Chapter 81: Xia and Riggs (5-star review required)
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Gel looked at the little old man speaking in front of him with some surprise.
Just as he was wondering how he could meet other people in the belly of this island-eating monster, he heard the old man continue what he had said:
"But it doesn't matter. There's nothing good on this ship anyway. If you want, come up and pick it up together! And chat with me. I've almost forgotten how long it has been since I last talked to anyone."
"By the way, kid, what's your name? Are you also stranded here after a shipwreck?"
"Hey, you are such an unlucky guy. It's unfortunate for you to come here alive at such a young age."
"But it doesn't matter. You don't have to be afraid. Apart from the fact that you can't get out and it's a bit boring if you stay here for a long time, everything else is fine. You have food and drink, and at least you won't starve to death."
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kilipipi Mordred Masala Brightman Sia. I'm afraid you can't remember me, so you can just call me Senior Kilipipi Mordred Masala Brightman. I'll take care of you from now on!"
Just as Ger was about to speak, the old man interrupted him and continued:
"Huh? Are you dumb? Oh, that's a pity."
After a pause, he began to comfort himself again:
"But it doesn't matter. Don't worry, I won't despise you for being dumb. Just listen to me more when you can't speak anymore."
What's up with this weird old man?
Geer complained madly in his heart:
Why don't you give others a chance to speak?
"Come, come, let me introduce you. This is my son. His name is Kilipipi Mordred Masala Brightman Riggs..."
Just as Gel looked around, thinking there might be someone else, he saw the old man take out a palm-sized rhinoceros beetle from the cloth bag around his waist and said proudly:
"How is it? Riggs is handsome, isn't he? He is very strong, but unfortunately he is as unfortunate as you, trapped here at such a young age. You two can be good brothers in the future! You will have a companion when I am gone."
Gel thought to himself, thank you so much, who would be bored enough to become sworn brothers with a bug.
Gel rolled his eyes helplessly. Even he, who always respected the elderly and loved the young, couldn't help but want to use something to cover the old man's mouth.
"And let me tell you..."
This old man might have been trapped here alone for too long and was a little suffocated, so he kept talking to Gel in a nonstop manner.
"boom!"
As the old man was talking, he suddenly fell to the ground with a thud, and his chattering mouth finally stopped. Gel was not panicked, and was even a little surprised. He felt that the whole world had suddenly become quiet!
"Hey, old man! What's wrong with you? Are you feeling uncomfortable? I didn't touch you, don't try to blackmail me."
Gel walked forward and asked, finally having the chance to interrupt and say something.
“Ahem~”
Xia cleared her throat twice, straightened her breath, and then said:
"I'm fine, don't worry. I just talked too much in one breath and forgot to breathe, so I'm a little short of oxygen. Just let me calm down."
Gel was completely speechless. His scalp was really broken by this old man.
"Hey, so you're not mute. That's great! Come and talk to me. What's your name?"
The old man suddenly reacted and asked happily.
"Um, hello, Senior Xia, my name is Ger, and I'm an explorer. How long have you been trapped here?"
Gel only remembered the two words "Xia". As for the prefix in front of his name, which was longer than his eyebrows and beard, Gel forgot it all after hearing it.
"Hey, Gel boy, you asked a good question. Help me up quickly! Let me explain it to you slowly!"
The old man's face was full of joy. He finally found an opportunity to tell his story to others. He immediately struggled to get up from the ground.
Gel had no choice but to reach out and help him up.
Xia sat up cross-legged and began to tell about his wonderful past.
It was a night of thunder, lightning, wind and rain. The hurricane created waves over 20 meters high that hit the poor ship wantonly. The large merchant ship of dozens of meters was as small and fragile as a leaf on the sea.
"I remember that our merchant ship encountered a storm on the way to Taigu Island on the Grand Line. We met a ship and wanted to follow it in case it capsized, there would be rescue.
But when we got closer, we found that it was a super-large warship with a white skull flag hanging on the mast. What's more terrifying is that the pirate ship is full of giants more than ten meters tall! Some are even more than twenty meters tall!
At that time, all of us on the ship were scared. In order to escape from the ship, the captain decisively ordered the rudder to turn right and rush into the center of the storm at full speed.
Fortunately, the enemy was busy dealing with the storm and did not chase us, so we were lucky enough to escape."
Guer nodded, guessing that they must have encountered the Giant Pirates from Elbaf at that time.
Even though a long time had passed, when Xia recalled the scene again, there was still a look of fear on his face and his body was trembling slightly. One can imagine how much shock he had felt when he saw that entire ship of giants.
"and after?"
Ger asked curiously.
After a pause, Xia continued:
"Later, I felt a violent shaking in the cabin, and then the boat fell apart. The sea water quickly washed us apart. When I woke up again, I found myself on this island, and I was alone."
"At first I didn't know where this place was. I tried to leave here on a raft countless times, but this place is surrounded by flesh walls. From time to time, new ship wreckage and soil blocks appear, so I guess this is most likely in the stomach of a monster."
Gel nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Senior Xia, you guessed it right. This is a giant goldfish monster that feeds exclusively on islands and ships."
"Hahaha, yeah, yeah, I told you it must have been swallowed by the monster, but you didn't believe me, Riggs, haha!"
Xia spoke happily to the rhinoceros beetle in his hand, but the rhinoceros beetle just shook its head, trying only to break free from his hand, and didn't listen to him at all.