Luffy brought Sanji back to the ship. Nami still hadn't seen any sign of Tom, only noticing Usopp sleeping on the deck. Assuming Tom had wandered off again after rescuing Usopp, she declared she'd make him pay when he returned.
Remembering how Tom had been beaten up by Nami, Vivi hesitated before speaking up. "Um, when I went into the cabin earlier to get water, I saw Tom lying there asleep. He came back a while ago."
Upon hearing this, Nami declared that since Tom had returned, he should have come out to report to her. Making her worry for nothing meant he was asking for a beating.
Vivi was completely dumbfounded. Whether Tom returned early or late, the outcome was the same. She sincerely felt that guy was a walking tragedy.
"Hey, wait! Why are we setting sail? Why not spend another night here? This town is so fun, and the girls are so cute!"
"Yeah! We don't know when we'll get to enjoy something like this again. Opportunities like this don't come every day. Why not relax and stay here?"
After being dragged aboard by his foot, a recovered Sanji and a newly-awakened Usopp shouted at Luffy and the others in unison.
"It's not even dawn yet!"
"Are you listening? Go back to that town!"
Sanji wanted to continue wooing the beauties of the town, and Usopp wanted to keep boasting to the townsfolk. Having finally found a town that suited their tastes so well, neither wanted to leave Whisky Peak easily.
Thus, upon discovering they were leaving, they protested loudly.
"You don't know anything! What are you yelling about?"
Zoro, unable to stand the noisy Sanji and Usopp, said to Nami, "Go explain it to them."
Less than two seconds later, Nami told Zoro she had already finished explaining to those two. Zoro was amazed at how she could make Sanji and Usopp see reason so quickly.
Nami then informed Zoro that when she "explained," she had beaten all the necessary understanding into them.
Luffy and Vivi looked at the two guys now lying on the deck covered in lumps and were momentarily speechless.
That's right. Nami had simply walked over and beaten the loudly protesting Sanji and Usopp into submission, silencing them.
Since Vivi had mentioned earlier that Baroque Works had several bases like Whisky Peak nearby, and the organization had about two thousand members, it was possible a thousand people might come after them—especially now that they knew the boss's identity.
That's why Luffy and the others were in such a hurry to leave Whisky Peak.
As the Going Merry sailed up the river beside Whisky Peak, the sky gradually lightened. A morning mist rose from the sea, obscuring the crew's vision.
"It's a good thing we evaded pursuit," a soft voice said on the ship.
"Yeah," Nami responded without thinking.
"And be careful not to hit any reefs," the same gentle voice added.
After saying this, Nami felt something was off. She turned to Luffy beside her. "Was that you talking just now?"
Luffy shook his head. A bad premonition washed over Nami. She turned her head and saw a black-haired woman in a purple fedora sitting elegantly on the upper railing, legs crossed, chin resting on her hand. She looked down at Luffy and the others on the deck. The fingers of the hand supporting her chin danced lightly on her smooth cheek like moving spirits, keeping a gentle rhythm. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips. "This is a nice ship," she said softly.
Zoro, sensing an unknown woman had suddenly appeared on the ship, immediately rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to fight at any moment.
"Who are you?!"
Vivi turned and saw the woman on the railing. Her face changed dramatically as she urgently asked.
"I just saw Mr. 8 not long ago, Miss Wednesday."
The black-haired woman on the railing, still resting her chin on her hand, tilted her head slightly. Her blue-black eyes gazed down at Vivi as she spoke slowly.
"That's not important! The key thing is, why are you on this ship? Who are you?"
Luffy pointed at the woman on the railing and asked.
"Was it you who killed Igaram?"
Vivi bit her teeth, sternly questioning the woman. "Why are you here... Miss All Sunday?!"
Hearing Vivi call out the woman's Baroque Works codename, Nami urgently asked Vivi what number partner she was.
Vivi told Luffy and the others that the woman was Mr. 0's partner. Within Baroque Works, only she knew Mr. 0's true identity. It was by tailing her that Vivi had discovered the mastermind behind Baroque Works was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile.
In other words, this woman was the vice president of Baroque Works, its current highest commander.
Upon learning this woman was Crocodile's partner, Nami's body shuddered in shock. Luffy asked Vivi if the woman was a bad guy.
"To be more accurate, I let you follow me on purpose."
Miss All Sunday continued resting her chin on her hand, looking at Vivi. Her tone was unhurried, calm, and poised and composed.
Hearing this, Luffy thought she might be a good person.
But when Vivi said she had known all along that the woman let herself be followed, and that it was this woman who reported to higher-ups that they knew the President's true identity, Luffy puckered his lips and labeled her a bad guy.
Seeing Luffy flip-flopping without a firm stance, Zoro advised him to be quiet for a moment.
"What is your goal?"
Vivi truly couldn't understand what this woman was thinking. First, she deliberately let herself be followed, allowing Vivi to discover the mastermind. At first glance, that seemed helpful. But then the woman betrayed her, reporting that she knew the truth to Crocodile, leading to elite agents being sent to kill her.
Such contradictory actions left Vivi baffled about her intentions.
"I don't know. Perhaps seeing how serious you all were, I accidentally helped you."
The woman closed her eyes as if in thought, then opened them again. A refined smile appeared on her face as she spoke to Vivi. "Because a princess who would infiltrate an organization to save her country, truly intending to oppose Crocodile... looks utterly ridiculous. And foolish."
Hearing this, Vivi remembered Igaram's words about hoping to reunite safely in Alabasta.
Now Igaram was dead. Clenching her teeth, filled with resentment and anger, she shouted at the woman on the railing, "Don't look down on me!"
The moment Vivi shouted, everyone on board assumed battle stances. Luffy clenched his fists, Zoro drew his sword, and Nami brought out her three-section staff, wondering why Tom hadn't reacted at all—was he really asleep in there?
At the same time, the previously beaten Sanji and Usopp aimed a pistol and slingshot from left and right at the woman between them, looking ready for a serious fight.
It was the first time Vivi had seen a pirate crew act with such synchronization. She felt their coordination was beyond ordinary. Most importantly, they took this stance simply because of her shout of resentment and anger. She was deeply shocked.
Suddenly remembering Nami's promise to protect her, Vivi now truly believed it. When this crew decided to escort her, they were prepared to risk their lives. Otherwise, knowing their opponent's identity, how would they dare to act?
"Hey, do you know what you're doing?"
Usopp asked Sanji while drawing his slingshot taut, aiming at the woman.
"I don't know. But I feel my beloved Miss Wednesday is in danger, so..."
The "pistol" in Sanji's hand was actually a water gun Usopp had tossed him. In the urgent moment, he hadn't thought twice before aiming it.
Before Sanji could finish, both he and Usopp mysteriously fell from the railing onto the deck below.
"Please don't point such dangerous things at me, okay?"
As the woman said this, the weapons in Zoro and Nami's hands below were silently knocked away, clattering onto the deck.
"How did that happen?"
Zoro said, looking at his fallen sword in astonishment.
"Everyone, be careful! She's a Devil Fruit user!"
Vivi urgently warned everyone.
"What kind of ability is this?"
Nami hadn't even reacted before her three-section staff was knocked away. She found it utterly unbelievable.
"Wow! Looking closely, she's a beautiful lady!"
Sanji, who had fallen onto the deck, tried to stand but glanced up at the woman on the railing. Forgetting all about standing, he plopped back down on the deck, his eyes instantly turning to hearts. "So lovely!"
"Don't be so hasty. I haven't received any orders, so I have no reason to fight you."
The woman gave a soft laugh and looked at Luffy. The straw hat on Luffy's head then lifted away from him, landing in the woman's hand.
"So you're the legendary straw hat-wearing captain... Monkey D. Luffy."
Holding Luffy's treasured hat, the woman spun it on her finger as she looked at him.
Discovering his hat had been taken, Luffy immediately exploded, waving his fists furiously. "Give my hat back! Do you want to fight?!"
"I know you're the enemy now! Get off our ship!"
Usopp hid behind the mast, not forgetting to make a thumbs-down gesture at the woman.
"How unfortunate. For you, getting involved with a princess pursued by Baroque Works... and for the princess, being protected by a small pirate crew."
Ignoring Luffy and Usopp's shouts, the woman placed the straw hat atop her own fedora. She continued, "Even more unfortunate, the route your Log Pose points to... your next destination is called Little Garden. It seems even if we do nothing, you likely won't reach Alabasta. You'll be wiped out before even meeting Crocodile."
"I've already met one of your crew members and gave him ample warning. Didn't he tell you?"
The woman found it strange not to see Tom on the ship.
"You don't mean... Tom? You've already met him?"
Hearing this, Nami felt a sense of foreboding and asked.
"If you mean 'Red-Eyed Freak,' then yes, I quite accidentally ran into him. A man whose first bounty matches his captain's... even in the Grand Line, that's an extremely unusual situation."
The woman, legs still crossed and chin on hand, leaned forward slightly, a gentle smile on her lips as she looked at Nami. "When I met him, I warned him to tell you not to get involved with the Alabasta princess. He really said nothing to you?"
That idiot! He didn't mention such an important thing at all! He just came back and went to sleep!
Thinking this, Nami's anger meter instantly skyrocketed. "TOM! GET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!!!!!!"
Earlier, due to his drunken state, Tom had felt increasingly unsteady after lying down. He'd even asked Vivi to bring him a cup of water when she entered the cabin. But even after drinking hot water, his head remained dizzy and heavy. Just as he was drifting into drowsy sleep, Nami's furious shout startled him awake. He shot up as if from a nightmare, shook his head a few times, and stumbled out.
"Cut it out! I don't care about all that! You rotten egg! Give me back my hat!"
Seeing the woman wouldn't return his hat, Luffy was frantic, ranting like a child.
It seemed Usopp was indeed in sync with Luffy on certain things. Right now, he joined in cursing, "Yeah! You nasty woman! Go die!"
Two idiot kids.
With this thought, Zoro casually put some distance between himself and Luffy and Usopp.
Vivi watched them with a dark cloud over her head. She'd never imagined a ferocious pirate with a 30 million bounty could sometimes act with such overwhelming childishness.
"You're all so noisy! I can't even rest properly!"
Tom opened the cabin door and saw a black-haired woman in a purple sleeveless denim jacket sitting on the railing ahead. Staring at her slender back, he paused, then reacted. "It's you! What are you doing here?"
Staggering over to the woman on the railing, Tom looked at her. Her silky jet-black long hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders. She had delicate features, a defined nose, and deep blue eyes. Strands of sunlight pierced the morning mist, illuminating her face and enhancing her otherworldly air. Even a seemingly casual glance exuded mature charm.
Tom leaned on the railing, blankly looking at the woman beside him. At first glance, it seemed he was captivated by her beauty.
Seeing this, Nami's pretty eyebrows twitched violently. She was about to explode when what happened next left her utterly stunned.
Seeing Tom indeed seemed captivated, Vivi slightly frowned her willow-like brows, thinking he'd fallen for a simple beauty trap.
"Huh? It was too dark before. I just noticed now... you're actually kinda dark-skinned."
That's right. Tom's first words made it clear he wasn't mesmerized by her beauty at all. But his next sentence made everyone on the ship so shocked their jaws nearly hit the deck.
After saying she was a bit dark, Tom immediately followed up with a shout. He leaned over the railing and threw up violently.
Poor Sanji, sitting below gazing infatuated at the woman, never expected Tom would suddenly vomit from drunkenness. He was unluckily splattered from above...
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T/N :
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