491-495

Chapter 491: Scaring the Evil Couple Senseless 

With a simple wave of his hand, Kazama instantly released Luffy, Zoro, and the others from their frozen state—bringing them all back to life. 

"What?! How is that even possible?!" 

The evil couple had assumed that Kazama’s companions would be collateral damage from his powerful technique. The last thing they expected was for Kazama to also possess revival abilities—something that completely shattered their assumptions. 

Sure, having powerful combat skills was impressive—but someone who could both kill and revive? That wasn’t just power anymore... that was divine. 

Kazama coldly turned to the stunned couple. 

"So? My friends are all safe and sound, brought back by my own hands. What are you going to do now?" 

"W-wait a second..." 

Beads of cold sweat ran down their faces. The couple, who had once banked on their light-speed abilities to either overpower or escape from Kazama, now realized—they couldn’t do either. 

Trapped and terrified, they immediately tried to save face. 

"H-hey, little brother, we’re really not that different, right? We never had any deep grudges to begin with... If you want to protect Laboon, we’re totally fine with that! No need to fight, right?" 

"Y-yeah, yeah! As they say, 'put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.' No need for more violence, right?" 

SMACK! SMACK! 

Before they could finish their pitiful excuses, Luffy shot forward and decked them both, slamming them to the ground. 

"Cut the crap! Let me tell you something—there’s nothing I hate more than people who abuse animals! Laboon is the biggest whale in the East Blue, and he's incredibly rare. Instead of protecting him, you kept attacking him like cowards! That’s something I’ll never forgive!" 

Though the evil couple seethed inwardly, they didn’t dare fight back. They knew full well—Luffy was Kazama’s comrade. If they laid a hand on him, Kazama would definitely not let them off easy. 

So, trembling, the couple kowtowed before both Luffy and Kazama, begging for mercy. 

They weren’t just cowards—they were clever, too. 

They realized that just groveling wouldn't earn Kazama's forgiveness. So, a new idea came to them. 

"These guys probably came here because of the Grand Line. That has to be it. And since we’ve lived here all our lives, we know this region like the back of our hands. Maybe... just maybe... if we offer to guide them, they’ll spare us." 

With that plan in mind, they forced a flattering smile and looked up at Kazama. 

"Say, little brother... If we’re not mistaken, you’re heading toward the Grand Line, aren’t you?" 

"What? How do you know that?" 

Kazama narrowed his eyes and shot back immediately, suspicion rising in his voice. 

Chapter 492: The Unpredictable Grand Line 

“Heh... That’s because anyone who ends up here is usually trying to reach the Grand Line,” the evil couple said with a smirk. “But unfortunately, even experienced navigators can’t easily get there.” 

“Why’s that?” Kazama had heard rumors that the Grand Line was notoriously difficult to reach. But hearing it directly from this shady pair made him even more curious, so he quickly asked for more details. 

“It’s simple,” the woman replied, smug as ever. “The area leading to the Grand Line is extremely complex—its terrain is wild, and the magnetic fields are so unstable that regular compasses are completely useless. You can’t even tell which way you’re going.” 

“That’s right. Without one of us locals to guide you, there’s no way you’ll find the Grand Line. In fact, you’ll probably end up lost here forever.” 

“Huh...” Kazama frowned, clearly unsure whether to believe them. But he wasn’t the kind of person who killed just for fun, so he decided not to attack the couple again—at least for now. 

Instead, he quickly turned to Nami. “Nami, can you check our compass and see if it still works?” 

As he spoke, Kazama pulled everyone back into reality from whatever surreal zone they’d been in. 

Nami immediately followed his lead and pulled out her compass. 

But to her surprise, the moment it was out, the needle started spinning wildly—like the wheels on a runaway train. 

In just a few seconds, the compass was completely wrecked. 

“What?! That’s impossible!” 

Seeing a normally reliable compass behave so strangely, Kazama finally realized—the evil couple hadn’t been lying after all. 

He turned to them and admitted, “Looks like you were telling the truth. With the magnetic interference in this area, it really is almost impossible to find the right direction.” 

“Hehehe, of course it’s true~,” the woman giggled. “So, young man, we’re offering you a deal—let us make up for our earlier actions and guide you to the Grand Line. What do you say?” 

Luffy and the others immediately gathered around Kazama, whispering urgently. 

“Kazama-nii, I’m telling you, these two look seriously shady. We shouldn’t trust them!” 

“Yeah! They’re the top dogs in the whaling industry, and everyone knows those people are the scum of the sea. Total bastards! We should just take them out and find our own way!” 

Kazama raised a hand to calm everyone down. “No need to panic, guys. I say... we let them be our guides.” 

“What?!” Everyone was stunned. 

“Kazama-nii, if they really take us to the Grand Line, fine. But what if they’re leading us into a trap?” 

“Yeah! What if they sell us out or ambush us somewhere? We could all end up dead!” 

“Heh... Relax,” Kazama said with a calm grin. “Don’t you guys trust my strength? If those two dare to pull anything funny, I promise you—I’ll beat them black and blue before they can blink. They'll be crying for their mothers.” 

Chapter 493 – A Man Like Pirate King Roger 

"That, huh?" 

Hearing Kazama's response, Luffy and the others finally relaxed, their tense expressions easing. 

They knew full well that with Kazama's strength, he had no reason to fear those two sinister lovers. 

Even if that twisted couple tried some underhanded sneak attack on them, as long as Kazama was around, they had nothing to worry about. 

After all, in the face of Kazama—whose power could defy the heavens—any trick or scheme would be completely meaningless. 

At that moment, just as Kazama was about to leave, he turned back to approach the mysterious old man who had been guarding Laboon, the whale. 

"Sir, we're about to set off now. While it's true that whalers won't be bothering Laboon anymore, for safety's sake, I suggest you take Laboon and head to a different part of the sea." 

The old man sighed, "Easier said than done. Even if I wanted to leave, Laboon would never agree to it." 

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Kazama asked, clearly confused by the old man's tone. 

"It's simple," the old man explained. "The reason Laboon has stayed here all this time is because of a promise he made to my former pirate captain. You see, Laboon isn’t just the largest whale on the East Blue coast—he’s also a whale that can understand human emotions and speech." 

Kazama's eyes widened slightly as the old man continued. 

"Back then, when our crew arrived here, our captain formed a deep bond with Laboon. But eventually, the captain had to leave and journey to the Grand Line, so they were forced to part ways. Since I had some knowledge of medicine, I stayed behind to take care of Laboon in his absence. That was fifty years ago… and my captain has never returned." 

The old man lowered his gaze, his voice heavy. 

"And over the years, whalers continued to harm Laboon. He’s now badly wounded. I had no choice but to hide inside his body and heal him from within." 

"...So that’s why you’ve been inside him all this time," Kazama muttered, finally understanding the old man’s actions. 

At first, he thought the old man was just some eccentric with a strange hobby. But now it made sense—the old man had been doing everything he could to save Laboon. 

Kazama then stepped forward and stood before the massive whale. 

"Laboon," he said gently, "I don’t know where your pirate friend is now, or even if he’s still alive. But if you're willing to keep waiting, then I support your decision." 

He paused, a soft smile crossing his face. 

"But if you'll have me, I’d like to make a promise with you too. Wait for me here. And I promise, once I return from the Grand Line, I’ll come see you." 

Laboon had only known Kazama for a few hours. 

But in that short time, he’d witnessed Kazama’s overwhelming strength. 

So the moment he heard Kazama’s heartfelt promise, Laboon happily nodded in agreement. 

The reason Kazama wanted to make a new promise with Laboon was simple. 

Rather than have Laboon continue waiting endlessly for someone who might never return, he thought it better to give him a new hope—someone who would come back. 

Kazama knew he would return from the Grand Line. 

And when that time came, he’d fulfill his promise. 

Even if just for a while, it would ease Laboon’s lonely heart. 

After that, Kazama and his group prepared to continue their journey—this time, with the help of those two defeated villains. 

Chapter 494: Mind Tricks Won’t Work on Me 

The journey toward the Grand Line continued. 

Meanwhile, the mysterious old man watched as Kazama and the others walked away. With a smile, he nodded approvingly. 

“Laboon, that kid Kazama really does have the kind of presence that wins people over! Just like the one who made that promise with you back in the day—Captain Roger!” 

So it turns out that the one who made the promise with Laboon long ago was none other than the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. 

Before long, the sinister couple guided Kazama and his crew to a nearby town. 

“Everyone, just ahead lies the legendary Grand Line. But the terrain ahead becomes more and more dangerous, so I suggest we rest here for now in this small town of Whisky Peak. It'll be a good chance to recover our strength, and also allow us to show our hospitality.” 

“Oh? From the way you're talking, does that mean Whisky Peak is your town?” 

“Exactly. This is our turf.” 

As they spoke, the sinister couple bowed and nodded repeatedly toward Kazama. 

“Kazama-aniki, we were blind earlier and picked a fight with the wrong person. But don't worry—now that we've seen your true strength, we completely acknowledge you. We're willing to follow your lead!” 

“Yeah, whatever you say, we’ll do it!” 

As they spoke, they quickly summoned a bunch of local townspeople, who brought out all kinds of delicious dishes and drinks for Kazama and the others to enjoy. 

By this point, Luffy, Zoro, and the rest of the crew were already starving from the journey. 

So the moment they saw the massive feast, they didn’t hesitate to dig in like wild animals. 

Kazama, faced with such “warm hospitality,” didn’t show any hesitation either and started eating and drinking. 

But the moment he took a sip of the wine, he sensed something was off. 

Just then, the voice of the Void Swallowing Flame inside him spoke up: 

“Master, you may not have noticed, but this wine has been poisoned. While it’s not lethal, it’s designed to knock you out. But don’t worry—I’ve already devoured the poison entirely. You’re safe.” 

“I see!” 

Kazama nodded in understanding. 

He immediately saw through the sinister couple’s true intentions. 

They’d put on a friendly face and brought Kazama and the crew toward the Grand Line—but secretly, they had already informed the townspeople of Whisky Peak, their allies, about their arrival. 

They planned to eliminate Kazama and his friends here. 

The couple knew that in a direct fight, they stood no chance against Kazama. 

So they went for a sneakier method—drug the food and drinks, then attack once their prey was helpless. 

Sure enough, not long after, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, and Nami all collapsed into unconsciousness from the food and wine. 

The couple smirked coldly. 

Without wasting time, they led the armed townspeople in an ambush against Kazama and his friends. 

But what they didn’t expect was this—Kazama was still standing there, perfectly fine. 

The sight left the sinister couple in utter shock. 

Chapter 495: The Mysterious Whisky Peak 

Their main objective had been clear—use the drug to knock Kazama out. Only then could they capture his entire crew in one fell swoop. 

But now, their carefully prepared sleeping potion had no effect on Kazama whatsoever. That alone left them deeply shaken. 

Seeing the terrified expressions on the evil couple’s faces, Kazama sneered and stepped forward. 

“You two really don’t learn your lesson, do you? I already told you—if you helped guide us to the Grand Line, I’d spare your lives. And yet here you are, flaunting your power and showing off in front of me. You’ve really tested my patience!” 

“Cut the crap with your tough guy act in front of me!” 

Before Kazama could finish, a middle-aged man with a head full of curly hair stepped out, sneering coldly. 

This man turned out to be the leader of Whisky Peak—and the boss of the evil couple. 

“Listen up, you little brat! We’re members of Baroque Works. Everyone in this region knows who we are. No one dares to act tough in front of us. But you? You had the nerve to interfere with our whaling business and even dared to humiliate my subordinates! I can’t let that slide!” 

“Just because the drug didn’t work on you, don’t think you can act invincible. I don’t care how strong you are—two fists can’t beat ten hands. Let’s see you take on all of us! Everyone—attack! Crush this punk until there’s nothing left of him!” 

But before the Baroque Works leader could finish his threat— 

Kazama vanished from sight. 

This stunned the man—his heart instantly filled with dread. 

And then, Kazama’s voice echoed right behind him. 

“Oh? Weren’t you just saying you wanted to ‘pulverize me’? Go ahead, I’m right here.” 

“Wha—?!” 

When he realized Kazama had silently appeared behind him, even an idiot could tell that there was no way he could win. 

But this curly-haired man was the type who cared more about saving face than anything else. 

As the leader of his people, he couldn’t afford to back down now. If he showed weakness, how could he continue to lead? 

So, gritting his teeth, he gave the order again—his subordinates charged toward Kazama. 

What he didn’t expect was that with Kazama’s level of strength, handling these attackers was child’s play. 

In just a few swift moves, Kazama used his overwhelming power to beat them all to a pulp. 

Meanwhile, the evil couple, even though they had the power of light-speed movement, didn’t dare to flee. 

They knew Kazama had a way to counter their speed-based abilities. 

So the two of them collapsed onto the ground in fear, trembling and completely frozen in place. 

Watching Kazama defeat everyone from Whisky Peak with ease had shaken them to their core. 

Terrified, they dropped to their knees and began slamming their heads to the ground, desperately begging for mercy.