As the Straw Hat Pirates prepared to leave **Little Garden**, the island of giants and dinosaurs, there were still a few loose ends to tie up. The crew had already secured their new crew member, **Miss Goldenweek**, and dealt with **Mr. 3**, but there were still secrets lurking in the shadows. Meanwhile, the Marines were beginning to piece together the puzzle of Baroque Works, setting the stage for a larger confrontation.
While the crew was busy loading supplies onto the Going Merry, **Sanji** decided to explore the island one last time. He had a feeling that Mr. 3's **Candle House** might hold some valuable information. After a short search, he found the small, wax-covered structure hidden deep in the jungle.
Inside, Sanji discovered a **Den Den Mushi** connected to Baroque Works' communication network. Curious, he decided to answer an incoming call. To his surprise, the voice on the other end was none other than **Mr. 0**—**Crocodile** himself.
"Mr. 3," Crocodile's voice crackled through the Den Den Mushi, cold and commanding. "Report. Have you eliminated Princess Vivi and the Straw Hats?"
Sanji, quick on his feet, decided to play along. He disguised his voice to sound like Mr. 3. "Yes, Mr. 0. The mission is complete. Vivi and the Straw Hats are no more."
There was a brief pause before Crocodile responded. "Good. Then proceed to **Alabasta** immediately. I have further orders for you."
Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Understood. I'll head there right away."
The call ended, and Sanji smirked. He had just tricked one of the most dangerous men in the Grand Line. But he also realized that Crocodile's orders were a ploy. If Mr. 3 had truly succeeded in his mission, Crocodile would have no reason to summon him to Alabasta. This was clearly a trap to eliminate Mr. 3 for failing.
Sanji quickly left the Candle House and returned to the Going Merry. He informed **Luffy** and the rest of the crew about the conversation.
"Luffy," Sanji said, lighting a cigarette. "Crocodile thinks Mr. 3 succeeded in killing us. He ordered him to go to Alabasta, but it's obviously a trap. What do we do?"
Luffy, as always, was unfazed. He grinned and shrugged. "Let him think what he wants. We've got our own plans. Let's set sail for **Drum Island**."
The crew nodded, trusting their captain's judgment. They had a new crew member to recruit and a kingdom to save. Crocodile's schemes would have to wait.
As the Going Merry prepared to leave Little Garden, the two giants, **Dorry** and **Brogy**, approached the shore to bid the Straw Hats farewell. The crew gathered on the deck, waving to their new friends.
"Thank you for everything, Dorry, Brogy!" Luffy shouted, his straw hat tilted back. "We'll never forget you!"
The giants laughed, their voices booming across the island. "Safe travels, Straw Hats! May your journey be filled with glory and adventure!"
But just as the ship began to move, a massive shadow loomed beneath the water. The crew gasped as a gigantic goldfish, known as the **Island Eater**, emerged from the depths. Its mouth was large enough to swallow the Going Merry whole.
Dorry and Brogy exchanged a determined look. "This is our final gift to you, Straw Hats!" Dorry declared.
The two giants charged at the Island Eater, their weapons raised. With a mighty swing, they struck the creature simultaneously, their attacks landing with such force that the goldfish was sent flying into the distance. The impact shattered what remained of their weapons, but the giants didn't seem to mind.
"Consider this our thanks for saving us from Mr. 3!" Brogy said, grinning.
The crew cheered, their respect for the giants growing even more. Luffy waved enthusiastically. "You guys are the best! We'll see you again someday!"
With the Island Eater defeated, the Going Merry sailed safely away from Little Garden, the giants' laughter echoing behind them.
Meanwhile, far from Little Garden, the **Marines** were busy unraveling the mystery of Baroque Works. **Captain Smoker** and his team had intercepted a garbled message during the call between Mr. 0 and Sanji (disguised as Mr. 3). Though the message was unclear, Smoker was able to make out four key words: **"Princess Vivi," "Straw Hats," "Mr. 0,"** and **"orders directly."**
Smoker leaned back in his chair, his cigar smoldering as he processed the information. "Princess Vivi... Straw Hats... Mr. 0... This is bigger than I thought."
His subordinate, **Tashigi**, looked up from her notes. "Do you think Baroque Works is involved in something major, Captain?"
Smoker nodded. "It's not just a criminal organization. They're targeting a princess and the Straw Hats. There's more to this than meets the eye."
To gather more information, the Marines captured **Mr. 11**, a Baroque Works frontier agent. After some interrogation, they tricked him into confirming the existence of a criminal organization headed by **Mr. 0**.
Smoker's eyes narrowed. "So, Baroque Works is real, and they're planning something big. And the Straw Hats are right in the middle of it."
Tashigi adjusted her glasses. "What's our next move, Captain?"
Smoker stood up, his expression grim. "We head to **Alabasta**. If Baroque Works is targeting the kingdom, we need to stop them before it's too late."
As the Going Merry sailed away from Little Garden, the crew reflected on their time on the island. They had faced dinosaurs, giants, and Baroque Works agents, but they had come out stronger than ever. Now, their sights were set on **Drum Island**, where their next crew member awaited.
Luffy stood at the helm, his straw hat casting a shadow over his face. "Alright, everyone! Next stop, Drum Island! Let's go meet our new crew member!"
The crew cheered, their spirits high. They didn't know what challenges awaited them on Drum Island, but they were ready to face them together.