Chapter 94: The Assassin's Fate and Past Dreams.

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While Roman, Luffy, and the others set sail, in Alabasta:

"Miss Golden Week, what's the situation outside?"

In a hotel in the city of Nanohana, Mr. 5, with his collar turned up, sneakily looked at the little girl who entered. On one hand, she was a high-ranking officer in Baroque Works, and on the other hand:

He and his partner Miss Valentine didn't dare show their faces, as they hadn't completed their assigned task (eliminating the Straw Hat crew). According to Baroque Works' 'rules,' they were to be dealt with!

But Miss Golden Week, who had applied 'Calm Green' to herself, didn't have such concerns. As long as she didn't encounter experts, ordinary people wouldn't notice her.

"There's news,"

The expressionless little girl held a newspaper with the headline "Former Warlord Crocodile's Shocking Plot to Seize Alabasta..."

It was accompanied by large portraits of Mr. 0 (Sir Crocodile), Mr. 1 (Daz Bonez), Miss Doublefinger (Paula), Mr. 2 (Bon Clay), Mr. 4 (Babe), Miss Merry Christmas (…), and the gun-dog (Lassoo).

"Uh... although it's surprising that our boss was one of the Warlords..."

Mr. 5, or rather the man named Gem, stared at the report in disbelief, flipping through it repeatedly. Due to Baroque Works' 'secrecy,' they only now learned who their real boss was, but—

"He's still a Warlord, right? How did he end up... end up..."

End up being sent to prison?

"But anyway," the cautious Miss Valentine, whose real name was Mikita, breathed a sigh of relief, "at least we don't have to worry about the organization's pursuit."

"That's true," Mr. 5 also breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly realized.

"No, look here. The Marines are still hunting down the remaining Baroque Works officers! — That means us three and Mr. 3."

"Ah, this..."

Miss Valentine shed two lines of tears. Is the fate of assassins either prison or dying in a ditch?

Put in, put in, put in...

"Miss Golden Week, what are you doing...?"

Seeing the little painter girl packing her luggage, Mr. 5 asked in confusion. —Is she planning to run away? Well, the Baroque Works has already fallen apart, and with the Marine's wanted notices... it would be best for him and Miss Valentine to leave quickly too...

"I'm going to prison."

?!

"Hey, hey, hey, what did you just say—"

"I'm going to prison to rescue everyone."

!!??

"Don't be foolish! Miss Golden Week," Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine hurriedly tried to stop the little girl. "That's a Marine prison! How could we possibly break in?"

"Yeah, and according to the 'rules,' we didn't complete the mission, the organization will kill us!"

However, the girl codenamed Miss Golden Week, whose real name was Marianne, calmly put her painting tools into a suitcase and prepared to leave.

"They—"

"Are my comrades."

There was no other reason, just this 'ridiculous' one.

"The 'Friendship Yellow-Green' I painted here will last for a week. During this week, anyone who approaches this room will subconsciously see the people here as 'friends,' so you two stay here and wait for the heat to die down."

Click,

Watching the door close in front of them, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine looked at each other.

"We..."

"Are we just going to let Miss Golden Week go alone?"

Facing Miss Valentine's question, Mr. 5 took off his tea-colored sunglasses and tied his messy hair into a ponytail.

"What are you talking about?"

"Letting a little girl go to break into prison alone? I haven't fallen that low!"

Meanwhile, Miss Valentine had already changed into a leather outfit and picked up her parasol weapon. "After all, we are senior officers of the Baroque Works, we can't let people look down on us."

"Let's go!" X2

Creak,

The door opened, and two figures caught up with the little girl carrying the suitcase.

---

"Help~~~"

Although they left in style, in no time, Miss Valentine was on the gallows by the sea! Mr. 5 and Miss Golden Week, hiding in the nearby woods, looked at each other. The reason:

"Hina is very angry,"

The tall, pink-haired, sexy woman with a lady's cigarette in her mouth pointed at Miss Valentine on the gallows.

"Because the Straw Hat crew tricked us! So—"

"Spread the word, have the other Baroque Works officers surrender by noon, or I'll hang this one!"

(Original plot, don't say I'm bashing the Marines...)

---

Of course, the two people in the woods didn't want to watch their comrade get hanged, but Mr. 5 was too weak, and although Miss Golden Week's ability was extraordinary, the opponent was a Marine Headquarters Captain with 'Observation Haki,' very vigilant! It was hard to catch her off guard.

What should I do....

"Hey, did you miss me?"

A voice came from behind, startling Mr. 5 and Miss Golden Week hiding in the woods! Turning around, they saw not only Mr. 2 Bon Clay but also Mr. 3, who was bruised and swollen, in his hand!

"Mr. 2 Bon Clay? Mr. 3? What are you—"

"I escaped from prison, —don't forget, I'm a master of jailbreak!"

"As for this guy, he wanted to escape alone," Mr. 2 Bon Clay lifted Mr. 3 in his hand. "His ability can create candle boats and even candle submarines to evade Marine searches. How inconsiderate, not even inviting me~~"

"I..."

Having been beaten up by the other, Mr. 3 dared not speak out. Knowing the details of his fruit ability, Mr. 2 Bon Clay had no chance of winning.

"By the way, what are you doing here?"

Mr. 2 Bon Clay looked at the gallows by the sea, "Isn't that Miss Valentine? Are you trying to save her?"

"Yes,"

Mr. 5 lowered his head dejectedly, "We originally planned to rescue others, but we ran into this Marine captain, and even Miss Valentine was—"

"Wa hahaha~~~!!"

???

"Keep your voice down!"

"Are you looking for death?"

Faced with Mr. 5's surprise and Mr. 3's scolding, Mr. 2 Bon Clay suddenly stood up and stretched out his arms!

"Risking our lives to save a comrade, how can we let such loyal colleagues die?"

Though you say that, we are assassins...

"Wait!" Mr. 3, held by Mr. 2 Bon Clay, found a 'blind spot'.

"What do you mean by 'we'—"

Swish,

Before he could finish his sentence, his collar tightened, and he was suddenly 'flung' into the air! Mr. 2 Bon Clay threw him like a cannonball towards the Marines by the sea.

What the—

"Who goes there?"

"Fire!"

"Maintain formation—"

Boom,

"Mr. 2 Bon Clay! You bastard okama!!"

The giant 'Candle Champion Cup' stood up from the pit on the ground, and the 'forced' Mr. 3 began to fight back with tears in his eyes! Meanwhile, Mr. 5, rushing at high speed, bit his finger.

"Exploding Blood!"

The ejected blood landed precisely on the ropes binding Miss Valentine, and with a few small explosions, Mr. 5 leaped and caught the falling Miss Valentine.

"Over here,"

Facing the Marines on the nearby warship, the little girl Miss Goldenweek swiped her paintbrush.

'Betrayal Black.'

"Commander, we await your orders!"

A group of Marines instantly 'betrayed', treating the little painter girl as their superior, forming a circle to protect her in the center!

"Set sail!"

"Take us to the Baroque Works detention center."

As the warship turned and set sail, under Miss Goldenweek's command, a group of Marines escorted her, Mr. 5, and Miss Valentine away!

"Don't even think about it—"

As the highest combat power here, 'Black Cage' Hina wouldn't let them leave so easily, but:

Whoosh,

A man in prison clothes blocked her way, his face painted with lipstick and eyeshadow, yet filled with masculine determination.

"Bring it on!"

"Hina is ashamed."

Bang!

Two legs collided fiercely.

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"This is..."

"Today's newly captured criminals."

Led by a Marine with black '@' paint on his back, Miss Golden Week, Mr. 5, and Miss Valentine successfully entered the heavily guarded Marine detention center.

In fact, not to mention ordinary people, even those with abilities could easily be defeated if they carelessly fell into the hands of the bug-like Miss Golden Week.

Everything went smoothly. First, they rescued Miss Doublefinger and Miss Merry Christmas from the women's prison, then headed to the men's prison...

Crocodile sat grandly on the only chair, Mr. 1 sat on other prisoners, and Mr. 4 stood against the wall like a statue, creating a scene straight out of a 'prison drama.'

Even with Seastone handcuffs, the strong are not to be trifled with!

...

"Reorganize Baroque Works?"

Seeing this group of 'tools' trying to rescue him and wanting him to continue leading them, Crocodile grinned.

"You can leave. There is no more Baroque Works."

"Boss, don't lose hope!"

"We can rise again~~~"

"Yeah, you're Crocodile!"

Hmph, if I had even a little trust in these 'fools,' I wouldn't be in this situation now, would I?

Hahaha, sorry 'fools.' The man before you is not worth your trust!

"Go on,"

The disinterested Crocodile lit a cigar, watching the Baroque Works officers leave. Except for:

"Mr. 1, why aren't you leaving?"

"My job isn't finished, so I won't leave, boss."

"...Suit yourself."

The wall beside them was blasted open by Mr. 4's gun-dog, creating a large hole. Freedom was within reach, but Crocodile didn't want to take that step. Maybe it was to maintain his remaining 'dignity,' or maybe he 'disdained'... or felt 'unworthy' of relying on fools to escape...

With a cigar in his mouth, Crocodile could see the departing Baroque Works officers on the warship through the hole, and Miss Golden Week standing at the ship's rail.

"Then, let me add the final touch of color to Baroque Works as a farewell 'gift.'"

The little girl dipped her brush in all the colors and flicked it into the sky!

Dream Rainbow!!

The colorful hues fell, dreamlike and magical! They shone on each Baroque Works officer, revealing their 'inner selves.'

Miss Doublefinger as an 'innkeeper,' Mr. 4 as a 'delivery man,' Miss Merry Christmas in a 'princess dress,' Mr. 5 as a 'firefighter,' Miss Valentine as a 'pastry chef,' and even the gun-dog Lassoo as a 'tank'...

"Childish,"

Crocodile, with a cigar in his mouth, looked at his former subordinates.

"Your wishes... are to be ordinary people? How—hahahaha~~~"

Even Crocodile, with his composure, was amused by Mr. 1 beside him! Who would have thought that the famous 'assassin' from the West Blue dreamed of being a 'hero'?

That's right, Mr. 1 was now dressed in a tight suit, with his red underwear on the outside, wearing a mask, and a big red cape on his back! A classic hero outfit.

"Hey, hey, hey, Mr. 1, your outfit looks great."

Miss Golden Week's full-powered 'Dream Rainbow' even affected reality, transforming everyone's prison uniforms into their dream outfits! And it allowed others to see...

"I still think yours looks better, boss."

??!!

Crocodile was startled and looked down to find himself wearing:

A neat sailor suit, a red wide belt, a black captain's coat adorned with luxurious golden tassels, and a tricorn hat with his pirate emblem.

Pirate King!

Why? How could this be? Is this my...

Crocodile's eyes trembled as he looked at everything before him. Is this the 'dream' he had always longed for? What had he been doing all these years? Why did he set sail in the first place? And for what...

Ah, so I am a 'fool' too~~

"Hahahahahahaha~~!!!!"

His wild and unrestrained laughter echoed in the cell, as if bidding farewell to the Baroque Works officers. A chilling aura rose from Crocodile, who was dressed in the Pirate King's attire!

"Wrong, wrong~~"

"I've been wrong all along!"

"Mr.1, will you still follow me—"

"Of course, boss."

Mr.1, who was sitting nearby with his arms crossed, remained ever so serious.

"This is my job."

——————

"Damn it! We're under attack—"

"Don't move! Sand Crocodile!"

"Seastone! Bring the seastone handcuffs!!!"

"...Why didn't you take the chance to escape..."

"Hehehe, who do you think I am?"

"I am Crocodile!"

Sitting on the stone slab, Crocodile let the Marines, who were treating him like a formidable enemy, put the seastone handcuffs on him. He glanced sideways at the two people thrown to the ground.

"Yo, Mr.0." Mr.2 Bon Clay, with a happy face, blinked, "We meet again."

"why?!" Mr.3 was in utter despair.

"It seems your training is still lacking," Mr.1 said seriously from the side.

"Welcome back,"

Taking a puff of his cigar, the man named Crocodile rarely showed a cool 'smile' on his face.

"You useless guys."

"Don't get too happy, because of your danger level, you'll soon be sent to 'Impel Down'!"

——————

On the other side, under Miss Goldenweek's lead, the other Baroque Works officers found an abandoned inn in the desert of Alabasta. After renovating it, the inn named 'Spider Cafe' officially opened!

But this time, they were genuinely running it as an inn, no longer a secret base for assassins.

"A happy ending, drawn by me."

Miss Goldenweek... no, the little girl named Marianne said so.

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