One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81 - [81] : [BONUS] - Fire Fist Ace! Vice Admiral Gion!

~ Thank You for 1,200 Powerstones, Here's Your Bonus Chapter!

~ SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE!! I was out and forgot to schedule the bonus Chapter.

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Aboard the Going Merry.

Nami and Vivi gazed, eyes sparkling, at the beautiful shower of cherry blossoms descending from the sky. For this perpetually snow-covered kingdom, the blooming cherry blossoms felt like a symbol of hope itself.

"It's beautiful," even the usually composed Robin murmured, a gentle smile gracing her features.

Chopper, still lost in fond memories of Dr. Hiriluk, had tears welling in his eyes.

"Hey! Brothers! Before we reach Alabasta, what's the one thing we absolutely must do?! We're pirates, after all!" Rowen declared, standing up, adopting his 'villain' expression.

"AHH! Can't miss out on this—!" Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp grinned, standing up as well, mirroring Rowen's fierce expression.

Together, they turned towards Chopper.

"Gulp!" Seeing their expressions, the timid Chopper burst into tears of fright. 'W-What are they gonna do?!'

"Eh!!!" Chopper shrieked as Rowen suddenly scooped him up.

"Of course—we have to throw Chopper a welcome party!" Rowen laughed, holding Chopper aloft.

"Oh! PARTY TIME!"

"Pirates always party!"

Luffy and Usopp immediately started singing and dancing.

"Sanji! One Reindeer Special Pirate Lunchbox!" Rowen called out to Sanji.

"Leave it to me!" Sanji replied with a grin.

"Hey, Chopper! A real man of the sea can't refuse a drink!" Zoro offered, holding out two mugs of ale with a hearty laugh.

"Eh?!" Chopper stared, completely bewildered. A welcome party... just for him? His eyes blurred, tears threatening to spill over again.

"Idiot! Are you crying? At a pirate party—you're only allowed to laugh! Hahahaha!" Rowen laughed, looking warmly at Chopper.

"Check this out! The advanced version of the Pirate Chopstick Dance!"

Luffy yelled, sticking two chopsticks up his nose again, connecting them to his mouth, then using his rubber powers to stretch his nose and mouth absurdly long.

"Hahahaha!" Seeing Luffy's ridiculous display, Usopp and Zoro slapped their thighs, howling with laughter.

"Hey! Chopper! What are you waiting for? You try it too!" Usopp joined in, performing his own chopstick dance, looking towards Chopper.

"You guys! Stop corrupting Chopper!" Nami scolded, hands on her hips. But then she turned and saw Chopper attempting to stick chopsticks up his own nose.

"....."

"Don't copy them!" Nami sighed, facepalming as the adorable, figurine-like Chopper adopted the ridiculous look.

"Hahaha! Reindeer noses work pretty well too!" Rowen chuckled, thoroughly amused by Chopper's attempt.

'The Straw Hat Pirates' Nostril Chopstick Trio is officially complete today!'

Just then, Zoro and Sanji started arguing again over some minor disagreement, plates and cutlery flying. Luffy kept pestering Sanji for more meat.

"So? What do you think of a pirate party?" Rowen asked Chopper with a smile.

"I... I've never... been this happy before," Chopper mumbled, chopsticks still dangling from his nose and mouth, but his smile was utterly radiant.

"Is that so," Rowen smiled, then clapped his hands loudly.

Instantly, the brawling Zoro and Sanji stopped. Luffy obediently stopped demanding meat. Vivi, Nami, and Robin all turned their attention to Rowen.

"Allow me to introduce our newest comrade! Ship's doctor, user of the Human-Human Fruit—Tony Tony Chopper!" Rowen announced grandly.

"Welcome, Chopper! Cheers!" Rowen raised his mug.

"OHHHHH!" Chopper beamed with pure joy.

"CHEERS!!!!!" Everyone raised their mugs together, laughing heartily.

——

—[Human-Human Fruit equipping in progress... Progress Increased.]—

——

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After Chopper's welcome party concluded, Rowen and the crew set sail towards their final destination before Alabasta proper: Nanohana.

Splash! Thump! Thump!

The sea churned, and numerous fish were suddenly tossed onto the Merry's deck.

"SUGEEE! Rowen! So many fish! More meat to eat!" Luffy cheered, watching Rowen climb smoothly back onto the deck from the ocean.

"Rowen! SUGEEE!" Chopper stared wide-eyed at the pile of fish. Both being Devil Fruit users, he and Luffy couldn't touch seawater.

But Rowen not only swam freely in the deep sea every day but could also dive deep to catch fish like this!

"You idiots! You ate all the fishing bait! If it weren't for Rowen, we'd all be starving!" Sanji yelled, kicking the sheepishly grinning Luffy and Usopp.

"S-Sorry," Luffy and Usopp apologized meekly.

"R-Rowen," Vivi approached, blushing slightly as she noticed the defined muscles of Rowen's exposed upper body, offering him a towel.

"Thank you," Rowen accepted the towel with a smile, looking at Vivi.

Vivi blushed again, quickly looking away.

She wanted to be braver, but the weight of Alabasta's situation still pressed heavily on her heart. Vivi had resolved that after Alabasta was saved, she would confess her feelings to Rowen.

Rowen, through their interactions and his Observation Haki, had already guessed Vivi's feelings. He didn't press the issue, content to wait until after Crocodile was dealt with.

"By the way, I saw those Sea Cats you mentioned down there," Rowen commented, smiling at Vivi.

"Sea Cats! That means we've entered the waters around Alabasta!" Vivi replied, her face lighting up with excitement.

Sea Cats were unique to Alabasta's waters, considered auspicious creatures by the locals.

"Since we're almost at Alabasta, let me offer you some crucial intelligence, Princess," Robin interjected, walking over to Vivi. "Crocodile's... Operation Utopia."

Robin proceeded to calmly detail Crocodile's entire sinister plan to Vivi.

Operation Utopia—Crocodile's scheme to overthrow the Alabasta monarchy and seize control of the Ancient Weapon, Pluton.

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First, create Baroque Works.

Use his Warlord status to build a reputation as Alabasta's hero. Under this cover, infiltrate Baroque Works agents into all levels of Alabastan society.

Have agents disguised as merchants smuggle large quantities of Dance Powder into the capital, hiding it to create the illusion the King was using the forbidden powder, inciting hatred among the populace and bolstering the Rebel Army's numbers.

Through infiltrated agents in both the Royal Army and the Rebel Army, exacerbate hatred and provoke war.

Finally, kidnap King Cobra, use Mr. 2's Clone-Clone Fruit ability to impersonate the King, directly attack the citizens to push the situation beyond control, forcing the Royal Army and Rebel Army into an unstoppable war—completely overthrowing the Alabasta government.

Transform Alabasta into a military state possessing Pluton, merely a tool for Crocodile's ambition. That was Crocodile's Operation Utopia.

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"What an evil plan!" Nami exclaimed indignantly after hearing Robin's explanation, looking with fury at Vivi, who stood trembling, her eyes red.

Nami placed a comforting hand on Vivi's shoulder.

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'Didn't expect Marine HQ would send even stronger forces instead.' This level of naval deployment wasn't typical even for most Vice Admirals.