Pirates: Martial Arts Masters on the Straw Hat Ship

However, in stark contrast to Nami's despair were the reactions of the other men.

"Shichibukai?"

Luffy's eyes, which had been dull from being too full, suddenly lit up as if electrified. "Sounds amazing! This sounds so exciting!"

"Crocodile...?"

Zoro's fingers lightly caressed the hilt of his sword, a bloodthirsty smile spreading across his lips:

"It's really lucky to meet a powerhouse of this level so soon."

Sanji then knelt on one knee beside Nami, comforting her with a heartfelt expression:

"Nami, don't worry! Even if he's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, I won't let him lay a finger on you! I'll kick him all the way to the moon with my loving kick!"

Ronan stood to the side, watching Luffy and his crew brimming with confidence, and thought to himself:

"They've all mastered dual-color Haki now."

"Crocodile, he's unlucky to have run into us!"

"Shut up, all of you!!" Nami was so angry that her fangs were showing as she looked at this group of clueless idiots.

Just as things were in complete chaos, a strange sound came from the side.

"Ahem... Don't worry, everyone."

Everyone turned around and was immediately stunned by the sight before them.

The burly Icarus was wearing a tight-fitting pink dress.

She was wearing a wig and had thick rouge on her face, trying her best to strike a "ladylike" pose.

"Pfft—" Zoro and Sanji both spat out their drinks at the same time.

Vivi exclaimed in surprise, "Icarim?! What are you doing dressed like that?!"

"Princess Vivi, please listen carefully to me."

Icarim's expression was solemn; although his attire was comical, his eyes revealed a resolute determination to face death.

"Once the Baroque Works intelligence network spreads, assassins will swarm in like locusts."

"Now that we know the boss's secret, we've become the target of everyone's criticism."

"Nearly a thousand assassins will be pursuing us."

Icarum said in a deep voice, "Therefore, I will disguise myself as a princess and act as bait to draw their fire."

Ronan nodded: "Luring the tiger away from the mountain is a good plan, but it also means... you're going to your death."

Icarum did not refute, but simply smiled faintly:

"This is my duty as the head of the guard. Once I've lured those assassins away, please take the regular route back home."

"Wait a minute! Who said we were going to send the princess back?!" Nami jumped up immediately. "The contract hasn't been signed yet! I'm not doing this without money!"

Luffy tilted his head: "Send the princess back? What do you mean?"

Zoro pointed at the cross-dressing man: "This perverted old man is asking us to take Princess Vivi home."

"Oh! I see!" Luffy clapped his hands, a bright smile spreading across his face. Without thinking at all, he exclaimed, "Great! Let's send it over!"

"Luffy!!" Nami cried out in frustration, "He's a Shichibukai!!"

Luffy ignored Nami's protests and turned to look at Ikarum, his eyes flashing with pure curiosity and fighting spirit:

"Are those Seven Warlords of the Sea really that powerful?"

Icarum straightened her skirt and said seriously, "Very powerful. He is now one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a legally recognized pirate by the World Government."

"Before he became a Shichibukai, his bounty was already a staggering 81 million Berries!"

"Eighty million..." Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, the shadow obscuring his eyes, but the smile on his lips deepened.

……

In the early morning, the sea was shrouded in mist.

At the harbor, Ikaram boarded the small boat used as bait all by himself.

"Everyone, please take care of the princess."

Ikaram bowed deeply, then resolutely untied the rope.

The small boat slowly sailed out of the harbor and headed towards the depths of the sea.

Weiwei stood on the shore, her hands clasped tightly, tears welling in her eyes, watching the elder who had watched her grow up leave.

However, less than two minutes later...

"BOOM!!!"

A blinding flash of light suddenly exploded on the sea, instantly shattering the tranquility of the morning.

The enormous explosion was like thunder rolling across the sea; it was several times more terrifying than Mr. 5's booger explosion.

The small boat that Ikaram was on was instantly blown into countless burning fragments, flames shooting into the sky and turning the sea fog blood red.

"Icarim!!!" Vivi screamed in agony.

Nami exclaimed in horror, "How is this possible... The assassins arrived so quickly?! Was that... a trap?!"

"No, that was a warning."

Sanji stared at the burning wreckage on the sea, his face grim.

"It seems that Baroque Works is more efficient than we imagined. This is not just a hunt; it's an attempt to establish their authority."

Luffy stared intently at the ball of fire, his playful expression completely vanishing.

His face appeared exceptionally resolute in the firelight, with the veins on his forehead throbbing faintly.

"Crocodile..."

Luffy roared in a deep voice, "Well done!!"

Ronan, standing to the side, saw Luffy's expression and knew that Crocodile had angered him.

……

The Merry finally set sail.

The Straw Hat Pirates, carrying Vivi and Karu, sailed towards their next destination—the ancient island of Little Garden.

Just as the Going Merry was gradually disappearing into the thick fog.

At the highest point of Whisky Mountain, atop a cactus rock that rises like a finger.

A tall figure sat gracefully on the edge, the sea breeze blowing through her black hair, revealing a cowboy hat with an exotic flair.

Nico Robin closed the book in her hands, her deep, night-sky-like eyes gazing in the direction the Going Merry had departed, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.

"What good luck, Princess Vivi."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a world-weary air. "Originally, according to the boss's orders, I should have wiped you all out here. But..."

Robin's mind conjured up the image of the man wielding the long staff from the previous night.

That seemingly effortless blow that shattered Mr. 5's skull.

Robin tapped his fingers lightly on the spine of the book, a deep sense of apprehension flashing in his eyes:

"That pure physical strength is like an ancient Tyrannosaurus Rex in human skin."

"Moreover, there's more than one such powerful individual in that pirate crew!"

"I never expected that such a pirate crew would emerge in the weakest East Blue."

She stood up, her long legs faintly visible beneath her trench coat, and turned to disappear into the shadows of the rocks.

"Hehehe... This is getting interesting. Crocodile, your proud plan seems to have encountered a group of formidable disruptors."