Whoosh!
The sea around the Going Merry surged violently as a massive shadow broke through the surface.
Poof!
A giant sea beast in the shape of a cat emerged from behind the Going Merry, blinking curiously at the crew.
"Meow?" (Who called me?)
"Sea beast attack! Help!"
Usopp and Chopper screamed in terror, bolting for cover.
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Meat! We got meat! Mushrooms are great, but meat fills the belly! I'm starving again!"
Zoro unsheathed his three swords, grinning. "He's right. Meat is better."
Vivi waved her hands anxiously. "No! You can't eat that! Sea Cats are sacred in Alabasta. They're seen as good luck!"
Sanji lit a cigarette, puffing thoughtfully.
"Eating it might bring good luck too."
"Meow!!!" (Hey, I'm here to make friends!)
Startled by the bloodthirsty trio, the Sea Cat recoiled, trembling.
"Hold it."
Shirogai stepped in front of them, calm as ever, a smile on his face.
"Luffy, Sanji, Zoro—don't touch it. That Sea Cat is my informant."
They groaned in disappointment, lowering weapons and fists.
"Such a big chunk of meat... wasted…"
"Mmm, mmm, mmm…"
After quietly communicating with the creature, Shirogai let it slip back into the sea.
"Meow!" (Your friends really wanted to eat me!)
The Sea Cat meowed one last time, bolted in panic, and vanished beneath the waves.
Shirogai turned to the crew, casually brushing off his coat.
"Sea Cats are good omens. They're sensitive to powerful or dangerous auras. I asked it for intel—turns out, several monstrous auras have been spotted in Alabasta's direction."
Zoro's interest piqued.
"Oh? How many?"
"Seven," Shirogai replied, lips curled in a faint smirk.
"Each one, by its reading, is close to your level, or Luffy's, or Sanji's. Dangerous territory."
Vivi's expression darkened with unease. They had agreed only to escort her to Alabasta. After that... they didn't owe her anything.
Zoro suddenly pointed his blade at the sea.
"Look at those ships behind us."
Everyone turned.
"They're flying the Baroque Works flag!" Zoro added.
"What?! Let me see!"
Usopp whipped out his telescope and gasped.
"They're real! Crossed swords with purple wings—definitely Baroque Works. There's like... twelve of them!"
Vivi snatched the telescope, eyes narrowing.
"They've started gathering. These are most likely Billions—the Chief Commander's elite forces. There could be at least two hundred aboard... and they're far stronger than those bounty hunters at Whiskey Peak."
Usopp's legs shook. "T-Two hundred? But we've only got nine people!"
Chopper trembled beside him. "N-Nami-san, are we gonna fight all of them?! That's insane!"
Nami sighed, patting Chopper's head.
"Too late to regret. You joined a pirate crew, remember?"
Shirogai chuckled, placing a hand on Usopp's shoulder.
"No need to panic. You're aiming to be the bravest warrior at sea, right? Watch and learn from those three."
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Two hundred enemies? Let me at 'em! I'll send 'em flying!"
Zoro snorted. "Not a chance. They're mine."
Sanji stepped forward, smoke trailing from his mouth.
"Enough, both of you. Two hundred? I'll handle them all myself."
Usopp slumped.
"They're not normal...! You're monsters! And you, Shirogai, you're just another monster!"
Usopp hugged Chopper.
"We're doomed!"
"Yeah," Chopper nodded, teary-eyed. "We're so doomed…"
Shirogai remained composed. "Focus. The real danger lies in identifying who's real and who's an imposter. As long as we're together, I'll know—but if someone wanders off..."
"How do we tell who's real?" Zoro asked, watching a squid spray ink over the rail.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"Wait... I've got it!"
Everyone stared in disbelief.
Zoro? With a good idea?
Even Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Tch. What happened to you, Moss-Head? Did you hit your head on the way here?"
He tightened the bandage around his wrist.
"Did you get replaced by an imposter?"
Shirogai, already tying his own bandage, grinned.
"Confirmed. That's not the real Zoro."
"WHAT?!"
Zoro's jaw dropped just as Sanji launched a surprise kick, sending him flying overboard.
Splash!
"Blrgh! You bastards!"
Zoro surfaced, flailing.
"Shirogai! I'm not an imposter! That moron just attacked me!"
Sanji shrugged. "Guess it's really him. The real Zoro's too dumb to swim."
Shirogai offered a polite nod. "Sorry, false alarm."
"You liar!" Zoro roared, drenched and fuming.
"You just wanted an excuse to get me kicked!"
"Stop fighting," Nami ordered.
She turned to the desert ahead.
"There it is. Alabasta."
Luffy climbed onto the figurehead, sniffing the air.
"Mmm... I smell meat!"
Shirogai raised his left hand, wrapped in a fresh bandage.
"Alright. From now on, when we land, we check for the mark. Bandage on the left arm—you're real. No mark? You're the enemy."
Vivi watched everyone, eyes misty with gratitude.
"Thank you... all of you."
"Huh?" Luffy blinked. "Why are you thanking us? We're crewmates, right?"
Shirogai gave a relaxed smile.
"If you really want to thank us, how about a royal banquet after we crush Baroque Works?"
Luffy's grin stretched ear to ear.
"Feast?! Now we're talking!"
Vivi lowered her head, trying to hide the tears in her eyes.
---
Meanwhile, in a restaurant on the island...
"Gulp! Gulp! Boss, five more plates of meat!"
A shirtless man in shorts and an orange hat shoveled food into his mouth at terrifying speed.
Empty plates were stacked beside him, towering like a small wall.
"Whoa... that guy's eaten enough for ten men!"
People gathered around in awe.
"Look at that tattoo—Whitebeard's mark!"
"He's a pirate, right? Should we call the Royal Army?"
---
Back on the Going Merry, Shirogai gazed at the golden desert coastline.
"The Flame-Flame Fruit... Sand-Sand Fruit... Dice-DiceFruit..."
His eyes gleamed.
"Alabasta's going to be quite the feast."
---
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