The scarlet mist roiled like a living tide and swallowed the entire town.
Within moments, Major Marley and Ritter were both engulfed inside Ritter's terrifying illusion domain known as the Phantom World. The air twisted, voices muffled, and the world around them warped as if reality itself had been folded and rearranged.
Major Marley's face had gone pale, yet he forced himself to stand tall, gripping his cutlass so tightly his knuckles whitened.
"Fog Lord," he shouted, his voice trembling yet determined, "do whatever you want. I will not reveal a single piece of military information. Not one word!"
Ritter stared at him for two long seconds, then sighed.
"Are you… an undercover revolutionary?"
Marley's pupils shrank, and for a split second, his fingers twitched.
"I… what are you talking about? I have no idea what that is!"
Ritter pressed his hand to his forehead.
"Your reaction could not have been more obvious."
Marley froze, then looked away in embarrassment.
People in this world, Ritter thought helplessly, could be oddly pure. In their own way, they were even endearing. From monstrous tyrants to those who died in the name of justice like foolish martyrs, some individuals were ridiculously easy to read.
Ritter exhaled.
"So the Revolutionary Army is disguising themselves as Marine branch leaders now? Stirring up the troops and sending them to die?"
"It is not sending them to die," Marley snapped back hastily. "We are the final shield protecting the townspeople."
He stopped, suddenly realizing what he had just implied.
"Wait… so you are… a comrade?"
Ritter stared at him.
"What?"
Marley stepped closer, eyes shining with excitement.
"I knew it. You must have heard our Leader's teachings! Commander Dragon always speaks about his extraordinary mentor. I have a copy of the Selected Speeches right here. Consider it my greeting gift. I hope you will treasure it."
Ritter's expression went blank.
Ah. So Dragon really did run around giving inspirational speeches. And the notebook he had asked Ritter to name years ago… Ritter had casually called it Selected Speeches without thinking.
One sentence flashed across his memory:
"Chairman, the oranges are ripe and loyal."
Ritter's already headache-inducing situation now grew worse.
Had he somehow become a spiritual figure to the Revolutionary Army?
Seeing Ritter's silence, Marley grew even more convinced.
"As expected. Commander Dragon said true revolutionaries never flaunt their identity. You must be a highly placed comrade lurking inside the Marines."
"I am not lurking anywhere," Ritter said flatly. "I'm literally just passing by."
But Marley did not hear a word.
"You even brought children with you. A visionary like you must be cultivating the next generation of revolutionaries. Fog Lord, your foresight is admirable!"
Ritter choked on air.
This misunderstanding was spiraling into the stratosphere.
Outside the illusion, Marines and townsfolk still waited nervously. The three kids crouched together whispering conspiratorially.
Ace frowned.
"Why isn't Uncle Ritter back yet? Did the fight start?"
Sabo adjusted his top hat thoughtfully.
"No. If he intended to fight, he would have wrapped things up already. Ritter doesn't waste time with conversations when he is serious."
Anne lifted her giant sword solemnly.
"I can slash through the fog and rescue Uncle Ritter. I am the blade that cuts through the darkness."
Ace gave Sabo a nudge and whispered,
"Maybe it was a mistake buying her that movie-projection Den Den Mushi. She thinks she is in a hero film."
At that moment, the scarlet mist dispersed all at once.
Ritter walked out first, Major Marley trailing behind him stiffly. The atmosphere between them was painfully awkward.
Major Marley cleared his throat, inhaled deeply and shouted,
"Attention! Stand down! This… this was a misunderstanding!"
The Marines stared at him.
The villagers stared at him.
The kids stared at him.
Even the seagulls seemed confused.
Trying to regain dignity, Marley wiped sweat from his brow and announced,
"This gentleman… the Fog Lord… is here to turn in captured criminals!"
Every Marine present looked at him with blatant suspicion.
Their expressions said:
Major, blink twice if you are being threatened.
Marley panicked slightly, until his gaze fell on the slavers Anne had dragged over earlier. Inspiration struck instantly.
"Look! That is the infamous Iron Hook Slaver Crew. The Fog Lord captured them for justice. He is assisting the Marines!"
The Marines hesitated, but the bounty posters matched the criminals.
Ritter sighed and patted Marley's shoulder.
"You have potential."
Marley puffed out his chest, eyes blazing with misplaced passion.
"For justice. For… our cause."
Ritter almost walked away on the spot.
Whatever. Let him misunderstand.
Once the last of the mist dissolved, Marley barked orders to regain authority.
"What are you all waiting for? Take the slavers below deck. Prepare the bounty money!"
The Marines scrambled. One muttered under his breath,
"Did the Fog Lord hypnotize the Major?"
Before he could finish, Marley shot him a murderous glare.
"Do not slander your commanding officer!"
The Marine jumped like a frightened rabbit.
Ritter pulled out a stack of bounty posters and tossed them at Marley.
"Here. Three million berries total. Please be quick. We are on a schedule."
Marley flipped the posters theatrically, pretending to inspect them. In reality, he leaned close and whispered,
"Do not worry, comrade. I will prepare everything swiftly. The revolution will not be delayed."
Ritter stared at him.
"I am going to pretend I did not hear that."
Ace, Sabo and Anne watched the entire exchange in horrified silence.
Ace tugged Sabo's sleeve.
"When did Uncle Ritter join the Revolutionary Army?"
Sabo rubbed his forehead.
"He did not. I think the Marines are just inventing explanations to keep themselves calm."
Anne nodded thoughtfully.
"Reasonable."
Moments later, several Marines carried over a large heavy bag filled with berries. Major Marley personally handed it to Ritter and shook his hand as if giving a medal.
"Thank you for your contribution to justice."
Ritter's mouth twitched.
"Sure. Anytime."
He tossed the bag onto his shoulder and waved to the kids.
"Let's go."
Ace looked disappointed.
"We are not punching Grandpa Garp before we leave?"
Sabo dragged him back.
"If Garp catches us, we will not be eating dinner tonight."
Ritter smirked slightly as scarlet mist gathered beneath his feet and enveloped their small ship.
"Hold on tight. We are slipping out."
The world blurred.
In total silence, their vessel vanished into the fog.
One second later, an enormous wave exploded behind them.
"RITTER! GET BACK HERE, YOU BRAT!"
Garp's roar shook the island so hard that even the seabirds panicked. He descended from the sky in a storm of moon-steps and crashed onto the pier, smashing it apart.
Major Marley fell backward in shock.
"Garp… Vice Admiral Garp?! Why are you…"
Garp grabbed him by the collar and bellowed,
"Where did that brat go?!"
Marley shakily pointed toward the sea.
"He… he left just now."
Garp turned furiously toward the ocean. Only fog remained.
That infuriating brat was long gone.
"Get back here! Give me back my grandkids, you thief!"
He stomped so hard that the entire dock splintered.
Meanwhile, Ritter's little fog-covered ship silently sailed past Garp's massive warship without a trace.
Ritter stretched lazily, pleased with himself.
"Oh dear, Garp. Looks like I still have the upper hand."
And the night swallowed their laughter as they drifted toward their next misadventure.