A pigeon flapped its wings, departing from the Merry Go.
They were still en route to Alabasta.
On deck, Usopp cheered, a letter clutched in his hand.
"Hey, Luffy! It's a letter from Master Dorry & Brogy! We got a reply!"
"Really, Usopp~!"
Their boisterous commotion drew the attention of their crewmates.
It had only been two days since they'd sent a letter to Dorry and Brogy, presumably on Pirate Island, using a homing pigeon—a specialized service.
Many couldn't hide their surprise at such a swift reply and gathered around Usopp.
The letter they had sent was a summons, inviting the giants to join their ranks as allies.
What kind of reply had they received?
Everyone on deck watched with bated breath.
Luffy stood beside Usopp, with Chopper leaping onto his shoulder.
Silk immediately rushed over, and Nami, Vivi, Sanji, and Igaram also drew near.
Zoro and Karoo sat a little further away, their eyes fixed on the group.
With all eyes on him, Usopp opened the letter, read through the contents, and relayed them concisely.
"Looks like the masters won't make it in time. They say their ship isn't finished yet."
"Aw, really? So the old guys aren't coming."
"Well, those two are on a different scale, you know? A ship big enough for them to stretch out and sleep must be absolutely massive. It's probably taking them ages to build it."
Usopp said with a proud smile, and Chopper, clinging to Luffy's shoulder, asked:
"How big is 'absolutely massive'? Bigger than the Merry Go?"
"Of course, it's big enough to carry several Merry Gos, that's for sure! After all, it's a ship for two of the proudest giants!"
"Several Merrys? Wow!"
"That's right! That's how incredible Master Dorry and Master Brogy are!"
"A giant ship, huh? Shishishi, I can't wait to see it!"
Like Usopp, who was delighted to hear their old friends' news, Chopper's eyes sparkled, and Luffy laughed merrily.
There was no sense of impending crisis, just their usual carefree demeanor.
Meanwhile, others wore strained expressions.
Silk looked anxious, and Nami furrowed her brows, glancing around.
"If those two can't come, this might get a little tough…"
"Even if it can't be helped, we're undeniably short on fighting power."
"Yes…"
Vivi lowered her gaze, looking down.
The enemy likely commanded over a thousand troops.
While some were defeated at Whiskey Peak, it was unthinkable that they hadn't gathered more forces before the decisive battle.
The Baroque Works organization, after all, numbered over two thousand agents.
It was safer to assume they still faced two thousand enemies, now fully prepared.
In contrast, the Straw Hat Pirates, including Karoo, numbered eleven.
Even with the Arlong Pirates sailing alongside the Merry Go, their combined strength barely reached fifty.
The disparity in forces was simply too vast.
The two giants would have been a significant asset, but that plan had failed.
Understanding the current situation, Sanji exhaled a plume of cigarette smoke, looking at his comrades.
"If they can't make it, it can't be helped. The Captain doesn't seem willing to wait any longer either. It looks like we'll just have to handle this ourselves."
"So it's come to that, huh?"
"Usopp, there's no escaping now. You'd better brace yourself."
"I-I know, alright? I'm not thinking of running away in this situation."
Nami, having already made up her mind, spoke.
Usopp let out a deep breath and replied.
A heavy atmosphere dominated the ship, and to varying degrees, a sense of tension permeated the air.
Everyone sensed that the moment was drawing near.
Unable to maintain their usual demeanor, Silk shook her head, feeling the mood, and muttered:
"By the way, where's Kiri?"
"Holed up in his room. He probably has a lot to think about."
At that moment, Kiri sat alone at a table in the lounge.
His expression was more serious than usual.
Before him was a chessboard, with only white pieces arranged.
Not a single black piece was in place.
He stared intently, lost in thought.
He knew the enemy, which meant he knew victory wouldn't come easily.
This battle was crucial, defining his future.
He envisioned countless scenarios, holding every conceivable outcome in his mind.
Kiri's eyes gazed at the unmoving chessboard, contemplating an unseen opponent.
Then, Luffy appeared and called out to him.
"Hey, Kiri, we got a letter from the giant old guys. They said they still can't come."
Luffy had sat down next to Kiri at some point, his face peering into Kiri's with a smile.
Kiri, engrossed in thought, blinked in surprise, then quickly offered a gentle smile.
Even when others found him unapproachable, Luffy would immediately dive right into his personal space.
Kiri replied, a hint of pleasure in his voice:
"Oh, is that so? Then it looks like we'll have to do it ourselves."
"Got a plan yet?"
"No, not yet. But we can't stay like this forever."
With that, Kiri rose from his seat, heading for the deck.
Luffy, of course, followed.
The moment the two appeared on deck, the atmosphere on the ship changed instantly, consumed by a heightened tension.
"Alright, let's finalize the plan. We're probably not far from arriving now."
Everyone gathered, sitting in a circle.
Serious expressions were exchanged, and not a single person was distracted, all focused on Kiri's words.
Kiri unrolled a map, confirming the familiar terrain of the Alabasta Kingdom as he began.
"First, there are two crucial points for this mission. I want everyone to remember them."
He held up two fingers for everyone to see.
Kiri's expression had already turned grave.
"One is about the rebellion. Vivi and Igaram's objective is here. But honestly, a full-scale battle could erupt at any moment. To stop it, we must prevent the Rebel Army and the Royal Army from meeting. Remember, that's the key."
"I understand that, but it won't be easy."
"There are things we can do for that. And that's part of the plan."
Kiri spoke firmly, seemingly reining in Vivi, who had voiced her concern.
He must have a reason for saying this.
Vivi nodded obediently, prompting him to continue.
"The other is about Baroque Works, or rather, Crocodile. Until they are defeated, the country's takeover won't end. Especially if we can't stop Crocodile, Alabasta will have a new king."
"I-It's easy to say, but…"
"Regarding that point, I'm entrusting Crocodile to Luffy."
Kiri said quietly, looking down at the map.
It was an expected decision, yet it still elicited surprise.
Usopp, who had been openly anxious, reacted with particular shock.
"We'll take care of the agents. So, everyone here, you don't need to engage Crocodile. Even if you encounter him, focus on escaping and fulfilling your own roles."
"Are you serious? He's a Shichibukai! No matter how strong Luffy is…"
"It's fine, Usopp. You don't need to worry about me."
Luffy looked at Usopp, conveying his message not just to him, but to everyone else.
His gaze was powerful.
Though he smiled, there was a sense of resolve that left no room for argument.
"I won't lose."
With that single statement, all objections ceased.
Kiri continued speaking without raising his head from the map.
He pointed his index finger at the coast, indicating a town there, and began to explain.
"The moment we arrive in Alabasta, the battle begins. More accurately, the enemy has probably already started without waiting for our arrival. We can't waste a single second."
"First, what do we need?"
"Resolve and purpose. We must combine everyone's strength."
Kiri looked around at everyone's faces in response to Zoro's question, who stood with his arms crossed.
"You don't need to do everything alone. Each of you just needs to grasp your role and objective, and concentrate on your own task. If you do that, everyone's efforts will connect, and the best outcome will emerge."
"But if someone falls along the way, it'll all collapse."
"To prevent that, you focus only on your own part. We're all in this together, right?"
Saying this, Kiri's cheeks softened into a gentle smile, but he quickly averted his gaze.
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