[T/N: Sorry, I was busy this week due to my exam prep, so I forgot to schedule the chapters.]
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Chapter 81: How Can You Slander a Person's Innocence Out of Thin Air!
Ralph's gaze met with that of the clown, Buggy.
In that instant, time seemed to freeze for half a second.
From within the shadows of his hood, Buggy's eyes first flashed with surprise, followed immediately by panic.
The next moment, Buggy abruptly turned around, his wide robe cutting a hasty arc through the air as he ducked into another alley.
Ralph's pupils contracted slightly.
If everything were unfolding according to the original plot, and Buggy was the one who would put Lufia in danger...
Then all he had to do was chase after him, locate all his accomplices, and deal with them—this crisis would be averted before it even began.
Ralph didn't even have time to inform Lufia.
He estimated that with his speed, capturing Buggy and returning to Lufia's side would be so fast she wouldn't even realize he had left.
At most, it would take no longer than the blink of an eye.
"Soru."
A faint afterimage lingered where Ralph had been standing as he appeared over ten meters away at the alley's entrance.
He dashed into the alley where Buggy had disappeared and activated his Observation Haki.
Ahead, the brown robe was scrambling away in a frantic run, the red nose jutting out from under the hood with each jolting step, like a comical navigation light.
Ralph used Soru again.
The distance closed instantly.
From Buggy's perspective, realizing Ralph was hot on his heels was utterly terrifying.
He had endured a grand adventure at sea just to regain his human form.
After countless hardships, he had reclaimed his position as captain and even allied with Alvida, whose power had greatly increased after eating the Sube Sube no Mi.
Now, his only goal was to take revenge on the Straw Hat girl and Ralph.
And as soon as he arrived at Loguetown, he had found their trail.
He had planned to observe them covertly first, then gather his crew and devise a perfect revenge plan.
But he never expected to be discovered!
And that kid was chasing him so relentlessly!
If Ralph caught up, wouldn't his grand revenge plan be... Wait.
Buggy's running pace suddenly slowed.
Another thought crossed his mind: It wouldn't make a difference!
Ralph, I had high hopes for you, thinking you were a smart guy.
But who gave you the confidence to believe you could take on me, Captain Buggy, all by yourself!
With this thought, Buggy's confidence surged.
He came to an abrupt halt, shaking off the cumbersome robe. A menacing grin spread across his iconic clown face.
With a flourish of his hands, he gripped eight daggers between his fingers.
Buggy assumed a fighting stance, ready to confront his pursuer—only to freeze in confusion.
The alley was empty.
Ralph, who had been hot on his heels just moments ago, had vanished.
Buggy blinked.
"He... ran away?" Buggy scratched his head. "Did he realize he couldn't take me on alone and went to get backup?"
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. His red nose twitched smugly. "Hmph, at least you know your place! But..."
Buggy's expression suddenly shifted.
"Wouldn't that tip them off and put the Straw Hat girl on guard?"
"No! It seems I need to notify the others and act quickly!"
Buggy soon disappeared around the corner.
He had no idea that, less than ten meters from where he had been standing, Ralph was hidden behind a small nook cluttered with clutter.
A hand pressed down firmly on Ralph's right shoulder from behind.
The strength emanating from that hand made it impossible for him to break free.
The overwhelming disparity in strength made Ralph once again experience the feeling of having his life held in someone else's hands.
The last time was when he faced Hawk Eye!
This time, he didn't know who was behind him.
The sense of the unknown made Ralph's fear of death even more intense than when facing Hawk Eye.
Ralph forced himself to calm down and began analyzing the situation.
The fact that the other party was holding him down without taking action suggested there might be other purposes.
Ralph's mind started working.
From the position and angle of the hand on his shoulder, Ralph roughly deduced that the other party was very tall.
Ralph himself was over 180cm, and the hand pressing on his shoulder was positioned relatively high, indicating the other person was at least two meters tall.
There was no smell of smoke, so it wasn't White Hunter Smoker.
Besides, Smoker didn't possess this level of strength.
So, who else in Loguetown at this moment could have such capability?
Several names flashed through Ralph's mind.
Then, one possibility emerged.
Could it be...
No way?
If it really was him, why would he be holding me down?
Ralph wanted to turn around to confirm.
As soon as he showed any intention of turning his head, the pressure on his shoulder increased slightly.
It didn't hurt, but it was a clear warning.
Simultaneously, a voice came from behind.
The voice was very deep, "Don't turn around." the voice said, "Turn around and you die."
Ralph took a deep breath, having some speculation in mind, which made him feel somewhat more at ease.
"Who are you, sir? Why are you obstructing my actions?"
He tried to make his tone sound justified, "The person I'm chasing is Clown Buggy, he intends to harm my captain! By stopping me from acting, are you perhaps in cahoots with Buggy?"
A series of questions, both as accusations and probes.
Ralph attempted to gauge the other party's attitude and purpose from their reaction.
The result was that after hearing his questions, the other person chuckled lightly.
The hand on Ralph's shoulder pressed down slightly harder.
"As expected of a World Government agent."
The voice said, "Facing death, yet still able to remain so calm and maintain a flawless act."
Ralph's heart skipped a beat.
Government agent?
For a young man who suddenly appeared in East Blue with an unknown identity and considerable strength, this was indeed one of the most likely suspicions.
Ralph immediately refuted, "How can you falsely accuse me without evidence! How could I possibly be one of those damn World Nobles' lackeys!"
He said this with absolute conviction, even carrying a hint of disgust.
The pressure from the hand on his shoulder eased slightly.
A very subtle change, but Ralph keenly detected it.
It seemed the other party's suspicion of him had lessened.
The logic was simple:
Anyone daring to attack a government agent would naturally be among those who held no goodwill toward the World Nobles.
Cursing the World Nobles was definitely the right move!
In this world, the rule of the World Nobles' superiority was deeply ingrained, and few dared to curse them.
Even undercover agents might not dare to speak like this!
But the other party didn't seem ready to let him off easily yet.
"If you're not a government agent," the voice continued, "why do you know the Six Powers?"
Here we go again!
This wasn't the first time Ralph had been suspected of this!
He'd been suspected during his fight with Hawk Eye too!
Fortunately, Ralph had prepared an explanation this time!
"The Six Powers aren't some unique secret technique!" he said with conviction,
"Both the Navy and pirates have people who can use it! Anything can happen on the high seas. It wouldn't be strange if a Six Powers master, stranded on a deserted island, casually taught a few disciples, would it? Maybe I just caught a glimpse of it when I was young and figured it out on my own!"
This explanation actually had loopholes.
But Ralph was betting on another possibility—after all, the more flawless something appears, the more likely it is to be fake!
"You said you saw the Six Powers when you were young." The voice indeed seized on the flaw. "Only government agents receive training from childhood."
"Well, I wouldn't know about that."
Ralph shrugged, a motion that made the hand on his shoulder tighten slightly.
"I might know more than just the Six Powers! But that's not important, because I've lost my memory."
He paused.
"Right now, I'm just a pirate. A crew member of the Straw Hat Pirates, Lufia's partner. I don't remember my past, and I don't care about it."
The alley fell silent for a few seconds.
"But with an explanation like that," the voice finally spoke again, "it's hard for me to be convinced."
Ralph suddenly raised his voice: "I don't even know who you are! Why should I have to convince you? Who are you? A Navy admiral? A high-ranking official of the World Government? Or some hidden big shot?"
Another silence followed.
Then, the voice spoke one sentence.
"Because I don't want someone of unknown origins like you hanging around my daughter, with ill intentions toward her."
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