"Marine, what exactly is your purpose here?" Robin asked, feeling slightly more at ease now that they'd left Rainbase.
"You don't need to know my purpose. All you need to know is that you'll be free to go soon," Ryu replied with a shake of his head.
Just moments ago, after leaving Rainbase's territory, Ryu had finally received a notification from the system: he'd earned 7,900 diamonds and 2,000 experience points. Although the experience didn't quite match Robin's bounty, Ryu understood that it was based on her relative strength.
After all, Robin's bounty wasn't solely due to her combat ability—it was her unique skill in deciphering ancient texts that made her so valuable.
Initially, Ryu hadn't intended to target any of the Straw Hat crew members yet; they were valuable assets with bounties that would only increase over time. Waiting until later to confront them would yield even greater rewards. However, the appearance of the Treasure Wheel had made him too impatient to resist, leading him to go after Robin.
"Alright, by morning, you'll be free to go. If Crocodile asks, just say I received a call and decided to let you go," Ryu said, now satisfied with his 7,900 diamond gain. Naturally, he had no intention of actually capturing Robin—her abilities might come in handy for him in the future.
"Why?" Robin frowned, probing for an answer.
"Don't ask too many questions; knowing too much won't do you any good. Also, Crocodile isn't the best person to rely on—you should leave him sooner rather than later. You have friends waiting for you," Ryu finished, then turned to leave.
Now that he'd decided to go after Robin, he had no intention of sparing the other high-ranking agents either.
Meanwhile, as Ryu departed, not far from Rainbase, a giant turtle pulling a carriage was making its way toward the city. Princess Vivi and the Straw Hat crew had just reached the oasis city of Yuba, only to find it a barren wasteland. The Rebel Army was no longer there—they'd moved on to an oasis city closer to Alubarna, Katorea.
By nightfall, Baroque Works' elite agents had gathered at Rain Dinners, the casino, where they finally met with their boss, Crocodile.
Despite Ryu's earlier chaos, the casino looked just as it had before, and Robin had returned there. Crocodile questioned her briefly, but since trust was never part of their arrangement—only mutual exploitation—he accepted her story that Ryu had received a call and let her go.
Though Crocodile had made a call earlier, he hadn't expected Robin to actually be rescued. If not for the imminent arrival of the elite agents, he might not have allowed Ryu to leave so easily. But Robin's unexpected return suited his plans; her loyalty didn't matter as long as she remained close.
Crocodile then briefed the agents on the "Utopia" operation. Although shocked by his true identity and the sheer audacity of his plot to seize the kingdom, they were no ordinary operatives; all agreed to proceed with the plan.
However, when Mr. 3 showed up unexpectedly, Crocodile's rage flared. After draining Mr. 3 and tossing him into the crocodile tank, he issued a kill order for Luffy and his crew.
Ryu's appearance also left Crocodile suspicious—having a Marine around wasn't good news for them. Though Crocodile's official status shielded him from immediate Marine intervention, the threat was on his mind.
Elsewhere, Luffy and the others, after resting for the night, faced an internal conflict. Vivi wanted to go to Katorea to reason with the Rebel Army, but Luffy directly pointed to the real issue: Crocodile.
After a heated "debate," they finally decided to abandon their original route and head for Rainbase.
Meanwhile, in Alabasta's capital, the king received news via the messenger Karoo. Learning the truth, he dispatched his vice-captain of the Royal Guard, Pell, a Zoan-type Bird-Bird Fruit user with the model of a falcon, to scout Rainbase while preparing his forces for an assault.
While departing from Rainbase to locate the elite agents, Ryu found himself lost in the vast desert. With no experience in desert navigation, he was starting to feel the headache settling in.
"Damn it! Should've just waited for those guys back in Rainbase. What was I thinking, heading for the capital?" Ryu muttered, wishing he could slap himself. He had already captured Robin; he could've asked her for a map or directions or even borrowed a mount. Even just finding out if the elite agents had gathered somewhere would've saved him this trouble.
Furthermore, his original plan to track down Ace had been delayed by the appearance of the Treasure Wheel. His Marine subordinates were also out of reach, leaving Ryu simmering with frustration.
"Huh? What's that?" Just as Ryu was reaching his limit, he spotted something in the distance.
"Water! I'm gonna die of thirst! Vivi, how much longer till we get there?" Luffy, leading the group with a branch as a makeshift cane, panted with his tongue hanging out.
Vivi, walking behind him, lifted the cloth shading her head, looked around, and said, "Not far. We should be there in half a day at most!"
"We're only halfway there?" Zoro, dragging a small wooden sled, squinted up at the sun, sighing at the heat.
On the sled lay Chopper, who was nearly melting under his thick fur in the scorching desert.
"Hey! Looks like you're short on water—need some help?" Ryu called out, realizing he'd stumbled upon Luffy and the gang.
"Ryu!!" The Straw Hats were surprised to see him suddenly appear before them.
"Haha, a chance meeting! So, where are you guys headed?" Ryu asked, tossing them a water container he'd been carrying on his shoulder.
"&…*" Luffy mumbled something incoherent while gulping down the water.
"Speak clearly!" Ryu's face darkened.
"We're heading to Rainbase!" Vivi replied seriously, refraining from reaching for the water. Growing up in the desert had taught her to endure thirst.
The only ones scrambling for water were Luffy, Usopp, and a lone camel.
"To Rainbase? So, you're planning to go after Crocodile?" Ryu mused for a moment before asking.
Zoro eyed Ryu and replied, "Looks like you know quite a bit."
"I know more than you might think! But as I see it, you guys aren't ready to face Crocodile. Still, a test of strength can't hurt," Ryu chuckled.
"I'll beat him to a pulp!" Luffy exclaimed between gulps, annoyed by Ryu's remark.
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Naruto: Copying Abilities With My Left Hand
In a twist of fate, Tenshin is reincarnated into the world of Naruto, waking up with two incredible abilities that could change the course of history.
With his left hand, he can perfectly replicate any jutsu, or technique he sees, mastering them instantly. But his right hand is far more dangerous: it allows him to attack the soul directly, bypassing conventional defenses and striking at the very essence of his enemies.
As he navigates the complex ninja world, he must decide how to wield these god-like powers—will he become a hero, a villain, or something entirely new?
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advance chapters in patreon.com/CuteSelfieCat