Paper Paper Fruit In One Piece

"Boss, are you sure it's safe to dock here?" 

Bolkin glanced at the massive Sea King corpse floating beside them. The body was covered in sword slashes, frozen spots, and scorched holes from lava—all clear signs of their 211th unit's handiwork.

"What's there to worry about? As long as it's not a giant Sea King, are we really afraid of these 'big fish'? Besides—"

While Marine warships are equipped with Seastone at the hull to disrupt Sea Kings' senses, it's only a matter of time before some "curious" ones show up. For most Marines, this is a problem best avoided, but for Roman:

"Seimei Kikan!"

"Swallow Swallow–Gluttonous Snake!"

Roman stretched out his hand, creating a massive iron-toothed mouth. Though it was still tiny compared to a Sea King, like a toy next to a giant, the ever-chomping maw quickly reduced a Sea King several times larger than their Marine warship into… well, nothing. It was completely devoured, bones and all!

Turning into pages of vibrant green.

"Here,"

Roman handed these life-force-rich pages to Nami to power up her Thieves' Ultimate Skill, while turning his attention to a pirate ship slowly approaching, pulled by two giant, venomous sea snakes. Even Sea Kings avoided it. However—

Amazon Lily only had this one ship, and compared to the mass-produced Marine warships, it would eventually be outmatched.

That's why, he thought, technology is the ultimate power!

"You managed to take down a large Sea King. Not bad, Marines."

The Kuja Pirates' warrior leader, looked up at Roman, a cigarette in her mouth, her hair in a bun, and a rocket launcher strapped on her back. Draped in an open shirt that showed her chest, she noticed he seemed to be staring too closely—"Who gave you permission to stare like that?!"

Thud!

"Cough, cough,"

Taking a punch to his stomach from Nami, Roman nodded without showing any reaction.

"Nice punch. You're getting stronger."

"…"

"Lady Hancock is waiting for you, but—" Another warrior, pointed at Roman and Nami. "Only the two of you are allowed to go."

"Let's go,"

Roman took Nami's hand and looked back at Isuka and Bolkin.

"You two stay here and keep an eye on the ship. We'll be back soon."

"Yes, sir!" they both replied.Roman, holding Nami's hand, leaped onto the ship and was led by a group of Kuja warriors into what could be better described as a palace—or a private chamber—rather than a ship's cabin.

"What business do the Marines have with me?"

Laying lazily on a large bed was an unrivaled beauty. Nami's eyes sharpened at the sight: the allure, the long legs, the silky black hair, the seductive confidence…She really was a formidable opponent!

"A message from the World Government's communication bat arrived a few days ago. Did the Empress see it?"

"...A message? What message?"

"Oh, dear," muttered the small, elderly Elder Nyon, pausing with her snake staff. "Empress, that was the letter you tore up a few days ago. It was the World Government's order to gather the Warlords of the Sea."

"Huh?"

Hancock paused for a moment, brushing her long hair aside. "Even if I tear up the letter, everyone will forgive me. Because... I'm just too beautiful."

"Lady Hancock~~!"

"Exactly, Lady Hancock can't be wrong!"

"Yes, yes, we just finished the Summit War, and now they want to gather the Seven Warlords again..."

"Do they think of us, the 'Kuja Pirates,' as what exactly?"

"My beloved~~!"

?!

Did something weird just slip in there? Well, whatever.

"That's not the case. This actually has to do with the Kuja."

Another voice interrupted the group of female warriors who were swooning over their leader. A figure in pure white armor stepped forward—the White Knight.

"This time, the Marines are calling on the Seven Warlords to deal with the 'World Destroyer' Byrnndi World. And I've received 'information' that he's got his sights on the Warlords."

"He plans to capture one of the Warlords as a hostage—and the closest Warlord to him right now is the Kuja Pirates."

Hancock, with her three Haki powers, was fully aware that the White Knight was something Roman created with his abilities. Otherwise, she wouldn't have let Roman and Nami aboard. As for the rest of the Kuja Pirates, they just thought Roman knew Luffy's friend, "The White Knight."

"Then let him come,"

said Empress Boa Hancock proudly, sitting back on her snake, Salome.

"I was appointed a 'Warlord of the Sea' because of my strength!"

Her aura of confidence and dominance surged. Roman believed that in a one-on-one fight, Byrnndi World might not actually beat her. But in terms of sheer destructive power? Not even a hundred of her could compare to Byrnndi World. The title "World Destroyer" isn't for nothing!

"No, I'm not worried about the Empress losing to that World Destroyer. What concerns me is..."

The White Knight picked up the thread of the conversation, drawing a circle with his finger around them.

"Luffy is nearby, right? If he runs into that guy..."

No, knowing Luffy's 'trouble-magnet' nature, he's bound to run into Byrnndi World for sure!

"Oh no, Luffy~~"

In an instant, the Empress's calm exterior melted into a bashful, lovestruck expression, making Nami raise an eyebrow. —What's so great about that airheaded rubber guy that could make such an absolute beauty fall head over heels?

"Anyway, we'd better head over to the island where Luffy's training."

Byrnndi World is asking for trouble. Forget about the Empress with her three Haki powers—Luffy's got Dark King Rayleigh with him, and even Hawk-Eye Mihawk, who's come drifting by on his little raft.

With so many powerful people around, even a single one of them would be more than a match for Byrnndi World, fresh out of captivity. He might stand a chance if he hid somewhere, but with him jumping around like this...

His fate is already sealed for defeat.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Turn the ship around and head for the island where Luffy is!"

As Hancock got to her feet, her long legs standing tall at 180 cm, the Kuja Pirates' officers beside her were signaling her with their eyes, while a few, more anxious ones even drew their weapons, aiming at Roman and Nami.

After all, to everyone else, talking about Luffy, a "wanted criminal," so openly in front of two people in Marine coats—who clearly looked like high-ranking officers—didn't seem like the best idea.

Everyone knew Luffy had made quite a splash in the Summit War and was now a priority target for the Marines.

It seems Hancock really has been blinded by love...

"Stand down!"

With a wave of the Empress's hand, the stunned captains, though unclear on their leader's intent, obediently lowered their weapons.

"This Marine… is Luffy's friend. We can trust him."

You don't even know his name, yet you're talking about trust?! … Oh well, if Lady Hancock says so, then so be it.

————

"Commodore Roman, what did the Empress say?"

Back on the battleship, Roman nodded at Isuka's question.

"The Empress has agreed to help us in the fight against Byrnndi World."

"Phew~~~"

Bolkin and the other second-generation Marines breathed a long sigh of relief. Though their combat skills weren't top-tier, having grown up in Marine Headquarters at Marineford, they'd seen enough to know the power difference here.

Whether it's Byrnndi World or Hancock, they're way out of our league. If we faced them, we'd be wiped out in an instant, right? Absolutely.

"Alright, here's the plan: you'll sail the ship back to the Grand Line, while I go with Lieutenant Commander Ann and the Empress to handle things…"

"Boss, we can fight too—"

"Commodore Roman…"

Faced with Bolkin's eagerness and Isuka's dissatisfaction, Roman decided to give them a task.

"Here's the deal: I'll be back in a week at most. In the meantime, the two of you will command the ship to hunt down pirates. Let's see how much progress you've made."

"Yes, sir!" x2——————————"Nami, are you worried about them?"

"Yeah," Nami, standing on the deck of the Kuja Pirate ship looked at the battleship disappearing in the distance. "Without us, what would they do if they run into pirates?"

"… It's only been a short while, and you already see yourself as one of the 'strong ones'?"

Roman couldn't help but tease. Although, to be fair, Nami's weather control really does give her a huge advantage on the seas. Just think about that past battle at Edd War, where the massive fleet of the Golden Lion was wiped out by god-like storms and waves, forcing them to lose to Roger…The power of natural disasters might not faze the strongest fighters, but for most pirates and Marines, it's still deadly! As long as Nami whips up wild storms, 90% of pirates would end up feeding the fish at the ocean's bottom. Even if a few experts could walk on air and water, they'd be helpless alone.

The high efficiency of Squad 211 was thanks to Roman's wide-range searches combined with Nami's control of the weather, giving their side clear skies and their opponents rough seas. Pirates caught between had no way to run, couldn't win in a fight, and were mercilessly toyed with.

"That's not it. I'm just saying, without you and me, Isuka might be…"

"Don't worry," Roman patted Nami's shoulder. "Before Isuka joined us, she led a ship solo in pirate chases. She's even got the nickname 'Nail' as a Marine officer."

The "Nail"—because she's relentless and never gives up.

If she's earned that nickname and survived, it shows Isuka's skills aren't bad. —She just can't be compared to the Straw Hat crew, who keep running into top-level opponents.

…As the Kuja ship neared an island, a young boy with black, messy hair, wearing a red vest, blue knee-length jeans, and sandals, was already on the shore, jumping and cheering.

"Roman, Nami!"

"Hehe, I missed you guys so much—"

That familiar confident smile could only belong to:

"Luffy!"

In that moment, Roman and Nami both felt their spirits lift, as if all their worries about plans and Marines and pirates could just be tossed aside.

"Come on over! I'll take you on an adventure around the island!"

--- ————— ----You can read 10 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu