Chapter 28: Chapter 23
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[Present day]
Luffy beamed, his grin lighting up his face. "That fight sounds amazing, Tien! Can you use that move again?"
Tien chuckled and shook his head. "No, I can't. It's a dangerous technique—it drains my life energy. Using it recklessly could be the end of me."
Luffy turned to Goku, eyes sparkling with admiration. "And you, Goku! You took that blast head-on. That was incredible!"
Goku laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Aw, it's nothing. Just another good sparring session."
Nami, finally calming down after her anger turned her attention to the horizon. She pointed forward and said, "We're here."
Everyone followed her gaze to see a fog-covered island coming into view. The towering cacti that dotted the landscape loomed ominously in the distance, their bizarre shapes visible even through the mist.
"Look at those cactus!" Luffy said, leaning over the ship's railing with excitement.
Sanji, standing at the helm, eyed the island warily. "So that's Whisky Peak," he muttered, the skepticism in his voice evident.
Before anyone could respond, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday stepped up onto the ship's railing, drawing everyone's attention.
"It's been a fun ride," Mr. 9 said with a sly grin, "but this is where we part ways."
Miss Wednesday gave a dramatic wave, smirking. "Bye-bye, sweethearts!"
Without further explanation, the two dove into the water, swimming away with surprising speed. The crew watched in bewilderment, unsure of what to make of their sudden departure.
"Well, that's… a way to go," Usopp muttered, scratching his head in confusion.
"Who cares?" Luffy said, brushing it off with his usual carefree attitude. He pointed excitedly at the approaching island. "We're landing! Let's go!"
The Going Merry sailed steadily toward the fog-shrouded shore of Whisky Peak, with Nami standing at the bow, her eyes locked on the jagged silhouettes of the island's towering cacti. She glanced back at the crew, her tone serious. "There's a path that leads right up to the shoreline. It's safe enough for the Merry to dock, so we'll take it by ship."
Usopp, clutching his slingshot nervously, trembled. "B-But what if there are monsters on that island?! Giant, man-eating monsters with claws and teeth!"
Sanji leaned against the railing, cigarette between his lips. "Well, Usopp, this is the Grand Line. Monsters aren't just a possibility—they're practically guaranteed."
Luffy grinned, stretching his arms lazily. "If there are monsters, we'll just fight 'em and leave. No big deal!"
Goku's eyes sparkled with excitement, "I hope they're strong monsters. That'd be fun!"
Usopp's face twisted in horror, and he shook his head violently. "There shouldn't be any monsters! Right?!"
Before he could spiral further, Nami cut him off with an authoritative tone. "Stop it, Usopp! We can't leave this island, monsters or not. The Log Pose needs time to lock onto its magnetic field. That means we'll have to stay here—maybe for a few hours, maybe for a few days."
"But—" Usopp started, only for Nami to glare at him.
"No buts! We're staying."
Luffy stretched his arms toward the horizon, clearly unfazed. "Let's not think about monsters until they show up!"
Zoro, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Yeah. Nothing to worry about until there's something to fight."
Sanji turned to Nami, his expression soft and reassuring. "Don't worry, Nami. I'll protect you from anything that comes our way."
Nami rolled her eyes but nodded, her tone lightening slightly. "Good. That's settled, then."
As the Going Merry glided closer, the crew began to make out shapes in the mist. Tien, standing at the stern, stiffened. "There are people in the fog," he said, his voice low and serious.
Sanji narrowed his eyes. "Who are they?"
"Everyone, be on your guard," Nami instructed, her hand hovering near her staff. The rest of the crew ready themselves, preparing for whatever might come out of the fog.
Suddenly, the sound of cheers and jubilant voices broke through the eerie silence. "Welcome, travelers! Congratulations on making it into the Grand Line! We're so happy to have you in Whisky Peak!"
The fog lifted slightly, revealing a lively scene. The shoreline was bustling with people waving banners and throwing confetti into the air. Musicians played cheerful melodies, and the townsfolk shouted their greetings with wide smiles.
The Straw Hats exchanged confused glances the island's vibrant atmosphere completely at odds with the ominous silhouettes they had seen moments before.
"Pirates are welcome to this island!" one of the townsfolk called out, waving energetically.
the Going Merry docked, the welcoming crowd erupted into cheers, with colorful streamers flying through the air. Sanji's eyes sparkled as he scanned the lively scene, his focus immediately landing on the large number of women in the crowd. "I've never seen so many cute girls in one place!" he exclaimed, his cigarette nearly falling from his lips as he swooned.
The crowd parted as a tall, eccentric man with curly hair and a vibrant outfit approached the crew. He bowed dramatically and introduced himself, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "Welcome to Whisky Peak! My name is Igaram, and I'm the proud mayor of this fine town!"
Luffy grinned wide, pointing at Igarappoi's curly hair. "Whoa! I love your hair—like the curls!"
Igaram chuckled, adjusting his curls. "Thank you, young man. Whisky Peak is a town that thrives on making liquor and music. Hospitality is the pride of our community. In honor of your arrival, may we throw a grand party for you?" He paused, coughing awkwardly into his hand before clearing his throat. "MA MA MA—for you adventurers!"
Before Nami could respond, Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp yelled in unison, their excitement palpable. "We'd love to!" Without hesitation, they bolted off the ship, following the scent of food and music.
Nami, still standing near the gangway, gave an exasperated sigh before stepping forward. "How long will it take for the Log Pose to record this island's magnetic field?" she asked, her tone direct.
Igaram waved a hand dismissively, his smile never faltering. "Oh, no, no, no! Don't trouble yourself with such technicalities. Tonight, we celebrate! Let's not waste a moment. Follow me—I'll make sure you're treated like royalty." He gestured toward the bustling town, clearly eager to lead her inside.
Goku, always quick to follow Luffy's lead, dashed after them, waving his hand. "Wait for me! I don't want to miss the party!"
Back on the ship, Tien crossed his arms and frowned, his sharp eyes narrowing as he watched the festivities. "You think this is a good idea? Throwing a huge party for pirates seems... suspicious."
Zoro, leaning casually against the mast, shrugged. "You're probably right. Something's off about this place. But it's nothing we can't handle. If anything happens, we'll deal with it." With that, Zoro adjusted his swords and followed after the others
Tien stayed back a moment longer, scanning the crowd and the fog-covered cacti in the distance. His instincts told him something was wrong, but for now, he chose to trust Goku crew's ability to handle whatever came next. With a sigh, he finally stepped off the ship, ready to stay alert while the others celebrated.
[Night]
The party at Whisky Peak was in full swing, the building brimming with life and energy as the Straw Hats and their new allies immersed themselves in the festivities. Usopp stood at the center of a captivated group, gesturing wildly as he spun one of his tall tales. "And then I went straight through the Calm Belt!" he exclaimed, his voice full of dramatic flair. "Sea Kings left and right! But I took them all down, one by one, with nothing but my trusty slingshot!"
The crowd around him gasped in awe, some applauding and others whispering about his supposed bravery.
Meanwhile, at the banquet table, Goku and Luffy were in the middle of an intense eating competition, towering stacks of empty plates surrounding them.
"These guys are monsters!" someone from the crowd yelled. "They've eaten enough food for fifty people already!"
A frazzled doctor collapsed in the corner, exhausted from trying to keep up with the demands of the kitchen. "I'm done…" he muttered before passing out.
Across the room, Zoro sat slouched at a low table, a large mug of sake in his hand. His usual sharp demeanor had given way to a rare, relaxed state as he tilted the mug back, downing its contents without a care in the world. Empty mugs cluttered the table around him, a clear sign he had been at it for a while.
At another table, Nami leaned back in her chair, laughing as she clinked her own mug of beer with a group of locals. Her cheeks were flushed, She wiped a tear from her eye and took another hearty sip.
"That's his tenth mug," someone whispered, watching Zoro with a mix of awe and disbelief as he grabbed another drink from the tray.
"And she's still going strong over there," another person added, glancing at Nami, who was in the middle of recounting a story
On a couch surrounded by a throng of swooning women, Sanji was in his element. He leaned back casually, addressing the ladies with a soft smile and charming words.
"He's flirting with twenty girls at once!" a man muttered bitterly. "We don't stand a chance…"
In a quiet corner of the room, Tien and Chiaotzu sat side by side, watching the chaos with calm, analytical expressions. Tien sipped from a glass of water, clearly uninterested in the lively atmosphere.
Their solitude didn't go unnoticed. Igaram approached with his characteristic wide grin, spreading his arms as he spoke. "Why so quiet, my friends? Come, join the festivities! It's a night to celebrate your arrival!"
Tien shook his head, his tone polite but firm. "Thanks, but I'll have to decline. We're not really in the mood for a party. Could you show us to a room where we can rest instead?"
Igaram blinked, then recovered quickly, his grin widening. "Of course, of course! I'll have someone escort you right away." He gestured to a few nearby townsfolk, who quickly approached to guide Tien and Chiaotzu out of the building.
As the two walked away, Igaram stood watching them leave, his expression briefly darkening. He muttered under his breath, a hint of frustration in his voice. "That one's going to be a problem… I'll have to keep an eye on him."
After a while the lively atmosphere of the party was finally starting to slow down as exhaustion began to take its toll on the Straw Hats and their companions. Zoro sat at a table, calmly placing his sake cup down with a satisfied sigh.
"I'm calling it quits," he said, his voice steady despite the sheer amount he had consumed. "I'm going to sleep." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes closing as he promptly passed out.
"Twenty mugs of sake, and he's finally down!" someone in the crowd marveled, shaking their head in disbelief.
Nami, sitting at another table, smirked as she watched Zoro. "Zoro, you're quitting already?" she teased, leaning back as she exchanged banter with a nun seated across from her. The nun was surprisingly lively, drinking from a massive jug of sake with a gleeful grin.
"Sister," the nun said, her voice slightly slurred, "you should quit now. No way you can keep up with me!" She raised her jug in challenge.
Nami scoffed, pouring herself another drink. "Not a chance. I'm not giving up that easily."
Meanwhile, Luffy sat at a table piled high with empty plates, his belly comically swollen from overeating. He leaned back in his chair, patting his round stomach.
"This… this is a new feeling," he muttered, his voice heavy with fatigue. "I think I'm full."
Beside him, Goku dropped to the floor, groaning. "Yeah, me too. I'm beat…"
Not far away, Nami finally outlasted the nun, who slumped forward onto the table, unconscious. A triumphant smirk spread across Nami's face as she lifted her cup. "I win!" she declared, but her victory was short-lived—moments later, she, too, fell unconscious, her head hitting the table with a soft thud.
Usopp, still basking in the glow of the party, stumbled through the crowd, laughing. "This place is amazing!" he declared loudly before collapsing onto the floor, joining the others in their deep slumber.
The room fell quiet as the last of the crew succumbed to their exhaustion, their snores filling the air. The once-boisterous party hall now seemed eerily calm, the only sounds coming from the soft rustle of the wind outside.
The dimly lit room where Tien and Chiaotzu sat, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. The door creaked open, and a group of townsfolk shuffled in, carrying the unconscious Straw Hats.
"They're all fast asleep," one of the townsfolk said, grinning. "Where should we put them down?"
"Just leave them here," Tien said.
"Good night!"
With that, they exited, leaving the Straw Hats sprawled on the floor
Outside, under the pale moonlight, Igaram stood alongside Mr. 9, Miss Wednesday, and the muscular nun, who was no longer wearing her disguise.
"Was it really necessary to put on that ridiculous charade for those fools?" she grumbled. "If it weren't for us spiking their drinks, they would've drunk the entire island dry! We should've ambushed them at the harbor. Supplies are already low!"
"Quiet," Igaram snapped, his expression serious as he pulled out two wanted posters, holding them up for the others to see. One featured Luffy's grinning face with a bounty of 40 million, while the other displayed Goku's cheerful smile with a bounty of 30 million.
Mr. 9, Miss Wednesday, and the nun froze, their eyes wide in shock. "Thirty and forty million for those two idiots?!" the nun exclaimed.
Igaram nodded grimly. "Looks can be deceiving. These aren't ordinary pirates. For now, we'll focus on stealing everything off their ship."
Miss Wednesday crossed her arms, "And what about them? Should we just kill them?"
"No," Igaram replied sharply. "If we kill them, their bounties drop by thirty percent. We'll capture them alive and turn them in for the full reward."
Suddenly, two calm but firm voices echoed through the silent night.
"Sorry to interrupt," one voice said.
"But our friends are exhausted and trying to sleep," added another.
Startled, Igaram, Mr. 9, Miss Wednesday, and the nun turned toward the source of the voices. Their eyes widened as they saw Tien and Zoro standing atop a nearby building, gazing down at them with unflinching confidence.
Before they could react further, another door swung open behind them, and a frantic man ran out. "Mr. 8!" he yelled. "Two guys left the room when we weren't looking!"
Igaram now revealed as Mr. 8, gestured toward the pair. "They're right here," he said coolly, narrowing his eyes at Tien and Zoro. "You two should've stayed asleep with the rest of your crew."
Tien crossed his arms, his expression stoic. "A good fighter doesn't let their guard down," he said firmly.
Zoro smirked, resting a hand on one of his swords. "Besides, I already took a nap earlier."
Then more townsfolk began to emerge from the shadows, armed with swords, rifles, and clubs. Their smiles were gone, replaced with menacing glares. They surrounded Tien and Zoro, their weapons glinting ominously in the night.
Zoro glanced down at the gathered crowd, his smirk unwavering. "Judging by your fake smiles and those cheap disguises, it's obvious," he said, his tone calm but cutting. "You're all bounty hunters, aren't you? A bunch of scavengers who rob pirates the moment they set foot on the Grand Line."
He let out a short laugh, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "There's, what, about a hundred of you? And yet, you think you'll win?" His voice dropped, his smirk widening. "We'll take down every last one of you. Baroque Works."
At the mention of their organization's name, the crowd collectively froze, their shock palpable. Whispers rippled through the group.
"How does he know that name?" one of the hunters muttered.
"Impossible! Our name is kept secret!" another whispered, gripping their weapon tighter.
Igaram, stepped forward, his face a mask of surprise and anger. "Baroque Works… How do you know our company name?!"
Zoro's eyes gleamed with confidence as he rested a hand on the hilt of his sword. "I used to be a bounty hunter too," he said matter-of-factly. "And I've crossed paths with your organization before. You even tried to recruit me once. A group of criminals who faithfully follow orders like a flock of sheep."
The crowd bristled at his words, anger replacing their initial shock.
Igaram clenched his fists, his voice cold and resolute. "What an unexpected twist. A bounty hunter-turned-pirate… Unfortunately for you, we leave no loose ends. You've forced our hand. We have no choice but to kill you now."
The bounty hunters around them began to close in, weapons raised, their movements coordinated and precise.
Tien, standing tall and calm beside Zoro, clenched his fists, his energy subtly crackling around him. "We didn't want this to happen But if this is what you want…" He shifted into a fighting stance, his sharp gaze locked on the hunters.
Zoro unsheathed one of his swords, the blade glinting in the moonlight. "Let's see if you sheep can handle a real fight," he said, his smirk turning into a deadly grin.
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