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How the black ship Jormungandr suddenly disappeared from the sight of the Strawhat Pirates is of course because Lepus was deliberately a little nosy to open the gap and make Jormungandr enter it after passing the Going Merry.
It was only after the Going Merry left and was out of sight that Lepus again opened the gap to get out.
Lepus then said.
"We'll stop and wait here."
"Are we not there yet?"
Muret asked.
"Yeah. Here is the White Sea which is about 7000 meters from the Blue Sea. While our destination is the White White Sea which is 10000 meters from the Blue Sea."
"Then why are we stopping here? Can't we go up again with your strength?"
"Could be. But up there just had a disaster a few days ago. And I don't want our arrival to be a problem if we suddenly show up there. So we'll be waiting for our guide here."
"I see.... But, guide? Who?"
"They're my acquaintances. They're still escorting the ship that passed earlier to the exit in this sea of clouds, Cloud End. That's why we'll be waiting for them to come back this way."
"Oh, okay."
The acquaintances Lepus meant were Conis and Pagaya.
While waiting for Conis and Pagaya to return this way, Lepus decided to explore this White Sea, while the rest of the crew and the children he allowed to play in the cloud land around the ship while getting used to the thin air here.
For a while when exploring this White Sea cloud land, Lepus vaguely saw something hidden behind the clouds and quite surprised. That something was a pattern of black swirl stripes.
"Could it be...."
Lepus suspected it was something familiar and he opened the cloud. And sure enough, Lepus found a fruit!
The fruit looks like a pumpkin but white colored similar to the clouds, with pattern of black swirl stripes covering it, and with twin swirling white stalks.... Right! It's a devil fruit!
Lepus smiled wryly seeing that fruit.
"Hehaha.... If it wasn't for me not using my boundaries manipulation power to see through the clouds and Kenbunshoku Haki, maybe this fruit would never have been found... Nice. I'll keep it."
Lepus took the devil fruit and keep it in his gap storage.
After that, Lepus decided to return to the Ship.
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Some time later, from a distance, Lepus saw a waver being ridden by a middle-aged man with a thick round beard and a girl with braided blonde hair.
Lepus then intercepted them.
Seeing someone intercepting them from a distance, Pagaya slowed down and stopped the waver he was driving warily.
After the waver stopped, then Lepus smiled and greeted them.
"Heya, Pagaya-san, Conis.... Long time no see."
Suddenly being greeted by the person who intercepted them, Pagaya and Conis were a bit confused.
But, upon seeing the face of the man who greeted them, Conis widened her eyes in surprise. Conis immediately recognized Lepus. Even if it was only a day when they met and spent some time together. And already years they had not seen each other, Conis had never forgotten Lepus and their promise.
Conis then got off the waver and jumped to hug Lepus and cried.
Lepus was a little surprised Conis suddenly jumped into his arms and cried. But he understood the reason. Conis was quite sad and suffering because of the cruelty and destruction caused by Enel. Lepus hugged Conis back tightly and stroked her hair. Lepus also said softly to her.
"It's okay. I understand."
"...."
Conis kept crying and didn't speak in Lepus' arms. Lepus also kept hugging and stroking Conis' hair. While the other people are also just silent and do not disturb.
After a while, Conis finally stopped crying and let go of Lepus
"Better?"
"Um."
"Alright.... Let's get on the ship.... Pagaya-san, you get on too. Bring your waver too."
"O-Oh.... Sorry."
The three of them as well as all the members of the Ouroboros Pirates then boarded the ship.
After that, Lepus opened the gap and made Jormungandr enter.
And when they came out of the gap, this time thay arrived at the White White Sea.
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