"That's basically the situation."
Having finished explaining the entire plan, a somewhat parched Sherlock took a sip of water and gently pushed up his glasses.
The room was dead silent. Everyone looked at the Warlock with bizarre expressions, as if they were looking at a Sea King in human form.
(Is this really a human brain?)
Just now, Sherlock hadn't so much outlined a plan as he had recited a script for a play—a play directed by Sherlock.
The Marines, the Royal Army, the Rebel Army, Baroque Works, the Revolutionary Army, the World Government, Devil Fruit abilities, time, weather, environment, human psychology... Sherlock had utilized practically everything that could be utilized.
"You... you've really been planning how to deal with Crocodile since Little Garden? Damn, you're way too calculating. No wonder your Goldglint Trading Company was able to dominate the East Blue back then."
Sanji lit a cigarette with a strange look on his face, taking a deep drag to calm his nerves before continuing, "Also, will things really develop the way you planned? After all, a lot of this is just your speculation."
"I can't guarantee one hundred percent, but there is at least an eighty percent success rate." Sherlock nodded slightly, then pointed to the thick stack of intelligence on the table.
"By using association and deduction on known information, combining it with reality for inductive analogy, peeling back the layers, and tracing the vine to the melon... deducing it step by step like this, the final result derived is already extremely close to the truth."
"Moreover, even if the facts diverge slightly from my plan, the result will still be good. Because the situation in this country can't get any worse, can it?"
Nami and the others exchanged glances upon hearing this and nodded involuntarily.
Indeed, if things went exactly as Sherlock said, they could not only minimize casualties in this war but also drag the Sand Crocodile into a checkmate scenario.
"But, Sherlock." Usopp wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. He had been terrified by the Warlock's incredibly bold plan just now. "If the plan is actually implemented successfully, then we don't need to go to Alubarna at all. The Marines will help us solve this big trouble anyway."
Nami hurriedly nodded. "Right, and we're pirates too, targets of the Marines!"
"That is why there is only an eighty percent success rate," Sherlock explained to the two. "Although I've considered almost every aspect, due to limitations in intelligence and time, there are still many issues that need to be guarded against."
"For instance, Crocodile's true goal in seizing this country's political power. Money? Power? Why would a Warlord care about such mundane things? Also, why is that mysterious woman cooperating with him? That concerns me greatly." At this point, Sherlock's eyes narrowed slightly, and the image of a mature, sexy, and beautiful figure flashed through his mind.
"And, the most important point..." The corners of Sherlock's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a helpless smile. "Didn't that idiot say it? He definitely wants to send Crocodile flying with his own hands. Naturally, I have to give him that chance..."
"Uh..." Hearing the final reason, everyone revealed an expression of understanding.
True, once Luffy, that single-minded idiot, decided on something, they absolutely could not change it.
Who asked him to be the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates?
"Speaking of which..." Zoro looked at the empty seat beside him, grinned, and asked the group with black lines on his face, "Did any of you see where Luffy went?"
(000)!!!
Sherlock and the others turned pale with fright. They had been so focused on discussing the battle plan that they hadn't noticed when that goofball captain had sneaked away.
—Transmission Mirror.
Sherlock waved his hand gently, and with a thought, the map on the table rippled, transforming into a view of the outside.
The sandstorm had stopped, and their goofball captain was currently digging vigorously in a sand pit alongside Uncle Toto. Looking at his excited appearance, it seemed that digging holes here was much more interesting than listening to Sherlock talk "nonsense."
"That idiot..." Seeing this scene, everyone present wore an expression between laughing and crying.
Getting Luffy, that idiot, to sit still and listen to someone's long-winded speech was truly too difficult.
It was already dark.
The temperature difference between day and night in the desert was extreme. Compared to the scorching heat of the day, the bone-chilling cold of the night was even less suitable for traveling. Thus, the Straw Hats planned to spend the night in Yuba and split up for operations early the next morning.
Sherlock sat alone on the roof of a long-abandoned house, looking up at the sky, his pitch-black eyes flickering, thinking about who knows what.
Patta patta, soft footsteps approached from the distance.
"So you were here, Mr. Glasses." Vivi looked at the Warlock gazing at the stars, walked over to his side on her own accord, and sat down.
A fragrant breeze brushed past. Sherlock glanced at the blue-haired girl sitting beside him and said softly, "You shouldn't come out wearing such thin clothes. It won't be good if you catch a cold."
Seeming to feel the concern in Sherlock's words, Vivi revealed a warm smile. She didn't speak, but simply leaned her body closer to Sherlock.
"..." Sherlock sighed, then moved his mind.
—Mirror Reflection.
Ripples appeared around the blue-haired girl, reflecting all the outside chill back.
"Hehe, thanks~" Vivi hugged her knees, curling her entire body together. Then she tilted her small head to look at the man beside her. "What are you doing, Mr. Glasses?"
"I'm looking at the stars," Sherlock answered with his head slightly raised. "The stars in the desert night are very enchanting, aren't they?"
Blinking her bright, large eyes, Vivi also raised her head to look at the night sky she had seen countless times before.
The desert night sky was like a navy-blue curtain embellished with twinkling stars, making one involuntarily sink deep into it, unable to extricate themselves.
"Yes, it's really beautiful." Vivi's eyes shimmered with color. For some reason, the girl suddenly felt that tonight's night sky was exceptionally charming.
The man and woman sat on the roof without speaking a word, quietly admiring the stars in the sky. A cold night wind blew past, but protected by the Mirror Reflection, the two were completely unaware of it. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet—so quiet that they could even faintly hear each other's heartbeats.
"Thank you so much for what happened during the day." Vivi suddenly lowered her head shyly. "Also, I shouldn't have hit you. I'm sorry."
"I should be the one apologizing. I took it too far." Sherlock subconsciously touched his chest. He had to admit, even though Vivi looked thin and weak, her hand strength was actually quite significant.
Mentioning this, Vivi couldn't help but recall the Warlock's last sentence from that time, so she asked with a strange expression, "Um... well, Mr. Glasses, do you really think I'm a... a [Silly Girl]?"
"..."
Sherlock was silent for a moment. He pushed up his glasses awkwardly, turned his head away, and whispered, "The moon is really round today..."
"Wu..." The Warlock's tacit admission immediately made Vivi puff her cheeks into a cute bun-face out of anger, but then, she giggled.
The girl's laughter was very pleasant, like the sound of wind chimes in the breeze.
"I suppose in your eyes, no matter how smart a woman is, she would just count as a [Silly Girl]," Vivi said with a look of relief, thinking of Sherlock's astonishing plan earlier.
Sherlock didn't reply; he just silently looked up at the stars, his expression becoming increasingly focused.
Watching Sherlock's focused expression, a complex look flashed across Princess Vivi's face.
She didn't know why, but Vivi could always find a long-lost sense of security by Sherlock's side. That feeling of being extremely at ease fascinated the blue-haired girl, who had worried her heart out for her country all these years.
Powerful strength, handsome and dashing, excellent temperament, elegant manners, superior intellect, and so on—Sherlock, who combined all these virtues, was naturally a man very appealing to girls.
And how had his shadow entered Vivi's heart?
(Maybe the reason I fell for him is because of this inexplicable sense of security...)
Princess Vivi suddenly recognized this problem that had troubled her for a long time, and her clear and beautiful face was immediately filled with water-like tenderness.
Not knowing where she got the courage, the blue-haired girl suddenly held Sherlock's hand and gently leaned her small head on the Warlock's shoulder.
Fingers interlocked, like two gradually settling hearts leaning against each other, warm and soft. In this desolate desert, under this sky full of stars, it seemed exceptionally tender, exceptionally romantic.
Feeling the warmth transmitted from her palm, Vivi's fair face turned bright red, stemming from both shyness at her bold action and secret delight that Sherlock hadn't refused.
Sherlock, who was watching the stars, suddenly stiffened, then returned to a natural state. He silently felt the slender, soft hand covered in fine sweat within his own. He didn't make a sound, but the eyes behind his lenses flickered with a strange brilliance.
This scene seemed déjà vu...
One night many years ago, a picture-perfect pair of children sat on their own roof. The two little things were also holding hands like this, looking up at the sky full of stars.
"There are so many stars in the sky!" the silver-haired little girl exclaimed cutely. "How many stars do you think are in the sky, Sherlock?"
The black-haired little boy answered without thinking, "One hundred fifty billion, four hundred twenty-five million, nine hundred nineteen thousand, five hundred and three..."
The innocent silver-haired little girl looked at her calm younger brother in utter astonishment. "Hey, hey, hey, no way. How could you know that clearly?"
"If you don't believe me," the little boy said faintly, "why don't you go count them yourself?"
"Uh..." Hearing this, the silver-haired little girl almost fell off the roof. She finally understood that she had been teased by this unscrupulous brother again.
"Lisanna..."
Sherlock murmured after coming back to his senses, his expression somewhat gloomy.
"Zzz..." The girl beside him made a strange sound.
Raising his eyebrows, Sherlock turned to look and found that at some point, Vivi had actually fallen asleep leaning against him. She was sleeping very sweetly, even emitting very faint, cute snoring sounds. Under the illumination of the bright moonlight, the blue-haired girl's sleeping face appeared even more pure and otherworldly.
And even though she was asleep, Vivi's small, slender hand still held his so tightly, as if silently expressing her attachment to Sherlock.
"What a [Silly Girl]..." Sherlock pushed up his glasses with some amusement, a soft light flashing in his eyes.
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