Sheathing his swords after the bloodbath, Zoro nodded with a measure of satisfaction. "Alright, done."
Around him, the fallen agents of Baroque Works littered the ground—roughly a hundred in total. Not a single one had landed a blow on him, and the one-sided slaughter ended quickly. From the rooftop, he surveyed the scene. The odds had been stacked against him, sparking excitement at first, but the victory came too easily, leaving him unscathed. Testing his new blades was a small consolation, though not as thrilling as he'd hoped.
Still, he recognized the quality of his swords. Yubashiri was lighter than any blade he'd wielded, effortlessly nimble. Sandai Kitetsu's sharpness was ferocious, almost untamed, requiring time to master its wild edge. The fight had been worth it for that insight alone.
Now, he could finally drink in peace.
As the thought crossed his mind, a groan came from behind. Mr. 8, sprawled on the ground, forced out a strained voice. "Ugh… to think we'd lose to a single swordsman…"
"Still conscious, huh?" Zoro said.
"But with strength like that, perhaps…!" Mr. 8 rasped.
His torso slashed, Mr. 8 clung to consciousness, his breathing ragged, teetering on the edge of collapse. His gaze fixed on Zoro with unsettling intensity—not hostility, but something like a plea.
Zoro turned, his face twisting with suspicion. This man had tried to kill him moments ago—why the desperate look now?
"Wait, Mr. Bushido!" a voice called from the side. Miss Wednesday stood on the rooftop, accompanied by a large duck with yellow feathers, casually sipping from a flask around its neck, utterly devoid of tension. Apparently, this was her new partner, not Mr. 9. The duck, named Karoo, matched her size and seemed comically relaxed.
They'd lunged at him earlier, only to miss and tumble off the roof. Zoro had written them off as a clumsy duo, yet here they were again. He eyed them with mild exasperation. "You're the ones who fell earlier," he said.
"I haven't lost yet!" Miss Wednesday declared. "Prepare yourself!"
"You already did," Zoro said. "Forgot that quick?"
"That was just this guy getting jittery!" she protested, gesturing at Karoo. "It won't happen again!"
"Fine, fine," Zoro said, unenthused. "Just get on with it."
"You're underestimating me!" she snapped. "This is your fault, Karoo!"
"Quack!" Karoo replied.
Despite their seriousness, the duo's lack of gravitas—thanks to Karoo—made the moment feel absurd. Zoro braced himself, unmotivated, to deal with them.
Mr. 8 interrupted, still prone, his expression shifting. The hostility was gone, replaced by a desperate urgency, as if his composure had crumbled. "Wait, Miss Wednesday," he said. "I need to talk…"
"What? Mr. 8?" she replied, startled.
"Swordsman," Mr. 8 said, addressing Zoro, "I have a request, given your skill."
"What's with the sudden buddy act?" Zoro said, skeptical.
Mr. 8's face remained earnest, undeterred by Zoro's cold tone. Something serious drove him. Reluctantly, Zoro decided to hear him out. "We've been looking for allies," Mr. 8 said. "Skilled allies."
"Allies?" Zoro scoffed. "After trying to kill me?"
"There's a reason," Mr. 8 insisted. "Please, help us—"
"Impressive judgment, Guard Captain," a cool, melodic voice cut in.
Zoro turned to find its source. Across the wide street, on another rooftop, sat a woman, legs crossed, exuding a mysterious air. Dressed in a purple outfit and hat that exposed her midriff, she wore a soft smile, her gaze fixed on Mr. 8 and Miss Wednesday. She hadn't been in the earlier fight—a striking, enigmatic figure.
The two stiffened at her sight, clearly recognizing her. Miss Wednesday recoiled, her voice trembling. "Miss All Sunday?! Why are you here?!"
"Is that a problem?" the woman replied, unfazed. "Me being here?"
"D-did you just… call me Guard Captain?!" Mr. 8 stammered.
"Is that wrong?" Miss All Sunday said calmly. "Guard Captain Igaram. And Princess Vivi."
Her words, delivered with casual ease, froze Mr. 8 and Miss Wednesday—revealed as Igaram and Vivi—in shock. The air shifted palpably. Baroque Works agents used codenames exclusively, so these were likely their real names. The titles—Princess and Guard Captain—hinted at their significance, exposing the organization's bizarre reach.
Zoro, listening impassively, glanced at the pair. Miss Wednesday was indeed Princess Vivi, and Mr. 8 was Igaram, the Guard Captain. They were no ordinary agents—likely key figures from some nation. Baroque Works' ability to ensnare such people underscored its sinister scope.
Miss All Sunday, leaning on her hand, spoke with serene confidence. "Why… our names?!" Igaram gasped.
"Did you think he didn't know?" she said. "The Princess and Guard Captain of Alabasta, known to all your people, infiltrating the organization? He's been indulging your little game."
"From the start?!" Vivi exclaimed.
"Didn't it strike you as odd?" Miss All Sunday said. "Both of you, stationed around Sandy Island, were sent to Whiskey Peak despite him knowing who you are."
"What are you saying?" Igaram demanded.
"He planned to use you," she said. "You'd eventually return to Alabasta, needing passage. Having a reliable guard would be a bonus."
Igaram gritted his teeth, humiliated. Their cover had been blown from the start, making them mere pawns. "You knew we'd lose?" he said. "And that we'd ask for their help afterward?"
"It was a calculated trust in your judgment," she said. "As enemies, of course."
"How far does this go?!" Igaram shouted.
"You even tailed me to uncover the boss's identity," she said. "That was by design too. Knowing your enemy sharpens your resolve."
"You mocked us!" Vivi snapped, her shoulders trembling with rage.
The blunt revelation stung. Not only had they been exposed, but they'd been manipulated without realizing it. Miss All Sunday tilted her head slightly. "Your mission's over," she said. "Good work. No severance pay, but any objections?"
"Why let us go?" Igaram asked. "Knowing Mr. 0's identity makes Vivi a threat to you."
"It doesn't," she said. "That's why you're spared."
Abruptly, she shifted her gaze, looking past them. From Zoro's right, Kiri stood, hands in his hoodie pockets, his usual smile in place. Miss All Sunday's smile deepened, while Zoro's brow furrowed. Igaram and Vivi, recognizing him, looked equally confused.
"Fancy codename," Kiri said lightly. "I'm just a helper."
"Hehe, true," Miss All Sunday said. "It's been a while, Kiri. How long?"
"Not that long," he replied. "But enough time's passed, I guess."
His casual tone, as if chatting with an old friend, hinted at a deeper connection. Zoro, recalling Kiri's earlier vagueness, muttered, "What's going on…"
"Nameless," Igaram said, stunned. "I've heard that name—the only Baroque Works agent without a codename, the other partner to the boss, alongside Miss All Sunday."
Zoro glanced at Igaram, urging him to continue. "Explain, old man. What's this 'Nameless'?"
"It's literal—no codename," Igaram said. "Their existence was known within the organization, but only as a rumor. No one's seen them; even their gender was unknown. Yet the name 'Nameless' spread. They're said to handle the boss's shadow work, while Miss All Sunday manages the surface operations. The boss has two partners."
"And that's him?" Zoro said, eyeing Kiri.
"To think he's so young," Igaram murmured.
Kiri met Miss All Sunday's gaze, standing calmly. The trio—Zoro, Vivi, and Igaram—watched in silence, sensing something unspoken that kept them from interrupting.
"I knew catching you wouldn't work," Miss All Sunday said. "Though I expected as much."
"You made it too obvious," Kiri said. "Anyone would notice. Well, maybe not our cook—he's a bigger flirt than me."
"And the girl with you?" she asked.
"Sleeping alone by now," Kiri said. "Felt bad, but I let her take the drug."
"So her weakness wasn't yours," she said.
"Nope. First time meeting her," Kiri said. "Even the Princess and Captain didn't know me."
Vivi, startled, cut in. "So you knew… back then?!"
"Spotted you right away," Kiri said. "Figured it was something like that."
"You catch on quick," Miss All Sunday said. "The boss has a message for you."
Vivi fell silent as Kiri faced Miss All Sunday, the moment heavy with significance. "The vice president showing up in person?" Kiri said. "Must be important. What's the message?"
"One word," she said. "'Albana.'"
"Huh," Kiri said, nodding. "Got it."
He said little, and Miss All Sunday seemed satisfied, leaving the trio feeling left behind. They hadn't grasped the full picture, yet the two continued their cryptic exchange.
"Why'd you ditch the organization?" she asked. "Won't tell me the reason?"
"Nothing grand," Kiri said. "Just didn't vibe with the company culture."
"That's it?" she pressed.
"Ask the boss if you want details," Kiri said. "Probably quicker."
"He won't tell me either," she said.
"Then give up," Kiri said. "He's a tough one to crack."
"Fair enough," she said. "Thanks for the tip."
Kiri shrugged, his smile familiar yet somehow off. Zoro felt a twinge of unease. Kiri's demeanor was unchanged, but something made him seem like a stranger, stirring an odd discomfort.
Miss All Sunday stood, her business concluded. With no trace of regret, she prepared to leave. "That's all," she said. "Princess, you're free to go."
"What?" Vivi said, startled.
"They'll take you to Alabasta," she said. "They're headed there anyway."
Ignoring their wary looks, she glanced back at Kiri with a warm smile. "We'll meet again, won't we? I'm looking forward to it."
"Not exactly thrilled about it," Kiri said. "But I won't hold back."
"Hehe," she laughed. "Anything you want me to tell him?"
"Yeah," Kiri said. "Tell him to go easy on me."
"Got it," she said.
With a soft chuckle, she turned, exposing her back as she descended the roof and vanished behind a building. A strange silence lingered, the scene frozen.
Zoro's gaze shifted to Kiri, who met it with a look that silenced any questions. Kiri turned to Vivi and Igaram. "So, we can help you out," he said. "You want to stop Baroque Works, right?"
"Y-yes, but…" Vivi stammered.
"There's still much we don't understand," Igaram said. "If you're truly Nameless, why oppose Mr. 0?"
"I'd love to explain," Kiri said, scratching his head, "but there are others who need to hear it too. Mind waiting? Though I get it—you probably don't trust me yet."
His sheepish grin made him seem like an ordinary young man, not a former agent of a secret syndicate. Vivi and Igaram exchanged glances, thrown off by his demeanor. Kiri still held back details.
"If you don't like it, you can bail anytime," he said. "We're heading to Alabasta anyway, so we can drop you off and part ways. For now, let's leave this island together. I'll explain everything on the ship."
"Igaram…" Vivi said, uncertain.
"We have little choice, Lady Vivi," Igaram said. "We should join them for now."
"No backstabbing, I promise," Kiri said. "We're fighting the same enemy."
Vivi and Igaram, still wary, fell silent, swept up in the moment's momentum. They'd become allies, albeit reluctantly. Vivi rushed to help the injured Igaram to his feet.
Kiri glanced at Zoro, whose stern expression showed he was also in the dark but holding back questions for now. A slight headshake and sigh signaled a mutual understanding—they'd been on the same ship long enough to know how to handle each other. Zoro spoke first. "So, what's the plan?"
"We're done here," Kiri said. "Let's leave the island now."
"Now?" Zoro said. "What about that… log thing?"
"I've got a plan," Kiri said. "Spend enough time out here, and you pick up some navigation tricks."
He turned, spotting Mr. 9 and Miss Monday among the fallen. "Mr. 9, Miss Monday, get up. I've got a job for you."
"How'd you know we were awake?!" Mr. 9 said, scrambling to his feet.
Miss Monday, grumbling, stood too. Both had relatively light injuries—Miss Monday, spared a direct cut due to her gender, had been knocked out with the flat of Zoro's blade.
Kiri hopped off the roof, approaching them casually, unguarded. "You two were listening," he said. "Ready to help out?"
"Help?" Mr. 9 said, hesitant.
"Lend a hand or don't," Kiri said. "I can forget you were awake if you want."
"Well, uh…" Mr. 9 faltered.
"We're in," Miss Monday said firmly. "We've worked together long enough. I want to help our friends."
Mr. 9 nodded, their resolve solidified. Kiri smiled, recognizing their determination. "Alright, then," he said. "Head to Alabasta ahead of us."
"Alabasta?" Mr. 9 said. "How? We don't even have an Eternal Pose!"
"Figure it out," Kiri said. "If you're serious, you'll manage."
"What?! That's so irresponsible!" Mr. 9 protested. "You're the one asking for help!"
"You're free to bail," Kiri said. "Meet us there. If you don't show, that's that."
"Wait, seriously? No strategy meeting?" Mr. 9 called.
Kiri walked off, leaving them behind, and looked up at the trio on the roof. "Zoro, get everyone to the Merry. Carry them if they're asleep."
"Pain in the ass," Zoro muttered. "Just wake 'em up."
"It's night—let them sleep," Kiri said. "You two, come with us."
Calling Vivi and Igaram, he started walking. Mr. 9 and Miss Monday, bewildered, were left behind as Kiri turned away.
The street was silent, littered with fallen agents. Glancing around, Kiri spotted two figures—Nami and Silk. They'd been asleep when Zoro left the tavern, but now they stood, hands full of pilfered loot. Their unwavering greed drew a wry smile from Kiri, though their expressions carried a hint of melancholy.
He understood why but didn't rush to explain. Assuming Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji were genuinely asleep, he looked away, his smile deepening. "Let's go," he said. "Things are about to get busy."
He strode past Nami and Silk, heading back to the tavern. The group watched his back, their complex emotions silencing any words.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
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