At this moment of intense confrontation, a sudden call from Maude sent ripples through everyone's emotions.
Hearing Maude recognize her voice, Nami's eyes instantly lit up with joy, her expression bright and elated.
She felt like there were so many things she wanted to say to him.
Yet, after exchanging greetings, she found herself at a loss for words, unsure of how to continue the conversation.
However, Luffy, who always had a knack for being unpredictable in certain situations, didn't give Nami any chance at all. He snatched the Den Den Mushi from Usopp's hand in an instant.
"Hey, hey! I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King!"
"..."
On the other end of the line, Maude fell into silence, momentarily speechless at Luffy's signature self-introduction.
Hearing it firsthand at a time like this gave him an oddly surreal feeling.
Watching Luffy's abrupt action, Usopp and Nami were stunned for a moment before each delivered a solid punch to the back of his head.
Bang! Bang!
Luffy's head wobbled back and forth like a bobblehead.
"Get out of the way!"
"Do you have to say that every single time?!"
Usopp and Nami shouted at Luffy.
Luffy, completely lacking the dignity of a captain, rubbed the back of his head and pouted with a wronged expression.
Zoro and Sanji sighed inwardly at the sight.
Nearby, Bartolomeo, his face full of emotion, stared at the Den Den Mushi that had now taken on Maude's image. He was torn between anticipation and hesitation.
"I really want to talk to Maude-senpai! Just one sentence would be enough!!!"
He screamed internally.
Behind him, Smoker's Marines, led by Tashigi, arrived on the scene and stood behind their commanding officer.
Smoker frowned deeply.
The weight carried by the name Maude alone was enough to make him hesitate.
Right now—
There wasn't a single person in the world who didn't know Maude.
His recent single-handed blockade operation had been widely reported by countless news outlets.
It had also made him a hated figure among pirates across the Grand Line, yet they were powerless against him.
And now, this very man had a disciple in the East Blue?
If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, Smoker would never have believed it.
His decision to halt and observe caused the Straw Hats to momentarily forget the potential threat posed by the Marines. All their attention was focused on the Den Den Mushi.
At that moment, Usopp snatched the Den Den Mushi back from Luffy.
"Maude-sensei, please don't mind what that idiot just said!"
"Heh."
A soft chuckle came through the receiver. Clearly, Maude wasn't bothered by Luffy's sudden interruption.
"Usopp, have you guys reached the Grand Line yet?"
"No, we just arrived at Loguetown today. Nami said the entrance to the Grand Line is at Reverse Mountain, not far from here."
Usopp responded with a beaming smile.
Nami, standing beside him, displayed an uncharacteristically hesitant expression.
Sanji seemed to pick up on something, and a flicker of fire seemed to ignite in his eyes as he looked at the Den Den Mushi.
"Oh, Loguetown…"
On the other end, Maude raised an eyebrow, feigning casual interest. "I heard there's a Marine stationed there called 'White Hunter.' A Logia-type user with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit. You should be careful."
"Uh…"
Usopp instinctively glanced up at Smoker, whose face was serious and stern. With a bitter smile, he said, "Master Maude, that 'White Hunter'… is standing right in front of us."
"Oh?"
Hearing Maude's surprised reaction, the Den Den Mushi's eyes rolled slightly, mimicking Usopp's movement as it directly "stared" at Smoker.
Although the Den Den Mushi couldn't transmit visuals, the mere act of it shifting its gaze created an illusion that Maude was looking at Smoker through it.
Immediately, aside from Smoker, every Marine present—Tashigi included—felt an immense pressure bearing down on them.
Just the perceived gaze of Maude through the Den Den Mushi was enough to send shivers down their spines.
Such was the weight of Maude's reputation.
Maude couldn't actually see Smoker and the Marines, nor did he know the exact situation on the scene.
But that didn't stop him from adopting a lofty tone, as if overlooking Smoker and his men from above.
"Loguetown is a bit far, but I wouldn't mind making a special trip. You understand what I mean, don't you… White Hunter… Smoker?"
"!!!"
Hearing the veiled threat in Maude's words, Smoker's expression darkened instantly.
Considering all the irrational, audacious acts this man had committed since entering the Grand Line, Smoker had every reason to believe that—even though Maude held the title of a Warlord of the Sea—he would follow through with his words!
The other Marines trembled at the sheer weight behind that single statement.
In stark contrast, Usopp was brimming with excitement.
This was his master!
Even from a distance, he could instill fear in the Marines!
"Usopp."
After dropping the threatening remark, the Den Den Mushi's gaze slowly shifted again, now turning towards Usopp, who stood right in front of it.
"I'll be waiting for you all at Sabaody Archipelago. Don't slack off on your training."
"Got it!"
Usopp nodded firmly. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Bartolomeo looking absolutely ecstatic, making bizarre motions by rapidly tapping his own face with both index fingers.
It was as if he were screaming—
Introduce me to my idol! Introduce me to my idol!!!
Usopp caught on quickly.
However—
Before he could even open his mouth, the call abruptly ended.
Seeing the Den Den Mushi's eyes close, Bartolomeo froze momentarily before collapsing to his knees, as if his very soul had been drained from his body, tears streaming silently down his face.
Similarly, Nami, standing beside Usopp, couldn't hide her disappointment.
She just didn't show it as obviously as Bartolomeo did.
Luffy tilted his head, staring at the disconnected Den Den Mushi, and asked in confusion, "What's a Sabaody Archipelago?"
"Uh…"
Everyone fell into silence.
Having yet to officially enter the Grand Line, they knew nothing about the Sabaody Archipelago, which lay above Fish-Man Island.
However, Luffy's question served as a reminder to Bartolomeo.
Maude-senpai was waiting for Usopp's group at Sabaody Archipelago.
In other words—
As long as he tagged along with Usopp and the others…
It wasn't about joining the Straw Hat Pirates, but rather catching a ride on their ship.
After all, he had no clue how to navigate.
As for his underlings and his turf back in the district…
They were nothing compared to one ten-thousandth of Maude-senpai's importance!
With that thought, Bartolomeo's eyes lit up, and he suddenly turned to Luffy.
"Luffy-senpai!"
In an instant, Bartolomeo lunged at Luffy, clinging tightly to his legs with both hands.
"Please let me board your ship!"
"???"
...
Somewhere in the Grand Line.
At the harbor, a massive mast ship bearing a pirate flag was docked.
On the pier lay a grotesque, misshapen mass of flesh composed of various human body parts.
From its surface, one could clearly make out hands, thighs, heads, and various pieces of clothing.
Seated cross-legged atop this deformed mass was a man wearing a white, spotted fur hat.
None other than Trafalgar Law, who had parted ways with Maude long ago.
A short distance away from the grotesque mass, a group of townspeople stood with anxious and fearful expressions.
Their bodies bore bloodstained bandages, indicating they had been treated for injuries not long ago.
"You're a pirate, so why…?"
A middle-aged man with half his face wrapped in bandages looked up at Law, who was sitting atop the grotesque mass of flesh.
The injuries they had received treatment for, as well as the enormous, deformed flesh mass made up of the pirate crew that had attacked and plundered their town—all were Law's doing.
It was no exaggeration to say that if Law hadn't intervened,
The town would have fallen to the pirates, and their fate would have been unimaginable.
Hearing the man's words, Law merely glanced toward the town's streets in the distance, where his crewmates were carrying large piles of food back toward the ship.
"It was just a whim."
Retracting his gaze from his crew, Law turned to the middle-aged man, his tone indifferent.
"A… a whim…"
The middle-aged man, along with the rest of the town's residents, looked on in utter disbelief.
Ignoring the townspeople, Law slowly stood up, resting his sword against his shoulder.
At that moment, the sound of his Den Den Mushi ringing echoed in the air.
Upon hearing it, Law's eyes flickered, a faint sense of anticipation rising within him.
He reached into his coat, pulling out the Den Den Mushi and answering the call.
"It's me."
As expected—
Maude's voice came through the receiver.
Law's pupils contracted slightly, and his heartbeat inexplicably quickened.
The time—
Had it finally arrived…?
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