Chapter 35: Baroque Works
On the other side, at the port where Baphomet had docked, two uninvited guests appeared.A dark-skinned man in black sunglasses and a brown coat, along with a pale-skinned, blonde-haired woman in a yellow robe holding an umbrella, were confronting the Straw Hat crew.
The man spoke bluntly in a cold, official tone.
"Target confirmed for capture — Nefertari Vivi, princess of Alabasta. Disguised herself and joined Baroque Works as Miss Wednesday. Goal: to uncover the Boss's secret identity."
The umbrella woman chuckled oddly, reconfirming:
"Hahaha… What a brave little princess. While I appreciate your courage, the higher-ups don't. You'll have to come back with us obediently. As for the others…"
The man and woman completely disregarded the Straw Hats, saying in unison:
"Eliminate."
Vivi hurriedly hid behind Nojiko — whom she thought was the strongest — and nervously warned:
"They're official agents, high-level personnel of Baroque Works — Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine. Be careful, they're strong…"
She wished her captain were here.Her retainer, Igaram (Mr. 8), stepped in front of her, glaring at the pair.His strange powdered wig morphed, revealing multiple gun muzzles hidden within the curls.
"Princess Vivi, don't worry. I'll protect you."
With that, the muzzles roared, unleashing a barrage of bullets toward the duo.These bullets were special — each packed enough force to rival small bombs.
The deafening explosions engulfed the two in black smoke.Igaram smirked confidently.
"Hmph. Numbers or not, after taking my attack head-on, there's no way they aren't dead or badly injured…"
The girls glanced at the old man strangely.As the smoke cleared, the two stood completely unharmed.Igaram's confidence crumbled into terror.
"Princess Vivi, run!"
The dark-skinned man casually picked his nose and mocked:
"Weakling… How could such small bombs hurt me? I'm a Bomb Man."
Miss Valentine laughed, closing her umbrella.
"Hahaha, I almost got hit… You cunning old man, hiding dangerous weapons in your hair."
Mr. 5 flicked a brown-black piece of snot from his finger.It flew casually — and indiscriminately — toward the group.
By chance, it was heading straight for Zala.
She had been watching the scene in mild amusement, but suddenly she was part of it.Instinctively, she unsheathed one of her katanas, slicing the small dark ball clean in two.
Both halves landed in the sea behind them — where they exploded violently.
Zala stared at the edge of her blade, body trembling, lips twitching.
"Was that… snot just now?!"
A snot… that just soiled my katana?!
Pfft—
The girls burst into laughter, though their faces twisted in disgust and pity toward the still-arrogant Mr. 5.Even his partner looked at him with disdain.
Vivi and Igaram were stunned by both Mr. 5's ability and Zala's casual display of magical swordsmanship.Vivi muttered in disbelief:
"Is the green-haired girl as outrageous as the blue-haired one? Or… are they all like their captain?"
Mr. 5 sneered.
"A little skill, but that's all."
Zala's blank expression darkened.
"Unforgivable…"
The air thickened; arcs of red lightning seemed to crackle around her. Even the clouds trembled.
"You disgusting maggot… How dare you… How dare you sully my katana with your snot…"
Her eyes turned icy; even the katana's blade shone with a strange light.
The laughter died instantly.Zala was terrifying.
Before Mr. 5 could react, the ground beneath Zala caved in under her force, leaving a deep crater as she vanished.
The sheer power of her first step created a whirlwind and a thick cloud of dust.Nojiko had to grab Vivi and Igaram by the shoulders like chickens to keep them from being blown away.
To most, Zala simply disappeared — only to reappear in front of Mr. 5 — but the other girls saw her break the sound barrier several times.
In less than a blink, she was there.
Mr. 5's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
The katana flashed.
To the onlookers, Zala's sword moved thousands of times in fractions of a second. Lights shimmered all around.
When she finally stopped and stepped back, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine hadn't even processed what happened.
In raw stats, the girls outclassed even admirals — speed beyond sound, defenses that could take an admiral's direct attack, and strength to rival giants.Their only weaknesses: battle experience and Haki refinement.
Mr. 5, now able to breathe, smirked.
"What are you doing, tickling me? Your fruit's speed, right? But you're too weak to—"
Kaya turned away, unable to watch. She knew anatomy well — and knew exactly what was coming.
Red light flickered over Mr. 5's body… and then his limbs and torso began falling apart like puzzle pieces.
Vivi, Igaram, and Miss Valentine were frozen in horror.
Mr. 5 looked around, confused.He didn't even feel it — the attack was beyond his nervous system's ability to register.
"Huh? Is that my back? Wait… how can I see—"
His question was cut off as his life ended instantly.
Kuina sighed.
"Zala's still gentle… Even raging, she made it painless."
Zala's cold reply:
"I'm not a pervert. I just wanted him to pay — with his life."
The girls' lips twitched. Gentle? Not a pervert?
Vivi trembled; Igaram barely stayed standing, sheer will keeping him from collapsing.
Miss Valentine, still in shock, collapsed to her knees as Zala's gaze turned on her.She forgot her powers, forgot to run — terror erased every thought.
Zala approached slowly, raising her katana.
Miss Valentine felt certain she'd follow Mr. 5 to the afterlife—
Until an enraged voice rang from the ship:
"You damn green-haired bitch! How dare you attack such a cutie?!"
Sanju had just finished cooking when she saw the scene. In an instant, she kicked off the ground, flying toward Zala.
Zala blocked the kick with her katana — but her face twisted in rage.
"Damn pervert bitch! I'll kill you today!"
The clash exploded, caving the ground in a massive crater.Debris and bounty hunters flew in all directions.
Zala barely redirected the force; behind her, the impact destroyed Whiskey Peak entirely.
Miss Valentine — supposedly under Sanju's protection — was sent flying.
Zala's eyes narrowed. This bitch has a problem with me.
The two stood uninjured, but ready to go all out. The others were baffled.
Vivi and Igaram just shivered, watching in awe at such overwhelming strength.
Then a cold voice cut through the tension:
"What is happening here?"
Everyone turned to see Luffy watching with an unreadable gaze.He casually plucked Mr. 5's Devil Fruit power from the air.
The girls scrambled to explain, but Nico Robin simply observed with interest.
Robin listened, chuckled, and thought: They're funny, innocent, cute… but terrifying. And safe.
Sanju flushed red. She'd mistaken Miss Valentine for a civilian and attacked Zala to "protect" her.
Zala sneered:
"If the captain hadn't arrived, I'd have cut you to pieces. Next time, don't provoke me unless he stops me."
Sanju opened her mouth but shut it quickly under Luffy's cold gaze.
Kaya jumped in to break the tension:
"Captain, is this beautiful big sister our new companion? Welcome! I'm Kaya, the ship's doctor."
Kaya enthusiastically pulled Robin over to introduce her to the others.
Vivi stayed silent; she had no right to question an official crew member's place.
Sanju hurried to set the feast table, cooking with extra care — and sighed in relief when she saw Luffy enjoying the meal.
Robin, ever the information gatherer, asked about everyone's backgrounds.She quickly relaxed; the captain was good, the crew was good — and she decided to have fun.
Later, Sanju approached Luffy timidly. Whispering something with a flushed face, she received his answer:
"It's fine… but only as a maid or errand girl. Nothing more."
Sanju nodded quickly in relief and walked off, leaving Luffy watching her with quiet amusement.
For him, such matters were trivial. Even building a harem was more about fulfilling a past-life wish than true possessiveness.