The Log Pose, perched precariously on Nami's wrist, finally steadied, its needle pointing resolutely towards the towering, improbable cluster of giant cacti that dominated the island's skyline. Whiskey Peak. Just as Ryoma had anticipated.
He stood near the railing of the Going Merry, a position he'd subtly claimed as they approached, affording him a clear view of the docks and the town beyond. His usual tavern attire – simple tunic and trousers – felt strangely mundane compared to the vibrant chaos about to unfold.
As the Going Merry expertly navigated the harbour entrance, guided by Usopp's surprisingly steady hand at the helm despite his nervous chatter, the sounds of raucous celebration rolled across the water to greet them.
The docks were thronged with people, waving, cheering, and holding tankards aloft in a display of boisterous welcome that Ryoma knew was entirely fabricated.
"Wow! Look at that!" Luffy exclaimed, eyes wide, practically vibrating with excitement from his usual spot on the sheep figurehead. "They seem really happy to see us! Maybe they have meat!"
"It's a town that welcomes pirates!" Usopp added, puffing out his chest. "See? The Grand Line isn't so bad after all!"
Sanji, ever the suave one, adjusted his tie, a speculative gleam in his visible eye. "Perhaps there are beautiful ladies in distress awaiting rescue… or at least a good meal."
Nami looked slightly more skeptical, her hand protectively covering the Log Pose, but even she seemed swayed by the sheer volume of the welcome. Only Zoro, leaning against the mast with his arms crossed, remained impassive, his eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the cheering crowd.
Ryoma watched them, a complex mix of amusement and nostalgia washing over him.
Two months ago, seeing the Straw Hat crew in the flesh would have sent him into fits of fanboyish ecstasy. He would have been pointing, maybe even trying to get an autograph, completely oblivious to the danger.
But the harsh realities of the Grand Line, the constant vigilance required for survival in Whiskey Peak, and the simmering power of Sukuna within him had tempered that initial awe. The excitement was still there, a low thrum beneath the surface, but it was overlaid with the detached observation of someone who knew what was coming next.
They looked… exactly right. Luffy's boundless energy, Zoro's quiet intensity, Nami's calculating gaze, Usopp's bravado, Sanji's coiled readiness. It was like watching beloved characters step directly off the page, yet grounded in a reality far grittier than any manga panel.
As the Merry docked, lines were tossed and secured by overly enthusiastic "townsfolk." A portly man with an impressive handlebar mustache and a mayoral sash – Mr. 8, Igaram, in disguise – stepped forward, beaming.
"Welcome, brave pirates! Welcome to Whiskey Peak, the town of hospitality! We love pirates here!" His voice boomed, carrying over the din. "Please, come ashore! We've prepared a feast in your honor!"
Luffy needed no second invitation, launching himself onto the dock with a whoop. "FEAST!" The others followed, swept up in the captain's enthusiasm and the seemingly genuine warmth of the reception.
Ryoma trailed behind them, easily blending into the background noise, just another face in the crowd – or so he hoped. He exchanged a brief, almost imperceptible nod with Martha, the tavern owner, who was overseeing the setup of long tables laden with food and drink in the main square.
She gave him a look that said, 'Just work, kid, and stay out of it.' That suited him perfectly.
He slipped behind one of the makeshift bar counters set up for the occasion, grabbing a rag and starting to polish mugs, his usual tavern routine. From this vantage point, he could observe everything.
The Straw Hats were quickly enveloped by the "welcoming committee" – laughing bounty hunters offering endless refills, platters of roasted meats, and tales of the Grand Line (carefully edited, no doubt).
Luffy was already devouring a mountain of food, Sanji was attempting to charm a group of female bounty hunters (likely Baroque Works agents playing their roles), Usopp was regaling anyone who would listen with exaggerated tales of his bravery, and Nami…
Nami was matching the mayor drink for drink, a competitive fire in her eyes as she discussed navigating the Grand Line, likely trying to extract information while simultaneously trying to out-drink the man.
Only Zoro seemed detached, politely refusing most drinks, his hand never straying far from his swords. Ryoma caught his eye briefly. There was a sharpness there, a suspicion that mirrored Ryoma's own awareness, though Zoro lacked the meta-knowledge to understand the full extent of the deception.
Ryoma took a moment, grabbing three clean mugs. He expertly mixed a potent, dark liquor – one of Whiskey Peak's local specialties, known for its deceptively smooth taste and swift kick – with a splash of citrus.
It was a drink favored by the hunters for quickly incapacitating targets who thought they could hold their liquor. With practiced ease, he navigated the throng.
He approached Nami first. "Something strong, Miss Navigator?" he asked, offering the mug with an unassuming smile. "To keep up with the Mayor?"
Nami, flushed from the alcohol and the competition, grinned. "Don't mind if I do! Thanks!" She took a deep draught without hesitation.
Next, Sanji. "For the Chef," Ryoma offered. "Looks like you're working hard charming the local beauties."
Sanji preened, taking the mug smoothly. "A true gentleman must always be prepared. Merci." He downed a good portion.
Finally, Zoro. The swordsman eyed him, then the drink, a flicker of assessment in his gaze. "On the house," Ryoma said simply, keeping his expression neutral. "Welcome to Whiskey Peak."
Zoro hesitated for a fraction longer than the others before taking the mug. He took a cautious sip, his eyebrow raising slightly at the potency, before nodding his thanks. Ryoma retreated back to the bar, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.
He hadn't poisoned them, not exactly. But he had given three of the crew's core fighters (excluding Luffy, who seemed immune to everything) a significant dose of fast-acting alcohol, courtesy of the Baroque Works hospitality fund.
It felt like a minor, almost subconscious nudge, ensuring the canon events proceeded as planned. Why? Perhaps a part of him wanted to see the legendary fight unfold exactly as he remembered it.
The feast raged on. Music played, bounty hunters sang off-key sea shanties, and the Straw Hats, lulled by the alcohol, the food, and the seemingly endless welcome, began to succumb. Usopp was the first to pass out face-down in a plate of noodles.
Sanji, despite his earlier bravado, eventually slumped against a barrel, muttering about mellorines. Even Nami, after triumphantly winning her drinking contest against the "mayor" (who feigned defeat expertly), found a relatively quiet corner and drifted off, her head pillowed on her arms, snoring softly... or so it appeared.
Ryoma, watching from behind the bar, noticed a subtle tension in her posture that mirrored Zoro's. While she wasn't wide awake like the swordsman, her sleep was shallow, her senses clearly on high alert despite the alcohol.
Only Zoro remained outwardly still, leaning back against a wall, eyes closed, seemingly dozing. Ryoma knew better. He could see the subtle tension in the swordsman's posture, the way his breathing remained steady and controlled, unlike the deep slumber of the others.
Nami, too, seemed to be in a state of calculated rest, her hand never straying far from the Log Pose on her wrist, her breathing just a touch too even to be truly unconscious.
As the moon climbed higher, casting long shadows across the square, the atmosphere began to shift. The boisterous laughter of the bounty hunters took on a harder edge. Weapons were checked with quiet clicks. Eyes that had been crinkled in forced merriment now gleamed with predatory intent.
The hunters began to move, stealthily surrounding the slumbering Straw Hats, nets and ropes appearing in their hands. The trap was about to spring. Ryoma leaned against his bar counter, wiping it down slowly, outwardly calm but inwardly buzzing with anticipation. Here it comes.
But before the main body of hunters could converge, chaos erupted from a different source.
Clang!
The sharp sound of steel slicing through steel echoed through the suddenly silent square. One of the bounty hunters yelped, stumbling back as his sword was neatly severed just below the hilt.
Zoro stood fully upright, Wadō Ichimonji already drawn, its white scabbard gleaming faintly in the moonlight. His other two swords were in his hands, held ready. His single eye swept across the stunned bounty hunters, cold and utterly devoid of sleepiness.
"So," Zoro's voice was dangerously low, cutting through the silence. "The party's over, is it? A hundred bounty hunters lying in wait?" He smirked, a feral glint in his eye. "You should have brought more."
Panic rippled through the hunters. The element of surprise was gone. Their prey was awake, and it was Roronoa Zoro.
"Attack!" Mr. 8/Igaram roared, drawing his saxophone-shotgun. "He's just one man! Take him down!"
The square exploded into violence. Bounty hunters charged, swinging swords, axes, and clubs. Zoro met them head-on, a whirlwind of flashing steel. His three swords danced, blocking, parrying, and cutting down opponents with brutal efficiency.
He moved with incredible speed and precision, flowing through the attackers like water, leaving a trail of groaning, disarmed, or unconscious hunters in his wake. Mr. 8 and Vivi (Miss Wednesday) were quickly dispatched, adding to the pile of defeated Baroque Works agents.
Just as Zoro finished clearing the immediate area around the sleeping crewmates, two figures descended gracefully from the rooftops nearby, landing lightly in the square. One was a heavyset man with a dark suit and sunglasses, the other a slender woman in a polka-dot dress carrying a large umbrella.
"Well, well," the man said, his voice deep and resonant. "It seems the rumors of Roronoa Zoro's vigilance were not exaggerated."
"Number Five, this wasn't in the plan," the woman chimed in, her voice annoyingly cheerful. "We were supposed to capture them while they slept, worth 30 million berries combined! Now look."
Zoro turned his attention to the newcomers, his swords held ready. "More rats?"
"Rats?" Mr. 5 chuckled, adjusting his sunglasses. "We are agents of Baroque Works, Mister Swordsman. I am Mister 5, and this is my partner, Miss Valentine. We are here to ensure this mission is completed." He tapped his nose lightly.
"Thirty million, you say?" Zoro mused, a dangerous glint in his eye.
The sudden presence of the new agents, coupled with the ongoing noise and the remnants of the feast being tossed about, finally roused the heaviest sleeper. Luffy sat bolt upright, rubbing his eyes, bits of roast pork clinging to his cheek. He blinked, taking in the chaotic scene – Zoro facing down two strangers, the ground littered with defeated "hosts," Nami still 'asleep', and Usopp and Sanji truly out cold.
Before anyone could react, Luffy's gaze landed on the closest standing figure. "Hey! You!" he yelled, stretching his arm out and wrapping his hand around Mr. 5's torso. "What's going on?! Are you guys fighting Zoro? Didn't you give us meat?!"
Mr. 5 grunted in surprise as he was suddenly grabbed. "What the-?!"
Luffy yanked Mr. 5 closer, pulling him into the space between himself and Zoro. "Zoro! Why are you fighting the nice people who gave us food?!" Luffy demanded, still holding onto a bewildered Mr. 5.
Zoro stared at his captain, then at Mr. 5 currently being used as a human shield/prop. His eye twitched. "They aren't nice people, you idiot! They're bounty hunters! They were going to capture us! That guy you're holding is one of them!"
"Bounty hunters?" Luffy blinked, then looked at Mr. 5. "But they were nice! They gave us a feast!" He looked back at Zoro, his expression hardening. "You shouldn't beat up people who give you food!"
Mr. 5 awkwardly tried to extricate himself from Luffy's grip. "Excuse me, but I'm not 'nice people' or 'food-givers.' I'm a threat you should be concerned about!"
Ryoma, still behind the bar, put his face in his hands. Nami groaned louder from her corner. Miss Valentine watched, utterly baffled.
"Are you serious?" Zoro demanded, his incredulity outweighing his immediate threat assessment of Mr. 5.
"Apologize to them!" Luffy insisted, pointing with his free hand at the downed hunters and vaguely towards Mr. 5. "You wasted all that food beating them up!"
"I'm not apologizing to these guys!" Zoro shot back, ignoring Mr. 5 entirely now. "They tried to ambush us! They're the enemy!"
"You wasted food!" Luffy declared, stomping his foot, finally letting go of Mr. 5, who stumbled back, rubbing his chest. That, apparently, was the final straw.
"THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE MAD ABOUT?!" Zoro roared.
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine exchanged a look of utter confusion with the remaining generic bounty hunters lurking near the edges of the square. The situation had just escalated in a direction none of them could have predicted.
"Take it back, Zoro!" Luffy shouted, stretching his arm back for a Gomu Gomu no Pistol.
"Make me, Captain!" Zoro retorted, gripping his swords tighter, a challenging grin on his face.
Before Mr. 5 or Miss Valentine could even attempt to intercede in this utterly bizarre crew conflict, the two powerhouses unleashed their attacks, not on the Baroque Works agents, but on each other.
"Gomu Gomu no... PISTOL!"
"ONI GIRI!"
Luffy's stretched fist collided with Zoro's crossing swords in a powerful impact that sent a shockwave through the square. Paving stones cracked and flew outwards. Nearby tables laden with food were obliterated. Buildings shuddered.
The force of the clash sent several already-injured bounty hunters rolling across the ground, and forced Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine to jump back to avoid the flying debris.
Their bizarre duel continued, ignoring the stunned Baroque Works agents and the terrified generic hunters. Luffy bounced and stretched, unleashing a barrage of attacks, while Zoro countered with devastating sword techniques, each strike aimed at disabling, not killing, but causing immense collateral damage to their surroundings.
"Straw Hat... Gum Gum Battle Axe!" Luffy yelled, stretching his leg high before bringing it down.
"TORA GARI!" Zoro responded, meeting the attack with a fierce double slash.
The resulting impact wasn't just loud; it was destructive. A section of the tavern wall behind Zoro crumbled inwards, showering Ryoma with dust. Luffy's heel slammed down, leaving a deep crater in the ground and sending a wave of debris scattering. Windows shattered in nearby buildings.
The makeshift bar where Ryoma was stationed groaned and splintered with each impact. Mr. 5 stared, dumbfounded, while Miss Valentine looked increasingly agitated, checking her umbrella. The very pirates they were trying to capture were tearing the town apart in a food-related argument.
Just as Luffy reeled back for another attack and Zoro prepared a counter-slash that looked capable of leveling the entire square, a figure shot between them, fists raised, hair askew, vibrating with pure, unadulterated fury. This time, her awakening was not subtle; it was triggered by the sheer, unacceptable level of property damage.
"WOULD YOU TWO KNOCK IT OFF?!"
Nami stood between the two monsters, her face a mask of absolute rage. The carefully maintained facade of sleep was gone, replaced by the terrifying wrath of a navigator whose potential escape routes and resources were being systematically dismantled by her idiotic crewmates.
Her eyes blazed, not just with anger, but with the cold fury of someone who had just witnessed the deliberate destruction of valuable property and the disruption of her potential information gathering.
"Are you trying to get us all killed?!" she shrieked, her voice somehow cutting through the din of destruction and the groans of the vanquished hunters.
"We're surrounded by enemies – including them!" she jabbed a furious finger towards Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, who flinched – "and you're fighting each other over FOOD?! Look at this mess! You've destroyed everything!"
Luffy and Zoro froze mid-attack, momentarily quelled by Nami's terrifying aura. The tension crackled between them, Zoro still glaring at his idiot captain, Luffy pouting but visibly intimidated by Nami's wrath, especially since she seemed more upset about the property damage than the actual betrayal.
Mr. 5, Miss Valentine, and the remaining bounty hunters watched, utterly bewildered by this bizarre turn of events that had devolved from an ambush into an internal crew squabble featuring city-leveling potential.
Ryoma peeked over the counter, allowing himself a small, hidden smile.
The classic Nami intervention. Perfect. The immediate chaos of the bounty hunter ambush had subsided, replaced by the simmering internal conflict of the Straw Hats, set against the backdrop of the destruction they had just wrought and the stunned presence of Baroque Works higher-ups. The night, however, was far from over. The stage was set for the next act, and he had a front-row seat.