"Memory wipe!"
As Pudding activated her ability, "Marineford" trembled and disappeared like an illusion, revealing the real scene in front of them:
"Sleepy Ancient Town!"
"It's finally over... We've been fighting all night..."
Even though the previous "scenes" were mostly blue skies and white clouds, that didn't change the fact that the Straw Hat Crew had been battling nonstop until morning.
At this point, they were starving, exhausted, and covered in injuries. Even Roman, who had nearly drained himself with a powerful attack, nodded in agreement.
"Let's wrap this up and get some rest. But—"
The final "boss" ahead was none other than Redfield himself. Unlike the illusions they had faced so far, which lacked Haki, this was a real Four Emperors-level opponent!
Even though age had weakened him, he was still far from an easy fight for the Straw Hat Crew. And if—
Roman rubbed his chin. If Redfield had already obtained the "Vampire Fruit," then they'd be up against a fully restored Redfield at his peak!
"Roman..."
The little tanuki looked up at him. As the strategist of the Straw Hat Crew, he was probably the smartest one here, right?
"If I face him seriously... can I get my message across?"
"It would be great if you could, but if he's stubborn, it might take some effort. However—"
Roman touched his chin, remembering something from the past.
"No matter how closed off a heart is, there's always someone who can drag it into the light."
?
"Heh, I know what you mean."
Robin smiled.
"Actually, I feel the same way..."
Sanji rubbed his head, looking like he'd rather not remember.
"Yeah, back when they wanted me to join, they chased me all over the place."
Chopper patted Pat on the shoulder with a sigh.
"That guy really never gives up..."
"Exactly~~"
"That's right,"
...
"Huh? What are you guys talking about?"
As Luffy walked over, looking completely clueless, the entire Straw Hat Crew waved him off.
"Nothing, nothing,"
"Thanks, everyone," the little tanuki, Pato, nodded firmly. "I'll give it my best shot!"
?
"I don't really get what you're saying, but if it feels right to you, then it's right! Hehehe~~"
"Yeah, yeah~~"
After exchanging smiles, Luffy immediately dashed toward the town.
"Food, food!!"
"Let's go,"
——————
Unfortunately, that meal would have to wait.
Because—
"Hmph... You guys are still here?"
Standing on the rooftop, the crimson-cloaked man turned around, looking down at the Straw Hat Crew, who had chased him all the way here.
"Hey, Pato has something to say to you."
Hearing Luffy's words, the Red the Aloof let out a cold smile.
"Before you worry about others, you should take care of yourselves first."
"There's a traitor among you."
?
"Not only is he a Celestial Dragon, boasting in front of the Five Elders about his plan to 'use pirates to eliminate pirates,' but he's also a candidate for Marine Admiral. His transoceanic shipping network has provided an enormous amount of funds to your enemy—the Marine Fleet Admiral…"
"That man is hiding among you, scheming to bring an end to the 'Great Pirate Era!' His arrogance knows no bounds—"
?!
In an instant, Carrot, Pedro, Pudding, and even Jinbe were all stunned. Jinbe already knew Roman was a Celestial Dragon, but a plot to end the entire Great Pirate Era…?
That was impossible! No way—
Wait!
Four people, eight eyes—all turned to the spot beside Nami!
If there was anyone in the Straw Hat Crew capable of pulling off something like this, it could only be Roman, the one who was always 'reliable.'
"Bahaha! Don't tell me you still don't know the true face of your so-called 'crewmate'—"
"I know,"
?
Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, then looked up at the old man on the rooftop.
"I know that no matter what Roman does, he would never hurt any of us! That's all that matters. Or are you saying—"
"With all your so-called mind-reading, did you see even the slightest intent from Roman to harm us?!"
...
"Tch, that guy Roman,"
Zoro crossed his arms and smirked.
"If he ever stopped coming up with secret plans, this world would just be way too boring!"
"That's right. Even though having our memories pried into is annoying,"
Sanji lit a cigarette, holding it between his fingers as he pointed at the Red the Aloof on the rooftop.
"But precisely because of that, you should know that without Roman, we would've been taken down long ago!"
"I don't know what Roman's plans are,"
Chopper stepped forward too, "but I support him completely!"
"Ara, that's just the burden of being a strategist, isn't it?"
Robin smiled. "He has to think about so many things, and thanks to him, we get to enjoy our journey."
"Wow, Roman is a real man's man!"
Franky gave a big thumbs-up.
"Yohohoho, isn't trusting your crewmates the most basic rule~~"
Brook unsheathed his soul-cutting sword.
"Old man… sir, we've fought our way here all the way from East Blue! Trying to stir things up like this is completely meaningless!"
Usopp raised his slingshot and argued righteously—though it would have been even better if he hadn't added the 'sir' under the Red the Aloof's gaze.
"I haven't spent much time with Roman, but I choose to trust him, just as I trust Luffy!"
With Jinbe's firm statement, the entire Straw Hat Crew showed their complete trust in Roman, despite his secrets.
As for Nami? That goes without saying.
"Actually,"
Roman took a step forward and spread his hands.
"I'm really 'afraid' of you, Red the Aloof— Patrick Redfield."
"Because of your mind-reading ability, you're the worst kind of opponent for someone like me, someone full of secrets! At first, I even planned to find an excuse to avoid you. But—"
Roman lowered his gaze.
"The reason I'm afraid isn't that you might use those 'secrets' against me. It's because I didn't want my crew to know that their 'trustworthy' strategist is actually someone who's always scheming. But now, I'm not afraid anymore."
Because in the end, no one really cares about my secret plans! And why is that?
Because we're 'crewmates'!
"Haha, what a strong bond of friendship. Fine then—"
"Your strategist has been planning a lot of things and keeping secrets from you, but he's never had any intention of harming you. If anything..."
Everything he's done has been for your sake.
The Red the Aloof, feeling uninterested as he thought of his own loneliness, waved his hand.
"Go on, then. I'm about to start my 'meal'."
"Boss Red!"
As Pato called out, the Red the Aloof simply pulled out a handful of leaves from his coat.
Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!
The leaves transformed into figures, leaping down one after another:
Sanji, Usopp, Robin, Brook, Smoker, Charizard, Burgess, Boa Hancock, Enel, Shiryu of the Rain, Kuma, Katakuri, Mihawk, and—
Wearing a magnificent Pirate King's coat, pressing down his straw hat as he landed—'Luffy'!
On the other side stood: Luffy, Roman, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Jinbe, along with Carrot, Pedro, and Pudding.
Two groups, staring each other down, ready to clash!
"Alright,"
Luffy clapped his hands together.
"Go all out, Pato!"
As Luffy charged forward, the entire Straw Hat Crew immediately launched an attack against their 'copies'.
"Let us clear the way—"
"Yeah!"
With both sides charging in under the lead of their respective 'Luffys', the battlefield exploded into chaos. Abilities, blasts, lasers, lightning, flying sword slashes, and massive shockwaves lit up the area in a dazzling array of colors.
But the Straw Hat Crew had already figured out the clones' biggest weakness—they lacked Haki!
So: Armament Haki spread out—blackened swords, shoes, and katanas led the charge!
"Love Meteor Kick!"
"More More-50x Haki-Compressed Sword Slash!"
"Three-Sword Style Ultimate Technique—One Great Three Thousand Worlds!"
Devastating attacks rained down on the enemy, while everyone else found their own opponents to fight!
"We'll handle things here!"
Amidst Franky's laser blasts, Pato dashed across the chaotic battlefield, looking up toward the rooftop ahead.
"Boss Red!"
"After we got separated from the boss..."
"Get lost!"
Zoro's blackened Shusui sent Shiryu, who was trying to ambush Pato, flying.
"I've thought about it carefully, and yeah—'copies' just don't cut it..."
"Stay out of my way!!"
A powerful kick from Sanji's black boots sent the towering Burgess soaring, clearing the path for Pato.
"I want to help the boss!"
Facing the "Luffy" standing in front of him, the real Luffy clenched his fist and launched a punch as he leaped forward! The opponent did the same, throwing a punch at him at the same time!
"Gomu Gomu no Jet Pistol!" ×2
But just as their fists were about to land, the real Luffy tilted his head slightly, letting the fake Luffy's punch skim past his cheek. At the same time, his own fist smashed squarely into the opponent's face.
Boom!!
The fake Luffy was sent flying backward, crashing onto the head of a massive fire-breathing dragon—the synthetic dragon created by Vegapunk on Punk Hazard Island.
Taking advantage of the fallen dragon, the little tanuki dashed upward along its body. The dragon's swinging tail conveniently created a "staircase" for him to climb even higher.
"Not as a 'tool,' but as a 'companion'!!"
As the little tanuki used the dragon as a stepping stone to leap onto the rooftop, the fire dragon, which had just been knocked down, shook its head and regained its senses. With a sudden snap, it lunged at the tanuki!
Even Red the Aloof, who had been watching calmly while fanning himself, instinctively tensed his fingers. But in the next instant—
Slash!
A black-and-white longsword flashed across the fire dragon's neck. Though the dragon's body had been perfectly restored to its original form, its head was now slightly misaligned, revealing a smooth, clean-cut wound.
Then—
Thud.
The little tanuki landed at Red the Aloof's feet and looked up.
"Please, Boss Red!"
"Let me stay by your side!!"
(End of chapter)
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