Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 1029: Chapter 1020: Insect-Catching Youth and the Ghost Island Carnival

Classic human question - please prove you are you.

Usually, asking such a question is just stirring up trouble.

Indeed, Ivankov was stirring up trouble. Sanji didn’t have a wanted poster, but Luffy himself couldn’t keep quiet and mentioned his companions to Ivankov on the way to Navy Headquarters.

The island’s okama also provided Ivankov with new information. These two were sent from the sky by a bear-like air mass.

As Kuma’s friend, Ivankov knew Kuma’s abilities well. These two were undoubtedly intentionally sent here by Kuma.

Ivankov’s goal wasn’t genuinely to make Sanji prove he was him, but to see the resolve of these people and whether they truly followed their Captain.

Though merely a Revolutionary Army cadre, the help Kuma and Ivankov gave the Straw Hats wasn’t weaker than Dragon’s. Apart from the send-off at Log Town, Dragon didn’t offer any help to Luffy, while Kuma and Ivankov saved Luffy’s life.

After a series of trials, the two began learning the essentials of New Okama Kenpo on the island.

...

Boeing Islands, the place where Usopp arrived, was filled with various dangerous carnivorous plants and convenient culinary plants. Here, Usopp encountered a man dressed in armor resembling a Unicorn Beetle — Heracles.

Besides him, there was also an entire group of Heracrosses on this island. Some Heracrosses had arrived here and formed their own community after being dispersed long ago, gradually taking a position at the top of the island’s food chain.

”So many Heracross... Luffy would probably like it here; no, I must hurry back...”

Due to the unique food on Boeing Islands, Usopp’s physique rapidly expanded and could now compete in sumo matches in Wano Kuni.

His strength might not be adequate, but his size was certainly enough.

Fortunately, Boeing Islands were also within the News Bird’s service range, so Usopp could see news from other places, which strengthened his resolve to lose weight and train. Then he saw his sparring partner, a three-meter-tall Heracross.

”This... why is it so big!”

”It wasn’t this big initially, it might be the island’s food. This mighty Unicorn Beetle grew larger and larger until it became like this, and your goal is to train off the excess fat. It offered to help with this task.”

Heracles himself was also an insect enthusiast. After Heracross settled on this island, he became a proud Insect-Catching Youth, mingling with Heracross. As for the mighty Unicorn Beetles, these were names he coined for them based on Heracross tribe characteristics.

Although Usopp was acquainted with the characteristics of Heracross due to Heracles, every Heracross had a different personality.

Due to different living environments, Heracross from other areas developed in varied directions.

Uta’s Heracross was more adept at flying, Luffy’s Heracross was forced to develop intelligence, but Heracross here appeared simple-minded, starting Usopp’s new life with straightforward, brute-force methods.

...

On Kuraigana Island, Hawkeye returned to his sanctuary. As he planned to make something light in the castle kitchen to relax, he found something dirty had appeared at home.

”Roronoa? What are you doing here?”

”How would I know? Is this your home? Why is it built like a maze? Where’s the exit!”

Unlike others, Zoro was always lost. Had he not stumbled into the castle’s kitchen while searching for an exit, he would have exhausted himself from hunger.

Yet, despite that, he couldn’t manage to leave the castle successfully until Hawkeye returned and saved him.

Even the newspaper was brought by Hawkeye. Since Perona now lived in Wano Kuni, Zoro’s prospects of leaving were mysterious without her guiding him.

A careless mistake could have caused the meeting point with Luffy to shift from Shampodi Islands to Laugh Tale.

...

As the Straw Hat Gang began their training, the Hundred Beasts cadres likewise returned to Ghost Island, though only high-level officials this time.

With territory expansion completed and the turbulent epoch arriving, many cadres were deployed to other islands, tasked with securing territory safety.

Besides high-level officials, the pirates who earned Divine Grace in this war returned to Ghost Island.

Kaidou returned to Ghost Island as promised.

According to feedback from cadres stationed elsewhere, during this period, Kaidou circled the territories, demolishing countless pirate ships and sinking those who dared provoke him into the sea with his flying fortress approach.

As the pirates returned, Ghost Island filled with vigor, and the news of Kaidou’s significant victory spread to Wano Kuni.

Though Wano Kuni remained in a closed economy, News Bird wouldn’t directly deliver newspapers into Wano Kuni, only stopping at nearby islands.

Hundred Beasts members would reorganize newspaper content upon receiving news and issue their own newspaper in Wano Kuni to provide the citizens with some external information.

As Kaidou and others ventured out to battle, this work temporarily halted. Until Kaidou and Arceus returned, it didn’t resume.

”Guys! We won! In this war, we are the victors!”

”Yeah!!”

On Ghost Island, Kaidou repeated the known battle results, still rousing the pirates below.

”Hohoho, I can see you’re all still excited, but this war is temporarily over. Next is party time!

There’s still seven hours until nightfall—go rest, as tonight’s celebration awaits!”

”Yeah!!!!”

...

Though pirates’ battle concluded, Ghost Island’s chefs’ battle had just begun. To satisfy the excited pirates, Ghost Island’s kitchen busily prepared.

Large Sea Beast meats were tossed into the oven; soup pots bubbled away. Within the remaining seven hours, they were to prepare a lavish banquet.

Barrel after barrel of strong liquor was delivered to the banquet location; some pirates couldn’t wait and started drinking before the banquet began.

Having just finished a big fight, none stopped this, but once the banquet started, others wouldn’t miss the chance to pour alcohol on these eager ones.

Shaina went to the monastery, King headed to the Flower Capital, and Yamato checked Emboar and Tyranitar’s situations.

Relying on its shell and ability to create Seastone dust storms, Tyranitar wasn’t injured, but Emboar had acquired two scars on its body. There were still some capable people at sea.

Queen returned to his laboratory, planning first to check his defense mechanism’s operation...