Luffy listened in silence as Ms. Valentine finished explaining Mr. 3's abilities. The moment she mentioned that his partner wasn't even a Devil Fruit user, something unreadable flickered through Luffy's eyes.
"So she does all that without a fruit," Luffy muttered. "Paint that controls emotions… troublesome."
Before either agent could say another word, the ground vibrated faintly to Luffy's right.
He turned his head.
Out of the forest rolled something so absurd it briefly displaced all anger from his mind—a massive cake sculpted entirely out of wax, towering like a monument. Five thick candles burned on top, their flames wavering as the structure slowly rotated, creaking under its own weight.
Luffy stared at it.
"…Huh."
Mr. 5 grinned weakly through bloodied lips. "That'd be Mr. 3. He likes making an entrance. Lets everyone know he's still alive."
Luffy sighed, rubbing his temple. "I was hoping for someone competent. This looks like a birthday party gone wrong."
He turned back to the two agents, eyes cold again.
"Stay put."
Before they could react, Luffy lifted both of them effortlessly—one under each arm—and hurled them straight upward. Thunder crackled as clouds formed, catching the two bound agents midair like discarded luggage.
"Don't fall," Luffy said casually. "I'll be back."
He stepped forward, his thundercloud drifting behind him like a loyal shadow.
---
A few minutes later, the smell of melted wax hit him.
Then the sight.
Every member of his crew—Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Johnny, Yosaku, Nojiko—was trapped inside hardened wax formations. Their legs were locked together by thick candle-shaped restraints, embedded deep into the ground. Karoo was tied nearby, quacking furiously, while a small girl sat calmly beside him, sipping tea as if this were a picnic.
Dorry's massive form lay in the distance, breathing shallowly. Brogy was immobilized as well, caught mid-struggle.
Luffy stopped walking.
The air changed.
"LUFFY!" several voices shouted at once.
Nami struggled uselessly against the wax. "What are you doing just standing there?! Get us out!"
Luffy didn't answer immediately.
He looked at them—really looked.
Then he spoke, his voice flat and heavy.
"What do you guys want?"
The crew froze.
"…What?" Usopp whispered.
"I asked," Luffy repeated. "What do you want?"
"Are you serious?!" Nami shouted. "We're trapped!"
"You're trapped," Luffy cut in, anger finally bleeding through. "By this."
He turned his gaze to the man with hair shaped like a three, standing proudly atop the wax structure.
"You must be Mr. 3."
Mr. 3 adjusted his glasses, smiling smugly. "Indeed. And you must be the captain. Impressive reputation—but clearly overrated. Your crew is mine."
Luffy nodded slowly. "I see."
Nami screamed again. "Luffy! Stop messing around!"
Thunder rolled overhead.
"You seven," Luffy said, voice rising, "are about to die because you let yourselves get caught by clowns."
Lightning cracked violently, striking the ground around them.
Zoro clenched his teeth. "Captain—"
"The so-called vice-captain," Luffy continued coldly, eyes locked on Zoro, "dreams of becoming the greatest swordsman alive… and gets captured by wax."
Zoro said nothing.
Luffy raised his arm.
"Survive this."
"Judgment."
A pillar of lightning descended from the sky like divine wrath, obliterating the wax cake in an instant. Wax exploded outward, shattered and vaporized by raw heat. The structures binding the crew disintegrated completely, freeing them—though the candle restraints around their legs remained.
Mr. 3's smile vanished.
"My… my masterpiece—!"
He screamed and lunged forward. "Candle Lock!"
A wave of molten wax surged toward Luffy, engulfing his legs and hardening instantly.
Mr. 3 laughed. "Got you! Now you'll join the collection!"
Luffy looked down at his trapped legs.
"…That's it?"
The wax began to glow.
Lightning surged through Luffy's lower body, heat radiating outward. The wax softened, melted, and dripped away like butter under a torch.
Mr. 3 staggered back. "H-how?!"
"Lightning burns hotter than the surface of the sun," Luffy said calmly. "Use your brain."
He stepped forward.
"You disappointed me."
In the next instant, Luffy vanished.
A thunderclap followed.
Mr. 3 felt a kick connect with his face before his mind could register movement. His body flew backward, smashing through wax debris and skidding across the ground until he lay motionless.
Silence fell.
Ms. Goldenweek stared, teacup trembling in her hand.
Ms. Valentine, watching from above the clouds, whispered in disbelief, "He… erased him."
Luffy exhaled.
"That was annoying."
He turned back to his crew. They were staring at him—some in awe, some in fear, some in confusion.
He walked over and melted the remaining wax restraints with a touch, lightning flickering briefly.
Then Nami screamed.
"MY CLOTHES ARE ON FIRE!"
Luffy turned.
Nami stood there, scorched garments reduced to nothing but her bra. Smoke rose faintly.
The air went very still.
"When I'm done," Luffy said flatly, not even embarrassed, "your clothes will be the least of your concerns."
The crew stiffened.
Luffy finally turned back to the three remaining Baroque Works agents—Mr. 3 barely conscious, Ms. Valentine suspended above, and Ms. Goldenweek quietly observing.
"I'll make this simple," Luffy said.
"You can die."
Their eyes widened.
"Or," he continued, "you can join me."
Silence followed.
Even the jungle seemed to hold its breath.