NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 172: Chapter 172
The air on Zou thrummed with life – the deep, resonant vibration beneath their feet, the chittering of unseen creatures, the rustle of leaves the size of sails. Marya stood balanced on the massive branch beside the submarine, its dark hull groaning softly against the ancient wood. Below, the stunned silence of Kurau City was breaking into a murmur of confusion and awe. Furry faces peered up, eyes wide with wonder and alarm.
Jelly, oblivious to the tension, bounced exuberantly beside her. "FURRY FRIENDS! BLUP! HELLO DOWN THERE! ADVENTURE!" he pulsed, sending shimmering ripples through his turquoise form. He wobbled precariously near the edge. "BOUNCE TIME?"
Marya's hand shot out, catching Jelly mid-wobble. Her usual stoic mask was firmly in place, but beneath it, a storm of conflicting emotions raged. The sight of the Minks – their fluffy ears, twitching noses, expressive tails – was triggering an overwhelming, almost painful surge of delight. So… fluffy. So… CUTE. She took a slow, deep breath, forcing her racing heart to calm. Composure. Professionalism.
She stepped lightly off the branch, landing silently on the soft, mossy forest floor below the tree. Jelly splortched down beside her, reforming instantly. Marya straightened, brushing imaginary dust from her trousers. She opened her mouth, ready to deliver a calm, collected introduction to the gathering crowd of curious Minks.
The words died in her throat.
A blur of motion erupted from the dense foliage. Raizo, the massive, rotund ninja, burst forth with surprising speed for his size, his slick head of six obscure dreads gleaming in the dappled sunlight. "INTRUDER!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the trees. "HALT AND EXPLAIN YOURSELF!" He charged headlong, arms outstretched, clearly intending a tackling bear hug.
Marya, her instincts honed by years of navigating treacherous situations, didn't flinch. She simply cocked her head to the side, observing his trajectory with confusion. At the last possible moment, she took a single, precise step to her left.
Raizo barreled past, momentum carrying him straight into a thicket of ferns with a surprised "OOF!" He flailed, limbs tangled.
Simultaneously, Jelly, startled by the sudden charge, had bounced instinctively – directly into Raizo's path as he stumbled back out of the ferns. With a wet SPLAT!, the sentient gelatine engulfed Raizo's entire head and upper torso, muffling his indignant splutters into frantic, dampened "MMMPH! GLRK!" sounds. Jelly pulsed apologetically. "SORRY BLUP! BOUNCY!"
Before Marya could process the ninja-gelatine entanglement, two more figures shot through the trees like arrows. From the left came Carrot, the rabbit, Mink, her white fur a blur, ears pinned back, eyes wide with adrenaline. "Waaaait!" she cried, her voice high and urgent. From the right came Atlas Acuta, the lynx Mink, moving with predatory grace, his rust-red fur with black spots rippling, a competitive smirk on his scarred face. "Beat you there, slowpoke!" he taunted, easily matching Carrot's speed.
Both lunged towards Marya, Carrot with open hands aiming to grab, Atlas with a hand hovering near the hilts of his concealed daggers, his sapphire-blue slit-pupiled eyes narrowed in assessment.
"Hold! STAND DOWN!" The command, sharp and authoritative, cracked through the air like a whip. Wanda, the dog Mink and leader of the Guardians, emerged from the trees. Her expression was stern, her posture radiating command. She wore practical combat gear, her fluffy tail held high and rigid.
Carrot skidded to a halt, her momentum almost making her tumble. Atlas stopped instantly, but his smirk remained, and he gave Carrot a playful shove with his shoulder. "Told you she'd yell," he murmured, earning a glare and a retaliatory elbow nudge from the rabbit Mink.
"Shut up, Atlas!" Carrot hissed back, cheeks puffing slightly.
Marya stood perfectly still amidst the sudden tableau: Raizo flailing blindly under a layer of apologetic blue gelatine, Carrot and Atlas shoving each other like competitive siblings, and Wanda stepping forward with regal authority. The sheer randomness of it – the fluffy ears, the twitching noses, the playful shoving, the muffled ninja – hit Marya like a physical wave.
Her carefully constructed composure shattered.
Her eyes widened, stars practically visible in their depths. Her hands flew to her cheeks. A high-pitched, utterly uncharacteristic squeal erupted from her lips. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" It echoed through the forest, startling birds from the canopy. "SOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUUTE!" She clapped her hands together rapidly, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, a picture of unrestrained, giddy delight. "Look at the ears! And the tails! And the fluff! It's all so FLUFFY!" She pointed excitedly at Carrot's twitching nose, then Atlas's charcoal-tufted ears, utterly ignoring the weapons and the tension.
The Minks froze. Carrot blinked, bewildered. Atlas's smirk vanished, replaced by utter confusion, his fur flattening slightly. Wanda's stern expression faltered, one eyebrow twitching upwards. Even Raizo stopped struggling beneath Jelly for a moment.
Marya seemed to realize the sound had come from her. She froze mid-bounce, her hands still clasped. The stars in her eyes dimmed. A deep flush crept up her neck. She cleared her throat loudly, forcing her face back into its usual impassive mask, though her cheeks remained faintly pink. She smoothed her shirt with exaggerated care. "Ahem. Yes. As I was... attempting to say." Her voice was strained, trying desperately for cool professionalism but still holding a hint of breathless excitement. "My name is Marya. This is Jelly. We seem to have... arrived unexpectedly."
Wanda recovered first, her composure returning, though a flicker of wary amusement remained in her eyes. She stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Carrot's shoulder and giving Atlas a look that silenced his next potential jab. "I am Wanda," she stated, her voice calm and measured. "Leader of the Guardians, protectors of Zou. This is Carrot and Atlas," she gestured to the younger Minks, who were now staring at Marya with open curiosity mixed with lingering bewilderment. "And the esteemed ninja Raizo..." She trailed off, looking towards the still-struggling figure.
Raizo finally managed to peel Jelly off his face with a wet schlorp. He stood there, dripping blue slime, his slick head glistening, his expression a mixture of profound indignity and utter confusion. He took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to regain his ninja dignity. "Raizo... of Wano..." he managed, his voice thick with slime and wounded pride.
Jelly, now reformed beside Marya, bounced happily. "HELLO! ADVENTURE! BLUP!" he announced cheerfully to the group, seemingly proud of his introduction.
Marya looked from the dripping ninja to the fluffy Guardians, her stoic facade firmly back in place, but a tiny, almost imperceptible spark of that earlier delight still flickered deep within her observant eyes. Zou, it seemed, was going to be far more interesting than Fishman Island.
The mossy clearing still vibrated with the residual energy of the unexpected submarine landing and the Minks' arrival. Marya, her composure precariously reassembled after the fluffy-induced squeal, opened her mouth, a barrage of questions about living elephants and furry people forming on her lips.
"Marya?"
The voice, familiar, soft, and slightly hesitant, cut through the murmurs of the Minks and Jelly's happy bloops. Marya froze. Slowly, she turned.
Emerging from the dappled shadows beneath a colossal, flowering tree, his white fur stark against the vibrant green, was Bepo. His large, dark eyes widened in recognition, then crinkled with genuine warmth. "I thought that was you!" he exclaimed, his voice a gentle rumble that instantly transported Marya back to the Polar Tang.
Before she could react, the shrubbery behind Bepo exploded in a tangle of limbs and shouts.
"Marya!"
"Oi! It is her!"
"Look out below!"
Penguin and Shachi tumbled out first, landing in a heap, followed by Jean Bart stepping over them with a grunt, Ikkaku popping up with her signature grin, and Uni, Clione, and Hakuga scrambling out after, brushing leaves from their jumpsuits. The Heart Pirates, in all their chaotic glory, were here.
Marya blinked, utterly dumbfounded. Her usual stoic mask cracked completely, replaced by pure astonishment. "Bepo? Penguin? Shachi…?" Her gaze swept over the familiar faces. "What… what are you doing here? Where is here anyway?"
Her questions were drowned out by a tidal wave of affection. Penguin and Shachi scrambled to their feet first, launching themselves at her with whoops. "Group hug!" Shachi yelled.
Penguin wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a crushing grip. "Missed ya, Marya!"
Ikkaku joined in, squeezing from the side, her short stature meaning she hugged Marya's waist. "Good to see you in one piece!" Uni and Clione piled on, while Hakuga gave her shoulder a hearty thump. Jean Bart, ever the stoic giant, offered a rare, small smile and a firm, single-armed hug that lifted her slightly off the moss.
Bepo enveloped them all in his massive, furry embrace, a soft, happy rumble in his chest. "Welcome, Marya!"
Marya, buried under the enthusiastic pile of her former crewmates, felt a warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with embarrassment this time. It was the unexpected comfort of belonging, a feeling she rarely acknowledged but couldn't deny. She stiffened initially, unused to such open affection, but then relaxed slightly, patting Penguin's back awkwardly. Jelly, delighted by the commotion, bounced around the group hug, pulsing "FRIENDS! BLUP! HAPPY!"
Wanda watched the boisterous reunion with a mixture of surprise and dawning understanding. As the Heart Pirates finally disentangled themselves, leaving Marya slightly ruffled but with a faint, genuine smile touching her lips, Wanda stepped forward. "These pirates… they are your friends?" she asked, her tone shifting from wary authority to cautious curiosity.
Penguin, throwing an arm around Marya's shoulders (she didn't shrug it off, to his visible delight), grinned. "Friends? Nah, Captain! She's crew! Honorary Heart Pirate!"
Shachi nodded vigorously beside him. "Damn right! Part of the family!"
Ikkaku, however, had tilted her head back, squinting up at the submarine lodged precariously in the branches. Her grin faded into a look of horrified appraisal. "Whoa, Marya! What the hell did you do to the sub?" She pointed at the massive, fresh dent crumpling the starboard hull plating, and the deep scrapes along its flank. Steam still hissed faintly from a ruptured vent near the stern.
Marya followed her gaze, her faint smile vanishing as she took in the damage. She shrugged one shoulder, the picture of nonchalance. "That? Just happened. Bit of a rough landing."
Jean Bart crossed his massive arms, his brow furrowed. His voice was a low growl. "Rough landing? That's my paint job you've ruined. Took me three days to get that shade of yellow just right." He sounded genuinely aggrieved.
Marya avoided his gaze, looking off into the forest canopy. "Oh. Well. A lot has happened since Sabaody." Her tone was dismissive, but a flicker of something like sheepishness crossed her features.
Jelly chose that moment to bounce enthusiastically over to the new arrivals. "HELLO! I AM JELLY! ADVENTURE! BLUP!" he announced, pulsing a cheerful turquoise.
Penguin and Shachi exchanged glances, then cautiously poked Jelly with their fingers. Their fingers sank slightly into his cool, gelatinous form before bouncing back. "Whoa!" Penguin exclaimed. "What is this thing? Feels like… weird pudding?"
Marya smirked, a familiar expression of amused exasperation returning. "That 'thing' is Jelly. And explaining Jelly," she said, reaching out to gently pat the quivering slime, "is a really long story."
Jelly pulsed happily under her touch. "LONG STORY! BLUP!"
Wanda cleared her throat, regaining control of the situation. The Guardians and Raizo had been observing the exchange with varying degrees of interest and suspicion. "Since this… Marya… is known to you, Bepo, and part of your crew," she said, gesturing to the Heart Pirates, "I shall leave her in your care for now. Please ensure she understands the laws and customs of Zou while she is here." Her gaze lingered for a moment on Atlas, who stood slightly apart, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable but his sapphire eyes sharp and assessing.
The Heart Pirates cheered. "You hear that, Marya? You're with us!" Shachi crowed. "We've got a sweet setup near the Whale Tree! Come on!" They immediately started shepherding her away, chattering excitedly, asking about her journey, completely ignoring the damaged sub for the moment in their joy at seeing her.
As the group moved off, led by Penguin and Shachi regaling Marya with tales of Zou's wonders, Atlas remained rooted. Carrot bounced beside him, her eyes sparkling. "They seem fun! Pirates are exciting!"
Atlas didn't look at her, his gaze fixed on Marya's retreating back, specifically the Heart Pirates insignia emblazoned on her leather jacket. His voice was low, a predatory rumble. "Fun? Perhaps. But they are pirates. Unpredictable. Dangerous." He finally turned his head, meeting Wanda's eyes. "I think I should keep an eye on them. Make sure this 'Marya' and her… gelatine… don't cause trouble."
Carrot's ears perked straight up. "Spying? Ooh! Can I spy too? I'm way sneakier than you, Atlas!" She immediately dropped into an exaggerated crouch, peering through an imaginary scope.
Wanda sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Carrot… Atlas… this is hardly necessary. Bepo vouches for her."
"But Captain Wanda!" Atlas insisted, his competitive streak flaring. "Bepo's soft-hearted. He trusts too easily. Remember the last 'friendly' trader who tried to steal Zunesha's bark samples?" He gestured towards the departing group. "They have a submarine lodged in a sacred tree. Caution is prudent."
Raizo, who had been silently observing the camaraderie of the Heart Pirates – their easy banter, the way they instinctively included Marya – felt a pang of longing for his own scattered comrades in Wano. He stepped forward, adjusting his slime-dampened robes. "The Crimson Comet has a point, Lady Wanda," he rumbled, his voice still slightly muffled. "Discretion is wise. I shall accompany you to report this incident to Lord Inuarashi and Lord Nekomamushi. Let Atlas and Carrot… observe." He gave Atlas a stern look. "Discreetly. No provocations."
Atlas gave a curt nod, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. Carrot pumped her fist. "Yes! Super secret spy mission! Let's go, slowpoke!" She darted into the undergrowth.
"Wait, you overeager furball!" Atlas hissed, shooting a final glance at Wanda for confirmation. At her reluctant nod, he melted into the shadows after Carrot with lynx-like silence, his rust-red fur disappearing amongst the vibrant foliage. His gaze, however, remained locked on the spot where Marya and the Heart Pirates had vanished, a silent promise of scrutiny hanging in the warm, pollen-filled air. Zou had just gotten significantly more complicated.