Capítulo 47: 45. Crisis!
"What's going on?"
Inside the Marine headquarters, Smoker faced a massive cloud of dust billowing over the town.
"Report, Colonel Smoker. According to eyewitness accounts, there's a marine sporting a dog hat who's in a scuffle with a dog right in the heart of the town!"
As the report came in, the marine couldn't contain his laughter.
How could a Marine engage in a brawl with a dog in plain sight like that?
However, upon witnessing Smoker's grim expression, the reporting marine was taken aback. He lowered his head nervously and asked cautiously,
"Colonel Smoker, what should we do next? Should we dispatch someone to handle the situation?"
Smoker's expression darkened slightly as he replied, "No."
"I'll go check it out myself."
"The Marine wearing the dog's head hat... from what I recall, that could only be Vice Admiral Garp."
"Notify the first team and maintain constant surveillance on the coastline. If you spot Tom and his crew, alert me immediately!"
With those instructions given, Smoker swiftly transformed into a puff of smoke and dashed towards the site of the confrontation.
Upon spotting the towering pit bull facing off against Garp, Smoker's mind immediately recalled the cat that had confronted Hawkeye and the mink clan he had read about in the archives.
Though uncertain if there was any correlation among the three incidents, his sharp intuition warned him that this situation was far from straightforward.
Despite this intuition, Smoker opted not to intervene in the altercation.
Instead, he concealed himself in a nearby corner and issued a series of instructions through a hidden den den mushi. He directed his team to swiftly encircle the area and await further commands.
.....
As Smoker prepared himself for action...
Nami, happily engrossed in her shopping spree, strolled past a particular alleyway. Suddenly, she was grabbed and pulled into its depths by an unseen assailant.
Reacting swiftly, Nami bared her teeth and exclaimed, "Carina, what do you think you're doing?"
"Nami, I've discovered a lead on the Devil Fruit. Follow me!" Carina exclaimed with excitement, pulling Nami along without allowing her a moment to protest.
Before Nami could fully grasp the situation, she found herself standing atop a towering building.
There, Carina retrieved a portrait from her chest and eagerly presented it to Nami, saying:
"Based on the intel I've gathered, the current Barrier-Barrier Fruit is in the possession of this individual!" Carina exclaimed.
"Bartolomeo, the leader of a notorious gang in East Blue!" she added.
"Bartolomeo?" Nami echoed, wearing a puzzled expression. She murmured to herself, "I've heard of him before. He's one of the most formidable underworld figures in East Blue."
"Now that we have this information, let's head to Captain Al," Nami suggested.
However, Carina appeared reluctant and seemed to be feeling unwell, indicating she didn't want to trouble Al.
Nami, puzzled by Carina's behavior, was about to inquire further when she suddenly understood.
With a confident smile, Carina placed her hand on Nami's shoulder and spoke with assurance:
"Have you forgotten? We're a band of peculiar thieves who strike fear into the hearts of others!" Carina reminded Nami.
Upon hearing the phrase "Phantom Thieves," Nami gazed at the sky, momentarily stunned, before letting out a contemplative hum.
After a moment of reflection, she released a long sigh, locking eyes with Carina. Emotion welled up within her as she spoke:
"It's been quite some time since I've heard that name."
"However, merely having the information isn't enough. Do you know the whereabouts of the gang leader?" Nami inquired.
In response to Nami's question, Carina snorted, crossed her arms over her chest, and replied in a somewhat displeased tone, "I'd rather not be underestimated by you, you fool."
Just as Nami was about to become annoyed, she let out a light snort herself. Her gaze sharpened as she fixed her eyes on a figure amidst the crowd.
"Carina, take a look at that person. Does he resemble the individual in the portrait?" she asked.
Following Nami's indication, Carina directed her gaze towards the crowd.
There, amidst the bustling crowd, stood a man with grass-green cockscomb hair, grinning mischievously as he exhaled an intoxicating fragrance that wafted through the air.
This was none other than Bartolomeo, the individual they had been seeking!
"Huh~?" Carina uttered in surprise, her attention drawn further to the right.
The smile on Carina's face abruptly froze, replaced by surprise as she exclaimed, "Isn't that Spike?"
"Who's that dog facing off against Spike? Could it be Spike's brother?" she speculated aloud.
From Carina's viewpoint, Nami stood frozen in shock.
Pointing towards the kobold confronting Spike, Nami trembled and uttered:
"Are you kidding me? That's a Marine!" Carina exclaimed incredulously. "And earlier, while I was shopping, I spotted that Marine - a Vice Admiral!"
Observing Nami with a mixture of fear and amusement in her eyes, Carina couldn't help but chuckle. "It's just a Vice Admiral, don't get all worked up!" she remarked.
Carina was well aware of Spike's formidable strength, which could only be likened to that of a monstrous force.
Recalling the instance when Spike had come to apprehend her, she couldn't help but shudder.
Carina gazed at the Marine Vice Admiral with a smug expression.
"I wonder if that Marine Vice Admiral will end up getting a taste of his own medicine after provoking Spike," she remarked, a hint of satisfaction in her tone.
"He's probably regretting it now, hahaha," she added, continuing to revel in the situation.
Observing Carina's gloating demeanor, Nami, unaware of the full story, grinned and chided her, saying, "Hey, Carina, he's still a Marine Vice Admiral, not just some insignificant nobody!"
"I mean, he's just a Marine Vice Admiral," Carina replied casually.
"I get it, you're concerned because you haven't witnessed Spike in action. It's natural to be worried," she added, waving her hand dismissively.
Carina seemed nonchalant, believing that even two more Marine Vice Admirals might struggle to contend with the monstrous Spike.
"Carina, I think you're out of your mind!" Nami retorted.
Just as Nami was about to rush to Spike's aid, Carina grabbed her and pointed to an inconspicuous corner, saying:
"Look over there, Captain Al and Tom have arrived, so Spike should be okay," Carina pointed out.
"Instead of worrying about that, let's focus on devising a plan to capture Bartolomeo and obtain the Barrier Fruit first," she suggested.
Observing Captain Al and Tom enjoying their meal together, Nami felt a sense of relief wash over her.
"Why was I even worrying about them?" she thought to herself.
Seeing Captain Al and Tom both present, Nami reassured herself that Spike was unlikely to be in any danger.
Bartolomeo was also amidst the crowd, observing the ongoing battle.
"This might be our chance!" Carina remarked optimistically.
Just as Carina and Nami prepared to take action, Nami suddenly erupted with the ferocity of a startled kitten, pushing Carina aside.
Surprised and slightly irritated, Carina glared at Nami. But before she could voice her complaint...
Nami swiftly raised her index finger to her lips, signaling for silence. In a hushed tone, she whispered, "Shh, keep quiet. I just spotted Marines all around us."
Upon hearing this alarming revelation, Carina's expression shifted dramatically. She leaned forward, peering downward as Nami had indicated.
True to Nami's words, the area below was teeming with Marines!
And...
Not only is there a Marine ambush in the alley downstairs, but the surrounding alleys are also swarming with armed Marines!
Looking around, it becomes evident that they've set up a massive net, effectively sealing off the entire vicinity around the battle zone.
Their primary target? Spike, who's currently engaged in combat with the Marine Vice Admiral!
"Carina, what should we do? There are so many Marines. How do we alert Captain Al?" Nami expressed her concern.
Frowning slightly, Carina struggled to come up with a solution. In this moment, she couldn't think of any way to convey to Al that they needed to evacuate.
It seemed like they had reached a dead end.
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