[Bon Kurei]
After spending quite a while underground, they finally made their way back to the surface. The sun was blazing, just like always, and even though the sand they had been resting on was a bit uncomfortable for their bodies, they had no room to complain.
As the dust settled and the air began to clear, Luffy gradually opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings with a curious gaze. He felt no concern about losing sight of Miss All Sunday. The lingering warmth of her body against his back reassured him in a way that was hard to shake off.
Even though her body was fairly light, Luffy held on tightly without loosening his grip. He chose to keep walking, and it didn't take long for him to come across the bodies of his crew scattered around the tomb.
He felt confident they weren't dead, especially since, as he got closer, he could see their chests rising and falling steadily with each breath. However, he soon became worried, especially when he noticed how messy they looked, with a bit of blood smeared on their clothes. It was clear they hadn't come away from whatever happened utterly unharmed.
"Captain Hina, come on, wake up! I can't do this all on my own," Luffy said, shaking her gently as he tried to rouse her, who was closest to him.
Initially, he tried to nudge her with his feet, but she remained completely unresponsive. With Miss All Sunday still in his arms, he found himself limited in his options, forcing him to resort to a more forceful approach.
With a mischievous grin, Luffy casually nudged Captain Hina's breasts using the tip of his shoe, showing no hint of guilt for his playful action. After releasing a few soft, enticing moans, she finally stirred awake.
She appeared to have just woken up from a bizarre dream that quickly covered her chest area. As she glanced around, she noticed that Luffy had already walked off to wake the others.
Fortunately, he didn't need to resort to the same approach, as Uta, Makino, and Nojiko were a breeze to rouse from their slumber. This left Captain Hina still pondering the mystery of it all.
Just around the corner of the pillar that had seen the collapse of the underground tomb, they were taken aback to see Nefertari Cobra making an entry with Vivi on his back.
His daughter appeared to be completely unconscious and to make matters worse, he looked utterly pitiful himself. Despite the painful wounds covering his body, which could easily send him into a faint at any moment, his legs appeared far too weak to support him. Yet, he continued to push through, refusing to give in.
"Your majesty, allow me to help you," Captain Hina said, her tone respectful and warm, but her offer was gently declined.
"She showed up and insisted on saving me, so at the very least, I should take her home like this," Nefertari Cobra said, looking quite pale.
He glanced over at Miss All Sunday for a moment, but after a brief pause, he chose not to say anything and simply walked away. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the air, and out of nowhere, Karoo appeared, offering his back to Nefertari Cobra so he could climb on.
"Forgive me, but my daughter needs urgent treatment, so I'll have to head back right away. Everyone, just a heads up to be careful because Crocodile might still be out there," Nefertari Cobra cautioned. He gently patted Karoo's head, and the super spot-billed duck took off, flapping his legs as fast as he could.
"Did he seriously just leave us here?" Uta exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "It's like he completely forgot that his kingdom is on the brink of destruction with this civil war going on."
"Now that you bring it up, I'm starting to worry. What if something goes wrong for him on the way?" Makino chimed in. Even in a moment like this, she demonstrated her maturity by carefully brushing the sand off Uta and Nojiko's clothes.
As the others were deep in conversation, brainstorming different options for getting back to the capital, Nojiko was scanning the area. Her eyes suddenly lit up when she spotted something interesting. Without missing a beat, she said, "What if we ride that?"
What she was pointing at was an F-Wani, which happened to be Miss All Sunday's conveyance. They had witnessed firsthand just how quickly this crocodile could sprint across the sandy terrain, so without a second thought, they all nodded in agreement.
Initially, the crocodile had the urge to escape, but the people eager to ride it were far more powerful. With just a hint of intimidation, it quickly complied and set off to the capital with its new passengers.
They were hoping to catch up with Nefertari Cobra. The thought of returning to the capital, still in chaos with its frustrated citizens, was far from appealing. It looked like Karoo was pushing himself to the limit, running nonstop with every ounce of energy he had left.
The super spot-billed duck is genuinely remarkable, showing a level of determination that stands out among the rest. He seems unfazed by his own circumstances, focusing solely on ensuring that his owner receives treatment without delay. Every now and then, he lets out a loud quack, almost as if to remind himself to keep pushing forward. In those moments, Nefertari Cobra would gently stroke his beak, soothing him and helping him find some calm amidst the rush.
In the capital, things were far from calming down. In fact, the chaos appeared to seep into every nook and cranny of the city. Thick plumes of smoke billowed higher and higher, becoming increasingly visible even from beyond the city walls.
Baroque Works has really made a mark by successfully setting the rebel forces against the palace army. The ordinary folks, who once were completely in the dark, found themselves in a position where they had to pick a side. Once they witnessed the horrific acts committed by Nefertari Cobra firsthand, a significant number decided to align themselves with the rebel forces.
It's hard to fault them for being unaware of the truth. Who would ever imagine that there is a devil fruit that grants the user the ability to transform into a physical double of anyone they come into contact with?
Bon Kurei better known as Mr. 2, having consumed the Mane Mane no Mi, seized the chance to stir up even more chaos and confusion. His distinctive laugh revealed just how much he was enjoying himself, even if it felt a bit out of place when he shifted into the body of Nefertari Cobra. Fortunately, it seemed that no one caught on to the mismatch.
"My soldiers, gather around and listen up. These folks have completely lost their minds... This is serious, not a joke! If they come at you with a fight, I want you to take them all down. Don't hold back. just finish them off… Ga-hahaha..."
As Bon Kurei stood atop the fountain in the heart of the city, he executed a series of ballet movements with an almost carefree grace. All around him, the houses blazed fiercely, yet he couldn't help but burst into laughter, the chaos only adding to his amusement.
"B-But Your Majesty, they're just regular folks..." One of the soldiers attempted to voice his anxiety, noticing that no one interrupted him. It felt like everyone was on the same page about it.
"Not joking around! They lifted their weapons, ready to confront me. Isn't it your responsibility to stand up for me? Hurry up before they get to me! You need to strike first."
Even though Bon Kurei tried to present his orders in a way that seemed logical, what he commanded clashed with the soldiers' beliefs. They found themselves caught in a struggle, torn between their loyalty to the king and their convictions, leading to a deep sense of inner conflict.
Eventually, everyone followed the command and began to disperse, while Bon Kurei calmly slipped away from the chaos. As his left hand brushed against his face, his appearance shifted back to its usual form.
At that time, he never imagined that anyone would catch sight of everything, let alone three different people. For a brief moment, they locked eyes, the silence stretching between them and creating an awkward tension in the air. Just when it seemed like the moment would linger, one of them stepped in to break the spell.
"So you're the one who caused all this chaos, huh? What a piece of shit!" Nami said, her expression twisted in disgust. She was so irritated that her eyes turned icy.
Kuina wasn't about to keep quiet either. She chimed in, "He deserved to die many times over after everything he did."
"What's up with him? Is he really that impacted by what you said? Just look at his face. He looks so pathetic," Zoro remarked, his attention elsewhere while Bon Kurei's expression gradually shifted to one of sourness.
Despite that, it doesn't mean Zoro is indifferent. He's just as furious as the rest of them. Before anyone can react, he's already swung his katana, aiming it right at Bon Kurei's neck.
"Not joking around! You damn brats, how can you attack me without first finding out the truth," even though Bon Kurei tried to make an excuse, Zoro didn't stop aiming for his neck.
Bon Kurei could sense the keen edge of Zoro's katana with every near miss, the blade slicing through the air just inches from his skin. With no other option, he had to stay on high alert, skillfully weaving and dodging with every move he made.
Eventually, Nami and Kuina jumped in to take him on, and that's when things started to get complicated. Bon Kurei never imagined he would encounter three youngsters who were so incredibly skilled. There were moments when he found himself backed into a corner more than once.
"Mister 2..."
They had no idea that new visitors had arrived as they were busy with their own things. The two newcomers were dressed in robes, making it difficult for anyone to identify them at first glance.
Mister 3 and Miss Goldenweek, once traitors, now find themselves taking on assignments from Luffy. They constantly have to conceal their true identities, but who could have predicted they would end up crossing paths with Mister 2?