Chapter 77 Lost Zoro
Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
The entire crew of the Straw Hat Pirates burst into hearty laughter upon witnessing Bai Ye's colorful and comical appearance. It was an unusual sight to see their composed and dignified Daoist priest in such a playful state, covered in a myriad of vibrant colors painted by the young Miss Goldenweek. Even Bai Ye himself couldn't help but feel slightly bemused by the situation.
Goldenweek, on the other hand, looked at Bai Ye with a mix of confusion and curiosity. This was the first time she encountered someone completely immune to her color-based emotional manipulation. She had tried various colors – from the black of betrayal to the yellow of hysterical laughter, the red of anger, and even the green of jealousy – yet Bai Ye remained unaffected, his demeanor unchanged. She wondered if this peculiar man was capable of feeling anything at all.
If Bai Ye could read the young girl's thoughts, he might have chuckled and explained to her about the discipline required in the Daoist path. "In the pursuit of immortality, one must first master their emotions," he would say, reflecting on his own rigorous training that had fortified his mind against such external influences. To Bai Ye, the idea that mere colors could disturb his inner peace was almost laughable.
After ensuring that all of Miss Goldenweek's paints were safely confiscated, Bai Ye turned his attention to Mr. 3, who was effectively subdued by Sanji. In the world they came from, Mr. 3 was never renowned for his physical prowess, relying more on his cunning and the powers granted by his Devil Fruit. He was no match for the likes of Luffy and, evidently, Sanji as well. With Sanji's mastery of Armament Haki, handling Mr. 3 had been relatively straightforward.
The situation with Mr. 3 unfolded in a rather unexpected way. Unlike usual, Nami didn't have to use her puppet talisman to extract information. Mr. 3, feeling deeply embarrassed and flustered, ended up spilling his entire plan himself. He revealed his scheme to secretly place explosives in the wine, aiming to set the two giants against each other and the Straw Hats, then sneak in to benefit from the ensuing chaos.
When Luffy and Usopp learned about Mr. 3's deceitful plan, they were immediately enraged. The implications were clear – such a treacherous act could disastrously interfere with the ongoing duel between the giants. The thought that one of the giants could inadvertently consume the explosive-laden wine was not just alarming but also deeply upsetting.
Dorry and Brogy, the two giants, were equally furious. They were angered not just because the plot could disrupt their honorable duel, but also because it could lead them to unintentionally harm their newfound friends, the Straw Hats. Such deceit was utterly despicable in their eyes.
As a result, Mr. 3 found himself subjected to a rather harsh and unrelenting 'punishment'. Luffy, Usopp, Dorry, and Brogy took turns delivering a series of vigorous beatings. If it weren't for Mr. 3's Wax-Wax Fruit abilities, which granted him a certain resilience, he might not have survived the ordeal.
The final nail in the coffin for Mr. 3 came from Bai Ye. With a few simple words, Bai Ye revealed that Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine had been under his control from the very beginning. This revelation was too much for Mr. 3, who, already overwhelmed by the physical beatings, fainted from the shock.
Amidst this chaotic scene, Nami, ever observant, raised an important question that seemed to have slipped everyone's mind: "Where did Zoro go?" Her query highlighted Zoro's absence, reminding everyone that one of their key crew members was unaccounted for, adding another layer of concern to the already complex situation on the island.
-----
Deep in the lush, dense forest of the island, the persistent ringing of a Den Den Mushi echoed from a small cabin. The sound was constant and insistent: "Purururu! Purururu!"
Zoro, having wandered off and gotten lost, stumbled upon this odd cabin while carrying a Triceratops over his shoulder. He was puzzled by the sight. "How can there be such a strange cabin here?" he wondered aloud. Knowing his own tendency to get lost and his confusion with directions, he couldn't make heads or tails of it. Driven by curiosity, Zoro pushed open the door to find the source of the ringing — a Den Den Mushi.
After answering the call, a stern and somber voice greeted him from the other end. It was Mr. 0. "Stop pretending to me, Mr.3, it's me, Mr.0," the voice said. Mr. 0, clearly mistaking Zoro for Mr. 3, was demanding an update on a mission. Zoro's eyes narrowed as he quickly pieced together the situation. This cabin was a base for the agents of Baroque Works, and their mission, undoubtedly, involved Princess Vivi.
"You and Miss Goldenweek have completed the mission, kill Princess Vivi!" Mr. 0 instructed firmly. Without missing a beat, Zoro, adopting a casual tone, confirmed the mission's supposed success. Mr. 0 seemed satisfied and informed him about the arrival of Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, along with an Eternal Pose pointing to Alabasta.
At that moment, Zoro glanced towards the windows and noticed two familiar animals — the spies of Mr. 0. They were already under the control of Bai Ye's puppet charms. Recognizing Zoro, they remained still, haunted by the memory of his sword at their necks. Sensing their defeat, the sea otter cautiously handed over the Eternal Pose to Zoro.
Zoro, maintaining his facade, assured Mr. 0 over the Den Den Mushi, "I see, the Eternal Pose is in my hands." Pleased, Mr. 0 instructed him to return soon for the final phase of their plan. With a smirk, Zoro agreed, all the while knowing he had just outwitted Crocodile.
After ending the call, Zoro noticed the cabin beginning to melt — it was made of wax, a signature of Mr. 3's craft. Taking the Den Den Mushi and the Eternal Pose, Zoro left the scene, a step ahead in their intricate game of deception.
-----
In Alabasta, after ending the call, Crocodile lifted his gaze to Robin and instructed, "Let Mr. 2 take action. He should head to Little Garden and eliminate Mr. 3 and the others."
Robin acknowledged with a nod, "Understood, boss." She then turned to leave, a hint of amusement tugging at her heart. She had recognized the voice on the Den Den Mushi; it was Zoro's, not Mr. 3's. "It seems the Straw Hats have already dealt with Mr. 3," she mused to herself, curious about how this development would unfold.
-----
"Zoro, you're incredible!" Everyone finally found Zoro after a lengthy search. Zoro, holding the Eternal Pose, presented it to the group. Vivi, bubbling with gratitude, eagerly approached Zoro for a hug, but Zoro swiftly sidestepped her embrace. This scene inevitably sparked Sanji's jealousy, leading to a heated argument between him and Zoro about who caught the bigger prey.
The two giants, Dorry and Brogy, were somewhat baffled by Sanji and Zoro's hunting contest, realizing that something significant had slipped their minds amidst the bickering. It was then that Bai Ye approached the giants with a proposition. In exchange for a generous supply of spiritual wine, Bai Ye requested that Dorry and Brogy assess the fighting capabilities of Luffy and the others, offering them constructive feedback.
Dorry and Brogy were more than willing to help. After all, without the Straw Hats, their own duel could have been sabotaged by Mr. 3. They felt indebted to the Straw Hats, and since Bai Ye's request was fairly simple, they agreed without hesitation.
Over the next few days, Vivi and Nami got everything ready to set sail again. Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro, meanwhile, sparred with the two giants, who were impressed by their Observation Haki and Armament Haki. The training with the giants significantly boosted their abilities.
Brogy had specific advice for Luffy and Sanji, particularly for Luffy. After learning about Luffy's powers, he suggested that Luffy should focus on enhancing his Armament Haki.
On the other hand, Dorry spent time with Zoro discussing swordsmanship. He recognized that Zoro was at a critical juncture in his development. "Once you overcome this hurdle," Dorry advised, "you'll truly master the art of cutting iron and become a genuine swordsman."