"Stop, don't run!"
This was the chain-smoking 'White Hunter' Smoker, with two cigars in his mouth.
"Ahhh, why are there Marines here too?"
Luffy looked devastated. His rubber fruit abilities were quite ineffective against the opponent's smoke fruit.
"How should I know? Just run."
This was Usopp, who was very confident in his ability to escape, a man who could outrun a cheetah.
"Stop, Roronoa Zoro!"
This was Marine Sergeant Tashigi, wearing glasses.
"Ahhh~~~ Don't let me see your face!" Faced with Zoro's words, the Marine swordswoman was furious!
"Are you looking down on me?"
"Damn moss head, what did you do to the beautiful Marine lady?!"
This was Sanji, with his 'gentleman' spirit kicking in.
"Please be serious, we're trying to escape here."
Nami covered her forehead, speechless.
"Why is a reindeer like me being chased too—"
With Roman not around, Nami took over his role of complaining.
"Chopper, you remember you're a reindeer now? Haven't you always emphasized that you're a human-reindeer..."
"Humans are scary, I want to be a reindeer!!"
This was Chopper, transformed into his reindeer form, running on all fours with luggage on his back.
The life of a pirate, besides friendship and adventure, also includes:
Being chased by the Marines!
Under the scorching sun, two groups of people were running wildly in the desert! The Straw Hat crew was fleeing in front, while Smoker led the Marine soldiers in hot pursuit. However:
As they ran, the Marine soldiers began to fall behind, panting heavily. Smoker, looking back, frowned deeply.
A bunch of useless fools, can't even outrun pirates!
What can you do?
"Look, there's Rainbase ahead!"
The outline of buildings and an oasis appeared on the horizon, invigorating the Straw Hat crew, who collectively sped up! Smoker, behind them, choked on his cigar smoke.
These pirates! Their stamina is ridiculous...
"I'll go ahead, you catch up!"
These teammates are hopeless—
Whoosh,
Smoker's lower body turned into white smoke, lifting him into the air, and he sped forward in a gliding motion! The Straw Hat crew was shocked.
"Don't come any closer,"
"Scatter and run, scatter and run!"
"Wait a minute! Where is that damn crocodile?"
In the suburbs, a few down-and-out pirates (tricked by Roman) looked on in astonishment as a group of teenagers came running, followed by a smoking ability user. In the distance, a group of Marines was sluggishly making their way over.
This...
"The tallest building in the city," Vivi, acting as a guide, quickly explained to everyone, "is surrounded by a pool, and it looks like a giant pyramid with a huge banana crocodile carved on it. It's very easy to recognize—"
"Alright, let's meet there!"
Luffy ordered, and everyone instinctively distanced themselves from him.
No choice, Luffy's taunt level was too high. Basically, wherever they went, he was the main force to provoke the enemies first... like now:
"Stop, Straw Hat boy!"
Sure enough, Smoker's eyes were only on Luffy, allowing the other Straw Hat crew members who had scattered to breathe a sigh of relief. However:
"Be careful, this is the headquarters of Baroque Works. If we're discovered—"
Zoro glanced at the guys in the streets and alleys, armed with swords and guns, and holding 'wanted posters' in their hands. Although the Straw Hat crew had done some 'disguising', it was completely unrealistic to fool these professionals.
"It's already too late, but..."
Anyway, they had come prepared to cause a big commotion and take down the boss. Whether they were discovered or not didn't matter anymore.
Just fight their way through!
"Oh, Vivi and a group of pirates have broken into the city?"
"Yes, a squad leader just sent a message."
In the luxurious room located in the lake beneath the giant casino called Rain Dinners, Crocodile listened to Nico Robin's report and smiled arrogantly.
"Hahaha,"
"Give these foolish little mice a warm welcome."
"Yes!"
Nico Robin, dressed in a white long sweater, nodded.
Personally, she didn't dislike the Straw Hat Pirates. But some things weren't about like or dislike; it was about survival.
———————
"White Snake!"
The extending white smoke grabbed Luffy, who had jumped into the air, and held him tightly! Although Luffy couldn't create a strong wind like Roman to blow the opponent away, he had already thought of a countermeasure.
"Gomu Gomu no-"
Luffy took a deep breath.
"Balloon!"
Inflate—
His body suddenly expanded, forcefully shaking off the smoke that bound him. Luffy took the opportunity to leap towards the tallest building in the city!
While in mid-air, he glanced around and saw Zoro, who had taken down a group of fighters, and Nami and Usopp, who were being chased by a group of fighters. They were all heading towards the tallest building in the city: Rain Dinners.
Smack!
Luffy's sudden descent scared a group of passersby, but then:
They went back to their business.
After all, this was the territory of the mighty Seven Warlords of the Sea 'Sand Crocodile' Crocodile. Who would dare cause trouble here? The only outcome would be to be turned into a mummy! So:
"Crocodile~~~ come out here!!"
Facing Luffy's loud shout as he rushed into the hall, the people in the casino ignored him and continued to play. Nami, who rushed in after him, gave him a punch!
"This is their headquarters, what do you mean by shouting like that?"
"Yeah, yeah, and I don't even know what that Crocodile looks like—"
Usopp helped from the side, then:
"Crocodile, Vivi!!" X2
Faced with the shouting Luffy and Usopp, Nami and Zoro could only hold their heads in exasperation.
"According to Roman's information, the target is a tall (253cm) middle-aged man with a golden hook on the left hand. With these two clues, it shouldn't be hard to find him—"
"Wait a minute, sir!"
"Marines are not allowed inside..."
The commotion behind them made Luffy and the others turn around, only to see the White Hunter Smoker pushing past the casino guards and rushing in!
"It's the smoker guy..."
"Run!"
Luffy and the others instinctively started to run, but since this was a casino, where could they possibly run to—
"Welcome, welcome!"
"Please, this way—"
?!
Ahead was a red carpet avenue, with staff in suits and beautiful dancers bowing and inviting them. At the end of the red carpet was a luxurious door with the letters 'VIP' engraved on it.
"Crocodile," Luffy charged ahead angrily, "is this your way of inviting us?"
"A head-on confrontation?" Zoro was also eager to fight, "At least he's a straightforward bastard!"
"Wait," Nami instinctively felt something was wrong. They were enemies, after all. There was no reason...
"VIP special treatment?"
Smoker took a deep puff of his cigar, "What's your relationship with Crocodile? Why are you with the princess of Alabasta?—Forget it,"
The Marine Captain, code-named 'White Hunter', followed Luffy and the others into the VIP passage, "I'll send you all to prison—"
Click,
Click,
The scene shifted, and they were already squatting in a cage, looking at each other.
"Ah, what a clever trap."
Luffy suddenly realized.
"Indeed, there was no other choice."
Usopp nodded as well.
"You idiots!" Nami was furious, "You walked right into someone else's trap and still have the nerve to talk?!"
In short, the VIP passage was a trap. And Luffy and his group... even Smoker, who was chasing them, was speechless. How could a seasoned Marine Captain like him suddenly fall into such a simple trap?
It must be the Straw Hat kid's fault!
"Why do I feel so weak all of a sudden," Luffy instinctively walked to the side of the cage, and as soon as he touched the bars, he slid down like a noodle.
"In this situation,"
Nami was startled and pulled Luffy up. As soon as he left the cage, Luffy seemed to regain his strength.
"Is it Seastone?"
"Oh,"
The silent Smoker looked at Nami in surprise.
"Little girl, you have some knowledge, knowing about Seastone. What a pity—"
His expression almost said: 'A beauty, but a thief.'
"This is bad!"
Nami's face changed. Luffy was a Devil Fruit user, and the "Thief's Extreme Art" in her hand was also a creation of a Devil Fruit ability. Since the "Thief's Extreme Art" was essentially a part of Roman and had a 'living' characteristic, it would also be suppressed by this cage! More importantly:
In this situation, she couldn't even determine if Roman was still...
"It doesn't matter,"
Smoker stood up and drew the weapon from his back.
"I'll capture you all right here..."
Clang,
"Then you can try."
With a press of his thumb, the sword in his hand was ready to be drawn at any moment! The tension in the cage was palpable, and at that moment:
"Save your strength."
A calm yet commanding middle-aged voice interrupted the standoff between Smoker and Zoro.
"Because you'll all be dead soon, so get along..."
It was a tall middle-aged man, wearing an orange plaid long-sleeve shirt with a black fur coat draped over it! He had slicked-back hair, a long scar across his face, an earring in his right ear, a cigar in his mouth, and a golden hook on the left hand.
He also had a cigar, but unlike the 'ruffian' appearance of Smoker, this man exuded the aura of a top underworld boss.
"Crocodile!"
"Crocodile—"
"It's him..."
In an instant, Luffy and the others recognized the man! Even the usually reserved Nami rushed to the iron cage, looking at the man with his legs crossed.
"Where's Roman!"
"Where did you lock up Roman—"
"Roman?"
Crocodile tilted his head and looked disdainfully at the agitated Nami in the cage.
"Who is that?"
"He was defeated by you—"
"Ha~~"
Before Nami could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by a cold laugh.
"A nobody, probably killed him casually."
"What did you say!!"
"Bastard!"
Clang!
Facing the suddenly enraged Straw Hat crew, Crocodile calmly flicked his cigar.
"I'm just telling the truth,"
The man named Crocodile had a pair of cold, indifferent eyes.
"Do you remember how many slices of bread you eat every day?"
——————
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