First and foremost: the target's strength must not exceed the current hunting range of the Troupe by too much. For example, trying to hunt Whitebeard for the Tremor-Tremor Fruit right now would be less of a heist and more of a collective suicide mission.
The timing has to be perfect.
Secondly: the target's "background" cannot be too heavy. Technically, if one were to pick the fruit with the most potential, Luffy's Nika Fruit is the undisputed king. But would Chrollo dare take it?
Putting aside the fact that Luffy, as the "Child of Destiny," is incredibly difficult to pin down and constantly surrounded by plot armor and powerful allies, the mere "background" of the boy is something the Troupe cannot currently handle.
Let's look at Luffy's "hometown" connections:
Father: Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army. One of the three users with a fruit that functions like a natural disaster. To this day, we still don't know his upper limit.
Grandfather: Monkey D. Garp, the Marine Hero. A man who traded blows with Roger and helped dismantle the Rocks Pirates.
"Second Uncle": Kizaru (Borsalino), a Marine Admiral. A man who has never been seen going all-out and managed to feed Luffy under the nose of the Five Elders.
Teacher: Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King. The right hand of the Pirate King himself, serving as Luffy's personal bodyguard and mentor.
If you touch Luffy, you aren't just fighting a pirate; you're declaring war on the Marines, the Revolutionary Army, and the legends of the old era all at once. Even Chrollo has to admit:
> "In this world, being able to fight is one thing. Having a background is everything."
So, figures like Luffy and Ace are currently off-limits. After a moment of thought, Chrollo opened his notebook and drafted his Golden Rules of the Hunt:
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### ### The Thief's Principles of Hunting
1. High Potential: The fruit ability and its developed potential must be top-tier.
2. Low Risk/Background: The target should not have a "god-level" backing that would trigger a global manhunt.
3. Relative Parity: The target's strength must be within a range the Troupe can suppress.
4. Isolation: solo targets or those away from their main fleet are prioritized.
---
This was Chrollo's way: steady progression, fueled by his knowledge of the "plot." This was the secret to how he "ate chicken" (won) on the Black Whale back home. Therefore, the best targets are: Solo powerhouses, the Supernovas of the Worst Generation, and the Seven Warlords. (Except for that freak, Hawkeye, of course.)
"The first choice has to be Crocodile," Chrollo murmured, looking at his notes.
Aside from the Sand-Sand Fruit, which is a powerful Logia, Alabasta is a mandatory stop for one reason: Nico Robin. As an archaeologist himself (in spirit), Chrollo knows her value. She is the only survivor of Ohara and one of the few people who can read the Poneglyphs—the keys to the "Void Century," Ancient Weapons, and the path to Laugh Tale.
Robin is the perfect candidate for the Troupe's researcher. She carries the will of Ohara and has the ambition to uncover the truth.
"Sorry, Luffy. That's twice I've had to poach from you."
Next on the list: Enel and Gekko Moria.
Both possess S-tier fruits (Rumble-Rumble and Shadow-Shadow) but are "lacking" in their personal combat discipline compared to their fruits' potential. Enel's arrogance led to his defeat by rubber, and Moria's trauma turned him into a lazy shadow of his former self.
Then, Eustass Kid and Trafalgar Law.
The Magnet-Magnet and Op-Op fruits are legendary. Chrollo finds Kid's usage of magnetism—collecting scrap metal—to be tragically narrow-minded. And the Op-Op fruit's ability to grant eternal life makes it a "5-billion Berry" strategic asset.
"The list of targets is endless..." Chrollo smiled. With the speed at which the Troupe was evolving, a clash with the Marine Admirals or the Five Elders was inevitable. They needed to accumulate as much "plundered" power as possible before that day arrived.
---
"What are you doing now? If you're hungry, find Shizuku. If you want money, find Nami!" Chrollo said without looking up as he felt someone approach.
"Hmph! I have actual news!" Bonney snapped, looking annoyed.
"What news?" Chrollo raised an eyebrow.
Bonney crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks. "Nami-oneesan told me to tell you—Loguetown is in sight!"
Chrollo looked up with a flash of excitement. He walked to the deck and peered through the clouds. At the end of the dark horizon, a city of brilliant lights appeared. The architecture was a blend of Central European styles, with marble streets and six-story mansions.
"Finally..."
"Nobunaga, bring us down. We're docking."
---
At the edge of the harbor, a man in a crisp white suit watched the gargantuan black whale ship descend from the sky. He pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and spoke calmly.
"Reporting to Captain Lucci... The target has arrived."
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Loguetown: The Town of the Beginning and the End. Chrollo is about to walk into a multi-layered trap involving the Marines, CP9, and the Revolutionary Army.