Chapter 15: 'Infiltrating' Orange Town
Under Nami's direction, the ship smoothly approached the harbor of Orange Town.
The town's outline emerged through the morning mist, yet carried an unusual silence.
Next came the matter of how to infiltrate the town and execute their plan against the clown Buggy.
Nami's eyes shifted as the blueprint of a "perfect" plan formed in her mind.
"We need someone to guard the ship—it's our crucial asset and escape route. I think... Lufia should stay behind! It's too dangerous for a girl to get involved in all that fighting and killing."
Her mental calculations were clicking away loudly:
If Luffy stayed on the ship, after she successfully "sold" Ralph and Zoro to Buggy and caused chaos, she could seize the opportunity to return and steal both the ship and the person!
However, the moment Luffy heard this, she shook her head like a rattle drum: "No! I want to go on an adventure in the town! I want to see what kind of guy this clown Buggy really is!"
Seeing the pure, determined look in Luffy's eyes, Nami's assumption that "Lufia is being coerced" wavered for the first time.
She looks... genuinely eager for adventure?
Nearby, Ralph was also thinking rapidly.
Lufia wanted adventure—it was in her nature—and he absolutely couldn't spoil her excitement, but the ship did need guarding.
He was experiencing firsthand the difficulties of having insufficient crew early on, along with the challenges of managing major assets. They were already short-handed, yet still had to leave one fighter to watch the ship.
Most crucially, the person assigned to guard the ship absolutely could not be him!
If I stay to guard the ship and let Zoro and Lufia go to Orange Town together to deal with Buggy...
Ralph's mind instantly played out an eight-hundred-episode drama series. After going through fierce battles, blood and fire, what if the two fought side by side and their feelings inexplicably deepened?!
No! Absolutely not!
He immediately turned his gaze to the green-haired swordsman beside him, plastering a "trusting" smile on his face: "Zoro, we'll leave guarding the ship to you! No problem, right?"
Zoro, holding his swords, furrowed his brows slightly. He yearned for battle, for clashing with strong opponents, but as a crew member, he understood the necessity of proper division of labor.
He said gravely:
"Without my combat strength, facing the Buggy Pirates will likely be quite difficult for you all. If you think it's fine, then it's fine!"
"Don't worry at all!" Luffy thumped her chest forcefully, brimming with confidence, "I'm really strong! Ralph isn't weak either! We'll knock down every enemy who stands in our way!"
Nami broke out in a cold sweat listening nearby.
A pirate crew of dozens! What's with you two acting like you're just going to bulldoze through them?! Are your brains actually working?!
And so the plan was settled.
Zoro remained to guard the large ship, while Ralph, Luffy, and Nami stepped into Orange Town, which was eerily silent.
The town was deserted, shops on both sides of the street had their doors and windows tightly shut, and occasional signs of destruction could be seen. Nami lowered her voice to explain: "Most townsfolk have fled to avoid the clown Buggy. The Buggy Pirates are terrifyingly formidable, so to deal with him, we must use our wits!"
She began to explain her "carefully" devised plan:
"According to my intel, Captain Buggy's treasure was recently stolen, and he's currently furious, hunting everywhere for the thief. We can use this to our advantage..."
"Find someone to pretend to be a thief, 'offer' them to Buggy, gain his trust, sneak into his pirate crew, and then... steal the Grand Line sea chart and his treasure!"
Her gaze fell upon Ralph, her tone deliberately flattering: "As for the candidate, you're the most suitable one, Ralph! Look at you—handsome, extraordinary presence, clearly a bold and capable rising pirate star! Only someone like you stealing Buggy's treasure would convince him!"
She didn't forget to add: "Of course, it's just an act! Lufia and I will take the opportunity to steal the sea chart and treasure, then immediately come rescue you. We'll escape together!"
Naturally, she had no intention of carrying out that final step.
What she wanted was for Ralph and Buggy to destroy each other, leaving both weakened. Then she'd take the "deceived" Luffy back to the ship, ambush the remaining Zoro, and finally sail away with Lufia.
As long as she could reveal this scumbag's true nature to Lufia and team up against that seaweed-head, their chances were high!
Her only worry now was whether this seemingly cunning Ralph would take the bait or dare to take the risk.
However, things developed completely beyond her expectations.
After hearing this "perfect" plan, Ralph merely stroked his chin, appearing to seriously consider it. But Luffy was the first to jump out and loudly oppose: "No! I disagree!"
"Why?" Nami was stunned.
"Why should we join someone else's pirate crew?" Luffy planted her hands on her hips, her face full of displeasure. "Even if it's fake, I won't do it! I'm going to become the Pirate King! How can I join someone else's crew?"
Nami nearly choked back her breath, forcing herself to explain: "It's just a temporary measure! The goal is to steal the sea chart and treasure!"
"Hmph!" Luffy pouted unhappily, unusually firm in her stance. "I don't want to pretend even if it's fake! Why go through all this trouble? Can't we just punch Buggy away?"
Nami was utterly shocked by this simplistic logic, trying to make her face reality: "They say Buggy has mysterious abilities, probably ate a Devil Fruit like you! And he has many crew members under him. It's very dangerous..."
"A Devil Fruit user?" Luffy's eyes instantly lit up, completely ignoring the "danger" part as she excitedly interrupted Nami. "Then it's even more reason to fight him!"
Without waiting for reactions from Nami or Ralph, Luffy took a deep breath, cupped her hands around her mouth, and toward the silent town, unleashed an earth-shattering shout with her rubber-enhanced lung capacity:
"Buggy—! Come out—!!"
The clear, resonant female voice crashed like a boulder into a calm lake, sound waves rippling layer upon layer, echoing over Orange Town, carrying far into the distance.
Nami: "!!!"
She froze completely, only one thought remaining in her mind:
We're doomed!
She sharply turned to look at Ralph, expecting panic or reprimand.
Instead, what she saw was Ralph gazing at Luffy's slightly flushed yet fearless and excited profile with a look that could almost be described as... "deeply moved" and "affectionate."
This is it! Ralph inwardly cheered.
Without hesitation, charging forward recklessly, using the most direct approach to shatter all schemes and calculations! After becoming a girl, this purity and impulsiveness not only didn't appear foolish, but instead seemed even more adorable and charming!
Nami looked at Ralph's strange expression and was utterly bewildered:
What on earth is this?!
He committed such a stupid act that put everyone in danger, yet you're not angry at all? Instead, you're giving this "my Lufia is so amazing" look? Could it be...
...this pirate captain genuinely cares for Lufia? Not just using and deceiving her?
Her worldview was severely shaken.
Just then, from the bar at the end of the street that the Buggy Pirates had occupied as their temporary base, came noisy shouts and the sound of footsteps. Even several peeking figures appeared on the rooftop.
Nami instantly snapped out of her confusion, survival instinct taking over. She made a quick decision and left behind a message: "Then you two stay here and attract their attention! I'll go steal the sea chart!"
After speaking, she swiftly slipped into the nearby alley like an agile cat, her figure disappearing. Rather than dying alongside these two madmen, better to seize the opportunity and execute her Plan B!
Soon, seven or eight pirate underlings dressed in various outfits and armed with swords and clubs rushed over aggressively, surrounding Ralph and Luffy.
"Which bastard was shouting here just now? How dare they call our Captain Buggy by name directly!" The leading petty officer roared fiercely.
Ralph looked at these underlings and couldn't even be bothered with words.
He moved.
"Soru!"
His figure blurred instantly where he stood, and in the next moment, he moved like a ghost among the pirate underlings at extreme speed, creating faint sounds of wind.
Accompanied by a series of dull thuds, the underlings didn't even see what happened before feeling tremendous force hitting their waists, backs, or legs. They fell to the ground screaming, instantly losing their combat capability.
In almost the blink of an eye, the previously aggressive group of pirates was reduced to just the petty officer barely standing. But even he was already weak in the knees, pale-faced, looking at Ralph who had reappeared in his original spot as if he were a monster.
Ralph straightened his already neat collar, calmly looking at the terrified petty officer with an undeniable commanding tone:
"What are you standing there for?"
He turned slightly, bowed minimally, and made a "please" gesture toward the straw-hat-wearing girl beside him whose eyes were beginning to shine with excitement.
"Our captain wants to meet your captain. Aren't you going to lead the way quickly?"
Luffy took a step forward, adjusted her straw hat, and the innocent smile on her face faded, replaced by an expression mixing anticipation and seriousness.
Though she didn't speak, the natural, seemingly innate leadership quality and unparalleled confidence she radiated—even just a hint of it—was enough to make the remaining pirate petty officer feel suffocating pressure.
[System Notification: Luffy is deeply satisfied with your decisive, efficient actions that fully demonstrate pirate spirit and respect for her. Favorability +5%.]