Inside a pure white, extra-dimensional space...
Slurp— Slurp—
The eerie sound of loud slurping echoed through the room. At a table, Chrollo was gorging himself on a bowl of snail rice noodles—a dish as pungent as it was delicious. The floor around his feet was littered with various junk food wrappers and snack bags. His eyes were busy, too, fixed intently on the latest manga volume propped up against a water glass.
Finally, his face had dropped the stoic mask.
"Now this is more like it... This is the life~" Chrollo squinted his eyes and let out a satisfied burp.
This was Chrollo's secret base—one of his 23 Nen abilities: [Hide and Seek].
> [Hide and Seek (Emission Type)]
> [Description: Creates a four-story white geometric space in another dimension with multiple rooms. The user can set a 'door' on any flat surface they have touched to enter and exit.]
The "door" Chrollo had set on the Black Whale was located on the mirror in his private room. The original owner of this ability, Knov, may have been mentally fragile, but the ability itself was top-tier. it served as an absolute safe house for defense and a lethal tool for infiltration.
And now, Chrollo was using it for... slurping noodles. Here, he could shed all his disguises and simply be himself for a while. He wasn't the deep, elegant, or "absolute logic" leader; he was just an otaku named Chrollo who wanted to live freely. But since life kept throwing trouble his way, he figured the only way to truly enjoy freedom was to become the strongest and biggest entity out there.
"Boss~ I'm coming in~" Machi's voice called as she pushed the door open.
Chrollo's ears twitched, and his figure vanished instantly.
---
In the real world, inside the Captain's quarters of the Black Whale...
Chrollo sat poised in the chair before the mirror, looking perfectly composed. He subtly wiped the corner of his mouth with a fingertip to ensure no oil remained before raising his dark, calm eyes to meet Machi as she entered.
"Next time, please knock before entering," he said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "What is it, Machi?"
Machi's nose wrinkled suspiciously. Why does the Boss's room smell like a mix of something stinky and savory?
However, she didn't have time to dwell on it. Faced with Chrollo's gaze, she resumed her professional demeanor. "Boss, we've reached the island that big winged guy mentioned."
"Oh, we've finally arrived." Chrollo looked intrigued.
The magnetic fields of the One Piece world were notoriously chaotic; ordinary compasses were useless. Only a specialized Log Pose, combined with a skilled navigator, could guide a ship through these seas. Once they had one, and maybe after "convincing" someone like Nami to join them, the Black Whale could truly dominate the ocean.
Chrollo noticed Machi's expression was tight. "Why do you look like that?"
A vein popped on Machi's forehead. "Uvogin and Phinks—those idiots—didn't even wait for orders. They've already headed into town. They called it 'gathering intel,' but I think they were just cooped up on the ship too long and went to run wild. I'm worried they'll cause a scene."
Chrollo remained steady. "It's fine. Beasts kept in cages will naturally want to roam. They'll find the power hidden on this island soon enough."
"Let's head out shortly too~"
Machi nodded and turned to leave. At the door, she paused and looked back suspiciously. "Boss, I smell a really strange scent. You didn't eat something, did you?"
Chrollo replied expressionlessly, "No. Long voyages at sea inevitably lead to a musty smell in the cabins. You're mistaken."
"If you say so..."
---
After the rest of the crew disembarked, Chrollo wrapped a bandage around his forehead to hide his cross tattoo and donned a sharp, tailored suit. Stepping off the ship, Chrollo regained his air of quiet elegance.
Looking back at the gargantuan Black Whale, he reached out and materialized a white cloth the size of a tablecloth. He tossed it into the air, and it expanded to cover the ship.
In a breathtaking display, the mountain-sized ferry vanished into thin air. This was another of Chrollo's stolen abilities:
> [Fun Fun Cloth (Conjuration Type)]
> [Description: Conjures a cloth that can shrink any object covered by it and store it in a pocket dimension. The internal space is vast.]
A former ability of an "Owl" from the Shadow Beasts, it was a must-have for a thief. Chrollo's version had an internal capacity of 800m by 800m, perfectly sized to tuck away the Black Whale.
Task complete, Chrollo walked toward the brightly lit town. The town had a classic island vibe—salty sea air, fishermen shouting their wares, and buildings typical of the One Piece world. Surprisingly, the town felt peaceful and prosperous. This was rare; coastal islands usually suffered under Marine harassment, gang violence, or the crushing taxes of the World Government. Yet, Chrollo saw smiles on the residents' faces.
South Blue, stable public order... approximately one year before Monkey D. Luffy sets sail.
Chrollo squinted, forming a theory about their location. In this world, the fastest way to learn about a place (other than violence) was the local tavern. He locked onto the liveliest-looking pub in the center of town and pushed open the aged wooden doors.
A wave of noise, ale, food, and sweat hit him. The place was packed. He moved discreetly through the crowd and took a quiet corner seat by the window.
"...Did you hear? King Bulori finally formally restored our North Peninsula's status as a direct territory of the Kingdom!" a red-faced man shouted, raising his mug.
"About time! If it wasn't for that bastard Bekori colluding with the nobles, we wouldn't have suffered years of exploitation!" his companion slammed the table.
"But... that also means that damn 'Heavenly Tribute' tax is going to fall on our shoulders again..." another man whispered, his tone full of dread.
"Damn the World Government! Damn the Celestial Dra—" A heated young man started to shout but was instantly silenced by a panicked friend's hand over his mouth.
"Shh! Are you trying to get killed?! You can't say that!" The friend turned pale, looking around nervously. The young man sobered up instantly, scratching his head awkwardly. The atmosphere cooled noticeably.
After a moment of silence, the first man let out a heavy sigh. "If only Kuma were still here..."
Chrollo took a sip of his drink, a faint, imperceptible smile touching his lips. The conversation confirmed his suspicion. This was the border of the Sorbet Kingdom, the home of the man known as "Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma.
Chrollo's gaze drifted past the men to a table deep in the tavern. Empty plates were stacked into a small mountain. Behind that mountain sat a woman with bright lipstick, denim overalls, and long, straight pink hair. She was sitting right on top of the table, a turkey leg in her left hand and a piece of cake in her right, gorging herself without a care for appearances.
Seeing that staggering appetite and the signature pink hair, Chrollo smiled to himself.
"So, we've landed in your territory."
"Jewelry Bonney..."
---