As the two figures approached, Shaq finally got a clear look at them.
The one on the left was a dog-headed Mink with a sturdy human body, wearing dark sunglasses despite the night and calmly puffing on a pipe there was no doubt he was Duke Inuarashi, one of the rulers of the Mink Tribe.
Beside him stood another towering figure, even broader in build, with the head of a wild feline resembling a lion.
His mane-like fur and imposing frame marked him as Duke Nekomamushi, the other ruler of Zou.
Inuarashi was the first to speak, his tone polite yet direct.
“As an apology for the earlier misunderstanding, we have prepared a small banquet.
We hope the two of you will honor us with your presence.”
“Gurararara, I was just starting to feel hungry.
We’ll gladly accept,” Newgate replied, his mood clearly improved.
With that, the two Dukes led the way inside, Peros following behind as Newgate and Shaq entered the so-called palace.
The interior was far from extravagant; instead of lavish decorations like those of human kingdoms, the space felt warm and lived-in, more like a large, comfortable home than a royal residence.
At the center stood a long table already filled with dishes, most of them consisting of fish and simple vegetables.
Nekomamushi scratched his cheek as he explained, “Most of what we eat comes from the rain Zunesha provides, so our meals are fairly simple.
We hope you won’t mind.”
Just then, the sound of small footsteps echoed through the room.
Two tiny figures rushed in, playfully bumping into each other as they ran.
They were smaller versions of the two Dukes one canine, one feline.
The moment they noticed unfamiliar faces, they froze before quickly hiding behind their respective fathers.
Nekomamushi let out an awkward laugh.
“These two are… well, you could say they’re like our children.
Forgive their behavior.”
“Gurararara!
It’s fine, I like kids,” Newgate said with a grin as he crouched down, his massive frame lowering to their level.
“Hey there, little ones, want to play with me?”
The feline child proved to be the braver of the two.
Curious rather than afraid, he reached out and grabbed hold of Newgate’s beard.
Newgate didn’t mind in the slightest.
With a laugh, he lifted the child up effortlessly.
“You’ve got guts!
But if you keep that up, I might have to give you a little punishment!”
At those words, the small Mink burst into tears.
Seeing this, the canine child also began crying, the two quickly turning the lively atmosphere into a chorus of wails.
Rather than being bothered, the adults found the scene oddly amusing, their expressions softening at the innocent display.
Shaq stepped in with a helpless sigh, quickly taking the feline child from Newgate’s hands before scooping up the other as well.
Sitting down, he placed one on each knee and began gently coaxing them.
Before long, their cries turned into laughter, their earlier fear completely forgotten.
With the children now happily playing, the mood within the room grew far more relaxed.
Inuarashi gestured toward the table.
“Please, take a seat.”
The banquet soon began.
Both Dukes were straightforward by nature, and after only a few cups of sake, their demeanor became even more open as they began addressing Newgate as “brother.”
“Brother Newgate,” Inuarashi said without hesitation, “were you truly brought here by Zunesha?
That’s never happened before.”
“Of course,” Newgate replied casually, setting down his drink.
He briefly recounted how Shaq had heard a mysterious voice during their journey and how they had been guided here.
As for the details of the conversation between Shaq and Zunesha, he deliberately glossed over them, simply stating that Shaq could somehow communicate with it.
This revelation left both Dukes visibly shocked.
As far as they knew, only the Kozuki Family of Wano Country possessed the ability to truly communicate with Zunesha.
Inuarashi turned to Shaq, his expression serious.
“Brother Shaq, would it be possible to share what Zunesha said to you?”
Nekomamushi leaned forward as well, clearly interested.
Newgate glanced at Shaq, leaving the answer entirely to him.
Shaq, still holding the two small Minks, spoke calmly, “We didn’t talk much.
Zunesha only told me that there was something here in your kingdom that I should see, and then it brought us up.”
He lifted his drink and took a sip, prompting the two children to stare eagerly.
Smiling slightly, he poured a little into cups for them before continuing, “But I don’t know exactly what it meant.
That’s why I wanted to ask you both do you have any idea?”
The two Dukes exchanged a brief glance.
There was no suspicion in their eyes, only contemplation.
The object they guarded had been kept secret for generations, known only to them.
If anyone else knew of it, Zunesha would be the only possibility.
After a moment, they reached a silent agreement.
Nekomamushi spoke first.
“If Zunesha guided you here, then there’s no reason to refuse.
Rest well tonight.
Tomorrow, we’ll take you to see it.
As for what it truly is… even we don’t fully understand.
You’ll have to see for yourselves.”
Shaq nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Then we’ll leave it in your hands.”
The atmosphere soon returned to lively conversation, with the adults exchanging stories over drinks while Shaq continued entertaining the children.
…
The following day, under the guidance of Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, Shaq and Newgate returned to the Whale Forest.
At that moment, Zunesha began its periodic rain.
The massive trunk lifted high into the sky before releasing an enormous torrent of seawater and fish, cascading down like a waterfall.
In an instant, the entire island was drenched, though carefully constructed channels guided the excess water away.
From the safety of the treetops, Shaq and Newgate observed the spectacle, both quietly impressed by the sheer scale of it.
Once the rain subsided, the four continued deeper into the forest until they reached the base of a massive tree shaped like a whale.
Guided by the two Dukes, they climbed upward through winding paths until they arrived at a concealed hollow within the tree.
“Impressive concealment,” Newgate remarked.
Inuarashi nodded.
“This is a secret our people have guarded for centuries.
We trust that you will keep it that way.”
Both Newgate and Shaq agreed without hesitation.
They then stepped inside.
The interior was vast yet empty, save for a single massive red stone cube placed at the center.
Strange, ancient characters were carved across its surface.
As they approached, Nekomamushi spoke in a low voice.
“This stone was carved by the Kozuki Family of Wano Country eight hundred years ago.
It is called a Poneglyph.
The writing on it is an ancient script that very few can read today.”
Shaq’s gaze sharpened slightly as he looked at it.
“This one,” Nekomamushi continued, “is not just any Poneglyph.
It is one of the Road Poneglyphs—stones that point toward the final island.”
Newgate showed little interest, his focus remaining entirely on Shaq.
But Shaq understood its significance immediately.
This was one of the four stones that revealed the path to the last island of the Grand Line the place that would one day be known as Laugh Tale.
Only by gathering all four could its true location be discovered.
Slowly, he reached out and placed his hand against the red stone, feeling the weight of history contained within it.