” “First of all,” Dazai began, “we’re heavily outnumbered by the Marines.
Fighting them head-on isn’t an option, so we’ll have to deal with them one step at a time.” He spread several documents out on the ground.
“I managed to gather some information.” Nami stared at the papers with a twitching eyebrow.
“Where in the world did you get all this?” Dazai only grinned.
“A magician never reveals his secrets~” No one expected a real answer anyway.
“The biggest threat isn’t the Marines themselves.” He placed a newspaper clipping in the center.
Printed on it was a tall, lean man with purple hair standing straight up and wearing sunglasses.
“Erik.” “Like Luffy, he’s a Devil Fruit user.
His is the Sickle-Sickle Fruit.
He’s a mercenary who’s only cooperating with the Marines because their interests happen to align.” “He’ll probably try to keep the dragon bones for himself.” “The ordinary Marine soldiers aren’t much of a problem.” “The real danger is their battleship and its cannons.” Nami kept her eyes on Erik’s picture.
“So how do we divert their attention?” “Since we don’t know exactly when the Lost Island will emerge…” Dazai counted on his fingers.
“It could be tomorrow.” “The day after.” “A week from now.” “Or even a month.” He slowly smiled—a smile filled with unmistakable malice.
“So we’ll make everyone believe…” “…that we’ve already taken the Millennial Dragon.” “I get it.” Zoro’s lips curled into a fierce grin as he turned to look at Ryuji.
Usopp looked back and forth between Dazai and Zoro.
He suddenly realized where this was headed.
“We’re going to kidnap Ryuji?!” Nami covered her mouth in surprise.
Apis instinctively hugged the old dragon tighter, trembling as she looked at the suddenly intimidating group.
“Not the real Ryuji.” Dazai’s sinister expression immediately softened.
“We’ll make a fake one.” “Then we’ll ‘kill’ it right in front of the Marines.” “Once word spreads that the Straw Hat Pirates stole the dragon—and the dragon bones rumored to grant eternal life—no one will pay any attention to Warship Island anymore.” “That’s…
actually a pretty good plan.” Sanji lit a cigarette, took a slow drag, and nodded in approval.
“Then let’s do it.” Luffy agreed without hesitation.
“W-Wait—” Usopp wanted to suggest another plan.
This strategy would make the Straw Hat Pirates the target of the Marine 8th Fleet.
Apis’s eyes filled with tears.
“No…
I can’t let all of you do everything for me…” “Didn’t I tell you?” Dazai gently handed her a handkerchief.
“Leave everything to us.” Apis opened her mouth to protest.
But Dazai stood up before she could speak.
“All right.” “We need the disguise finished tonight.” He looked toward Usopp.
“I’m counting on you.” Usopp puffed out his chest proudly.
“Leave it to the great Captain Usopp!
With fifty years of tailoring experience, this is child’s play!” “Fifty years?” Nami laughed.
“There you go exaggerating again.” The gloomy atmosphere inside the cave quickly turned cheerful.
Apis buried her face in Ryuji’s feathers.
“Ryuji…” “They’re all such kind people.” The old dragon gently looked down at her and softly brushed her back with his tail.
The next morning…
Outside the cave, a raft sat waiting.
Lying on top of it was an incredibly lifelike fake Millennial Dragon.
“Apis.” Dazai rested his hands on her shoulders.
“Are you ready?” “Yes!” She nodded firmly.
Mr.
Dazai and the others had already done so much for her.
She couldn’t hold them back any longer.
“Nami,” Dazai asked, “how are Zoro and Usopp doing?” Standing on a cliff with a telescope, Nami watched the two men who had slipped past the Marine blockade.
“They’re almost in position…” She never took her eyes off them.
Meanwhile…
Dazai stood beside the raft.
Just as expected— The Marines had found them.
Leading them was the very man Dazai had warned them about the night before.
Erik.
“So it really is a Millennial Dragon!” Erik’s eyes gleamed greedily as he stared at the fake dragon.
Thanks to Usopp’s craftsmanship, it looked almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
“Attack!” “Yes, sir!” Several Marines dropped to one knee and opened fire.
Luffy stepped in front of everyone.
The bullets bounced harmlessly off his rubber body before ricocheting back into the Marines themselves.
“The Gum-Gum Fruit…” Erik immediately recognized Luffy’s ability.
“Bullets won’t work!” “Use your swords!” The Marines drew their blades and charged.
Luffy and Sanji rushed forward.
The two carved through the soldiers with overwhelming ease.
Within moments, every Marine had been knocked down.
Only Erik remained.
“So…” Erik adjusted his sunglasses.
“I underestimated you.” “But I’m the user of the Sickle-Sickle Fruit!” He swung his long arms.
Invisible crescent-shaped blades of wind slashed through the air.
Both Luffy and Sanji were cut, thin lines of blood appearing across their bodies.
“Nami.” Dazai watched the battle.
“Are they there yet?” “Almost…” Nami kept her eyes fixed on the Going Merry.
Then— “They’re in position!” “Apis.” Dazai jumped onto the raft and lifted her aboard.
Nami followed.
“Luffy!
Sanji!” Nami shouted.
“Got it!” Luffy instantly retreated from Erik’s attack range, grabbed Sanji, and bounced back onto the raft.
Then he planted both feet against the rock wall and shoved hard.
The raft shot down the slope.
“Gum-Gum Pistol!” Luffy threw a punch at Erik.
Erik leaped aside to avoid it.
The raft passed unhindered, launching off the cliff before dropping beside the Going Merry.
A rope ladder came flying down from above.
Zoro had already prepared it.
Everyone quickly climbed aboard and secured the raft carrying the fake dragon.
“Ready?” Dazai gently patted Apis’s shoulder.
“This might be a little hard.” Apis bit her lip.
“…I’m ready.” She nodded while holding back tears.
“Luffy.” Dazai looked at him.
“Just smile like you normally do.” “You’ll make the most convincing villain.” After all, Luffy was the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates.
If anyone appeared to betray Apis, everyone would believe it.
“Okay!” Luffy grabbed Apis by the collar and lifted her over the ship’s railing.
With his usual bright grin, he cheerfully shouted toward the shore, “Thanks for everything!” “The Millennial Dragon belongs to me now!” “Goodbye, Apis!” Tears streamed down Apis’s face.
They dripped from Luffy’s hand into the sea below.
The others looked away, unable to bear the sight.
But to make the act convincing, they forced themselves to recite the lines Dazai had prepared.
“Finally, we’re rid of that burden.” “We’ll never have to see her again.” “Captain, we’ll get our share of the immortality medicine too, right?” …
“Goodbye, Apis!” The words sounded cruel.
Yet Apis knew they were only pretending.
Warmth filled her heart.
“…Thank you.” She whispered so softly that only she could hear it.
Luffy released his grip.
Splash!
Apis fell into the sea near Warship Island.
The villagers immediately dove into the water and pulled her ashore.
They glared furiously at the Going Merry.
“Pirates are pirates after all!” “So this was their true nature!” Standing on the shore, soaked from head to toe, tears streaming down her face, Apis looked toward the departing Going Merry and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Ryuji!
Ryuji!” “Straw Hat Pirates…” “I’ll never forgive you!”
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