Chapter 268: The Shocked Straw Hat Crew
Three days later.
A tattered pirate ship drifted across the sea.
On the deck, Luffy lay sprawled out, completely drained of energy.
"I'm so hungry... When are we going to eat?" He was on the verge of collapse.
Zoro, on the other hand, remained vigilant, his eyes locked onto their rear.
His brows were furrowed.
Thinking back to the sudden battle a few days ago, his expression turned grave.
Back in the East Blue, after hearing about the situation on the Grand Line, they hadn't taken it too seriously. Young and full of confidence, they believed they could handle anything without fear.
But the moment they entered the Grand Line, they were dealt a crushing defeat.
Under Akainu's command, the Marines had launched an all-out purge of pirates in the first half of the Grand Line while also intercepting newcomers right at the source.
At the entrance to the Grand Line, multiple naval fleets patrolled the starting routes, aiming to eliminate pirates coming in from the Four Blues.
The Straw Hat Pirates, unfortunately, ran into one such fleet on their chosen route.
Leading the charge was Smoker, a Logia-type Devil Fruit user with the power of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit.
Lacking Haki, they couldn't do anything against a Logia user. Their attacks were completely ineffective, and they were utterly overpowered.
If not for the Going Merry somehow pulling off an unexpected burst of speed to escape, the Straw Hat Pirates would have perished at sea.
"That Marine back there was only a captain… but a Marine captain from the New World is leagues apart from one in the East Blue," Zoro admitted, swallowing his pride.
He no longer dared to underestimate the Marines of the Grand Line.
Nor did he doubt what Don Krieg, the former ruler of the East Blue, had said.
"So the Grand Line really is a pirate's graveyard and a Marine stronghold." Zoro felt a mounting pressure about the road ahead.
Nami, too, looked utterly pale from fear.
Even after several days had passed, she couldn't shake the terror.
She started questioning whether entering the Grand Line was too reckless.
Maybe they should reconsider—perhaps even call Kuke.
Only Luffy, blissfully ignorant of the situation, continued whining about food.
Suddenly, the silhouette of an island appeared on the horizon.
"An island? There's an island!"
Usopp let out an excited scream.
In an instant, the entire Straw Hat crew rushed to the deck, eagerly staring ahead at the approaching landmass—Alabasta.
"There's food! There's food!"
Luffy bounced up excitedly.
Zoro and Sanji exchanged relieved smiles.
"It's a big island. Even if the Marines track us here, at least we won't be as helpless as we were at sea," Zoro remarked.
They all let out a sigh of relief.
On the open ocean, encountering a Marine fleet meant being at a severe disadvantage due to their overwhelming firepower. Their only chance of escape relied on the Going Merry making another miracle getaway.
But on land, even if they couldn't win, at least they could run.
"Come on, hurry up!"
Luffy urged impatiently.
They made their way toward the island at full speed.
Upon reaching the port city of Nanohana in Alabasta…
Just as they were about to disembark—
"Wait a second."
Nami suddenly stopped the excited and reckless crew members from rushing ashore.
"What now?"
Luffy and the others turned back, grumbling, yet also slightly nervous around Nami.
Despite their complaints, they were all eager to stay on her good side. She was only temporarily staying on their ship, after all, and they hoped she'd become a permanent crew member.
"Did none of you notice that something's off?"
Nami pointed toward the scene below.
"You idiots! At least take a look before rushing ashore! Something's obviously wrong, and you're just running right in?"
Luffy and the others leaned over the railing, gazing at the land just before them.
The port, which should have been bustling with activity, was eerily quiet.
There were barely any people around.
Only one figure stood before them.
A tall, imposing man stood with his back to them.
Further in the distance, many people lingered.
Yet none dared to approach the port.
It was as if they were terrified of the mysterious man standing there.
"Who is he?"
Zoro instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.
"Could he be some kind of monster? Why else would everyone avoid him in broad daylight?" Usopp clung tightly to the railing, unwilling to step off the ship.
"I don't care who he is. I'm getting off this ship."
Luffy, stomach growling loudly, had had enough.
Whack!
Nami slammed her fist down onto Luffy, knocking him flat onto the deck.
"We should find another place to dock," she declared.
"Nami is right."
Sanji immediately sided with her.
Just then—
A massive pirate ship appeared on the horizon, sailing toward them.
At its prow stood Crocodile.
Having spent days in the surrounding waters observing for any signs of Marine activity, Crocodile had been cautious to avoid any unnecessary conflict.
Now, three days later, he had once again returned to Alabasta.
The enormous pirate ship passed right by the Going Merry.
The sheer size of the vessel created powerful waves, causing the smaller ship to rock violently.
The Straw Hats scrambled to grab hold of the railing.
They shot annoyed glares at the passing pirate ship.
Crocodile felt their stares.
He glanced down from above.
Upon spotting the Straw Hat Jolly Roger, he instantly dismissed them.
Just small fry.
Not worth his time.
That one glance, however, was enough to terrify Usopp.
"So… so scary!" His teeth chattered as he trembled in fear.
Zoro and Sanji, on the other hand, felt an overwhelming sense of pressure unlike anything they had experienced before.
"What kind of monster is this guy?" Nami was on the verge of tears.
Only Luffy curiously stretched his neck, staring at Crocodile.
Boom!
The pirate ship docked.
Draped in a feathered coat, a cigar clenched between his teeth, Crocodile exuded an air of arrogance as he strode onto the shore, flanked by his powerful subordinates.
"It's Crocodile!"
"That terrifying Sand Crocodile is back again!"
"Run for your lives! So many of us have already died at his hands… They say he even stormed the royal palace ten days ago!"
"Damn it, why won't the Marines deal with him?"
"Deal with him? He's a pirate with a bounty of over 200 million! He's even defeated a Marine vice admiral before—there's nothing they can do!"
"But why should we run? We have a new backer now. Someone far stronger than Crocodile!"
The terrified whispers of the townsfolk reached the ears of the Straw Hats.
"Over 200 million?"
The sheer magnitude of the bounty shocked them.
Luffy's bounty was only 30 million.
The highest bounty they had encountered in the East Blue was just over 10 million.
A pirate with a bounty surpassing 100 million was something they had never seen before.
And now, one stood right before them.
"Two hundred million… How strong do you have to be to reach that kind of bounty?" Nami was petrified.
Usopp immediately hid, refusing to show his face.
Zoro and Sanji both grew increasingly tense.
A pirate worth 200 million—just imagining his strength was terrifying.
"Luffy, shut up. Someone like him isn't someone we can afford to mess with right now," Sanji warned.
Luffy, unimpressed, pouted.
"I don't care. I'm starving. I'm going ashore."
"Just because someone strong is around doesn't mean we should be too scared to even step on land," Zoro said firmly.
Sanji kept a wary eye on Crocodile.
"Looks like the real big names of the Grand Line are beyond even the Marines' control."
Then, turning to Nami with a smile, he declared, "Nami, don't worry—I'll protect you."
The main combatants of the Straw Hat crew had made up their minds.
They were going ashore.
Nami let out a sigh and shook her head.
"Fine. Do whatever you want. Not like I'm really one of you guys anyway."
She began questioning—was it really safe to stay with such reckless fools?
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DONT FORGET POWER STONE
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