O.P.J Chapter 41: Divide and Conquer

The warship cut through the waves with incredible speed, leaving ordinary sailing ships in its wake. In a mere day, they had arrived at the bustling port city of Nanohana in Alabasta.

As they passed by a small town on the way, Miss Goldenweek had already departed. Saitama couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment, though he knew deep down that it was to be expected.

Her ability, the "Hot-Blooded Orange," was no match for Saitama's own incredible power. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't even muster a flicker of emotion in him.

"Wel..."

With a heavy heart, Saitama stood at the bow of the ship, gazing out at the endless sea. He had defeated countless foes, but the one thing he couldn't seem to shake was his persistent sense of ennui. Perhaps, he mused, it was the price of being the world's strongest hero.

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The ship dropped anchor and the rope ladder was lowered. As Saitama and the Marines disembarked, they quickly gathered provisions for the journey ahead.

"Esteemed guests..."

Vivi stood on the dock, her voice quivering with gratitude as she bowed deeply to Saitama and the Marines: "I cannot express how grateful I am for your assistance in our country's time of need. Once the rebellion has been quelled, I vow to repay your kindness with utmost sincerity."

Saitama, his expression as indifferent as a salted fish, responded with a casual wave of his hand: "Oh, don't mention it. It's all in a day's work for a hero like me."

"Actually..." Vivi's tone shifted from grateful to hesitant, as she bit her lip in uncertainty: "I have a rather impolite request to make of you. Just yesterday, I read in the newspaper about the defection of 300,000 soldiers to the enemy. This is a dangerous sign that cannot be ignored, and if we fail to act, there may be bloodshed and chaos once again...so please, I beg of you, Help me stop the rebel army!"

"Stop the rebels?"

The air was thick with disbelief.

"Heh, the Princess is truly an embodiment of nobility," remarked one of the marines, his voice tinged with deference.

However, it was Robin who broke the uneasy silence, her sharp mind cutting through the fog of confusion. "Might I inquire as to the exact number of rebels?" she asked, her tone composed yet inquisitive.

"I believe it was originally 400,000, but now there are 700,000," replied Vivi absentmindedly.

"Ah, 700,000," repeated Robin, a wry smile on her face. "Then, Princess Vivi, do you have any strategies for how twenty people can stop seven hundred thousand people?"

"No need to fret, I've got this!" ViVi said, finally understanding why the Marines had such a resigned expression. "The leader of the rebellion is my childhood friend, and as the princess of Alabasta, my words still carry some weight."

"War is no child's play," Robin interjected, cutting her off. "Anyone who walks this path has already abandoned their life. If merely speaking could resolve a rebellion, this world would not be plagued with so much strife."

"No one is special in this world," Robin continued, her gaze filled with pity as she looked at ViVi. "You overestimate your importance, Princess ViVi."

ViVi wanted to argue back, but she sadly realized Robin was right.

"But we can't just ignore this situation," ViVi protested, clenching her right fist. "Thank you for all your help, but I was too naive to think things could be resolved so easily. Still, I stand by my beliefs. Let's split up here and take action. I'm sorry."

With that, Vivian mounted Karoo and prepared to leave.

Behind her, Tashigi couldn't help but feel uneasy about leaving Vivian to deal with the situation alone. She stepped forward and spoke up.

"Rear Admiral!"

Tashigi stood at attention and saluted with a firm voice, "May I have the honor to escort the princess, Sir? Alabasta is a member of the World Government and it is the responsibility of the Navy to ensure her safety."

Saitama nodded his head sagely and pointed to the elite squad of Navy soldiers accompanying him, "Take them with you, Officer Tashigi."

Tashigi looked a bit surprised, "But, Sir, are you sure?"

"Don't worry," Saitama flashed a confident smile and gave a thumbs up, "I can handle any foe alone."

Tashigi looked at Saitama with a hint of skepticism before nodding and leading the Navy squad towards Princess Vivi. As she ran, she turned back to face Saitama and raised her hand in a salute. "Saitama-san, no matter what happens, we will meet you as soon as our mission is complete. Please keep in touch at all times!"

Saitama responded with a wave and a smile. "Sure thing, Tashigi. Be careful out there."

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From there, the group split into two separate paths.

Tashigi and the Navy elite escorted Princess Vivi to the rebel stronghold, while Saitama joined forces with Robin, setting their sights on the head of the infamous pirate, Crocodile.

As they made their way through the treacherous desert, Saitama couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of facing off against such a powerful opponent. He had never been one to shy away from a challenge, and he knew that the battle ahead would be one of his toughest yet.

Robin, meanwhile, seemed unfazed by the dangers that lay ahead, her eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble. Together, the two made an unlikely pair, but their determination and skill made them an unstoppable force.

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The rapeseed fields, reminiscent of ancient Egypt, bustled with activity.

Amidst the ongoing war between the royal army and the rebellion, the flow of people remained uninterrupted, their presence a testament to the unyielding spirit of the human race.

Saitama, with his keen eye for trouble, had already taken down a few pirates who had the audacity to flaunt their wanted posters in public. Robin, the master strategist, walked beside him, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

"Your attire is far too conspicuous, Rear Admiral," Robin remarked, her voice laced with concern. "We don't want to tip Crocodile off before we even get there."

Saitama shrugged nonchalantly, confident in his abilities. "Even if we're as noticeable as a peacock, some pirates will still turn a blind eye. Don't worry about it."

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"Well, there really is no way to refute you," Robin chuckled, referring to Saitama. "Who else but the genius strategist who empowered two idiotic pirates boasting about their bounties of five to six million to attack a Rear Admiral? What a brilliant move." she continued. "But the pirates we're meeting tonight aren't just small fry. So, I hope you can temporarily disguise yourself as one of my newly recruited agents and sneak in with me."

Saitama thought for a moment and agreed, "Okay."

The duo arrived at a tailor shop, where Robin picked out a local Alabasta outfit for Saitama. He donned a hat wrapped in layers of white cloth and a flowing robe. He looked more like a salty fish than a hero, the saltiest kind imaginable.

"It's..." Saitama stared at his reflection in the mirror with a perplexed expression. "Do I really have to walk around in this getup? It feels like I'm stuck in a time warp."

Robin stifled a laugh behind her hand. "It suits you perfectly, Saitama-san."

Saitama sighed and took off the outfit. He grabbed his navy uniform and raced back to the ship, changing at lightning speed before returning in a flash.

He donned a tight yellow bodysuit and red plastic gloves, the same outfit he wore when he first arrived in this world.

"Ah, now this is more like it!" Saitama beamed. "What do you think? This was my professional hero outfit! I've kept it in pristine condition all these years, even polished my shoes! Don't I look handsome?"

"How about you stop daydreaming and say something already?"

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The shopkeeper and Robin gazed at Saitama in bewilderment, unable to articulate a response.

"Was this attire...

Even more outdated than before?"

As the awkward silence persisted, a piercing scream from outside pierced the air, shattering the tense atmosphere.

"Someone's just dropped dead!!!"

"Could it be a homicide?"

In the blink of an eye, Saitama's once-nonchalant countenance was replaced by one of utmost seriousness, elevating his attractiveness by immeasurable degrees.

Like lightning, he darted towards the scene of chaos, where bedlam had already erupted.

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