"The wrench key." Miura suddenly asked.
Sitting quietly on the hood of the minibus, Kurokami suddenly saw his friend's hand come out from under the vehicle. Rummaging in the toolbox, which was next to him, he ended up extracting the object, before dropping it into his hand.
"Thank you."
"Why make new modifications to the engine, when we already made some yesterday?" Kurokami asked him. "Franky was able to drive the mini-bus without any worries."
" We had to finish the surveys quickly. " Miura reminded him. " There, I just do a check to make sure everything is in order! Imagine that we have to leave quickly and the engine refuses to start! What will we do? "
" I would flee on foot. "
" Hello the lousy plan. "
" Oh, are you there ?" Kohta wondered.
Turning his head then, Kurokami saw him enter the garage they were in, with an assault rifle behind his back.
" What are you doing here ? "
" I'm coming to look for tools in order to be able to make slight modifications to this weapon! And you ? "
Suddenly exiting from under the mini-bus, Miura finally got to her feet and took the time to wipe her hands with a rag, before teaching her.
" Franky just left and they asked us to see if everything was in order. "
" Ah ? " Said Kohta, then settling in front of a command with a variety of tools. " Knowing him, he will surely want to bring back weapons to integrate them into the mini-bus. "
" This vehicle has become a real armored vehicle. " Miura assured him. " But, with weapons, we will be perfectly safe there, in the event of an attack. "
" Do not forget that the zombies are becoming more and more numerous. " Adds Kurokami. " In addition, the giants seem to be able to order them! Knowing this, it's obvious that the next time we crosier them, they'll form a compact undead wave comprising perhaps over a thousand individuals! Faced with this, our vehicle will never hold up, if it stays as it is. "
" In this case, it is also preferable that you learn to shoot a gun. " Kohta affirmed. " If you want I can teach you. "
" In this case, it is strongly recommended that you do it outside. " A voice taught him.
Stepping into the room, Saya suddenly appeared in front of the trio.
" Oh ? The princess is among us. " Kurokami remarked, without wanting to joke. " Don't you like the luxury life? "
" You, save your comments. " Cried the young girl, before turning to Kohta. " As for you, rather hide it instead of walking around with it. "
" What ? Why this ? "
" In a survival camp, in order to maintain order, it is normal for the guards to have the obligation to confiscate anything that could create a rebellion. " Affirmed the young girl. " Also, I would point out to you that most of the people here are adults! For them, we are just a bunch of kids who shouldn't have this kind of thing in our hands. "
" Hearing you speak, this place looks super strict. " Miura observed.
" And again, you still haven't met the one who seems to manage this place perfectly with an iron fist. "
" Oh ? And who is this monster? "
" Nothing more than my father. " Saya replied.
" So, do we agree ? " Swan wanted to know.
While at the top of one of the barriers, he explained one last time the actions to be taken to the rest of the gang.
" You four. " He started, pointing to Zoro, Franky, Brook and Saeko. " You will sneak into the western quarters of Area 34 ! We still haven't been there and you may find things there that might interest us. "
"Zone 34?" Brook repeated. " Where is it?"
"Do not worry ! I'll take you there." Saeko assured them, while holding a card.
"In that case, I will wait for you here." Swan decided. " It is best to get out of here as soon as possible, so don't drag on the way! And, finally, be discreet."
"Don't worry." Franky assured him.
He suddenly brought his arms together before screaming.
"We are going to be SUPER discreet."
"It begins well." Swan sighed.
"Let's go?" Zoro asked.
Without waiting for a response, he jumped over the barricade and landed in the infected area.
"Which way?"
" It's on the left. " Saeko told him, landing next to him, followed by Fanky and Brrok.
Seeing them leave, Swan suddenly made a semblance of prayer before whispering.
" May God be with you. "
Then he heard.
" ZORO! YOU'RE TAKING THE WRONG DIRECTION. "
" Awesome ! " Cried Zoro.
Opening a bottle of sake, he brought the end of it to his mouth before feeling its contents slide down his throat. After a few seconds, he finally exclaimed, with a broad smile.
" Ah, that feels good. "
" Continue like this and we will end up with an alcoholic. " Franky remarked.
While Brook's bag contained food, Zoro's bag contained alcohol, and Sakeo's bag contained clothing and other useful trinkets, the cyborg carried a large amount of materials on his back.
" With all this, Swan will very quickly approve of making us the new team of explorers. " He assured.
" Yohoho! Let's say we were very lucky not to have encountered a single living dead! This would have greatly slowed us down and prevent access to this area. "
Then leaving the house where they were Franky inspected the street before declaring.
" Let's go back to the barrier. "
Then weighing his alcohol bag, barely full, Zoro exclaimed.
" Go for it ! I am going to visit a last house and I will join you. "
Seeing him leave, Franky cried out.
" Wait ! As if I was going to…"
" Go! I'm going with him. " Saeko suddenly offered.
" What ? " The cyborg and the skeleton wondered.
" I will watch him. " She assured, before following the swordsman.
" Watch him? " Repeated the skeleton. " Do you think she can do it? "
" No idea. " Franky confessed, turning around. " But, at least Zoro is with someone who can show him the way. "
Standing in front of a door, Zoro lowered the door handle. Noting that it was locked, he finally pulled out his sword and cut it in half, without any problem. The next one, as he entered the dwelling, Saeko asked him.
" Where did you learn to use a sword ? "
" In the dojo that the person I consider my master is still leading. " Zoro taught her. " I trained there for many years before traveling through many areas in search of the most powerful swordsman in the world. "
'' Were you a pirate at the time? "
" I became one just before I met him. " Explained the swordsman.
" And ? What was the result of your fight? "
Starting to smile slightly, Zoro asked her.
" Have you seen my scar on my abdomen? "
" Of course ! Is he the one who made it for you? "
" Yes ! This mark, which he engraved on my skin, is there to remind me of my defeat in front of him, while he came out of our fight, without having had the impression of sweating. "
Saeko stopped dead, hearing this confession.
"He… He won so easily against you? But it's impossible ! If this is really the case, it is no longer a man. "
" That's what I thought at that time. " The man confessed to her. " But that did not prevent me from training in order to be able to beat him, during our next meeting! It is this defeat that allowed me to reach my level. "
Seeing a chest of drawers, he crouched down in front of the cabinet before opening it. He whistled when he saw the many bottles she was closing.
" With that, I'll be able to get drunk for several days. "
Not being interested in this, Saeko walked over to the room that seemed to lead to the dining room. Thinking she could find something to eat there, she opened it, before widening her eyes. Immediately sensing a presence, Zoro turned to her and saw a zombie starting to come out of the room. At sight of him, Saeko jumped back, before drawing her wooden sword. Armed with her weapon and a predatory gaze, she made a magnificent run which propelled her to the left side of the zombie. Once she had feigned the corpse, she aimed her weapon at his face. However, when she was about to run into him, the memory of her losing to the lizard zombies suddenly resurfaced in her mind.
" What … ? " She wondered, feeling a sense of fear.
Watching her do it, Zoro finally stood up, seeing her come to a stop when she was only a few inches from her opponent.
" What are you doing ? Attack him. "
Suddenly coming to her senses, the young girl felt the zombie's hand grip her shoulder. Wanting to get rid of it, she finally struck him a blow with her weapon. Nonetheless, Zoro found that he was clearly lacking in power and, to top it off, Saeko didn't aim at the zombie's head but at his abdomen. Suffice to say that her strike did not hurt him much.
Seeing him still standing in front of her, Saeko gave him new blows which, for the most part, only struck a void, as if the schoolgirl was quickly losing her means.
" Let go of me! Let go of me! Let go of me. " She begged, seeing him open his jaws.
Deciding to intervene, Zoro rushed straight at them and ended up overtaking them. Then putting one of his sabers back into its scabbard, he turned back to Saeko, just as the zombie's head left the rest of his body. Falling to the ground, the jaws of the head continued to move, until Zoro crushed it with all his might.
Once the threat was over, he gave the schoolgirl a dark look before asking her.
" Can you explain to me what that was ? "
Trembling, Saeko didn't even seem to have heard him. Looking at what was left of the body, she began to whisper.
" W… Why? Why wasn't he dead? "
" No, but are you stupid or what? You haven't managed to hit her on the head once! What the hell were you doing? Normally, you are able to kill them easily. "
" I ... I don't know. " The schoolgirl suddenly confessed to him. " No, actually… I'm weak. "
Hearing it, Zoro noticed.
" Since I came back, after my fight against the lizards, I noticed that you were not as sure of yourself as before! What the hell happened to make you lose confidence so much? "
To his amazement, she suddenly snickered before declaring.
" That I have ? But it's simple! Since you arrived here, I have tried in vain to discover the secret of your strength! However, I may fight with all my strength, like you, I know full well that I am only a third rank fighter, compared to you! And to prove it, I lost to those damn lizardmen and it was Brook and Chopper who had to defend me! Now it is clear that I am weak. "
Listening to her silently, Zoro began to shake his head before growling.
" I agree with you. "
Feeling even more belittled, the girl could think of nothing to say, as he decided to leave the house. At the doorstep, he added nonetheless.
" You are not weak physically, but mentally! If you lose confidence in yourself, just because of a loss, then you don't deserve my respect. "
Beginning to bite, forcefully, into a piece of wood, which was cracking between his teeth, a man moaned in pain, while Chopper before plunged a tweezers with a heated tip into his arm.
" A little more ! A little more ! " A ssured the doctor.
Suddenly, the tip of his pliers encountered a hard object. Reacting at that moment, Chopper aimed his pincers at the debris and managed to grab hold of it. Removing it from the man's wound, he lifted it above him and looked at the bullet he had just extracted. Seeing that nothing was missing, he placed it in a small basin, before grabbing a thread and a needle. Beginning to stitch up his wound, the doctor assured his patient.
" Now that the bullet has been removed, infection will be avoided! The hardest part has been passed! Now you need to rest. "
Looking at him, as he continued to wince, the man nevertheless managed to nod his head slightly.
When the treatment was over, Chopper left the tent he was in and immediately stood in front of a woman who had her hands in prayer.
" So, doctor ? " She wanted to know.
" The operation went well. " The animal assured her, rubbing its forehead a little.
Because of the gas mask he wore, the poor doctor would die of heat. However, he could not withdraw it under any circumstances.
" I managed to remove the bullet which had engulfed in his arm and to sew up the wound! he continued! Now, he absolutely must rest and give him antibiotics. "
Hearing this, the woman bent down before him, before screaming.
" Thank you ! Thank you so much for saving my husband. "
" No, no ! It's not worth it. " The reindeer assured her. " I only did my job. "
Rummaging in his bag, he ended up pulling out a box of medicines before giving it to the adult.
" Give him this every time he feels bad! It should relieve him! And above all, make sure he does not use his arm. "
" Okay. "
Getting ready to leave, Chopper then saw Toshimi and Alice waiting for him near the tent.
" From what I see, your disguise is really useful to you. " The teenager remarked.
" Perhaps, but it's really hot down there. " The reindeer taught her, walking towards her . " In addition I am starting to tire. "
" This is the third person you take care of. " Alice remarked. " Take a break. "
" No time. " Chopper retorted. " I would not rest until I had treated everyone in this camp. "
Hearing this, Toshimi then handed him a plate containing risotto.
" In this case, eat at least a piece. "
Taking the plate then, Chopper sniffed it a little before noticing.
" It's Sanji's food. "
" He cooks too well. " Alice said, pointing to an empty plate." It was delicious. "
Nodding slightly, Chopper then grabbed a fork, before turning back. Returning to the tent of the patient he had just treated, he again met the injured man's wife and gave her his plate.
After a few moments, he came back to the two girls before asserting.
" Sanji's food should give them strength. "
" But ... and you ? " Toshimi asked.
" Sanji can always prepare something for me later. " He assured.
" You are overworking. " Remarked the young girl.
" As long as it helps others, that's fine with me. " Retorted the reindeer. " We're all like that in our crew, and we'll stay that way. "
Hearing him say these words, Toshimi finally let him go, only to find that his sentence qualified him in no way as a pirate. Instead, she felt as if she was hearing a saint, whom she seemed unable to help at all, much to her indignation.
" Now that the mini-bus is in good condition, you have to think about getting gas. " Miura noticed.
Walking behind him, Kurokami assured.
" Yes, it's true that people will give us fuel without the slightest hesitation while showing a broad smile! If you want, I can go ask them. "
" Stop playing the pessimist! Let's already find a place where there is some and let Franky handle the rest. "
It was then that a pair of arms wrapped around him.
" But that … ? "
" Big Brother ! " Suddenly rejoices a small voice.
Freezing then, the boy lowered his gaze a little to see a little girl with long black hair. With tears in his eye, he then began to stutter.
" Ma ... Ma ... Mary. "
Crouching down next to her, he finally hugs her, before declaring.
" I ... I am ... happy! I'm happy to see you again. "
" Me too, onii-san. "Asserted the child, starting to cry with joy.
" Are mom and dad with you? "
" Yes, mom is here with grandmother. " Assured the child. " But she told me daddy was with you. "
Understanding then the reason for this lie, he affirmed immediately.
" Yes, but we had to go our separate ways! Normally he should join us soon. "
Rejoicing, at this news, the young girl said then.
" Mom is over there! Do you want to see her? "
" Of course. " Asserted the boy.
But the moment he set off, he turned to Kurokami to let him know what he was going to do. Nevertheless, he quickly found that his friend was no longer around.
'' But… Kurokami ? "
" You come ? " Asked Mary, already on her way.
" Huh ... yes, I'm coming. "
Suddenly straightening up, an old woman was seized with a violent cough.
" Are you OK ? " Another woman questioned, staying with her.
" It's nothing, Tamaki. " She assured her, going back to bed. " It's just that these last events made me a little tired. "
" You need a doctor. " Retorted her daughter.
" Why bother him for so few ? Here, he must surely manage cases much more critical than mine. "
Then looking up at the top of the tent she was in, she asserted.
" Besides, until we are where your husband and Miura are, I have no right to complain! At the present time, god only knows what situation they may find themselves in. "
Clenching her fist at hearing this, Tamaki was about to retort something, when Mary burst into the tent.
" Mom ! Mom ! You'll never guess what's going on. "
Trying to remove all traces of fatigue and sadness from their faces, the two women smiled at the child, while her mother asked her.
" What my darling? Have you seen someone you know? "
" Yes ! " She affirmed. " I found onii-san. "
To prove it, Miura's head suddenly popped through the opening of the tent as he rushed into it. Before his appearance, there was then an enormous silence, as if the world had suddenly frozen. Then starting to shake, Tamaki began to feel tears forming in her eyes.
" Miu… Miura! Is it ... is it you? "
" Yes, mom. " He assured, posting a broad smile. " It's me. "
Immediately, his mother threw herself on him, so hard that he fell backwards.
" Miura! Miura! My boy ! You are alive. "
" All is well, mom. " The boy assured her. " I am very well. "
" I thought ! I really believed that something had happened to you! How these monsters had hurt you ? "
" Do not worry ! I managed to survive with the help of other high school students as well as adults that we met along the way! And you ? How did it go? "
" We were able to leave our house in time, before these monsters infect the neighborhood! his mother explained to him! Then we managed to find this place as we tried to leave town without knowing where to go. "
At that moment, a cough sheath was heard. Turning his head towards the back of the tent, the boy then caught sight of his grandmother, appearing to be weaker than ever.
" Are you OK ? " He wanted to know.
" Yes ! Much better now that you're here. " She assured him. " I feel relieved to know you are alive. "
Hearing him cough again, Miura suddenly stood up before stepping out of the tent.
" I will be back ! I know a doctor! I'm sure he can give you something to relieve you. "
So he left the tent, before anyone could hold him back, and walked to the mansion, hoping to find Chopper there. But he hardly took ten steps when he heard.
" What are you going to do now? "
Turning around, the boy then saw Kurokami, leaning against a wall, staring at him.
" What are you talking about ? " The boy asked him.
" Now that you have found your family, I doubt that you want to continue to follow us. " His friend noticed.
" Why do you say that ? I am not an idiot ! I know very well that this place is not an impenetrable fortress! We will be attacked at some point! But, when that happens, I will run away from here with you and my family. "
" I do not disagree. " Asserted his friend. " No, the problem is the opinion of the pirate gang! If you think about it, they're already struggling to survive while being forced to protect us! After Alice arrives, I doubt that they will want to take care of three other people, including an elderly person and another child! It would slow them down. "
Thinking about it, Miura was silent for a few moments, before asserting.
" In this case, the solution is simple. "
He then walked past Kurokami before declaring.
" I thought I would never see my family again! So I'm not going to leave her a second time. "
" So let's resume. " Nami decided, spreading a card out in front of her.
Holding a pen, she circled a large area and then another much smaller.
" The first area represents the location of all the zombies that we saw, before arriving here! And the other represents our location! Suffice to say that there are only a few kilometers that separate us from them! Do I need to tell you that it can get dangerous? "
In front of her, Luffy and the rest of the pirate crew finally shook their heads, a sign that they had understood where she was going.
" But you also need to know something else. " Zoro said. " Earlier, while we were collecting materials, we were attacked by a zombie, which was stuck in a room. "
" If a person has been bitten, in front of another, it is normal to think that the latter preferred to lock him in a room rather than having to kill him. " Robin explained to him. "Clearly, there may very well be a hundred zombies, trapped in the houses surrounding the barrier! And even in the houses near the mansion. "
" It gives cold in the back. " Asserted Usopp. " In this case, I don't go out on my own. "
" Concerning the strength of the two camps, the zombies must be, at least, twenty times more numerous than us. " Nami noticed. " Not to mention that they have giants and lizards, in their ranks, and maybe even other creatures, even stronger. "
'' But ... in that case ... what are we ... going to do? " Called Chopper.
Remaining silent until now, Luffy assured.
" We can always defeat them! On my own, I can easily defeat a giant! And even if we meet an opponent much stronger than him, I know we will be able to defeat him, together. "
" Hope this is true. " Brook agreed.
" Let's put that aside, and instead focus on the real subject that concerns us. " Cried Nami. " What do we have to do to get home? "
" Apart from having the chance to find the man who sent us here, I don't know if there is another way. " Sanji observed.
" Nevertheless, he might be in this world. " Usopp asserted.
" What do you mean ? " Asked Franky. " Do you think he would be foolish enough to come here, as the invasion of these monsters begins to peak? "
" What he says is not stupid. " Robin retorted. " If so, these two events are linked by this same person! Maybe he sent us here thinking that this way we won't be able to benefit from any powerful ally like Law! However, something else is bothering me… "
" What ? "
" Do you remember what the last newspaper told us ? "
"Yes. " Nami approved. " He was talking about several… "
She fell silent then, understanding where her friend was going with this.
" There had been disappearances before we were sent here. " Sanji remembered. " But in this case, we can think that the others were, too, sent here. "
" But for what purpose ? " Usopp asked. " That does not make any sense. "
" Unless he has a plan to kill us all. " Franky remarked.
"In this case, he made a big mistake thinking that these zombies will be able to beat us." Brook said.
"In any case, if our hypothesis is correct, it may be that he is really here, in this world." Robin explained to them.
"But where?" Luffy asked, tilting his head to the side.
"There, where these monsters were created." Zoro said. "This is the place we should be heading to in order to have a chance to get our hands on it."
"The problem is that we have no clue as to where he might be." Chopper remarked.
"We will do as usual." Retorted the swordsman. "We will find out, whatever the means, while getting rid of all the creatures he sends us! And it might be better to leave as soon as possible."
In this case, we must warn Takashi and the others! Usopp remarked.
" Let's prepare our things and leave tomorrow. " Nami decided.
But the moment everyone started to activate, Zoro stood up before asking:
" Is it really in our best interests to take them with us ? "
" Hey? " The others wondered, turning to him.
" What are you talking about ? " Asked Chopper." We team up with them, don't we? "
" These are just people who barely know how to fight. " Zoro explained then. " Most can't even beat a single zombie, and none can match a lizardman's ankle. " If we decide to face the whole army of these monsters, what do you think will become of them? Either they would get in the way or they would get killed. "
" Are you an idiot or what? " Sanji asked him. " Even saying that, you know very well that there is a great chance that they will be killed, if we leave them here. "
" It is right. " Nami approved. " What we will do will not be to dissolve the team, it will be to abandon them to certain death. "
" We have other things to do than having to watch over them. " Retorted the swordsman.
" What are you talking about ? " Robin asked him, advancing towards him. " They have placed their trust in us! I know they are weak but they are trying! They showed it to us by saving Alice, when you got lost! They will know how to support us. "
" We support us in the face of second-class mosntres, perhaps! But faced with stronger than that, I really doubt it! And then, what will happen to them and their world does not concern us in any way! Their death does not concern us. "
He felt a sharp pain as Robin slapped him, to everyone's surprise.
" "How can you say that ? " She asked him. " Do you really have no heart? "
" Hey there, we calm down. " Franky advised, fearing the worst. " No need to come to blows. "
Barely blinking when being hit, Zoro only turned his head in Luffy's direction, before asking him.
"What do you think, captain? Should we or should we not take them with us ? "
Looking at them without reacting, Luffy looked at them both, with a serious gaze. This time, he was sure he shouldn't choose something in a hurry, as usual.
" It is true that they are nice! Nevertheless, Zoro is telling the truth! We cannot take them with us. "
" But, Luffy…" Started Usopp, Nami and Chopper!
" They will surely have a better chance of surviving, alone, on their side, rather than following us. " He taught them, with a dark look. " But before we leave, let's leave them some weapons and some food so that they can defend themselves, until we find an isolated place. "
Listening to him without flinching, Robin finally nodded, against his will.
" If what you decide, in this case, I will not contradict your orders. "
Nonetheless, as she walked out of the room, it was clear that her face was, for the first time, expressing outrage at Luffy's decision.
Coming out of the mansion, Robin began to walk around the huge garden that surrounded the property, hoping that might calm her down a bit. She was angry. Angry at feeling guilty for abandoning high school students. Nonetheless, she had pledged allegiance to Luffy and had promised to respect any of his requests. Moreover, she could not but admit that the high school students will rush to their deaths, if they decide to come with them. Nonetheless… Nonetheless, she wanted them to come with them.
"What do I have to do? What do I have to do?"
" Hey, Robin. "
Turning around, the young woman saw her two charges walking towards her.
'' Say, can you tell us about your world ? " Taniuchi asked her, while Kawamoto stayed a little behind. " How are the seas there? And what power spells have people who ate devil fruit received? "
As the young girl asked her a bunch of questions, Robin found himself making a choice, within seconds. Finally, she made up her mind to turn around, before pulling away from them.
'' Hey, where are you going ? " Taniuchi asked her.
" Our contract is over. " Robin suddenly observed.
" Our contract ? " Kawamoto repeated.
" You asked us to stay with us, until we found a place where you could be safe. " The archaeologist reminded her. " Now that it's done, I no longer need to have you in the paws. "
" What ? " Taniuchi wondered. " But we are…"
" Friends ? " Robin finished, starting to smile slightly. " No ! We could have been if you were of any use! However, it is clear that taking you with us will only get us in trouble! We are not struggling. "
Stunned by what she had come to say, Taniuchi was speechless as Robin made up her mind to leave for good. It was then that she heard behind his back.
" I made a mistake on your account. "
Turning her head a little behind her, the young woman saw Kawamoto, fixing her, with a look of disgust in her gaze.
" To think I thought I could trust you! That you could help us to become stronger! That we could continue our journey together…! But in the end, you're far from the person I was starting to like. "
So she took Taniuchi's hand and started to walk away. Seeing them leave, Robin left in turn, not without having raised her hand in front of her eyes, in order to hide the sadness that they could show.