Chapter 152 - 152: Yasopp’s Departure
East Blue, Syrup Village, late at night.
Yasopp quietly packed his belongings, moving carefully and silently.
Bang!
Suddenly, the sound of a match striking filled the air, and a candle lit up the room.
Yasopp's wife stood there silently, watching her husband pack.
Seeing the sorrow on her face, Yasopp opened his mouth with difficulty:
"I'm sorry... I..."
Yasopp's wife spoke softly:
"So this day has come, after all."
"I always knew... you didn't belong here."
"I won't try to stop you."
"But Usopp is still so young..."
The two fell silent for a long time, saying nothing.
Yasopp's wife had already understood her husband's decision:
"At least... go see Usopp one last time."
She turned and walked away.
Yasopp slumped to the floor, staring blankly at the ground.
After a while, he stood up and walked inside, glancing at the still-sleeping Usopp.
Clenching his teeth, he shut his eyes and turned away.
He pushed open the door.
Starlight blanketed the earth. His wife handed him a bundle.
Inside were Yasopp's clothes and the last of the family's money...
His hands clenched around the bundle without realizing it.
He stood frozen for a long time, until the first rays of sunlight touched the sky.
"I'm sorry..."
Yasopp trembled as he spoke with guilt.
Then he walked toward the rising sun.
Inside the house.
Lying on the bed, his wife gazed at the sleeping Usopp.
Tears streamed silently down her face...
...
The New World, a secret stronghold towering into the clouds.
This was the last territory of the Golden Lion, a location he had never revealed to anyone.
No one would expect that this pillar-like island stretching to the sky would hold such secrets at its summit.
After the Golden Lion was imprisoned, the scientists trapped in this hidden base began thinking of escape.
After all, they had been abducted, with families, friends, and careers left behind.
Forced to serve the Golden Lion's research, they had no choice but to comply.
But once the Golden Lion was jailed, everyone except Dr. Indigo grew restless.
No one wanted to remain in this isolated hellhole.
A group gathered—though not mechanical engineers, they were all brilliant biologists.
As scientists, their brains were certainly sharper than most.
After two years of rough, painstaking assembly...
They finally completed a massive glider, designed using bio-dynamic principles.
Using a mechanical device, they dragged the glider to the edge of a cliff. As they boarded, gazing at the drifting clouds, excitement surged.
"We're finally getting out of this damned place!"
"Hahahahaha!!!"
"Yes! Lisa! Wait for me!!!"
"I'm coming home soon!"
"Waaaaahhh!!!"
"I haven't seen my son in four years!"
"He was just born then!"
"He should be talking by now."
"Alright! Get ready!"
"Let's go home!!!!"
"Yeahhhhh!!!!"
The lead biologist pressed a button, activating a large mechanical system that pushed the glider closer to the cliff's edge.
Boom—
As the glider launched, the sound of air rushing past the wings echoed.
From thousands of meters above, the glider swooped downward in a rapid descent.
After the glider launched, Dr. Indigo slowly walked out.
In his hand was a newspaper.
The front page headline read: Golden Lion Breaks Myth of Impregnable Undersea Prison.
"Hmph. Idiots..."
He turned and walked away.
He'd received the newspaper days ago, but had kept the news hidden from everyone.
He'd even secretly collected and stashed all the other copies.
Who didn't want to be the boss... the future of the research division...
Clack clack clack...
His eerie laughter echoed across the cliff.
...
On the diving glider—
"Everyone, get ready!"
"We're about to hit water!"
"Hold on tight!!!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"..."
From thousands of meters up, the glider hit the sea—yet the anticipated impact never came.
Instead, it landed incredibly smoothly.
Even those who had shouted moments ago stared in disbelief.
Suddenly, a realization dawned on them.
One after another, they went pale, collapsing onto the deck, anxiously searching their surroundings.
Whooo—
A thick puff of white smoke rose.
The Golden Lion sat at the edge of the glider's upper deck.
"Shihahahaha."
"You lot really gave me a surprise."
"A bunch of biologists... building a ship?"
"So many of you. What were you planning?"
"Were you coming to rescue me?"
"Or perhaps..."
"Trying to escape..."
His tone turned cold, and a suffocating murderous aura swept over the group.
Everyone collapsed in fear.
The lead biologist swallowed hard and forced out a response:
"We... we really were coming to rescue you."
"Some of us have... connections... we thought maybe we could get you out."
"That's why we built this ship."
The others chimed in:
"Yes, yes!"
"Really!"
"I know a Vice Admiral!"
"My family's connected to the government!"
"That's great!"
"I can't believe you're out!"
The Golden Lion sneered at the group of biologists:
"Then I suppose I should thank you all."
He pushed off and leapt from the upper deck.
Clang!
Both of his swords struck the deck, the clash of steel echoing.
Step by step, he walked toward the lead scientist.
Standing before him, he bent down, grabbed him by the throat, and lifted him up:
"I..."
"am..."
"the Golden Lion!!!"
"Since when have I fallen so low that I need a bunch of useless worms like you to save me?!"
Boom!!!
A terrifying burst of force exploded from the Golden Lion's hand.
The lead scientist's neck instantly turned to a bloody mist. His head rolled across the deck.
"Hoh hoh hoh hoh hoh..."
"I'll give you all a chance."
"I only need ten people."
He tossed a small knife onto the deck.
Dozens of scientists on the ship stared at the knife, swallowing nervously.
Finally...
"Move it!"
"The knife is mine!!!"
"Don't fight me for it!"
"Die!!!"
"Ugh..."
"You..."
"Don't force me!!!"
The Golden Lion stood on the deck, watching the biologists fight.
"Interesting..."
"How very interesting..."
"Shihahahahahaha!!!!"
...
East Blue, a certain Marine base.
A group of Marine officers discussed the news of the Golden Lion's prison break.
"That's terrifying."
"Even that so-called impregnable undersea prison was breached."
"He really is a legendary pirate."
"Damn pirates—when will they ever give us peace?"
Nearby, Bell-mère, with long red hair and a cigarette in her mouth, loaded her gun:
"What's there to be scared of?"
"If he dares show up in East Blue, I'll give him a beating he won't forget."
An officer lounging on the couch laughed:
"Hahahaha!"
"That's Bell-mère for you—reliable as ever!"
"No doubt about it."
...
West Blue
"Hey, hey, did you hear?"
"They say the Devil's Child is hiding somewhere around here."
"For real?"
"Last time they said she was on Corien Island."
"Yeah, but the government said they found nothing there."
"Based on the supply ship routes from those days, this is the most likely area."
In the distance, Robin—following behind Lorka—tensed instinctively.
Lorka turned and looked at the distracted Robin:
"What's wrong, Elida?"
Robin, using the alias Koni Elida, snapped back:
"Nothing... nothing at all."
"Lorka-san."
...
New World, Library Island.
Patrick Redfield had taken up residence here.
Atop the highest mountain on the island.
Because of his Observation Haki and ability to read minds, Redfield found crowds unbearable—the clamor of human nature igniting murderous impulses within him.
So he always chose to stay alone, surrounded by the serene beauty of mountains and valleys.
As he sipped coffee, Redfield suddenly set his cup down and gazed toward the port:
"Marines?"
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