"LUFFY!!!"
After a long while, once all the dust had finally settled, the Straw Hat crew immediately rushed toward the center of the battlefield.
Under the curious gazes of Dorry and Brogy, they first laid the completely exhausted and unconscious Luffy flat on the ground.
Red flicked his wrist and swiftly produced a Super Potion, handing it to his companions to give to Luffy.
Immediately afterward, a vivid emerald glow spread beneath Red's feet as he set up Grassy Terrain beneath Luffy's body.
Since the last time he had left Luffy at the Pokémon Day Care and hadn't paid him any attention afterward, taking him all the way to a Pokémon Center now would be rather troublesome.
Besides, Luffy possessed the Regenerator ability—once he left combat, his stamina would recover rapidly on its own.
Combined with the effects of the Super Potion and Grassy Terrain, his recovery speed might even surpass that of a visit to the Pokémon Center.
Things turned out exactly as Red expected.
With multiple recovery effects working together, in just over ten minutes, Luffy was already brimming with energy as he stood before the two giants once again.
"Wow~! You guys are amazing! Just like the legendary Giant Race!"
Revived and full of excitement, Luffy bounced around Dorry and Brogy, completely unable to stay still.
The two giants—both nearly two hundred years old—were left utterly dumbfounded by his boundless vitality.
...
...
Alabasta Kingdom, Rainbase.
This was the most famous gambler's paradise in the first half of the Grand Line.
At a time when drought was ravaging the entire country, Rainbase alone remained lush and full of life. A cool fountain even stood at the center of the city, soothing the overheated emotions of countless gamblers.
Meanwhile—
Deep beneath the largest casino in Rainbase, Rain Dinners, inside a hidden underground office.
Crocodile sat within the shadows, his brow furrowed as he stared at the woman before him—mysterious and striking, like a violet in the dark.
"You're saying… that within just one week, Mr. 3, Mr. 5, and Mr. 13 all went missing one after another?!"
"And their missions all failed?!"
His hoarse voice carried an unspoken pressure as Crocodile stared coldly at Miss All Sunday.
"Why am I only hearing about something this important now?!"
"Mm~hm~"
Miss All Sunday—Nico Robin—let out a soft, alluring laugh.
"Wasn't it you who said this was the critical stage of seizing control of the Alabasta Kingdom? You told us that unless it was absolutely necessary, we were not to disturb you."
"..."
At those words, a dangerous glint immediately flashed through Crocodile's eyes.
He knew perfectly well that Robin had done this on purpose.
But he had indeed said those words himself, leaving him with no grounds to openly blame her.
"This woman…"
Anger surged within him, but Crocodile quickly suppressed it. After all, he still needed her ability to decipher the Poneglyphs.
A plan he had hidden for years was nearing completion—this was no time for mistakes.
"Forget it. They were nothing more than useless tools," he said coldly.
"Our priority now is still the rebel army. Have them continue expanding their forces—bring in all the displaced civilians and divert attention away from the capital."
"Notify all the officers. They can begin gathering at this base!"
"And since Mr. 5 is missing, the mission to eliminate the traitor Miss Wednesday must have failed as well…"
"This time, you'll handle it personally."
Crocodile issued his orders swiftly, but his gaze toward Robin carried a deep, unmistakable threat.
Over the years, built on mutual distrust, the two of them had developed a unique way of working together.
Robin never refused his assignments—and she always completed them flawlessly.
At the same time, if the opportunity arose, she would occasionally hinder him for her own amusement.
Just like concealing the disappearance of Mr. 5 and the others.
So—
"If you mess things up again, I'll make sure you die horribly."
To guarantee the mission's success, Crocodile fixed Robin with a chilling stare, his killing intent completely undisguised.
Yet in the face of such ferocity from her boss, Robin merely offered an unreadable smile.
"Understood, boss."
As Robin's figure disappeared from the office, Crocodile let out a cold chuckle.
"Hmph."
Toward a woman who treated betrayal of her "companions" as second nature, he had long been on guard.
Still, these recent, inexplicable disruptions left Crocodile feeling increasingly restless and uneasy.
And so, the dark office fell silent once more.
This was the Grand Line.
Even though pirates from the New World mockingly called it "Paradise," beneath the surface, treacherous currents surged at every moment.
...
...
At the entrance to the Grand Line—Twin Cape Harbor.
A pirate ship with a comical appearance and a clown head with a red nose as its figurehead was docked amid the rushing currents.
On the shore, members of the Buggy Pirates stared with glittering, excited eyes at two men locked in a tight embrace.
"Waaah~! Uncle Crocus! I missed you so much!!!"
Buggy the Clown, his red nose unmistakable, clung to Crocus's waist, tears bursting forth like an uncontrollable fountain.
Though Crocus wore an awkward expression while being hugged so tightly, seeing a familiar face caused his eyes to glisten all the same.
"Buggy, huh~ It really has been a long time."
"I was shocked when I heard from Shanks that you planned to stay in the East Blue."
"But it looks like you've finally made up your mind to enter the Grand Line."
Crocus gently patted Buggy's head, just like he used to back on the ship.
This heartwarming scene sent the surrounding pirates into a frenzy.
"My god! Two crewmates of the Pirate King!? Is this something I can really see without paying for it?!"
"As expected of Captain Buggy! Everyone he knows is a legendary figure!"
"Being able to follow Captain Buggy—this is the greatest honor of my life!!!"
"..."
"..."
Infected by Buggy's emotions, the pirates were overwhelmed with excitement, some even brought to tears.
Before long, a grand banquet was held right there at Twin Cape Harbor.
Reuniting with an old companion eased the sadness Crocus had felt since parting with Laboon.
And more importantly—
After some conversation, Buggy actually informed him that he was now following the Straw Hat Pirates.
The very Straw Hat Pirates who had taken Laboon away.
"Now that's… interesting,"
Crocus murmured in surprise, a faint but unmistakable spark flashing deep within his eyes.
Buggy's arrogance was no secret among the former members of the Roger Pirates.
A crew that even Buggy was willing to follow…
"It seems Laboon really did choose the right people~!"
At that moment, Crocus's lingering worries finally vanished, and he joined in the lively feast.
But halfway through the celebration, a pirate suddenly came running over, shouting:
"Captain Buggy! Captain Buggy!!!"
"There's something weird floating in from the sea!"
"Come take a look—quick!"
"Huh? What!?"
Slightly drunk, Buggy turned his head, his cheeks nearly as red as his nose.
Then he saw two of his subordinates balancing atop a white spherical object, rolling it toward them like circus acrobats.
"What is that thing?"
Buggy blinked in curiosity, his drunken haze clearing a little.
Just as he leaned in to get a closer look—
The sphere suddenly split open with a massive crack!
"Tch—! Don't tell me that's a bomb!?"
Naturally cautious, Buggy leapt several steps back in fright.
Under the curious gazes of the pirates, the sphere burst apart completely.
From within crawled out a gaunt, emaciated man.
"W-water… please give me water and food…"
"I'm begging you…"
Mr. 3, Galdino, spoke weakly, clinging to consciousness.
(End of Chapter)