Chapter 216: Ralph, the Man in the Straw Hat Crew Who Looks Most Like a Pirate!
Ralph was taken aback for a moment, then his pupils slightly dilated.
Rumble Ball?
That secret drug that allows Zoan Devil Fruit Users to transform into multiple forms?
Why hadn't he thought of this before!
Chopper could adjust the transformation frequency of the Hito Hito no Mi using Rumble Balls—all those multiple transformations relied on that tiny pill.
And what about Lufia?
She also had the Hito Hito no Mi—though a Mythical Zoan type.
In theory, Rumble Balls should work on her too!
If he could master this technology and improve upon it—
An image flashed through Ralph's mind.
White hair flowing like flames, the sky echoing with silver-bell-like laughter, white cloud-like ribbons swirling around her body as if a celestial maiden had descended—
The Sun God Nika form.
Appearing ahead of time.
"Ralph? Ralph!"
Chopper's voice snapped him back to reality.
"What's wrong with you? You're drooling!"
Ralph wiped the corner of his mouth and straightened his expression.
"It's nothing, just thinking."
He glanced at Chopper, then at the reward on the system panel.
Rumble Ball formulation technique.
This was no ordinary recipe.
Setting aside the distant possibility of helping Lufia awaken early, the effect of three Rumble Balls driving a Zoan user into a frenzy—if he could adjust the drug ratios to apply to all Zoan fruits…
Ralph had an idea.
A certain man known as the "Hundred Beasts."
Kaido.
His Beast Pirates were all Zoan Devil Fruit Users.
If he could slip something into their food…
Turning them overnight into a city of mad beasts…
Hehehe.
Ahahaha!
"Ralph, your expression is terrifying!"
Chopper took a step back.
"It's fine."
Ralph suppressed his grin.
"Chopper, about the Rumble Ball…"
He paused.
Saying outright that he knew the formula? Too suspicious.
Better to find an opportunity to research it together with Chopper.
Learning the formula properly from him would make it easier to use later without raising questions.
"Never mind."
Ralph said, "Maybe someday, I'd like to learn about medicine from you."
Chopper's eyes lit up.
"Really? You want to study medicine?"
"I do."
Ralph said sincerely, "Your medical skills are amazing. I want to learn more."
Chopper's face flushed red again.
"W-well, since you're so sincere, I'll teach you then!"
Ralph smiled.
I'm such a Pirate!
Meanwhile, there was another presence on the ship who seemed out of place.
Ace.
He leaned against the ship's railing, gazing at the distant horizon, his eyes somewhat vacant.
It wasn't that he disliked being here.
On the contrary, he loved the atmosphere on the Going Merry.
As an older brother, he was relieved to see his sister surrounded by such companions.
But he was, after all, the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division.
He had his responsibilities, his mission.
"Ralph."
He called out to Ralph, who had just emerged from the cabin.
"Yeah?"
"That prophecy of yours—how accurate is it really?"
Ralph's steps faltered.
Ace walked up to him, his expression serious and intense.
"You said, according to your prophecy, we could find Blackbeard. I've followed you all this way, from island to island. How much longer will it take?"
Ralph looked into his eyes.
They were eyes filled with urgency.
He wanted to avenge his fallen comrades.
He wanted to capture that traitor with his own hands.
Ralph understood that feeling.
"I promise, it's definitely true."
Ralph was forced to lie, "I've seen it in my dreams several times. Blackbeard is definitely ahead."
He silently grumbled to himself:
It's not my fault, the TV series adaptation just drags on too much.
From Alabasta to Skypiea, with all those filler episodes and islands in between, there's no way to skip them.
"Just wait a little longer."
Ralph said, "Wait until the Log Pose points to the sky."
Ace was taken aback.
"Points to the sky?"
"Yes."
Ralph nodded, "That's when we'll reach a special place. Blackbeard is there."
Ace fell silent for a few seconds.
Then he sighed.
"Alright, I'll trust you one more time."
He turned and left, jumping up to the crow's nest to continue sleeping.
Ralph stood where he was, watching his disappearing figure.
Blackbeard.
Marshall D. Teach.
Son of Rocks, bloodline of the Davy clan.
In the original story, he captured Ace, triggered the Summit War, caused Whitebeard's death, caused Ace's death, and then rose all the way to become one of the Four Emperors.
But this time is different.
Ralph's gaze sharpened.
The enhanced Straw Hat Pirates, plus myself as a variable, plus Ace himself—
If we can confront the Blackbeard Pirates head-on at Jaya Island and end this grudge early...
Whatever bloodline of Rocks, whatever destiny of the Will of D.
Just because you dared to have designs on my wife Lufia, just because you'll cause Ace's death in the future—
That's enough for me to end your story right here.
Ralph withdrew his gaze and turned to walk toward the deck.
After just two steps, a voice came from behind.
"Boss."
Ralph paused.
He turned around to see Robin standing at the cabin door, a smile on her face.
"Robin, how many times have I told you, just call me Ralph on the ship."
"Is that so?"
Robin took a few steps closer, "But I think you look quite happy when I call you boss."
Ralph's old face flushed red.
What man could refuse Robin, dressed in black leather clothes and a skirt, with her collar wide open revealing her cleavage, calling him boss!
"Ahem... well... suit yourself."
He turned his head away.
Robin chuckled softly.
Just then
"Ralph—! Robin—!"
Lufia's loud voice came from the deck.
"Come quick—we've spotted an island—!"
The two exchanged a glance and walked together toward the deck.
Ahead of the Going Merry, the outline of an island gradually became clear.
On the island was a prosperous town, houses scattered in an orderly fashion, the harbor filled with ships—it looked like a place where they could resupply properly.
"This is Hannabal."
Robin spoke up. As the most knowledgeable person on the ship, she naturally took on the role of explainer, "It was once an island occupied by Pirates, later wiped out by the Navy. I never expected it to be so prosperous now."
Hearing this place name, Ralph felt it sounded somewhat familiar.
Hannabal...
Hannabal...
He remembered.
"Doesn't this place have a tradition of the Dead End Race?"
He suddenly asked.
Robin's beautiful eyes widened slightly.
"Bos... Ralph, you even know about that?"
Lufia leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"What race? What death? Robin, tell us quickly!"
Robin collected her thoughts and began:
"In the past, the Pirates who occupied this island had a tradition—
Using their pirate ships to compete in a deadly speed race.
"It's a race on the sea, seeing who can reach the target island first. During the process, any means can be used, including ramming, cannon fire, even directly sinking the opponent."
"Sounds thrilling!"
Lufia's eyes grew even brighter.
"But later, the Navy wiped out the Pirates on the island, and the competition was discontinued."
Robin added.
Lufia's expression immediately fell.
"Huh? Discontinued? What a shame..."
Ralph couldn't help but laugh at her disappointed look.
"Not necessarily."
Lufia suddenly looked up.
"The race is still going on."
Ralph said, "It just went underground."
Lufia's expression instantly brightened, her eyes sparkling.
"Really? Ralph!"
"Really."
Ralph nodded, after all, that's how it played out in the movie.
"This kind of competition is too popular. Even if it's officially discontinued, someone is definitely organizing it privately."
"Great!"
Lufia jumped up,
"I want to join! I want to join!"
She excitedly pulled Usopp and Chopper, spinning around on the deck.
Ralph watched her antics, smiling and shaking his head.
Then he looked up toward the crow's nest.
Ace was lying there, boredly gazing at the sky.
"Ace."
Ralph called out.
"Hmm?"
"Sorry, we might have to spend a bit more time on this island."
Ace poked his head out, glancing at his sister dancing excitedly on the deck.
Then he sighed.
What else could he do?
After all, she was his sister.