Chapter 779: Grand Gathering
The fleet sailed across the sea for quite some time before gradually approaching the waters of Whole Cake Island.
During these days of sailing, the Straw Hat Pirates had been following Ian and his group the entire way. Everyone else was fine, but two people were having a particularly rough time.
One was Luffy. With old man Garp on the ship, Luffy had no easy time of it. Garp's method of disciplining his grandson was simple and brutal. Whenever Luffy stepped out of line, the old man would deliver an "iron fist of love." During this period, the lumps on Luffy's head never had a chance to go down...
This gave everyone a good look at the daily life of the Monkey family...
The other person suffering was Kozuki Momonosuke. Ever since Little Ian came along, Nami's demands toward Momonosuke had become much stricter. In Nami's words, since Little Ian was younger than Momonosuke, Momonosuke had to give in to Little Ian a bit. As a result, many of the privileges Momonosuke had enjoyed as a child were suddenly taken away...
Just as Nami had said, during this time Little Ian really did "belong" to her. Because of the special connection with Ian, Nami had grown very fond of Little Ian. She loved holding him while playing, taking him along for baths, and bringing him to sleep with her. These privileges, which had originally belonged to Momonosuke, were now completely taken over by Little Ian.
"Sister Nami doesn't love me anymore!" This dealt a huge blow to Momonosuke. He tried to come up with ways to win her back, but the problem was that his competitor this time was too strong!
The cuteness of a samurai topknot could never match the cuteness of an ahoge!
Not only was he completely defeated in adorableness, but he was also utterly outmatched in combat. How could a little brat like Momonosuke possibly beat Ian's clone?
This was only because Ian didn't really care about Momonosuke, which was why Momonosuke hadn't been taken out by Little Ian's Black Cero yet...
Originally, on the Straw Hat Pirates' ship, Momonosuke's status as the young lord was somewhat respected. But once he got on Ian's ship, that status meant nothing. A Four Emperor was someone even a king had to look up to, let alone Momonosuke, who was merely the heir of a feudal lord...
So over these days, Momonosuke had grown haggard...
Ian naturally saw what was happening between Momonosuke and Little Ian, but he couldn't say much. He was an adult, and it would be beneath him to argue with a child. Even though he found the pervy little brat extremely annoying, he couldn't personally do anything to Momonosuke, could he? Now that Little Ian was dealing with him, Ian was happy to let it happen.
When it came to being held for baths and sleeping, Little Ian was impossible to hate. The little guy was still naive and innocent, unlike Momonosuke, who deliberately tried to take advantage of Nami. Even Sanji couldn't treat Little Ian the same way he had treated Momonosuke before.
In fact, Sanji didn't even think of Little Ian as Ian's clone. His mind kept jumping to the conclusion that this might be Ian's child with his sister Reiju. So he always treated Little Ian like a nephew, making delicious food for Nami and preparing the same for Little Ian.
Actually, Little Ian didn't need to eat. Even Ian himself couldn't say whether this clone was a real person or some kind of thought construct or psychic entity. But Sanji didn't care about that. He always made good food, and Nami always cooperated, cheerfully feeding Little Ian...
With Nami and Auntie Shakky doting on Little Ian like this, Ian wondered what would happen when they returned to Whole Cake Island and Reiju, Robin, and Konenai saw Little Ian.
A clone being more popular than the original—how do you deal with that? Asking online, pretty urgent...
After they approached the waters of Whole Cake Island, the clone soldiers stationed by Germa Group on the surrounding islands sent word to Whole Cake Island that Ian was returning. So by the time Ian and his group arrived at Whole Cake Island, they could see a large crowd standing on the shore to welcome them from afar.
Members of the Ian Family, along with the former slaves who had joined the Dragon Hunter Pirates, were all craning their necks curiously at the ship's railing, taking in the unique scenery of Whole Cake Island. They knew that from now on, they would be living here. Having escaped from the hell of Mary Geoise to live on a kingdom as fantastical as Whole Cake Island, everyone felt incredibly excited.
Only Sanji's expression was grim, because he had already spotted the ships and insignia of Germa Group.
"Ian, did you... become allies with my father and the others?" Sanji hesitated as he asked Ian.
"Don't worry!" Ian patted him on the shoulder and said, "With your sister and me putting in a good word, your father and your three brothers won't do anything to you."
Once the Big Mom Pirates disbanded, Germa Group's marriage alliance plan naturally fell through. Gaji and his sons couldn't force Sanji back either. But the grudge between Sanji and his family hadn't found a suitable opportunity to be resolved. So Sanji still had a long road ahead to prove himself...
Among those waiting on the shore were not only Reiju, Robin, and Konenai, but also Marco, Ace, Diamond Jozu, and others, as well as Yasopp and the rest of the Red Hair Pirates. This made Ian realize that Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks were definitely on the island too. The gathering of three Emperors had truly come to pass.
Usopp, with his sharp eyesight, spotted his father from afar. He was so emotional that his whole body trembled.
He hadn't yet fulfilled his promise to become a man of the sea, and he didn't know how to face his father now.
Besides him, Luffy was the same. Clutching the straw hat in his hands, he stared silently. His promise to Shanks remained unfulfilled, and he wasn't sure if meeting now was a good idea...
"L-Luffy, maybe we shouldn't go ashore?" Usopp hesitated, asking, "I think I've caught a disease that kills me if I set foot on land..."
Luffy and Sanji remained silent, both hesitating as well.
Ian noticed this. After thinking for a moment, he walked up to the three of them and said, "What, want to leave? Don't even have the courage to meet them?"
"N-No, that's not it!" Luffy argued, but he didn't know how to explain himself.
Ian smiled and said, "Let go of those pointless thoughts. It's not like you have to become the Pirate King before you can meet the people most important to you. Trust me, whether it's Shanks or Yasopp, they're not forcing you to reach some specific height. They just want to see you grow!"
Then he turned to Zoro and added, "And you too, Zoro! Even if you haven't become the world's greatest swordsman yet, as long as you haven't given up on your dream, that's fine!"
Zoro turned his head with a snort and said, "Nonsense. I'll beat you one day... and Kuina too!"
Ian chuckled and said nothing, then asked them, "So, tell me, compared to when you first set sail, have you grown?"
"O-Of course!!" Luffy and Usopp snapped to attention and shouted loudly in reply.
"Me too! Me too!" Chopper jumped up and down, yelling, "Doctorine will be proud of me!"
Nami, holding Little Ian, watched Luffy and Usopp shouting loudly along with Franky, Brook, and Mr. 2, all wearing knowing smiles.
At that moment, Ian truly fulfilled his role as an older brother, guiding Luffy and the others, helping them untangle their inner knots. Having such a brother as a role model to spur them forward, Franky and the others couldn't help but feel envious.
"So, let's go ashore!" Ian patted Luffy on the shoulder and said, "Let the people who care about you see the freedom and joy you've found on your adventures at sea. That's the best way to repay them!"
The ship finally docked. This time, without Ian needing to say anything more, Luffy sprinted off the ship, leaped, and hugged Ace tightly...
Usops stood before Yasopp, wrapped his arms around his father's waist, and burst into tears.
Sanji, cigarette in mouth, walked up to Reiju. He had just said, "Reiju..." when Reiju embraced him and said softly, "Call me big sister!"
Behind them, Franky the iron man watched these scenes unfold, already sobbing uncontrollably...
As for Ian, he stretched out an arm, hooked it around Zoro's neck, and said with a smile, "Let's go, my junior disciple!"
Then, amid Zoro's tsundere snort, Ian led him off the ship together.
This gathering on Whole Cake Island would be an unprecedented grand reunion...