I'm A Plunderer In The World Of One Piece.

In the dense jungle of Little Garden—

Usopp, covered in dirt and panic, was pinned beneath a beautiful yet terrifying woman.

His pouch of tools lay scattered nearby.

"Let me go! When my crewmates get here, they're not going to forgive you!" Usopp shouted, red-faced and struggling under the increasing weight of Miss Valentine.

She was steadily increasing her body's mass, and Usopp's limbs were beginning to go numb. Even breathing became difficult.

"I… I'm gonna be crushed to death!!"

Desperate, he screamed out toward the distant sounds of clashing giants.

"Brogy-san! Dorry-san! Somebody help! Shirogai, where the hell did you run off to?!"

Miss Valentine giggled as she twirled her parasol and tapped Usopp's nose mockingly.

"Ahahaha! No one's coming. Just stay put and enjoy being flattened by me!"

"I-Is this really the end?"

Usopp's vision blurred, his lungs burning for air. Panic set in.

Part of him blamed Shirogai, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji for not being there when he needed them.

The other part desperately searched for any way to escape.

"If I had Shirogai's power... or even Luffy's strength... I wouldn't be helpless like this..."

For the first time in his life, Usopp truly understood—

In the Grand Line, strength wasn't a luxury. It was survival.

---

Elsewhere in the forest, Nami was fleeing in a blind panic, her voice echoing through the trees:

"Shirogai! Luffy! Somebody! The Baroque Works agents are after us!"

Behind her, Mr. 5 followed casually, his hands still tucked in his pockets. Every time she tried to stop, he launched another explosive snot-ball in her direction, forcing her to keep running.

"Go on. Keep running," Mr. 5 taunted. "We'll see how far you get. The moment you stop, boom—game over."

"Bastard!" Nami snapped through ragged breaths. Sweat poured down her face as she kept sprinting. "Where are you guys?!"

Her mind spun.

Usopp should still be alive, right?

"I'm going to find Shirogai and the others—hang in there, Usopp!"

Usopp had saved her just moments earlier, risking himself to fool Mr. 5 and get her free. But as they fled, Miss Valentine had dropped from above, slamming Usopp to the ground with full weight.

"If it weren't for me, Usopp would've gotten away..."

Tears threatened to fall, but Nami grit her teeth, forcing herself to stay strong.

"Get it together, Nami. Crying won't help. I have to find them."

She ran harder, unaware that someone was watching her from above.

High in the treetops, Shirogai Yamikuro stood calmly, watching her frantic escape.

He smiled faintly and muttered,

"That's what it means to sail with Luffy... To be chased, hunted, always in danger."

He had no unrealistic expectations for Nami. She was the navigator, not a fighter.

Still, for her own survival, she needed to understand—relying on strong allies was fine. But depending on them too much was fatal.

Let her feel fear. Let her fight for herself.

As for whether Mr. 5 would kill her? Shirogai wasn't worried.

Back in the wax chamber, he had used his Whisper-Whisper Fruit, [Fourth form: Mind Weaver], to embed a subtle mental command into the minds of Baroque Works' top agents.

The command?

Scare. Intimidate. Hurt if you must. But do not kill.

To the agents, it didn't feel like manipulation. They simply believed they wanted to torment their prey, to enjoy the chase.

They would never realize it was Shirogai's influence—his mental spider silk—pulling the strings from the shadows.

---

"Hooooh! You guys are amazing!"

Luffy was still completely focused on the battle between the two giants, Dorry and Brogy, eyes sparkling with awe.

"Giants really are the strongest beings ever!"

"Found you."

A deep voice sounded behind him. A man with flames dancing from his temples stepped out of the jungle shadows.

"Luffy! Enemy behind you!" Vivi cried out, her voice full of alarm. "That's Mr. 3 of Baroque Works!"

The man raised an eyebrow at her.

"You know me?"

"Your hair gave you away!" Vivi shouted, pointing.

Mr. 3 scoffed, flicking wax from his hands.

"I'm not here to chat. Orders are orders. The new boss wants you captured, so I'm going all out. Prepare yourselves."

"Huh? So you're the enemy?"

Luffy stepped in front of Vivi, tilting his head. "What a weird guy."

"Top-Tier Candle Stylist!"

Mr. 3 whipped wax into the air, crafting grotesque wax sculptures in seconds.

One of the wax figures stepped forward, its limbs cracking as it moved—then launched a punch at Luffy.

"Whoa! This is great! The statue can move!"

Luffy laughed and launched his counter.

"Gum-Gum Pistol!"

His fist met the wax figure's punch with a sharp crack.

Bang!

The impact was dead even.

But the next moment, an intense pressure radiated from the wax figure.

"Huh...?"

Luffy's eyes rolled back. He fell limp, unconscious, straight into the statue's waiting hands.

Mr. 3 tilted his head.

"Chosen one? Future Pirate King? What a joke. So fragile..."

Behind the figure, Shirogai emerged .

He looked down at the unconscious Captain in his arms.

"You're a good leader, Luffy. But you're not a complete one."

He tossed Luffy gently under a nearby tree.

Vivi and Karoo the Duck stood frozen, unsure what to do.

Shirogai didn't give them a glance as he strode forward.

He came to a stop and looked up at the still-fighting giants, a waxy grin curling across his face.

"Now then... let's see what it feels like to face the combined might of two ancient warriors of Elbaf—Bā Country..."

An enormous wave of killing intent surged from Shirogai's body.

His Haoshoku Haki erupted, raw and perfected, flooding the entire island of Little Garden in oppressive pressure.

"Who's there?!"

Dorry and Brogy stopped mid-swing, weapons raised. Both giants turned toward the wax figure radiating sheer menace.

Shirogai's voice was warped—his throat altered to sound like a dry, raspy monster.

"Don't be alarmed. I'm just your enemy."

He grinned wide, eyes wild with anticipation.

"I have a small request. I hope the two Captains of Elbaf will indulge me."

Dorry narrowed his eyes and pointed his greatsword. "What kind of request?"

Shirogai vanished.

He reappeared directly in front of them, arms out, laughing hoarsely.

"Just one thing... I want to kill you both—or be killed by you."

---

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