"Nope!"
Luffy flatly refused.
"W-why?!"
Still wedged inside the giant vine, Lachiru couldn't see what was happening outside. Hearing Luffy's rejection, his head buzzed with confusion.
"Because I already found it."
Luffy bounced over to the spot where Lachiru had been sitting. Peering into a container placed there, his face lit up with a triumphant grin. Without hesitation, he scooped it up.
The fragrance wafted straight into his nose, intoxicating him. He instinctively raised the vessel toward his mouth—
Then suddenly froze.
"Bwaaagh!!"
A wave of nausea rolled through his stomach, stopping him in his tracks. Turning toward the vine where Lachiru was still stuck, Luffy grinned cheekily.
"Thanks for the stuff!"
And with that, he ignored the chaos behind him and dashed happily out of the tent.
—
But as soon as he emerged, Luffy froze.
His crew was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, he was greeted by a mob of pirates, all glaring hungrily at the container in his arms. Their eyes glinted with greed, faces twisted like wolves scenting prey.
Even for someone as simple as Luffy, the situation was obvious.
He wasn't an idiot!
"This is bad!!"
With a yelp, he kicked off the ground and shot into the air, spotting Zoro and the others in the distance. He stretched his arm toward a nearby plant and slingshotted straight toward them.
Zoro and the others blinked at his sudden return—
then immediately noticed the swarm of pirates charging after him.
"Idiot! Don't come this way!!"
Zoro roared as the mob closed in.
Before Luffy could even land, the Straw Hats spun on their heels and bolted in perfect unison.
Not one of them felt the slightest guilt about abandoning him.
"Ehh?! Wait for me!!"
Stunned, Luffy shouted after them, before hitting the ground running to catch up. In moments, he was right beside them again, grinning like nothing was wrong.
"Why's everyone running so fast?"
"Look behind you, idiot! You wanna die?!"
"What the hell did you do?!" Nami snapped, glaring daggers at him as they sprinted side by side.
"Ahh, they're probably after this, right?"
Luffy gestured at the container clutched tightly in his arms.
"You moron—then throw it away!!" Nami shrieked.
"But I worked so hard to get it! And it's full of that water…" Luffy looked down at it wistfully, the tempting scent tugging at him.
But glancing back at the horde of pirates closing in, he grit his teeth and prepared to toss it.
"What!!"
Nami's eyes flashed with the shine of money. The moment she realized what he was about to do, she exploded.
"Idiot! Don't you dare throw it! Protect it with your life if you have to—nobody else touches it!!"
To her, that container was a mountain of walking treasure.
"Ehh…"
Nami was terrifying! The others all shrank back at the sight of her sharp-toothed demon form.
Only Robin remained serenely smiling, calm as ever.
The chase raged on. Luckily, the island was large enough that after a frantic sprint, they managed to lose the pursuing pirates.
Exhausted, they collapsed against the trunk of a massive tree, panting heavily.
After a long moment of silence, once it was clear no one was following, every eye drifted toward the container in Luffy's arms.
Chopper padded over first. Dipping a paw into the yellow liquid, he tasted it—then instantly scrunched up his face.
Law followed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He dipped a finger in, tasted, and frowned as well.
"This stuff is poisonous."
Both spoke at once, then turned to each other in shock.
After a pause, Law explained, his expression grim:
"I don't know exactly how this was refined. It does contain some beneficial properties, but there's also a unique toxin mixed in. It's not lethal… but it's some kind of neurotoxin."
"Whaaat?! You mean that old man's pee was that dangerous?!"
"Then I'm gonna die for sure!!" Luffy cried, horrified.
The moment he said it, both Chopper and Law froze, faces draining of color.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What did I just taste…?!
The two exchanged looks of utter despair, as though their souls had fled their bodies.
"Ehh? What did you just say?"
Nami, who had been in money-demon mode moments ago, suddenly recoiled in disgust.
"I saw it myself!" Luffy said innocently. "When I went in, that old guy was—"
And he described everything he had witnessed inside the tent.
As his words sank in, the crew's faces twisted with horror. Chopper and Law in particular turned as green as cucumbers.
To think that Devil Fruit user… was actually eating and brewing inside himself…
"Bwaaagh!!"
The crew staggered around, retching miserably.
Even after a long while, their complexions remained awful.
"Luffy."
Law's voice suddenly cut through, serious and sharp.
"I think this island is hiding a much bigger conspiracy. We should leave while we still can."
"Nani?!"
The Straw Hats were stunned.
They hadn't known Law for long, but they all recognized his intelligence. If he said something was wrong, then there really was danger brewing.
"Y-yeah… maybe we should get out of here," Usopp stammered, trembling.
Meanwhile, inside the vine-covered tent, the Blood Pirates stood rigid as statues, eyes fixed on the ground. Not one of them dared to breathe too loudly.
"Damn it!!"
Freed at last from the vine, Lachiru's face was swollen with rage as he clenched his fists.
"Search! Scour the entire island if you have to. Find that brat—or he'll ruin everything we've built!"
That sly kid hadn't just seen the brewing process. He'd even stolen the finished product.
Lachiru silently swore that if he caught him, he'd peel the brat's skin from his bones.
At his order, the crew scattered to search the island.
"Captain… that person is arriving soon. What do we do?"
When the last of the crew had left, the first mate, York, stepped up beside him with a quiet warning.
"Nani?!"
Lachiru stiffened, eyes wide.
Of course—when he thought about it, the time had almost come. But his preparations here were far from complete.
Hesitation flickered across his bloated face, then hardened into resolve.
"Go stand guard outside. I'll keep brewing. Tell the others we're giving the drink away for free now."
York blinked. "Free…?"
"It'll raise suspicion, but if that person arrives and this still isn't ready… the consequences will be far worse!"
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