Chapter 40: Curtain Rises on the Kingdom of Sand
"What’s that?"
Usopp, standing at the ship’s rail, spotted sothing through his telescope near the harbor ahead – about ten hidden ships. "Their sails have the Baroque Works symbol!"
"Enemy forces?"
"They’re likely the Billions," Vivi replied.
She had previously explained the general structure of Baroque Works to the crew.
There were twelve pairs of Senior Agents, codenad Mr. 1 through Mr. 12, each paired with a female partner – except for Mr. 2... because he was an Okama.
Among them, the Officer Agents numbered 5 and above only appeared for major missions. The Billions were subordinates to these Officer Agents and also served as candidates for promotion.
"If they’re enemies, we just need to cut them down, right?" Zoro stated, imdiately drawing his swords.
Enemy = Cut down. Very three-sword style.
"Let’s not. Right now, the enemy is exposed, and we are hidden; that’s our advantage. There’s no need to reveal ourselves over a bunch of small fry."
As the ship drew closer to the port, Reiner began summoning his remaining powerful undead, aside from Blue Ogre and Red Ogre.
This place was crawling with enemy eyes and ears. Once ashore, he needed to minimize summoning undead as much as possible.
The Going rry didn’t dock directly at the main harbor but found a hidden stretch of coast nearby to anchor. Reiner specifically summoned all his Fish-Man undead to guard the ship.
"Yosh! Let’s go beat up Crocodile!"
"Don’t be impulsive, idiot," Sanji interjected, lighting a cigarette. He suggested, "Besides Crocodile, the war situation in this country is critical too. A war involving millions isn’t child’s play."
"Let’s gather the latest intel here first, then regroup on the ship to formulate a battle plan."
"Okay, let’s do that for now."
Reiner agreed, then turned his gaze to the side. Vivi was carefully tucking an envelope into the bag hanging around Karoo’s neck.
"Karoo, this mission is very important. You must be extrely careful on the way."
"Quack!"
Karoo saluted like a human, then quickly turned and departed. The letter contained information revealing the mastermind behind the kingdom’s rebellion – Crocodile.
Until now, the entire country had been kept in the dark, still viewing Crocodile as a hero who fought off pirates.
King Cobra only knew soone was manipulating the war from behind the scenes but had no information whatsoever about the mastermind’s identity.
"Eh? Where’s Luffy?"
A puzzled voice spoke up, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. A faint sense of unease crept in as they looked around, staring blankly at each other.
"That idiot is missing!!!"
"My head hurts," Reiner couldn’t help but facepalm. "Oh well. Let’s disguise ourselves first and then head in."
Reiner and the others donned robes and cloaks. Due to the climate, most people here dressed this way – hot, but protective against the sun – so their attire wouldn’t attract any attention.
After disguising the Katana Devil, Chainsaw Devil, and Wolverine Devil summons in similar outfits, the group split into two teams and entered the city. Vivi, Zoro, and Sanji ford one group, while Reiner went with the Weakling Trio (Nami, Usopp, Chopper).
Nanohana was a city renowned for its specialty perfus. Walking into the city, the streets were incredibly lively.
Even amidst the country’s civil war, the city remained relatively prosperous, simply because it was a port city in the Great Age of Pirates.
Every few steps, one could see white, round, tower-like buildings, invariably topped with yellow dos. Despite the scorching weather, pedestrians on the street were wrapped in large, long pieces of cloth, covering themselves tightly.
"Ugh~~ I can’t take it anymore."
A weak sigh ca from behind. Chopper looked sickly and listless, limping along.
"What’s wrong, Chopper?" Reiner asked, puzzled. With Chopper’s constitution, heatstroke shouldn’t be an issue.
"It’s so hot here... The complete opposite environnt from the winter island where I grew up."
Chopper panted, tongue lolling out, looking half-dead. "And ever since we entered, I keep slling this really pungent odor."
"Pungent odor?"
"Thank you, Reiner."
Reiner picked Chopper up and placed him on his shoulders. "Ah, it’s probably the perfu. I think Vivi ntioned this city’s perfu is famous."
"Huh? Chopper, is your sense of sll very sensitive?" Nami walked up and asked Chopper.
Although one could faintly sll so fragrance walking down the street, Chopper found it pungent.
"Mm, reindeer have a very strong sense of sll."
As they walked, Reiner recalled the original story – the crew crossing the desert to reach Yuba, only for it to be a wasted trip.
He planned to first find so busy places to ask around for information, especially interrogating any thugs they encountered. The Rebel Army couldn’t possibly procure large amounts of supplies openly; they would inevitably have to use underground channels.
"Wait, Reiner," Chopper, sitting on his shoulders, suddenly called out.
He turned his head left and right, nose twitching as he sniffed the air, then pointed towards a cart turning into an adjacent street. "Over there, Reiner! I sll a large amount of gunpowder!"
Oh? Unlocked a new use for Chopper.
Reiner followed Chopper’s small hand with his eyes. It was a four-wheeled cargo cart pulled by two cals, piled high with hay – likely fodder for livestock.
"Let’s follow it and see."
At Nanohana’s port, a Marine warship slowly docked.
"Report! Captain Smoker! We’ve received a reply from Headquarters, saying..."
"Refusing our request for action again, right?"
"Uh, y-yes, sir."
"During our passage near Little Garden, the wiretapping Den Den Mushi intercepted a ssage clearly indicating soone is plotting a major event in this country! And yet those idiots at HQ..."
His voice was low, laced with anger.
"Well, this is the territory of a Warlord, after all," Tashigi spoke up.
"If the Marines were to conduct operations here without notifying them first, HQ would have trouble answering to the World Governnt."
At this mont, Smoker stood shirtless, his face grim, eyes cold. He lit the cigars clamped in his mouth, turned, and barked at the reporting soldier:
"Bring a Den Den Mushi! I need to make a call to Aokiji!"
"Yes, sir!"
Tashigi watched him with a strange expression. Vice Admiral Hina and Admiral Aokiji really have their work cut out for them.
Looks like PM2.5 is about to find soone else to bla again... (Translator’s Note: PM2.5 is a fan nickna for Smoker).
On a certain street in the city, a crowd gathered around the entrance of a restaurant, whispering amongst themselves, all eyes fixed on a man slumped over the bar counter inside.
The man was shirtless, not particularly tall but clearly muscular. Around his neck hung a string of vermilion prayer beads, and his back bore a pirate flag tattoo.
"Hey, what happened to that guy? He just collapsed while eating."
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and help him!"
"Hey, idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed!?"
A large man quickly pulled back soone trying to approach, saying frantically, "He obviously ate a poisonous Strawberry Spider and died! It’s contagious!"
"What!"
The crowd just stood there, neither approaching nor leaving, content to just watch the spectacle.
Just then, the man slumped at the bar suddenly sat bolt upright, looking panicked:
"Damn it! I fell asleep while eating!"
The crowd: "Ohh~~ So he just fell asleep... MY ASS! HOW DO YOU FALL ASLEEP WHILE EATING!!!?"
Everyone stared wide-eyed, yelling in disbelief.
"What a weirdo."
"Ai~ Let’s go, let’s go..."
Soon, the crowd of onlookers dispersed...
"Well~ Sorry about that, boss. Seems I caused you so trouble," the man at the bar said sheepishly to the owner after swallowing the food in his mouth.
The owner, wearing a white chef’s hat and long coat, quickly waved his hands dismissively, rolling up his sleeves.
"Ah, no worries! As long as you’re alright, sir."
"Hahaha! Right, boss, I’m looking for soone."
The man had dium-length black hair and visible freckles on his cheeks. He lowered his head, took out a bounty poster, unfolded it, and showed it to the owner behind the bar, offering a warm smile at the sa ti:
"Have you seen this person? His na is Monkey D. Luffy...
"...He’s my little brother."
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