Chapter 198 The Arrival of Blackbeard

Cigu Island is named after its peak shaped like a magnetic drum.

Well, although most of the residents on the island don't know what the so-called magnetic drum is, it doesn't matter. The islanders who are ruled by tyrants don't care about such insignificant things at all. Who will when the water is in dire straits? Care about these things.

Since the promulgation of the damn law on hunting doctors, the famous medical power of the Grand Line has become a thing of the past.

There are no more patients who come to the Ciggu Kingdom to seek medical advice like crucian carp crossing the river. This has also made the country that once prospered like this become poor. Of course, the poor will always be the ordinary people. His Majesty the King has a doctor 20 , it is not easy to collect money.

"Cigu Mountain... It's really troublesome for the palace to be built at such a high place."

Kalifa looked up at the mountain peak in the center of the island in the distance. It was Cigu Mountain. The mountain with an altitude of 5,000 meters went straight into the clouds. She couldn't see clearly what the top of the mountain looked like. Only the middle part of the mountain was covered by a steep rock wall. Falling snow has accumulated, exposing large areas of grey-brown.

The king's palace is on the top of the mountain.

"Lucci, do you really want to climb up with bare hands? Isn't it better to take the ropeway? It's a 5,000-meter mountain...and it's still a winter island."

Gabra almost had the word "troublesome" written all over his face.

but,

It is indeed very troublesome.

According to the information they obtained from the defeated soldiers, the ropeway must be used to reach the top of the mountain. There is no other way, but Lu Qi gave up the option of taking the ropeway and prepared to climb the high-rise tower with bare hands. The 5,000-meter Cigu Mountain.

"The ropeway is too dangerous. What if the ropeway is destroyed when it reaches half the height? Falling from a height of thousands of meters... Gabra, even if we are animal-type ability users, we will not be able to do it." It might be nothing at all.”

Lu Qi said coldly.

"Moreover, this is also a good opportunity for practice. I have never tried to climb a five-thousand-meter mountain with bare hands in winter..."

His eyes were full of eagerness to try.

He was captured alive by a maid in the Water City, and when he arrived in Alabasta, he was beaten by Elus and lay on the bed for two days... The continuous blows made him deeply aware of his own weakness, and in order to Getting stronger, he now doesn't forget to swing the barbell even when going to the toilet.

Gabra rolled her eyes.

For him, fearing that the ropeway would be damaged and falling off was just an excuse. The latter wanted to try climbing a 5,000-meter peak with bare hands in winter. This was the real reason.

"Kaku, Natsutori, Bruno, and Kalifa, the three of you stay at this end of the ropeway. If the target takes the ropeway down the mountain, contact me immediately using the phone bug. Gabra, Owl, you go hiking with me." Qi began to form his troops, and the group of seven people split into two teams.

One team was responsible for guarding the ropeway to prevent the target from going down the mountain. The army at the port collapsed. Although most of the officers were killed, there was still no guarantee that anyone could contact the king in the castle. Therefore, it was necessary to arrange for people to guard the ropeway.

The other branch climbed up the mountain, stormed the palace of the Drum Kingdom, and captured the target.

Lu Qi's order came down, and he followed it regardless of whether he wanted to or not. This is a habit left over from the CP9 era, and it will probably be a lifelong habit.

The end of the ropeway at the bottom of the mountain is located in a village called Trombone Village.

That's where they are now. Of course, Kaku and the others didn't go into the village to disturb anyone. They just found a place where they could stare at the ropeway. Moreover, Lu Qi and the other three went hiking in the wind and snow. Even if they knew there were stoves in the villagers' houses, it would be very difficult. Although it was warm, they stayed at the edge of the forest not far from the ropeway.

The road to climb is not easy.

Lu Qi and the others were walking on a snowy gentle slope without any existing roads. This was a matter of course. Ordinary people were not qualified to go to the king's palace. Those who were qualified to be asked by the king to go to the palace just took the ropeway. Who had nothing to do to climb five miles? A thousand-meter mountain?

Moreover, most of them are steep rock walls of nearly 90 degrees, and most people would not be able to climb them if they wanted to.

"Damn it! This snow is so damn hard to deal with!"

Gabra cursed the troublesome environment. The soft snow made it easy for people to fall into it, making the journey quite troublesome.

"Hey, Owl, why are you running so fast?"

Gabra, who fell to the end of the team, looked at the owl running in front of him and suddenly started shouting in displeasure.

"That's because my 'shaving' is better than yours. Chabababa!" Owl opened the zipper on his mouth and said without looking back. Even though he has a round body like a balloon, his movements are flexible. But it was like a dragonfly swimming in water, moving quickly as if flying on the snow, following closely behind Lu Qi.

Gabra was even more furious;

But what Owl said was true. Owl's power level ranked sixth among them, only higher than Kalifa, the only female member. However, his skill in using 'shaving' was only the sixth. Second to Lucci, he earned the name "Otonashi".

To be honest, Gabra is a user with the ability of the dog fruit and wolf form. His agility and speed should be his strengths. It's just that he is not as good as Lucci, but even the speed of an owl is better than him... ··It’s so hot.

"Damn it, damn it! This bunch of bastards can't even think of surpassing me!!!!"

Gabra became furious and transformed directly into the beast form. He landed on all fours and ran on the snow like a wolf...

Lu Qi, who was leading the race, looked back at Gabra, who had transformed into a wolf. He didn't say anything about saving energy. The strengths of animal-type ability users are not just physical strength, endurance and recovery. This kind of hard work is nothing. , which happens to be a kind of exercise for Gabra.

"Lucci, Lucci, there are rabbits in the woods."

The owl discovered a big bear-like rabbit jumping around in the forest and following them at an alarming speed. The obvious murderous intent proved that these creatures that looked like rabbits but were not at all gentle and cute like rabbits had regarded the three of them as... It's prey.

"Is this what they call Laban? Leave them alone."

Lu Qi was too lazy to pay attention to these stupid beasts.

Labang's information was also tortured before. The uninformed defeated soldiers did not need any special means of CP9. After a little scare, he told everything he knew like a bamboo tube pouring beans. What a mess. There are, and the information about Labang is among them.

It is said that they are ferocious carnivorous animals that like to travel in groups and will never get close to humans.

Now take a look,

It’s true to say they are ferocious beasts, but it’s a pity that compared to ordinary people, the members of CP9 have long been beyond the scope of ordinary people. CP9 has something called power. This thing is actually a standard for testing strength. Suppose The most common naval soldier's strength value is 10, which is used as a standard to test a person's strength.

Even Kalifa, who has the smallest power value in CP9, has a power value of 630, which means that she has almost 630 times the power of an ordinary naval soldier.

Of course,

Daoli can reflect a person's combat effectiveness, but it cannot completely determine a person's strength.

Combat skills, fruit ability, strength of will, physical condition, mood... these will all affect the display of strength.

"boom!"

The rushing Labang was kicked away by Lu Qi casually, knocking over seven or eight big trees in one breath before falling to the snow. This kick did not take Labang's life. Are these beasts stupid? It's a little stupid, but the flesh is really strong, plus it's covered in thick fur.

It's a good sandbag.

Lu Qi recalled the feeling of the kick just now and gave his opinion.

Probably frightened by Lu Qi's kick, the Labans stopped chasing and watched Lu Qi and the others go away with awe-inspiring eyes. This is also the habit of the Labans. They respect the strong. Especially the strong ones they can't defeat.

————

The top of Cigu Mountain.

The lights in the majestic castle are brilliant, and the flames in the fireplace dispel the cold on the mountain top, bringing warmth like spring... Of course, there is no spring on Ciggu Island. This is a winter island, and it is always there all year round. It is under the rule of winter.

"Hey, no news yet? What is that guy Jace doing?"

Sitting on the throne was an ugly-looking man.

He has a fat body, dark purple hair that is messy and unkempt, a big mouth, and a cylindrical tin plate connected to his chin. He is wearing a white hooded cape made of plate armor and tin. There is another layer of white fur on the outside.

He is the king of the Drum Kingdom, Valpo, the one with the ability to swallow fruits,

At first glance he looks like an old man, but judging from his strong body, he may only be around thirty years old.

"Cromalimon, go outside and take a look. What is going on at the port? What on earth is Jace doing?" Valpo patted the armrest of the throne impatiently, feeling very unhappy. The guards at the port saw that there was no flag. The big ship approached and reported the news.

Worried that pirates were coming to steal things, Valpo sent Jace to the port to scout the situation.

This is not to say that he still knows how to protect the people under his rule. He is simply worried that pirates will harass his castle. He knows best that there is really no profit in the villages and towns at the foot of Cigu Mountain. The pirates who are not satisfied with the harvest I think I wouldn’t mind visiting the castle on the top of the mountain.

So in order to prevent bad things from happening, we sent people to the port to reconnoiter. If the pirates who came were not powerful, they would directly kill them, but if the pirates who came were very powerful... then they would have to think about retreating and running away.

"I'll go right away."

Chromamon, who was dressed like a boxer, replied.

But before he could walk out of the hall, a guard rushed in like a gust of wind, shouting loudly as he ran: "Your Majesty Valpo, Jace, Lord Jace is dead, Lord Jace is dead!!!"

"What did you say?"

The boxer Cromarimon, who had not yet walked out, grabbed the guard's neck.

"What's wrong with him Jace? What happened?"

"I don't know, I don't know either. It was Lord Dalton, the former captain of the garrison, who contacted the communication room using a phone bug and said that he encountered the defeated soldiers... Not only Lord Jace died, but many others died as well. Soldiers and everyone alive were scared away..."

"Dalton? That stupid damn cow?"

Valpo, who was sitting on the throne, grinded his teeth and rolled his eyes.

"Where's the enemy? Who killed Jace and the others?"

Chromamon demanded.

"No, I don't know. It seems that they were defeated too quickly and dispersed in an instant. Many people said that it was the snow ghost who killed the person." The guard who reported the news said with an expression of fear on his face.

Snow ghost kills people,

This is also a local legend.

It is said that people who freeze to death in heavy snow will turn into snow ghosts after death. Wandering on the snowy mountains will kill pedestrians they encounter. Moreover, because snow ghosts can hide in the wind and snow without leaving a trace, pedestrians often disappear without a trace. I feel like I'll be killed if the situation goes wrong... The locals are very scared!

"Snow ghost?"

Chromamon also knew the legend of the Snow Ghost.

But...do snow ghosts really exist? He didn't know, his mind was completely blank at this time.

"Your Majesty Valpo."

Cromarimon had no idea and looked at Valpo who was sitting on the throne.

His position is the peace officer of the kingdom. In short, he is better at using his fists than his brain. As a staff officer, Jace is the one responsible for making suggestions, but Jace, who is probably dead, can't do anything about it. Give Valpo another idea.

What to do next depends on Valpo himself.

"Have someone pack up your things, pack all the treasures for me, use the phone bug to contact the Blikin, and ask the captain to prepare for sailing..." Valpo's eyes rolled around, Jace was killed, The army of five hundred people was inexplicably defeated, and even this gave him a very bad premonition.

"Cromalimon, contact that stupid cow in Dalton and ask him to go to the port to investigate what happened!"

Valpo's calculations were shrewd.

Anyway, that guy Dalton is not very obedient. When the old guy was alive, he used to accuse him of blackmail. If Dalton hadn't been somewhat powerful, he would have killed this stubborn stupid cow long ago. This time, this guy just happened to get rid of him. It would be best if Benniu went to investigate and find out the true identity of the attacker. Even if he failed, it would still be a good thing to kill him!

It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

————

A village near the port, Zhensturgeon Village.

This is a seaside village. It mainly relies on fishing to make a living. In the past, it was possible to open hotels and restaurants to entertain people who came to seek medical treatment. Unfortunately, there are no doctors now, and more and more people come from outside. Less... Life is much more difficult than before!

"Captain Dalton, please help us."

At the entrance of True Sturgeon Village, a group of villagers armed with shotguns and harpoons gathered around Dalton, the former captain of the Kingdom's garrison.

The defeated soldiers brought frightening news, saying that snow ghosts had killed people and pirates had landed... In short, something big happened at the port, which made the villagers feel extremely uneasy. Captain Dalton happened to come to Zhensturgeon Village today to do some shopping.

They seized upon their savior at once.

"You said... the warships parked in the port did not respond to your calls from beginning to end?"

"No, that ship is very big, and there are many gun ports on both sides of the ship...but there is no flag, and there is no pirate's skull and crossbones flag..."

"No sign! What about... Jace! Did you notice how he died?"

"No, that...we were not with Mr. Jace. When everyone was running away after the chaos, I saw Mr. Jace lying on the ground. His body was all red, and the snow was dyed red. I was so scared that I ran away..."

Dalton interrogated the scattered soldiers.

Unfortunately, the soldiers had too little information. After asking for a long time, they still couldn't figure out what killed Jace and defeated an army of 500 people.

Of course, he doesn't believe in stories about so-called snow ghosts. In his opinion, Jace and the others may have encountered a very powerful enemy. They may be people with abilities who have eaten devil fruits, or they may be ridiculously strong. Monster... He once escorted the previous king to the Holy Land to attend the World Conference.

Unlike the villagers on the island who have never left their lives, his horizons are quite broad.

"Captain Dalton, what should we do?"

Seeing Dalton end the interrogation, the villager holding the shotgun asked eagerly.

"...Don't go near the port."

Dalton knows that Jace is not a good person, but he is not a good-for-nothing waste. Apart from being a ghost master, he is an out-and-out marksman. Even if he is asked to kill Jace, it won't take any time. Can't take it off.

"Stay in the village today and don't go out. If anyone comes, run into the woods...I'll go over and have a look."

"Hey, Dalton boy, are you tired of living?"

At some point, an old woman walked over from the snow forest, followed by a reindeer.

"Doctor Kuleha!"

Dalton was startled.

"Dalton, if you want to die, why don't you donate your body and let me see what's so special about the corpse of a person with abilities."

"Doctor Kuleha, I don't want to die yet!"

Dalton couldn't laugh or cry.

"But I just heard you say you were going to the port to die?"

"...I just went to investigate the situation at the port. I didn't want to die."

"Hmph, that's easy to say. Do you think you can come back from the port alive with your three-legged cat skills? Listen to me, those people are not here for the villagers, their target should be... Val Bo that bastard!"

Dr. Kuleha looked at the main peak of Cigu Mountain in the distance.

"them?"

Dalton's eyes lit up, "Doctor Kuleha, do you know what's going on?"

He was not surprised that Dr. Kuleha had information that he didn't know. The old woman in front of him was an antique who was said to have lived for 139 years. It was normal to have something strange. If it was ordinary, it would be really strange!

"Hehehe... Dalton, you talk too much nonsense. You are no longer the captain of the defense team. It has been more than eight years since Andel's soft-hearted idiot died!"

Andel,

The previous king of the Drum Kingdom.

The father of the current King Valpo was an extremely wise and promising monarch, and Dalton was promoted to the position of captain of the Kingdom's Guards by him.

It is a pity that this wise monarch is too soft-hearted in educating his children. Each of his two sons is more bastard than the other. As soon as Andel died, the Drum Kingdom was turned into what it is now by Valbo in just a few years. Dole Dun was also removed from his official position.

"But······"

"It's nothing to worry about. Let these fools go home quickly. This matter has nothing to do with us."

Dr. Kuleha didn't care about Dalton's reaction, and disappeared into the snow forest with the reindeer pet. It seemed that she appeared here specifically to prevent Dalton from committing stupidity.

————

port,

On the bridge of the battleship,

"Huh?"

Elus, who was studying the power of the Gate Fruit, raised his head and looked in the direction of Drum Island.

"Your Highness!"

Fran also felt something.

Just now, she suddenly felt like she was being spied on. Although it was only for a brief moment... But she didn't think it was her illusion. She had also experienced many battles in the new world. The one just now was clearly... ····

"It's the Haki of seeing and hearing color! I didn't expect that someone here actually masters the Haki of seeing and hearing color..."

Eleus closed the air door casually.

"Drum Island... it can't be that idiot from Valpo. If you put it that way... the most likely thing is the 'witch' who adopted a certain reindeer." Thinking of this person who has been alive for a long time. A witch who was over a hundred years old, Elus suddenly felt uneasy.

Curiosity started to creep in again, and I wanted to meet this witch doctor who taught me a certain reindeer.

If I hadn’t remembered that I didn’t intend to expose my identity during this operation, I would have gone to the island to walk in the snow...

but,

"Flan, why don't we go... Hey, why are all these monsters and monsters showing up?" Elus's curiosity took over, and his thoughts of hiding his identity were suppressed, and he prepared to say hello. When Fran and I went to the island together,

The probing nerve sensed several powerful auras coming from the sea.

One of them seemed familiar, as if I had seen it somewhere.

"Your Highness, it's the one from the Whitebeard Pirates...the fat guy who's missing several teeth and has a very vulgar manner. He showed up with Ace and Jozi on Waterwheel Island." Fran. He also had an impression of that aura, "But... the aura before was not as strong as it is now."

"That's because that person has been hiding his clumsiness!"

Eleus laughed.

This is really... I didn't expect to bump into it here. Even if history has changed, do you still want to visit Cigu Island? Or is this their planned itinerary?

"Zangzhuo...ah! That fat man is the blackbeard, Marshall Teach, the guy who assassinated Sage?"

"Eh? Fran, didn't you know this before? Haven't you seen Blackbeard's wanted poster?"

"I don't pay much attention to it. Anyway, that kind of guy will probably be killed by Whitebeard in a short time. He betrayed Whitebeard and killed Sage... He will definitely not live long." Fran said matter-of-factly.

"Oh! Is that what you think?"

Elus touched his chin.

"What's the problem? Could it be that... Your Highness, you think Whitebeard can't solve this Blackbeard? How is this possible? That's Whitebeard!"

That's a white beard!

Such a sentence represents how deeply rooted Whitebeard's power is in people's hearts!

"Who knows! But... the question now is what should I do? Fran, do you think I should capture him and hand him over to Whitebeard! Or should I leave him alone..."

maritime,

The giant raft battleship is heading towards Drum Island at great speed.

The sail with three skulls painted on it was wet from the wind and snow. This was the symbol of the Blackbeard Pirates who had just appeared.