Ms. Wednesday's face was pale as she watched Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine suddenly appear in the sunlight.
"What are you talking about? Mr.5, Ms. Valentine, what 'cleaning house'...?"
"Ms. Wednesday…" Mr.5's deep, mocking voice rang out.
He slowly dragged a charred figure from the shadows beside him. The figure's hair was like several trumpets—it was the mayor Ms. Wednesday had been searching for.
"Are you looking for him?" Mr.5 flicked his wrist, throwing the severely injured Igaram onto the open ground in front of them with a dull thud.
"Mr.8!" Ms. Wednesday shrieked, her pupils rapidly contracting. "Why did you do this to him?! What did he do wrong?!"
Ms. Valentine, holding a parasol, floated lightly beside Mr.5 and said in a sweet, cloying voice, "Still pretending? We received orders from the boss. He said his secret was known, though we don't know what kind of secret it is~"
Mr.5 pushed up his sunglasses and continued, his voice like a pronouncement:
"The boss said that someone from a certain kingdom has infiltrated our Baroque Works."
"Igaram, the captain of the Alabasta Kingdom's Royal Guard, and…
"Princess Nefertari Vivi of the Alabasta Kingdom."
Vivi, whose codename was Ms. Wednesday and whose true identity was a princess, trembled violently. Her disguise had been torn apart. She and Igaram had painstakingly infiltrated Baroque Works for so long, finally uncovering the true identity of the mastermind.
But they hadn't even returned to Alabasta to reveal the truth of the rebellion.
In the end, had they still been discovered? Ms. Valentine added with a giggle, "The current order is to eliminate both of you, you know? And the latest intelligence says that Princess Vivi has completely betrayed us and joined this Straw Hat."
"Princess… Run!!!"
In this moment of despair, Igaram, who should have been unconscious on the ground, burst forth with his last ounce of strength, suddenly raising his head and unleashing his unique trumpet machine gun.
"Thorn Ball Trumpet Cannon!"
However, Mr.5 reacted a step faster. He merely flicked his finger disdainfully, shooting out a tiny booger he had been rolling between his fingers.
"Booger Fantasy Cannon."
Boom!
The explosion accurately detonated in front of Igaram, causing his charred body to convulse once more before he lay motionless on the ground.
"Well… your rescue isn't very good, is it?" Mr.5 glanced around contemptuously, his gaze sweeping over the four unconscious Mugiwara members before landing on Zoro and Tomioka.
"Some are knocked out, some are drunk. Only a drunkard and a samurai with only one arm left? How weak, just like you."
Just then, a voice full of mockery rang out.
"Are you an idiot?"
Zoro, who had just been celebrating with a cup in hand, seemingly talking drunkenly, slowly raised his head. His eyes were clear, devoid of any intoxication, and a wild grin curved his lips.
"How could I get drunk like this?" He released his clasped arms, stood up straight, and stretched his neck, letting out a soft click.
"Though I don't quite understand your kingdom, or secrets, or anything… but…"
His gaze instantly sharpened like a blade, and his hand rested on his three beloved swords.
"Now it's time for a fight, isn't it?"
His gaze didn't even fall on Mr.5; instead, he turned to the silent Giyu Tomioka.
"Hey, Tomioka." Zoro suggested with a smile, "How about we have a competition? I also want to see how strong your true power is. We'll compete to see… who can take down more of these Baroque Works thugs, what do you say?"
The air seemed to solidify.
Tomioka was silent. He looked at Zoro's battle-eager smile, then glanced at the severely injured Igaram on the ground and Vivi, who was somewhat bewildered but still holding on.
"Target: Roronoa Zoro"
"Status: Excited"
"Hobby: Challenges"
"Suggestion: Show him your strength"
The thought of refusing had just arisen, but a dusty memory suddenly crashed into Tomioka's mind.
It was the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection—Mount Fujikasane. It was a night filled with the scent of wisteria and the howls of countless demons. At that time, he was still so weak.
It was Sabito who cut down the threats of the demons before him.
And he, Tomioka Tomiaka, had merely survived those seven nights safely under protection, unable to do anything. But Sabito, who had killed countless demons for everyone, fell forever in the last moments of that selection.
Yet he, who hadn't killed a single demon, successfully entered the Demon Slayer Corps.
That feeling of powerlessness, that guilt of being protected, was still deeply etched into his soul to this day.
Looking at the hundred malicious villagers before him, and the two individuals called Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine.
A flicker of determination suddenly appeared in Tomioka's deep blue eyes. He met Zoro's gaze and replied:
"Yes. Let's do it."
Zoro was clearly startled for a moment, then his smile widened even further. "I didn't expect you to agree… Interesting!" He began to untie the dark green bandana from his left arm, preparing to tie it around his forehead. "Then I'll have to get serious!"
"You two?!"
Mr.5 felt his intelligence insulted, then turned to his partner beside him. "Are they drunk out of their minds? To say such things."
"It's none of your business!!!" Vivi's expression was somewhat distorted as she yelled at Zoro and Tomioka.
Why would they do this?
Vivi didn't understand. The actions of the two people before her seemed like something only madmen would do. Facing two high-ranking Baroque Works officers, they actually said such things and even wanted to compete?
Hadn't they just seen how Igaram was dealt with? And that one-armed samurai, he even agreed.
"They're looking for me! No matter how strong you are, you can't fight a hundred Baroque Works agents plus high-ranking officers! Hurry and leave!"
However, her voice was ignored.
Clang—!
The clear ringing of a Blade sounded.
Giyu Tomioka had fully drawn his cold Blade, his left hand firmly gripping the hilt. He lowered his head slightly, muttering to himself, as if speaking to the sword, or perhaps to himself:
"Water Breathing: Full Concentration…"
He took a deep breath, and the surrounding air seemed to condense with it. Then, rolling steam seemed to wrap around his Blade.
The next moment, his figure suddenly blurred!
Like a swift current skimming the ground, in almost an instant, Tomioka had torn through the distance between them, appearing before Mr.5's eyes!
Mr.5 still had his contemptuous smile on his face, unable to change it in time.
"Water Breathing: Seventh Form, Drop Ripple Thrust!"
The Blade in Tomioka's hand transformed into a straight and sharp blue light, thrusting directly forward! Then it stopped at Mr.5's abdomen, extreme speed and power pouring out as the blade drew near.
Bang!!!!
A heavy thud exploded.
Mr.5 felt an utterly irresistible force violently strike his abdomen, and excruciating pain instantly deprived him of all ability to think.
His entire body, feet leaving the ground, flew backward, successively smashing through the walls of the houses behind him, finally being engulfed in a rising cloud of dust and rubble.
The entire plaza was silent as death.
Ms. Valentine's smile froze on her face.
All the restless Baroque Works agents paused their movements.
Even Zoro, in the act of tying his bandana, paused for a moment, a hint of surprise and even greater interest flashing in his eyes.
In this deathly silence, Vivi stared blankly at Tomioka, who maintained his thrusting stance, then slowly sheathed his Blade and stood upright. She recalled what she had said last night, and his figure silently practicing with his one-armed sword.
"So he… is that strong…"