The rest of the crew stood there in stunned silence. None of them could honestly say they hadn't seen something like this coming—but Vivi was another matter entirely.
She was shaking.
"Luffy, you can't be serious!" Vivi shouted, stepping forward, her fists clenched. "They tried to kill us. They tried to murder Dorry. And now you're inviting them onto your ship?!"
Luffy turned his head slowly, eyes calm, voice flat.
"And what exactly is your point?"
Vivi opened her mouth to argue, but Luffy spoke again before she could.
"Nami betrayed the crew and stole my ship," he said evenly. "She's still here. Johnny once tried to kill me. He's still here."
Vivi froze.
She looked at Nami.
Nami nodded, unapologetic.
She looked at Johnny.
Johnny scratched his cheek. "…Yeah."
Vivi turned back to Luffy, shock written across her face, trying to form another argument—but Luffy cut her off one final time.
"And I'll remind you of something important, Princess," he said, his tone sharper now. "You're a passenger. Not my crewmate. Not my captain."
The words landed hard.
Vivi flinched.
She didn't argue again.
She simply turned away, walked back toward the others, and stood quietly, eyes lowered. Nojiko stepped closer to her without a word.
"Wasn't that a little harsh?" Nojiko asked softly.
Luffy didn't respond.
Instead, he faced the former Baroque Works agents.
"How?" he asked simply.
Ms. Valentine answered first. "I'll join you."
Mr. 5 swallowed and nodded. "Better to stand beside you than against you."
Luffy's gaze shifted to the smallest figure.
Ms. Goldenweek glanced at the shattered wax battlefield, then at the sky, then finally at Luffy. "I'll join too."
Luffy snapped his fingers.
The lightning bindings vanished instantly. Ms. Valentine and Mr. 5 stumbled slightly, regaining control of their bodies.
"Welcome to the Straw Hat Pirates," Luffy said.
Neither agent smiled—but both nodded.
Luffy turned away from them and walked toward the giants.
"Sorry I didn't free you sooner, Brogy," Luffy said as lightning melted the wax binding him. "I wanted to be sure the threat was gone."
Brogy laughed heartily. "No offense taken!"
Then his laughter died as he looked at Dorry's still form.
Luffy followed his gaze. "Relax. He's alive."
Brogy's eyes widened. "Alive? But my strike—"
"Your weapons are dull," Luffy said simply.
Everyone looked.
The massive swords—once legendary—were chipped, cracked, worn thin by a century of battle.
"Even Elbaf steel can't survive a hundred years of dueling," Luffy added.
Usopp grinned. "That's… actually kind of awesome."
Moments later, Dorry stirred.
With Brogy's help, he sat up, coughing but very much alive.
The tension finally broke.
They returned to the boulder where everything had begun. Dorry tended to his wounds while the crew rested nearby, the jungle unusually quiet.
Luffy summoned his throne and sat back.
"…By the way," he said, glancing around, "where's Sanji?"
"Oh~ Nami! Vivi! Nojiko! Did you miss me?"
Sanji's voice rang out as he emerged from the trees, hearts in his eyes. He sprinted forward—then abruptly stopped when he noticed the giants and unfamiliar faces.
He instantly moved in front of Nami and Vivi.
"Alright," he snapped, serious again, "which one of you is Mr. 3?"
Nami blinked. "How do you even know about Mr. 3?"
Sanji turned to her—and froze.
"…Nami."
She was wearing nothing but her bra.
His nose exploded.
"TRY AGAIN," Nami roared.
Without a word, Luffy stood, removed his coat, and draped it over her shoulders.
"I was busy," Sanji muttered, sitting down. "Anyway. I talked to Mr. 0."
Silence.
"You what?" everyone shouted.
"I found a base in the forest," Sanji said calmly, lighting a cigarette. "The phone rang. I answered. He thought I was Mr. 3."
Luffy raised an eyebrow.
"I told him Vivi and the Straw Hats were dead."
Everyone stared.
"…So they won't chase us anymore," Vivi whispered.
"Yeah," Sanji said smugly. "Also—"
He tossed something forward.
An eternal pose.
"To Alabasta."
The crew erupted.
"WE'RE SAVED!"
"SANJI YOU'RE A GENIUS!"
"WHY CAN'T YOU ALL BE LIKE HIM," Luffy muttered.
Dorry and Brogy laughed thunderously as the crew prepared to leave.
"It was an honor," Luffy said, standing. "But we're moving on."
"Go," Dorry said proudly. "And live boldly."
The Straw Hats returned to their ship.
Waiting for them at the shore—
Three enormous dinosaur corpses.
The Grand Line didn't waste time saying goodbye.