Chapter 76: Miss Valentine's Usefulness — The Eternal Pose Is Obtained!New2 days ago
THUD!
After being dragged back to the ground, Miss Valentine stumbled and fell flat on her face.
However, she couldn't care less about the dirt covering her clothes.
She hurriedly pushed herself up with both hands and looked toward Luo Qi.
"Y-You..."
"D-Don't come any closer!"
The woman who had once been a cold-blooded assassin now looked like a frightened young girl who had suffered a terrible injustice.
"Don't move."
Luo Qi casually raised his sword.
"Or I'll cut you down."
WHOOSH!
A sharp sword slash swept past Miss Valentine's ear!
SLASH!
The sword energy carved a deep mark into the ground beside her!
"AH!"
Miss Valentine's entire body trembled.
This time, she actually obeyed Luo Qi's instructions.
She remained completely motionless, not daring to move even a finger!
...
"Luo Qi!"
"You're really amazing!"
Just then, Vivi happily hurried toward him.
Igaram followed closely behind her.
After witnessing Luo Qi effortlessly kill one senior Baroque Works agent and subdue another, Igaram's opinion of the young bounty hunter had begun to change.
Perhaps...
Perhaps this man really can defeat Crocodile!
Maybe he can actually help us resolve the crisis threatening Alabasta!
For the first time, Igaram began to feel that there was genuine hope for his kingdom.
"Luo Qi, what are you planning to do with this woman?"
Vivi looked curiously at Miss Valentine, who was still sitting on the ground with her limbs stiff from fear.
"Don't we need to kill her?"
"?!"
Hearing Vivi's question, Miss Valentine immediately became even more terrified!
The image of Mr. 5 being sliced in half flashed through her mind.
She could no longer suppress her fear of death!
Without warning, she scrambled forward and wrapped both arms tightly around Luo Qi's leg!
"PLEASE!"
"DON'T KILL ME!"
"I'll do anything you want!"
"Anything at all!"
"Just please don't kill me!"
Luo Qi raised an eyebrow.
He glanced down at the trembling woman.
"Anything, you say?"
Miss Valentine nodded desperately.
"Yes! Anything!"
"In that case..."
Luo Qi smiled.
"How about handing over your Eternal Pose to Alabasta first?"
"You two are senior agents of Baroque Works, aren't you?"
"Surely you have an Eternal Pose pointing toward Alabasta."
One of the reasons Luo Qi had deliberately spared Miss Valentine was precisely because he wanted to obtain an Eternal Pose from her.
After all, he couldn't be certain that the Eternal Pose in Igaram's possession actually pointed toward Alabasta.
In the original story, the Eternal Pose Igaram provided to the Straw Hat Pirates had been directed toward Little Garden!
And if Luo Qi accidentally ended up on Little Garden, he would face an extremely troublesome problem.
The island required approximately two years for an ordinary Log Pose to accumulate enough magnetic information to point toward the next destination!
Luo Qi had little interest in the two giants living on Little Garden.
Naturally, he had no intention of wasting his time traveling there.
Furthermore, he couldn't guarantee that he would encounter Nico Robin later and obtain a suitable Eternal Pose from her.
Therefore, asking the senior Baroque Works agents for one was the most convenient solution.
"I-I have one!"
Miss Valentine immediately nodded.
"I have an Eternal Pose!"
With trembling hands, she reached into her cleavage and retrieved a small navigation instrument.
Then, she hurriedly offered it to Luo Qi.
"Here!"
"Please take it!"
Luo Qi accepted the Eternal Pose, which still retained a little of her body warmth.
For a moment, he couldn't help wondering something.
Seriously...
Do beautiful women in anime all have some kind of extra-dimensional storage space hidden in their cleavage?
He was genuinely tempted to ask.
However, considering the current situation, he decided that such a question would be rather inappropriate.
So he kept the thought to himself.
...
"Um..."
Miss Valentine looked at Luo Qi nervously.
"I've already given you the Eternal Pose."
"Can... can you let me go now?"
"Let you go?"
Luo Qi shook his head.
"Not yet."
"?!"
Miss Valentine's face fell again.
"Don't worry."
Luo Qi smiled reassuringly.
"There's just one more thing I need your help with."
"As long as you do this for me, I promise I won't kill you."
Hearing that, Miss Valentine immediately straightened.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"What do you need me to do?"
At this point, survival was the only thing she cared about.
As long as Luo Qi was willing to spare her life, she was prepared to cooperate!
"Since you're a senior agent of Baroque Works..."
Luo Qi crouched down in front of her.
He looked directly into her eyes.
"You should know quite a bit about the organization's internal operations, right?"
Miss Valentine nodded cautiously.
"Good."
Luo Qi smiled.
"Then I want you to lead me to the other senior agents of Baroque Works."
"That shouldn't be too difficult, should it?"
After all, Luo Qi's trip to Alabasta wasn't solely about defeating Crocodile!
Finding the other senior agents of Baroque Works and obtaining their Devil Fruits was another important part of his plan.
However, locating those agents would be considerably easier with the assistance of someone familiar with the organization's internal affairs.
Naturally, Nico Robin would have been the ideal candidate.
If he could find her and convince her to cooperate, a single Den Den Mushi call from Robin could potentially gather all the senior agents of Baroque Works in one place!
Unfortunately, Nico Robin wasn't currently available.
Under those circumstances, Miss Valentine was a perfectly acceptable alternative.
After all, there was a bar in Alabasta that the senior agents of Baroque Works frequently visited.
And Miss Valentine knew its location!
Luo Qi's objective was simple.
He wanted her to lead him to that bar.
As for the possibility of Miss Valentine betraying him...
He wasn't particularly worried.
Baroque Works had always dealt harshly with agents who failed their missions or showed signs of betrayal.
Elimination was the organization's usual response!
And with Luo Qi personally keeping an eye on her, what kind of trouble could Miss Valentine possibly cause?
"Y-Yes!"
Miss Valentine nodded repeatedly.
"I can do that!"
At this point, she had no other choice.
Seeing her agreement, Luo Qi stood up.
Then, he turned toward Vivi and Igaram.
"Alright."
"We've accomplished what we came here to do."
"Let's leave this place."
"Of course, Captain Luo Qi!"
Vivi immediately agreed with a smile.
However, Igaram had another idea.
He wanted to disguise himself as Vivi and act as a decoy, drawing the attention of any additional assassins sent by Baroque Works.
Unfortunately for him, Luo Qi immediately rejected the proposal.
What a joke!
If Baroque Works sends more senior agents after us, wouldn't that be a good thing?
That was exactly what Luo Qi wanted!
If the organization's powerful agents came looking for him, he wouldn't have to waste time tracking them down himself.
Why would he deliberately prevent something so convenient?
Consequently, despite Igaram's concerns, Luo Qi insisted that he accompany Vivi aboard the Explorer.
Along the way, Luo Qi also dealt with two unusual animals belonging to Baroque Works.
They were the organization's notorious Unluckies, a pair responsible for drawing portraits of their targets.
After taking care of them, Luo Qi and his companions finally returned to the ship.
...
A short while later.
The Explorer had once again set sail.
"Reiju, Baby 5."
Luo Qi placed a hand on Miss Valentine's shoulder and turned toward his companions.
"I'm leaving this woman in your care."
"Make sure she doesn't cause any trouble."
Since Miss Valentine was a woman, Luo Qi didn't think it would be particularly convenient to assign Law or Bepo to watch over her.
Meanwhile, Nami and Nojiko still lacked the combat abilities necessary to restrain a Devil Fruit user if something went wrong.
That left only two suitable candidates.
Reiju and Baby 5!
"Don't try anything funny."
Luo Qi turned back toward Miss Valentine.
"These two companions of mine are extremely strong."
"If you make them angry..."
He smiled faintly.
"Even I might not be able to save you."
"Y-Yes!"
Miss Valentine immediately nodded.
"I understand!"
She had absolutely no intention of testing whether Luo Qi was telling the truth.
After all, she had already witnessed his terrifying strength!
She quickly followed Reiju and Baby 5 into the ship's cabin.
...
After watching them leave, Luo Qi jumped onto the bow of the Explorer.
He looked out across the surrounding sea, carefully examining the horizon.
Still no sign of Nico Robin.
Luo Qi shook his head.
Apparently, the mysterious woman had no intention of making an appearance just yet.
He decided not to dwell on the matter.
Instead, he focused his attention on his personal status interface.
A translucent panel immediately appeared before his eyes.
CHALLENGER STATUS
Name: Luo Qi
Age: 25
Physique: 9,560
Points: 300
Abilities:
Basic Observation Haki
Basic Armament Haki
Six Powers — Proficient
Thunder Breathing — First Form: Thunderclap and Flash
Companions:
Baby 5 — Combatant
Trafalgar Law — Doctor
Bepo — Helmsman
Vinsmoke Reiju — Captain's Assistant
Nami — Navigator
Nojiko — Cook
Special Items:
Yubashiri — Skillful Grade Sword
Bomb-Bomb Fruit
Ongoing Objectives:
Bronze-tier Enemies Defeated: 5/20
Black Iron-tier Enemies Defeated: 1/15
Fleet Level: 2
Maximum Companions: 10
...
Luo Qi's gaze settled on the special items listed in his interface.
In particular, one item immediately attracted his attention.
The Bomb-Bomb Fruit!
It was the Devil Fruit he had obtained after killing Mr. 5.
Without hesitation, Luo Qi issued a command in his mind.
Submit the Bomb-Bomb Fruit!
The next instant—
A series of brilliant golden announcements suddenly appeared across the livestream screens of every country on Blue Star!
[Congratulations! Dragon Kingdom's challenger, Luo Qi, has submitted the C-rank Devil Fruit, Bomb-Bomb Fruit!]
[Reward: 300 Points!]
[Devil Fruit Description: After consuming the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, the user's body gains the ability to transform any of its parts into explosives!]
[Even the air exhaled by the user can become an explosive weapon!]
Chapter 77: Missing Nico Robin — Mr. 3 Blocks the Way!New2 days ago
[Here it comes! I knew Brother Qi would choose to submit the Devil Fruit!]
[So it can turn any part of the user's body into a bomb? No wonder that guy Brother Qi killed earlier could make his boogers explode!]
[It's a little disgusting, but I have to admit this ability is incredibly powerful! It actually seems more useful than the previous two Devil Fruits we obtained!]
[Of course! Our soldiers are already extremely familiar with explosives. Whoever eats this Devil Fruit will definitely be able to put its powers to good use!]
[On the battlefield, a person with this ability would practically be a walking weapon! They wouldn't even need to worry about running out of ammunition. The Devil Fruit user would be an endless ammunition supply!]
[Aren't you people from Dragon Kingdom being a little too optimistic? A person's physical energy is limited. Even after eating the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, using its abilities would probably consume stamina!]
[Even if the ability can't be used indefinitely, it'll still provide benefits beyond our imagination!]
With Luo Qi's submission of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, the viewers from Dragon Kingdom were once again overcome with excitement.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
In the One Piece world.
Whisky Peak.
At the location where Mr. 5 had been killed, a tall woman with slightly dark skin and a wide-brimmed hat was carefully examining the scene.
"Mr. 5 was killed too?"
The woman crouched down and inspected the corpse.
"His body was completely severed in two."
"The cut is remarkably smooth."
"Was this the work of a powerful swordsman?"
She examined the surrounding area.
"There's no sign of Miss Valentine's body."
"Was she captured, or did she escape somewhere else?"
The woman shook her head and stood up.
Just then—
Purupurupuru!
Purupurupuru!
The Den Den Mushi she was carrying suddenly rang.
She answered it.
"Hello, Crocodile."
"Miss All Sunday."
A gloomy voice came from the other end.
"I'm fairly certain I told you not to call me by my real name."
"Sorry, Mr. 0."
The corners of Nico Robin's mouth curved upward.
"I forgot."
"..."
The other end of the line fell silent.
Several seconds passed before Crocodile spoke again.
"Have Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine completed their mission?"
"Unfortunately, Mr. 0, I haven't found Princess Vivi's body."
Robin looked down at the corpse before her.
"Instead, I found Mr. 5's body."
"Hm?"
Crocodile's voice grew colder.
"Are you telling me those two were killed by a mere princess?"
"I don't believe Princess Vivi was responsible."
Robin examined the cleanly severed corpse once more.
"Judging by the condition of the body, the attacker was probably a swordsman."
"Also, I haven't found Miss Valentine's body."
"She may have been captured."
"I see."
Crocodile paused briefly.
"What about the Unluckies?"
"Did they manage to draw a portrait of the attacker?"
After sending Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine to eliminate Princess Vivi, Crocodile had also dispatched the Unluckies to investigate any unexpected developments.
"They were killed too."
Robin answered calmly.
"Their bodies were also cut in half."
"I suspect the same person was responsible."
"Hmph!"
Crocodile's voice became even more sinister.
"Looks like our dear Princess Vivi has managed to find herself a capable helper."
"They'll probably try to head straight for Alabasta now."
"Miss All Sunday!"
"Tell Mr. 3 to temporarily suspend his hunt for the giants on Little Garden."
"He and his partner have a new assignment!"
The corners of Robin's mouth curved upward.
"Understood."
"I'll instruct them to intercept Princess Vivi and her companions along the route between Whisky Peak and Alabasta."
After receiving her orders, Robin ended the call.
However, she didn't immediately leave.
Instead, she reached down and picked up a damaged drawing board.
The board had been split neatly in half.
But when she placed the two halves together, they formed a recognizable portrait of a young man.
Robin had discovered the drawing board near the bodies of the Unluckies.
Judging by the clean cut, both the board and its owner had probably been sliced apart by the same sword strike.
Robin carefully examined the portrait.
Then, an amused smile appeared on her face.
"So..."
"The man wanted by another of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Donquixote Doflamingo..."
"Could you be the one responsible for this, Luo Qi?"
After Luo Qi and Baby 5 escaped from the New World, Doflamingo naturally hadn't given up searching for them.
However, despite spending considerable time looking for them in the New World, he had failed to discover their whereabouts.
Eventually, Doflamingo issued underground bounties on both Luo Qi and Baby 5 through the criminal underworld.
As another organization operating within that same underground network, Baroque Works had naturally learned about those bounties.
And now...
The very man Doflamingo was hunting might have accepted a commission from Princess Vivi to confront Crocodile!
The thought made Robin's smile deepen.
How interesting.
Without another word, she tore the portrait into tiny pieces.
Then, she scattered the scraps and walked away.
...
Five days later.
The sky was only beginning to brighten.
Luo Qi stood at the bow of the Explorer, enjoying the refreshing morning breeze.
"Um..."
"Captain Luo Qi?"
A clear female voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Are you really planning to fight Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
Luo Qi turned around.
"Oh, it's you, Miss Valentine."
He smiled slightly.
"No, I suppose I should call you Mikita now."
Luo Qi jumped down from the bow and landed beside her.
After spending several days together, he had naturally learned Miss Valentine's real name.
"Y-You can call me whatever you like, Captain Luo Qi."
Mikita gave him an awkward smile.
"But Captain..."
"Now that you know the true leader of Baroque Works is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, why are you still determined to fight him?"
"I know you're very strong, but Crocodile's strength is..."
"Enough."
Luo Qi waved his hand, interrupting her.
"I didn't decide to confront Crocodile simply because I promised Princess Vivi I'd help her."
"I also made that decision because I'm fairly confident in my chances."
"Besides..."
He looked directly at Mikita.
"If I don't bring Crocodile down, aren't you worried he'll send someone after you?"
"As a former Baroque Works agent, you should know exactly what happens to people who fail their missions."
"..."
Mikita pressed her lips together.
For a moment, she couldn't think of anything to say.
Of course she knew!
Baroque Works had always eliminated agents who failed their missions.
And considering that she had already betrayed the organization, Crocodile certainly wouldn't spare her if he discovered her whereabouts.
However...
That didn't change the fact that confronting Crocodile was incredibly dangerous!
In Mikita's opinion, seeking out one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea was practically asking for death!
Luo Qi gently patted her on the back.
Then, he guided her toward the front of the Explorer.
"Speaking of which..."
"What a coincidence."
Luo Qi smiled.
"Do you see those ships over there?"
"They belong to Baroque Works, don't they?"
He pointed toward several vessels approaching in the distance.
"Tell me, Mikita..."
"If those people see you traveling with me, do you think they'll try to kill you along with the rest of us?"
Hearing his words, Mikita immediately widened her eyes and looked toward the approaching ships.
Mikita's face fell as soon as she recognized the ships.
"Th-Those..."
"Those are the ships belonging to the Billions!"
She looked more closely.
Then, she spotted another familiar vessel among them.
"Wait!"
"Mr. 3's ship is here too?!"
Mikita's voice began trembling.
"Don't tell me..."
"THEY'VE ALL COME HERE TO INTERCEPT US?!"
Chapter 78: Your Challenger Is a Devil!New2 days ago
"Finally, they're here!"
Mr. 3 lowered his telescope, a satisfied smile slowly spreading across his face.
"The boss's information was correct after all. They really did take this route."
He raised his telescope again.
"And Miss Valentine is with them too."
Through the telescope, Mr. 3 could clearly see Mikita chatting rather closely with Luo Qi.
He also spotted Princess Vivi and the others on the Explorer's deck.
"Well, it doesn't matter."
"We'll just kill all of them."
"Lord Mr. 3!"
A member of Baroque Works' Billions approached him.
"Should we open fire now?"
Mr. 3 glanced at the man.
To be honest, he didn't believe these low-ranking agents would be particularly useful.
However, since they had already been assigned to assist him, he saw no reason not to make use of them.
"Go ahead."
Mr. 3 waved his hand dismissively.
"We've already confirmed that Princess Vivi is aboard that ship."
"Order your men to open fire."
"Sink the ship with everyone aboard!"
"Understood, Lord Mr. 3!"
...
One minute later.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Baroque Works vessels opened fire simultaneously!
Countless cannonballs soared into the sky before descending toward the Explorer!
"AHHH!"
Seeing the approaching barrage, Mikita screamed.
She immediately rushed behind Luo Qi and hid there!
"..."
Luo Qi shook his head.
He reached toward the Sandai Kitetsu at his waist, preparing to draw the blade and intercept the cannonballs.
However, before he could act—
"ROOM!"
Law's voice suddenly sounded behind him.
The next instant, a transparent spherical field rapidly expanded outward!
In the blink of an eye, it enveloped the entire Explorer!
Within the operating room created by the Op-Op Fruit, Law calmly raised Kikoku.
Then—
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
His sword moved at astonishing speed!
Every cannonball that entered the spherical field was instantly sliced in half!
The deadly barrage was completely neutralized!
"W-What?!"
Mikita's mouth fell open.
She stared at Law in disbelief!
He cut all those cannonballs apart?!
What kind of monster is he?!
"I told you before, didn't I?"
Luo Qi smiled at her.
"My companions are pretty strong too."
Since Law had already taken care of the attack, Luo Qi casually returned the Sandai Kitetsu to its sheath.
...
Meanwhile, aboard Mr. 3's ship.
"What?!"
Mr. 3's eyes widened.
The surrounding Baroque Works agents were equally astonished.
They had clearly seen their cannonballs mysteriously split apart before reaching the enemy vessel!
Only now did Mr. 3 realize that the people aboard the Explorer were far from ordinary.
However, he still had absolute confidence in his own abilities.
"Hmph!"
"I'd like to see how many cannonballs you can stop!"
"CONTINUE FIRING!"
"YES, LORD MR. 3!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Another barrage of cannonballs flew toward the Explorer!
However, faced with the approaching attack, even Nami and Nojiko, who possessed very little combat ability, showed no signs of panic.
They had already witnessed what their companions were capable of!
"Captain Luo Qi."
Reiju, who was already wearing her Raid Suit, turned toward him.
"Let me handle this."
Without waiting for a response, she leaped from the Explorer's deck!
WHOOSH!
Using the advanced technology built into her footwear, Reiju began floating through the air toward the enemy ships!
"I'll help."
Law stepped forward.
Then, he activated Moonwalk and followed closely behind her!
"Hey!"
Luo Qi called after them.
"Make sure you bring their leader back alive!"
He had originally intended to deal with the attackers personally.
However, since Reiju and Law had already taken action, there was no need for him to interfere.
There was one exception, though.
Mr. 3.
I need to deal with that guy myself.
After all, Mr. 3 was a Bronze-tier enemy and a Devil Fruit user!
Luo Qi certainly wasn't going to let that opportunity slip away.
...
The moment Reiju and Law landed aboard the enemy vessels, the cannon fire abruptly stopped.
Instead—
"AHHHHH!"
"HELP!"
"MONSTERS!"
Terrified screams erupted from the Baroque Works ships!
Even though the vessels were more than a hundred meters away, everyone aboard the Explorer could hear the commotion clearly.
"..."
Mikita swallowed nervously.
Her expression was filled with horror.
At that moment, she felt incredibly fortunate that she wasn't aboard those enemy ships!
Otherwise...
I might be the one screaming right now!
Less than ten minutes later, the battle was over.
Reiju and Law returned to the Explorer.
Each was carrying a captive.
Law held Mr. 3.
Meanwhile, Reiju was carrying a young girl!
"Huh?"
Nami looked at the girl Reiju placed on the deck.
"Reiju, who's this child?"
"That's Mr. 3's partner."
Mikita hurriedly explained.
"Miss Goldenweek!"
"MISS VALENTINE!"
Hearing Mikita's voice, Mr. 3 immediately raised his head.
The moment he saw her standing beside Luo Qi, he became furious!
"So you really did betray us!"
"YOU TRAITOR!"
"EEK!"
Mikita immediately turned around and hid behind Luo Qi.
Meanwhile, Nami looked at the frightened young girl with disbelief.
"Wait a minute..."
"You're saying a child this young is actually an assassin?"
"Y-You shouldn't underestimate her!"
Mikita quickly spoke up.
"She can use the colors on her paint palette to control people's emotions!"
"So please be careful not to touch her paint!"
After personally witnessing the overwhelming strength of Luo Qi's companions, Mikita had finally accepted her position.
She understood that cooperating was her only sensible choice.
Therefore, she immediately revealed Miss Goldenweek's abilities.
"You should've told us that earlier!"
Law shot Mikita an irritated glare.
After all, he hadn't known anything about Miss Goldenweek's abilities during their fight.
As a result, he'd accidentally fallen under the influence of her color-based techniques!
If Reiju hadn't intervened in time to help him, Law wasn't sure what would've happened.
"U-Uh..."
"I only just remembered!"
Mikita shrank back.
Seeing Law's fierce expression, she almost completely hid herself behind Luo Qi.
"Alright, Law."
Luo Qi chuckled.
"Stop frightening our guest."
He stepped forward and approached Mr. 3.
In Luo Qi's eyes, the captive had practically transformed into a collection of Physique Points and a Devil Fruit!
...
"W-What are you planning to do?!"
Mr. 3 stared at Luo Qi nervously.
"What do you think?"
The corners of Luo Qi's mouth curved upward.
"You just fired an entire barrage of cannonballs at my ship."
"Surely you don't expect me to let you return alive after doing something like that?"
Hearing those words, Mr. 3's expression changed drastically.
"W-WAIT!"
However, Luo Qi had no intention of listening to his protests.
He reached forward and lifted Mr. 3 by the neck!
CRACK!
With a sudden application of force, Luo Qi snapped his neck.
Mr. 3 died instantly!
The next moment, a familiar notification sounded inside Luo Qi's mind.
[You have killed one Bronze-tier enemy!]
[Reward: Physique +50 points!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Paramecia-type Wax-Wax Fruit!]
Hearing the announcement, Luo Qi casually tossed Mr. 3's corpse into the ocean.
Then, he turned toward Miss Goldenweek.
The young girl immediately began trembling!
Although Luo Qi had been smiling throughout the encounter, the sight of him killing Mr. 3 so effortlessly had terrified her.
In her eyes...
The man standing before her was practically a devil!
...
[Look at Luo Qi's expression! Don't tell me Dragon Kingdom's challenger is planning to kill that little girl too?!]
[So this is what people from Dragon Kingdom are like? They won't even spare children?!]
[Even if she's an enemy, there's no way I could bring myself to kill a child! You people from Dragon Kingdom really are devils!]
[What a load of crap! Judging by your username, you're from Sakura Country, aren't you?! If we're talking about devils, the people from your country are far worse!]
[Heh! At least our country's challengers wouldn't attack children!]
Back on Blue Star, the viewers who harbored hostility toward Dragon Kingdom were watching the scene with malicious anticipation.
After seeing Luo Qi kill Mr. 3 and turn his attention toward Miss Goldenweek, they desperately hoped he would kill the young girl too.
That way, they could condemn Dragon Kingdom on moral grounds!
...
"Captain Luo Qi."
Reiju approached and glanced toward the frightened Miss Goldenweek.
"What should we do with this child?"
"Let's take her along for now."
Luo Qi looked at the trembling girl.
"Once we reach Alabasta, we'll let her go."
Then, he turned toward Mikita.
"You already know her, don't you?"
"Try to comfort her."
"Make sure she doesn't get too frightened."
Mikita immediately nodded.
"Understood!"
Luo Qi then turned toward his other companions.
"Nojiko, please prepare something simple for everyone to eat."
"Nami, let's continue toward Alabasta!"
"Got it, Captain!"
Hearing his instructions, the crew immediately sprang into action.
Although Luo Qi had prepared himself to kill when he first arrived in the One Piece world, Miss Goldenweek was still a child.
Furthermore, she wasn't inherently evil.
Until now, she had simply been following the orders of others while carrying out her missions.
Luo Qi had no intention of killing someone like her unnecessarily.
...
[HAHAHAHA! Where are those people who claimed Brother Qi was going to kill the little girl?! Come out and show yourselves!]
[The people who immediately assumed he'd murder a child are the ones with devils living inside their hearts!]
[Seriously! What kind of person do you take Brother Qi for?!]
[All this time, Brother Qi has only killed people who deserved it! Instead of criticizing him, why don't you people spend some time keeping your own challengers under control?!]
After seeing Miss Goldenweek follow Mikita into the ship's cabin unharmed, Dragon Kingdom's livestream erupted with a flood of comments.
The viewers fiercely criticized those who had tried to condemn Luo Qi before he had even made a decision.
However, just as the argument was reaching its peak—
A brilliant golden announcement suddenly appeared at the top of the livestream!
[Dragon Kingdom's challenger, Luo Qi, has submitted the C-rank Wax-Wax Fruit!]
[Reward: 300 Points!]
[Devil Fruit Description: After consuming the Wax-Wax Fruit, the user gains the ability to produce large quantities of wax from their body!]
For a brief moment, the viewers from Dragon Kingdom froze.
Then—
[ANOTHER DEVIL FRUIT?!]
[BROTHER QI IS AMAZING!]
[HAHAHAHA! WE'VE RECEIVED ANOTHER DEVIL FRUIT!]
Thunderous cheers immediately erupted throughout Dragon Kingdom!
...
Meanwhile, inside Dragon Kingdom's leadership office.
Several elderly officials stared at the Devil Fruit that had once again appeared on their table.
For a long time, none of them spoke.
"..."
"..."
Finally, the elderly man seated at the head of the table cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
"Have Guan Feng come here again."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"And contact the military."
"Tell them to select ten outstanding soldiers and send them here as well."
Chapter 79: The Importance of Devil Fruits — Encountering Smoker Again!New2 days ago
Dragon Kingdom.
Inside a modest office.
"Guan Feng, sorry to trouble you with another trip."
Seeing researcher Guan Feng enter through the door, the elderly man seated at the head of the table smiled and nodded.
"Actually, you didn't need to come here personally. You could've simply sent one of your assistants."
"You're joking, sir."
Guan Feng approached with a cheerful smile.
"When it comes to Devil Fruits, I naturally want to examine them as soon as possible!"
Clearly, the fact that Luo Qi had obtained yet another Devil Fruit for Dragon Kingdom had put Guan Feng in an excellent mood.
After spending considerable time researching the Devil Fruits, Guan Feng had already developed a fairly thorough understanding of their abilities.
The soldiers who had consumed the Ton-Ton Fruit and Drunk-Drunk Fruit had also become increasingly proficient in using their powers.
In fact, they had already begun applying those abilities in actual military operations!
As Guan Feng approached the officials' desk, his attention was immediately drawn toward the Wax-Wax Fruit resting on its surface.
His eyes practically lit up!
Meanwhile, another person entered the office behind him.
It was Zhou Qiangping, the soldier who had consumed the Drunk-Drunk Fruit!
"Greetings, commanders!"
Zhou Qiangping immediately stood at attention and delivered a crisp military salute.
"Oh, it's Little Zhou."
The elderly man smiled kindly and beckoned toward him.
"How are you progressing with your Drunk-Drunk Fruit abilities?"
"Reporting, sir!"
Zhou Qiangping straightened his posture.
"Although activating my Devil Fruit abilities consumes an enormous amount of stamina, preventing me from using them continuously, I've basically mastered their operation!"
He answered the elderly man's question seriously.
"Also, I accompanied Researcher Guan Feng here today because there's something important I need to report!"
"Oh, right!"
Hearing Zhou Qiangping's words, Guan Feng suddenly remembered the other reason for their visit.
"I almost forgot about that!"
He immediately turned toward the elderly officials.
"Leaders, there's something extremely important I need to report to all of you."
The officials exchanged glances.
Then, they nodded simultaneously.
"Go ahead."
Guan Feng took a deep breath.
"Perhaps because the oceans of our world are different from those in the Forbidden Zone, Zhou Qiangping didn't develop the usual weakness to seawater after consuming his Devil Fruit."
"You're already aware of that, correct?"
The officials nodded.
"Well, something happened recently."
"Our soldiers conducted an operation and successfully captured three spies from Sakura Country."
"At the time, I thought that since Zhou Qiangping had already learned how to use his Drunk-Drunk Fruit, we might as well test its effects on those spies."
Hearing this, the elderly officials immediately showed expressions of interest.
Naturally, they were well aware that foreign spies were operating within Dragon Kingdom.
Ever since Luo Qi began obtaining enormous quantities of resources for his country, nations with unfriendly relations toward Dragon Kingdom had sent increasing numbers of spies into its territory.
This was particularly true of Sakura Country, which had lost its challenger because of Luo Qi!
Guan Feng turned toward Zhou Qiangping with a smile.
"As for what happened next, I think it would be better for the person involved to explain."
"Soldier Zhou, please continue."
"Yes, sir!"
Zhou Qiangping nodded firmly.
"The operation went extremely smoothly."
"Although the three spies were very tight-lipped, I successfully used my Drunk-Drunk Fruit abilities to cloud their minds and loosen their tongues."
"We managed to obtain information from them that they had previously refused to reveal."
He paused briefly.
"Personally, I believe that as long as my stamina holds out, an ordinary human would find it extremely difficult to resist my Devil Fruit abilities."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The elderly officials immediately applauded!
Every one of them wore a delighted smile.
They understood better than most just how difficult it could be to extract information from trained spies.
Now, however, Dragon Kingdom possessed the Drunk-Drunk Fruit!
With such an ability available, the country could potentially gain a tremendous advantage in future intelligence operations.
And that wasn't all.
Guan Feng took over the conversation.
"Leaders, you're all aware of the mysterious red mist that appeared throughout the world around the same time as the Forbidden Zone, correct?"
The officials immediately became serious.
"Of course."
Guan Feng nodded.
"Through the information obtained from those three spies, we discovered something extremely important."
"The red mist in Sakura Country has undergone changes beyond simply expanding!"
"Strange creatures actually emerged from the red mist and began attacking Sakura Country's citizens!"
"What?!"
The elderly officials' expressions changed.
"Fortunately, Sakura Country had soldiers stationed around the red mist for some time."
"Because of that, they managed to eliminate the creatures before they could cause even greater damage."
Guan Feng continued.
"However, something interesting happened during the fighting."
"The swords and blades Sakura Country had previously obtained from Forbidden Zone Treasure Chests proved exceptionally effective against those monsters."
"In certain situations, they were even more useful than modern firearms!"
Hearing this, the officials became increasingly attentive.
"Later, Sakura Country sent ten soldiers into the red mist, each carrying one of those special swords."
"Unfortunately, only five returned safely."
"However, those five apparently brought back some information about the interior of the red mist."
Guan Feng paused.
"The spies we captured didn't know exactly what those five soldiers discovered inside."
"Afterward, Sakura Country continued sending armed personnel into the red mist."
"And during their subsequent expeditions, they apparently stopped bringing certain technological equipment with them."
Guan Feng's expression grew serious.
"Based on that information, I suspect modern firearms and other technological devices might not function properly inside the red mist."
"On the other hand, swords and other equipment obtained from the Forbidden Zone appear to remain effective."
...
After listening to Guan Feng's report, the elderly man seated at the head of the table began massaging his temples.
His mind was racing.
The red mist...
It was a mysterious phenomenon that had appeared alongside the Forbidden Zone.
However, unlike the Forbidden Zone, the red mist existed directly within their own world!
Every country on Blue Star had at least some areas covered by it.
And Dragon Kingdom was no exception!
Since its appearance, Dragon Kingdom had tried practically every available method to investigate the mysterious phenomenon.
Unfortunately, none of their attempts had produced meaningful results.
No matter what kind of detection equipment they used, the only thing their instruments could identify was a peculiar wavelength emitted by the red mist.
Beyond that, they couldn't detect anything!
Even powerful explosives had proved completely ineffective.
No matter how many bombs were detonated near the mysterious fog, they couldn't damage or disperse it in the slightest!
The red mist simply remained where it was.
And as time passed...
It continued expanding!
Slowly but steadily, the crimson fog consumed more and more territory.
There had also been several incidents involving wild animals approaching the mist.
However, the moment those animals came into contact with it, they immediately dropped dead!
After witnessing those incidents, Dragon Kingdom had abandoned any immediate plans to send soldiers inside.
At the very least, they wouldn't risk human lives until they understood why ordinary animals died upon touching the mist.
But now...
"Sakura Country actually managed to send soldiers inside the red mist..."
The elderly man frowned.
"And some of them returned alive?"
"Could it be because of the swords they obtained from the Forbidden Zone?"
Guan Feng nodded.
"Leader, that's exactly what I suspect."
"Furthermore, we've discovered something else."
"Ever since Zhou Qiangping consumed his Devil Fruit, his body has begun emitting a peculiar wavelength."
"And that wavelength is almost identical to the one emitted by the red mist!"
"What?!"
The officials immediately looked toward Zhou Qiangping.
"There's more."
Guan Feng continued.
"The basic Germa 66 Raid Suit we obtained earlier also emits the same wavelength!"
"Considering those discoveries and the intelligence we obtained from Sakura Country's spies..."
"I suspect that people carrying items obtained from the Forbidden Zone might be able to enter the red mist safely."
"Those items could include special swords, Devil Fruits, or even Germa 66's basic Raid Suits!"
Guan Feng took another deep breath.
"Leaders, I believe we need to begin preparing as soon as possible."
"Monsters have already emerged from Sakura Country's red mist."
"And Dragon Kingdom possesses an enormous territory."
"We have far more areas that could potentially be threatened!"
"Even if no monsters emerge from the red mist within our borders, allowing it to continue expanding would still cause us tremendous losses."
Guan Feng grew serious.
"Now, I'm beginning to think that the Forbidden Zone didn't appear simply to provide us with resources."
"Perhaps it also exists to grant humanity the power necessary to confront the red mist!"
...
The moment Guan Feng finished speaking, Zhou Qiangping stepped forward.
He immediately delivered another military salute!
"Commander!"
"I request permission to enter the red mist and investigate!"
His voice was firm.
He had already obtained the Drunk-Drunk Fruit's abilities!
And according to Guan Feng's findings, his body emitted the same unusual wavelength as the red mist.
That meant he might be able to enter it safely!
Furthermore, Zhou Qiangping believed that the power he had received should be used to protect his country from this mysterious threat.
However...
The elderly man narrowed his eyes slightly.
He raised a hand, signaling Zhou Qiangping to relax.
"Qiangping..."
"I understand that you want to contribute to our country."
"But your abilities are extremely valuable."
"We can't simply allow you to risk your life by entering the red mist without sufficient preparation."
Zhou Qiangping fell silent.
The elderly man turned toward Guan Feng.
"Guan Feng."
"Take this Wax-Wax Fruit with you."
"Continue researching its abilities and find a suitable candidate to consume it."
"Once more of our soldiers have mastered Devil Fruit powers, we'll organize a proper operation to deal with the red mist."
Guan Feng nodded seriously.
"Understood!"
With that, he and Zhou Qiangping took the Wax-Wax Fruit and left the office.
...
However, even after the two men departed, the elderly officials couldn't calm their thoughts.
For a long time, the office remained silent.
Eventually, one of the elderly men sighed.
"Perhaps the greatest problem facing our world isn't the relationship between different countries..."
"Nor is it the shortage of resources on Blue Star."
"Instead..."
"It's that mysterious red mist."
Another official nodded.
"Exactly."
"If we continue ignoring it, whatever emerges from inside will eventually cause enormous damage."
"And it's not just the monsters."
"The red mist itself is continuing to expand."
"If it spreads much farther, the consequences could be disastrous."
"Right now, we've still managed to keep the situation from becoming widely known."
"But if the affected areas grow any larger, we won't be able to conceal the danger forever."
The room fell silent again.
Then, another official spoke.
"Fortunately, Luo Qi has been obtaining Devil Fruits for our country."
"With those extraordinary powers, I'm confident our soldiers will eventually find a way to deal with the red mist!"
"Indeed."
The elderly man seated at the head of the table nodded.
He turned toward the large screen displaying Luo Qi's livestream.
"Once that young man returns..."
"We'll have to give him a proper welcome and express our gratitude."
Suddenly, one of the officials made a suggestion.
"Why don't we send him a voice message?"
"We can explain what's happening with the red mist."
"That might encourage him to continue collecting and submitting Devil Fruits."
"Agreed."
Another official nodded.
"He's already contributed so much to our country."
"We should also take this opportunity to thank him properly."
...
At the same time.
In the One Piece world.
Aboard the Explorer.
Luo Qi was reclining comfortably in a lounge chair, his eyes closed.
Meanwhile, Mikita was standing beside him, diligently massaging his shoulders.
Ever since witnessing Mr. 3 and the other Baroque Works agents being defeated, Mikita had become even more respectful toward Luo Qi.
In fact, her attitude had practically turned into outright flattery!
After comforting Miss Goldenweek, she had returned to the deck.
And when she noticed Luo Qi relaxing in a lounge chair and enjoying the warm sunlight, she immediately approached him and volunteered to give him a massage.
"Captain Luo Qi..."
"Is this amount of pressure comfortable?"
"Are your shoulders sore?"
"How about your legs? Are they tired?"
"Does your neck feel stiff?"
Mikita moved around Luo Qi attentively, trying her hardest to make him comfortable.
After all, she wanted to leave as favorable an impression as possible on the powerful captain!
Nearby, Vivi and Igaram watched the scene with astonished expressions.
Is this really the same Miss Valentine from Baroque Works?!
...
"You're certainly enjoying yourself, Captain."
Suddenly, Law's voice sounded beside Luo Qi.
"Heh."
Luo Qi slowly opened his eyes.
"Just taking a little break."
He turned toward Law.
"What's the matter? Did something happen?"
"There's a Marine warship ahead."
Law gestured toward the distant sea.
"It's the same warship we saw back in Loguetown."
"Captain Smoker's ship."
"Oh?"
Luo Qi raised an eyebrow.
"Smoker's warship?"
He smiled.
"Looks like we've run into an old friend again sooner than expected."
Law nodded.
"They've already spotted us."
"And judging by their movements, it looks like they're waiting for us to approach."
"Should we go meet them?"
"Of course."
Luo Qi sat up in his chair.
"After all, we're planning to take down Crocodile."
"If we have Marines around to witness what happens, it'll make dealing with the aftermath much easier."
He waved his hand.
"Bring the Explorer alongside their warship!"
"Understood!"
Following Luo Qi's orders, the Explorer adjusted its course.
Its bow turned toward Smoker's warship as the two vessels steadily approached each other.
Chapter 80: Nami — Take the Job, Captain! That's 550 Million Berries!New2 days ago
The Explorer rapidly approached Smoker's Marine warship.
Before long, Luo Qi could clearly see Smoker and Tashigi standing at the stern of the vessel.
Apparently, the two had been waiting for his arrival.
Luo Qi smiled.
However, just as he was about to greet them—
Ding!
A sudden notification sounded inside his mind!
"Hm?"
Luo Qi frowned slightly and immediately opened his personal status interface.
A message from Dragon Kingdom's government?
Did something important happen back home?
Feeling somewhat puzzled, Luo Qi opened the voice message sent by Dragon Kingdom's officials.
Although the recording lasted barely a minute, its contents made his expression increasingly serious.
There's actually some kind of mysterious red mist in the real world?!
Monsters have already emerged from the red mist in Sakura Country?
And apparently, only people carrying items obtained from the Forbidden Zone can enter it safely?
Good grief...
So something like that exists too.
Luo Qi fell into deep thought.
Looks like I'll have to obtain a high-quality Devil Fruit for Dragon Kingdom.
Almost immediately, a particular category of Devil Fruit appeared in his mind.
Logia-type Devil Fruits!
As long as Dragon Kingdom obtained a Logia-type Devil Fruit, Luo Qi believed its soldiers would gain a significant advantage.
Even if the soldiers couldn't use their abilities indefinitely because of their limited stamina, the extraordinary defensive properties of a Logia-type fruit should greatly improve their chances of surviving encounters with the mysterious red mist.
Crocodile...
Looks like I've got another reason to kill you.
Luo Qi slowly exhaled.
His determination to destroy Baroque Works and defeat the Desert King, Crocodile, had only grown stronger.
...
"Luo Qi?"
"What's wrong?"
A gentle voice suddenly sounded beside him.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
Baby 5 raised her hand and softly touched Luo Qi's furrowed brow.
The cool sensation of her fingers brought his attention back to the present.
"Nothing's wrong, Baby 5."
Luo Qi gave her a reassuring smile.
Then, he gently took her hand in his own.
"Don't worry."
"I was just thinking about something happening back in my homeland."
"I see..."
Baby 5 tilted her head slightly.
"If there's anything troubling you, Luo Qi, please make sure to tell me!"
"I'll do everything I can to help you!"
Hearing her heartfelt words, Luo Qi smiled even more warmly.
"Baby 5..."
"Just having you here beside me is already a tremendous help."
"Really?"
Baby 5's eyes brightened.
...
[OH MY GOD! That's an enormous serving of sweetness! I'm so jealous!]
[They're too adorable together! I'm completely obsessed with Brother Qi and Baby 5!]
[Seriously, these two are going to give me diabetes!]
...
"Ahem!"
"Seriously, you two..."
A familiar voice suddenly interrupted their tender moment.
"Even if you want to act all affectionate, do you really have to do it right now?"
Apparently, not everyone could tolerate watching Luo Qi and Baby 5 being so intimate.
Smoker and Tashigi had already jumped aboard the Explorer.
However, Luo Qi had been so occupied with Baby 5 that he hadn't even acknowledged their arrival.
Unable to endure being ignored any longer, Smoker finally spoke up.
"Oh, come on, Captain Smoker!"
Luo Qi turned toward him with an amused smile.
"How can you say something like that?"
"Don't you know that interrupting a couple's romantic moment is practically inviting lightning to strike you?"
"Exactly!"
Tashigi's cheeks turned slightly red as she glanced toward Luo Qi and Baby 5.
Then, she turned toward her superior and scolded him.
"Captain Smoker! You really shouldn't interrupt them!"
Hearing Tashigi describe her and Luo Qi as a couple, Baby 5's face immediately turned bright red.
"C-Couple..."
She lowered her head shyly.
Meanwhile, Smoker simply took another puff of his cigar.
"What nonsense."
"Why would something like that get me struck by lightning?"
He clearly didn't take their complaints seriously.
"Honestly..."
Tashigi took a deep breath.
"No wonder you're already in your thirties and still don't have a girlfriend, Captain Smoker!"
"..."
Smoker's expression stiffened.
Clearly, he hadn't expected his own subordinate to say something like that!
"Alright, Tashigi."
Luo Qi laughed.
"There's no point explaining these things to a man like Smoker."
"He wouldn't understand anyway."
Then, he changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, I'm rather curious about something."
"Didn't you two leave Loguetown to pursue Straw Hat Luffy and his companions?"
"Now that you're here..."
Luo Qi glanced toward the surrounding sea.
"Don't tell me the Straw Hat Pirates are somewhere nearby?"
Hearing his question, Smoker shook his head.
"No."
"We lost their trail."
"We haven't managed to discover their whereabouts since."
"I see."
Luo Qi nodded.
Smoker continued.
"However, I've received a new assignment."
"According to a report, Portgas D. Ace, the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division, has been spotted in Alabasta."
"Headquarters ordered me to investigate and confirm whether the information is accurate."
Smoker glanced toward the Explorer.
"We happened to notice your ship while traveling, so we decided to wait for you."
Hearing this, Luo Qi suddenly remembered something.
That's right!
This should be around the time Ace was traveling the seas in search of Blackbeard Teach.
If that's the case...
There's actually a chance we'll encounter Ace in Alabasta!
Luo Qi rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Then, he smiled at Smoker.
"So, is there something you'd like my help with?"
"Knowing you, Captain Smoker, I doubt you'd deliberately stop your warship and wait for me without a reason."
"..."
Smoker took another puff of his cigar.
"It's nothing particularly complicated."
"I noticed that your ship seems to be heading toward Alabasta as well."
"So I was thinking about hiring your crew to assist us with something."
"Oh?"
Luo Qi immediately became interested.
"What exactly do you need us to do?"
"For now, I'd like you to travel alongside us."
Smoker answered seriously.
"If we actually encounter Ace in Alabasta, I want you and your crew to help us capture him."
He paused briefly.
"After all, Ace is a notorious pirate with a bounty of 550 million Berries."
"That should be enough to attract your interest, shouldn't it?"
...
Luo Qi was genuinely surprised.
He hadn't expected Smoker to approach him with this kind of request!
After all, Smoker was an extremely proud Marine officer.
Under ordinary circumstances, he wasn't the sort of person who would willingly ask bounty hunters for assistance.
However, there was something Luo Qi didn't know.
During his ten-day stay in Loguetown, Smoker had spent considerable time observing him.
Whether it was his personality, his behavior, or his combat abilities, Luo Qi had gradually earned Smoker's recognition.
Although Smoker was still somewhat dissatisfied with Luo Qi's refusal to capture the Straw Hat Pirates, he also understood that Luo Qi had his reasons.
More importantly, Marine Headquarters hadn't abandoned its intention of recruiting Luo Qi!
Sengoku had previously instructed Smoker to continue trying to persuade him to join the Marines whenever possible.
Although both men had already left Loguetown, their unexpected encounter presented another opportunity.
And Smoker had no intention of letting that opportunity go to waste.
His plan was simple.
By inviting Luo Qi and his companions to travel alongside the Marines, he could allow them to experience Marine operations firsthand.
Perhaps that would eventually convince Luo Qi to enlist.
And if they really did encounter Ace...
Smoker believed Luo Qi's combat strength would be extremely useful in capturing such a dangerous pirate!
...
"F-Five hundred million?!"
Vivi, who had been listening nearby, suddenly widened her eyes.
"His bounty is actually that high?!"
"It's more than four hundred million Berries higher than Crocodile's former bounty!"
However, someone else reacted even more dramatically.
Nami!
The moment she heard the words 550 million Berries, her eyes practically transformed into Berry symbols!
She immediately hurried toward Smoker.
"HEY, MARINE!"
Nami raised her hand and pointed directly at him.
"Let me make something clear!"
"If we cooperate with you and successfully capture this Ace fellow..."
"You'll pay us the full 550 million Berries, right?!"
"Every last Berry?!"
Smoker nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
"The Marines have more than enough funds to pay the bounty."
"..."
For a moment, Nami stood completely still.
Then—
Her expression brightened!
She immediately spun around and rushed toward Luo Qi!
"MY DEAR CAPTAIN LUO QI!"
Before Luo Qi could react, Nami tightly wrapped both arms around his arm.
She looked up at him with an incredibly sweet smile.
"Let's accept this job!"
"Please, Captain!"
"After all..."
"THAT'S 550 MILLION BERRIES!"
Luo Qi: "..."