Aokiji scratched his head, "I was clearly on my way to track you guys down... and suddenly I'm here. What an outrageous ability, little cat burglar."
Nami was almost in tears. "I was just digging for treasure according to a map. I didn't expect to dig you up."
Aokiji looked at the golden shovel in Nami's hand, which was gradually disappearing, and understood. "Is it some kind of Devil Fruit ability?"
Just as Nami was about to speak, Ron also nodded, "That's right, it's some kind of treasure-digging ability, but what's dug up is uncertain."
"So that's how it is. An unintentional act. That explains why Roger's phantom was dug up."
Aokiji's mumbling wasn't loud, but Ron and Nami heard him clearly. It turned out that the news of them digging up Roger's phantom had already reached Marineford!
Nami nervously looked at Ron. What if this Admiral suddenly made a move? Wouldn't they be wiped out?
"Don't worry."
Ron patted Nami's shoulder as a sign of comfort, and Nami also nodded, hiding behind Ron.
Just then,
Aokiji suddenly yawned, "Ah... so troublesome..." He turned and walked towards his bicycle. "Mission accomplished, investigation clear. I'll just take a nap first..." Saying that, he actually lay down on his bicycle, looking like he was about to sleep.
Nami was stunned. Why wasn't this Admiral acting according to common sense?
He wasn't going to capture them?
Aokiji yawned lazily, slowly got up from the ground, and patted the dust off his coat. "Ara ara... these young people are really noisy..." He scratched his fluffy curly hair. "You guys do whatever you want, but don't worry, I'm on vacation today, so I'm just a normal person."
Nami's expression instantly froze: "Va... vacation?"
Aokiji pulled out an eye mask from somewhere and put it on. "That's right, I just happened to... hmm... fall from the sky here." He pointed to the still glowing pit. "Speaking of which, your treasure-digging ability is quite interesting."
Nami finally recovered from her shock. She stared at Aokiji warily. "You... you really aren't going to capture us?"
Aokiji lay on his bicycle, hands behind his head. "Why would I capture you...?" He said lazily, "The mission I received was just to investigate, it didn't say I had to capture anyone."
"Now that the investigation is clear, the mission is complete."
With that, he lay down on the spot and fell asleep, even snoring.
Just then,
Another violent explosion sound came from the town, and Zoro's roar and Sanji's curses could be vaguely heard.
"Never mind, let's go check on Luffy and the others first." Nami looked at the sleeping Aokiji, her steps slowly retreating.
Ron nodded, "I really don't know what this guy wants to do, so let's go first."
...
In the banquet hall of Whiskey Peak, the atmosphere was gradually becoming tense.
Luffy was sitting amidst a mountain of empty plates, rubbing his round belly and letting out a satisfied burp. "Ah~ that was delicious! Is there any more meat?"
The fake smiles on the faces of the pirates disguised as townspeople could no longer be maintained. A big man wearing a chef's hat had veins bulging on his forehead, and the dining knife in his hand creaked as he squeezed it. "This... this monster... has already eaten thirty servings of food!"
"Boss," a subordinate whispered into the leader's ear, "Why hasn't the medicine we put in taken effect yet? These guys' appetites are getting better and better instead!"
In the corner,
Usopp was excitedly telling a group of "townspeople" about his heroic deeds of "battling a Marine Captain," completely oblivious to the increasingly ugly expressions of his listeners.
Zoro, meanwhile, sat alone at the bar, having already drunk a dozen barrels of sake, yet his eyes were becoming clearer.
"Something's wrong..." The leader of the Baroque Works agents secretly signaled, "Prepare to act ahead of schedule! The medicine will take effect sooner or later anyway!"
Just as this group of disguised pirates was about to tear off their friendly masks, the banquet hall door was suddenly flung open!
"Stop!" A blue-haired girl rushed in, followed by a tall, curly-haired man. "This is a pirate trap! They poisoned the food!"
The entire hall instantly fell silent.
Luffy tilted his head and looked at the two who suddenly appeared. "Hmm? Who are you?"
"I'm Vivi!" the girl shouted anxiously, "You guys hurry and escape! This isn't a town that welcomes pirates at all, but a Baroque Works base!"
The pirate leader's face instantly darkened. "I already thought you two were suspicious..." He ripped off his disguised apron, revealing the battle suit underneath. "Since you've chosen to betray the organization, then go to hell with these idiots!"
"Attack!" With a command, dozens of disguised pirates simultaneously revealed their weapons, and hidden compartments suddenly opened in the banquet hall walls, revealing the hidden cannons inside!
Princess Vivi's face turned pale: "It's over... it's too late..."
However, just then, Zoro suddenly stood up, his three swords already unsheathed at some point. "So you're finally dropping the act?" A cold sneer curled at his lips. "I've been waiting impatiently."
Luffy rubbed his belly and stood up. "Eh? So you guys are bad guys?" His eyes suddenly sharpened. "Then no need to hold back!"
Usopp flipped onto a table. "Hahaha! This great me saw through your tricks long ago!" His slingshot was already steadily aimed at the most troublesome hidden sniper.
The pirate leader's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! Those medicines... how could they..."
Zoro scoffed, "Back then, we were trained every day by the Captain with even worse-tasting food." He struck a stance for his Three-Sword Style. "This level isn't even an appetizer!"
With a loud bang, the battle officially began!
Princess Vivi watched the scene before her in shock—these seemingly thoughtless pirates were incredibly strong! Especially the Straw Hat boy, who sent a dozen enemies flying with one punch!
"Who... are they exactly?" Vivi murmured to herself, and the curly-haired man beside her, Igaram, said seriously, "It seems we've met some extraordinary people... Perhaps they are the turning point for our country!"
The battle on the scene was one-sided. It wasn't that these pirates were too weak; it was because the Straw Hat crew were too strong.
As the last Baroque Works agent was sent flying by a heavy punch from Luffy, the entire banquet hall finally returned to peace. Dozens of unconscious enemies lay scattered among the broken tables, chairs, and discarded weapons.
"Phew—done!" Luffy clapped his hands, the smile under his Straw Hat still bright, as if the fierce battle just now was merely a game.
Just then, the door was violently pushed open, and Nami and Ron rushed in.
Nami looked around and, seeing her companions safe and sound, finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness you're all right! We were so worried..."
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