Sunlight filtered through the clouds over the port city of Nanohana, casting its glow on the bustling streets.
Suddenly, an ear-splitting shout shattered the tranquility.
"Aaaaaaah~ I'm starving! Restaurant! Restaurant! Restaurant!"
Luffy's voice echoed across the entire port.
Thanks to their captain's constant food theft on the voyage, the Going Merry's supplies were critically low.
The moment the ship docked, Luffy dashed off like a gust of wind, charging straight toward the busiest-looking restaurant on the pier.
"Luffy, wait for us!" Sanji called after him.
"Mr Bushido, aren't you coming?" Vivi asked, looking at the swordsman who was already beginning his intense training routine on the deck.
"Don't mind that moss-head," Sanji said with a sigh.
"Ever since he met that Mike, he's turned into a complete training nut. It's either training, or on his way to train."
"Captainl Mike?" Vivi asked, the name unfamiliar to her.
"Yeah, that guy's a total ugly—"
THUNK!
Nami's fist connected squarely with Sanji's head.
"Don't you dare talk about Captain Mike like that!" she huffed, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Vivi, let me tell you, he is super handsome..."
"Really...?"
"Would I lie to you? My taste is impeccable," Nami said, pulling Vivi along as they disembarked.
Before long, they arrived at the restaurant to find Luffy already seated with a mountain of empty plates piled in front of him.
Just as the owner was about to bring another serving, his gaze landed on the iconic hat atop Luffy's head.
"Young man... is that a straw hat?" he asked.
"Huh? My hat? yeah It's my treasure!" Luffy replied, his mouth full.
The shopkeeper's expression changed. "Excuse me, do you know someone named Ace?"
Luffy froze, his chewing stopping mid-bite.
"Ace?!! He's my brother!"
"Then it's definitely you!" the owner exclaimed. "A young man named Ace came by not long ago. He said if I met a boy wearing a straw hat, to tell him: 'I'll be waiting for you in Rainbase, at a place called Rain Dinners'."
"Rain Dinners?!" Vivi stared at the shopkeeper in shock, a flicker of fear crossing her eyes.
That was the headquarters of Baroque Works, the very organization she was trying to stop!
"Vivi, since Ace is waiting for us there, let's head to Rainbase now!" Luffy declared.
"But... Rain Dinners is their main base! The boss, Crocodile, will be there!" she protested.
"It's fine, Vivi," Luffy clenched his fist, a grin on his face as steam began to visibly rise from his skin, a new trick he'd been practicing.
"Ace is strong, and I'm strong, too! Let's go beat up Crocodile!"
"...Alright," Vivi finally relented, swayed by his infectious confidence.
And so, the Straw Hat crew set off toward Rainbase.
.....
Meanwhile, in that very city, at the headquarters of Baroque Works.
The organization's top officers were assembled around a heavy wooden conference table, the air in the room was thick with tension.
At the head of the table, Sir Crocodile exhaled a cloud of smoke, his expression hidden in the haze.
"Boss, why the emergency summons? Darling has other important matters to attend to~" a man dressed in an eccentric swan ballet costume complained.
It was the Mane-Mane Fruit user, Mr. 2, Bon Clay.
"Hmph. Just follow the boss's orders," a deep voice rumbled from the other side of the table.
It was the Dice-Dice Fruit user, Mr. 1, Daz Bones.
At that moment, a staff member hurried in and whispered something into Crocodile's ear.
"...What?" Crocodile frowned, his cigar-holding hand pausing mid-air.
After a moment of stunned silence, his expression grew complicated.
"Captain Mike... wants to visit the hot springs in Yuba?"
The hot springs themselves weren't the issue.
The problem was that Yuba, thanks to his prolonged and secret use of Dance Powder and sandstorms, had long been reduced to a barren, dried-up ruin.
Hot springs? There wasn't even a drop of water left in there!
'How am I supposed to explain this?' Crocodile's mind raced in a panic.
"Sorry Captain, the relaxing hot springs you wanted to visit are now a desert wasteland because of my evil plan to destabilize the country. Can we reschedule?"
He could practically feel the cold steel of Mike's blade at his throat.
'The man who one-shotted Dragon would kill me for ruining his vacation!'
With the situation taking such a sharp turn, he had no choice.
"How many people can Baroque Works mobilize right now?" Crocodile asked Robin, his voice was dangerously calm.
"Currently, there are 200 Billion-level agents and 1,800 Million-level agents," she answered promptly.
"That should be enough," Crocodile nodded. He stood up, his voice an unwavering, tyrannical command.
"All high-ranking commanders, prepare to head to the Yuba oasis immediately. Gather all necessary supplies and construction materials. You will create a miracle. You will restore Yuba to its former prosperity—in a single night."
"Set out now. I will join you shortly."
"???"
"!!!"
The air in the room froze instantly.
"Boss?!" the commanders exclaimed, their faces filled with shock and confusion.
Only Mr. 1 remained seated with a faint glimmer in his eyes.
He trusted the boss.
Whatever the boss said, he would do it.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed, his voice turn into a low, deadly hiss.
"Any high-ranking commander who has not departed for Yuba within the hour... I will personally eliminate you as a traitor."
Each of his words struck like a heavy hammer against their hearts.
The message was clear: if Yuba wasn't a thriving, luxurious hot spring resort by the time Mike woke up tomorrow morning... they would all die.