Chapter 101: G-8 Fortress – Prison Break & the Great Escape Begins
"It really is you guys!" Sanji and Luffy were doubled over laughing, their piercing laughter echoing down the corridor—until a clear, sharp shout cut through it.
Nami, dressed in a nurse uniform, strode over with light but angry steps. The white skirt swayed gently with her movement. Without a word, she pinched the soft flesh at Sol's waist and twisted hard.
"Where the hell did you disappear to, Sol?!" Nami stood with hands on hips, brows slightly furrowed, eyes carrying a mix of reproach. "This fortress is huge—like a bottomless pit! Lucky for me I'm clever and grabbed a nurse outfit to disguise myself. Otherwise I'd have ended up caught like that idiot Zoro!"
"I—!" Sol winced from the pain, grimacing and pointing at himself in disbelief. "You were the first one yelling to split up, then you grabbed Vivi and whoosh—flew off, leaving me behind without a care!"
"Haha, was it?" Nami froze for a second at his words, then scratched her cheek sheepishly, eyes drifting away like she'd only just remembered.
"Nami-san in a nurse outfit is so cute too!" Sanji stared with starry eyes, body twisting like a pretzel, face full of infatuation as he praised her.
"Get lost." Sol shoved Sanji aside without mercy, then carefully looked Nami up and down and gave a sincere thumbs-up. "But seriously—my Nami is really beautiful!"
"Really?" Nami's heart fluttered from the sudden compliment; all her earlier irritation vanished instantly. She lifted the hem of her skirt and did a little spin to show him. "I just grabbed one randomly from the infirmary."
"Damn you, Sol—" Sanji stumbled forward from the push and happened to stop right in front of Vivi. When he looked up, his eyes went wide. "Vivi-chan! Vivi-chan in a nurse outfit is super kawaii! So beautiful it's suffocating!"
"Sanji, are you okay?!" Vivi quickly reached out to steady the swaying cook, face full of concern.
"Nurse Vivi, I'm not okay—I've been poisoned by love and there's no cure," Sanji seized Vivi's hand and began raving. Before he could finish, Nami delivered a merciless punch. A huge lump instantly rose on his head; he shut up, clutched his skull, and squatted on the floor.
Sol and the others followed Nami and Vivi back to the infirmary. The moment they entered, they saw Karoo lazily sprawled on the floor while Chopper—wearing an oversized doctor's coat and a huge stethoscope—sat there looking very professional. When he saw them, he jumped up excitedly.
"So that's how it is—Robin went out to gather intel, and we don't know exactly where she is right now," Nami nodded after listening to Sol's explanation, then continued: "Usopp is disguised as a shipwright and staying on the Merry to help with repairs. That way he can keep an eye on the ship's condition at all times."
Vivi thought for a moment and said, "Then the only ones left are the captured Zoro and Robin who's still out there. We can meet up with Usopp later."
"Hehe, then me, Sol, and Sanji will go rescue Zoro now. Nami—you guys wait for Robin to come back, then head to the Merry and wait for us to regroup," Luffy thumped his chest and decisively called the shots.
"Sounds good." Nami rested her chin in her hand and thought for a second. "Anyway, that Vice Admiral Jonathan said it's just a drill. I was still wondering how we'd even get out of this fortress."
Chopper suddenly raised his little hoof: "Um… should I prepare some emergency medicine?"
"No need," Luffy grinned wide. "We'll be back super fast!"
Sanji lit a cigarette and blew out a ring of smoke: "Hope that moss-head hasn't gotten too comfortable in jail."
"Then we'll be back soon," Sol said to Nami and the others.
The three exchanged grins and strode off toward the prison.
Back in the infirmary, Nami watched their retreating backs and shook her head helplessly: "These idiots… don't go overboard."
Vivi covered her mouth with a soft laugh: "It's fine. With Sol there, things probably won't get too out of hand."
"I hope so." Nami sighed, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted into a small smile.
...
At the fortress prison entrance, Sol led Luffy and Sanji in with bold strides.
"Intruders! They're accomplices of pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro! Open fire!" The guards spotted them immediately, sounding the alarm. Sirens blared throughout the entire prison.
"Gum-Gum—Whip!"
Luffy grinned wide. Bullets bounced harmlessly off his body. His left leg stretched instantly like a whip, sweeping horizontally and sending the charging Navy soldiers flying. They crashed heavily against the iron bars of the cells.
"Hey hey—isn't this our great swordsman?" Sanji stood in front of Zoro's cell, cigarette in mouth, teasing. "How'd you end up caged like this?"
"Shut up!" Zoro's forehead vein throbbed; he glared at Sanji through gritted teeth.
"Hah? What's with that attitude?" Sanji narrowed his eyes, staring down at Zoro through the bars. "No 'thank you' for your savior?"
Zoro snorted coldly: "I'd rather die than be saved by a curly-browed idiot like you!"
"What did you say?!"
Their gazes clashed like blades; sparks practically flew through the air.
"Hahahaha! Zoro, I didn't expect you to be this pathetic!" Luffy laughed loudly as he searched a fallen soldier for keys, quickly unlocking the cell door. "You actually got caught by the Navy!"
"Tch, I didn't want to." Zoro rolled his wrists and frowned. "I was almost at the shore, but a patrol ship caught me."
Sol leaned against the wall and added dryly: "But Nami said she personally saw you swimming almost to the shore—then you suddenly turned around and swam back. That's how you got caught."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Zoro instantly exploded, face red and neck thick as he denied it.
At that moment, the loudspeaker outside blared: "Straw Hats inside—drop your weapons and surrender immediately! Otherwise we will use force!"
"Perfect timing." Zoro re-tied his three swords to his waist, eyes sharp. "Cut them down and break out."
"Wait, Zoro." Luffy held out a hand to stop him. "I promised the old man in charge here—we only knock them out. No serious injuries."
Zoro raised an eyebrow, then shrugged indifferently: "Fine. Then I'll use the flat of the blade." To him, blade or back made no difference in taking down enemies.
"Then—" Sol cracked his neck, a wild grin spreading across his face. "Let's make some noise!"
The four exchanged smiles, then charged straight at the oncoming Navy soldiers.
Outside the cells, alarms, shouts, and the sounds of combat mixed into chaos. And in the midst of it all—the Straw Hat crew's escape plan officially began!
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