Chapter 18: The Land of Passion and the Blind Gambler
The Thousand Sunny drifted into the port town of Acacia on the southwest coast of Dressrosa. The air here was drastically different from the sulfur and ice of Punk Hazard. It smelled of perfume, paella, and a strange, underlying sweetness that tickled the nose.
Music drifted across the water—flamenco guitars strummed with frantic energy, accompanied by the rhythmic clapping of dancers.
"It is beautiful!" Nami gasped, leaning over the railing. "Look at the architecture! The flowers! The people!"
"And the women!" Sanji spun in place, hearts replacing his eyes. "The passion! I can feel it radiating from the island! This is my true homeland!"
"Sanji-sama needs passion!" Baby 5 cried out, transforming her arms into flamethrowers. "I can provide heat! I can burn the whole town for you!"
"No burning!" Franky clamped his large robotic hands over her nozzles. "We are trying to be low profile! Super low profile!"
Luffy sat on the figurehead, his eyes scanning the colorful streets. He saw the living toys walking alongside humans—toy soldiers, marionettes, stuffed bears. They laughed and played, woven seamlessly into the fabric of society.
In his previous life, he found this whimsical. Now, knowing the truth—that these were humans erased from memories and turned into slaves—it looked like a horror show painted in bright colors.
"It is creepy," Luffy said flatly.
"Creepy?" Usopp blinked. "Luffy, look at that toy dog playing fetch! It is adorable!"
"It is a lie," Luffy jumped down from the figurehead. "Traffy. What is the plan?"
Trafalgar Law walked to the center of the deck. He looked stressed. He had been looking stressed since the moment the alliance was formed, and his condition was not improving.
"The plan is simple," Law said, holding up a map. "We split into three teams. Team One: The Factory Destruction Team. That is me, Robin, and Usopp. We will take Caesar to Green Bit to make the exchange with Doflamingo. While he is distracted, we destroy the factory."
"Me?" Usopp pointed at himself. "Why me? I have the Can't-Go-To-New-Islands disease!"
"Because you are a sniper," Law reasoned. "Green Bit is a jungle. We need cover fire."
"And Robin?" Luffy asked, glancing at the archaeologist.
"Her powers are essential for stealth and information gathering," Law explained.
Luffy walked up to Robin. He looked her in the eyes.
"Be careful," Luffy said. "Green Bit has fighting fish. And Doflamingo might not play fair with the exchange. If things get weird, ditch the plan and run."
Robin smiled, adjusting her sunglasses. "I will be fine, Captain. I have the Surgeon of Death with me. He seems reliable, despite his taste in bread."
Law twitched. "I heard that."
"Team Two," Law continued, ignoring the jab. "The Ship Guard Team. Chopper, Brook, Nami, and Momonosuke. You stay here. Protect the Sunny. If we need to escape quickly, we need the ship ready."
"Aye aye!" Chopper saluted. "I will protect the ship!"
"Team Three," Law pointed at the remaining members. "The Destruction Team. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Franky, Kin'emon, and... Baby 5. Your job is to find the factory entrance in the city and destroy it from the inside. But do not draw attention to yourselves."
"Understood," Zoro yawned, tying his bandana to his arm. "Don't draw attention."
"That is impossible," Law sighed. "Just... try to wear disguises."
"Disguises!" Kin'emon stepped forward, his eyes gleaming. "Leave that to me! I possess the power of the Garb-Garb Fruit! I can create clothing out of leaves!"
"Leaves?" Nami looked skeptical. "We aren't wearing leaves, Kin'emon."
"Observe!" Kin'emon grabbed a leaf from Nami's tangerine tree. He placed it on Luffy's head.
"Poof!"
Smoke exploded. When it cleared, Luffy was wearing a bright floral shirt, shorts, and a fake white beard glued to his face.
"I am an old man!" Luffy laughed, checking his reflection in the window. "Shishishi! No one will recognize me! Call me Lucy!"
"It is surprisingly good," Sanji admitted. "Do me next! I want a suit that screams 'dashing lover'!"
Kin'emon placed a leaf on Sanji's head.
Poof.
Sanji was now wearing a sleek black suit with glasses and a fake mustache. He looked like a suave spy.
"Perfection," Sanji smoothed his hair.
"Me too! Me too!" Baby 5 jumped up and down.
Kin'emon placed a leaf on her head.
Poof.
Baby 5 was now wearing a traditional flamenco dancer's dress, red and ruffled, with a rose in her hair.
"Sanji-sama!" Baby 5 twirled. "Is this useful? Do I look like a useful dancer?"
"You look devastatingly beautiful!" Sanji howled, blood spurting from his nose. "I need you to dance with me!"
"He needs me to dance!" Baby 5 grabbed Sanji and began to tango aggressively across the deck.
"Okay," Law rubbed his temples. "Just... go. Meet back here in six hours. Do not fight the Marines. Do not fight Doflamingo. Do not cause a scene."
"Got it," Luffy said, adjusting his fake beard. "No scenes."
Acacia Port Town - Main Street
Five minutes later, the "Destruction Team" was walking down the bustling streets of Dressrosa. The disguise worked perfectly. No one spared a second glance at the old man Lucy, the suit-wearing Sanji, the flamenco dancer Baby 5, the tourist Franky, or the wandering samurai Kin'emon.
Zoro, dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, looked like a yakuza bodyguard.
"I smell meat," Luffy announced, his nose twitching.
"We are supposed to find the factory, Luffy," Zoro reminded him. "Not a restaurant."
"A hungry warrior cannot fight," Kin'emon stated wisely. "I am also famished."
"I see a restaurant over there!" Franky pointed to a large, open-air establishment filled with rowdy patrons. "It smells Super!"
"Let's go!" Luffy marched toward the restaurant.
As they entered, the noise level dropped for a second, then resumed. The restaurant was packed with pirates, locals, and toys.
"Table for six!" Sanji told the waiter. "And bring your finest wine for the lady!"
They sat down. Luffy immediately ordered the entire left side of the menu.
"So," Franky whispered, leaning over the table. "Where do we look for the factory? Dressrosa is huge."
"We ask around," Zoro suggested. "Someone has to know."
"You can't just ask 'Where is the illegal factory?'" Sanji hissed. "That is how you get arrested."
"I can ask!" Baby 5 raised her hand. "I know where it is! I worked there!"
The table went silent.
"Oh," Franky blinked. "Right. We have an insider."
"It is under the Colosseum," Baby 5 explained, feeding Sanji a grape. "But the entrance is guarded by the Donquixote Family officers. Only authorized personnel can enter."
"Then we beat them up," Luffy said, chewing on a massive bone-in steak.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out near the entrance of the restaurant.
A tall, broad-shouldered old man walked in. He was wearing a purple yukata and used a shikomizue (cane sword) to tap his way forward. His eyes were closed, scarred shut. He was blind.
"Excuse me," the blind man said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Is there an empty seat at a gambling table?"
"Over here, old man!" A group of rough-looking thugs waved him over. They winked at each other. "We have room! Do you have money?"
"I have a little," the blind man smiled humbly. "But I cannot see the dice. I will have to trust you gentlemen to tell me the results."
"Of course!" The leader of the thugs grinned, revealing gold teeth. "We are honest citizens! Trust us!"
Luffy stopped eating. He looked at the blind man.
He felt it immediately. The gravity. The weight of the man's presence pressing down on the floorboards. It was subtle, masked by humility, but to a master of Haki, it was like standing next to a dormant volcano.
Fujitora, Luffy thought. The new Admiral.
"That old man is going to get scammed," Zoro noted, sipping his ale. "They are targeting him because he is blind."
"Should we help him?" Franky asked.
"Wait," Luffy said. "Watch."
At the gambling table, the blind man placed a stack of chips on a number. The dealer rolled the dice.
"White! White! It is white!" The thugs shouted. "You bet on black, old man! You lose!"
They reached for his chips.
"Is that so?" The blind man sighed. "My luck is truly terrible today. I have lost ten times in a row."
"Maybe one more try?" The thug leader suggested greedily. "Double or nothing?"
"Very well," the blind man placed his remaining chips. "Everything on white."
The dealer rolled. The dice clattered. They stopped.
It was white.
"Black! Black!" The thugs shouted instantly. "Oh no! It is black! You lose everything!"
The blind man's hand hovered over his cane.
"Are you certain?" he asked. "I can hear the dice. They sound... white."
"Are you calling us liars?" The thug leader stood up, slamming his hand on the table. "You blind fool! We say it is black, so it is black! Give us the money!"
He drew a knife.
"Hey!" Luffy stood up. "It is white."
The entire restaurant froze. The thugs turned to look at Luffy.
"Who are you, old man?" The thug sneered. "Mind your own business."
"I am Lucy," Luffy said. "And you guys are cheating. The dice are white."
"That's right!" The other patrons shouted. "They are cheating the blind man!"
"Shut up!" The thug leader roared. "Kill them all!"
The thugs charged at Luffy.
Luffy didn't move. He didn't have to.
The blind man stood up. He drew his cane sword just an inch.
Click.
"It pains my heart," the blind man said. "To see a world so full of filth that one must close their eyes to bear it."
A purple aura surrounded the thugs.
"Gravity Blade."
CRASH.
A massive, circular hole appeared in the floor of the restaurant. The thugs were flattened instantly, pressed into the basement level by an overwhelming invisible force. The tables, the chairs, the floorboards—everything within the circle was crushed.
Silence.
The blind man sheathed his sword. Click.
"Thank you, kind stranger," the blind man bowed in Luffy's direction. "For being my eyes."
Luffy walked over to the edge of the pit and looked down.
"You are strong, old man," Luffy said.
"I am just a wandering gambler," Fujitora lied smoothly. He turned his head, his sightless eyes facing Luffy. "But you... you have a terrifying aura for an 'old man' named Lucy."
Luffy grinned. "I eat a lot of meat."
"Is that so?" Fujitora chuckled. "Well, I must be going. I have caused a scene. Here is payment for the damages."
He placed a stack of gold on the counter and walked toward the exit, tapping his cane.
As he passed Luffy, he paused.
"The wind in this country," Fujitora whispered. "It smells of a storm."
"Yeah," Luffy agreed. "A big one."
Fujitora left.
"That was..." Usopp (who was hiding under the table even though he wasn't supposed to be there, having snuck off from Team 1 because he was scared of Green Bit) whispered. "That was crazy! Who was that?"
"An Admiral," Robin said, walking into the restaurant. She had stayed behind for a moment to observe. "That was Issho. Code name: Fujitora."
"An Admiral?!" Sanji dropped his cigarette. "Here? In a restaurant?"
"He is hunting Law," Luffy said. "But don't worry. He is a good guy. Mostly."
"Mostly?!" Usopp shrieked.
"Someone stole my sword!"
Zoro's shout cut through the panic. He was standing up, patting his empty hip. Shusui was gone.
"What?" Franky asked. "You dropped it?"
"No! I felt something tug it!" Zoro looked around wildly. "A small... thing! It ran that way!"
He pointed out the window. A small, blurry figure was sprinting across the rooftops, carrying the legendary black blade.
"A fairy!" A local shouted. "The Tontatta fairies strike again!"
"Fairy my ass!" Zoro jumped out the window. "Give me back my sword!"
"Zoro!" Sanji yelled. "Don't get lost! The plan!"
"I am going too!" Kin'emon shouted. "That fairy also took my wallet!"
"And Sanji-sama!" Baby 5 pointed. "It took your watch!"
"My watch?" Sanji checked his wrist. It was gone. "That was a gift from Nami-swan! (It wasn't, he bought it himself). Come back here!"
Sanji and Baby 5 jumped out the window chasing the fairy.
"Wait!" Franky yelled. "We are splitting up! Law is going to be mad!"
"I'm going to the Colosseum," Luffy announced suddenly.
"What?" Franky turned. "Luffy! The factory!"
"Baby 5 said the factory is under the Colosseum," Luffy reasoned. "So if I enter the Colosseum, I am basically at the factory. Plus..."
Luffy pulled a flyer from his pocket. He had swiped it from a passerby.
CORRIDA COLOSSEUM MAIN EVENTPRIZE: MERA MERA NO MI (FLAME-FLAME FRUIT)
Luffy's eyes burned.
"Franky," Luffy said. "You go with the others. Find the factory entrance from the outside. I'm going to win the tournament."
"The Flame-Flame Fruit?" Franky saw the flyer. He understood instantly. "Ace's fruit."
"Yeah," Luffy nodded. "I can't let Mingo have it. And I can't let some random pirate eat it."
"Got it, Captain," Franky gave a thumbs up. "Go get it. We will handle the factory."
"Thanks," Luffy grinned.
He ran out the door, heading toward the massive stone structure that dominated the city skyline.
Corrida Colosseum - Registration Area
The Colosseum was a cauldron of violence. Massive gladiators lined up, flexing muscles, sharpening axes, and glaring at each other.
Luffy, in his Lucy disguise, stood in line. He looked small compared to the giants and monsters surrounding him.
"Hey, old man," a Spartan warrior sneered, looking down at Luffy. "This isn't a retirement home. Go home before you get broken."
Luffy ignored him. He was looking at a statue near the entrance. It was a statue of Kyros, the legendary gladiator.
"Name?" The receptionist asked.
"Lucy," Luffy said.
"Okay, Lucy. You are in Block C," the receptionist handed him a number. "Entrance is that way. Don't die too fast."
Luffy walked into the waiting room. It was dark, smelling of sweat and blood.
"Heh heh heh. You look lost."
A man with green hair and a barrier in front of his fingers sat on a bench. Bartolomeo the Cannibal.
"I am not lost," Luffy said. "I am Lucy."
"Whatever," Bartolomeo spat. "I am going to win that fruit. I am going to give it to him."
"Him?" Luffy asked.
"Luffy-senpai!" Bartolomeo's eyes turned into hearts, though he didn't realize who he was talking to. "The future Pirate King! I will win it for him!"
Luffy blinked, then a grin spread beneath his fake beard. He remembered this guy. Bartolomeo the Cannibal. The man who would eventually pledge absolute loyalty and form the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. In the original timeline, Luffy had rejected the fleet, finding it a hassle. But this time was different. He was going to war with the strongest creature in the world. He needed an army.
He is a weirdo, Luffy thought fondly. But he is my weirdo. I will need that barrier of yours against Kaido.
"Good luck," Luffy said, patting Bartolomeo on the shoulder with genuine warmth. "He will be happy to have you."
He reached the viewing balcony. He looked down at the arena. Block A was currently fighting. It was a battle royale. Bodies were flying everywhere.
And sitting in the high box, watching the carnage with a glass of wine, was a man in a feathered coat. Not Doflamingo. But his top executive.
Diamante.
"Welcome, warriors!" Diamante's voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "To the Corrida Colosseum! Today, we have a special prize! The legacy of Fire Fist Ace!"
A chest was raised in the center of the arena. It opened, revealing the orange, swirling fruit.
Luffy stared at it. He felt a phantom heat on his skin.
"Ace," Luffy whispered.
"I won't let anyone touch it."
Suddenly, a large, hulking figure bumped into Luffy.
"Move it, old man."
It was Jesus Burgess. The Captain of the First Ship of the Blackbeard Pirates. He wore a paper bag over his head with "Mr. Store" written on it. A terrible disguise.
"Burgess," Luffy said, his voice cold.
"Hah?" Burgess stopped. He looked down at the small old man. "You know me?"
"Yeah," Luffy looked up. The playful atmosphere of the disguise vanished. For a second, Burgess felt a chill run down his spine.
"I know your boss," Luffy said. "Tell him I'm saving a special punch for him."
Burgess narrowed his eyes behind the mask. "Who are you?"
"I'm Lucy," Luffy said, walking away toward the waiting room.
Burgess watched him go. "Lucy... that voice... it sounds familiar. Weeahaha! This tournament is going to be interesting!"
Luffy walked into the darkness of the hallway. He clenched his fist.
Burgess is here. Doflamingo is plotting. An Admiral is watching.
Luffy adjusted his fake beard.
Bring it on. I'll wreck this whole stadium.
Meanwhile, in the Green Bit Jungle
"I hate bugs!" Usopp swatted at a mosquito the size of a hawk. "Why are the bugs so big?!"
"Everything in Green Bit is oversized due to the unique flora," Robin explained, examining a giant fern. "It is fascinating."
"It is terrifying!" Usopp corrected.
Law walked ahead, carrying the glowing red heart of Caesar Clown (he had swapped it earlier to ensure compliance). Caesar floated behind him, handcuffed with Sea Prism Stone.
"We are almost at the bridge," Law said. "Be quiet. The CP0 might be watching."
"CP0?" Caesar laughed nervously. "The absolute shield of the Celestial Dragons? If they are here, Doflamingo really did trick you! He never resigned!"
"Shut up," Law squeezed Caesar's heart.
"Gah!" Caesar curled up.
"We know he didn't resign," Law muttered to himself. "Straw Hat guessed it. But we have to play the part to expose him."
Suddenly, the bushes rustled.
"Who is there?" Usopp aimed his Kabuto.
Out of the foliage stepped a small, elderly man. He was no bigger than a thumb. He had a fluffy tail and a pointy nose.
"A dwarf?" Robin whispered.
"I am not a dwarf!" The little man shouted, pointing a needle-spear at them. "I am a warrior of the Tontatta Kingdom! Are you the bad humans?"
"Bad humans?" Usopp lowered his weapon. "No! We are... uh... heroes! I am Usoland! A descendant of the legendary Noland!"
The dwarf dropped his spear. His eyes filled with tears.
"Noland?! The hero Noland?!"
"Yes!" Usopp lied effortlessly. "I have come to save you!"
"Usoland is here!" The dwarf screamed into the jungle. "The hero is here!"
Suddenly, hundreds of dwarves popped out of the ground, cheering.
"Usoland! Usoland!"
Law looked at Usopp. "You just started a cult."
"It is a talent," Usopp preened.
"We can use this," Robin smiled. "If they know the island, they can help us find the factory."
"The factory?" The lead dwarf asked. "You mean the dark place where our princess is held?"
"Princess?" Law raised an eyebrow.
"Princess Mansherry!" The dwarf cried. "The bad Doflamingo family took her! And five hundred of our friends! They force them to work in the Smile Factory!"
"Forced labor," Robin's eyes darkened.
"Okay," Law formulated a new plan instantly. "Usoland here will lead you to victory. But first, you help us get to the exchange point."
"Yes!" The dwarves cheered. "Follow Usoland!"
Usopp sweated. "Wait, I didn't agree to lead an army!"
"Too late," Law pushed him forward. "Go be a hero, God Usopp."
As the dwarves carried Usopp away like a king, Law looked at Robin.
"Things are getting messy," Law said.
"That is the Straw Hat way," Robin smiled. "You should get used to it."
Law sighed, adjusting his hat. "I miss my submarine."