Chapter 81: Ace Is Too Strong for You to Handle, Smoker!New2 days ago
[Good grief! "The Marines have plenty of Berries!" That Smoker guy certainly knows how to show off!]
[I don't think Smoker was trying to show off. He was probably just stating a fact.]
[Five hundred and fifty million Berries! Ace must be an incredibly dangerous pirate! I think Brother Qi should play it safe. Crocodile alone, with his former bounty of over eighty million Berries, is already dangerous enough!]
[Miss Nami, please don't convince Brother Qi to accept this job! This is way out of your league! You might end up getting yourselves killed!]
[There's nothing we can do about it. Our Navigator Nami loves Berries more than anything else. Still, I trust Brother Qi to make the right decision.]
...
"Five hundred and fifty million Berries, huh?"
Luo Qi lowered his head thoughtfully.
"That's certainly an attractive amount of money."
He appeared to be seriously considering Smoker's proposal.
"Besides, with the Marines helping us, capturing Ace should be considerably easier."
"After all, Smoker, you're a Logia-type Devil Fruit user yourself."
"I'm sure you'd be able to hold Ace off for a while."
Hearing Luo Qi's words, Smoker took a satisfied puff of his cigar.
He could already sense that Luo Qi was leaning toward accepting his proposal.
"In that case, just agree to it, Luo Qi."
Smoker spoke confidently.
"This shouldn't be particularly difficult for someone with your abilities."
However...
Luo Qi gently patted Nami's hands and persuaded her to release his arm.
Then, he turned toward Smoker with an unusually serious expression.
"But..."
"I refuse!"
"..."
Smoker froze.
"Huh?!"
"WHY?!"
He frowned deeply.
Luo Qi chuckled.
Then, he casually brushed his bangs aside and pointed directly at Smoker.
"Because one of my favorite things to do..."
"Is say NO to people who are convinced I'll agree to their requests!"
"WH-WHAT?!"
Smoker nearly bit through his cigar!
He had expected Luo Qi to provide some reasonable explanation for rejecting the offer.
But instead...
What kind of ridiculous answer is that?!
Smoker wasn't the only person left speechless.
Standing beside Luo Qi, Nami was equally dumbfounded.
"W-Wait a minute, Captain Luo Qi!"
"That's five hundred and fifty million Berries!"
"With your strength and everyone's abilities, I'm sure we could capture Ace!"
Nami immediately grabbed Luo Qi's arm again.
She looked up at him with pleading eyes.
"Please, Captain!"
"Let's accept this job!"
"If we complete it, we'll have enough money to buy so many wonderful things!"
Seeing her expression, Luo Qi couldn't help smiling.
He raised his hand and gently flicked Nami's forehead.
"Ow!"
"Nami..."
"Five hundred and fifty million Berries isn't an amount of money you can earn so easily."
Luo Qi's expression became more serious.
"Although I have some confidence in my current strength, I'm not confident at all about confronting someone like Ace."
He turned toward Reiju.
"Reiju, why don't you explain to our dear Navigator just how dangerous Ace really is?"
"Of course, Captain."
Reiju stepped forward with a pleasant smile.
"Portgas D. Ace is the commander of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates."
"His captain, Whitebeard, is one of the Four Emperors who rule the New World."
"Ace himself has an extraordinary record of accomplishments."
"In an incredibly short period, he managed to establish an impressive reputation across the seas."
Reiju paused before continuing.
"However, the truly frightening part isn't simply Ace's personal strength."
"It's the power standing behind him."
"The captain of the Whitebeard Pirates is Edward Newgate, better known as Whitebeard."
"He is recognized as the Strongest Man in the World."
"And according to legend, he possesses the power to destroy the world itself!"
"Furthermore, the Whitebeard Pirates are an exceptionally close-knit crew."
Reiju glanced toward Nami.
"If we actually captured Ace, we'd essentially be declaring ourselves enemies of Whitebeard."
"That means we'd be provoking a man who controls an enormous territory in the New World and possesses enough destructive power to obliterate islands and entire countries."
"Oh, and one more thing."
Reiju smiled.
"I once heard that Crocodile challenged Whitebeard in the past."
"However, Whitebeard defeated him with almost no difficulty."
"Perhaps that defeat was one of the reasons Crocodile eventually became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
...
As Reiju continued explaining, Nami's beautiful eyes grew wider and wider.
The Strongest Man in the World?!
Someone who possesses the power to destroy the world?!
If we capture Ace, Whitebeard might personally come after the Explorer?!
And even Crocodile was easily defeated by that man?!
The more Nami thought about it, the more terrified she became.
All the confidence she'd possessed moments earlier disappeared without a trace!
Meanwhile, Luo Qi watched her reaction with amusement.
If she's already this frightened...
I wonder how she'd react if I told her Ace is actually the son of Pirate King Gol D. Roger.
He had no doubt that the revelation would terrify Nami even further.
...
[HOLY CRAP! Ace actually has such a terrifying background?!]
[I've heard about the Four Emperors of the New World before, but I never imagined Whitebeard was known as the Strongest Man in the World!]
[Just look at Hawkeye Mihawk! He's the World's Greatest Swordsman, and his strength was already terrifying! Whitebeard definitely can't be weak if he's called the Strongest Man in the World!]
[Thank goodness Brother Qi decided to be cautious! Recruiting Reiju as his Captain's Assistant was definitely one of his smartest decisions!]
[Exactly! Reiju not only possesses Silver-tier combat strength, but she's also extremely knowledgeable! She must have been the one who told Brother Qi about the Four Emperors!]
[That makes sense! Haven't you noticed how often Brother Qi and Reiju whisper to each other? She probably told him about all these things during those private conversations!]
[Maybe Reiju told Brother Qi plenty of other secrets about the Forbidden Zone too!]
[That means Brother Qi isn't just ahead of the other challengers in terms of strength. He also knows far more about the Forbidden Zone world than they do!]
...
However, there was something the viewers on Blue Star didn't know.
Although Luo Qi and Reiju frequently whispered to each other, most of their private conversations were actually about Reiju's childhood experiences.
Of course, Luo Qi had deliberately chosen to communicate with her that way.
After all, he already knew an enormous amount about the One Piece world.
By frequently engaging in private conversations with someone as knowledgeable as Reiju, he could create a reasonable explanation for his own extraordinary understanding of the world.
That way, whenever he revealed some obscure piece of information in the future, the viewers on Blue Star wouldn't immediately become suspicious.
They would simply assume Reiju had told him!
...
"Captain Luo Qi!"
Suddenly, Nami straightened her posture.
She stood with her legs together and looked at Luo Qi with an exceptionally serious expression.
"I've decided!"
"We absolutely shouldn't accept this job!"
"Oh?"
Luo Qi smiled.
"So you don't want those five hundred and fifty million Berries anymore?"
"Uh..."
Nami's expression stiffened.
Then, she gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Well..."
"Berries are important, but staying alive is even more important!"
"Hehehe!"
Luo Qi couldn't help laughing.
He gently patted Nami's shoulder before turning toward Smoker.
"Well, there you have it, Smoker."
"As you can see, capturing Ace is beyond the scope of our business."
"So I'm afraid I can't accept your invitation."
"..."
Smoker's expression darkened.
However, Luo Qi wasn't finished.
"Besides, Ace is extremely powerful."
He looked directly at Smoker.
"Smoker, I don't think you're strong enough to handle him."
"What?!"
"Instead of trying to capture Ace..."
Luo Qi's lips curved upward.
"Why don't you help me with something instead?"
Before Smoker could reject the suggestion, Luo Qi turned toward a certain blue-haired young woman.
"Vivi!"
"Come over here for a moment."
"Hm?"
Hearing her name, Vivi immediately approached him.
Luo Qi gently guided her forward until she was standing in front of Smoker.
"Allow me to introduce someone."
"This is Princess Nefertari Vivi of the Kingdom of Alabasta."
Smoker and Tashigi looked toward her.
"A princess?"
Luo Qi nodded.
"That's right."
"I've accepted a commission from Her Highness to help resolve some problems threatening the Kingdom of Alabasta."
He paused briefly.
"And I think this particular matter will interest you quite a bit, Captain Smoker."
Smoker narrowed his eyes.
"What exactly are you talking about?"
Luo Qi smiled.
"Vivi, why don't you explain the situation involving Crocodile to this Marine Captain?"
Vivi looked toward Luo Qi.
When she saw him give her an encouraging nod, she took a deep breath.
Then, she began explaining everything she knew.
She told Smoker about the ongoing civil unrest in Alabasta.
She described how the kingdom had been suffering from severe drought, growing public dissatisfaction, and an increasingly dangerous rebellion.
Finally, she revealed the truth about Baroque Works.
And the man secretly manipulating events from behind the scenes...
Sir Crocodile!
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
...
At first, Smoker had been rather irritated.
After all, Luo Qi had once again rejected his invitation to help capture a wanted pirate!
However, as Vivi continued explaining the situation, his expression gradually changed.
His brows drew together.
The cigar between his lips remained forgotten for several moments.
By the time Vivi finished speaking, Smoker's expression had become extremely serious.
"Wait a minute..."
He stared directly at the princess.
"Are you telling me that Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea..."
"Is secretly plotting to seize control of the Kingdom of Alabasta?!"
Smoker's eyes narrowed sharply.
"Is that really true?!"
Chapter 82: The Malicious Intentions of the Never-Setting Sun CountryNew2 days ago
"I believe Princess Vivi."
Under Vivi's delighted gaze, Luo Qi answered Smoker's question without hesitation.
"Besides, whether her claims are true or not, won't you find out once you investigate?"
"If you're willing to work with me, you'll naturally get to see Crocodile's true colors for yourself."
"And with a Marine officer like you there to witness everything, I won't have to go through the trouble of gathering evidence afterward."
"After all, Crocodile is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, officially recognized by both the Marines and the World Government."
Luo Qi shrugged.
"If I attack him without sufficient justification, I might end up being treated as a criminal myself."
"And if that happens, I suppose my career as a bounty hunter would be over."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Besides, almost all of Alabasta is suffering from drought."
"Yet Rainbase, the city where Crocodile operates, hasn't experienced the same conditions."
"Don't you think that's a little too convenient?"
"..."
Smoker's brows drew together.
He had already learned about Alabasta's situation through newspaper reports.
Naturally, he knew that the kingdom was experiencing severe unrest.
He had also heard that Crocodile had somehow become a celebrated hero among the people of Alabasta.
Although Smoker had found it somewhat strange that a pirate could become a kingdom's hero, he hadn't given the matter much thought.
However, after listening to Vivi explain Crocodile's alleged conspiracy, he began to realize that such a scheme wasn't entirely impossible.
After all, Crocodile had already established an enormous reputation within Alabasta.
Many citizens regarded him as a hero who protected them from pirates and criminals.
If the rebellion continued to escalate, Crocodile could eventually intervene and suppress it.
And if he successfully presented himself as the kingdom's savior...
He really might be able to seize the throne.
It wouldn't be the first time something like that had happened.
After all, Donquixote Doflamingo had once seized control of Dressrosa by overthrowing its former king under the pretense of stopping a tyrant!
The more Smoker considered the possibilities, the more serious his expression became.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Luo Qi."
"You need to understand something."
"If all you have are suspicions and speculation, the Marines and the World Government won't dispatch troops to intervene in Alabasta."
Hearing this, Vivi's expression fell slightly.
However, Luo Qi merely waved his hand.
"Relax."
"I never expected Marine Headquarters to send troops to deal with Crocodile."
"Even if they decided to intervene, there's no guarantee their reinforcements would arrive in time."
Luo Qi looked directly at Smoker.
"Like I said earlier, I only need you to serve as a witness."
"As for Crocodile..."
"I'll deal with him myself."
Hearing those words, Vivi immediately felt reassured.
Although she had been disappointed when Smoker explained that the Marines couldn't intervene without sufficient evidence, Luo Qi's confidence reminded her of something important.
That's right!
Captain Luo Qi and his companions have already promised to help me!
I'm not alone anymore!
Thinking about this, Vivi couldn't help giving Luo Qi a bright smile.
...
However, Tashigi had a completely different reaction.
She looked troubled.
Luo Qi wasn't even a Marine, yet he was actively helping Vivi resolve a crisis threatening her homeland.
Meanwhile, the Marines couldn't intervene because they lacked sufficient evidence!
And the suspected mastermind was none other than Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords officially recognized by the World Government!
If Vivi's accusations were true...
Then the Marines and the World Government were, to some extent, responsible for allowing the situation in Alabasta to develop!
How could Tashigi possibly accept that?
"Captain Smoker!"
She turned toward her superior with a determined expression.
"Now that we know about this, we can't simply stand by and do nothing!"
Smoker glanced toward her.
"Of course we won't."
He took another puff of his cigar.
"Alabasta is a member nation of the World Government."
"And I doubt the princess of an entire kingdom would casually invent accusations like these."
He thought for a moment.
Then, he turned toward Tashigi.
"Since Luo Qi needs someone to witness what happens..."
"Petty Officer Tashigi."
"I have an assignment for you."
"Huh?!"
Tashigi's eyes widened.
"Me?!"
"That's right."
Smoker nodded.
"I still have orders to search for the pirate Ace."
"So I can't accompany this guy to investigate Crocodile."
He turned toward Luo Qi.
"Luo Qi."
"I'm temporarily assigning Tashigi to your crew."
"However, there's one condition."
Smoker's expression became serious.
"You must promise to keep her safe."
"Can you do that?"
Luo Qi glanced toward Tashigi.
Then, he looked back at Smoker.
A smile spread across his face.
"Looks like I wasn't wrong about you after all, Smoker."
"Although you've got a pretty frightening face..."
"You're actually a good person!"
"..."
Smoker's mouth twitched.
Luo Qi chuckled.
"Don't worry."
"Since you trust me enough to leave Tashigi in my care, I'll make sure she's properly looked after."
"You can focus on your own mission without worrying about her."
"Hmph."
Smoker waved his hand dismissively.
Then, he jumped back aboard his Marine warship.
Before long, the warship resumed its journey.
Since Smoker's vessel was considerably faster than the Explorer, it quickly pulled ahead and disappeared into the distance.
...
"Well then!"
Luo Qi turned toward Tashigi with a friendly smile.
"Although you're only joining us temporarily, welcome aboard, Tashigi."
"And thanks in advance for helping us investigate Crocodile."
"Don't mention it, Captain Luo Qi!"
Tashigi enthusiastically patted her chest.
"I promise I won't become a burden to your crew!"
"That's good to hear."
Luo Qi nodded.
"Oh, by the way..."
Tashigi suddenly remembered something.
"Captain Luo Qi, there's actually something I've been wanting to ask you since earlier."
She turned toward a certain woman standing nearby.
"Is this lady another new member of the Explorer's crew?"
Naturally, she was referring to Miss Valentine, Mikita!
"Hm?"
Luo Qi glanced toward Mikita.
The corners of his mouth curved upward.
"Oh, her?"
"She's a temporary member of the crew, just like you."
"Once we reach Alabasta, we'll probably go our separate ways."
Hearing Luo Qi's explanation, Mikita secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She looked toward him with gratitude.
Although the members of Baroque Works didn't currently have official bounties on their heads, that was primarily because their identities had remained concealed.
Until now, the Marines had possessed very little information about their activities.
However, Luo Qi had already revealed the secrets of Crocodile and Baroque Works to Smoker!
If he now exposed Mikita's identity as a former Baroque Works agent, she might immediately become a wanted criminal.
And even if Luo Qi eventually honored his promise to release her, she could still end up being pursued by the Marines!
Fortunately...
Luo Qi hadn't revealed her identity.
Thank goodness!
Mikita looked toward him gratefully.
Meanwhile, Tashigi simply nodded.
"I see!"
She gave Mikita a polite smile.
Then, she approached Vivi and Igaram.
"Princess Vivi, Mr. Igaram..."
"Could you tell me more about Crocodile?"
"Especially the things you've discovered about his involvement in Alabasta's civil unrest."
As a Marine, Tashigi wanted to understand the situation as thoroughly as possible.
After all, if Crocodile really was responsible for the suffering of Alabasta's citizens, she was determined to help expose his crimes!
...
At the same time.
Back in the real world.
The Never-Setting Sun Country.
Inside the nation's leader's office.
"..."
"Alright, I understand."
The country's leader was speaking to someone over the phone.
"I'll arrange for our challenger to carry out the operation."
He paused briefly, listening to the person on the other end.
Then, he smiled.
"Don't worry."
"Your country and ours are allies."
"And we certainly don't want to see Dragon Kingdom continue developing at its current pace."
His expression gradually turned sinister.
"Since Dragon Kingdom's challenger intends to travel to Alabasta and kill Crocodile..."
"Then we'll use Crocodile..."
"To kill Luo Qi!"
Chapter 83: Luo Qi's Information Exposed — Crocodile's Fury!New2 days ago
"Sir, are we really going to follow Lighthouse Country's instructions and set a trap for Luo Qi, Dragon Kingdom's challenger?"
Inside the leader's office of the Never-Setting Sun Country, an assistant asked worriedly after watching his superior end a phone call with the leader of Lighthouse Country.
"I know what you're worried about."
The leader glanced at his assistant before placing a stack of documents on the desk.
"You should already be familiar with these reports."
"Ever since we joined Lighthouse Country in imposing restrictions on Dragon Kingdom, they've retaliated with increasingly severe countermeasures."
"Dragon Kingdom is one of the world's largest manufacturing powers. As a result, their retaliation has affected nearly every aspect of our economy."
The leader's expression darkened.
"Originally, we only intended to apply a little pressure and force Dragon Kingdom to compromise."
"But because of Luo Qi's outstanding performance in the Forbidden Zone, Dragon Kingdom has shown absolutely no intention of backing down!"
"If this continues, it won't benefit us in the slightest."
He tapped the documents on the desk.
"That's why we must force Dragon Kingdom to replace its challenger."
"Once Luo Qi is eliminated, everyone will return to the same starting line."
Hearing his explanation, the assistant frowned.
However, he still looked somewhat concerned.
"But sir..."
"Although our challenger happens to be in Alabasta, approaching someone as important as Crocodile won't be easy."
"And even if he manages to contact Crocodile, he could end up losing his life!"
The assistant hesitated before continuing.
"Furthermore, if Dragon Kingdom discovers what we've done and retaliates with even harsher measures..."
"Enough."
The leader waved his hand.
"I've already considered those possibilities."
"Although this operation involves certain risks, the potential benefits make it worthwhile."
He paused briefly.
"Besides..."
"This time, Lighthouse Country has offered us sufficient compensation."
After saying that, the leader stood up and walked toward the door.
"I'll personally contact our challenger and issue the instructions."
...
Several minutes later.
In the One Piece world.
Alabasta.
"This really is..."
"Quite a dangerous assignment."
A young man named David shook his head and sighed deeply.
David was the challenger representing the Never-Setting Sun Country.
He had only recently arrived in Alabasta and hadn't even had the opportunity to properly experience the atmosphere of the desert kingdom.
However, moments earlier, he had received a voice message from his country's leadership.
The recording lasted barely a minute.
Yet its contents had left him completely dumbfounded!
They actually want me to get involved in something like this?!
David rubbed his forehead helplessly.
Looks like I'll just have to grit my teeth and do it.
After all, I'm the challenger representing the Never-Setting Sun Country.
With another heavy sigh, he began considering how to carry out his new assignment.
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the One Piece world.
Purupurupuru!
Purupurupuru!
A Den Den Mushi suddenly began ringing.
"Hm?"
"Is something wrong, Mr. 0?"
Nico Robin answered the call.
At that moment, she was traveling toward Alabasta aboard her personal transport.
"I haven't been able to contact Mr. 3."
A gloomy voice sounded from the other end.
"Nor can I reach the Billions who were assigned to accompany him."
"I want to know whether their mission has failed."
Naturally, the speaker was Crocodile.
He was currently in Alabasta.
"I was just about to report that to you, Mr. 0."
Robin answered calmly.
"While traveling along the route toward Alabasta, I discovered the wreckage of Mr. 3's ships."
"I'm afraid they've already encountered the people escorting Princess Vivi."
"And judging by the condition of the wreckage..."
"Mr. 3 and his subordinates were probably all killed."
"..."
A brief silence followed.
"So even Mr. 3 failed?"
Crocodile slowly tapped his fingers against the desk.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
His movements were calm and rhythmic.
However, Robin knew him well enough to understand what they meant.
Crocodile was furious!
His anger was steadily building beneath that seemingly composed exterior.
"Is there anything you'd like me to do, Mr. 0?"
Robin asked with a faint smile.
"No."
Crocodile's voice remained cold.
"Everything will proceed according to plan."
"Your only responsibility is to return to Alabasta as quickly as possible."
He paused briefly.
"As for the people protecting Princess Vivi..."
"If they really dare set foot in this country..."
"I'll kill them myself!"
Click.
Crocodile abruptly ended the call.
He raised his head and looked toward the distant streets.
A group of pirates was causing a commotion nearby.
"What a noisy bunch of fools."
Crocodile frowned.
His body suddenly transformed into swirling yellow sand!
Whoosh!
The next instant, he appeared among the pirates who were preparing to attack the townspeople.
Although the intruders were wanted criminals, none of them possessed a bounty exceeding thirty million Berries.
Compared to Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, they were completely insignificant.
The battle ended almost immediately.
In a matter of moments, Crocodile eliminated every pirate!
...
"IT'S LORD CROCODILE!"
"Lord Crocodile saved us again!"
"HOORAY!"
"LONG LIVE LORD CROCODILE!"
"We're so fortunate to have Lord Crocodile protecting our country!"
The surrounding citizens erupted into enthusiastic cheers!
They welcomed Crocodile as though he were a legendary hero.
And in Alabasta, that was precisely what he had become.
At least, in the eyes of the ordinary people.
Despite secretly orchestrating the kingdom's suffering, Crocodile had successfully established himself as a heroic figure who protected innocent citizens from pirates.
He glanced toward the cheering crowd.
Then, he turned around and prepared to leave.
However—
"Lord Crocodile!"
A childish voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Hm?"
Crocodile frowned.
He turned around and saw a little girl, no more than six or seven years old, running toward him.
His expression remained intimidating.
"What do you want, brat?"
Because of his reputation as a hero, people frequently approached Crocodile to express their gratitude or ask him for help.
Naturally, such encounters irritated him.
However, maintaining his carefully constructed heroic image was important.
Therefore, he usually restrained himself from harming the people who approached him.
At least, he wouldn't do so in public.
"Lord Crocodile!"
The little girl looked up at him with a cheerful smile.
"An uncle asked me to give you this!"
She held out a small folded piece of paper.
"He said it was something very important!"
Crocodile narrowed his eyes.
After considering the situation for a moment, he accepted the note.
Then, he unfolded it.
His gaze swept across the writing.
And almost immediately—
"What?!"
His expression changed!
He looked sharply toward the little girl.
"Where did you get this?!"
"Who gave it to you?!"
His sudden angry tone didn't seem to frighten her.
Instead, the girl innocently pointed toward a nearby street.
"An uncle over there!"
Without hesitation, Crocodile grabbed the little girl and hurried in the direction she indicated.
He wanted to find whoever had delivered that message!
However...
"Huh?"
The girl looked around in confusion.
"That's strange..."
"The uncle isn't here anymore."
Crocodile's expression darkened.
"Brat!"
"Do you remember what he looked like?"
"Um..."
The little girl shook her head.
"Nope!"
"The uncle was wearing a mask!"
"And he had a cloak covering his body!"
"I couldn't see his face at all!"
"..."
Crocodile frowned even more deeply.
So he deliberately concealed his appearance.
He doesn't want me to find him.
A cold smile slowly appeared on his face.
Hehehe...
Things are becoming rather interesting.
Crocodile unfolded the note again.
This time, he carefully reread its contents.
...
Hello, Mr. Crocodile.
I'm sure you've recently been wondering who is protecting Princess Vivi and interfering with your plans.
I can provide information about those people.
In exchange, I only ask that you refrain from investigating our identities.
The leader of the group escorting Princess Vivi is a man named Luo Qi.
You should not underestimate him.
He previously escaped from Donquixote Doflamingo, who, like you, is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
He has also crossed swords with Dracule Mihawk, better known as Hawkeye, and earned the World's Greatest Swordsman's recognition for his swordsmanship.
The people accompanying Luo Qi are as follows:
Vinsmoke Reiju.
Trafalgar Law.
Baby 5.
Bepo.
Nami.
Nojiko.
Among these individuals, you should pay particular attention to Reiju, Law, and Baby 5.
Their abilities are...
Chapter 84: Luo Qi — Is Nico Robin Spying on Me?New2 days ago
Meanwhile, back in the real world.
Dragon Kingdom's livestream.
[Guys, I've got a really bad feeling about this. I just checked the Never-Setting Sun Country's livestream. Their challenger has already reached Alabasta! And then he handed a note covered in writing to a little girl from the Forbidden Zone and told her to deliver it to Crocodile!]
[WHAT?! Why would he do something like that?! Wait a minute... The Never-Setting Sun Country doesn't exactly have friendly relations with us. Don't tell me he's trying to sabotage Brother Qi!]
[That's exactly what I'm worried about! Crocodile doesn't know Brother Qi's identity or abilities. He also doesn't know about Brother Qi's plan to use Mikita to weaken Baroque Works before confronting him. But challengers from other countries have access to that information through messages from their governments!]
[Holy crap! Don't tell me that note contains information about Brother Qi's abilities and companions!]
[I don't know! That guy deliberately kept the note hidden from his livestream, so nobody could see what he'd written. But I strongly recommend that Dragon Kingdom's government warn Brother Qi as soon as possible!]
[Exactly! If Brother Qi heads into Alabasta without knowing what's happened, he could be walking straight into a trap!]
...
At the same time.
Dragon Kingdom.
Inside the leadership office.
The elderly man seated at the head of the table wore an extremely grim expression.
His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Several minutes later, the office door opened.
An assistant hurried inside.
"Leaders!"
"We haven't received a proper response from the Never-Setting Sun Country!"
"They claim they have no idea what their challenger was doing!"
BANG!
The elderly man slammed his fist against the desk!
"Those bastards!"
"How could they possibly not know?!"
"Coming up with an excuse like that makes it obvious they're trying to use their challenger to deal with Luo Qi!"
His expression was filled with anger.
"And the worst part is..."
"We've already used our communication opportunity!"
"If we still had the ability to contact Luo Qi, we could warn him immediately!"
The elderly man's voice gradually became heavy.
"We..."
"We've let Luo Qi down."
The other officials looked equally distressed.
They had already learned about the suspicious activities of the Never-Setting Sun Country's challenger.
However, despite knowing that Luo Qi might be walking into danger, they had no immediate way to warn him!
After a long silence, one of the officials spoke.
"If anything happens to Luo Qi because of this, we absolutely cannot let those people get away with it!"
"Agreed!"
Another elderly man nodded firmly.
"We should begin preparing countermeasures immediately!"
"We need to restrict those bastards as much as possible while providing Luo Qi with the strongest possible support!"
"Perhaps..."
A third official suddenly offered a suggestion.
"We could arrange for our Devil Fruit users to publicly demonstrate their combat abilities."
"That might serve as a warning to the other countries."
"At the very least, it would show them that Dragon Kingdom isn't defenseless!"
The office fell into a heated discussion.
One after another, the elderly officials offered suggestions.
Every one of them was trying to find a way to help Luo Qi.
Meanwhile, the assistant gripped his pen tightly and carefully recorded their proposals.
...
Meanwhile, in the One Piece world.
Alabasta.
Rainbase.
Inside Crocodile's office.
"My goodness!"
"To think the boss would personally summon us!"
Mr. 2 Bon Clay waved his arms excitedly.
"I'm so thrilled!"
He looked as though he might burst into a dance at any moment!
Then, he glanced toward the woman standing nearby.
"Although I must say..."
"I never expected Mr. 1's partner to be you, Miss Doublefinger!"
Miss Doublefinger gave Bon Clay a brief glance.
Then, she turned her attention toward the empty chair at the front of the office.
"Until now, Miss All Sunday has always been the one contacting us."
"This is the first time we're going to meet our boss in person."
Her expression was thoughtful.
"I wonder what kind of person he is."
"Something important must have happened."
Mr. 1, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
His voice was low and calm.
Standing nearby were two more agents.
Mr. 4.
And Miss Merry Christmas.
Together with Mr. 1, Miss Doublefinger, and Bon Clay, they represented some of the strongest senior agents of Baroque Works!
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from outside.
A moment later, a man entered the office.
The instant Bon Clay saw him—
"WHAT?!"
His eyes widened dramatically.
"C-CROCODILE?!"
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
Mr. 1 stared at the newcomer.
Then, he spoke calmly.
"I see."
"So Alabasta's celebrated hero is actually the mastermind plotting to overthrow the kingdom."
Crocodile glanced at the assembled agents.
"Looks like everyone's here."
Without wasting time, he approached his desk.
Then, he placed a stack of documents on its surface.
"I've summoned you here for two reasons."
Crocodile's expression remained cold.
"First..."
"We need to accelerate the rebel army's advance toward Alabasta's capital."
"At the same time, I want a bomb prepared in the capital's central square."
"A bomb powerful enough to blow one hundred thousand people into the air!"
The agents listened carefully.
"Miss Doublefinger."
"Mr. 2."
Crocodile looked directly at the pair.
"I'm assigning that task to you."
"With your abilities, you should be more than capable of carrying it out."
Although Bon Clay and Miss Doublefinger were still surprised to learn Crocodile's true identity, they immediately acknowledged his orders.
"Understood!"
"We'll handle it!"
Crocodile nodded.
"Good."
"Now, the second task."
His expression became even colder.
"There's a group of troublesome individuals heading toward Alabasta."
"I want them eliminated."
He pushed the documents across the desk.
Then, he looked toward Mr. 1, Mr. 4, and Miss Merry Christmas.
"These people are currently escorting Princess Vivi back to the kingdom."
"Everything you need to know about them is in those documents."
"You three will take a group of Baroque Works' strongest agents and prepare to intercept them alongside me."
Crocodile's eyes narrowed.
"Under no circumstances are they to reach the capital!"
Hearing this, the senior agents looked surprised.
"Mr. 0."
Mr. 1 spoke.
"If you require all three of us to assist you, does that mean these enemies are particularly powerful?"
Crocodile nodded slowly.
"Their leader is a man named Luo Qi."
"His strength should be considerable."
"He previously escaped from Donquixote Doflamingo."
"And he even crossed swords with Hawkeye Mihawk."
Crocodile's expression darkened.
"I'm confident I can deal with Luo Qi myself."
"However, I need you three to handle his companions."
His voice became filled with murderous intent.
"I don't intend to let a single one of them escape!"
Meanwhile, Bon Clay had already picked up the documents.
He began casually examining the portraits and information contained within.
However, one familiar face suddenly caught his attention.
"Huh?!"
He blinked.
"Isn't this Miss Valentine?!"
Bon Clay raised the document.
"Why is she traveling with this Luo Qi fellow?!"
Hearing the question, Crocodile glanced toward him.
"She's already betrayed Baroque Works."
"If you encounter her..."
"Kill her."
"..."
The atmosphere in the room became even more serious.
Crocodile placed both hands on the desk.
"Now then..."
"Let's discuss the details of our plan."
...
Three days later.
The Explorer slowly approached the coastline of Alabasta.
After a long voyage, Luo Qi and his companions had finally arrived in the desert kingdom!
"Finally!"
Vivi's face lit up with joy.
She jumped down from the ship and took a deep breath of her homeland's air.
"I'm home!"
For a moment, she simply stood there, enjoying the familiar atmosphere.
Then, she turned toward Luo Qi and the others.
"Captain Luo Qi!"
"Everyone!"
"First, let me take you shopping for some clothes suitable for traveling through the desert!"
She glanced at their current outfits.
"The clothes you're wearing right now really aren't appropriate for Alabasta's climate."
Luo Qi and his companions nodded.
They naturally understood that traveling through a desert required proper preparation.
And so, everyone followed Vivi into town.
...
As it turned out, girls really did enjoy shopping for beautiful clothes.
That was true on Blue Star.
And apparently, it was equally true in the One Piece world!
By the time Luo Qi, Law, Bepo, and the others had finished changing into their new outfits, Nami and the other women were still browsing through the available clothes.
With nothing else to do, Luo Qi waited outside the shop alongside Law and Bepo.
However...
"Hm?"
Luo Qi suddenly opened his eyes.
He turned toward the wall beside him.
At some unknown point, something strange had appeared on its surface.
An eye!
And an ear!
Both looked remarkably human!
But the moment Luo Qi noticed them—
Poof!
The eye and ear dissolved into a scattering of flower petals!
They vanished completely!
"..."
Luo Qi narrowed his eyes.
That ability...
Isn't that Nico Robin's Flower-Flower Fruit?
Was she spying on me?
Without hesitation, Luo Qi spread out his Observation Haki!
His senses rapidly extended across the surrounding area.
And almost immediately...
He detected someone hiding inside a deserted alley!
A faint smile appeared on Luo Qi's face.
"Law."
"Bepo."
"You two wait here for a moment."
"I'm going to step away for a little while."
Before either of them could respond, Luo Qi had already begun walking toward the nearby alley.
"Captain Luo Qi?"
Bepo tilted his head.
He turned toward Law.
"What do you think the captain's going to do?"
"Do you think there's something interesting over there?"
"Don't know."
Law crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
"And I don't particularly care."
"..."
Bepo looked at him.
Then, he tilted his head again.
After a moment's consideration, he copied Law's posture and leaned against the wall beside him.
The two quietly waited for their captain to return.
Chapter 85: Iron Body! That's How Confident I Am!New2 days ago
Meanwhile, inside a deserted alley.
I've been discovered?!
Nico Robin frowned.
Without hesitation, she turned around and hurried deeper into the alley.
Not long after the Explorer arrived in Alabasta, Robin had also reached the desert kingdom.
Originally, she had intended to head straight for Alabasta's capital.
However, she hadn't expected to encounter Luo Qi and his companions outside a clothing store!
By now, Crocodile's revised plan had already been set in motion.
Mr. 2 Bon Clay and Miss Doublefinger had begun carrying out their assignments, while Crocodile, Mr. 1, and the other senior agents were preparing to intercept Luo Qi's group.
Robin even knew that someone had secretly provided Crocodile with detailed information about Luo Qi and his companions.
Naturally, she was quite curious about the man whose actions had forced Crocodile to accelerate his plans.
That was why she had decided to observe Luo Qi using her Devil Fruit abilities.
However...
She hadn't expected him to be so perceptive!
She had barely summoned an ear and an eye on the wall beside him when he immediately noticed something was wrong!
At present, Robin still didn't know that a power called Observation Haki existed in this world.
"Hey, Miss Nico Robin."
Suddenly, a familiar male voice sounded behind her.
"There's no need to leave in such a hurry."
"...!"
Robin's expression changed.
Before she could react, Luo Qi appeared directly behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder!
Robin immediately frowned.
She raised both arms and crossed them in front of her chest, preparing to activate her Devil Fruit ability.
"Come on."
Luo Qi smiled.
"I'd advise you not to bother using your Devil Fruit powers."
"They won't work on me."
However, just as he finished speaking—
Sprout!
Two arms suddenly emerged from Luo Qi's shoulders!
They immediately wrapped themselves around his head!
With a sudden application of force, the hands attempted to twist his neck!
Iron Body!
Luo Qi silently activated one of the Six Powers.
His muscles instantly hardened!
Although Iron Body wasn't particularly effective against truly powerful opponents, it was more than sufficient to withstand Robin's current attacks!
The two arms exerted tremendous force.
However...
Luo Qi's neck didn't budge!
"..."
Robin's eyes narrowed.
She immediately tried to pull away.
Unfortunately, the hand Luo Qi had placed on her shoulder remained firmly in position!
No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free.
"I told you."
Luo Qi calmly raised his other hand and grabbed one of the arms wrapped around his neck.
"Your abilities won't work on me."
He smiled faintly.
"I'd suggest withdrawing these two arms."
"Otherwise, if I break them..."
"The pain should be transferred back to your real body, shouldn't it?"
Hearing those words, Robin fell silent.
She recalled the information she'd received about Luo Qi.
The man before her wasn't someone she could easily overpower.
After considering her situation, she finally dismissed her Devil Fruit ability.
The arms growing from Luo Qi's shoulders disappeared.
Then, Robin raised both hands and slowly turned to face him.
"Hello, sir."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
Despite her predicament, she didn't seem particularly frightened.
"As far as I know, there shouldn't be any personal grudges between us."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Are you planning to capture me and exchange me for my bounty?"
"My bounty?"
Luo Qi raised an eyebrow.
"Of course not."
"I'm simply curious about why you've been spying on us."
"Oh?"
Robin looked at him with interest.
"A bounty hunter like you doesn't want to capture me?"
"That's rather surprising."
"Especially considering how interested you seem to be in collecting Crocodile's bounty."
"Crocodile is one thing."
Luo Qi smiled.
"And you're another."
"I don't capture every wanted criminal I encounter."
"At the very least, I have no interest in capturing someone who was obviously framed."
Robin's expression changed ever so slightly.
Luo Qi continued.
"After all, I find it rather difficult to believe that a little girl could destroy several Marine warships and then escape."
"That seventy-nine-million-Berry bounty on your head..."
"I'm sure there's more to the story than the World Government claims."
"..."
Robin looked directly into his eyes.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then, her lips curved into a faint smile.
"How interesting."
However, Luo Qi had no intention of letting the conversation drift away from his original question.
"Like I said, I only want to know why you were monitoring me."
He paused briefly.
"If your answer doesn't satisfy me..."
"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to accompany us for a while."
After all, Luo Qi was currently planning to deal with Baroque Works without attracting too much attention.
If he could obtain useful intelligence from Nico Robin, his upcoming operations would become considerably easier.
However, he also understood Robin's personality.
Unlike Mikita, Robin wasn't someone he could easily intimidate into cooperating.
He would need a different approach.
"Hehehe."
Robin chuckled softly.
"It's nothing particularly complicated."
She crossed her arms and examined Luo Qi with considerable interest.
"I simply wanted to see what kind of man could force Crocodile to change his plans."
"Oh?"
Luo Qi narrowed his eyes.
Robin continued.
"Because of you, Crocodile has accelerated his preparations."
"He even ordered the rebel army to begin moving ahead of schedule."
"By now, the rebel forces have probably already reached somewhere near the capital."
"..."
Luo Qi frowned.
Crocodile changed his plans because of me?
He even accelerated the rebel army's advance?
He found that rather strange.
After all, although he'd encountered several members of Baroque Works during his journey, he'd eliminated almost all of them.
Apart from Mikita and Miss Goldenweek, he hadn't left any survivors!
Under normal circumstances, nobody should have been able to provide Crocodile with detailed information about his group.
And if Crocodile had accelerated his plans simply because Mr. 5 and Mr. 3 had been killed...
Wouldn't that mean he's taking me far too seriously?
The more Luo Qi considered the situation, the more suspicious he became.
"Miss Nico Robin."
He looked toward her.
"Could you explain that in a little more detail?"
Since this matter could directly affect his plans, Luo Qi naturally wanted to learn as much as possible.
However, he also knew that Robin wouldn't simply reveal everything because he asked politely.
After a moment's thought, a different idea occurred to him.
Luo Qi stepped closer.
Then, he leaned toward Robin's ear and whispered something.
"I know you're searching for the Poneglyphs."
"And I happen to know the location of one."
"...!"
Robin froze.
Her eyes widened slightly!
She immediately turned her head toward Luo Qi and opened her mouth to speak.
However, before she could say anything, Luo Qi quickly raised a finger to her lips.
"Shh."
He gently shook his head.
"Keep your voice down."
"Even walls have ears."
"I don't want anyone else learning about this."
He continued speaking in a whisper.
Naturally, the people Luo Qi was worried about weren't ordinary residents of Alabasta.
He was thinking about the viewers watching his livestream from the real world!
After all, Poneglyphs were something the people of Blue Star had never encountered.
If Luo Qi suddenly began discussing their locations openly, the viewers might start wondering how he possessed such mysterious information.
That could lead to all sorts of unnecessary suspicions.
Therefore, he preferred to keep the conversation private.
"..."
Robin looked at him thoughtfully.
She suddenly recalled how Luo Qi had discovered the eyes and ears she had summoned earlier.
Although she found his behavior somewhat strange, her desire to uncover information about the Poneglyphs was far stronger than her curiosity about his caution.
After a brief hesitation, she slowly nodded.
Then, she leaned closer to Luo Qi's ear.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Where is the Poneglyph you know about?"
"And..."
"How did you learn of its existence?"