Chapter 109: Shadows on Little Garden
Dorry's massive strides barely disturbed the forest as he followed Luffy, Vivi, and Karoo back toward Brogy's camp. Luffy had grown quiet, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by the steely focus of someone who had spent a lifetime assessing danger. Vivi noticed the subtle shift in his expression, the slight narrowing of his eyes, the tautness in his shoulders, and realized that Luffy, despite his often goofy antics, was someone who could command immense authority when needed.
"So, what is this threat you keep talking about?" Dorry asked, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
Luffy glanced back over his shoulder. "Agents. Dangerous ones. They are after us, and after you two giants as well. I warned Sanji to stay hidden nearby and watch for them."
Dorry scratched his chin thoughtfully, his heavy axe resting against his shoulder. "Agents, huh? What could they possibly want with two old warriors like us?"
Vivi interjected, her voice laced with urgency. "If they are from Baroque Works, they are after anything valuable. Wealth, power, anything they can use for their own agenda. You two are giants from Elbaf. That alone makes you a target. From what I understand, you two have bounties worth 100 million each."
Brogy's camp came into view as the group stepped through the dense foliage. The blue-haired giant sat near a roaring fire, turning a spit loaded with an enormous slab of meat. He looked up and grinned widely at the sight of his old rival returning with company.
"Dorry! And what is this? You have brought guests!" Brogy's voice boomed across the clearing.
"These are the pirates I mentioned," Dorry said, gesturing toward Luffy and Vivi. "They are not here to fight. They have got something important to tell us."
Brogy raised an eyebrow, his jovial demeanor shifting to one of curiosity. "What kind of important?"
Luffy stepped forward. "Baroque Works has agents on this island. They are after us, and they are targeting you too."
Brogy frowned, his hand gripping the hilt of his massive sword. "Why would they care about us?"
"Our bounties," Dorry answered, bringing a look of realization to Brogy.
Usopp and Johnny appeared from the treeline, both looking tense. Usopp adjusted his goggles nervously, while Johnny crossed his arms, his expression grim.
"Nami left for the ship," Usopp said, his voice shaky. "We tried to stop her, but she said she needed to check something."
Luffy's jaw tightened, but he did not panic. "We will get her back. But for now, we need to regroup. Things have changed. This island takes a full year for the Log Pose to reset."
"A year?!" Vivi's shoulders slumped. "But... how will we get to Alabasta?"
Luffy's voice was steady. "I have got a plan. Sanji is waiting near the agents' hideout. He will stay there until they get the Eternal Pose for Alabasta. That is our ticket off this island."
Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance, their expressions hardening. Despite their centuries-long rivalry, they shared an unspoken bond of loyalty to those who showed them respect.
"If these agents are threatening your crew," Dorry began, his tone serious, "then we will do whatever we can to help."
Brogy nodded in agreement. "Aye, just point us in the right direction. We owe you for the warning."
"Thanks," Luffy said, his voice warm with gratitude. "But first, we need to get back to the ship. I will find Zoro. He is on the other side of the island."
"We will follow you," Brogy offered. "This Baroque Works sounds like trouble."
As the group started moving, Luffy stretched his arm to a branch and launched himself into the air, using his rubber limbs to swing above the treetops. The sheer sight of him flying through the canopy left everyone speechless. Vivi's jaw dropped, Karoo let out an incredulous quack, and both giants stared upward, their expressions a mix of awe and confusion.
"How can he move like that?" Broggy asked, his voice full of wonder.
"Is it his Devil Fruit?" Dorry added, scratching his head.
Usopp adjusted his goggles, his chest puffing out with pride. "Rubber body. He can stretch anywhere."
Dorry's eyes widened. "He mentioned that earlier when he talked about sensing those agents. Fascinating."
Johnny, ever the pragmatist, interrupted. "Let us get to the ship before anything else happens. We will explain more on the way."
With that, the group began their trek toward the Going Merry.
---
Above the thick jungle canopy, Luffy soared through the air, his sharp senses scanning for Zoro's familiar presence. It did not take long to pinpoint the swordsman. His energy was unmistakable, a steady and determined force amidst the chaotic life of the island.
Luffy descended swiftly, breaking through the dense foliage to land in a small clearing. There, Zoro stood, dragging the massive corpse of a triceratops behind him. The swordsman's face was covered in dirt and sweat, but his expression remained as stoic as ever.
"Luffy," Zoro greeted, barely glancing up as he continued pulling the carcass. "What is up?"
"Baroque Works agents are here," Luffy said without preamble. "We need to head back to the ship."
Zoro nodded, releasing the dinosaur's tail. "Lead the way."
---
Elsewhere on the island, Sanji stood over the massive corpse of a T-Rex, his foot resting on its head as he lit a cigarette. He looked annoyed, smoke curling from his lips.
"Tch, and here I thought this island might actually be a challenge," he muttered.
With the T-Rex defeated, Sanji began wandering through the jungle, his sharp eyes scanning for anything out of place. After a few minutes, he spotted something unusual. A white structure, partially obscured by thick vines.
As he moved closer, he realized it was a small house with a singular window. Sanji crouched low, sneaking toward the building. Peering inside, he saw three figures: Mr. 3, his wax hair gleaming; Mr. 5, his lethargic expression betraying his disinterest; and Miss Valentine, idly twirling an umbrella.
Sanji's ears perked as he caught part of their conversation.
"The giants of this island," Mr. 3 said, slamming two wanted posters onto the table. "Each of them is worth 100 million berries. If we follow my plan perfectly, your little failure at Whiskey Peak will be a distant memory."
Sanji smirked, retreating into the shadows. "Luffy was right," he muttered. "Guess I will wait here for those creatures he mentioned."
With that, Sanji leaned against a tree near the hideout, his cigarette glowing faintly in the darkening jungle. His expression hardened with determination. Whatever these agents were planning, they would not succeed. Not on his watch.
---
Sanji remained crouched by the tree, the faint glow of his cigarette illuminating his sharp features as he kept an ear trained on the voices inside the white house. The discussion about the giants had settled, and for a moment, all he could hear was the hum of conversation and the clinking of cups being moved. He furrowed his brow, wondering what they were up to.
Then, a new voice broke the silence. It was soft, almost childlike, with an unmistakable nonchalance that immediately caught Sanji's attention.
"Mr. 3, can I have some tea?" the voice asked.
Sanji's eyes narrowed. That must be the fourth one. Luffy said there were four agents.
"Miss Goldenweek!" Mr. 3's voice rose sharply, full of exasperation. "I am trying to outline our strategy here. This is not the time for tea."
"But I want tea," the girl said simply, unbothered by his irritation. "And some cookies."
Sanji, now leaning closer to the window, caught a glimpse of the speaker. She was a small girl with short pink hair, dressed in a yellow dress with hearts, her demeanor entirely out of place amidst the tense atmosphere of her companions. She sat cross-legged on the floor, painting what appeared to be a small sign on a wooden board, her brush strokes meticulous despite the absurdity of the situation.
"Unbelievable," Mr. 3 muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine, I will make you tea. But after that, we focus on the plan. Understood?"
Miss Goldenweek nodded serenely, not looking up from her painting. "Okay."
Sanji smirked, suppressing a chuckle. "Looks like these agents are not as tight-knit as they think," he muttered to himself.
Just as Mr. 3 began rummaging through a small cupboard in the corner of the room, Mr. 5 strolled in, his hands in his pockets. His usual apathetic expression was replaced by something resembling mild interest.
"Hey, make me a sandwich while you are at it," Mr. 5 said lazily, plopping down onto a chair near Miss Goldenweek.
"What?" Mr. 3 spun around, his face a mixture of disbelief and irritation. "I am not a chef!"
"You are making tea, are not you? You might as well make food too," Mr. 5 replied with a shrug. "Make it spicy."
Miss Valentine appeared behind him, twirling her umbrella with a smirk. "And I will have a slice of cake, please. Something sweet to go with the tea."
"This is not a café!" Mr. 3 shouted, his voice cracking with indignation. "I am a strategist, not a waiter!"
"But you are making tea," Miss Goldenweek reminded him calmly, dipping her brush into a fresh pot of paint.
"Exactly," Miss Valentine chimed in, sitting on the armrest of Mr. 5's chair. "Tea without snacks is just bad manners."
Sanji bit his lip, struggling to contain his laughter as Mr. 3's face turned beet red. The waxy-haired man grumbled under his breath, pulling out a dusty tin of cookies and slamming it onto the table.
"Here! Cookies! Are you all happy now?" he snapped, glaring at them. "Can we focus on the mission?"
Miss Goldenweek reached for a cookie, her movements unhurried. "I still want tea."
"Fine!" Mr. 3 stormed back to the cupboard, fumbling with a small kettle as he muttered curses under his breath. "I swear, it is like babysitting a group of toddlers."
Mr. 5 leaned back, arms crossed behind his head. "Hey, I am not complaining. This is the most productive thing you have done all day."
Miss Valentine snickered. "Maybe you missed your calling, Mr. 3. You could have opened a bakery instead of joining Baroque Works."
Sanji, who had nearly doubled over in silent laughter, took a deep breath to steady himself. 'These guys are a joke. If this is Baroque Works' elite, Luffy is going to mop the floor with them.'
As the scene continued to unfold inside, Sanji pushed away from the tree, leaning against its trunk as his expression turned serious. Despite their absurd antics, the fact remained that these agents were dangerous. They had a plan for the giants, and while they might not seem competent now, their bounty hunter reputations were not earned for nothing.
He took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling the smoke slowly. "Luffy was right. That little girl must be the fourth agent."
Sanji glanced at the white house one last time before turning his back to it. "I will wait here. Those creatures Luffy mentioned better show up soon. When they do, I will be ready."
With that, Sanji leaned against the tree once more, his sharp eyes fixed on the darkening jungle. For all their comedy, Baroque Works would not know what hit them.