Pirates on Rocks' Ship 996

"What's wrong?" Upon seeing Perona's true form emerge, Reina wiped the sweat from his brow and asked with a smile.

"Hmph~ Just two boring, not cute at all big guys!" Perona pouted and said unhappily.

Reina smiled slightly, presumably because the giants hadn't given her a good experience.

"Didn't I tell you? Giants are simple-minded and very boring. Apart from their strength, they have nothing to offer!" Seeing Perona's expression, Reina knew that she must have suffered a loss at the hands of the two giants.

"Let's go! Aren't you going to the East China Sea? Let's set off. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can go back!" Perona said with a haughty snort.

So the two continued onward until they reached Twin Gorges at the edge of Upside-Down Mountain before stopping.

"Hey...aren't you a little too free? What are you doing here again?" Crocus asked, somewhat speechless, after seeing Reina.

“I’m not just doing this for fun, I have business to attend to in the East China Sea!” Reina rolled his eyes and replied.

"East Sea?" Crocus was taken aback and asked in surprise.

"What? Didn't Shanks go to the East Blue?" Reina asked with a slight smile.

"You're chasing Shanks? Reina, what are you trying to do?" Crocus asked, his eyes narrowing.

Although he is now just a lighthouse keeper, Shanks was once his comrade-in-arms on the same ship.

“I’m just a little curious… You should know Shanks’ true identity, right?” Reina asked with a smile.

Crocus's expression changed, and he said, "What did you see this time? Shanks has no identity! He's just a talented kid!"

When they were on Roger's ship, they didn't know that Shanks had any special identity. But after they returned from the final island, Roger said something to Shanks, and Shanks burst into tears.

It was only then that they realized something was different about Shanks, but they didn't know what Roger and Shanks had said or why Shanks was crying so hard.

That's why Crocus's expression changed after hearing Reina's words. He thought Reina knew something because he knew about Reina's ability to see the future.

"Who do you think would believe that? Don't even mention me, you probably don't believe it yourself either, right? Don't worry, I won't do anything to him, I'm just curious! What exactly is he planning to do in the East China Sea!" Reina glanced at Crocus and said.

He was indeed curious as to why Shanks, who was already famous in the New World in the original work, would appear in the East Blue.

If it's because of Roger that Shanks needs to go back and pay his respects, then he could just go to Loguetown. There's no need for him to go all the way to Windmill Village, right?

Moreover, they were in the East Blue, yet they didn't even go to Yasopp's hometown. You have to understand that Usopp has already been born. If he had gone back, there's no way Usopp wouldn't have any memory of him.

So what exactly is the Red-Haired Pirates doing in the East Blue? According to Reina's speculation, it's very likely related to the Goa Kingdom.

What kind of kingdom is the Goa Kingdom? The original work only briefly mentions it, but we can still glean some information from it, especially when Sabo went to sea and encountered the Celestial Dragons, which shows that the Goa Kingdom is not an unknown entity within the World Government.

In addition, Shanks appeared in Mary Geoise and spoke directly with the Five Elders in the original work, which suggests that either he has a special identity or he has some special mission.

This makes Shanks' purpose for this trip rather intriguing.

Shanks' Red-Haired Pirates are no small force now, not to mention that in the future they will be known as one of the Four Emperors, just like the Whitebeard Pirates.

Therefore, Reyner felt it was necessary to find out Shanks' true identity, or mission!

In case a conflict breaks out between the two sides in the future, they won't be caught off guard.

"Believe me! Of course I believe you! Why wouldn't I believe what I said myself?" Crocus's shameless face almost made Reina burst out laughing.

"Hey~ Perona! Let this leisurely old lady of ours reflect on her life before we talk!" Reina winked at Perona and said softly.

"Horohohoro... Negative Ghosts, move out!" Upon hearing this, Perona held out her hands to Crocus, and several small ghosts flew out of her hands and passed through Crocus's body to his surprise.

"I'm sorry... I really am a piece of trash... If there is an afterlife, please let me be a syringe!" Crocus knelt on the ground and said very negatively.

"Pfft, hahaha... This is so funny! I've witnessed something incredible!" Reina had been waiting for this, and when he saw that Crocus had indeed fallen for it, he immediately clutched his stomach and rolled on the ground laughing.

This is the greatest joy he has with Perona!

"You...bastard..." Crocus's face turned red, and he roared at Reina in a fit of anger.

Chapter 239 Arrival at the East China Sea

"Who is this person?" Crocus asked, looking at Perona with a hint of apprehension, his anger barely contained.

"Horo horo horo... I am Perona, the Ghost Princess, a subordinate of Lord Moonlight Moria!" She had overheard Reina mention the title Ghost Princess, and ever since then, she had called herself that in Rivertown.

"Gecko Moria? Who is that? The new captain of your Whitebeard Pirates?" Crocus asked, looking at Reina.

"Damn it, Lord Gecko Moria isn't some Whitebeard Pirates captain, he's our captain! You old bastard, do you want to get hit by another Negative Ghost?" Perona roared angrily after hearing Crocus's words.

Like Reina, Perona can't stand hearing anyone speak ill of Moonlight Moria.

"Oh dear~ getting old, things are different!" Crocus completely ignored Perona, pulled out a recliner from somewhere, lay down on it, and said leisurely.

"Well then... Crocus, I'll be going now! Let's have a drink together sometime!" Reina didn't want to waste any more time here, so he waved to Crocus with Perona and headed towards Reverse Mountain.

"Shanks...sigh..." Crocus sighed and shook his head as he watched Reyna leave, choosing to ignore it. He no longer had the energy to deal with such matters as he did back then.

Soon, Reina and Perona rode in the hard shell and passed through the Upside-Down Mountain, arriving at the East Sea.

"Is this the East Sea, known as the weakest sea?" Perona asked, looking around after leaving the waters of Reverse Mountain.

"The weakest sea? Who told you that?!" Reina sneered and asked.

"Isn't that right? Isn't that what everyone knows?" Perona replied in surprise.

“Have you forgotten… the strongest pirate who conquered the Grand Line… the Pirate King Gol D. Roger was born in the East Blue!” Reina said softly.

“But apart from Roger, there aren’t any other strong individuals from the East Blue!” Perona said, tilting her head.

"Do you know why?" Reina thought of that famous joke from his past life and asked with a smile.

"Why?" Perona asked, as expected, with great curiosity.

"That's because... there's a shameless guy living in the East Blue, and what's worse, he often goes home to visit! This has led to the East Blue pirates being killed by him before they even have a chance to make a name for themselves!" Reina said mysteriously.

"Huh? Who is it? Someone who can suppress an entire ocean all by themselves? You're not kidding me, are you?" Perona said, somewhat skeptical.

"Heh heh... Monkey D. Garp! That legendary Marine known as a naval hero was born in the East Blue! Do you think he has the strength to suppress this ocean?" Reina said strangely.

“Monkey D. Garp? It’s him? If it really is him… then it’s certainly possible!” Perona was stunned. Although she had never witnessed how strong Garp was, she still knew the name of Garp, the legendary Marine hero.

“That’s right, so as long as we don’t run into him while we’re operating in the East China Sea, there won’t be any problems. But if we do run into that guy… well, we can only say we’re unlucky!” Reina said with a wry smile.

Perona swallowed hard after hearing Reina's terrifying words and asked, "We can't be that unlucky, can we?"

"Don't worry, even if we run into that old geezer, I can still get you away!" Reina said, patting his chest.

He knew that Shanks was here during this time, and Garp hadn't returned. Garp would only come and take Luffy to the bandit Dadan some time after Shanks left.

Little did he know that at that moment, near the sea near Windmill Village, Luffy was holding Shanks and crying loudly.

"Shanks... Shanks... your arm... Waaaaaah..." Luffy hugged Shanks, whose arm had been bitten off by the Lord of the Coast, and cried bitterly.

"Alright, Luffy! It's... all better now!" Shanks didn't seem to care about losing an arm, and instead smiled as he comforted Luffy.

When the two returned to the village, the members of the Red-Haired Pirates were all astonished to see Shanks with a missing arm.

"Boss, what happened to you?" Raki Lu's chicken leg fell to the ground. He didn't understand how he could have chased after a low-level bandit and come back with one arm missing.

Luffy was still sobbing beside him. He knew that if it weren't for him, Shanks' arm wouldn't have been bitten off by the Lord of the Coast.

"It's alright! I was a little careless!" Shanks said somewhat embarrassedly.

"Careless?" Ben Beckman, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, frowned and said, "Rayner... warned you, didn't he?"

Shanks recounted what had just happened with a wry smile. He explained that the situation was so urgent that he had forgotten he could have dealt with the Coastal King first before rescuing Luffy.

If Reina were here, he would definitely tell him that this was a plot-driven death!

The will of Heaven cannot be defied.

A few days later, at the port of Windmill Village, the crew of the Red-Haired Pirates were loading supplies onto the ship.

"Are you leaving?" Luffy asked with a smile as he stood in front of Shanks.

“Yes! We’ve been here for quite a while now! It’s time to say goodbye. You must be lonely, right?” Shanks replied with a smile.

"Yeah! It's pretty lonely! But I won't ask you to take me to sea again!" Luffy said very seriously, "I've made up my mind, I'm going to set sail on my own and become a pirate!"

"Hehehe..." Shanks stuck out his tongue and said mischievously, "Anyway, I'm not taking you! You? Can you even be a pirate?"

"Of course!" Luffy roared angrily upon hearing Shanks' words, "One day, I will gather a crew that is no less than yours, find the world's greatest treasure, and I will definitely become the Pirate King!"

Luffy's words surprised all the members of the Red-Haired Pirates.

"Oh? You want to surpass us?" Shanks thought for a moment, then slowly took off his hat and placed it on Luffy's head, saying, "Well... you can keep my hat here for now! It's a very important hat of mine, so cherish it! When you become a great pirate, come back and return it to me! It's a promise, Luffy!"

With his face hidden by the hat, Luffy couldn't hold back his tears. Shanks was more than just a savior to him; he was like a mentor.

But when Shanks returned to the ship, Ben Beckman asked softly, "Is this really okay? Reyner said he couldn't have that hat, and he absolutely wouldn't allow you to give it to anyone else!"

"Well, it's alright. By the time Luffy meets Reiner, he should have grown up by then!" Shanks said with a smile.

In his opinion, Reina is in the New World, and it will take Luffy at least a decade to reach the New World!

He had no idea that Reina had actually arrived in the East China Sea at this time.

However, Shanks had already achieved his goal for this trip. Meeting Luffy in Windmill Village was an unexpected surprise, not part of his original plan. Therefore, he gave the hat to Luffy without fear that Reina would find out.

Meanwhile, Reina, who had arrived in the East Blue with Perona, had reached Loguetown. Although he was flying the Whitebeard Pirates' flag, he surprisingly did not seem to be recognized.

After making some purchases in Rogge Town, the two continued their journey towards Windmill Village.

"This sea area... is almost too quiet and peaceful!" After sailing for a while, even Perona, who was used to the dangers of the Grand Line, couldn't help but sigh.

“Ah~ this is the East China Sea! A sea that symbolizes peace!” Reina nodded and replied.

Unbeknownst to the two, not far behind them, a dog-headed warship was heading in the same direction as them.

On the deck of the warship, Garp was lying on a deck chair, sleeping peacefully.

"Sir, according to intelligence, the Red-Haired Pirates arrived in the East Blue several months ago, and Reina of the Whitebeard Pirates also seems to be heading towards the East Blue!" Garp's second-in-command, Pocato, reported from his side.

"Red-haired Shanks? Reina? What are those guys doing in the East Blue?" Garp asked, startled, as he slowly sat up.

“I don’t know. What does Marshal Sengoku mean… Since you’re back on vacation, I’ll have you investigate this while I’m at it!” Pocato shook his head and said.

"Huh? You still have to work on vacation?" Garp said immediately, looking unwilling.

“Sir…this is the East Blue! If they carry out any plans here…it will be terrible!” As Garp’s adjutant, Pocato naturally knew what kind of person his superior was.

"You mean... they want to do something in the East Blue?" Sure enough, upon hearing Pocato's words, Garp's expression instantly turned serious.

“I’m not sure, but I can’t rule it out!” Pocato shook his head and said.

"Hmm... Tell all the branches here to keep an eye out. If there's any intelligence, notify me immediately! Those guys... are not something the branches can handle. Tell them not to make any rash moves!" Garp said after thinking for a moment.