Chapter 151: A Call from the Boss!
No one knew just how terrified the four Baroque Works agents standing before the candle hut were at this moment.
This fear did not stem from the overwhelming power the other side had displayed.
It came from... the unknown.
In an organization like Baroque Works, known for its "mystery," secrecy was the top priority.
Every member addressed each other by codenames.
But now, this suddenly appearing young man with black hair had not only called out their real names.
He had also spoken of... their deepest, most hidden dreams, which they had never shared with anyone.
How could they be sure he was telling the truth?
Just look at the expressions on their colleagues' faces.
The Mr. 5 duo's expressions had changed!
He must have hit the mark!
Miss Goldenweek was one thing.
She was just a little girl, always wandering around with a palette and paintbrush—anyone could tell she wanted to be a painter.
But Mr. 5 wanting to be a firefighter?
Miss Valentine wanting to be a pastry chef?
How did he know about these buried dreams, ones they might have almost forgotten themselves?
"Who... who exactly are you?!"
Mr. 3, Galdino's voice trembled.
He adjusted his glasses, trying to appear calm, but the cold sweat on his forehead betrayed him:
"How... how did you know this information?!"
Ralph did not answer.
He only smiled, but that smile seemed especially mysterious in the sunlight filtering through the jungle.
Then, he brought up another matter.
"We come from all corners of the world, from far and wide."
Ralph's voice was calm, ethereal:
"Gathered here for the same goal."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of them:
"That is—to build the Utopia in our hearts, the Utopia of our dreams."
Utopia.
This word, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sent ripples through everyone's heart.
"There, everyone can live the life they want, do what they wish to do."
Suddenly, Ralph's voice carried a sense of... longing.
As if he truly saw that beautiful world.
But the next moment, his tone changed abruptly.
"But ask yourselves honestly—"
He stared at the four of them, "Is what you're doing now truly working toward our 'ideal'?"
"Every day sneaking around, hiding, surrounded by schemes and killings... drifting further and further from your own dreams."
"Is this what you want?"
"And the goal you ultimately achieve, after sacrificing your dreams and erasing your own lives—"
At this moment, Ralph's voice was filled with disappointment and pain:
"Is to bring suffering to a country, overthrow its government, and build your false 'Utopia' upon the corpse of the nation of Alabasta."
He raised his head, his eyes flickering with a kind of pity, and also... anger:
"Our Utopia..."
"Is it really so narrow?"
Silence again.
A deathly silence.
Every word Ralph spoke... contained too much information.
So much that their minds couldn't process it all at once.
They hadn't fully grasped the lofty meaning of "Utopia," hadn't fully understood how important their dreams were, when suddenly they were told—what they were doing now...
The goal is to overthrow Alabasta?!
Since when?
No one informed them!
Wait...
Princess Vivi, the princess of Alabasta, infiltrated Baroque Works...
Could this be the reason?
Everything fits.
Could it be... what he said is true?
Then the fact that he is the "former boss" of Baroque Works...
Is that also true?
Four people, four expressions.
Mr. 3's face was pale, his eyes behind the glasses filled with panic.
Mr. 5 gritted his teeth, his hands trembling slightly.
Miss Valentine's mouth hung open as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
Only Miss Goldenweek remained expressionless.
Holding her palette, she tilted her head and looked at Ralph, her eyes filled with nothing but... curiosity.
In this eerie silence—
"Buru buru... Buru buru..."
A sound came from inside the candle hut.
A Den Den Mushi.
All four turned their heads toward the hut at the same time.
Miss Goldenweek was the first to react.
Holding her palette, she ran back to the hut on her short legs, "tap tap tap."
A few seconds later, she walked out carrying a Den Den Mushi.
The Den Den Mushi was in a connected state.
From its appearance, one could barely make out the likeness of a man.
"Mr. 3."
The Den Den Mushi spoke, its voice hoarse, low, and carrying an unquestionable authority:
"It's Mr. 0's call. The boss is asking if we've arrived at Little Garden yet? How's the mission progress? Have we taken out the Straw Hat crew and Princess Vivi?"
Miss Goldenweek's voice was calm as she reported.
But these words made the already tense situation even more... strained.
The call was connected.
Any movement on this end could be heard on the other side.
Mr. 3, Mr. 5, and Miss Valentine all looked at Ralph at the same time.
In their eyes, there was tension, hesitation, and...
In short, it was complicated.
If this person said anything reckless, they would undoubtedly be judged as having failed the mission and be eliminated by Mr. 0!
But Ralph just smiled.
He made a "go ahead" gesture and even took a step back, giving them space to answer the call.
Mr. 3 took a deep breath and hastily took the Den Den Mushi.
His voice struggled to remain steady:
"Um... This is Mr. 3."
"We... have successfully arrived at Little Garden."
"Don't worry, everything is going according to my plan."
As he spoke, his voice gradually grew firm:
"I will eliminate all interference and clear every obstacle standing in the way of Baroque Works' great goal!"
The call ended.
"Click."
The Den Den Mushi closed its eyes and reverted to its ordinary snail form.
Mr. 3 held the Den Den Mushi, his hands still trembling slightly.
But when he looked up, his eyes had changed.
The panic, fear, and wavering from earlier... had all vanished.
Replacing them was determination.
It seemed that the conversation with Mr. 0 had reestablished his "backbone."
Compared to this mysterious young man before him...
The boss was far more terrifying.
Who this young man was, where he got this information... none of it mattered.
As long as they eliminated him here.
Then all his "nonsense" could be ignored.
The dead do not speak.
"Now!"
Mr. 3 wasted no words.
His approach was to achieve his goals by any means necessary, striking with the element of surprise.
The moment his mind was set, his eyes changed, and his Devil Fruit ability activated.
"Doru Doru Arts: Mori!"
His arm instantly transformed into flowing white wax fluid.
The wax fluid coalesced and shaped in midair, swiftly forming a two-meter-long wax spear with a sharpened tip.
"Whoosh—!"
The spear cut through the air, aimed straight for Ralph's heart!