"Welcome... ahem!"
A middle-aged man, dressed like a formal butler, stepped slowly out from the crowd. His curly hair flared out on both sides like fluffy tufts of toilet paper, giving him an almost comical yet sincere appearance.
In his hands, he held a well-polished saxophone, and his voice carried a surprising enthusiasm as he introduced himself.
"I am Ikalem, the mayor of Whisky Peak. Hospitality is the proud tradition of our town," he said with a wide smile, eyes twinkling with anticipation.
He gestured toward Luffy and his companions, voice full of warmth and ceremony. "Please allow us to hold a banquet in your honor. I wonder if you all might… ahem, do me the honor of accepting this humble invitation?"
With his arms open wide as if embracing the entire group, Ikalem radiated genuine hospitality.
"Wahahahaha~~~"
Luffy laughed heartily, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "We're all in!!!"
The others quickly echoed the sentiment without hesitation.
Upon hearing the enthusiastic agreement, the townspeople erupted in cheers and immediately began to gather around, shepherding the newcomers toward the center of the bustling town.
The nearby tavern had already prepared for the event, with tables laden with food and drink. Yet, beneath the surface, hidden traps were set — their sinister purpose carefully concealed.
Nami, curiosity and caution mingling within her, was about to inquire how long it would take to record the island's magnetic field when suddenly, Leo appeared beside her.
Without warning, he grabbed her arm and tugged her along, closing the distance to Luffy's group before she had a chance to react.
Zoro, sensing something amiss, lingered behind momentarily. But when Leo said nothing, the swordsman set aside his suspicions and followed after the others.
---
Night slowly wrapped the island in darkness, and a bright silver moon rose into the star-speckled sky.
The banquet began as planned, held beneath lantern light and the watchful eyes of the townsfolk.
Luffy and his crew threw themselves into the festivities with abandon — feasting on hearty food, drinking copious amounts of ale, and basking in the warm reception from the people of Whisky Peak.
Beauty, beer, and a bounty of food filled the air.
Usopp, in particular, boasted shamelessly, soaking in the admiring gazes cast his way.
Ikalem took charge of the evening's entertainment, hosting a lively toasting competition in which Nami eagerly joined — especially motivated by the money at stake.
Meanwhile, Zoro had already succumbed to the alcohol's embrace, passed out and sprawled over a nearby bench.
Luffy, on the other hand, seemed to have discovered an insatiable hunger, devouring meat like a whirlwind, drawing shocked looks from onlookers.
Sanji, ever the ladies' man, was surrounded by various girls who pampered him with massages — the flirtatious cook completely lost in the indulgence.
"Nah, Leo, what exactly are you holding there? You've been fiddling with that thing for days."
Nami, somewhat tipsy and forgetting past grievances, stepped closer with curiosity.
Leo reluctantly stopped what he was doing and handed the half-assembled doll over to her.
This peculiar figure had been painstakingly crafted over several days, slowly condensed and shaped with his forbidden magic.
"A puppet?" Nami raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Ha! Leo, acting like a kid?" Usopp teased with a laugh.
"A doll toy, that's all! Hahaha!" Nami chuckled, eyeing the doll's joints and carefully beginning to assemble it.
She clicked the pieces into place with surprising speed, finishing the splicing before bursting into loud laughter.
"Days of work for something this simple? That's hilarious! He's like a kid, so cute!"
Leo narrowed his eyes at Nami's laughter, irritation flaring. He wanted nothing more than to silence her with a deadly glare.
"I'll take it back."
"You're so stingy! Can't even joke with me, huh? Humph~"
Nami's smile vanished instantly as she sensed a shift in Leo's mood — the subtle change betrayed his simmering anger.
Having been pranked by him before, she was cautious now.
Without another word, she stuffed the doll into Leo's arms and turned away, returning to the burly nun's side to drink.
"Huh?!"
Leo stared at the assembled doll in his arms, puzzled.
He hadn't expected that something he'd labored over for days would be put together so quickly by Nami.
A strange feeling stirred within him.
Closing his eyes, he instinctively reached out with his magic, sensing the intricate patterns woven inside Nami's body.
"Scare!"
He watched in awe as the dense magical lines inside her began to connect into one unified whole.
Outside her body, the void shimmered with faint wind elements, invisibly swirling and gathering into her form.
The color of the magical lines darkened rapidly, as if she were becoming a living embodiment of the wind itself.
If this process continued at the same pace, Nami would reach Leo's current level of mastery within one or two years.
Considering her natural affinity for the wind element, only a handful of people in the entire world would be able to stand against her in battle.
No wonder she was overwhelmed by Zoro earlier.
No wonder she had some control over the storms sweeping the Grand Line.
Leo's mind raced as he contemplated these revelations. A thoughtful smile crept across his face.
Bang!
Leo downed the wine in front of him with one swift gulp and slammed the empty glass onto the table, the loud noise reverberating throughout the tavern.
The Baroque Works operatives, hidden among the crowd, nearly jumped in fright — for a moment, they thought their cover had been blown.
Since Leo had refused to eat earlier, the food placed in front of him was specially spiced with a powerful sedative.
The operatives had been wondering how to get Leo to drink, and seeing him gulp the wine without hesitation eased their worries.
All around, the Straw Hat Pirates had either fallen into drunken stupors or surrendered to pleasure.
Even Leo, the crew's strongest bounty, had unwittingly consumed the drugged wine — the plan was unfolding perfectly.
Soon, Leo swayed slightly, then collapsed face-first onto the table, deep under the wine's effects.
The Baroque Works members exchanged excited glances, their victory almost assured.
After some time, all the Straw Hats were sprawled on the floor or slumped over tables, lost in unconsciousness.
The muscular, dark-skinned nun clutched her stomach, her face contorted in mock resentment.
"Oh, God… hiccups. These guys can drink too much!"
She grumbled, "Even though I drank bubble tea with them, I nearly died from overindulgence."
Ikalem, now visibly thrilled, declared, "Everything is going according to plan. You've done well, but don't rest yet."
He barked orders to his subordinates, "Go to their ship. Seize their treasures and tie them up!"
"Ahem... sorry to interrupt."
From atop a nearby roof, Zoro's voice cut through the night.
Moonlight bathed him in a silver glow, making him appear mysterious and powerful.
"Can you let them sleep peacefully? After such a long voyage, they must be very tired."
His sudden appearance startled the operatives.
Though clearly drunk, Zoro's tone was sharp and commanding.
"As a swordsman, I will never be paralyzed by alcohol!"
"I will be your opponent!"
---
Inside the tavern, as the noise of battle erupted outside, Leo's eyes snapped open.
Refusing to be fooled by such a simple trick, the elegant and enigmatic magician rose from his prone position.
With the room emptied, he moved quietly toward Nami.
He had only just sensed the magic within her and now wanted to probe further, to understand the unique patterns woven into her body.
Outside, the sounds of desperate howls and clashing steel echoed — a fierce fight was underway.
Excitement flared in Leo's eyes as he gently grasped Nami's arm.
With his magic wand, he tapped the Qing Ling position — an ancient acupressure point — and watched as her magic pattern subtly shifted and evolved.
"This is so interesting," he murmured, a hint of awe in his voice.
Such rare material... such a valuable partner.
He was determined to help her reach her true potential with all his heart.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)