Chapter 188: Wapol Can Actually Transform, That's So Cool!
Ralph and his two companions found it no easy task to break free.
Smoker was a competent Navy officer.
He wouldn't abandon the pursuit of Pirates just because he had been defeated in a one-on-one fight; on the contrary, it only fueled his obsession.
The Navy had already set up defenses on the streets surrounding the restaurant.
Three major Pirates—Fire Fist Ace, Straw Hat Girl Lufia, and the Nameless Ralph—all appearing simultaneously in Nanohana. If Smoker did nothing about it, he truly wouldn't have the face to return to Navy Headquarters.
Unfortunately, everyone could see your efforts,
But the facts proved them futile.
The roadblocks, obstacles, and defensive lines set up by the Navy were easily breached by the trio.
Ralph and Ace didn't even need to do much; it was mainly Lufia leading the charge.
With a stretch of her Rubber Arm, she grabbed the eaves of a distant building, launching herself like a slingshot. Ordinary Navy soldiers couldn't stop her at all.
"Open fire! Open fire!"
An officer shouted.
But the soldiers hesitated—
This was a city, and there were still civilians on the streets who hadn't been fully evacuated.
Large-scale gunfire? What if civilians were injured?
Smoker arrived as well.
Watching the three leaping across rooftops, his face turned ashen.
"White Impact!"
He transformed into smoke, soaring into the sky as he chased after Lufia.
But a wall of flames suddenly rose before him.
Ace stood on the roof of another building, flames swirling around him.
He grinned, revealing a defiant smile:
"Navy, your opponent is me."
Smoke and fire collided.
White smoke and orange-red flames tangled, clashed, and exploded in mid-air.
A wave of heat swept through the streets as civilians screamed and fled.
Ace turned back and shouted to Lufia and Ralph, "You two go ahead!"
Lufia wanted to say something, but Ralph pulled her back. "Trust your brother."
The two continued forward.
But they hadn't gone far before encountering another interception.
This time, it was a swordsman squad led by Tashigi, Smoker's subordinate.
More than twenty Navy soldiers armed with sabers formed a blockade on the street, cutting off their path.
"Straw Hat Pirates! Ralph! Lay down your weapons and surrender!"
Tashigi adjusted her glasses. Though her voice trembled slightly, her grip on the sword remained steady.
Ralph glanced at the group, then at Lufia beside him, and sighed.
"We're in a hurry."
He said.
Then he and Lufia moved simultaneously.
No flashy moves, just the simplest charge.
Lufia swung her Rubber Arm, sweeping a group aside; Ralph didn't even use any techniques—he simply covered himself in Armament Haki and charged headlong. The Navy soldiers were sent flying like bowling pins.
Clang! Clatter! Thud!
Screams, the clatter of metal hitting the ground, and the sound of bodies crashing into walls blended together.
Tashigi stared in disbelief.
She knew these Pirates were strong, but she hadn't expected them to be this powerful.
Her swordsman squad, considered elite in the East Blue, seemed as fragile as paper in front of these two.
What came next was even more devastating for her.
Looking at the Navy soldiers rolling on the ground and the scattered sabers, Ralph suddenly had an idea.
"Munch-Munch."
He patted the little lizard in his arms.
"Still hungry, aren't you?"
Munch-Munch poked its head out from his collar, its eyes lighting up.
"Eat all these swords."
Munch-Munch immediately leaped out of Ralph's arms, revealing its true form mid-air.
A black dinosaur over a meter tall landed on the ground, opening its disproportionately large mouth—
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
The gleaming sabers were swallowed one after another, like biscuits. The sound of metal grinding in its mouth was enough to make one's teeth ache.
Tashigi watched this scene, her face turning pale.
She loved swords.
Her dream was to collect famous blades from all over the world from the hands of villains.
Now, seeing her subordinates' and colleagues' swords being devoured like snacks by this monster, that feeling...
She had a bad premonition.
When Munch-Munch glanced at the "Shigure" in her hand, Tashigi let out a scream.
"Ahhh—!"
She would rather die in battle than watch her beloved sword be eaten!
But the expected attack never came.
Munch-Munch looked at her, then at Ralph, and seeing that Ralph gave no command, it turned its head and continued eating the swords on the ground.
Tashigi slumped to the ground, cold sweat soaking through the back of her Navy uniform.
When she slowly regained her senses from the fear and opened her eyes, Ralph and Lufia were long gone.
The street was left with only unconscious Navy soldiers and... swordsmen without their swords.
In Tashigi's heart, there was no regret or remorse as a Navy soldier for failing to capture the pirates.
Only relief.
Relief that her Shigure was preserved.
Although this thought might seem inappropriate to some,
as a Navy soldier, she was not afraid of death, nor of fighting powerful enemies.
But what had just happened was truly terrifying.
The nameless swordsman Ralph actually kept a monster that specialized in eating swords!
This intelligence must be reported to Colonel Smoker immediately!
When Ralph and Lufia reunited with their companions, they were met with a barrage of "greetings."
"You two idiots!"
Nami stood with one hand on her hip, the other pointing at their noses, "Everyone else was hiding perfectly! Only you two! Causing such a huge commotion in the city!"
Usopp chimed in from the side:
"Exactly! Now the whole city knows the Straw Hat Pirates are here! The Navy will definitely search the entire city!"
Although Vivi didn't speak, the anxiety in her eyes was obvious.
"There's no time to explain," Ralph said decisively, "Let's go quickly. If we get tangled up with the Navy, we won't be able to do anything."
Vivi took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She quickly gave a few instructions to her mount, the Speedy Duck Karoo, then stuffed a letter into the small bag on Karoo's back.
"Karoo, take this letter to the palace and give it to Father."
Vivi patted Karoo's head, "Please."
Karoo quacked twice, nodded vigorously, then stretched out its long legs and disappeared at an astonishing speed down the street.
"Let's go! Back to the Going Merry!"
The group hurried through the alleys, running toward the harbor.
But there was unusual activity at the harbor as well.
Originally filled with Baroque Works ships, now all these vessels were moving.
The bounty hunters on board were like sharks that had smelled blood.
"Fire Fist Ace! The Straw Hat Girl! Nameless Ralph! They're all in the city!"
"It's like they're handing us achievements on a platter!"
"If we capture them, we'll make a name for ourselves!"
"The boss will definitely promote us to senior agents!"
They didn't know where Fire Fist Ace was, but that sheep-headed ship with the Straw Hat Pirates flag, emerging from its hiding place, was far too conspicuous!
"There! The sheep-headed ship!"
"Surround it! Don't let them escape!"
The Baroque Works fleet immediately sprang into action.
Over a dozen ships closed in on the Going Merry from different directions, their cannons already adjusted.
Bad news: The operation was exposed.
Good news: Princess Vivi's identity remained hidden.
She changed into the local robe, blending into the crowd without drawing attention.
Usopp watched the approaching fleet, his face pale.
"I-I told you! We should have taken them by surprise and fired a shot first!"
Ralph gently stroked Munch-Munch in his arms and smiled faintly:
"It's not too late now."
He raised his head, looking at the encircling fleet, his voice calm:
"Fire."
Lufia's eyes lit up, and she shouted along: "Fire!"
"Fire!" Zoro drew his sword.
"Fire!" Sanji lit a cigarette.
"F-fire!" Usopp gritted his teeth and rushed to the cannon position.
The fervent atmosphere among the crew infected the initially nervous Vivi.
Watching her companions, a warm feeling surged in her heart.
With a group like this, it seemed no difficulty could stand in their way!
Boom!
The Going Merry fired first.
"Return fire! Fire!"
The command came from the enemy ship.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several cannonballs flew toward the Going Merry.
Lufia leaped to the bow, took a deep breath, and her body swelled like a balloon.
"Gomu Gomu no Fusen!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The cannonballs collided with her rubberized body, bounced off, and exploded upon hitting the sea.
Sanji and Zoro guarded the sides of the ship, kicking away and slicing through any stray cannonballs.
As for Ralph, he intended to take the initiative.
"Hold the ship."
He said to the others, then leaped into the air—
Geppo!
He stepped on the air, flying over an enemy ship in just a few strides.
Munch-Munch jumped out of his arms and landed on the deck.
The bounty hunters on the enemy ship were stunned—
What was this? A pet?
Then they saw the small black dinosaur open its mouth wide and swallow itself whole.
When it spat itself out again, it had transformed into a uniquely shaped longsword.
The hilt was Munch-Munch's small body.
The guard was its wide-open mouth, with sharp teeth forming the handguard.
And from that mouth, a gleaming blade "spat" out.
The overall design was fierce, yet carried a strange beauty.
Ralph descended from the air and reached out to grasp the sword.
The sword felt heavy in his hand, but perfectly balanced.
He could even sense Munch-Munch's consciousness.
Ralph looked up at the stunned bounty hunters on the deck, a smirk curling his lips:
"Gulper Modification First Form."
He raised the sword.
The blade reflected a cold light under the sun.
"Named Sword—"
The sword fell.
"Gluttony!"
A slash was unleashed.
Then, as if bitten by a monster, the enemy ship split into two halves.
Seeing this, Lufia's eyes sparkled with excitement!
"Oh my gosh, Munch-Munch can transform—that's so cool!"