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Chapter 378: Hot Spring and Song and Dance Island
Chapter 378: Hot Spring and Song and Dance Island
Eight months later.
Pegasus Town.
A vast number of merchant ships and cruise liners docked at the Port, and the town bustled with endless streams of people, lively and vibrant.
Occasionally, one could spot elaborately decorated plazas where groups of Kabuki Performers put on shows, drawing in crowds of tourists.
At this moment, a Warship docked at the Port, and a group of Navy personnel disembarked.
The Navy personnel marched in orderly formation, gradually advancing toward the town.
"Woah, so this is Pegasus Town? Amazing!"
At the front stood a man wearing the standard Navy white-and-blue jacket set. His long, thick pink hair was tied with a vibrantly patterned handkerchief, and a pair of glasses rested on his nose. A scarf was tied around his chest, and he wore a Navy-hooded cloak.
He looked around, his gaze lingering first on the coastal defense batteries with their numerous heavy cannons, then shifting to the bustling town ahead.
"I heard that Pegasus Town was still under pirate occupation last year. To transform into this thriving place in such a short time is incredible! Unbelievable!"
The pink-haired Navy officer clenched his fists, gazing excitedly at the vibrant town.
"Pfft, what's the big deal?"
Beside him, a blond man scoffed, smirking as he barked at the pink-haired youth, "Hey, this isn't the time to get starry-eyed. We need to find that idiot Kuro first!"
The blond wore a wide-brimmed felt hat, a Navy overcoat resembling a trench coat, and carried two massive cutlasses strapped to either side of his waist.
"I know, I'm just looking", the pink-haired Navy replied, scratching his head sheepishly. "Back at Headquarters, I heard Pegasus Island is called the 'Hot Spring and Song and Dance Island.' I've always wanted to see it with my own eyes. Kuro Commander is truly amazing!"
"Puhahaha, if he's amazing, then enjoy the sights! What's the problem?"
Suddenly, a bold, hearty laugh echoed from behind them. Hearing the sound, Koby and Helmeppo quickly turned around.
The speaker was an elderly man with short white hair, wearing a white suit and a Navy-hooded cloak. He walked with a gorilla-like gait, carrying a senbei snack bag in one hand and occasionally pulling out a piece to munch on as he approached.
The old Navy took a bite of his senbei, laughing heartily, "What a great island!"
"We didn't come here to sightsee!" the blond Navy snapped.
"Hahaha, young man, don't rush everything."
The old Navy slapped the blond's shoulder, making him wince as his arm went numb.
"However—"
After patting him, the old man turned his head toward the bustling town center, where the towering Navy fortress loomed above.
"Puhahaha, let's go find Kuro first!"
The Navy's arrival didn't surprise the townsfolk, who seemed accustomed to their presence.
This puzzled the pink-haired officer. In past missions, whenever he arrived at an island, the locals were always both warm and anxious—after all, Navy presence usually meant pirates were nearby.
During his voyage here, he encountered pirates in other seas, but since entering these waters, not a single pirate ship had appeared.
"Hey, uncle, can I ask you something?"
He approached a man carrying a bag of apples. "Are there not many pirates around here?"
"Huh? Pirates?"
The uncle blinked, then snorted with amusement, sizing up the pink-haired Navy officer. "Are you a new Navy recruit?"
"Ah, yes. We're here on a mission."
"You're probably thinking that since Pegasus Island is so prosperous, pirates must be eyeing it, so you came to earn some glory. Let me tell you, there are no pirates here."
The uncle puffed out his chest proudly. "With Kuro Commander stationed on Pegasus Island, there's no way pirates would dare approach. This is the West Blue's most peaceful island!"
"That's right, it truly is the most peaceful."
A merchant passing by chimed in. "Officer, we love doing business here because it's so safe. No pirates to worry about, not even a single black gang. No one collects protection fees, so prices stay low. The goods here are incredibly affordable. Though it's near Reverse Mountain, the gateway for many heading into the Grand Line, no pirate dares come near."
"Of course, all thanks to Kuro Commander and Kasmajor. They're our guardian deities—one defends the island, the other clears out pirates at sea. No pirate would ever dare enter here. We even go fishing without carrying weapons!"
The uncle boasted, "Not long ago, a man barely survived and drifted here. We learned his old pirate crew couldn't approach Pegasus Island, so they failed to resupply before reaching Reverse Mountain. The currents smashed their ship to pieces!"
"I heard about that too", the merchant added. "Besides being known as the 'Hot Spring and Song and Dance Island,' Pegasus Island has another name—'Pirate's Grave Island.' No pirate dares come near here."
With affordable, high-quality goods and the added benefits of prosperity and safety, it's no wonder the island attracted so many people.
No one even remembered that just last year, this place was a chaotic mess—a haven for lawlessness.
"Hahaha, that little brat did well!"
The old Navy laughed heartily and strode forward.
"Thank you very much", the pink-haired officer said to the two men before following behind.
"That man..."
The merchant looked at the tall, elderly figure with a puzzled expression, his gaze lingering as if trying to place a familiar face.
At the town's center stood an enormous Marine Base, surrounded by towering walls. Besides the central fortress, numerous Marine buildings dotted the area.
The gates were tightly shut with no guards in sight. As the Navy approached, faint sounds of training echoed from within.
"I'll knock", the pink-haired officer said, stepping forward, but the old Navy beat him to it, striding ahead with a clenched fist.
"No need for such formalities."
Boom!
With a single punch, the gates shattered inward, debris scattering as wisps of smoke and dust rose. Through the haze, the old Navy stepped forward, laughing loudly, "Kuro! Where are you? The old man's here!"
The training sounds abruptly ceased.
In the plaza, a group of Navy men sweated profusely as they exercised bare-armed. In another open area, a burly man gripped a cross spear, holding a horse stance as he thrust forward repeatedly, leaving deep pits in the ground from his relentless training.
Nearby, a solitary building emitted a foul odor, reminiscent of serum.
In another training ground, a man in a black suit adjusted his glasses while stepping on a beaten Navy officer, about to speak—
All these scenes froze the moment the old Navy shattered the gates.
The Navy officer under the black-suited man's foot looked up with a bruised face, stunned. "K-Kuro Commander?!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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