"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Shut up! I'm gonna knock you flying, you ungrateful jerk!"
Zoro genuinely couldn't understand why Luffy's hostility was so strong. Looking at Luffy, he really seemed ready to fight.
What also puzzled Zoro was Luffy calling him ungrateful. He had to ask Luffy to explain.
"Don't make excuses! You went and cut down all the townspeople who kindly welcomed us and treated us to a feast! I will NEVER forgive you!!!!!"
Luffy, his belly round and bulging from overeating, said to Zoro, even more angry.
Vivi, dangling from Tom's fishing pole, heard Luffy and thought about how dense he was for not realizing the townspeople were bounty hunters targeting them. As she was about to ask Tom to put her down, she saw Tom clutching his head, looking utterly shocked as he said to Zoro: "What?! Zoro actually cut down an entire town? Is he a more terrifying devil than Nami?"
Hearing Tom, Vivi suddenly realized: it wasn't just Luffy who was dense. But this guy was dead drunk, while Luffy was sober. In that regard, Luffy was more dense.
Zoro, hearing Luffy, had a thick black line on his forehead. Just as he was about to properly explain, the belly-bloated Luffy jumped over and threw a powerful punch. "No excuses!"
With a loud CRACK, Zoro dodged Luffy's fist. The huge rock behind him was smashed to powder by Luffy's punch. Seeing Luffy really wasn't holding back, he immediately exclaimed in shock: "Are you trying to kill me?!"
"That's right! Go die!"
Luffy pulled back his fist and rudely said to Zoro, then continued throwing punches without any intention of holding back.
"He really wants to kill me?!"
After dodging several consecutive attacks, Zoro's expression gradually turned serious. He could clearly feel that Luffy truly intended to take his life.
"What are those two doing?"
Tom stood on the high rooftop, watching Luffy and Zoro fighting fiercely on the street ahead. He was still completely confused about why Zoro would for no reason cut down an entire town.
Karoo, feeling its back lighten, turned to look and discovered that Vivi, who should have been on its back, was nowhere to be seen. It was so frightened it ran back and forth, quacking nonstop.
"It's that drunkard interfering again!"
"Our target was captured by him! What do we do?"
Initially, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine thought Luffy was with Zoro and planned to take out this troublesome person too. But it turned out that wasn't the case.
Seeing Zoro and Luffy seemingly turning on each other, they wanted to watch first. Unexpectedly, Tom on the distant rooftop hooked away Vivi with his fishing pole, making them so angry their faces turned green.
Seeing Tom with Vivi, Miss Valentine was still traumatized from Tom's previous brutal beating of Mr. 5. But Mr. 5 confidently said: "Let's hurry over and deal with him! A mere drunk, how could he do anything to me? I was just careless for a moment earlier and let him get the jump on me! If I get serious, he's no match!"
Mr. 5, as a dignified Baroque Works senior agent, believed no one in this remote area could threaten him. He considered his earlier severe beating by Tom a result of being caught by surprise.
Seeing Mr. 5 looking full of confidence, Miss Valentine felt slightly reassured. After all, completing the mission was the priority. She didn't hesitate and charged toward Qin Ming's side with Mr. 5.
Just as Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine ran toward Tom, the fed-up Zoro kicked the attacking, round-bellied Luffy flying. "Have you had enough?! That's enough already!"
As Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine ran toward Tom, the Luffy kicked flying by Zoro crashed into them, smashing them into a building.
"That bastard!"
Zoro looked toward Luffy, who had no intention of listening to his explanation. He was now also furious.
"Seriously! How did it come to this?!"
"You still want to get in our way?!"
Miss Valentine and Mr. 5, crashed into the building, looked somewhat disheveled.
"Since you all want to kill each other, why don't we just take the opportunity to kill you ourselves?"
Mr. 5 rolled up his sleeves, saying to the Luffy lying on the ground.
Luffy exhaled a breath, just glanced at the Mr. 5 wanting to attack him, and said nothing.
Boom! Thud! Boom! Thud!
Very quickly, the house Luffy was in experienced consecutive explosions, frightening Karoo, who was running around near Zoro, making its eyes spin.
"I'm so pissed off! You go die! I'll use my Kilo Kilo Fruit ability to kill you!"
Miss Valentine flew out from the billowing smoke of the house, floating into the sky, still holding her umbrella. "Yahahahaha! Prepare yourself! I can ride the wind from explosions! My weight is now only one kilogram!"
"Why isn't Mr. Bushido dodging?"
Though hanging from Tom's pole, Vivi sensed Tom meant her no harm and focused on Zoro. Seeing Miss Valentine about to slam down on Zoro from the sky, yet Zoro didn't care at all, just staring intently at the exploding house, she felt very strange.
"Are you an idiot?"
Tom on the rooftop, as he jumped forward, said to Vivi hanging on the pole, her body swaying with his jumps.
"What?"
Though she had only known Qin Ming briefly, Vivi truly didn't think he had the right to call her an idiot.
"Use your brain! He doesn't have the leisure for that woman right now!"
Tom originally planned to take Vivi back to find Nami, but seeing Zoro and Luffy fighting more and more desperately, he considered it and decided to check first. He had already seen Luffy emerge from the house amid thick black smoke.
Tom had fought Luffy and often trained with Zoro, and knew very clearly their strength. Zoro had never fought to the death with Luffy before, but he understood the captain's strength.
As Tom said, Zoro currently had no mood to deal with the two senior agents. The real threat was Luffy wanting to knock him flying.
Luffy still held the Mr. 5 beaten beyond recognition. He held the battered Mr. 5 in one hand, and patted his now returned to normal, no longer bulging belly with the other. "Hmm, that exercise was great. Digested all the food."
"Now I can get serious!"
Clearly, the exercise Luffy referred to was beating up Mr. 5. He tossed Mr. 5 aside and sternly stared at Zoro, looking at him like a life-and-death enemy.
"No way... He actually defeated a Baroque Works senior agent?"
Vivi had always believed the ones truly wanted in the Straw Hats were Tom and Zoro. Now seeing Luffy, like Tom, easily defeat Mr. 5, she finally understood that in this crew, at least three could easily defeat Whisky Peak's bounty hunters. Baroque Works had really kicked an iron plate.
"That ' combat-power-five-trash ' is also a senior agent? No offense, but his attacks are useless except for polluting the environment. Hitting us is just like scratching an itch."
As Tom said this to Vivi, he let out a drunken hiccup. Seeing Luffy walking toward Zoro, he couldn't help but speed up, jumping to another rooftop.
But Tom was so drunk his vision blurred. This jump didn't aim properly, landing on the roof's edge. Then he and Vivi fell down from the roof.
Indeed, Tom was right. He had tasted Mr. 5's explosive power before. That level of attack really wasn't much for them.
From the East Blue to the Grand Line, in every major battle, Tom, Luffy, and Zoro suffered serious wounds. Compared to those, Mr. 5's explosive attacks were like mosquito bites—only itchy, no pain, with no threat.
It had to be said, Tom's durability since setting sail had undergone earth-shaking changes compared to before.
Zoro tried one last time to explain. "Calm down and listen to me! Everyone in this town is a bounty hunter! They're all our enemies!"
"Don't lie! Why would enemies treat us to food and throw a feast?!"
Luffy shouted loudly at Zoro. He was clearly still furious.
Miss Valentine, seeing Luffy effortlessly defeat Mr. 5, floating in the air, was already somewhat panicking. Seeing Zoro completely ignoring her, just talking to Luffy, she flew into a rage from humiliation and shouted at Zoro below: "Listen! My ability lets me freely control my weight between one kilogram and ten thousand kilograms!"
Though Miss Valentine shouted very loudly, Zoro and Luffy on the street below still ignored her, treating her like a transparent person. She couldn't take it anymore. "Take this! Ten Thousand Kilo Press!"
With a BOOM, Zoro, while watching Luffy, shifted his body, and calmly dodged the fast-falling Miss Valentine. He casually took off the dark green bandana wrapped around his arm and said to Luffy: "Seems like no matter what I say, it's useless."
Miss Valentine, having slammed down without hitting Zoro, now with her weight turned to ten thousand kilograms, was deeply embedded into the ground.
"You big idiot! I won't hold back anymore! Don't regret it if you die!"
Zoro tied the dark green bandana on his head, speaking very seriously to Luffy. He now completely understood why last time in Orange Town, Tom and Luffy started fighting.
Any explanation was powerless. Better to fight first!
That was Zoro's mindset as he drew the sword at his waist.
"Who's afraid of you?! Gum Gum..."
As Luffy stretched his arms back, Zoro, biting a sword in his mouth, gripping his swords with both hands, crossed his arms before his chest, veins bulging, clearly using full strength.
In that instant, Zoro and Luffy's gazes toward each other were both filled with killing intent!
"Oni Giri!"
"Gomu Gomu no Rocket!"
Zoro and Luffy charged at each other together, flames of battle burning fiercely in their eyes. The moment they moved, they used devastating techniques.
As Luffy's thrusting palms locked with Zoro's dual blades slashing toward him, Zoro said to him: "This is a good opportunity. Let's see if martial arts or swordsmanship is stronger!"
"Fine! Let's settle it today!"
Luffy and Zoro refused to give way, locked in place. In terms of pure strength, they were evenly matched.
A cold wind blew through the dark night. These two who normally trusted each other now unleashed a life-and-death battle on the wide main street.
After falling down from the roof, Tom had just tried to stand up when he was hit squarely again by the Vivi who fell together with him.
As Vivi fell onto Tom, the perfume bottle hidden in her sleeve that could cause temporary paralysis also fell out, landing on the ground, its cap coming off.
Unfortunately, the two capless perfume bottles landed right beside the currently lying on the ground Tom—one on each side.
In just a moment, the thick, pungent perfume spread through the air. Though the weak toxicity in the scent had no effect on Tom, it still made him sneeze several times.
Sneezing wasn't a big deal, but as Tom pushed away the Vivi sitting on him while sitting up from the ground, he suddenly smelled the strong, pungent perfume and immediately couldn't help sneezing repeatedly.
As is known, when sneezing, the head shakes uncontrollably, and one instinctively closes their eyes. Tom was no exception.
With each sneeze, Tom's head involuntarily moved forward a little. After five big sneezes, having just sat up, his head suddenly leaned forward.
Vivi, pushed by Tom, had just sat up from him and was about to stand when a yellow-feathered duck, panicking, ran from behind her, quacking nonstop, crashing into her and making her lunge toward Qin Ming.
Tom, sitting on the ground, eyes closed and sneezing violently, his head instinctively leaned slightly forward. He only felt a subtle fragrance, then felt his nose seemingly bump into something soft, fragrant, and smooth, followed by being forcefully pushed.
When Tom finished sneezing and opened his eyes, he saw Vivi sitting to the side like a candle burned to ashes, her whole body looking utterly bleak. A yellow-feathered duck circled her in circles. On her jade-like beautiful face, a faint blush could be seen. But it was dim here, and the drunken Qin Ming wouldn't notice such details.
Remembering he needed to check on Luffy and Zoro, Tom pulled up the still dazed Vivi. "You come with me. I can't let you run off, or Nami won't let me go."
Pulling the still not fully recovered Vivi forward a few steps, the dizzy-headed Qin Ming seemed to recall something. He turned to look at Karoo following behind and asked Vivi in confusion: "Did you... do something to me just now?"
Nami is that orange-haired girl, right?
Hearing Tom, Vivi recalled seeing Tom being brutally beaten by a beautiful orange-haired short-haired girl. She now also really wanted to do that to Tom—she truly wanted to strangle this bastard. But if she acted, she would probably be the unlucky one. So she decisively shook her head at Qin Ming.
I'll endure it!
Thinking this, Vivi took a deep breath, her expression gradually returning to normal, her eyes once again becoming resolute. Compared to what she bore on her shoulders, those earlier accidents were nothing.
Though drunk, Tom's perception was still there. He vaguely felt something was off and was about to say more when he heard Mr. 5's voice: "So you're hiding here."
The newcomers were Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, both looking extremely miserable. Having suffered enough from Luffy and Zoro, who were in their life-and-death duel, they had barely escaped, following Karoo, Vivi's steed, all the way here.
Earlier, Karoo had been frightened out of its wits and fled because these two were chasing it, crashing into Vivi.
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, beaten several times by Luffy and Zoro under the pretext of "don't interfere with our duel," had finally deeply realized the gap between them and Luffy/Zoro.
Especially the icy killing intent within the overwhelming aura of Zoro and Luffy's fight made Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine feel terrified. They now didn't dare approach where those two were fighting at all.
Thus, these senior agents decided to deal with Vivi, complete the mission, and leave this hellish place as soon as possible.
"Why are you two here again? If you don't want another beating, get lost. I don't have time to play."
Tom really couldn't understand why the bruised and battered pair dared to cause trouble. He didn't know that when he disciplined them earlier, it was purely venting. Unlike Luffy and Zoro, who were fighting at full strength, battle intent surging, life-and-death at stake, and didn't hold back when beating up those who interfered with their duel. Naturally, they were much more brutal.
"If you're sensible, hand over the Alabasta kingdom princess. Otherwise..."
Before Mr. 5 finished, Tom used Silent Step. His figure flashed, arriving before Mr. 5 and punched him, sending him crashing through the right wall into a house. "I told you to get lost! My time is precious!"
"And you? Will you leave on your own, or do I need to send you flying with a punch?"
The pupils in Tom's eyes gradually turned blood-red. The crimson blood pupils looked extremely eerie in the pitch-black alley. He just glanced at Miss Valentine, and the woman was so frightened she screamed, holding her umbrella and floating chaotically in the air, daring not approach Qin Ming.
But Mr. 5 wasn't so sensible. After being punched away, he still wanted to dig his nose and attack Tom.
Eager to get to Luffy, Tom dashed forward, reaching the Mr. 5 who was digging his nostrils and kicked him flying.
BANG! Mr. 5 directly smashed through the wall of the house, flying out and rolling onto another street.
"Huh? Tell me, which way were they?"
Tom shook his head, asking Vivi behind him riding Karoo.
"If you mean Mr. Bushido and the others, it's the next street over."
Vivi, seeing Miss Valentine floating in the air eyeing her, thought it safer to stay near Tom for now.
"Just one street over? Then we don't need to take a detour."
Tom staggered, took out his fishing rod from its sheath, and swung it, sending the still-resisting Mr. 5 flying sideways, smashing through three walls in a row. Then he walked straight through those broken walls toward the next street, not forgetting to turn back and wave at Vivi behind him, signaling her to follow.
Vivi glanced at Miss Valentine floating in the air, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately followed.
"Why are you two fighting like this?"
Tom saw Luffy and Zoro on the street trading punches and slashes, every move deadly, showing no mercy—clearly trying to kill each other. Even drunk as he was, he was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped.
"We're having a duel. Do you want to join in too?"
Zoro and Luffy had just clashed, knocking each other back. They said together to Qin Ming: "I'm also interested in your messy fighting style. But to settle the score with martial arts (swordsmanship), now's not the time."
"Huh? What are you two bastards saying? Calling my fighting style messy?"
Tom kicked aside the Mr. 5 blocking the way. Poor Mr. 5 now even had his sunglasses smashed by Tom, beaten until his nose was crooked and face swollen, truly on his last breath. Tom sat on the fallen Mr. 5 and complained unhappily to Luffy and Zoro.
Indeed, Tom's fighting style was quite chaotic now—not specialized like Luffy's fists, Zoro's swords, or Sanji's kicks.
Since Luffy said it was a duel, Tom didn't think about butting in. This was between Luffy and Zoro; he shouldn't interfere. His dizzy head thought for a moment, then said to the two: "Just remember not to kill each other. Do whatever you want."
Luffy had multiple sword wounds, Zoro had quite a few bruises. Both were using full strength, now somewhat out of breath, but still had no intention of stopping.
If Zoro slashed Luffy, Luffy would definitely retaliate with a heavy punch. They were locked in a stalemate.
Tom was thinking about how to make them stop when he noticed a den den mushi fall from the Mr. 5 he was sitting on. Out of boredom, he picked it up.
Vivi, behind on Karoo, saw the den den mushi and was shocked. She remembered only Baroque Works senior agents carried special den den mushi for direct contact with the boss.
Because senior agents carried out important tasks, they carried these for reporting emergencies.
Just as Vivi had just gotten off Karoo and was about to stop Qin Ming from using it, Tom had already made contact with the other side.
"Have you found the princess?"
A hoarse voice came from the den den mushi in Tom's hand.
"Princess?"
Tom froze, then let out a drunken hiccup. "I sure have."
"You're drinking while on a mission?! Whatever. Have you dealt with her?"
The person on the other end clearly heard Tom's hiccup, thinking Mr. 5 was drunk while contacting him. Killing intent had already entered his tone.
"I went through some trouble to find her. Why kill her? What's in your brain? Are you an idiot?"
The drunk Tom, chatting with the person, thought: I don't know him, he doesn't know me. I'll say whatever comes to mind, without any restraint.
"You dare speak to me like that? You know the consequences of betraying me, right? Or do you really not want to live?!"
The voice in the den den mushi was even lower, the killing intent within it conveying threads of coldness even through the device.
Vivi, hearing the voice, knew it was the mysterious and unfathomable boss of Baroque Works. She desperately wanted to tell Qin Ming to stop talking but didn't want her voice heard. She could only frantically signal with her eyes for Qin Ming to cut the connection.
But Vivi's hints had no effect. Hearing the other's words, Tom turned to her with a shocked expression and said: "You hear that? The guy on the other end really is an idiot! I just talked to him a bit, and he already wants to kill me? So arrogant."
You're the idiot! Do you know who that is, talking like that?!
To avoid making sound, Vivi tightly covered her mouth, her forehead drenched in cold sweat as she kept shaking her head at Qin Ming.
"You're not Mr. 5? Who are you?!"
The person quickly realized the speaker wasn't Mr. 5. His tone grew even darker.
"You ask, and I have to answer? You think you're the Pirate King? Or the Fleet Admiral?"
Tom, drunk out of his mind, was now talking nonsense. He spoke to his heart's content, not giving the other side a chance to respond. "Even if you were the Pirate King, I wouldn't be afraid! I'm the man who punched the future Pirate King, after all! If you're the Fleet Admiral, I'm even less afraid! I'm a pirate who specializes in opposing the Marines! I'm not afraid of you!"
"You're a pirate? An ignorant brat. If you ever qualify to meet me, I'll show you the difference in rank between people!"
Even angry, the person's tone remained consistent, but the grim killing intent was completely undisguised.
"All talk, no action. If you have guts, come find me now! I'll piss on you to wake you up and show you what real reality is!"
As the drunken Qin Ming was about to continue, the other side cut the connection. He casually tossed the den den mushi and turned to Vivi. "What kind of thing is that guy? Talking so full of himself. I can't stand people like that..."
Vivi now had no mood to listen to Qin Ming. She was already completely petrified by Tom's earlier words, her delicate chin smashing straight to the ground...
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T/N :
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