One Piece: The Cryo Doctor on the Straw Hat Ship

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Chapter 116 Rescue Ace (Seeking monthly votes~)

At the harbor on the back of Gaya Island, sunlight shines through thin clouds onto the sea, creating a shimmering golden glow.

The Merry rests quietly beside the wooden pier, its weathered hull standing out prominently in the sunlight.

On the deck, the Straw Hat crew were busy, their laughter and conversations mingling together, creating a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

"Reinforce the protective coating on the port side plating with another layer!" Usopp stood at the stern, an instrument at his feet projecting a screen in front of him, displaying a three-dimensional structural diagram of the Merry.

"Although the impact data of the rising ocean current has been simulated seventeen times, it's always good to have an extra layer of nano-carbon fiber composite armor."

He was always extra careful with the Merry.

"Hey, won't this increase the weight of the Merry and prevent us from taking off?"

Sanji looked worried as he watched the small platform robots begin working immediately upon receiving Usopp's command.

Usopp, without turning his head, replied with a smile:

"Don't worry, these coatings are special materials created by V using the power of the Gluttony Fruit. Not only are they very light, but they also have extremely high ductility..."

Nami walked over with the nautical chart, shaking her head helplessly: "Honestly, we could have just used a drone to take us directly to the sky island."

"Why go through all that trouble, letting the Going Merry come along and risk its life with us?"

"That won't do!" Upon hearing this, Luffy suddenly poked his head out from the bow of the ship.

Seeing that Luffy had finally stopped making things worse, Chopper breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Luffy, however, said righteously:

"V said that our Going Merry may have already given birth to a ship spirit, who is an important partner of ours!"

"How could such a thrilling adventure be complete without the participation of the Going Merry?"

"Sigh~ Does that legendary thing really exist?" Nami looked at the Going Merry, but her tone unconsciously softened.

"Hehe." Robin next to Nami chuckled and gently advised, "Since it's V who said it, it should be true."

"The existence of ship spirits is indeed clearly mentioned in many ancient books."

According to V, "human thoughts and emotions have weight, and the stronger a person is, the greater their weight..."

“Over time, amazing things will happen.”

"Why are you on their side too, Robin?" Nami sighed helplessly. "Oh well, it's already decided anyway."

"Miss Nami, I will always support you!"

Sanji attacked again with his Whirlwind Kick form, only to be met with a punch from Nami without hesitation.

"Alright, alright, I understand."

"By the way, why hasn't V come out yet?"

"They're just a few small-time pirates, is it really necessary to make this take so long?"

Nami looked around.

Just then, a figure appeared out of thin air in the center of the deck of the Merry.

It turned out to be V who went to deal with the Bellamy Pirates.

However, there was no smile on his face at this moment. Instead, his brows were furrowed, and the eerie blue light of his prosthetic eye flickered rapidly, as if he were processing some urgent information at high speed.

"Everyone, our plans may have to be put on hold for the time being."

V's voice wasn't loud, but it brought all the laughter and chatter on the deck to an abrupt halt.

Luffy pulled his head back from the bow of the ship, his rubber arm snapped back, and he jumped in front of V: ​​"What's wrong? What happened?"

"Does this mean we can't go to Skypiea?" Usopp put down the instrument in his hand and asked worriedly.

All eyes were on V.

V raised his right hand, palm up, and a dark blue holographic projection instantly unfolded, outlining a chart of the first half of the Grand Line in the air.

On the nautical chart, a striking red dot is flashing rapidly at the location of an island.

“It’s Ace.” V’s voice turned somber. “He just sent an emergency location sharing message via the brain-computer interface. His coordinates are here—”

His finger pointed to the red dot of light, and the projection magnified, showing the outline of the island and information about the surrounding sea.

"It's about a seven-day voyage for us, but if we use the underwater route through Laboon, it will take about three days."

"Is it Blackbeard?" Zoro squinted.

After spending nearly a month together, Ace's relationship with the Straw Hat crew had become so good that it was easy to forget he was Luffy's brother.

They already knew Ace's purpose in coming to the Grand Line.

"Yes."

V nodded.

After Ace sent his location signal, he had already activated satellite monitoring and seen the outcome of the battle between Ace and Blackbeard.

At the same time, he also saw the figure that surprised him greatly.

Enel, the God of Skypiea and user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, is actually with Blackbeard, and it seems he has already joined the Blackbeard Pirates.

This is arguably even more unacceptable to V than Luffy being invited by the Navy to become a Shichibukai.

What's going on here?

The Rumble-Rumble Fruit he had reserved long ago just ran off with someone else?

You should know that was the Devil Fruit ability that V had been most looking forward to during the first half of the entire Grand Line.

After learning this, his desire to go to the Sky Island diminished by more than half.

Of course, the current issue is not whether or not to go to Skypiea, but how to save Ace.

"What!? Ace didn't beat that Blackbeard?" Luffy clenched his fists excitedly.

"Hmm," V replied with a sigh.

This situation was also completely unexpected for him.

After being trained and transformed by him, Ace's strength, if not reaching the level of a Marine Admiral, was certainly among the best of the Yonko's first mates.

Even so, he still couldn't defeat Blackbeard.

Aside from Enel's unexpected assistance, Blackbeard's strength is indeed not to be underestimated.

But V still comforted Luffy, saying:

"I have already located Ace's position using satellite."

"Based on the satellite footage, Blackbeard doesn't seem to intend to take Ace's life directly. His safety is not a concern for the time being."

"So now it's time to make a decision, Luffy."

"I……"

Luffy was about to say, "Of course I'm going to save Ace," but he suddenly hesitated.

He clenched his fists, his brows furrowed tightly beneath his straw hat.

He's already a captain.

A captain who sails the Grand Line with his crew.

If Blackbeard's strength is truly immense, then his rash decision will surely plunge his pirate crew into a desperate situation.

However, at that moment, V suddenly patted Luffy on the shoulder.

He was pleased with Luffy's maturity.

In that case, let them make up for the lack of passion Luffy has.

He gestured to his companions with his eyes.

Sanji instantly understood and spoke up:

"What are you hesitating for, Luffy?"

"You wouldn't still be thinking about going to Sky Island at a time like this, would you?"

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Usopp shouted, spreading his hands. “Ace is our friend. How can we stand idly by when our friend is in trouble!”

"Hey, Luffy!"

Zoro held three swords, but a sharp smile appeared on his lips.

"You don't actually think we're afraid of that Blackbeard guy, do you?"

“That’s right!” Chopper’s voice trembled, but he tried to straighten his chest. “Blackbeard and redbeard, bring it on!”

Nami sighed, but her eyes hardened. She put away the nautical chart and placed her hands on her hips:

"Although it's troublesome, since I've made the decision... V, my brain-computer interface is more powerful, so leave the task of keeping an eye on Blackbeard to me."

"Also... a seven-day voyage is too long. In case Ace is in any danger, we should just ask Laboon for help."

"Mm." V nodded in response, then gave Luffy's shoulder a squeeze:

"Luffy, I'm leaving the task of defeating Blackbeard to you."

Luffy suddenly raised his head, his eyes beneath his straw hat blazing with renewed fighting spirit.

Without further hesitation, he slammed his rubber fist heavily into his palm:

"Of course!"

"OK!" V smiled slightly and gave Luffy the navigation command directly:

"Let's go! To rescue Ace—!"

"Oh—!!!" the crowd responded in unison.