One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 223 Tashigi, the Future Supernovas

"Now, do you feel any remorse?"

A cold voice came from behind.

Hancock barely managed to stop gagging, clutching her chest, and turned her head in shame and indignation to look at the black-haired boy who was walking towards her step by step.

"Your back is showing."

Xia Nuo glanced at it and said, "The hoofprints of the Celestial Dragons, huh? I see. You were once a slave of the Celestial Dragons?"

Hancock's pupils contracted, and her whole body trembled violently. She frantically tried to cover herself by pulling at her torn collar, but her panic only made things worse.

Click!

With the sound of tearing fabric, the brand was completely exposed to the sunlight, and for some reason, a sharp burning pain came over me.

Turn around... Don't look!

Feelings of inferiority, shame, and resentment overwhelmed her, and she couldn't help but sob.

"If you have a lisp, then speak less. I can't understand you. It's quite rare for a Celestial Dragon's slave to be out there... Judging from your age, I guess you were one of the slaves that Fisher Tiger rescued back then."

Xia Nuo ignored it and said indifferently:

"Tiger was a towering hero. His feat of liberating slaves on Mary Geoise was something few people in the entire Sea Era could do. It's just a pity that his vision was ultimately a bit lacking."

Hearing her benefactor's name, Hancock was taken aback:
"You...what do you mean?"

"What did you say?"

Xia Nuo looked at her coldly, "Tiger risked his life to climb the Red Line with his bare hands to save you, but he didn't expect that there would be such trash mixed in with you. I ask you, what's the difference between your current temperament and your usual behavior and those arrogant and disgusting Celestial Dragons?!"

"me……"

Hancock instinctively wanted to defend herself, but found that she seemed to be just as the other person said, and for a moment she couldn't find a reason to refute it.

"You may not know, but Fisher Tiger was also a slave of the Celestial Dragons. It was because he suffered hellish torture at the hands of the Celestial Dragons that he developed an extreme hatred for humans. Even when he was bleeding to death, he refused to accept human blood and died as a result."

"But what if we disregard this point?"

Xia Nuo sneered:

"What if Tiger's hatred wasn't directed at the entire human race, but only at the Celestial Dragons?"

“You were a slave he rescued with his own hands. If you were by his side when he was on his deathbed, I think the outcome would have been no different. He would rather die than accept the blood of someone like you.”

Hancock was struck dumb, frozen in place.

"True beauty always lies in the soul, not the physical appearance. So even if Tiger is a fish-man and doesn't fit my aesthetic, he must still be an incredibly handsome guy."

"As for you? Hmph, you're so ugly it's disgusting."

Xia Nuo spat contemptuously, said those words, and then turned and strode away without looking back.

"Let's go, Mom. Keep your eyes open. If you run into a woman like that again, stay far away from her."

"Sigh, after listening to all that you've said, it seems you really are a scoundrel. I understand."

"Haha, this is my mom! I thought you'd be like other elderly people, easily fooled and unable to resist..."

"Who are you calling an old person?!" The woman, who had just felt guilty, suddenly flew into a rage.

Boom!
"Ouch, that hurts!"

With the roar of the engine, the motorcycle gradually disappeared into the distance.

Hancock stared blankly in the direction the motorcycle had gone, remaining motionless for a long time. She then looked around at the civilians lying on the ground and the scattered pirate ships...

Her fingers unconsciously touched the brand on her back, the burning pain still lingering.

"Disgusting..."

Xia Nuo's words echoed in her ears, like a sharp knife piercing her heart.

"Lord Snake Princess!"

At this moment, several female soldiers, barely regaining consciousness, staggered over, their faces full of worry: "Are you alright? That man was terrifying, we..."

"Shut up!"

Hancock suddenly looked up, her eyes bloodshot and her voice hoarse.

The female warriors immediately fell silent.

She slowly stood up, her tattered robe fluttering in the wind.

“Return...return to Nine Serpents.”

Hancock spoke in a hoarse voice, as if she had used all her strength to squeeze out those few words from between her leaky teeth.

"Huh? But aren't we going to..."

"I said, let's go back to Nine Serpents!"

She roared in fury.

The female warriors had never seen the Snake Princess so out of control, and for a moment they looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

Hancock ignored them and staggered toward the cabin.

With each step, those words echoed in my mind—

"What's the difference between them and the Celestial Dragons?"

"It's disgustingly ugly!"

"Tiger would rather die than accept your blood!"

"He's really a scoundrel..."

It's endless, and it just won't stop.

Her steps became increasingly unsteady, and her mind became even more chaotic. Nothing else could fill her mind but the undisguised contempt on the black-haired boy's face, and the look of utter disdain in his eyes, as if he were looking at trash…

As soon as I stepped into the cabin, I was immediately struck by a dizzying sensation.

"Lord Snake Princess!"

She heard the panicked cries of the female soldiers behind her, but she could no longer hear them clearly.

"me……"

She tried to grab the door frame, but her fingers slid across it in vain, and finally, to the horror of the onlookers, she fell heavily to the ground.

The last moment before consciousness fades.

In her daze, she seemed to see the raging fire and the tall figure with crimson skin, just like when she was struggling underwater...

Was I wrong, Tiger...?

……

……

The motorcycle continued to speed along the windless zone.

The large sea monsters along the way, as soon as they sensed that terrifying aura, immediately fled in terror to both sides, much like waves parted by a motorcycle.

With no obstacles and a straight course, at this rate, Shano and Bellemere will enter the New World within ten days at most.

And at the same time.

Within these ten days, in the first half of the Grand Line, parallel to the Calm Belt, in this sea area called "Paradise," something else was also quietly happening.

……

Klaigana Island, in front of the castle gate.

Tashigi looked up into the distance. It seemed like a good day for sailing. She took a deep breath and instinctively gripped the two swords at her waist.

A weapon named "Shigure";
It was just an ordinary, sharp knife.

But it had accompanied her through countless days and nights, soaked in years of tears and sweat. Even though it could no longer keep up with her current skills, she could never bear to replace it.

The other one is a wooden sword called "Lake Toya".

She treasured this knife even more, wiping it clean every day and hanging it on the wall as a keepsake, even reluctant to draw it during training.

It was a gift she received in Loguetown in the East Sea, a memento left behind by the black-haired boy she had admired since childhood.

In her heart, it weighed more than any famous sword, even more than her own life.

She turned around and looked at Hawkeye, who sat on the throne in the hall, with a complicated expression.

The latter was slowly wiping Black Blade Night, without even raising his head.

"Mr. Khomme."

Tashigi finally made up her mind, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a deep voice to the man above her:
"Thank you for your guidance over the past year. The agreed time has arrived, and it's about time for me to set off."

Oh?
Has it been a year already?
Hawkeye paused slightly as he wiped the blade.

Fog filled the window, and faintly, the distant cries of baboons could be heard.

"That baboon king..." He didn't even look up, and calmly said, "These past two days, it seems he's been beaten pretty badly by you."

"Yes."

Tashigi nodded, a proud smile on her face.

A month ago, she fought hard all day and finally defeated the baboon king for the first time.

Yesterday, she defeated the Baboon King with just three sword strikes.

I remember when I first arrived at this castle last year, I was completely helpless when surrounded by ordinary baboons...

Everything seemed like a dream.

"Go."

The black sword returned to its sheath with a clear, resonant ringing. Hawkeye finally raised his hawk-like eyes. "If that's the case, you are now barely qualified to stand behind him."

"I will never forget your guidance."

Tashigi bowed deeply, her forehead touching the ground, her voice trembling with a sob:
"If the opportunity arises in the future, I will definitely repay you."

no respond.

She only heard Hawkeye get up and walk slowly toward the restaurant, as if he were going to have breakfast, without even bothering to say a proper goodbye.

"..."

Although she had gotten used to the other person's indifferent attitude, Tashigi couldn't help but feel a little lost as they were about to part ways.

however……

When she finally straightened up, she was surprised to find a cup of steaming black tea in front of her.

"Finish your drink before you leave."

Hawkeye returned to his seat with an indifferent expression, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes to rest.

"The wind is very strong on the Grand Line; you can easily catch a cold if you're not careful."

Tashigi's eyes widened suddenly. She looked at Hawkeye, then down at the cup of red tea.

This……

Did Mr. Khomme really say that?

She carefully lifted the teacup with both hands, and as soon as her nose brought it close, somehow, the rising steam began to blur her vision...

------

Drum Island.

This land, now renamed the "Kingdom of Cherry Blossoms," is gradually regaining its former glory as a major medical power.

The snow continued to fall heavily.

But today's snow is a little different.

Thanks to the remnants of the quack doctor from years ago, countless "cherry blossoms" danced in the cold wind, their pink and white petals intertwining with the pure white snow...

Beautiful.

Chopper stood in the snow, his little bundle on his back bulging, stuffed with herbs, notes, and several packets of his favorite marshmallows that Kureha had forced on him.

It lowered its head, its hooves nervously rubbing the snow, and its eyes were red.

"Hey, you idiot Chopper."

Kureha, a cigarette dangling from her lips, leaned against the door with a grin, watching him. "What are you dawdling for? That blond brat has been waiting for you for ages. Go on!"

Chopper turned around and glanced at Sanji, who was silently looking up at the sky under the tree, smoking a cigarette with a melancholy expression.

I'm the one saying goodbye, what's with this guy trying to look cool!
It turned back, its eyes brimming with tears: "Doctor Doriel...I..."

"Why cry!"

Kureha slapped him on the head. "A real man goes to sea, so don't act like it's a matter of life and death!"

Chopper sniffed, trying hard to hold back his tears: "But, if I leave, you'll be all alone..."

"what?"

Kureha scoffed, "Who do you think I am? In over a hundred years, how much of that time have you, little brat, actually amounted to? Even without you, I'd still be perfectly fine, wouldn't I!"

She paused, her gaze softening, and reached out to ruffle Chopper's fluffy head: "But you, following that pirate, don't embarrass me."

"What pirate? I'm the captain of the Chef's Adventure Crew. My dream is to find ALL BLUE, not ONE PIECE, you old hag!" Sanji shouted angrily.

"Does a person even deserve to be called captain, you rude brat!" Kureha roared, raising her foot to deliver a flying kick.

The two of them were fighting and slapping each other, while Chopper tilted his little head and watched for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter through his tears.

What Brother Xia Nuo said back then was true.

Even if you don't know his name, as soon as you see the blonde chef shouting that he's going to find something called ALL BLUE, you know you've met the right person.

However, there's one thing that doesn't add up.

Brother Xia Nuo clearly said that there should have been a green-haired guy traveling with this guy...

I didn't see anything at all.

Chopper scratched his head.

The two of them weren't together?

That's strange, where is that green algae head now?
------

On a dilapidated little boat.

"Hahaha, cooking isn't that hard, you stinky curly-haired rascal. The adventure team can still manage without you, so what are you so smug about!"

The boy with the green algae-like hair lifted the curtain and walked out of the kitchen, hands on his hips, laughing loudly, looking smug as if he had accomplished something great.

He sat cross-legged on the rickety deck, holding a chipped, rough porcelain bowl in his hands.

The dark, sticky mess in the bowl was barely recognizable as noodles, with a few burnt vegetable leaves floating on the broth, giving off a pungent smell.

He had just picked up a strand with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth when he glanced ahead out of the corner of his eye.

His eyes widened immediately, and he spat out all the noodles in his mouth with a "poof".

Eh?
Zoro stared blankly at the towering mountain in front of him, the lonely lighthouses on either side, and the rushing sea current cascading down from the top.

This is……

Upside-down mountain?!

"How did I end up back again?!"

He burst into tears and howled in agony.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Alabasta.

Luo adjusted his leopard-print hat, stood at the port of Alabasta, and gazed at the vast desert kingdom before him.

This seems to be the beginning of Lord Xia Nuo's rise to fame.

And now, I have finally set foot on this land.

Keep going!

Following Lord Shano's original route, we will complete the first half of this Grand Line.

Then head towards the new world!
He opened his arms and grinned.

He didn't even notice that a few meters behind him...

Bepo's tongue dragged on the ground, as if he had just finished a sauna, covered in sweat. After continuing to follow for a few more steps, he finally reached his limit.

With a muffled groan, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Whiskey Peak.

"Hey, Kira, if I remember correctly, Shano killed Crocodile right here, right?"

Eustace Kidd stood on the hillside, his fiery red hair whipping wildly in the sunset like burning flames, and he grinned, revealing his signature wild smile as he asked.

"Yes, Kidd."

The masked man said in a low voice, "Also, just a heads-up, this is a hotbed of bounty hunters, and it seems we've been targeted."

"Really?"

Kidd raised an eyebrow and glanced around.

Sure enough, many lights in the town were already out, and from the cracks in the doors, the entrances to the alleys, and the rooftops, one could vaguely sense that many eyes were peering in this direction.

"They're treating us like easy prey."

Kidd grinned maliciously, "Xanuo is about my age. He just entered the Grand Line and caused such a commotion here. We can't show weakness, can we, Kira?"

"That's true," Kira said calmly, arms crossed. "There aren't any Shichibukai here, so you can have your fun."

"It's okay, you can become famous in other ways!"

Kidd slammed his fists together, a bloodthirsty crimson glint in his eyes, and laughed wildly:

"This town probably has several thousand people, right? Let's kill them all, whether they're bounty hunters or not! The World Government and Marine Headquarters will be terrified and increase our bounties several times over!"

"Let's go, Kira!"

(End of this chapter)