One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 66

The crew's crying stopped abruptly, instantly replaced by expressions of jubilation:

"Great! Finally, we can party to our hearts' content!"

"These past few days of performances have been exhausting!"

"Come on, you're the one having the most fun. Hey you... hurry up and bring out the drinks!"

The barrels rolled onto the deck, and the aroma of roasted meat filled the air once more.

Bucky jumped onto the table, raised his glass, and shouted, "Cheers to freedom!"

"Cheers!" the crew cheered.

Chapter 74 The Worship of Nochiko

After a period of sailing.

Liu Jiu's small boat quietly approached Cocoa West Village, and from afar he could see three naval warships anchored in the harbor, their white sails particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

He found a secluded rocky bay to dock, and as soon as he stepped onto the beach, he heard a timid voice:

"Uncle? Is that you?"

Nojiko peeked out from behind the orange tree, his eyes wide: "I remember you! You left Bellemere a bag of gold coins back then!"

Liu Jiu was somewhat surprised. He had been deliberately avoiding Bellemere and the child these past few days, precisely to avoid any misunderstandings.

"What happened on the island?" He noticed the unease on Nojiko's face.

"It's the Navy!" Nojiri whispered. "They're after Nami and those two older sisters!"

She quickly explained that after Nami and the others returned, they took 100 million Berries to Arlong as agreed to make the deal. Unexpectedly, Arlong reneged on his promise after accepting the money, not only refusing to liberate the village but also mocking Nami for being too naive.

"Then Nami got angry..." Nojiko's eyes gleamed with excitement, "She begged Kuina and Robin to just defeat the entire Arlong Pirates!"

Liu Jiu raised an eyebrow slightly. This surprised him somewhat; he had only been away for a few days, yet such a commotion had ensued.

"The navy says they illegally obtained a large sum of money and they're going to arrest them." Nojiko looked worriedly towards the village. "Bellmeel told me to stay here and keep watch. He said if I see Nami, I should tell her to go back to sea and not come back..."

Liu Jiu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the distant naval warships: "Let's go, I'll go find them with you."

Nokiko's eyes lit up, and she jogged to keep up with him. After walking a short distance, she hesitated, then looked up and asked softly, "Uncle...can I hold your hand?"

Liu Jiu paused slightly, looking down at the little girl who barely reached his chest. Nokiko nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, but her eyes were full of anticipation.

He silently extended his hand, and Nojiko immediately and happily grasped it. The small hand was warm and soft, holding his fingers tightly.

"I've remembered you ever since," Nojiko said as he walked. "Belmel said to remember what you look like..."

She suddenly lowered her voice: "Actually, Nami doesn't know you exist yet. Bellemere said she'd tell her what you look like when she grows up, and that you might... be related to Nami."

Liu Jiu was taken aback. Was there some misunderstanding in her words? But he didn't respond, instead tightening his grip on her hand slightly.

The two walked along a secluded path toward the village, and Nojiko continued to ramble on:

"Nami is amazing at drawing sea charts; she says she wants to draw all the oceans in the world..."

"Bellmeal planted a lot of oranges, saying he wanted to save money so we could go to school..."

"When those fish-men occupied our village years ago, Bellemere relied on my uncle's bag of gold to pay protection money..."

As they approached the village entrance, Liu Jiu suddenly stopped.

Nojiko followed his gaze and saw several naval soldiers searching house to house.

"Let's go over and find out some information!"

Liu Jiu, holding Nokiko's hand, walked straight towards the group of naval soldiers who were searching. The leading warrant officer was about to reprimand them, but froze the moment his eyes met Liu Jiu's.

An invisible sense of oppression descended upon him as if it were a tangible force, causing cold sweat to bead on the warrant officer's forehead and his legs to involuntarily weaken.

"What are you looking for?" Liu Jiu asked calmly.

"Report! Report!" The warrant officer instinctively stood at attention and saluted. "We're searching for suspects in the Dragon Park attack! Three young women are suspected of illegally obtaining a large sum of money..."

To Nojiko's surprise, these navy personnel, who had been so aggressive just moments before, were now behaving with the same respect they would show to a superior officer.

"Who gave the order?" Liu Jiu's voice remained calm.

"It's Colonel Rat!" the warrant officer blurted out. "He said the Arlong Pirates are all legitimate merchants and pirates under the command of Jinbe, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The Navy has every reason to arrest the suspects..."

Halfway through his sentence, the warrant officer suddenly realized he had said too much, but it was too late. Under Liu Jiu's gaze, he was like a frog being stared at by a snake, involuntarily revealing everything he knew:

"The colonel said...if we catch the person, we'll get 30% of the stolen money..."

"We all know the dragon is a villain... but the colonel accepted a bribe..."

"The warships are docked in the harbor, ready to transport prisoners at any time..."

Nojiko gripped Liu Jiu's hand tightly, looking up at his calm profile with eyes full of admiration. She had never seen anyone so imposing and authoritative, able to command the navy to reveal all the inside information with just their aura.

"Very good." Liu Jiu said calmly, then turned and left with Nokiko in his hand.

Only after their figures disappeared around the street corner did the group of sailors collapse to the ground in relief. The warrant officer wiped away cold sweat, muttering to himself, "What was that...? How could there be such people in the East Blue...? I almost thought I was going to die just now, it was terrifying!"

By this time, Nojiko was completely in awe of this mysterious uncle. She whispered, "Uncle, are you also a Marine? That man looked like a greenhorn next to you!"

Upon hearing Nuoqi Gao's question, Liu Jiu looked down at the little girl who was tightly holding his hand.

"Do you think," he asked softly, "am I a good person or a bad person?"

Nojiko answered without hesitation, "Of course he's a good person!"

She counted her reasons on her fingers: "You gave Bellemere that bag of gold coins, saving our family. Those bad sailors were afraid of you just now, which means you're much more capable than them. And..."

She looked up and smiled brightly: "Your hands are so warm."

Liu Jiu listened in silence, his gaze fixed on the warships on the distant sea.

Noki tugged at his hand and whispered, "But if you can drive away those Marines who are bullying Nami, you'll be the best person ever!"

This naive request caused a subtle glint in Liu Jiu's eyes. He gently squeezed Nokigo's little hand and continued walking forward.

"Good people...bad people..." he muttered to himself, "The world isn't that simple. It's just a fairy tale I grew up hearing!"

Liu Jiu led Nuoqi Gao on a aimless walk.

Whenever they encounter a naval search party, the same scene repeats itself—the soldiers speak without reservation under the overwhelming pressure, and Nojiko's admiration grows ever deeper.

"Colonel Rat is in Dragon Park... counting his 'loot'..."

He said he would personally escort them away...

"Once we catch those three suspects, we'll leave..."

Based on the scattered information, Liu Jiu quickly identified his target.

As he led Nojiko into Dragon Park, he saw Colonel Rat sitting in front of a mountain of Beli, greedily counting the money.

"Can you stop your foolish behavior?"

Liu Jiu's calm voice made Colonel Mouse look up abruptly. When he saw who it was, the Bailey in his hand clattered to the ground.

"Who...who are you?" Colonel Rat's voice trembled. He instinctively tried to draw his gun, but found that his arm wouldn't obey him.

Nojiko peeked out from behind Liu Jiu, pointing angrily at the rat: "It was him! He ordered the Marines to arrest Nami and the others!"

Colonel Rat wanted to reprimand him, but under Liu Jiu's gaze, he involuntarily confessed, "I...I was just following the rules...Evil Dragon is a legitimate businessman..."

"Legal?" Liu Jiu stepped forward slowly. "Accepting bribes and framing the innocent—is this the Navy's rule?"

With each word he uttered, Colonel Mouse's face grew paler. When Liu Jiu finally stood before him, the thin colonel was slumped in the pile of money, his uniform soaked with cold sweat.

"I...I'll withdraw the troops immediately..." Colonel Rat said in a trembling voice, "and return all the money..."

Nokiko looked at Liu Jiu with surprise, only to find that he had no expression on his face.

"Take your men," Liu Jiu said calmly, "and leave Cocoa West Village forever."

Colonel Rat, as if granted a pardon, scrambled towards the door. Just as Noki was about to cheer, Liu Jiu added:

"Remember, if you ever set foot here again, I'll come to your bedside in the middle of the night and set your alarm..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Colonel Rat ran even faster, as if a demon was chasing him.

Nojiko's eyes lit up as she watched the fleeing Marines!

Chapter 75 The Man Approved by Bellemere

Just as Colonel Rat was fleeing in a sorry state, a wave suddenly surged up in the swimming pool that had been filled with seawater.

Moo's huge figure emerged from the water, its wet nose twitching as if searching for something.

Nojiko screamed in fright, hiding behind Liu Jiu and clutching his clothes tightly with her little hands: "Uncle, it's...it's that manatee that the evil dragon kept!"

However, to her surprise, MooMoo did not attack. Instead, it lowered its head obediently and looked at Liu Jiu with fearful eyes.

It still remembers how terrible he was back then!

Liu Jiu calmly gazed at the manatee, then suddenly asked, "Would you like to come with me from now on?"

Moo's big eyes lit up immediately, and it let out a cheerful "moo," its huge tail splashing excitedly on the water's surface. It cautiously approached the shore and gently nuzzled Liu Jiu's hand with its nose.

Nojiko peeked out from behind Liu Jiu, staring incredulously at the scene: "It...it understands human speech?"

"Hmm, it is a sea beast after all." Liu Jiu patted Moo Moo's nose, and the manatee immediately let out a satisfied purr.

Colonel Rat returned, this time with an entire naval squad, and the man they were holding captive was none other than Bellemere!

"Squeak squeak squeak squeak... You didn't expect that, did you! Everyone, don't move!" Colonel Rat shouted, his voice a mix of bravado and fear, from behind a soldier's body. "Otherwise I'll..."

His words stopped abruptly.

Liu Jiu didn't even look at him, but simply patted the manatee's nose lightly. The manatee immediately understood, letting out a deafening roar, and its massive body charged towards the naval camp like a war chariot.

"Wait! I have hostages..." Colonel Rat's threat turned into a scream.

But the manatee completely ignored the navy present. Its massive tail swept across, scattering soldiers like bowling pins. It deliberately avoided Bellemere's position and continued its rampage.

"Help!"

"This monster has gone mad!"

The sailors scattered in panic, and Captain Rat was whipped away by the manatee's tail, crashing heavily into the wall of Dragon Park. A clear cracking sound rang out, and he slid to the ground like a broken puppet, instantly losing consciousness.