Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Time always seems to slip away too quickly. Given the close proximity between Water 7 and Enies Lobby, and the fact that the Straw Hats were aboard the swift sea train, their journey lasted barely an hour.
Upon their arrival, the Straw Hats experienced a moment of stillness as the train came to a halt. Diverging from their usual impulsive tactics depicted in the original story, this time they chose a more cautious approach, quietly waiting in the last carriage of the train.
Enies Lobby is encircled by a towering iron fence, marking the boundaries of the island. The layout of the island is segmented into four main areas: the Main Entrance, the City Area, the Tower of Justice, and the Bridge of Hesitation, each with its own strategic importance. At the far end of the island stands the formidable Gate of Justice, a critical point that serves as both a symbol and a barrier, embodying the absolute authority of the World Government.
-----
When the train came to a halt, Lucci, Kalifa, and Blueno disembarked. They were quickly greeted by the staff on Enies Lobby. Upon hearing that Kaku had already escorted Franky to the Tower of Justice, they wasted no time and promptly departed the scene. Following them, the navy unit led by T-Bone disembarked as well.
Afterward, agents from the fourth carriage began to prepare for disembarkation. However, before heading to the island to report their duties, a routine inspection of the sea train was necessary.
Agent A, donned in a crisp black suit, eyed the train suspiciously. "Strange," he mused aloud, "I recall there being only four carriages, why do we see an extra one now?"
Agent B, equally perplexed and serious, added, "Exactly, I also remember just four. Each section of this government-exclusive train is supposed to be accounted for beforehand."
"Let's investigate," Agent B suggested. They approached the mysterious fifth carriage, their steps cautious.
Upon sliding the carriage door open, Agent B peered inside and then turned with a mix of surprise and relief. "Empty?"
"Perhaps we miscounted," Agent A proposed, a bit unsure.
"Yes, since there's nothing amiss, let's head back," Agent B agreed, eager to leave.
Shortly after the agents walked away, Luffy's head popped out from the carriage, his face lit up with a mischievous grin. "They really didn't find us, it's amazing!!"
Bai Ye, pulling Luffy back, explained with a smirk, "It's just a little trick of mine—disturbed their perceptions to make them subconsciously overlook this carriage."
Franky, still marveling at Bai Ye's skills, couldn't help but exclaim, "That's quite SU.PER, Bai Ye!"
Together, the Straw Hats stepped out from the hidden carriage.
As they crossed the iron fence of Enies Lobby, the Straw Hats were greeted by an imposing scene. Beyond the barrier lay the main entrance, a massive white gate guarded by numerous soldiers. Sanji, lighting up a cigarette, gazed up at the towering structure and remarked, "This gate's really something else!"
Usopp, peering around, added with a mix of curiosity and concern, "So, if we get past this, we're in? But why's it so quiet here?"
Bai Ye responded to Usopp's inquiry, explaining, "They probably don't expect anyone to brazenly walk up to their front door, let alone try breaking through it." He paused, then added, "Beyond this gate, though, we'll likely face a host of guards."
As Bai Ye was about to lay out his strategy, he suddenly noticed Luffy had sprinted ahead to the formidable gate that marked Enies Lobby's first defense. "Luffy!!" Bai Ye shouted, but it was too late.
Third Gear—Gomu Gomu no Gigant Pistol!
With a resounding boom, Luffy's enlarged fist collided with the gate. Debris scattered everywhere as a cloud of dust billowed up.
Once the dust settled, what appeared before Bai Ye and the crew was a scene of utter astonishment: on the other side, a large garrison of soldiers stared back, their expressions mirroring the shock of Usopp and the others.
The guards, dressed in stark white uniforms, stared in disbelief. They couldn't fathom how the sturdy gate before them had just shattered. "The gate... was broken?!!" one guard exclaimed as panic spread among them.
When they recognized the culprits, their shock deepened. "Grass... Straw Hat Pirates!!" they shouted, each word dripping with disbelief. "How did they get here? Could it be because of Master Lucci...?"
"It doesn't matter how they got here," another quickly chimed in. "This is an enemy attack!! We need to alert the higher-ups in the Tower of Justice immediately. We must hold them off. They must not trample on the world government's justice!"
Almost instantly, nearly a thousand guards charged towards Luffy, their steps thunderous.
Behind Luffy, Nami sighed heavily. "Really, Luffy, can't you ever just keep things calm?"
Sanji, lighting a cigarette, shrugged resignedly. "No helping it now. We always end up in these situations sooner or later. Might as well face it head-on."
"Next, it's all about the fight," Sanji declared as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
Bai Ye, resting his arm on Luffy's shoulder, added, "With so many of them, it's going to take a while."
"I had planned to sneak past these guards with a formation, but now that you've stirred up a hornet's nest..." Bai Ye's voice trailed off as he gave Luffy a pat on the shoulder, his tone light. "Guess it's all on you now, Luffy."
Luffy turned, his usual grin in place, and nodded enthusiastically. "Um!"
Luffy surveyed the approaching guards and murmured to himself, "Sorry, but it's time for you to take a nap." With that, he stepped forward decisively.
Suddenly, an intense surge of Supreme King Haki erupted from him! In moments, the sounds of thuds filled the air as nearly a thousand guards collapsed to the ground, rendered unconscious by the overwhelming force of his will.
With the path cleared, Luffy spread his arms wide and called out boldly, "Everyone, let's go!!" His voice was met with enthusiastic cheers from his crew, "Aye aye captain!!" Their assault on Enies Lobby was now truly underway.
As they passed the fallen guards, Bai Ye whispered in awe, "His Haki has gotten much stronger." It was clear to him that Luffy, born with the qualities of a king, possessed a natural mastery over the Supreme King Haki. Despite being the skill he practiced the least, it seemed to enhance itself automatically with each use, growing more formidable each time.