"Luo Chen, are you okay?" Nami asked with concern, looking at his neck.
Her small hand touched his skin.
She had been startled by the woman's attempt to snap his neck just now. In Nami's mind, a bounty of 79 million was not far from Luo Chen's own strength.
"I'm fine, don't worry," Luo Chen said with a smile.
Princess Vivi said gratefully, "Thank you, Luo Chen, for driving that person away."
Luo Chen told her it was nothing.
Originally, Robin had no ill intentions and just wanted to help the Straw Hat crew safely reach Alabasta. He, on the other hand, had played the villain, threatening Robin to prepare the money.
'I have no choice. Crocodile is very strong, and with my appearance, Luffy has missed out on the tempering of several major battles.'
'I must first get the money to increase my strength, just in case Luffy can't beat Crocodile.'
Luo Chen sighed inwardly.
If his strength allowed, he would also prefer to defeat Crocodile openly and then take his wealth. Now, he could only threaten Robin, get the money first, and then make plans after increasing his strength.
It would be best if Luffy defeated Crocodile as in the original story.
If Luffy lost, Luo Chen would still have to step in.
Having taken Crocodile's money, the man would definitely not let him go.
"Full speed ahead!" Luffy shouted.
The Going Merry continued to sail according to the Log Pose's direction.
Luo Chen sat on the deck, studying his Wood Style techniques.
The seed he had shown Nico Robin, for example, was actually developed based on his Wood Style.
If fed to an enemy, it could indeed be used as a threat.
But he hadn't actually fed it to Robin.
What he had thrown into Robin's stomach was just an ordinary dried fruit.
It wasn't that he was soft-hearted, but that Robin's Flower-Flower Fruit ability was very strange.
It allowed any part of her body to bloom like a flower on any tangible object for attack or other purposes.
Even if a seed were thrown into Robin's body, she might be able to grow eyes and hands inside her body and find a way to remove the seed.
So Luo Chen had simply thrown in an ordinary dried fruit.
This way, even if Robin searched for the seed, she would never find it.
She would most likely think the seed was hidden somewhere else in her body.
The wooden vines in Luo Chen's hands sometimes condensed, sometimes dispersed.
He was researching other ways to use them.
Now that they had entered the Grand Line, they could encounter a Marine Vice Admiral or even an Admiral at any time. He had to prepare a few more tricks up his sleeve for emergencies.
Meanwhile, Vivi, next to Nami, was curiously observing Luo Chen.
"Nami, who is Luo Chen? How did he get an 80-million-Berry bounty?"
Princess Vivi was very curious.
Having been on the Going Merry for so long, she hadn't really paid much attention to Luo Chen. She had just thought of him as an ordinary crew member under Luffy.
But today, she had learned that Luo Chen actually had a bounty of 80 million Berries, even higher than Luffy's.
Nami recounted Luo Chen's story.
After hearing it, Vivi's face was full of sympathy. She said angrily, "The Marines are so despicable, to actually frame Luo Chen."
Nami sighed. "I don't know if there will ever be a chance to have Luo Chen's wanted poster revoked. Being an enemy of the Marines is just too worrying."
Vivi didn't know what to say to comfort her.
There were many strong people in the Marines. A single Vice Admiral could deal with pirates with bounties in the hundreds of millions. A Marine Admiral was comparable to one of the Four Emperors, whose bounties were in the billions.
Luo Chen, being hunted by the Marines, was in a precarious situation.
...
Over the next seven days or so, the Going Merry visited the prehistoric island of Little Garden and Drum Island.
When they arrived at Little Garden, Luo Chen, from the ship, saw the dueling giants, Brogy and Dorry, from a distance.
Afterward, Carina fell ill with a high fever after being bitten by a prehistoric insect on Little Garden.
To find a doctor for her, the crew headed for Drum Island.
Luo Chen and Nami did not go ashore, remaining on the ship to wait.
When Luffy and the others returned and set sail again, there was a new addition to the Going Merry: a miniature, talking reindeer.
Tony Tony Chopper.
Luo Chen, holding a teacup, walked up behind Chopper and said with a smile, "I hear your medical skills are amazing."
Chopper was wearing a pink hat, his antlers sticking out.
Hearing a voice behind him, he jumped in fright and spun around in the air.
Seeing Luo Chen for the first time, Chopper hid fearfully behind Luffy's leg.
However, his way of hiding was a bit strange.
Most of his body was exposed, with only his head hidden behind Luffy's leg.
Hearing the praise for himself, Chopper smiled happily and shyly. "You bastard, don't think I'll be happy just because you praise me."
Luo Chen smiled. "Luffy, your ship's doctor is really interesting."
Luffy said with a proud smile, "Of course! I personally invited Chopper to join the ship."
"Good eye."
Luo Chen's words made both Luffy and Chopper very happy.
Princess Vivi walked over at that moment. "Everyone, we're about to arrive in Alabasta."
"Luffy, have you really decided to fight Crocodile?"
Her expression was nervous and worried.
Luffy adjusted his straw hat and smiled. "Of course! I'm gonna send him flying!"
Sanji followed closely behind, declaring that he would definitely protect the lovely Princess Vivi and defeat the despicable Warlord, Crocodile.
Zoro, his hand on the hilt of his sword, gave a silent nod of agreement.
Although Usopp was shouting "I have a disease where I'll die if I see sand," he was still polishing and preparing his various weapons.
Carina, now recovered from her illness, smiled. "We must help Vivi deal with Crocodile and quell the rebellion in the kingdom!"
Seeing them so united, Luo Chen only said, "Nami and I have other things to do. I'm sorry, but we won't be able to help you."
Hearing this, everyone was taken aback at first, then said it was fine.
But Vivi's smile was a little forced, and she couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes.
For her, the stronger the help, the better. Luo Chen had a bounty of 80 million and had easily subdued Miss All Sunday. His strength was formidable. If he were willing to help Luffy and the others, their chances of winning would be much higher.
Since Luo Chen was unwilling, Vivi couldn't say anything. She was the one asking for help. It was a kindness if others were willing to help, and their right if they were not.
Besides, with Crocodile's fame and strength, not everyone was as courageous as Luffy and his crew... Vivi sighed inwardly.
The Going Merry docked on the coast of Alabasta.
Luo Chen and Nami were the first to disembark and head into Alabasta's interior.
Luffy, Vivi, and the others were preparing their weapons and battle plans.
Carina glanced at Usopp, who had taken out all his savings and had a full array of weapons laid out in front of him, and teased, "I didn't expect you to be so brave this time, even daring to fight Crocodile."
Usopp's hand trembled. He retorted, "I am a brave warrior of the sea! I am never a coward!"
He whispered in Carina's ear, "To be honest, am I being really brave this time? Even Luo Chen ran away in fear."
Carina rolled her eyes. "The battle hasn't even started yet. Who knows if you're brave or not. And don't make things up about Luo Chen. Maybe he really does have important business."
Usopp gave a sheepish smile. "True. Carina, don't tell Luo Chen what I just said. I'm afraid he'll beat me up."
"Coward," Carina said with contempt.
But she could understand. Luo Chen's methods were much more ruthless than Luffy's and the others'. At the very least, they had personally seen Luo Chen kill many people.
...
Somewhere in the Grand Line, a warship was sailing at high speed.
Onigumo, in the command room, received a report.
"Mr. Vice Admiral, some Marines have spotted the Straw Hat Pirates' ship in the waters near Alabasta."
"But we cannot confirm if Luo Chen is on board."
Onigumo instantly stood up, his eyes sharp.
"Since we've found their trail, let's head over there first."
"Send a communication for assistance to the Marine bases around Alabasta. Have a Vice Admiral lead the team to capture the Straw Hat crew!"
"If Luo Chen is found, his capture will be the top priority!"
Onigumo took out a Den Den Mushi. "I will report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku and request the dispatch of a Headquarters Vice Admiral for the encirclement."
"Our warship will also turn around immediately and head for Alabasta!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]