The two undead, as if responding to a command, raised their arms. A streak of black spread from their wrists to their fists, coating their round shield and spear.
"They can do it after all." Rainer grinned wider as he watched the undead wield Armament Haki, its dark glow shimmering faintly.
"Oh ho? Not bad at all, kid." Brogy praised with a hearty laugh.
"Hey, Rainer! Let them fight me! Hehehe!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled. He could sense the strength radiating from the two undead warriors.
Rainer dismissed them back into the void.
"Don't mess around, Luffy. Those two could grind you into the dirt as you are now."
This trip to Little Garden had been a massive win. With Blue Ogre and Red Ogre, Rainer had gained tools he could rely on all the way until the end of the Grand Line's first half.
His former strongest—like the Saw-Toothed Demon and the Wolverine undead—were completely outclassed.
Until Luffy and Zoro grew stronger, giving him new templates to mold, the Ogres would remain his ultimate trump cards.
And now, with Haki infused… for the first time, Rainer's undead had surpassed Luffy. He had become the strongest fighter on the ship.
"Wuhu~ Let's go!!"
"Nice!! Rainer!"
Usopp punched the air in excitement. With two new powerhouses on board, the great Captain Usopp's adventure just got a whole lot safer.
"Wait… don't tell me that 25-million-berry duo was also…" Vivi stared at Rainer in shock.
She had seen him summon undead these past days, but never dared to pry into his abilities.
Now that she thought about it… the ship hadn't seen those two infamous bounty targets. And these undead he just revealed…
It all lined up!
"Yeah, that was Rainer's undead," Luffy answered casually.
Rainer didn't mind. He had told Luffy not to blab things that must be kept secret—but otherwise, the captain's big mouth didn't bother him.
"I see…" Vivi's expression turned complicated. Her gaze at Rainer had completely changed.
Didn't he say his undead were only for chores?!
"That's just how Rainer is," Nami muttered with disdain.
"Not an ounce of a true strongman's dignity."
"What did you say? Are you doubting the mighty Usopp style?!"
"Hold on—Rainer, was that supposed to be a compliment to me?!" Usopp protested.
Meanwhile, deep in the dense primeval forest…
Mr. 3 led a little girl in a yellow hat toward the giants' dwelling. Behind him trailed Mr. 5 and a curvy woman in a slit skirt.
The candle man fussed with his neat collar, sneering back at the pair.
"What are you two tagging along for? Don't drag me down later."
"Stop acting like hot stuff."
Mr. 5 shoved his hands in his pockets and scoffed.
"You know what happens if we fail. The boss never spares useless pawns."
"I know that better than you," Mr. 3 said seriously. "This mission is important. If I'm not mistaken, there may be others coming after us as well."
"Not sure if it'll be Mr. 2 or Mr. 1."
"Probably that pervert. Mr. 1 rarely leaves the boss's side," Mr. 3 replied coolly.
He had been in Baroque Works a long time. Even without meeting him, he understood the boss's methods well.
And if others came later, they wouldn't necessarily be allies. If it were Mr. 1…
"Doesn't matter. As long as we complete the mission."
Rustle, rustle—
A noise came from the brush. None of them paid it much attention, continuing their march.
"Damn this jungle!"
Miss Valentine cursed.
"So damp! So hot! So many bugs! I can't stand another second here!"
Only after the group passed did a blue fishman's head poke from the grass, empty eyes staring in their direction.
It circled, then sprinted through the forest at top speed toward Rainer's location.
Not long after, in the open grasslands at the island's center, Rainer saw the fishman undead rushing toward him.
"Found prey?"
The undead gestured frantically.
"Over there?"
"Four people? Two men, a kid…"
"A… three? What's with the three?"
Rainer's expression turned strange. What kind of dumb charades was this?
Nami noticed and asked curiously, "What's wrong, Rainer? Something happened?"
"There are others on this island," Rainer said, lighting a cigarette. "Heading straight for us. Already close."
"Coming for us?" Nami frowned. "Did we offend someone?"
"No. They might be after me."
Vivi suddenly stepped forward, arms crossed over her chest, face pale. A bad feeling churned in her gut.
"No need to guess. They're here."
The group tensed, scanning the surrounding treeline.
"Don't see anyone."
"Where are they?"
Red Ogre raised its spear, pointing in one direction. The two undead had already sensed multiple auras with Observation Haki.
Following its tip, the crew saw a figure emerge from the forest.
"Tch. Found already?"
It was Mr. 3, frowning as the Straw Hats' eyes locked onto him.
Oh ho, isn't this the future Vice-Captain, Number Three himself? Rainer smirked at the '3'-shaped braid atop the man's head—so that's what his undead had meant.
"Mr. 3!!" Vivi gasped, covering her mouth, body trembling.
Nami looked at her, concerned.
"What's wrong, Vivi? You know him?"
"He's one of the top assassins of Baroque Works!"
Vivi's voice shook as she clutched Nami's hand.
"Baroque is an assassin organization. Members are ranked by number, with strength as the standard. His rank… is 3! He's here to kill me!"
"To kill you?" Nami blinked. "So that curly-haired guy sent us to protect you all the way to Alabasta because…"
"How's Igaram?!" Vivi suddenly shouted at Mr. 3.
If he were here, then the decoy Igaram, who left earlier to draw attention away, must have—
"You mean the captain of the Alabasta royal guard?" Mr. 3 sneered.
"Who knows? Maybe by now the fish have stripped him to the bone."
"No…" Vivi's face crumpled, eyes brimming with tears.
"So he's the enemy then."
Luffy's voice cut through.
"We took on the mission, right? If he's here to kill Vivi, that makes him our enemy, no question."
"Exactly," Rainer said.
"There are three more in the woods. My undead are already surrounding them."
"Got it." Luffy nodded and charged straight at Mr. 3.
Rainer didn't summon more; he only tightened the net of fishman undead already positioned in the forest.
"I'm sorry, Nami…" Vivi dropped to her knees, still clutching Nami's hand. "I've dragged you into fighting enemies you can't possibly handle."
"Don't worry, Vivi. They're strong," Nami smiled, comforting her.
But her smile froze just seconds later at Vivi's next words.
"Baroque Works' true leader… is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—
Crocodile!"
"What?!!"
Nami and Usopp went pale with terror.
"Hey, you liar! You never said it was that serious!!"
"You mean we just entered the Grand Line, and already a Warlord's targeting us?!"
"Say something, Vivi!!!" Nami snarled, shaking her violently.
Vivi: ┭┮﹏┭┮ I'm sorry~~