To successfully obtain Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit,
Before the plan could be fully set in motion, and before Law arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago, Maude had to inform him of the general outline of the operation.
And… the immense risks involved in participating.
To minimize these risks, the illusions created by the Shadow-Shadow Fruit would be essential.
As well as a technique that could instantly conceal the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
However, compared to the pivotal event that would trigger the Summit War—Ace's capture—
These preparations could be made more gradually.
Maude dismissed the swirling shadow mist in his palm and gestured for Bailey to return the Den Den Mushi to Shakky's bar.
Moments later—
Bailey emerged from the bar, his weasel-like face tense with a heavy expression.
"What's wrong?"
Maude found Bailey's reaction odd and casually asked.
"Boss."
Bailey tilted his head up to meet Maude's gaze and sighed, "Perona is… completely flat."
"...?"
Maude was momentarily stunned.
Bailey turned back toward the bar's entrance, his expression deep and contemplative. "Just now, when Big Sis Shakky was checking Perona's body, I happened to see…"
"..."
Maude's mouth twitched slightly.
Bailey shook his head, looking both solemn and puzzled. "Big Sis Shakky seemed so confident… but is there really any hope for Perona's, uh, situation?"
"..."
Maude glanced at the bar's door.
Even without activating Observation Haki, he could sense a volcanic surge of emotions brewing inside.
"YOU DAMN WEASEL!!!"
The bar door had yet to open, but Perona's furious scream erupted from within.
Bailey remained unfazed, calmly watching the entrance.
The moment Perona burst out, he planned to make a run for it, turning it into a game of chase to kill time on this otherwise dull afternoon.
However—
Perona didn't play by the usual rules.
In her spirit form, she silently phased up from the ground behind Bailey.
Her eyes gleamed with menace, her face twisted like a vengeful ghost.
Negative Hollows!
Perona swung her arms, summoning several round, eerie ghosts that instantly passed through Bailey's body.
"Uh?"
Bailey's body shuddered.
The next second, all the strength drained from him, and he collapsed to the ground, his face overcome with despair. "A hideous creature like me… should never have been born into this world…"
"Kyahahaha…"
Watching Bailey fall under the effect of her Negative Hollows, Perona cracked her knuckles, letting out a laugh filled with suppressed satisfaction.
Maude glanced at the now-helpless Bailey, shook his head slightly, and ignored the weasel's pleading gaze as he walked straight toward the bar's entrance.
The moment he stepped inside, the sounds of Bailey's screams and the dull thuds of punches landing filled the air.
Normally, Bailey was pretty tough.
But Perona was somehow managing to make him cry out in pain.
Clearly, her year of physical training had not been in vain.
Behind the bar counter, Shakky held a half-smoked cigarette between her fingers.
She glanced at Maude before shifting her gaze toward the door, as if she could see Perona delivering a relentless beating to Bailey.
"Little Bailey is quite mischievous," Shakky chuckled.
Maude had no words.
Shakky turned her attention back to Maude, leaning an elbow on the counter, smiling as she looked at him.
"I want to teach little Perona a technique called Life Return. Maude, are you interested?"
"Hm?"
Maude was slightly taken aback. In an instant, he understood the real reason behind Shakky's confidence in Perona's 'enhancement plan.'
"I am!"
Without hesitation, Maude nodded vigorously.
He never expected that Perona's lack of curves would be his gateway to learning Life Return.
That said, if Life Return could indeed slow aging, Maude could believe it—Shakky herself was proof.
But as for, uh, other 'enhancements'...
Would it really work?
"Heh."
Shakky let out a light laugh.
She couldn't guarantee that Perona would master Life Return in a short time.
But as for the exceptionally gifted young man before her—
She had a feeling.
Maude would not only learn it quickly but also master it.
As for perfecting it—
That would take time…
...
One week later.
Morning.
Standing outside the bar, Maude glanced down at the latest newspaper, fresh from a News Coo's talons.
Apart from hiring intelligence agents, newspapers were the only way to track the movements of the Straw Hat Pirates.
As such—
Maude checked the papers first thing every morning.
But over the past week, there had been no reports on the Straw Hats.
Instead, this year's Supernovas were gradually making names for themselves, frequently appearing in headlines.
Among them, the so-called 'Gluttonous Woman' Jewelry Bonney stood out the most.
Perhaps because of her gender, Bonney was a favorite among journalists, frequently landing on the front pages.
Aside from Bonney, Maude also spotted an old acquaintance—Eustass Kid.
Since leaving Mad Hat Town, that guy had seemingly been searching for something, wandering aimlessly for nearly two years.
Only recently had he finally entered the Grand Line, making his way into the newspapers.
After reading through all the reports, Maude folded the newspaper and muttered, "I wonder if Luffy and his crew will run into Vivi…"
Thanks to his own interference, the fact that Luffy had still managed to recruit Nami, Zoro, and Sanji before entering the Grand Line was already an incredibly low-probability event.
So Maude figured the Straw Hat Pirates were unlikely to meet Vivi.
If they didn't meet Vivi, it meant Crocodile wouldn't be defeated by them.
Which meant there wouldn't be a vacant Warlord position for Blackbeard to claim.
Of course, given Blackbeard's ambition—
He'd probably still target one of the existing Warlords, just as Maude had.
There was no way the World Government would make an exception for Blackbeard and create an 'Eighth Warlord' position, right?
If they did, Maude would actually be relieved.
Otherwise, every existing Warlord—including himself—would be a potential target for Blackbeard before he captured Ace.
After pondering for a moment, Maude began to consider the idea of seeking out the Straw Hat Pirates early.
But…
Maude glanced back at the bar.
For now, he couldn't afford to leave the Sabaody Archipelago recklessly.
After all, mastering Life Return took priority.
"I'll observe for a little longer."
Maude quickly abandoned the idea of approaching the Straw Hat Pirates ahead of time.
Even without the Alabasta Incident, as long as the Summit War proceeded as expected, things would still fall into place.
Theoretically,
the chances of the Straw Hat Pirates encountering Vivi were close to zero.
However, as the Straw Hat Pirates started appearing in newspapers and gradually entered the public eye—
The master-disciple bond between Maude and Usopp naturally caught the attention of a particular woman.
That woman—was Nico Robin.
Just the existence of that connection was enough to make Nico Robin contemplate her next move.
To shift some of the risks away from herself, and knowing many of Alabasta's hidden secrets, she had no qualms about dragging Usopp into the mix.
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