"Hey, Luffy, this has nothing to do with us!"
Along the coast, the Straw Hat crew and Law were walking together. Usopp, anxious, tried to persuade him.
Ever since learning that this island might be hiding some kind of conspiracy, Usopp had only wanted to leave as soon as possible.
But to his dismay, that thick-headed Luffy had actually decided to stay. It was crushing.
He knew his chances were slim, but he still had to try.
"No way! That guy tricked me into drinking some poisonous stuff—he's definitely not a good person. I've decided…"
Luffy's expression turned serious as he raised his fist.
"I'm gonna punch him!"
"W–wait, wait! Aren't you guys going to stop him?"
Usopp panicked, realizing persuasion was hopeless, and turned to the others for help.
"I'll follow Luffy." Zoro replied coolly.
The others quickly chimed in, each in their own way:
"What's for dinner?"
"Fufufu… looks like Captain really is mad this time."
"Super! …I wonder if that stuff can be used as fuel?"
"Ohohoho… Robin-chwan, can I take a peek at your panties?"
"Law, let's analyze what that liquid really is first."
"What an energetic bunch!"
"…"
As everyone carried on about things that had nothing to do with the supposed "conspiracy," Usopp was crushed.
He squatted alone in the sand, drawing circles.
What kind of people am I even surrounded by…?
Before long, they reached the shore—only to find unwelcome guests already aboard their ship.
The sight of strangers occupying the Sunny made everyone's expressions harden.
"Brats, there you are at last!"
"You came back just in time—we were about to tear your ship apart."
"Hah, who'd have thought you'd be carrying so much treasure?"
The pirates aboard the Thousand Sunny jeered, each of them clutching bits of loot from the ship.
"Bastards! Those are mine—put them down right now!"
Nami was the first to explode, her usual ladylike mask replaced by a demon's snarl.
"Damn you!"
Zoro, who had all his worldly possessions on board, went dark with fury.
"Get off my ship. You're not welcome here."
Luffy's smile vanished in an instant. Veins bulging, he stretched his arm to the railing and, with a snap, flung himself aboard.
No more sunshine grin—only raw anger as he launched into attack.
The others wasted no time following.
Bang! Thud! Crack! Slash!
Like wolves in a flock of sheep, the Straw Hats cut the pirates down in moments.
Finally, Robin's powers swept the last of them overboard.
Nami and the others rushed to gather their stolen treasure and supplies.
A handful of the surviving pirates scrambled back to their feet and bolted toward the great vine deeper inland.
This time, the Straw Hats didn't stop them.
When Luffy had wanted to beat down that pirate captain earlier, most of them had only gone along half-heartedly.
But this? Breaking onto their ship and stealing their belongings? Unforgivable.
"Luffy."
Nami's face twisted into something truly demonic as she growled, "I order you—go wipe those scum out."
She could forgive a lot of things. But never anyone who touched her treasure.
Because her treasure was her life.
"A fight, huh?"
"Then I'll get some food ready first. We'll eat before we go."
Sanji lit his cigarette with a sharp flick, took a long drag, and turned toward the kitchen.
The others said nothing—just silently went to ready their gear.
Even Usopp, despite his nerves, seethed with anger. If those pirates wanted a fight, he'd give them one.
"…Huh?"
Only Law stood on deck, unsettled.
The Straw Hats' ship had been attacked, yet his own crew was nowhere to be found.
A chill crept into his gut as he pulled out a Den Den Mushi to call them.
It rang and rang. No answer.
Collateral damage?
The longer it went unanswered, the darker his mood grew.
He tore across the shore until he spotted his own vessel nestled among several others.
He jumped aboard without hesitation, searching from bow to stern.
Empty. Not a soul.
The ship was untouched—supplies still neatly in place.
Which meant his crew hadn't been on board when something happened.
Law frowned. His people weren't as strong as the Straw Hats, but they weren't pushovers either. No way a random gang of small-time thugs could've taken them.
That left only one conclusion: something else was at play.
While he was still piecing it together, two more pirate ships appeared on the horizon.
They docked soon after, and their crews disembarked, heading straight toward the massive vine at the island's heart.
Strange. Very strange.
Law scanned the shore. There were already over thirty pirate ships anchored here. Which meant thirty crews gathered on this single island.
No way in hell the Blood Pirates had that much influence.
Which meant the real draw must be… that mysterious liquid.
This was getting serious.
If he wanted to find his crew, he might need the Straw Hats' help. Alone, he could do nothing against so many enemies.
Resolute, he leapt from his ship and made for the Sunny.
"Trafalgar Law… so the rumors were true."
A lazy, icy voice drifted from behind.
Law froze. Slowly, he turned—and his eyes went wide.
"…Former Admiral Aokiji?!"
"What are you doing here?"
In stark contrast to Law's shock, Aokiji was as laid-back as ever, pushing his bicycle along the sand.
"No big deal. Just chasing down some leads. The trail brought me here."
He stopped beside Law, eyes sliding toward the Sunny in the distance.
"You're headed there too? Looks like we've got the same destination. Let's go."
Without waiting for an answer, Aokiji strolled forward toward the Straw Hats' ship.
"…Why is he here?"
Law's brows knit tight. He couldn't make sense of it—why Aokiji had appeared now, or even what role the man played these days.
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