One Piece: The Cryo Doctor on the Straw Hat Ship

Chapter 100 Target: Marineford (Seeking monthly votes~)

"I never expected the situation to end in this way."

Inside the Airuma rocket launch site, V watched the red dot gradually disappear on the screen and couldn't help but feel a strange sense of emotion.

Who could have imagined... that he made so many preparations, even consuming a huge amount of resources and energy, just to successfully break through the naval fleet led by Garp.

But the result was...

What was originally a tense standoff ended "peacefully" in a dramatic way.

Their target changed from the encirclement and suppression to the soon-to-be-honored Shichibukai.

Although everyone knew it was just a show with ulterior motives, the tense atmosphere did indeed dissipate.

"Phew—" Nami let out a long sigh of relief, a long-lost sense of ease appearing on her face after a heavy burden had been lifted.

She turned to Luffy and V, her tone tinged with worry and inquiry: "Are we... really going to that Marine Headquarters too?"

As required by the Navy, the newly appointed Shichibukai must go to Marineford, the Navy Headquarters, to receive a formal authorization ceremony and sign the corresponding contract documents.

That is the core fortress of the navy, the headquarters of "justice".

V's prosthetic eye gleamed with a ghostly light.

After a moment, he calmly said, "No, this time we don't need everyone to take risks."

"It'll just be Luffy and me going."

“But…” Usopp’s face was filled with unease, “Could this be a trap set by the Navy, and there’s no invitation from any of the Seven Warlords of the Sea at all…”

"Is this just an excuse they used to lure us out of Alabasta?"

“No.” V shook his head, his tone rational and analytical. “At least on the surface, they need to maintain the credibility of the Seven Warlords system.”

"Moreover, rather than the intention to ambush us and make us disappear, I am more inclined to speculate that the Navy's true purpose is to need our presence!"

From his brief conversation with Capo and Onigumo, V keenly sensed that they seemed to know very little about the deeper reasons behind the invitation.

This "following orders" attitude actually confirms V's guess—that what is driving this matter is probably the will of the higher levels of the World Government, or even directly from the "Holy Land" Mary Geoise.

"Is it because Smoker's Devil Fruit ability appeared on me that it attracted someone's attention?" V wondered to himself.

This is the most reasonable explanation he can think of at the moment.

The fact that Logia-type Devil Fruit users' abilities are "copied" or "stolen" by others undoubtedly touches a nerve with the World Government, forcing them to personally contact, assess, and even... control the situation.

“However…” A barely perceptible smile curved V’s lips, a deep blue light gleaming in his eyes, “If the Navy and the World Government’s goal is truly to uncover the secrets within me, or even to bring me or my technology under their control…”

"Therefore, there may be many opportunities to 'operate' in reverse here."

A myriad of thoughts were cleared up in an instant.

V pulled out the Den Den Mushi that Garp had left behind, which carried the Navy Headquarters' special frequency.

Once they sail to the waters near the Gate of Justice, they can contact the navy through it and obtain formal permission to enter the tightly controlled "Triangle Area".

"Let's not delay, let's set off now, Luffy." V ​​put away the Den Den Mushi and turned to look at Luffy.

He didn't intend to delay any longer.

Plans can never keep up with changes, and the key to survival and growth lies in making good use of changes.

"Oh!!" Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, his face showing no fear of heading to the Marine Headquarters, but rather full of excitement.

Who says going to Marine Headquarters isn't an adventure?

Over the next half day, V arranged the training plan for his companions.

As for Alabasta and the Straw Hat base, things are already on track, so he doesn't need to worry about them too much.

Even if there are any special circumstances, the current satellite signals are sufficient to cover the first half of the Grand Line, so they can contact each other at any time.

"It's a pity that Smoker actually followed Garp to Alabasta..."

"Otherwise, we could use his brain to investigate what's going on with the navy."

That's right.

As satellites ascended into space, V was officially connected to Smoker's brain-computer interface.

To put it bluntly, Smoker's life or death was entirely in his hands.

Controlling Smoker's actions was a piece of cake for him.

……

……

"Ace, are you still going to go find Blackbeard?"

That night.

Inside the straw hat base of Airuma.

V looked at Ace, who had packed his bags, his face full of helplessness.

Although Ace's strength has been greatly enhanced under his modifications.

But he still didn't think Ace would be a match for Blackbeard.

Aside from the issue of raw strength, Blackbeard's destiny in the pirate world is clearly superior to that of Ace, the son of the Pirate King.

In this world, if you're lucky, you really can do whatever you want.

"Don't try to persuade me anymore, V."

The night breeze swept through the corridor, ruffling Ace's black hair and making the freckles on his face stand out even more under the lights.

He looked at V with no hesitation in his eyes, only an almost stubborn determination.

"Even if what you say is true, and I am to die at Blackbeard's hands..."

"That's just my destiny."

"Blackbeard killed Thatch and betrayed the old man's trust... This matter cannot be left unresolved."

"As his captain, I must and can only take him back to the Whitebeard Pirates to face the judgment of the old man."

V remained silent for a moment.

He knew that once Ace made a decision, no one could dissuade him—just like Luffy's decision to become the Pirate King.

Even Luffy has acknowledged Ace's determination and has stopped trying to dissuade him.

"alright."

"I knew it would end up like this."

V smiled helplessly and gave a final reminder:

"If you encounter any danger, remember to contact us."

“Your brain-computer interface is already connected to our satellite. As long as you are within the signal coverage area, I can locate your position.”

Ace nodded and slung the backpack over his shoulder.

Thanks, V.

He walked to the door, then stopped and looked back at V.

"I'll leave Luffy's situation to you."

"That kid has gotten a lot stronger, but he's still too reckless. With you here, I feel at ease."

V smiled.

"Do not worry."

"I will definitely make him... the Pirate King!"

The next morning.

The island whale Laboon, carrying V and Luffy, steadily sails along the deep sea towards Marineford, the Marine Headquarters.

V looked at Alabasta, which was becoming increasingly distant, through satellite signals, his eyes constantly flashing with light.

This trip to Alabasta was incredibly fruitful for both the Straw Hat crew and him personally.

Leaving aside Baroque Works, whose scale covers most of the first half of the Grand Line.

V earned tens of millions of experience points just by healing the residents and soldiers of the Kingdom of Alabasta.

He is now a level 6 prosthetic doctor, and his experience bar has accumulated more than 40 million experience points.

However, with the requirement of 1 million experience points to advance to Tier 7, there is still a long way to go.

"I wonder... what surprises this trip to Marineford will bring me?"

V was filled with anticipation.

Chapter 101 The Arrogant Pirate (Seeking monthly votes~)

Three days later, at dusk, off the coast of Marineford.

On the calm sea where no one had noticed, a huge black shadow suddenly appeared, accompanied by surging waves, and the mysterious shadow slowly rose from the bottom up.

And this dark figure was none other than Laboon, the island whale who had come all the way from Alabasta!

That's right.

With his ability to dive into the deep sea, Laboon doesn't need to care about the Gates of Justice or injustice.

They followed the mysterious deep-sea area and came directly here.

Labu's massive body broke through the waves and emerged from the water.

First the spine, then the broad, island-like silhouette.

Seawater cascaded down its dark surface like a waterfall, reflecting a shimmering interplay of dark gold and deep red in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Immediately afterwards...

squeak--

On Laboon's back, the refurbished electric valve opened, and V and Luffy appeared one after the other, standing side by side at the highest point on Laboon's head.