Pirate's Freedom

Hotel street, coffee shop.

"This is the first time in a long time," Monkey D. Long took off his hood, his voice deep and rich, "My whereabouts were discovered so easily."

"It's not surprising. After all, there are all kinds of strange abilities in the world."

In front of him, the black-haired boy was of course Tata Tot.

There are no major changes in the facial features, but there are some subtle differences, making the whole person look less conspicuous.

"Barsolomi Bear," Tata Tot said a name directly while looking into his eyes, and continued, "He has important things to discuss."

"..."

"It just so happens that I am too, so I'll just say it—"

Long's eyes did not change, and Tata Tot didn't pay attention. He said to himself.

"We are pressed for time here, and I want to eliminate some unnecessary intermediate processes."

He looked directly into the dragon's eyes and spoke without any hesitation.

"Do you want to join us?"

Amidst the melodious music, the atmosphere became a little quiet for a while.

"..."

"After talking to Doflamingo."

After looking at each other for a moment, Long broke the silence.

"The bear told me what happened. You did a pretty good job. No, I should say you did something amazing."

"Don't worry about the past."

Tata Tot was noncommittal about the dragon's praise.

"What's more important is the future."

"The bear thing..."

He then returned to the topic.

"Although there were some misunderstandings at first, I would also like to thank him for his help. I believe this is a good start and a good opportunity."

"Is it an opportunity..."

“Building trust does not happen overnight, it takes a long time and a shared philosophy.”

Listening to Long's deep voice, his expression remained unchanged.

"but--"

"I am well aware of the current situation. Centered on the Navy and the Emperor's Alliance, the world is being turned upside down. Action and response are necessary at this moment. The world is waiting for our answers."

"so……"

Tata Toth laughed.

"Let me take a look—"

Monkey D. Long's eyes were calm.

"What's your answer?"

……

After a moment.

"Navy Headquarters...the G1 branch is more important now, but——"

The two were talking when Long suddenly stopped talking.

The burly figure walked over and placed two plates of seafood fried rice heavily on the table.

Boom!

"Seafood fried rice, two servings."

Large shrimps, browned squid tentacles, white onion rings, and chopped green peppers are all piled on top of the oily fried rice, and the aroma is overwhelming.

His eyes swept over Long. He did not leave directly, but stood there and looked at Tata Tot.

"Boy, because of you, I have to give my guy a raise."

"what is the relationship!"

Tata Toth laughed, he was in a good mood.

"People with dreams won't stay here long."

He saw the callus on the middle finger of the man's right hand. This kind of thing has almost never been seen since leaving O'Hara.

The boss froze for a moment,

"Hahahaha! You are right! The sea can accommodate all dreams!"

After not seeing each other for so many years, Ogusge had a few more gray hairs on his temples, but whenever he spoke loudly, his aura was still amazing.

"Boy, you are very interesting to me." He glanced at the table, where Tata Tot was drinking the remaining half cup of coffee, and waved his hand generously.

"I'll buy you another cup of coffee."

"Uh... thanks."

Watching the boss turn back to the counter, Tata Tot withdrew his gaze.

"Eat, I'll treat you."

He spoke to the dragon.

"Let me tell you, although..."

Tata Tot lowered his voice unconsciously, "But the seafood fried rice here... has a unique flavor when paired with coffee."

"...I'll give it a try."

"..."

"Go on, I'm listening."

"..."

After half an hour.

The two plates of seafood fried rice have been completely consumed.

"Would you like to come over and take a look?"

"I do look forward to it."

Wiping his mouth, Long glanced at the clock on the wall, "But, time is limited."

"Let's go then."

After saying that, Tata Tot stood up simply.

"...!"

After being stunned for a moment, he suddenly sat down again.

"Add a side of fried rice! And a cup of coffee!"

The boss behind the counter looked up.

Here, Tata Tot looked at Long and explained seriously.

"One more cup of coffee and I can have another plate."

……

chirp chirp...

"It's not here, it's not here, it's strange..."

chirp chirp...

In the secret base of the Red Earth Continent, the chubby [Squirrel] kept chewing something in his mouth. After rummaging around for a while, he suddenly turned his head.

"Sebastian, do you have any money on you?"

"...!"

Sebastian was stunned and replied.

"No."

"Why not?"

Tata Tot sounded surprised.

"Uh……"

Seeing Tata Tot's incredulous expression, Sebastian came up with a reason.

"Because the water coming in would wet Bailey."

He explained sincerely.

"I haven't mastered domineering yet, so I usually don't bring money back."

……

"Long, do you want some more?"

"No, I have something else to do."

"Okay, wait a minute, I'll finish it right away."

……

After a moment.

"Not here! Not here! Not here either! It's not good..."

Yellow lightning flashed across the passage and darted from room to room.

"What's wrong? Boss?"

Sebastian followed closely.

Tata Tot had no time to answer him.

goo goo goo...

……

goo goo goo...

"..."

Crossing the fingers of both hands and supporting his chin, Long looked out the window calmly, hearing the sound of Tata Tot drinking heavily.

Augsge couldn't help but walked over again.

"My coffee is good, boy!"

Bang!

Putting down the cup, Tata Tot took a deep breath.

"...It's really good, let's have another drink!"

……

Children's only activity room.

Kerra and Hancock were both here, along with a boy about Hancock's age.

"Hancock!"

He poked his head through the door, his eyes quickly passing by and settling on Hancock.

"Erwin~"

Kerra, who was swinging on the swing, waved to him.

"What's wrong? Erwin?"

Hancock, who was crossing his arms, turned to look at him.

"Do you have any money here?"

There was some urgency in his voice.

"I do not have."

"Why not?!"

Tata Tot was hit hard.

"Because I'm not interested in money! I can't use it!"

Hancock spoke matter-of-factly.

despair!

Kerr stopped the swing and raised his hands.

"Me! Erwin! I have it!"

Although I don’t believe it intellectually, but——

"Really?"

"Well...I have-"

After rummaging around for a while, Kerla took out a coin from the pocket of her dress and held it up high.

"Fifty Baileys~!"

"...Thank you, Kerra, see you at dinner..."

Tata Tot disappeared silently.

"Erwin is so weird..."

Kerra put the coin back into her pocket and frowned.

"Indeed, but he has always been strange, and more importantly -"

"The test is over, Gabra."

Hancock turned back from the door, unable to contain her excitement, and trying to look serious, she raised an index finger.

"The morning is actual combat time, and the afternoon is also actual combat time. With your current level..."

Before the slide, Rob Lucci sat upright with an expressionless face.

……

"Please use it slowly, guest."

The waiter with short flaxen hair appeared again.

"It's almost time."

"I do still have some things to do."

Seeing a cup of steaming coffee being served, Long, the world's most vicious criminal and revolutionary, stood up and prepared to leave.

"Let's discuss it next time. I'm leaving first."

"Walk slowly."

Holding the tray in front of his chest with both hands, the waiter bowed slightly.

"see you next time."

……

In the corridor of the base.

"Ah!! I thought of it!!"

Chi-!

Tata Tot suddenly braked.

"Where's the storage room? There should be some reserve money there!

He looked relieved.

"What a risk...almost..."

"Boss, have you forgotten?"

Sebastian who was following him was a bit strange and had to remind him.

"You said before the retreat that this place will be sealed in the future. Let us pack up our belongings and move out quickly."

"..."

Tata Tot stood motionless.

……

Looking at the back of the distance.

"Ah... wait a minute!"

The back figure stopped.

"actually……"

Although it was difficult to speak, Tata Tot had to speak.

"I forgot my wallet..."

His eyes were evasive, unable to meet his junior waiter's eyes, which after being stunned for a moment, suddenly became meaningful.

"Please... help me settle the bill."

"..."

Monkey D. Long turned his back to him and remained silent.

"I will definitely pay you back! And, next time! I'll treat you next time!"

……

All effects must have causes;

All phenomena must have principles.

……

Although he returned to his flesh and blood body through merging, there is still no life wave in Tata Tot's body.

After all, the practice of returning life…

The [Level 1] who can freely control the body is okay, and the [Level 2] who has initial contact with cellular consciousness is just barely able.

However, once you want to reach the current peak [Level 3]...

No matter how deep the integration between him and Xiaoju is, as long as both of them have themselves, the birth of life fluctuations is nonsense.

Basically, it requires the practitioner to be extremely pure.

I've said it before.

Integrating one's own cellular consciousness and extracting the driving force that drives life activities - the return of life is not just as simple as adding an extra kind of energy.

As the product of a leap in life levels, in addition to the substantial improvement in power and control, more importantly, it can produce some kind of wonderful chemical reactions with almost all power systems in the world.

For Tata Tot, who has reached the end of the existing road, this role of showing the way forward is what he values ​​the most.

As long as there is a road ahead, we can naturally keep moving forward.

The most obvious example.

As early as in Wano Country, after combining the Overlord's Haki and Life Wave, Tata Tot transformed simple coercion into mental interference to slightly affect the perception of others.

It's just that this ability was still very crude at that time. Apart from perfecting his special moves, its greatest use was that he used it as a spiritual [broadcast], and he experimented with it once in the Capital of Flowers.

However, the time has come now, after completing a crucial transformation.

Even if there is no life fluctuation, just pure domineering domineering, he can still do it, or even do it better, because——

[Overlord Color Dominance·Level 5]

Effect 1: unchanged.

Effect 2-6: Increased strength.

Effect 7: Able to influence the perception of others through mental interference. Combined with "Overlord Color Coil", it can further affect material entities and create the illusion of reality.

[Overlord color domineering·Fragments x5]