Meanwhile, the pirates on Ghost Island took the opportunity to start a chain of banquets.

The two children’s birthdays happened to be at the end of 1510, and after that, Wano Kuni began their annual New Year’s festival, seizing the banquet opportunity to celebrate for several days.

Although the officers having children had little to do with them, it didn’t stop them from holding a banquet, as this is the tradition of pirates.

What to do when unhappy? Hold a banquet to adjust the mood.

What to do when happy? Of course, hold a banquet to celebrate.

Many of the pirates who initially followed Kaidou had settled down. Sorlithia, Speed, and Mizerka were all second-generation pirates, but Zeraora’s offspring was the first officer’s child, which held great significance for the Hundred Beasts Pirates, implying future actions.

Speaking of the future, at this moment on the Shampodi Islands, Rayleigh looked at Shanks and was sighing about the past.

”In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed. You’ve grown up, but your arm... is there something in the East Sea that can threaten you?”

”I... bet it on the New World.”

At this time, Shanks was missing his left arm, and the Straw Hat was also gone. The King of the Near Sea had accomplished his greatest achievement by killing the Mountain Bandit King.

...

After the New Year’s celebrations on Ghost Island ended, and after several days of hangovers, most people’s lives returned to normal, and Ghost Island continued to operate as per the established procedures.

Shaina brought a brand-new report to Arceus.

”Lord Divine Beast, this is the plan for the coming year. Tesoro plans to launch that entertainment ship this year and prepare for Uta’s world debut. He has applied to name the ship the Grand Tesoro.”

Though called a ship, the scale of that entertainment ship was no different from a city; if the plan succeeded, it would change the entertainment industry’s landscape in the New World, or rather, the entire world.

”Has he smoothed out all his connections?”

Such a ship would touch many people’s interests; without the backing of the Heavenly Celestial Dragon, it might be sunk as soon as it was launched.

”He said there’s no problem, just waiting for the final completion.”

”Let him be; it’s just a ship’s name.”

”Alright, I’ll convey that to him later. Additionally, Mandfeish indicated that Tiger wants to come to Ghost Island... er... to admire Your Divine Grace.”

In principle, Mandfeish wouldn’t use such wording in a work log; he would usually write more straightforwardly, but this was Tiger’s request.

He was increasingly curious about what kind of place Ghost Island was, so he asked Mandfeish and used such religiously strong language to report.

”If he wants to come, let him come. Have Misu prepare for the handover to avoid disappointing this believer.”

”Yes.”

As one thing after another got decided, Shaina also went to arrange the next round of matters for others, and at sea, a new round of pilgrimage was in progress as Magikarps began their procession again, with Nereus among them.

She spent a month mastering the ability of autonomous Mega and then went to other sea areas to continue her mission.

Compared to the Grand Line, the Four Seas have a much larger area, so she led her group to continue searching for Plates in the Four Seas until recently preparing to embark on a pilgrimage journey.

”Search this seabed, and after exploring this area, we shall return to the Holy Land.”

Nereus let out a roar at the Gyarados behind her, starting the last exploration for the time being.

...

A while later, having found nothing, they resumed their pilgrimage, which had become an instinctual part of their lives; even with no results, they would undertake such a journey.

Nereus, of course, wouldn’t encounter trouble due to her strength, but some Magikarps weren’t so fortunate.

In the East Sea, on a peculiarly shaped rocky island, a Magikarp was washed onto the rocks by a wave. The dry rocks made it feel uncomfortable as it flopped around, trying several times without managing to jump back into the sea.

At that moment, a pair of skinny hands held it down, seemingly long-unfed.

”Old man! There’s a fish! I caught a fish!”

The boy seemed to see hope, but the person he called merely glanced at it and lost interest.

The two were none other than the stranded Zeff and Sanji. After a year of adventuring in the Grand Line, Zeff realized his weakness and then luckily exited the Grand Line and returned to the East Sea.

During a battle, Sanji of Germa left the Vinsmoke family and then came aboard the passenger ship Obit as an apprentice chef.

Zeff, leading the Chef Pirates, raided the Obit when a storm hit, and Sanji was swept into the sea.

Because the ideal of seeking ”ALL BLUE” moved Zeff, who shared the same dream, he chose to rescue Sanji, and the two ended up stranded on this island.

Though Zeff had given all the food to Sanji, they had long exhausted their supplies. The only good news was the fresh water accumulated by rain on the island, preventing them from dying of thirst.

On the 70th day of being stranded, Sanji discovered the truth that Zeff had left all the food for him; the big bag beside him was just inedible treasure. Only then did Sanji change his perspective on Zeff.

Seeing the jumping Magikarp at this time, he seemed to see a lifeline.

”Give it up, kid; that thing’s inedible.”

He understood the nature of Magikarp; with adequate tools and seasonings, one could maybe boil a broth, but now missing a foot and extremely weak, he couldn’t even break the other’s scales.

Sanji stubbornly stabbed the Magikarp with a knife in his hand, but even after the knife dulled, the Magikarp hadn’t suffered any harm.

”That thing’s scales are hard as steel; it’s useless, don’t waste your energy.”

The greater the hope, the greater the despair when hope is shattered. Soon Sanji lay back on the ground, no longer bothering with the struggling Magikarp.

The Magikarp’s leaps grew weaker, its life force gradually waning. Then, Sanji suddenly rose, holding the Magikarp he went to the edge of the rock.

”Go on, if I can’t eat you, then live well.”

He once wasted food, but during this time on the island, watching food mold in his hands, he learned the value of food and gained respect for life.

Since Magikarp couldn’t be eaten, there was no need for such a fish to accompany them to death on land.

”Wait!”

Zeff saw Sanji’s actions from the corner of his eye and quickly tried to stop him, but it was too late; Sanji had already thrown it back into the sea.

”You fool, now we’re in trouble...”

A few years ago, his subordinates attempted to cook a Magikarp, which ended up attracting a Gyarados, something still fresh in his memory.

Sanji had used a knife on it just now, and a sense of foreboding crept into Zeff’s heart, but he hadn’t noticed that the look in the underwater Magikarp’s eyes was different from that previous time.