Chapter 177 A Conspiracy?
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Out on the Grand Line, Luffy, sporting a bruised nose and a swollen face, sheepishly apologized to his crew: "I am very sorry~"
Nami, standing next to him, couldn't hold back her frustration. "It's always the same with you! Apologize after you mess up, and then you do something foolish again next time!" she scolded. "When will you ever learn, you idiot!"
Electricity crackled faintly around Nami's clenched fist, a sign that her patience was wearing thin.
Merry and Chopper clung to Nami's legs, pleading, "Calm down, Nami!" Their grip seemed to be the only thing keeping her from unleashing a powerful thunder attack on Luffy.
Luffy, seemingly unfazed by the danger he was in, casually picked his nose and remarked, "Nami is so scary."
Chopper, still clinging to Nami's thigh, turned to Luffy with a scowl. "Reflect on what you did, Luffy!" he demanded.
Suddenly, Usopp delivered a solid punch to the back of Luffy's head, making it bob like a buoy on the sea. "You idiot, you almost got us caught by the navy!" he exclaimed.
"If it hadn't been for Bai Ye acting quickly, we'd all be behind bars right now!" Usopp added.
What had happened was this: As they descended in the octopus balloon, Luffy had decided to take a bite out of the octopus, startling the creature so much that it released its grip, causing the Golden Merry to plummet.
Thankfully, Bai Ye quickly intervened with his qimen technique to slow their fall, while Sanji performed a moonwalk to recapture the frightened octopus, narrowly averting disaster.
Unfortunately, due to the commotion, the Golden Merry now hovered dangerously above a naval base.
-----
In the Admiral's Office at Marineford, the sound of the Den Den Mushi broke the silence repeatedly: "Perorero... Perorero... Perorero..." Fleet Admiral Sengoku, handling the Den Den Mushi, saw the face of a middle-aged man with a thick mustache appear on the screen. Recognizing him instantly, Sengoku didn't waste a moment. "What's the matter, Vice-Admiral Jonathan?" he inquired.
From the device, Vice-Admiral Jonathan's deep voice responded, "There are indeed some matters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Just now, G8 fortress almost fell under a pirate attack from the air."
Sengoku raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "Are you kidding? G8 fortress, our Iron Gate, equipped with 108 cannons—how could pirates possibly attack you?"
Jonathan's tone remained calm as he clarified, "That's why I said almost. At first, it appeared to be a deliberate attack, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding. They seemed to have come near us for some other reason."
Sengoku nodded, finding this explanation more reasonable. "So, have you captured those pirates?" he pressed.
"Unfortunately, Admiral Sengoku, no," Jonathan admitted. Sengoku's interest piqued as he leaned forward slightly.
Jonathan continued, "Although I ordered an immediate cannon attack, their defense was unexpectedly strong, and—they flew away very quickly."
"Flew?" Sengoku echoed, his tone sharpening with surprise. In his extensive experience, very few pirate groups had the capability to fly. Sensing Sengoku's sudden concern, Jonathan quickly added a crucial detail to avoid any misinterpretation. "It's not Golden Lion Shiki. They seem to have just come from the sky, using an octopus balloon."
Sengoku let out a sigh of relief before continuing his inquiry, his voice steady but firm: "Did you manage to see their pirate flag clearly?"
There was a brief pause on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, and then Vice-Admiral Jonathan responded with certainty, "Yes, I saw it clearly. It was the Straw Hat crew."
His next words added context to their mysterious disappearance, "It appears they had vanished for a while because they had likely ventured to Sky Island."
Indeed, during the time the Straw Hats were at Angel Island, their absence had caused noticeable ripples across the sea. Notably, the World Economy News Paper had conducted an exclusive interview with Queen Vivi of Alabasta about the earlier Crocodile incident.
This time, unlike in the original story, the newspaper dedicated an entire page to this exclusive interview. In the interview, Queen Vivi eloquently described how the Straw Hats had come to her aid during her kingdom's crisis, demonstrating their readiness to support Alabasta unconditionally.
However, for reasons known only to her, Vivi had chosen not to publicly endorse the Straw Hats during the interview. This decision, while disappointing to Morgans, the president of the World Economy News Paper, did not deter him. He understood the delicacy of her position and appreciated her discretion.
Despite this minor setback, Morgans was not disheartened. He had other plans in store and proceeded to publish additional news, ensuring the paper remained at the forefront of current events.
The Straw Hats have made quite a name for themselves in the East Blue by defeating notorious pirates like Iron Mace Alvida, Buggy the Star Clown, Kuro of a Hundred Plans, Pirate Fleet Admiral Krieg, and the fearsome fishman Arlong the Saw. They've become heroes in the region, rescuing towns such as Conomi Islands, Syrup Village, and even the floating restaurant, Baratie.
Their actions didn't stop at pirates. They also brought down corrupt naval forces, including Captain Morgan, who ruled Shells Town with an iron fist, and Captain Nezumi, who was colluding with pirates. These tales of bravery and justice have been well-documented, with photographs circulating in the newspapers as proof of their deeds.
The coverage is thorough and well-planned, almost as if it's a deliberate attempt to reshape their public image. Suddenly, a tidal wave of attention has swept across the seas!
In the original story, the Straw Hats were known among pirates on the Grand Line. But now, with this new narrative, they've captured the hearts of many civilians, particularly those oppressed by their own governments. These people, suffering under the yoke of corrupt nobles, not only admire the royal family of Alabasta for standing with the Straw Hats but also yearn for heroes like them to liberate them from their dire situations.
It seems that virtually overnight, the Straw Hat Pirates have been transformed in the public eye. They've gone from being infamous to being celebrated as the "Extremely Good Pirates," champions of the common folk.
The newfound fame of the Straw Hats as "Extremely Good Pirates" is really just a nod to their past deeds. It's important to note that this praise doesn't extend to all pirates; the special report by Morgans makes it clear that these actions are specific to the Straw Hats and shouldn't reflect on pirates as a whole. Yet, the label has significantly stirred both the navy and the world government.
Following this wave of positive publicity, there's been a noticeable rise in civilian uprisings against tyranny in various world government-affiliated countries. Intriguingly, these movements seem to be coordinated by an unseen hand. While only a minority is involved, Fleet Admiral Sengoku can't shake off the feeling that there's a larger scheme unfolding.
After ending a phone call, Sengoku pondered the recent events laid out before him. "What are you and your son really up to?" he mused, piecing together the involvement of the Revolutionary Army, led by none other than Monkey D. Dragon—Luffy's father. This connection made him reconsider the actions of the Straw Hats. Their pattern of defeating pirates, rescuing towns, and consistently informing the navy of their deeds seemed overly methodical.
Was all this part of a deeper, well-orchestrated plan? Sengoku was left wrestling with the possibilities, his thoughts clouded with uncertainty.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone