Pirate's Freedom

The Red Earth Continent, high in the sky.

Tata Tot, who suddenly rushed forward, was once again pushed back by a gentle and irresistible force. In the next moment, Hancock disappeared in front of him.

"...!!!"

A slender figure flashed and appeared below Tata Tot.

"It's over~! Erwin~!"

With this declaration, Hancock's hands bloomed like the calyx of a flower.

"Heaven-earth-penetrate-through-wave-!!!"

A bright beam of light entwined with black lightning came towards him, blasting Tata Tot away.

"Haaah~haaa~haaa..."

The panting Hancock gently fell back to the ground, shielding his right hand from the hot sunlight, and looked up for a while before finding a place to sit down leisurely.

After a while, it fell next to Hancock with a 'plop' sound. The weak Tata Tot lay motionless and sternly protested as he lay there.

"Change your name, Hancock, don't even copy my move names!"

"Eh? But he's very handsome! Think of another one, Erwin."

"Do you think it's that easy?! It's very difficult, okay!"

"Forget it, you won today, this move will be yours temporarily, and you will give it back to me on the day you lose!"

"Cuckoo~"

There was a light laugh, and Hancock agreed.

"Okay, Erwin."

"..."

For the next time, neither of them spoke, quietly watching the sunset sink into the red earth continent.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time, but there's one thing I still don't quite understand."

Tata Tot suddenly spoke.

"Well, you said."

"The same people sometimes try their best to survive, and sometimes give up their lives easily. What do people want to live for?"

"I don't know, it would be weird for a guy to want to die."

"That's right," Tata Tot also felt that he was a little sentimental, so he changed the topic.

"Hancock, why do you want to become stronger? Don't you want to make the same mistakes again?"

"What's there to think about? What reason do I need to become stronger? There are guys like you around me, so I naturally want to catch up. But you, Erwin, what is your past like? What have you experienced? How many battles does it take to be as strong as you are now? I want to hear it, tell me about it."

"Is it over... It's not a big deal, no need to say more."

"I told you everything about Kuja! How cunning! Erwin!"

"Stop lying on the ground, Hancock—"

Tata Tot jumped up.

"The sun has gone down, let's go back and eat!"

Crunch!

"...Erwin..."

Hancock's gritted teeth sounded.

"I'm going to beat you up!"

"Whatever you say, Hancock, you haven't had a good few days anyway."

Despite being beaten for several days, Tata Tot still spoke very toughly.

"I bet you can't win for a week!"

"What's the stakes? Erwin."

"...What are you interested in again?"

"Well... I haven't figured it out yet."

Hancock stood up and stretched.

"We'll talk about it after we win."

"With such confidence, Hancock, you should know your own situation best."

Tata Tot frowned.

"Whether it's the domineering [External Release] of the armed color or the [Full Concentration] of the breathing method, your explosive power and sustaining power have been severely disconnected, and there is no good way to solve this problem until you reach adulthood."

"In the next situation, we will either win overwhelmingly, or we will automatically lose when the time is up. There is no third option."

"Are you scared? Erwin."

Hancock's voice was calm.

"How is that possible? You're not Ultraman. You can't bluff me. Besides, the bet should be equal, so you have to pay a requirement!"

"Well, the bet is established, it's settled, Erwin."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Tata Tot spoke to himself in a voice that both of them could hear.

"Is it the [Trait Awakening] of the witnessing color? Or the [Internal Destruction] of the armed color? It can't be the [Overlord Color Entanglement]..."

"Erwin——"

Hancock turned back and winked at him.

"Guess~"

……

In the stone room used as a restaurant in the secret base, there are two long tables that can accommodate dozens of people.

Except for those who are out for business, there are about seven or eight people staying here, and everyone is waiting for everyone to arrive and start eating.

"Erwin, so slow! You came back late today!"

Kirla, who was waiting at the door, grabbed Tata Tot's long ears.

"Blame it on Hancock."

Tata Tot stretched out his paw and pointed at Hancock.

"She knocked me flying into the sky, and it took me a long time to fall down."

"really?"

Clara's eyes widened.

"Hancock, you are so awesome~!"

"Onee-sama is so amazing~!" x2

Two pairs of starry eyes lit up.

"……yes--"

Tata Tote blinked.

"Bravo……"

"Isn't that of course."

Kerla hugged Tata Tot and was carried to a specially raised seat by Hancock. Hancock pulled out the chair between the two sisters and sat down.

"Everyone is here, let's get ready for dinner."

A steaming cauldron was brought in by Dorian, and soon, the prepared meals were placed in front of everyone.

The orange soup is filled with milky white hollow noodles, dotted with onions and meat pieces, exuding a slightly spicy and attractive aroma.

"..."

Picking up a noodle with chopsticks and putting it into his mouth, Hancock, who was distracted, chewed it for a few times.

"Who cooked today's meal...?"

Hancock's voice held something muffled.

"I did, what's the problem?"

Putting down his fork, Langdon looked up in confusion.

"This is the signature dish of a store on No. 24 GR. I have tried it a few times, and the taste should be about the same."

"What you do is very authentic, Landon."

Hancock took a deep breath, and Sonia and Mary turned their heads with excitement.

"This is our daughter's island's famous dish - Gonzollola cheese Neptune tube noodles."

……

Area 24 of Shampoo Islands, Divination Snake House Restaurant.

Antique store decoration, surrounded by tables.

"New~New~New~"

The short figure kept circling around the crystal ball the size of a human head.

"Snapshot of the future~"

"Grandma New's unique skill!"

The diners eating the food around them put down their utensils, looking forward to but uneasy at the same time.

"Special divination with an accuracy rate of [-]%!"

"New~New~New~"

Smoke and dust gradually filled the air, and people stared at the blurry figures.

Swish Swish Swish Swish~!

"Appeared~!!"

With lightning speed, several afterimages streaked through the air, a strong wind blew away the smoke, Granny New raised the crystal ball in her hand, and black words appeared on it——

【Come back after eating~! 】

"Huh?!"xN