Chapter 105: The Calm Before the Storm
The sun had barely begun its ascent, casting a warm glow over the ocean as the Going Merry sailed toward the desert kingdom of Alabasta. The air carried an unmistakable tension, thick and heavy like a brewing storm. The crew was restless. Every member could feel the weight of their journey coming to a head.
Zoro, as usual, was sharpening his swords, though his movements were more deliberate than before. Sanji smoked silently, staring at the waves. Usopp fidgeted, checking his tools and slingshot, trying to calm his nerves. Nami, standing by the helm, kept a keen eye on the horizon, her lips pressed together in a firm line. Vivi, seated near the railing, was lost in thought, the looming battle for her kingdom clouding her expression.
Goku stood near the bow of the ship, his arms crossed, eyes scanning the sea as if expecting trouble.
Amidst the crew's silent preparations, a lone figure stood on the deck, striking an elegant pose. Bon Clay, their peculiar guest from the previous day, could feel the shift in mood. His usual flamboyance did not waver, but his sharp instincts as a former assassin caught the subtle unease.
"Fufufu~ Such gloomy faces so early in the morning! My dear friends, one must never forget to appreciate the beauty of a new day!" Bon Clay twirled, his extravagant pink coat flowing behind him as he placed a hand on his chest.
No one replied.
Bon Clay pouted. "Come now, don't ignore me like a broken gramophone! Whatever it is that's troubling you, let us dance away the sorrow!"
Before anyone could tell him off, his eyes caught sight of a ship in the distance. His entire demeanor shifted as he recognized the distinctive swan-like sails approaching.
"Ah! My dearest, most loyal crew arrives at last!" Bon Clay gasped dramatically, placing a hand on his forehead. "Oh, how I've missed them! How I long to reunite with my darling comrades!"
The others followed his gaze.
A large vessel with a ridiculous swan figurehead glided toward them, its billowing sails adorned with exaggerated designs. The crew aboard the ship were just as extravagant, dressed in theatrical costumes, waving and cheering wildly as they approached.
Bon Clay turned to the Going Merry's crew with exaggerated sadness. "Alas, my time here must come to an end! Oh, my darling new friends, how I shall miss you! Our time together was brief but unforgettable!"
Chopper sniffled. "You're really leaving?"
"Indeed, little reindeer friend!" Bon Clay wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "But fear not! The bonds of friendship are unbreakable! Even if the winds of fate scatter us, we shall always be connected!"
Usopp chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, uh, sure. Take care, man."
Bon Clay grasped Usopp's hands dramatically. "Oh, my long-nosed friend, your bravery inspires me! Never let anyone tell you otherwise!"
Usopp stiffened. "Uh, yeah—wait, hold on, what do you mean 'long-nosed'—"
Before he could protest further, Bon Clay spun to Chopper, lifting the small reindeer into the air. "And you, my adorable doctor-to-be, continue your noble quest of healing! The world needs kind souls like yours!"
Chopper blushed. "I-I'm not that great…"
"DO NOT DOUBT YOURSELF!" Bon Clay declared, spinning him around before gently setting him down.
He turned to the rest of the crew, striking one last dramatic pose. "To the lovely Nami! The dashing Zoro! The charming Sanji! The ever-mysterious Goku! And the brave Princess Vivi! I bid you all farewell!"
Sanji exhaled, relieved. "Finally."
With a final, exaggerated leap, Bon Clay somersaulted through the air, flipping gracefully before landing on his ship's deck like a true ballerina.
The moment he landed, his crew erupted into cheers.
"OUR CAPTAIN HAS RETURNED!"
"MR. 2 IS BACK!"
Bon Clay grinned, posing with his arms spread wide. "Rejoice, my beautiful darlings! I have returned! Let the festivities begin!"
The ship erupted in celebration, and within moments, it was sailing away, leaving behind only the echoes of laughter and cheers.
A silence fell over the Going Merry.
Everyone just stared, processing what had just happened.
Then—
"Wait a damn minute," Sanji muttered, his cigarette nearly falling from his lips. "That guy… was Baroque Works?!"
Usopp's face turned pale. "HOLD ON! We had an enemy ON OUR SHIP ALL NIGHT?!"
Vivi gripped the railing, her face tense. "I had heard of Baroque Works' elite agents before… but I never imagined Mr. 2 would be that weird."
Nami turned to her, looking utterly exasperated. "Vivi, HOW did you not put that together?!"
"Yeah!" Usopp joined in. "The guy was way too suspicious!"
Chopper, still recovering from being spun around, asked, "So… that guy works for the Warlord Crocodile?"
Zoro nodded, arms crossed. "Seems like it."
Goku, who had remained quiet, finally spoke. "Everyone, calm down." His tone was firm but not harsh. "At least now we know ahead of time."
He turned away from the group, walking to the front of the ship, his expression unreadable.
As the waves rolled gently beneath the Going Merry, Goku closed his eyes and concentrated. A conversation stirred in his mind.
"He hasn't done anything wrong yet."
A familiar voice responded, darker, colder.
"Oh yes, he has."
Goku's brows furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"
The assassin side of him—Eto Shapan—answered smoothly.
"You don't join an organization like Baroque Works for being a saint. That man has probably killed dozens of innocent people. He may act like a fool, but he's still a criminal."
Goku hesitated. "But we don't know that for sure."
"Do we?" Eto's voice was calm. "What about you, Kakarot? You've killed before."
Goku frowned. "That was different. I never killed innocent people on purpose."
Eto responded coolly, "Neither do some assassins. But does that make them innocent?"
There was a long pause.
Then Eto added, almost casually—
"For the sake of Vivi and the crew… when we reach Alabasta, we must take care of him."
Goku's eyes snapped open. A burst of energy flared around him.
Without hesitation, he shot forth his open palm, a ball of energy forming in his hands.
The air crackled.
A concentrated blast of energy tore across the ocean, skimming the surface with such force that it created a tunnel through the water.
Then—
BOOM.
A deafening explosion sent a massive shockwave across the sea.
The swan-like ship in the distance was engulfed in flames, its remains splintering as screaming men and women fell into the water.
The Going Merry rocked from the sheer force of the blast.
Silence.
Everyone stared in horror.
Bon Clay's ship—was gone.
The Going Merry rocked slightly as the crew remained silent, their gazes locked on the smoldering wreckage in the distance. The echoes of the explosion still rumbled across the waves.
Goku turned to the crew, his expression serious. "Baroque Works isn't going to take it easy on us. If anyone was hoping for a peaceful arrival, forget it."
Sanji exhaled, flicking away his cigarette. "Like hell we'd expect that. We're already in this mess. No turning back now."
Nami shook her head. "I can't believe that fool was part of them… he didn't even seem dangerous."
Zoro scoffed. "That's exactly why he was dangerous."
A creak sounded from below deck.
Gin stepped out, rubbing his eyes. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his posture was sluggish—he had been on watch duty in the crow's nest the night before and had just woken up. He stretched, letting out a yawn before blinking at the unusually tense atmosphere.
"…The hell happened?" he asked, his voice rough from sleep. "Where's the ballerina?"
Zoro crossed his arms. "Turned out to be an agent of Baroque Works. Codename: Mr. 2."
Gin furrowed his brows. "Mr. 2? I thought Vivi said Mr. 0 was Crocodile's codename."
Goku nodded. "That means there are still other top agents left. We took out Mr. 2, Mr. 3 and Mr. 5 and their partners, but Mr. 4, Mr. 1, and their partners are still alive."
Gin exhaled sharply. "So that means the strongest are still ahead of us."
Goku clenched his fists. "The time has come, people. By midday today, we'll reach Alabasta. Within a few days, we'll be in a full-scale battle against Baroque Works."
Everyone looked at each other, determination setting in. There was no fear—just resolve.
Vivi, standing slightly apart from the group, lowered her head. When she looked up again, there was gratitude in her eyes. She had tried to shoulder this burden alone, but here they were, ready to fight for her home.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
No one replied with words. But the nods, the smirks, and the quiet affirmations in their eyes said enough.
An Hour Later
The sun rose higher, and the warm ocean breeze carried the scent of the desert ahead. The horizon shimmered with a golden hue, and soon, a shape began to emerge from the waves.
The coastline of Alabasta.
Nanohana—the port town of Alabasta—came into view.
Buildings of sand-colored stone stood tall, palm trees swayed in the breeze, and the sounds of a bustling city echoed across the water.
At long last, the crew had arrived.
The desert kingdom of Alabasta awaited them.
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