Today's super-intense training ended with the entire Straw Hat crew sprawled on the deck like dead fish, completely drained.
After about ten minutes, they slowly started recovering, showing off their ridiculous resilience.
All except one.
Nami was leaning weakly against the railing, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.
Ray and Vivi were the first to notice something was seriously wrong.
Ray's mind flashed back to the original story.
'This matches... Nami getting bitten by that bug on Little Garden.'
But she'd been wearing her jacket this time.
'Did she still get bitten?'
He quickly told Vivi to check her for insect bites.
Sure enough, Vivi found a swollen, bruised mark on Nami's stomach.
Ray sighed inwardly.
'Even though everything else on Little Garden was completely different, Nami still got hit with the same fate. Just like Luffy crashing into the Baratie... it really feels like some unseen force is pushing things along. I need to get stronger, or I'll just be a pawn in someone else's game.'
But now wasn't the time for that.
Nami's symptoms pointed to a bite from the Keshia, a nasty prehistoric disease.
Without treatment, she'd be dead in five days.
Ray knew what their next destination had to be: Drum Island.
Time to recruit Chopper.
…
Soon, the rest of the crew noticed Nami's condition.
They all crowded around, worried sick but completely clueless about medicine.
After some panicked discussion, Luffy declared, "We need to find a doctor for Nami!"
Vivi told them that Drum Island, a kingdom famous for its doctors, was along the route between Little Garden and Alabasta.
Hearing that, Luffy adjusted his hat.
"Alright! Our next stop is definitely... Bum Island!"
(Nobody bothered correcting his pronunciation.)
Even though Vivi was desperate to get back to her country, Nami's life came first.
But then Nami suddenly sat up, insisting she was fine and they should head straight for Alabasta.
"Vivi's country is in danger! Every day we wait, more people could die!"
Ray sighed.
'Wow, Nami and Vivi got really close in short amount of time.'
Despite her talk about money, Nami genuinely wanted to help.
And Vivi?
"My country is in dire straits," she agreed, making Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji frown.
'Did we misjudge her?'
But then she continued, "Which is exactly why we need to get Nami treated right away! Only when our navigator is healthy can this ship go full speed! That's the fastest way to get to Alabasta, right?" She smiled, and the crew smiled back.
Nami's protests were overruled.
The Going Merry set course for Drum Island.
Miss Valentine and Mr. 5, who had been eavesdropping outside the cabin, were actually moved.
"Mr. 5... they're really nothing like pirates, are they?"
"Never seen a crew like this. They're so strange."
"Shihahaha! I think we actually have a good chance of surviving our old boss now!"
"Let's go, don't disturb them."
…
Because Nami was sick, Ray temporarily stopped the combat training and took over navigation duties himself.
The crew, focused on saving Nami, had no idea what kind of chaos their recent actions had caused out in the world.
That very afternoon, Morgans gave the command.
Skylights opened at newspaper HQs all over, and flocks of News Coos took flight, carrying papers featuring the Straw Hat Pirates and the Buggy Pirates to every corner of the Grand Line.
…
East Blue, Loguetown, West Coast Bar
The same group of gangsters was hanging out, now joined by Bartolomeo.
"Boss, the Straw Hat Pirates are so cool!"
"The World Government basically called them the next Warlords!"
"I wonder which Warlord they'll take down!"
Bartolomeo just smacked his subordinate on the head.
"YOU FAKE FANS! The Straw Hat senpais would never become government lapdogs! You're embarrassing me! As punishment, copy all their names 1,000 times each!"
The subordinates looked miserable, but Bartolomeo ignored them, completely absorbed in the newspaper, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Ray-senpai! Luffy-senpai! Your coolness is known worldwide! And here I am, still stuck here! I'm so ashamed!"
Just then, one of his subordinates noticed something else.
"Boss, look at the part about the Buggy Pirates."
"Huh??? Holy shit!"
…
New World, Unnamed Island
"Huh? Buggy defeated Momousagi?" Shanks stared blankly at the newspaper.
After a moment, a huge, excited grin spread across his face.
"Buggy! You finally moved on from the past! Hahaha! I'll be waiting for you in the New World! And you too, Luffy!"
…
East Blue, Loguetown
Smoker and Tashigi were back at the Marine base.
Seeing the newspaper, Smoker slammed his fist on the table.
"What is this garbage?! Why is the Loguetown incident even being reported?! Did Morgans take a bribe from Buggy or something?!"
Tashigi just stared disdainfully at the photo of Buggy stepping on Smoker.
"How ugly."
"Huh? Tashigi, what are you looking at?!"
"I mean, they made you look terrible, Captain Smoker."
Smoker: (▼ヘ▼#)
Tashigi didn't notice and asked, "Should we keep chasing the Straw Hats and Buggy?"
Smoker wanted to say yes, but thinking about the power gap just made him furious.
'Of course I want to catch them! But how?!'
The White Hunter was in despair.
After a moment, he looked at Tashigi calmly.
"I think... we need to train in the Grand Line."
"Yes, Captain Smoker."
…
Alabasta, Luxurious Casino
Crocodile, draped in a sable coat and smoking a cigar, looked extremely displeased.
"The Straw Hats and Buggy Pirates... Warlord level? And the government says they can replace a Warlord if they take one down? Hmph. Seems the government wants to shake things up. Don't you think so, Miss All Sunday?"
Robin, lounging nearby, seemed lost in thought.
"We don't know where Buggy is," she finally said, looking at Crocodile. "But the Straw Hats... have already clashed with us."
Hearing that, Crocodile laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound.
"Hahaha! Are you saying they've already picked me as their stepping stone?"
Robin just shrugged.
"It seems very likely."
Crocodile ignored her and walked to the window, looking down at the city.
After a moment, he smiled confidently.
"No wonder I couldn't reach Mr. 3. They must have taken him out already. Mr. 2's trip will be pointless. Hmph. A rookie crew dares to challenge me head-on. Miss All Sunday, contact the senior officers in three days. It's time to gather. We'll wipe out the Straw Hat Pirates in one go... and seize Pluton!"
"Understood, Mr. 0... Sir Crocodile."
After Robin left, Crocodile stared at the wanted posters of Ray and Luffy, veins bulging on his forehead.
'Cold Prince' Ray: 81,000,000 Berries, 'Straw Hat' Luffy: 81,000,000 Berries
"Hahaha! Marines!" he growled.
"You're being way too obvious!"
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