Chapter 37: Little Garden – Aftermath, Mr. 3's Betrayal, and Smoker's Pursuit
Sol walked over to the two giants. A soft cyan glow emanated from his palm as he began treating Dorry and Brogy's wounds. With the healing magic slowly taking effect, the two giant warriors' injuries gradually stopped bleeding and scabbed over.
"Phew…" Sol let out a long breath, wiping sweat from his forehead. "As expected of giants—healing them really takes a lot of magic." He glanced down at his own slowly self-repairing wounds and muttered, "Too bad sky magic can't heal myself… have to rely on my own body. What a pain!"
"Mmm…" Dorry shook his head and sat up first, laughing heartily: "That was one hell of a satisfying fight!"
"Gahahahaha! Sol, you're one incredible warrior, kid!" Brogy slapped his chest, the impact making the ground tremble slightly.
At that moment, Luffy dashed over in a single leap, eyes sparkling: "Whoa! Sol! You were awesome!" He danced around excitedly, arms flailing wildly. "Watching that got my blood pumping!"
Suddenly, Luffy spun around and thrust both arms high—
"Let's have a party!!"
"Huh?!"
Nami and the others immediately faceplanted.
Usopp clutched his forehead and sighed: "I thought for sure he was gonna say 'Sol! Fight me!'…"
Zoro shrugged: "Nothing much—just mildly shocked the captain didn't immediately want to fight."
"Yeah…" Nami turned her face away and muttered under her breath, "Didn't expect you to actually have a brain…"
Luffy tilted his head in confusion: "What's wrong with you guys? I'm not an idiot—if I fight Sol right now I'd just get beaten up."
"…" The whole crew fell silent.
Sol couldn't help laughing. He patted Luffy's straw hat: "Good judgment, Captain."
"Gahahahaha! A party? Count me in!" Brogy stood up laughing.
Dorry shouldered his giant sword and roared with laughter: "Elbaf warriors never refuse an invitation to feast! Wait a bit—Brogy and I will go hunt something. We'll be right back!"
The two giants strode off with earth-shaking steps, leaving the Straw Hats to prepare the banquet on the spot.
—Meanwhile, deep in the forest.
Sanji sat in a pure white room made entirely of wax candles, elegantly sipping red tea. Only when the earlier tremors reached him did he suddenly snap back—
"Wait—hold on!" He set down the teacup and scratched his head. "This isn't the time to be relaxing with tea!"
He stood up and looked around: "Speaking of which… how is there a house like this deep in the forest?"
Just as he was about to leave—
"Bru bru bru bru…"
The Den Den Mushi on the table suddenly rang. Sanji raised an eyebrow and casually picked it up: "Hello, this is Little Garden Restaurant. Do you have a reservation?"
"Cut the jokes, you bastard!" The Den Den Mushi instantly morphed into a grim face. "You still haven't reported in!"
"Report…? Who are you?" Sanji lit a cigarette, asking nonchalantly.
"It's me—Mr. 0." Sanji's pupils contracted. In his mind flashed the information Vivi and Sol had provided—Baroque Works' president, the Warlord "Crocodile"!
The Den Den Mushi continued in Crocodile's impatient voice: "The order was given days ago, Mr. 3—how's the job going?"
Sanji glanced at the "Mr. 3" label on the Den Den Mushi and instantly understood—this was the agent sent to eliminate Vivi and the Straw Hats!
"I'm asking you," Crocodile's voice turned icy, "have you dealt with Princess Vivi and that crew?"
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring, lips curving: "Ah, already taken care of. Everyone who knew the secret has been eliminated. No need to send anyone else."
"Is that so…" Crocodile sounded satisfied. "Good work. The Unluckies have already delivered the permanent pointer. Return to Alabasta with Mr. Golden Week to collect your reward." He toyed with a flower in his hand. "The most important plan… we'll discuss in detail when you arrive."
—Whoosh!
Two black shadows flashed past the window!
"Hey, wait—" Before Sanji could finish, the Unluckies (sea otter and vulture) burst through the window and attacked!
Bang! Pow! Thud!
After a brief, intense scuffle, Sanji straightened his suit and picked up the Den Den Mushi again: "Sorry—had a little interruption… The straw-hat guy was still alive, but I've already 'finished him off.'"
Silence on the other end for a moment. Crocodile's voice came cold: "…You'd better have. This is my last time using a Den Den Mushi for communication. If the Marines trace it, it'll be trouble. From now on, I'll send orders via written directives like before."
Click.
The call ended. Sanji looked at the recording pointer rolling on the floor and casually picked it up: "This call mentioned going to Alabasta, right?"
Far away in Alabasta, the flower in Crocodile's hand instantly crumbled to sand, scattering across the floor.
Crocodile sat in shadow, cigar smoke curling around him. His low voice echoed in the room:
"Miss All Sunday."
Robin—currently organizing books—paused slightly but didn't turn: "Yes?"
"You and Mr. 2—head to Little Garden immediately." Crocodile's golden hook scraped across the desk with a grating sound. "Eliminate Mr. 3 on his return trip."
His eyes flashed coldly: "This guy… dared give me a false report."
Snap.
Robin closed the book with a soft sound that echoed clearly in the silent room. She turned and walked toward the door, black coat trailing elegantly: "Understood."
Meanwhile, on the rough seas far away, a Marine warship cut through the waves. On deck, Captain Smoker frowned deeply. His monitoring equipment crackled with disturbing fragments of conversation: "…kill Princess Vivi… straw hat… Mr. 0…"
"Captain Smoker!" Tashigi gripped her famous sword "Hana State" tightly, expression grave: "This conversation… could it be related to the Baroque Works member Mr. 11 we arrested last week?"
Smoker took a deep drag of his cigar. Smoke drifted in the salty sea breeze: "Very likely. Mr. 0… that codename is probably their leader. As for Princess Vivi…" He narrowed his eyes. "It should be the missing princess of Alabasta. And suspiciously, Alabasta has just erupted in rebellion. All of this is too coincidental."
Tashigi pushed up her glasses, lenses glinting sharply: "Captain Smoker—the situation is urgent. Should we launch an investigation immediately?"
"Hm. Request a permanent pointer to Alabasta from Headquarters. We're heading to that country of sand—Alabasta."
--------------------------
Support us on patreon (+Gain access to 100 chapters in advance)
patreon.com/inkshield