One Piece: Blue Scale Admiral

Water droplets dripped down, hitting the wooden planks at the bottom of the boat and shattering into pieces.

A somber atmosphere, accompanied by the lark's cries, spread and quickly enveloped the entire sea.

In an instant, some of the more sentimental people burst into tears.

The cries of weeping rose and fell across the sea, like a mournful dirge.

At the top of the high walls of the Water City, citizens stared blankly at the distant sea.

Mr. Iceberg and his crew have been at sea for over an hour, and none of them have returned yet.

The citizens already knew that they were going to find the hero who had fallen into the sea.

Commodore Rorschach.

A hero who defeated the water goddess Lakula in a head-on battle and protected Water Seven!

"Could it be that Brigadier General Rorschach has... perished?"

Some speculative voices arose from the crowd.

But they were quickly stopped by others.

"Shut up! That Marine captain possesses the power to defeat Lakula! How could he possibly sacrifice himself for something as trivial as drowning?"

"Didn't you see that godlike demeanor? He even conquered the ocean!"

Those who made these calls to stop were mostly residents from the downtown area.

Most of the residents of the lower city were quickly transported up by Rorschach using his abilities.

As a result, many people had close contact with Rorschach and remembered what he looked like.

"Mom, will that navy guy who bought our Shui Shui barbecue disappear? Like Dad, disappear into the sea of ​​Lakula?"

Little Emily looked up at her mother.

Margaret's lips trembled, and she bit her lower lip as she squatted down, gesturing as she spoke:

No, it won't.

Dad didn't die, and that navy guy won't die either.

He, like his father, is a hero worthy of respect.

"Was Dad a hero too?" Emily's voice was a little downcast.

Margaret gestured.

“Of course! Dad is our family’s hero. That navy guy is everyone’s hero. Emily, you should respect the navy guy who saved everyone just like you respect Dad.”

She bent down and hugged her daughter.

"Mom, when I grow up, I want to be a navy officer, and I want to be a hero."

A resolute look, far beyond what her peers could muster, shone in little Emily's eyes.

On the sea, cries, sobs, and choked voices still echoed.

Suddenly, the seawater made a 'splashing' sound on the distant sea surface.

A large frog with an odd swimming style was panting heavily as it struggled to move forward on the surface of the sea, heading towards the area where the group was.

On his back sat a silver-haired, blue-eyed boy.

As they drew closer, the sound of the seawater became clearer.

It also drew the attention of everyone on the surrounding ships.

When the people standing on the boat, weeping and wailing, saw the boy sitting on the back of the frog, they were all stunned.

As he listened to the cries rising and falling around him, Luo Xia's expression grew increasingly grave.

"Who died?"

"Frankie? No, he doesn't have that much influence in Water Seven now. There won't be so many people crying because of his death."

Luo Xia frowned, then suddenly thought of a name, clenched his fists, and his eyes trembled.

"Could it be... Mr. Iceberg?"

No... that can't be, right? Hasn't he been staying in Water Seven the whole time?

Could it be that he was swept away by the waves?

With that thought in mind, Luo Xia approached Hibari, who was crying the loudest, under the stunned gazes of the crowd.

Bepo, Penn, and the others, who were silently shedding tears, suddenly had their eyes bulge out of their sockets, staring at Rorschach as if they had seen a ghost.

"Waaaaah, Brother Luo Xia, you can't die! You promised to protect me and everyone else! You big liar, waaaaah!"

The lark sobbed as she murmured.

The sound of the rushing seawater behind her did not distract her.

Hearing the lark's cries, Luo Xia blinked, scratched his head, opened his mouth, and said in astonishment:

"Wait, you don't think I'm dead, do you?"

Chapter 223 The Hero Returns

Upon hearing that incredibly familiar, gentle voice, Hibari, who was sobbing, trembled violently.

She quickly turned around and saw a pair of large hands reach out, grab her under the armpits, lift her out of the seawater, and hold her in their arms.

"You'll catch a cold if you stay in the cold seawater for too long."

Luo Xia smiled as he looked at Yun Que, whose eyes were red from crying and whose cheeks were still covered with glistening tears, and reached out to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Brother Luo... Brother Luo Xia, you're not dead?"

Lark looked up at Rorschach, his lips moving as if he wondered if he was dreaming.

A large hand pressed down on the top of her head and rubbed it vigorously.

"Didn't I tell you not to worry? And don't just assume someone's dead so easily, you idiot."

As soon as Luo Xia finished speaking, he was hugged tightly by Yun Que.

This left him stunned.

The young girl hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest, her hot tears wetting his chest.

"Brother Luo Xia, I won't let you die. You promised to protect me and everyone else. Don't lie to us like this next time."

The lark choked back tears and murmured softly.

A gentle smile appeared on Luo Xia's face as he reached out and patted the girl in his arms.

"I will not die, Hibari."

“Swear it.” Lark lifted his head from his embrace.

Rorschach couldn't help but smile wryly, raising his right hand. "I swear, I won't die easily."

"It's not about dying easily, it's about not dying!"

"Okay, okay, you can't die, alright?"

The two of them continued talking softly, oblivious to everyone else around them.

On the surrounding sea, hundreds and thousands of eyes stared blankly at Luo Xia, who had suddenly appeared.

"Hey! How long are you going to keep lounging around like this in public?"

On a small boat not far away, Luo, holding Guiku, stood up and opened his mouth to angrily rebuke.

Luo Xia chuckled dryly, looked up, glanced around, and then waved hello.

"Uh... everyone, I have good news to tell you all, I'm not dead."

"So you're not dead!" Barry stood on the gunwale of the Carrera Company's large ship, his newly lit cigar falling into the sea as his mouth gaped open in shock.

"If you're not dead, why didn't you show yourself sooner! We've been searching for you for ages! You bastard, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're the hero who saved Water Seven!"

Daruston and a large group of shipwrights couldn't help but complain loudly.

"I'm sorry! It's my fault! I made everyone worry."

Luo Xia readily lowered his head and admitted his mistake.

"Hahaha, good! It's good that you're not dead! It's good that you're not dead!"

Iceberg ripped off his diving suit, which he had just put on, and laughed loudly towards Luo Xia.

Franky covered his eyes, tears streaming uncontrollably from between his fingers.

"Waaaaah! You little bastard, do you know how guilty I feel? I'm so glad you're still alive, waaaaah!"

"You're being way too sentimental, Franky," Barry couldn't help but retort.

"I want you to take care of it!"

Luo frowned as he looked at Luo Xia, puzzled. "By the way, how were you rescued? I clearly saw you fall into the sea."

Luo Xia used the frog-like creature, which was somewhat overwhelmed by the weight of Luo and Hibari, to carry them to the small boat where Luo was.

Hearing Luo's puzzled expression, Luo Xia smiled and pointed to the frog floating on the sea:

"When I fell into the sea, I was carried away by a big fish, but luckily I was rescued by this frog."

It took me to an abandoned train station beneath Water 7, where Kokoro, who was sheltering from the tsunami, revived me.

"You were actually saved by Yokozuna and Granny Kokoro?"

Upon hearing this, Iceberg and Franky both widened their eyes in disbelief and leaned over the ship's side to look at the frog next to Rorschach.

"Quack!"

The frog squinted its eyes into slits and patted its belly with great pride.

"Well done, Yokozuna! You were absolutely amazing today! Even I have to admit defeat!"

Franky snapped a thumbs up.

"Shhhhh!"