Luffy stared at his double with wide eyes, grinning from ear to ear.
"There's two of me ?! That's so cool!"
"Hehe, scared yet?" Mr. 2 Bon Clay smirked. "All I need is a touch to my face with my left hand to change back!"
With a dramatic flourish, he reverted to his original, bizarre appearance, flashing a proud grin.
"This is the power of the [Clone Clone Fruit] I ate!"
The crew gasped in shock.
"Not only the face, but even the voice and height are identical!" Usopp exclaimed.
"And that's not all!" Bon Clay said proudly. "I can store everyone I touch!"
One by one, he tapped the Straw Hat Pirates on the shoulder—until he reached out toward Shirogai, who subtly tilted his head back and avoided the contact. In the same motion, Shirogai tapped his own face with a calm backhand.
"Preparation complete!" Bon Clay announced cheerfully. "Now, with just a touch of my right hand…"
Suddenly, Usopp's face appeared on him, complete with the iconic long nose.
...
Usopp stared at his mirrored image in horror, utterly speechless.
Then Mr. 2 placed his hand on his face again, transforming into a lopsided-eyed Zoro, smirking.
"I can become anyone I've stored!"
In rapid succession, he changed into Chopper, then Nami.
"Male or female, old or young—doesn't matter to me!"
"Don't turn into me!" Nami shouted, backing up.
Fake Nami fluttered her eyelashes with a sly giggle.
"Am I beautiful? Mwah~"
With a mischievous grin, the imposter pulled open the front of her shirt, revealing a perfectly replicated chest.
"My body becomes exactly the same too! Hehehe..."
"W-Whoa!!" The male Straw Hats Crew froze well, except Luffy , red-faced and stunned.
Smack!
Nami, face burning, brought down her fist on Mr. 2's head with a thunderous blow, knocking him flat.
"Pervert! Don't use someone else's body for that!"
Shirogai chuckled nearby, casually commenting,
"Can't lie, pretty impressive... they're even accurate in size."
But Nami heard him.
Her face flushed with rage as she rounded on him, fists clenched.
"What are you looking at?!"
Shirogai turned to the horizon, smiling nonchalantly.
"The sky looks really nice today."
"Wow! Amazing!"
"Do another one!"
"So cool!"
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper clapped in excitement, completely swept up in the novelty.
Amused by their enthusiasm, Bon Clay continued showing off, transforming into everyone he had stored—men, women, young and old.
Before long, the four of them were laughing like old friends.
"That's my ship!"
Mr. 2 Bon Clay's eyes lit up when he spotted the approaching Swanda Express on the horizon. He gracefully leapt onto the railing, striking a dramatic pose.
"Alas... friends, it's time to say goodbye."
"Nooo! Don't go!" Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp called after him, eyes teary.
Bon Clay turned around, tears brimming in his own eyes.
"Partings are part of the journey. But our friendship will remain forever! I look forward to the day we meet again!"
With a theatrical leap, he boarded his ship.
"Set sail, my men!" he declared.
"Aye, Mr. 2!" his crew shouted in unison as the Quick Duck disappeared into the fog.
...
"Mr. 2?!"
Everyone on the Going Merry stood frozen, mouths open in disbelief.
"He's Mr. 2!"
Vivi gasped, eyes wide with realization.
Shirogai leaned on the railing beside her, calmly sipping from a cup.
"Princess, I take it you didn't realize who he was?"
"I... I really didn't," Vivi said sheepishly. "I don't know Mr. 2, Mr. 1, or what their abilities are."
Shirogai gave a relaxed smile and turned back toward the kitchen.
"It's fine. Let's eat first. After that, we can talk about how to counter the risk of him using our appearances."
"Oh no!" Nami suddenly blurted, and everyone's eyes widened.
That's right—every Straw Hat except for Vivi, Sanji (still in the kitchen), and Shirogai had their appearances recorded by Mr. 2.
If they ran into their enemy again, how would they distinguish friend from foe?
If they mistook an enemy for an ally... the result could be fatal.
They sat down for dinner with heavy thoughts, but as the mushroom soup simmered and the grilled Mushroom filled the air with savory aroma, their spirits began to lift.
"This is delicious!"
Luffy slurped loudly, grabbing at the bowl as Usopp and Chopper tried to snatch bites.
"What?!" Sanji suddenly slammed his hands down on the table.
"That transvestite transformed into Miss Nami... and you guys got to see?!"
He gritted his teeth in despair, banging the table.
"Why didn't I go out?! I missed such a beautiful moment! I'd give anything to see that!"
Thwack!
A ceramic bowl smacked him squarely in the head.
"You want to die? I'll help!" Nami snapped.
"Wait!" Sanji's eyes suddenly lit up. "Shirogai's a [Talent Fruit] user! He must've copied that imitation ability!"
Sanji turned to Shirogai, eyes gleaming with hope.
"Shirogai! You're my only hope!"
Everyone instantly shivered.
"Sanji, die."
More dishes flew his way.
Shirogai chuckled calmly, sipping his drink.
"Heh, not happening."
But Sanji wasn't giving up. He fell to his knees, gripping Shirogai's leg dramatically.
"Please! Just once! I swear it's only once!"
Shirogai kicked him away and replied with a calm smirk.
"Not impossible. Defeat me in a spar and I'll grant your wish."
Sanji froze. Everyone knew the outcome of that.
Shirogai had never even used his Devil Fruit in any of their casual fights. Beating him? A fantasy.
Sanji sat in silence, lighting a cigarette, engulfed in loneliness.
The meal ended in chaos and absurdity.
---
On the deck, the crew gathered to discuss how to identify imposters in future battles.
Nami noticed Vivi sitting quietly, her mood dark.
"Vivi? What's wrong?"
Vivi's voice was barely above a whisper.
"When Mr. 2 was showing off his transformations... He used the appearance of my father, The King of Alabasta."
Nami froze.
"He touched your father?"
Shirogai's voice cut in calmly.
"That confirms it. Crocodile already planned this. Mr. 2 must've infiltrated earlier, touching the King for future impersonation."
He continued, voice steady.
"The goal is simple. Mr. 2 will impersonate the king, commit atrocities publicly, and destroy the king's reputation. That will spark an uprising in Alabasta."
Vivi's eyes welled up with despair.
"Shirogai-san... what should I do?"
He gazed out at the distant sea, speaking quietly.
"Don't worry. We'll help you stop it. And besides…"
He smiled as the coastline came into view.
"We're almost at Alabasta."
Beneath the Going Merry, a shadow moved silently in the depths below.
---
Well, in case you're unaware, sending Powerstones won't cost you a dime. So do me a favor and send some stones.