Chapter 106 Grand Entrance
Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Inside the opulent casino, Nami pointed to a spot on the ground and turned to Luffy, who was beside her. "Hey, Luffy, this is right here, right?" she inquired. Luffy, nonchalantly picking his nose, confirmed casually, "That's right, I felt them there." He had sensed the location of the secret room hidden beneath the casino after they entered.
Initially, Luffy had planned to break through the floor with his fists to reach the room. However, Nami intervened with a different idea. "Leave it to me, Luffy," she said, her face breaking into a confident smile. "I have a faster way for this kind of thing."
Standing at the spot Luffy had indicated, Nami held her weather stick, recalling Bai Ye's instructions. "I made the magic circle on the weather stick, and it only needs a simple operation to summon the elements," Bai Ye had explained. "But the power of the attack and the extent to which it can be invoked still require your own strength. Nami, you are able to perceive the changes of the weather with your body, which means that you have a strong sensitivity to these elements. Don't be afraid, don't be cautious, remember, the weapon is not the root, but yourself is. Use your senses to perceive and control the elements."
Nami gazed upward, her eyes piercing through the casino's roof as if seeing the sky beyond. "Do I feel it?" she murmured to herself. Subconsciously, she began to wave her weather stick, tuning into her innate sensitivity to the elements and preparing to unleash the power Bai Ye had entrusted to her.
As Nami waved her weather stick, a noticeable transformation began. Tiny lightning bolts danced vividly on the stick, crackling with energy. Zap! Zap! Zap! The skies responded in kind. Rumble! Thunder roared, announcing a dramatic shift in the atmosphere. Dark clouds amassed swiftly, and even those dozens of miles away sensed the brewing of a formidable thunderstorm.
Nami, though unsure of the exact process, felt a surge of confidence and exhilaration. Her eyes sparkled with determination as she declared, "Although I don't know how to do it, It should work this way!" With a focused intensity, she invoked, "Thunderbolt Tempo!!!"
In a swift motion, Nami swung the weather stick down with force. RUMBLE!!! The sky above echoed her action as a massive thunderbolt ripped through the dark clouds with unstoppable might, directed precisely where Nami's stick pointed. The thunder, like a colossal beast, unleashed its fury, devouring everything in its path. The roof of the casino was no obstacle – BOOM! The ground itself could not withstand the power – it was unrelenting and inexorable.
Amidst the chaos, Nami stood enveloped in the fearsome thunder, her figure resembling a regal princess commanding the forces of lightning. She was a stunning and formidable sight.
"Luffy!!" she called out. The thunder had already shattered the ground, creating a path to the depths below. Luffy, positioned at the edge of the hole created by Nami's thunder, was ready to leap into action. "I'm going in!!" he shouted, pressing down his straw hat as he jumped into the breach.
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Simultaneously, in the secret room, Crocodile had just uttered a chilling declaration, "I will do whatever I want here!!" This statement cast a shadow of despair over the faces of the Alabastan people who were unaware of the entire truth. In reality, had they thought carefully, they would have realized that Princess Vivi's open challenge to Crocodile indicated she had some form of support or plan. However, Crocodile's fearsome reputation had caused many to lose their faith.
Yet, the fear gripping the people of Alabasta didn't impact the unfolding events. Often in crises, it only takes one person to stand up – someone typically regarded as a hero. Suddenly, a loud Boom! shattered the darkness as thunder tore open the secret room. Luffy's roar followed, echoing defiantly: "Crocodile! I'm going to kick your butt!!" After this bold declaration, the broadcast ended abruptly as the Den Den Mushi was destroyed.
But Luffy's voice had reached everyone in Alabasta. Vivi, standing with her hands crossed over her chest, looked towards Rainbase, her thoughts with the Straw Hat crew. "Luffy, and everyone, you have to defeat Crocodile and come back safely," she murmured, her hope and trust evident.
Meanwhile, in a room in the palace, Chopper sat beside Bai Ye's cocoon. He swung his short legs back and forth as he sat on a chair, addressing the cocoon. "Bai Ye, did you hear that?" he asked softly. "Luffy and the others are completing your plan! So, you should wake up early. Otherwise, Luffy will cry again." As he spoke, a tear rolled down his cheek, reflecting his deep concern and the bond they all shared with Bai Ye.
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In the Daoist temple, Bai Ye was persistently questioning his master, eager for answers. "Master," he began, "What is about the book you gave me?" His curiosity was evident in his tone.
The master, unfazed by Bai Ye's queries, responded with a nonchalant, "How can I know?" His answer was brief, leaving Bai Ye somewhat unsatisfied.
Undeterred, Bai Ye continued, "Okay, by the way, master, I have forgotten the true meaning of Tai Chi you taught me before. Can you teach me again?"
The master, slightly irritated by the continuous questions, replied, "Bad apprentice! Your teacher is going to practice, so don't disturb me."
As the master began to leave, Bai Ye, not wanting the conversation to end, called out, "Hey, master, don't go."
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Mr. 2, also known as Bentham, was perhaps the most thrilled to see Luffy's arrival. He expressed his joy through his captivating ballet dancing posture, exclaiming, "Yo! Little straw hat! You've come to find us!"
Luffy, with a friendly smile, responded to Mr. 2, "Well, Bon-chan, here I come!" His cheerful demeanor was typical of his character. Turning his attention to Robin, Luffy paused for a moment before recognizing her. "Ah, you're the one from before," he said. "Bai Ye said you are a good person." Robin, usually composed and mature, found herself slightly embarrassed by Luffy's straightforward comment and chose to ignore it.
In that moment, Robin couldn't help but question her decision. 'Was it really a wise choice to bet her life to help this guy?' she wondered, reflecting on the unpredictability of aligning herself with Luffy and his crew.
Suddenly, a voice filled with a mix of disdain and anger resonated in the secret room. "Straw Hat Kid," Crocodile spoke. "Aren't you a newcomer to the Grand Line?" As the leader of Baroque Works, which was involved in bounty hunting, Crocodile had kept an eye on the movements of other pirates, especially those like the Straw Hats, who had already amassed a bounty of more than 200 million before even entering the Grand Line. However, to Crocodile, they were merely a point of interest; he didn't consider them a significant threat. In his mind, even someone like Bai Ye, with a 100 million bounty, wasn't worth much concern.
"Dare to challenge me just after entering the Grand Line! Who do you think I am!!" Crocodile's tone was scornful. As he spoke, his black coat began to flutter as if caught in a gust of wind, signaling his readiness to attack.
Desert Sword!
His right arm transformed into yellow sand, swiftly shaping into a sharp sword.
"I'm Sir Crocodile!!" he declared, his confidence unshaken, ready to confront Luffy and prove his dominance.