"Is it really okay for us to walk over so openly like this?" Chopper said worriedly as he looked ahead.
If some Marines appeared at this moment... wouldn't they be able to trap them here?
"What's the problem?" Meiser laughed. "With those imposters around, the probability of the Marines noticing us isn't high."
According to what Sister Shakky said, there were no Marine Admirals stationed on this island right now, so Meiser wasn't worried about being trapped.
"Hmm... that's true."
No wonder Sister Shakky and Meiser had said those things earlier - it seemed those people really could draw plenty of attention for them.
"I wonder if Sanji has found Zoro and the others," Nami said.
Hearing this, Meiser fell silent for a moment before saying, "If Merry is the one directing their movements, then the probability of Sanji finding Zoro is still quite high."
At least it wouldn't be so ridiculous as to end up running into a Marine base.
Hearing Meiser's words, Nami instead developed a bad feeling.
Would that idiot really let Merry lead the way?
He was that stubborn, directionally-challenged swordsman idiot!
Thinking of this, Nami felt a headache coming on.
Just then, Chopper sniffed the air and said, "I can smell all three of them!"
"Huh?"
Everyone was startled by Chopper's words, then Usopp said with surprise, "Where are they?"
"Over there."
Following the direction Chopper pointed, everyone immediately noticed three figures walking toward them.
"Hmph, you idiot Moss Head," Sanji said with clear displeasure. "Do you know how much time I wasted looking for you?"
If he hadn't been searching the city for traces of this idiot, he would have returned with Merry long ago.
"Who asked you to look for me?" Zoro snorted. "I could have made it back on my own."
"What did you say?"
"What, you want to fight?!"
"Bring it on!"
"Bring it on!"
"Boom!"
Watching these two about to start fighting again, Merry sighed helplessly - here we go again.
"Hey, Zoro, Sanji, Merry!!"
"Eh?"
Hearing Luffy's voice, Zoro paused, then showed a delighted expression. "Luffy!"
After confirming who had arrived, Zoro and Sanji stopped fighting and immediately rushed over to their companions with Merry.
Taking in their crewmates' appearances, everyone felt a wave of emotion rising in their hearts.
Everyone had changed so much.
After exchanging greetings, Zoro turned his gaze to Meiser.
"What, don't recognize me?" Meiser laughed.
Hearing that familiar voice, Zoro immediately broke into a wide grin.
"Knew you wouldn't die that easily, you bastard."
"Of course."
Meiser's lips curved upward. "Who do you think I am?"
The World Government wasn't nearly enough to take his life!
Zoro smiled and nodded, then said, "So you all are..."
"Brook will be here soon, so we plan to wait on the ship first."
"Then everyone will be gathered!"
After saying this, Zoro gave a speechless glance at Sanji, who was fawning over Robin. That guy really never changes his ways.
"Exactly!" Meiser nodded.
Hearing this, Zoro's mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.
Finally heading to the New World—how exciting.
"Let's go back to the ship," Luffy said. "Once Brook arrives, we'll set off for Fish-Man Island!"
"Woo!!"
The moment Fish-Man Island was mentioned, Sanji's eyes turned into hearts, and his whole body began to sway.
Fish-Man Island!
That's Fish-Man Island!
There must be tons of beautiful Merfolk there!
As if struck by a thought, Sanji's nose suddenly gushed blood, and he collapsed on the spot.
Everyone: ???
Everyone stared at Sanji with puzzled expressions, wondering what was wrong with him.
"Hey, Sanji, what happened?!" Merry asked, dumbfounded.
"Doctor!"
"Doctor!"
"Ah, I am the doctor."
Chopper, snapping to attention, hurried over to examine Sanji. After a moment, he sighed in relief. "It's nothing, just a normal nosebleed."
Meiser:
Since when does a "normal" nosebleed gush out like that?
It's a miracle this guy hasn't bled to death.
"Hmph, this perverted cook," Zoro said disdainfully.
Sanji: !!!
As if summoned by some force, Sanji, still half-unconscious, immediately opened his eyes and shot up to Zoro's face. "What did you say, you directionally-challenged Moss Head?!"
"I said you're a perverted cook!"
"Wanna fight, you bastard?!"
"Bring it on!"
Watching the two idiots about to brawl again, Merry wore a helpless expression. These two really are...
But before she could say anything, Nami flashed to their side and knocked them both to the ground with one punch each!
Zoro: —
Sanji: !!
Zoro, flat on his back, looked up at Nami irritably. "What was that for?!"
"Is now the time to fight?!" Nami glared.
Under her gaze, Zoro fell silent.
He could see the unspoken warning in her eyes.
"What, you disagree?
Disagree?"
He used to disagree, but after getting beaten up once, he learned his lesson.
Thinking this, Zoro turned his head away, avoiding Nami's eyes.
Meanwhile, Sanji stood up excitedly, swaying as he said, "Ah...
That's the same punch as always!"
Perona: ???
Is this guy actually sick?
Noticing Perona's reaction, Zoro turned to Luffy. "So... Luffy, you agreed to let her come with us?"
"Yep."
Luffy grinned at Zoro. "After all, she's your friend."
Hearing this, Zoro paused, then smiled and nodded at Luffy.
Yeah, a friend.
"With me around, you won't have to worry about getting lost anymore~" Perona said, smirking.
Zoro:
Do you have to bring that up?
As if reading his mind, Perona burst out laughing.
"Yahahahaha"
"Let's go, hurry back to the ship," Luffy said. "I can't wait to get to the New World~"
"Alright!!"
"Big Brother Sentomaru, why did you bring us here?" a Marine Recruit asked, looking at Sentomaru in confusion.
"To capture the real Straw Hat crew, of course," Sentomaru replied.
Marines: ???
Hearing Sentomaru's words, the Marines' eyes filled with bewilderment. What did he mean by "the real Straw Hat crew"?
Perhaps noticing their confusion, Sentomaru explained, "The guys we caught earlier were just impostors. The real Straw Hat crew is still on this island."
This only deepened the Marines' confusion.
They knew those guys were fakes—they had captured them themselves—but how could Big Brother Sentomaru be so sure the real Straw Hat crew was here?
"Big Brother Sentomaru, how can you be certain about this?"
"I can't be completely sure," Sentomaru admitted. "But even if there's only a possibility, I had to come and check."
If the Straw Hat crew's pet, Chopper, appeared here, it meant the Straw Hat Pirates might be here too!
So... he had to take the chance!
As for why he came to this specific area...
Back then, the Straw Hat crew had desperately fled in this direction, which might hold some special significance. So...
He was here to gamble!
"I see, then we—"
Before the Marine Recruit could finish, a group of people appeared on the bridge opposite them.
Marine Recruit: ...
After clearly seeing who it was, the Marines fell into stunned silence.
It really was the Straw Hat Pirates?!
"So you were here after all," Sentomaru said coldly, glaring at Luffy and the others. "Straw Hat crew!"
He had gambled right!
"Hey, hey, hey! Why are the Marines here blocking us?!" Chopper exclaimed in disbelief. "Weren't they all supposed to be drawn away by the impostors?!"
"You mean those losers?"
Sentomaru snorted. "It took less than five minutes to capture them. How could they possibly delay us?"
Those good-for-nothings—he could take down one with a single punch!
"This is quite unexpected," Meiser mused, stroking his chin.
He never expected the Marines to figure out they'd be here... How did they find out?
Could it be that one of their crewmates was spotted while moving around the island?
Thinking about it... it wasn't impossible.
Hearing Meiser's words, Sanji calmly lit a cigarette and said, "It seems... we won't be setting sail quietly."
"Just what I wanted!"
Zoro drew his three swords, clearly intending to test them against the so-called Pacifista!
He was eager to see how much stronger he had become compared to before!
"In that case..." Luffy adjusted his hat and declared, "Everyone, let's go all out!"
"Alright!!"
At Luffy's command, the Straw Hat Pirates' eyes instantly sharpened.
"Attack! Take them down!"
"Alright!!"
Following Sentomaru's order, the Marines immediately moved, advancing with the Pacifista toward Luffy and his crew!
Seeing this, Perona immediately launched her attack.
"Negative Hollows!!!"
"Buzz"
In the next moment, a large number of Negative Spirits flew out from Perona's body, rapidly charging toward the distant crowd of Marines!
"What the hell are these things?!"
Seeing the Negative Spirits rushing toward their faces, fear instantly appeared in the eyes of these Marines.
Then, their bodies were touched by these Negative Spirits.
"Buzz"
The next moment...
"If there's a next life, I hope I can be a salted fish..."
"Sorry, I shouldn't have been so arrogant..."
"Why be a Marine? I should be a caterpillar instead..."
Sentomaru: ???
Watching Marine Recruits fall one after another, several question marks appeared above Sentomaru's head.
What kind of strange Devil Fruit ability was this?
"Hara hara hara"
"Now you know this young lady's power~" Perona laughed loudly.
Dealing with these kinds of Marine Recruits was her specialty.
"Sister Perona is so amazing!"
Seeing the stars in Merry's eyes, the smile on Perona's face grew even brighter.
"Damn woman, I—"
Before Sentomaru could finish speaking, he saw the Pacifistas engage with the Straw Hat Pirates.
But unfortunately... in just an instant, his Pacifistas were defeated by the enemy!
"Gomu-Gomu Jet Pistol!"
"Three-Sword Style · Demon Slash!"
"Special Grade Iron Pot Roast!"
"BOOM!!"
"BOOM!!"
"BOOM!!"
Three explosions rang out, meaning these three Pacifistas were completely destroyed!!
Sentomaru: ???
Taking in everything with his own eyes, Sentomaru felt a moment of confusion.
Were these guys really this strong?
These were Pacifistas!
Just at that moment, Sentomaru saw a giant wooden dragon burst out from the ground, wrapping around the Pacifista in the blink of an eye.
The next moment...
"CRACK BOOM!!"
The wooden dragon wrapped in Haki easily crushed the Pacifista into scrap metal!
Sentomaru: !!!
Looking at the wooden dragon that had effortlessly destroyed the Pacifista, Sentomaru's eyes were filled with shock.
Had all the Pacifistas he brought been destroyed this quickly?!
Wait...
Glancing at the unfamiliar man standing atop the wooden dragon's head, Sentomaru subconsciously furrowed his brow.
Who was this guy?
And who was that woman releasing ghosts?
Were they new members who had joined the Straw Hat Pirates?
A Wood-Wood Fruit user and a Ghost Fruit user?
As if sensing Sentomaru's confusion, Meiser grinned and said, "How cool is this big shot's Devil Fruit ability?!"
Using the power of Wood Release, he could easily make others think he was a user who had eaten the Wood-Wood Fruit!
And what he had just unleashed was the Wood Dragon Technique!
Sentomaru: —
After hearing Meiser's words, Sentomaru was completely silenced.
Was this bastard showing off?
"So cool!" Chopper and Luffy exclaimed excitedly while looking at the wooden dragon Meiser had created. "Such an awesome wooden dragon!"
Hearing Chopper's words, Meiser smiled even more happily.
Meiser then turned to Luffy and said, "Captain Luffy, since this guy has already discovered us, it means this place might be surrounded by warships. So I suggest we leave here first."
Defeating Sentomaru was indeed an option, but it was completely unnecessary.
After all... Merry could fly them away!
Upon hearing this, Luffy thought for a moment before nodding and saying, "Let's go then."
Meiser nodded in agreement, then glanced at Merry, signaling her to begin.
Merry closed her eyes upon receiving the cue, clearly preparing to use her ability to transport the Straw Hat Pirates away.
Unaware of the Straw Hat Pirates' intentions, Sentomaru remained in a state of fury.
"With me here, do you still think you can escape?" Sentomaru roared angrily.
Were these bastards completely looking down on him?
"With your abilities, catching up to us is impossible," Zoro said calmly, having understood what Merry was about to do. He decisively sheathed his weapon and added, "It would take someone like Kizaru to even have a chance."
Without the ability to fly, there was no way they could be pursued!
Crack!
Hearing Zoro's words, veins bulged on Sentomaru's forehead. Just how much did these scoundrels despise him?!
But before he could do anything, he noticed the members of the Straw Hat Pirates gradually rising into the air before swiftly soaring high into the sky!
Sentomaru: !!!
"They... they flew away?!"
Watching the entire Straw Hat Pirates fly off, Sentomaru's eyes nearly popped out of his head, his face filled with disbelief.
How did they manage to do that?!
At that moment, Sentomaru's mind was clouded with confusion.
"Brother Sentomaru, should we... still pursue them?" a Marine Recruit cautiously asked.
Even though their targets had flown away, doing nothing at all seemed somewhat unacceptable.
"Pursue them!"
Snapping back to reality, Sentomaru's eyes turned cold as he commanded, "Notify the warships to intercept the Straw Hat Pirates at sea!"
This group would inevitably return to the ocean, so... sink them to the bottom of the sea!!!
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