Paper Paper Fruit In One Piece

Meanwhile:

In a small street café in Dressrosa: 

"Are you researchers or adventurers? I suggest you stay away from Green Bit. Sure, there's an iron bridge connecting to it, but the sea is full of Fighting Fish." 

Hearing the shopkeeper's warning, Law and his group couldn't help but feel awkward. How could such a peaceful and prosperous island have such a dangerous place right next to it? 

"Hey, Tra-guy," Usopp whispered, 

"Should we change the meeting spot?" 

"What's the point of changing it now? What I'm more concerned about is this: the king of this country recently resigned from the Warlord of the Sea title, which means this place is now just a pure 'Pirate Kingdom.'" 

A kingdom like this, so full of festivities—don't they fear a Marine assault? 

"Be careful," 

Robin warned softly as she pretended to sip tea. 

Three tall figures dressed in white suits and white masks—members of CP0—walked past them, heading toward the harbor. 

"CP0? What are they doing here..." 

For a brief moment, Law felt a dark cloud pass over his mind. But at this point, they had no choice but to push forward. First, they needed to get Caesar to the isolated island north of Dressrosa. 

————— 

"Zoro, stop!!" 

At the same time, Zoro and Sanji were chasing each other down the street. 

"Now's not the time for you to get lost again!" 

"Shut up! Someone stole my sword!" 

At the next corner, amidst the strumming of a wooden guitar, a woman appeared. She had long, dark brown hair, warm light-brown eyes, and wore a red flamenco dress adorned with a red flower in her hair. She moved passionately to the music, a flower held delicately in her mouth. 

Her wild dance steps, layered skirt, piercing gaze, graceful gestures, and rhythmic movements captivated Sanji instantly. 

"So beautiful~~" 

The dance, a fiery flamenco, was brought to life by the dancer's every movement. Her performance exuded confidence born from hardship, a carefree spirit forged by life's challenges, and an unbothered grace that didn't stoop to petty provocations. 

Sanji was completely mesmerized. 

"Step on me, beautiful lady~~!!" 

...Sanji, what kind of crazed fan behavior is that? Someone call Chopper to give this guy a shot. 

Naturally, the dancer and Sanji quickly ended up together. A case of "love at first sight" fueled by physical attraction and mutual intrigue. Though Sanji would later end up being stomped on by this woman, codenamed "Violet," he would ultimately win her over with his gentlemanly charm. 

Meanwhile, Zoro was chasing the invisible thief who had stolen his sword, disappearing into the city streets. From above, the white doves could see him darting left and right, climbing and leaping through buildings, seemingly engaged in an intense game with "thin air." 

Forget it. It's just the warm-up phase anyway. Let them play for now. 

Roman gave instructions to the white doves to alert him the moment anyone started fighting, then turned his attention back to the colosseum. 

————— 

"Next up in Block B, we have a man who escaped from the Marines' grasp a year ago, entered the New World, and has since committed horrifying crimes such as 'pirate skewering' and 'town burnings.'" 

As the host announced the next participant, a figure stepped into the arena. 

With spiked grass-green hair, an eye tattoo under his right eye, a nose ring, a face like a demon, and a black wing-shaped tattoo across his chest, he wore a purple coat with a skull emblem on the back, checkered pants, and carried a short sword at his waist. 

"He's the one ranked number one on the 'Pirates Who Should Disappear' list: 'The Cannibal' Bartolomeo!" 

The moment Bartolomeo appeared, he immediately showed his arrogant nature by taunting the audience. 

"Hey, hahaha! You trash should all go to hell!" 

"Get lost!" 

"You're the one who should go to hell!!" 

Bartolomeo's response to the crowd's insults? He threw a "bomb" directly into the stands, causing chaos as people screamed and ran for their lives. However: 

"What a joke. It's just a dud." 

!!! 

He had fooled everyone right at the start, proving why he was this year's most hated pirate. 

"And now, the Group B elimination battle begins!" 

As the bell rang, the scene unfolded: 

"Wait, wait, this isn't a free-for-all!" 

"It's like a whole army in formation..." 

At the start of the fight, a group, including strategist Dagama, surrounded the King of Prodence Kingdom, Elizabello II, like soldiers protecting their leader. 

The king, a tall and muscular man with short golden hair, a crown adorned with crosses, and a red-and-blue cape, stayed still. He kept swinging his fists, covered in golden gloves, in a boxing stance, building up power. 

"That guy's energy keeps getting stronger and stronger. How amazing," 

Luffy remarked seriously from the second-floor balcony, where the other contestants stood. 

"That's his special move, the 'King Punch,'" 

Roman, dressed as a magician, casually explained. 

"Because it takes a massive amount of energy to use, he needs at least an hour of warm-up to unleash its full power. That's why it's called a 'one-shot wonder' that can only be used once per fight." 

"They say even the Four Emperors would be killed instantly if they were hit. But of course, we all know how reliable 'they say' can be. Still," 

Roman observed the fight and continued, 

"he did once use it to punch straight through an enemy fortress in one hit. That much is true." 

"Hmm," 

Luffy nodded. 

"I can feel it. Even I wouldn't like taking that punch." 

The others nearby were speechless. Calling these two ignorant would be wrong—after all, Roman had just explained the king's secret technique in detail. But calling them strong was also weird, given they described a move that could supposedly kill the Four Emperors as merely "unpleasant." 

"Hmph, I thought at least one or two of those 'Worst Generation' pirates from two years ago would show up," 

complained Cavendish, dressed like a noble, as he sighed and pulled out a torn-up wanted poster. 

"There are too many knife marks to even see the face anymore." 

"Cabbage... it's been so long. Can't you let it go?" 

Luffy looked exasperated. The wanted poster covered in knife holes was his own. 

"Let it go? No way! They stole my spotlight!" 

Faced with Cavendish's stubbornness, Luffy actually tried to think. 

"But anyone in this tournament could wear a mask like that Bart... Bart-something 'Champion' guy. Even if they came, you wouldn't recognize them. So, just let it go..." 

"Oh, there you are!" 

While Luffy tried hard to convince Cavendish and Roman watched amusedly, an elderly, kind voice spoke from behind. 

"Hey there! How's Garp these days, little 'Straw Hat' Luffy?" 

"Huh? Uncle, you know my grandpa...?" 

?! 

"Ah!!" x2 

In an instant, Luffy and Cavendish's faces changed dramatically. Roman, although standing still with his arms crossed, helplessly closed his eyes behind the mask. 

So the saying is true—experience does come with age. With just one sentence, the old man had tested Luffy's true identity! Or was it that Luffy's "airheadedness" had struck again? 

"I was almost killed by Garp a long time ago," the kind-faced, burly elder stroked his beard, "so I decided to hate three generations of your family!" 

Here it is—the classic Don Chinjao mindset: a backward way of expressing grudging thanks to your ancestors. 

"Then just go find my grandpa!" 

Clang! 

Beside him, Cavendish angrily unsheathed his jewel-encrusted rapier, Durandal. 

"So you are Luffy! And to think I considered you someone I could get along with. I'll cut you down right now!" 

"No, no, no, I'm Lucy~~~" 

As Luffy clumsily tried to explain to both sides, Roman sighed while watching the scene unfold. 

Pirate matters almost always end in fighting! Especially when neither party is easily convinced. 

"Eight-Impact Fist – Head Dance!" 

"Beautiful Blade – Azure Bird!" 

Don Chinjao's towering figure leaped upward, flipping head-down as he charged with his "Iron Head" attack. The overwhelming force of his Haki crashed down like a tsunami, sending a whirlwind of violent energy across the colosseum. The sturdy stone structure cracked and shattered as if it were a storm-tossed sea. Stones floated weightlessly for a moment before being pulverized into dust by the shockwave of his Eight-Impact Fist. 

The sheer power of the attack felt like a mountain collapsing! 

Meanwhile, Cavendish's rapier moved as fast as a streak of light. The air itself seemed to tear apart under his strike, leaving a long, sharp trail in its wake. The slender blade, wielded with precision, exuded a terrifying dominance, as if it could pierce anything. Sparks of electricity flared through the air in its path. 

This sword could slice through clouds and split the sea! 

!!! 

In an instant, the other gladiators in the hall barely had time to gasp before the shockwaves of the two powerful attacks threatened to engulf them. 

"Both of you, stop." 

At that moment, a calm voice echoed. 

Two gloved hands reached out—one stopping Chinjao's iron head, the other catching Cavendish's rapier. 

"More More – 50x Shock!" 

"More More – 50x Slowdown!" 

The hand radiating white shockwaves neutralized Chinjao's Eight-Impact Fist, while the fingers with the slow-motion effect firmly caught Cavendish's blade. Then, with Armament Haki reinforcing them, the hands tightened! 

BOOM! 

The ground-shaking impact that followed created shockwaves ten times stronger than before, blasting outward in a wild storm that stripped layers of stone off the surrounding structure. The mysterious magician standing between Chinjao and Cavendish remained still, but the ground beneath him emitted a strange crunching sound. 

The sound resembled a stack of crackers being crushed all at once! 

"Unbelievable, he stopped them both..." 

"Those are two major pirates!" 

"Who is this guy? Could he be one of the Yonko's commanders—" 

As the surrounding gladiators exclaimed, Roman's calm voice came from beneath his mask: 

"If you want to fight, take it to the arena! Besides—" 

He gestured to the empty space beside him. 

"Your target has already run off." 

... 

This magician—so strong! No, strong enough to make others feel hopeless! 

Nearby, Rebecca bit her lip as she steadied herself, her sword lodged into the stone floor. 

No, I must come up with a plan... 

(End of Chapter)

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