The silence after Jiro's confession didn't last long.
"You didn't know?" Nami asked, genuinely baffled, arms crossed as she stared at the trembling Hell Hound captain.
Jiro shook his head slowly, sweat dripping down his face. "I—I just thought he was some overpowered rookie…"
Zoro burst out laughing. "You picked a fight with that and didn't even check the name first? You really are an idiot."
Veins popped on Jiro's forehead.
"Enough," Luffy said quietly.
The word carried weight. Every voice died instantly.
Luffy turned his back on the defeated pirates, his coat snapping in the wind as he walked back to his cloud-throne. "You four know your orders. Execute the plan immediately."
Gem, Mikita, Marianne, and Jiro all stiffened and nodded at once.
Nojiko watched Jiro's battered ship bob beside the Merry. "Are we waiting for them to prep and follow us," she asked, "or leaving them behind?"
Luffy rested his chin on his knuckles, eyes drifting toward the Hell Hound ship. Then he raised his voice.
"Oi. Jiro."
"Yes, Captain!" Jiro barked instinctively.
"You know the way to Alabasta?"
"…Yeah. We left there a few hours ago."
Vivi's eyes widened. "A few hours ago?"
"Good," Luffy said calmly. "We'll go ahead. You regroup and head back."
Jiro didn't question it. He just nodded.
"Nami," Luffy added, already turning away, "resume course to Alabasta."
She complied—but frowned. "Wait. If they just came from Alabasta, how are they supposed to get back? The Log Pose only—"
"Points two ways," Luffy interrupted lightly.
She froze. "…What?"
"It records the island you came from and the one you're going to."
Nami stared at her Log Pose, turning it slowly. Her eyes widened as understanding clicked.
"…The red needle points forward. The white one points back."
Luffy lifted his glass. "Exactly."
Nami grinned. "Show-off."
As the Going Merry surged ahead, Zoro sat beside Luffy, watching Jiro's ship shrink into the distance.
"You don't trust him," Zoro said flatly.
"Nope."
"Then why recruit him?"
Luffy didn't answer right away. "He's disposable," he said finally. "Useful. Loud. Replaceable."
Zoro nodded. "Fair."
The sea calmed as the Merry cut forward. Luffy rose from his throne and stepped onto the main deck.
"Vivi," he said, eyes sharp now. "Explain Baroque Works. From the top."
She straightened immediately.
"Mr. 0 is Crocodile," she began. "Under him are twelve elite agents—paired men and women. Code names from Mr. 1 to Mr. 13, excluding numbers like 2 and 3 depending on rank."
"Officer agents," Luffy murmured.
"Yes. The top five all have Devil Fruits. Beneath them are 200 'Billions'… and 1,800 'Millions.'"
"Two thousand?" Chopper squeaked.
Usopp's jaw dropped. "That's a small army!"
Luffy chuckled. "Relax."
Everyone stared at him.
"They're already being handled."
Realization dawned across the crew as eyes shifted toward the three agents sailing away under Luffy's orders.
"You planned this from Little Garden," Nojiko said softly.
Luffy smiled. "Always stay ahead of your enemy."
Vivi opened her mouth to speak again—but stopped mid-sentence.
"Luffy… what's that?"
Green smoke rose from the sea ahead, bubbling ominously.
"Oh," Nami said casually, "underwater volcanic vents."
Chopper's eyes sparkled. "There are volcanoes under the ocean?"
"More than on land," Nami replied.
"Hold your breath," Luffy added. "It smells like rotten eggs."
They passed through the steam quickly, emerging back into clean air.
"Sanji," Luffy said, heading for the figurehead. "Lunch."
"Dinosaur meat?" Sanji asked.
"Dinosaur meat."
Sanji grinned and vanished below deck.
"Captain," Zoro said suddenly, leaning over the rail, "we've got company."
A man clung to the side of the ship—dressed flamboyantly, makeup smudged, gasping for air.
"Please! Help me! I can't swim—I ate a Devil Fruit!"
Luffy peered down. "Pull him up."
Johnny and Yosaku hauled the stranger aboard.
The man collapsed, panting. "Saved… by strangers… destiny is dramatic."
"What fruit?" Luffy asked.
The man's smile widened.
"Let me show you."
He slapped Johnny's face.
Instantly—Johnny stood there twice.
Gasps erupted.
"I'm you!" the man said in Johnny's voice.
Luffy's eyes narrowed.
Clone-Clone Fruit.
Bon Clay shifted back, bowing theatrically. "Bon Kurei! Otherwise known as Mr. 2."
Silence.
Then—realization slammed into the deck like a cannonball.
"…Mr. 2?" Zoro repeated slowly.
Luffy's smile was thin.
Bon Clay laughed nervously. "Ah. I suppose… this is where things get interesting."