A/N: The arc is finally heading to its conclusion... stay tuned for the big finale. After this arc, things will speed up a little. The next arc is already over, and the mission after that is about to start.
Seeing Menchi's cooking skills improve almost magically surprises Alex.
Two of her skills just improved?! That's insane. This little challenge was worth it.
As he stares at the screen, he's happy—not only for her, but also for himself—knowing that the quality of the items she can produce will rise once again.
However… why did she decline a reward? Take him for all he's got. Maybe ask for a recipe or something. It's not like he has anything else to offer. The Straw Hats are poor as fuck.
While Sanji and Menchi keep talking about food—the cook firing off detailed questions about her dish—Alex sees the timer of his mission finally run out.
[Main Quest Phase 2:
Mission: Complete missions for your chosen faction. Disobeying orders or failing missions can lead to expulsion and mission failure. Targeting members of your own faction can lead to immediate expulsion, if discovered.
Reward: Mr. 0's VIP invitation, Increased Mission Rating]
What's this now?
[Mr. 0's VIP invitation]
Type: Quest Item
Effect: Allows the user entry to the VIP room of Rain's Dinner in Rainbase.
Warning: Joining other factions aside from Baroque Works will erase this item.
Notes: This item will disappear after leaving this world.
[Main Quest Phase 3:
Mission: Choose one of the factions with which you have a favourable reputation to ally with for the final phase in Alubarna. Only some factions are available to be chosen. You can always decide to choose to act alone, which will greatly lower rewards and increase risk. Alternatively, you may decide not to participate.
Warning: You will not attain any rewards from attacking or killing your own faction.
Reward: ???, ???, ???, Increased Mission Rating
Time Limit: 59 minutes 51 seconds
Failure: Not picking a faction.
Penalties: Expulsion from Sandy Island and return to the Realm in 48 hours.]
[List of available factions:
Baroque Works
Straw-Hat Pirates
Personal faction]
The fuck is this?!
Taking a few steps back toward Benezia and Tereza, both of them staring at the screen in front of Tereza, Alex approaches them silently.
"What is happening?" He then asks the others, still looking confused. "So we just have to choose a faction? Strangely enough, besides Baroque Works, I can also choose the Straw Hat Pirates."
"No, we don't have to choose one," Tereza replies. "We could stay away from Sandy Island and enjoy forty-eight hours of total freedom. I can also choose those two factions, or we could choose to act independently."
"Indeed," Benezia says, "but since we're quite far away from anything interesting, and the most important events are happening here, quitting seems suboptimal to me. It's a safe way to end this mission, but it won't come with many rewards. Acting independently also feels like the wrong decision, as the System is never outright lying. Reduced rewards aren't to our advantage, and neither is increased risk. However… it could be worthwhile if we're aiming to eradicate someone important and collect as many chests as possible, but I wouldn't recommend it."
"Yeah, let's not go down that way. We have to pick a faction, so we have two options, but why can we pick the Straw Hats? We didn't interact with them... aside from... this," Tereza says, pointing towards Sanji and a slightly uncomfortable-looking Menchi, who takes a few steps backwards, her hands raised in defense, trying to keep a cooking-crazed Sanji away from herself.
"I guess that's my LUK at work," Alex says, shrugging.
Soulmates' and Jewel's combined LUK is the strongest weapon... along with Lamb Sauce.
"Disregarding her usual silliness, the little one might be onto something, at least this one time," Benezia states. "This last-minute, seemingly meaningless, and benign cooking battle opened another important door for us. We have to decide now, but to me the decision is fairly obvious, especially since it was our goal from the beginning to target a certain crocodile."
"I agree," Alex replies. "I want to pick this route... it feels right to me. Personally and strategically. When I'm not doubting what I am doing, I can focus solely on our tasks and the battles at hand."
"Then we're in agreement, does that include you as well, child?" Benezia asks, looking at Tereza.
"Yeah!" Tereza replies decisively. "Shall we, Alex?"
"Fine... let's pick the most obvious choice. For now, we can't openly support them, but we'll get our chance," Alex notes, already beginning to scheme.
"This is as good a chance as we're gonna get," Benezia notes. "Since Menchi created some trust, let's ask them for a meeting. Sometimes it's best to play with open cards. We need more information, and since the Straw-Hats are our allies, we might want to tell them about our intentions. Alex, why don't you lead the conversation? I believe you can achieve what we need to do. If things go wrong, I'll intervene."
Might as well start building up a little confidence, I'm not bad at lying and bluffing!
"Okay," Alex agrees. "Let's accept the quest and talk to them."
[Main Quest Phase 3:
Chosen Faction: Straw-Hat Pirates
Waiting for all other players to choose.]
With their faction chosen, Alex takes the lead, closely followed by Benezia and Tereza.
As they approach Sanji, Menchi, as well as Vivi and Nami, who look partly annoyed and partly surprised about the situation, their expressions suddenly shift as they see the masked Alex, the veiled Benezia, and the rather eye-catching Tereza rapidly approach.
Nami, slightly disturbed by their presence, asks. "W—what do you want?"
"We have things to discuss," Alex says. "With you... the rest of your crew and your Captain."
He then stares at Vivi. "With you as well, Princess."
With Alex revealing their identities, Sanji's, Nami's, and Vivi's faces darken.
"We're on your side, there is no need to worry," Alex says, raising his hand. "On the contrary... this might be to your advantage. It's about Baroque Works and Crocodile, yes, we know Mr. 0's real identity."
"You... you know?" Nami asks, hiding herself behind Sanji. "Wait, who are you? Stop hiding your faces! I knew you were suspicious. Sanji-kun, you'll protect me, right?"
"Let's go somewhere private so we can talk," Alex suggests.
"No... I don't trust them!" Nami protests, looking outright scared.
"Nami... let's hear them out," Vivi says. "Sanji can protect us."
I doubt it, but whatever. It's fine if they actually think that.
A few minutes later, in one of the nearby back alleys, the group finally stops and begins their talk.
Vivi, mustering up all her courage, looks at Alex, "first tell us who you are—we can't trust anonymous people—you might be spies from Baroque Works. Especially you, with the mask!"
Alex sighs, unable to come back with a good comeback.
Guess this is the [Jack's Spare Silvery Mask] effect. Around honest and upright citizens, Vivi being one of them, this mask makes me especially suspicious and unreliable. That's the price for anonymity.
Alex takes off his mask. Nami and Sanji stare at him, but do not react much.
"He's just a normal man..." Nami notes, looking relieved. "In fact, he looks rather harmless."
"Heh, he doesn't stand a chance against me! Don't worry, Nami-san, Vivi-san," Sanji states confidently, lighting up another cigarette. "Though… he has some kind of charm."
"You two... you don't recognize him?!" Vivi asks, looking stunned. "He's the Butcher! We received the new bounties just a few days ago!"
"Bounty? So he is a pirate? How dangerous can he be?" Nami asks, still not understanding the situation at all.
"He has a bounty of 169 Million Belly! He is the most wanted man in these parts of the Grand Line; he wreaked havoc in Water 7, Alubarna, and even Mock Town. He even dared to kidnap the mayor of Water 7, Iceburg!" Vivi declares, pulling out Alex's bounty poster.
"Worst of all! You killed Pell and Chaka, I won't ever forgive you!" she adds, staring at Alex with hate-filled eyes.
"Calm down," Alex says, raising his hand. "It's all a lie. It's Crocodile's plot to get rid of me and make me the fall guy. He'll use the same method to deceive every citizen of Arabasta. However, this time it won't be me going down... it will be your father, the king! Just hear me out, okay?"
"No! He is a murderer!" Vivi says, her hands balled into tight fists.
"Vivi-chan, please, let's hear him out. If his story doesn't check out, I'll deal with him," Sanji says, stepping in front of her.
"Yeah, simply get rid of the guy with the high bounty and his crew..." Alex mutters, unable to ignore her foolish actions, before quickly focusing back on the conversation. "Look, Baroque Works has someone with a very special Devil Fruit ability. His name is Mr. Two, and he can steal the faces of others. I was framed by him. He is that weird swan-guy, who talks really weirdly... what is he called again? A Newkama? Once he touches you... it's over. He can impersonate you at any time."
"It's him..." Nami says, looking shocked. "He... no! He also stole my face! What he is saying is true."
"Wait... but you are part of Baroque Works, aren't you?" Vivi asks, still looking puzzled, like she can't fit the pieces together.
"We were deceived. We were promised an easy way to earn money. We were told that we could hunt pirates, like bounty hunters, and we'd get resources and support. We didn't know that Baroque Works was involved in staging a rebellion," Alex lies, his face calm, revealing a hint of feigned outrage.
"We also suspect Crocodile will cast everyone in Baroque Works aside as he tries to legally take over this kingdom. He wants to get rid of everyone who knows about Baroque works and, at the same time, become a hero who saved the country. He will use Mr. 2 to portray your father, the king, as a crazed ruler. He may have even done that already. We need him dead."
This is crucial now!
"This is why..." he continues, briefly activating [Shepard's Promise R2], tapping into his Renegade side. "We'll deal with Crocodile... and the entire organisation, one way or another, with or without you. Feel free to do whatever you want—just stay out of our way when we deal with him."
Changing his expression, trying to soften his demeanor, once again activating [Shepard's Promise R2], this time delivering his best Paragon performance. "Though I expect you to share some information as well... in return for what I just told you. If you wish, you may ask me whatever you want. Crocodile is a monster that wants to sacrifice thousands of innocent lives to seize power—he needs to be stopped at any cost. We need your help!"
Soulmate is so smart! Princess Jewel is impressed.
Princess Jewel also wants to learn how to shamelessly lie and manipulate situations such as this, though she fears her pride will work against her.
Not everything I told is a lie... I just blamed Mr. 2 for my own sins. Let's hope they'll believe me.
"We should share what we know," Vivi says, her face growing more friendly, the edge in her voice easing just a little. "I... I believe him." She finally declares.
"We... we'll tell you what we know," Nami says. "Crocodile is dangerous. You can't win on your own. Our Captain nearly died when he fought him in Yuba. We recently got together in Alubarna. The palace has been taken over by Baroque Works. We're being hunted... we need your help!"
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