Chapter 433 - 433: The Latest News from Shakky, and Meiser’s Surprise

"Should we go take a look?" Brook said excitedly.

He was quite interested in this legendary Snowman.

"That's not necessary," Meiser said. "The priority right now is to find that Samurai first."

"Besides... the direction of these footprints is the way we came from."

If they went to look for the other party, they would be heading back, which would waste too much time.

"The way we came from?"

Hearing this, Brook glanced back in the direction they had come from, then asked in confusion, "Then why didn't we see them when we were coming this way?"

"Maybe they changed their route halfway," Meiser said.

This snowy mountain was so vast, with so many smaller hills, it was entirely possible for them to shift positions without being noticed.

"How disappointing..."

Sanji wore a disappointed expression and said, "I thought we could see the legendary Snowman."

Hearing this, Zoro and Brook also looked disappointed.

Meiser: ...

So, what exactly are you all disappointed about?

Just then, the sound of a Den Den Mushi rang from Meiser's chest.

"Buro buro buro~"

"Buro buro buro~"

"Buro buro buro~"

"A Den Den Mushi?"

Zoro looked at Meiser in surprise and said, "Why would a Den Den Mushi ring at a time like this?"

"Maybe it's a call from Miss Nami and the others, yohohohoho~"

As soon as he said this, Sanji's expression immediately changed.

"Could it be that Miss Nami and the others are in danger?!" Sanji said anxiously. "Hurry, Meiser, answer the call!"

Listening to their words, Meiser instinctively furrowed his brow.

Could something really have happened on their end?

Thinking this, Meiser immediately took out the Den Den Mushi from his chest.

"Kacha~"

"Hello?" Meiser said. "What's going on?"

"Ara~"

"It's me."

Hearing Shakky's familiar voice, Meiser immediately took out the White Transponder Snail and placed the two snails side by side.

"What is this White Transponder Snail?" Zoro asked curiously.

"It's to prevent eavesdropping."

Meiser explained briefly, then looked at the Den Den Mushi and said, "I didn't expect you to contact me so suddenly, Shakky."

Was there some information she wanted to tell him?

Could it be... that Shakky had already discovered the whereabouts of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit?

Or had she learned something about Moria?

Upon hearing Meiser's words, Sanji immediately became excited.

"What, it's actually the beautiful Miss Shakky?!" Sanji said, twisting his body. "It's been a long time, Miss Shakky."

Realizing that Meiser had already taken out the White Transponder Snail, Shakky laughed and said, "That voice must be little Sanji, right? It has been a long time."

"Ah, I can't believe Miss Shakky still remembers my voice..." Sanji said. "I can die without regrets now."

Zoro: —

"Then hurry up and die," Zoro said with a look of disgust.

"What did you say, Moss Head!"

"I said you're a Pervert Kappa!"

"You looking for a fight!"

"Bring it on!"

Clang clatter bang...

And so, the two of them started fighting again in the snow.

Meiser, who had taken in their reactions, felt his lips twitch.

They really never forget to have a fight, no matter the situation.

"It seems those two are still as lively as ever," Shakky said with a laugh.

Hearing this, Meiser smiled, then intended to ask Shakky why she had contacted him. But before he could speak, Brook leaned over and said, "Um, um... Miss Shakky, I wonder what color you're wearing tod—"

"Get lost!"

What a ridiculous question to ask!

"Ah, today I'm wearing—"

"Hey, Shakky!"

Meiser stared dumbfounded at the Den Den Mushi. What was up with her?

"Hehe, just teasing him a bit," Shakky said with a chuckle.

Meiser:

Glancing at Brook, who was already lying on the ground in bliss, Meiser's lips twitched slightly.

As expected of Shakky. With just a slight move, she could make this nearly century-old man fall to the ground.

Impressive, truly powerful.

Shaking his head, Meiser carried two Den Den Mushis over to a nearby rock and sat down, then said, "So, Shakky, what did you need me for?"

"Of course, I have some interesting information to share with you," Shakky said, flicking ash from her cigarette. "You'll probably be interested in this."

Hearing this, Meiser's eyes immediately lit up.

"Did you find the whereabouts of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit?"

"Not that," Shakky shook her head. "I've been gathering information on the Magnet-Magnet Fruit for two years, but I still haven't found any leads on it."

It was unclear whether someone had hidden it away or if this Devil Fruit had never been reborn in these seas.

But either way, it wasn't good news for her.

"So you didn't find it..."

Meiser showed a somewhat disappointed expression and said, "I thought you had news about that fruit."

This Devil Fruit was a perfect match for Franky. Once he got it, he was confident he could make Franky eat it!

As for Franky resisting becoming a landlubber?

Don't be ridiculous, what man would refuse the chance to transform?

With the Magnet-Magnet Fruit, Franky could transform using steel—wasn't that much more interesting than the robot he was researching?

As for ship repairs, that could be solved too—just have Merry lift the ship into the air.

No big deal!

"I know you really want that thing, but it's not something you can get just by rushing," Shakky said. "We can only take it slow."

"Yeah, I know."

Meiser also knew this couldn't be rushed, so he didn't dwell on it further.

Then, Meiser continued, "So what's the news, Shakky?"

"A few pieces of information."

"First, about Blackbeard," Shakky said with a serious expression. "On the very day you all went to Fish-Man Island, he gathered a large number of subordinates and headed to Hachinosu Island, where he engaged in a life-or-death battle with Wang Zhi on the island."

"In the end... he killed this legendary great pirate and took control of Hachinosu Island."

"Hachinosu Island..."

Listening to Shakky's account, Meiser stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "If I remember correctly, Hachinosu Island was the territory of the legendary Rocks, wasn't it?"

He recalled Granny Nyon mentioning this casually during one of their chats.

"Ah, that was indeed the case in the past." Shakky blew out a smoke ring, her expression tinged with melancholy. "Back when Rocks was still alive, Hachinosu Island truly belonged to him."

During that era, no pirate dared to defy Rocks, so the island naturally fell under his control.

"So that means..."

Meiser pondered for a moment before saying, "Is Blackbeard trying to use Rocks' name to become one of the Four Emperors?"

"No, that's not it."

Shakky shook her head. "First of all, not many people in this world know about Rocks. Secondly... the World Government would never allow his name to resurface on the seas."

To the World Government, the name "Rocks" was an absolute taboo!

So the World Government would never permit Blackbeard to use Rocks' name.

"Then what is his purpose in attacking Hachinosu Island?"

"To become one of the Four Emperors."

Meiser:

Hearing Shakky's words, Meiser was left speechless.

Wasn't that still about becoming one of the Four Emperors?

As if reading his thoughts, Shakky smiled and said, "He does want to become one of the Four Emperors, but not by borrowing Rocks' name."

"You mean..."

As if suddenly understanding, Meiser's eyes lit up. "Blackbeard wants to use Wang Zhi's life to elevate his own reputation?"

"Exactly, that's right."

"Does this Wang Zhi have that kind of influence?"

"Yes."

Shakky's expression grew complicated. "Because he was once a member of the Rocks Pirates!"

With those words, Meiser immediately understood why Blackbeard would do such a thing.

Once he defeated such a legendary great pirate, it would mean Blackbeard possessed immense power!

Just like Smoker—didn't he earn the title of Vice Admiral after defeating the legendary great pirate, the World Destroyer, Vald?

So Meiser believed Blackbeard was following the same logic.

Plus, Hachinosu Island held special significance...

"No wonder Blackbeard chose this guy as his opponent." Meiser stroked his chin. "Defeating a legend from an era is indeed the best choice."

"Is this guy named Wang Zhi really that impressive?" Brook asked curiously. "How come I've never even heard of him?"

Hearing Brook's question, Shakky couldn't help but show a helpless expression.

"If I remember correctly, you said you've been dead for 50... no, counting the two years after, it should be 52 years now."

"Mm, that's right." Brook nodded openly. "I have indeed been dead for 52 years."

"Then it's only natural you wouldn't know about him." Shakky said. "After all, he rose to fame after you died."

Brook: ...

That might be true, but why did it sound so awkward?

He was sorry for dying so early...

"Soul King, I'm not deliberately teasing you," Shakky said. "I'm just stating a fact."

"I know, Miss Shakky."

Brook, having regained his composure, chuckled and said, "It's fine, please continue."

So what if he died a bit early? It wasn't a big deal, after all... he had been revived, hadn't he!

Shakky smiled at his words and then said, "Anyway... Wang Zhi is indeed a suitable target to go after."

"So, has that guy Blackbeard become one of the Four Emperors?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zoro and Sanji, who had been fighting, stopped and turned their serious gazes toward Meiser.

Four Emperors?

This was no light topic...

"Yes, he has become one of the Four Emperors now," Shakky said. "It's already in today's newspaper."

"But... judging by your reaction, you probably haven't gotten ahold of the newspaper."

"Indeed, I haven't."

Meiser said, "We arrived at an island called Punk Hazard. The environment there is extremely harsh, so we haven't encountered any News Birds either."

He figured News Birds probably wouldn't venture into such a dangerous area, so it was only natural they couldn't buy a newspaper.

"Punk Hazard?"

A trace of surprise flickered in Shakky's eyes as she said, "Why would you be there?"

"That place is filled with poison gas."

She was aware of the poison gas leak incident at Punk Hazard and knew it wasn't a suitable place for humans to live.

What were Meiser and the others doing there?

Did they wander in by mistake?

"You'd be mistaken," Meiser shook his head and said. "Not only is there no poison gas there now, but it has also become a unique island where an Ice Island and a Fire Island coexist."

"Ice Island and Fire Island?"

Several question marks instantly popped up in Shakky's mind. How could two such opposing attributes end up together?

Was that even possible?

Even she had never heard of such a peculiar island.

"You must be curious, right?" Meiser laughed. "Curious about why such a situation exists there."

"I am indeed curious."

Shakky nodded honestly. Given her relationship with Meiser, there was no need for pretense.

"Do you remember the Admiral Duel you told me about?" Meiser said.

As soon as he said this, Shakky immediately understood what he meant.

"You mean..." Shakky's eyes gleamed as she said, "Punk Hazard is the place where Akainu and Aokiji fought, isn't it?"

No wonder the island had one side as an ice mountain and the other as a volcano. It was all due to the aftermath of those two's battle!

That made sense. When Logia-type Ability Users develop their abilities to the extreme, they can indeed cause such effects.

Thinking this, a sense of awe rose in Shakky's heart.

"As expected of Marine Admirals.

To easily alter an island's climate... truly monstrous figures, one might say.

"This is indeed the scene of their duel," Meiser nodded in agreement.

This was something Brownbeard had personally mentioned, and he had no reason to fabricate such a lie, so it was likely true.

"But there's one thing I'm curious about," Shakky said. "How did they fight for ten days and ten nights on that poison gas-filled island?"

Did the Marines use some method to temporarily disperse the poison gas while they were fighting?

"No, by the time they fought, the poison gas on that island had mostly disappeared," Meiser replied.

"The poison gas disappeared?"

Shakky was taken aback, then asked in confusion, "Wasn't it said that the poison gas on that island wouldn't disappear for a hundred years?"

Why would it suddenly vanish?

Could it have been that Vegapunk who did it?

Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't impossible.

After all... that guy is a genius scientist!

With his abilities, purifying an island's poison gas shouldn't be a problem.

"According to someone called Brownbeard, the poison gas on that island was purified by a guy named Caesar before Akainu and Aokiji fought," Meiser said. "I don't know what method he used to turn that island into a place suitable for human survival."

As for how he did it, he didn't know, since he wasn't a scientist.

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