Chapter 104: Spiders Cafe! The Gathering of Eccentrics
Deep in the wilderness of Alabasta, a wild wind howled, carrying grit and sand.
In this desolate rocky wasteland where no one lived for a hundred miles, a shop named "Spiders Cafe" stood alone.
The clock struck 8 PM.
Despite its remote location, the shop was not closed; instead, a group of dangerous-looking "eccentrics" with various appearances had gathered inside.
Behind the counter, a blue-haired beauty with a curvaceous figure, dressed in biker-style clothing, was carelessly wiping a glass.
She was the shop's proprietress and a high-ranking agent of Baroque Works—Miss Doublefinger.
Sitting by the window was a tall, bald man dressed as a monk.
His gaze was as sharp as a blade, and his entire body radiated a cold, metallic aura that warned others to stay away—Mr. 1.
At another table sat a fat man who always seemed a beat behind, Mr. 4.
And a talkative, irritable old woman named Miss Merry Christmas.
"Why hasn't that damn okama arrived yet? So slow! It's infuriating!" The old woman pounded the table in frustration.
Just then, the door was slammed open.
"I—have arrived!!!"
Accompanied by a high-pitched shriek, a figure wearing a pink swan outfit didn't walk in normally.
Instead, like a ballet dancer, he spun wildly on his toes all the way into the shop.
"Spinning, spinning—Jeté!!"
Mr. 2 Bon Clay made his grand entrance last.
"My, my, sorry for keeping everyone waiting!" Mr. 2 struck a difficult pose and then said excitedly.
"Listen to me! I met a group of super interesting pirates at sea! It's that Straw Hat crew!"
"And I've confirmed, they have already made landfall!"
Upon hearing this news, the silent Mr. 1 slowly raised his head, holding several of the latest bounty posters.
"Straw Hat Luffy, bounty 30 million Berries. Pirate Hunter Zoro... and this one."
Mr. 1's gaze fell on a photo of a black-haired boy who was always smiling:
"'Crimson Lotus' Tatsuya, bounty 28 million Berries."
"Oh! It's this red-eyed boy!"
Seeing Tatsuya's photo, Mr. 2 shrieked instantly, his expression becoming exaggerated:
"Although that Straw Hat boy is interesting, my intuition tells me... this guy named Tatsuya is extremely dangerous!"
"That look in his eyes... is even scarier than that Marimo with the swords! He's the type who will kill you if you're not careful!"
"Hmph."
Mr. 1 gave a cold snort and casually tossed the bounty poster onto the table, his tone full of disdain and arrogance:
"Just some rookies from the East Sea with a bit of empty fame."
He raised his arm, his skin gleaming with a metallic luster under the light:
"Here, no one can defeat us, the Devil Fruit users. A killer doesn't need intuition, only strength."
...
Afterward, led by the proprietress, the group rode the massive turtle carriage to the largest casino in Rainbase—'Rain Diners.'
In that luxurious and dark underground VIP room, they finally met the mysterious boss behind the scenes, Mr. 0.
Amidst the swirling smoke, a man with a massive golden hook and a scar running across his face turned around.
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Sir Crocodile.
"Welcome to my city, everyone."
Crocodile didn't waste words and directly revealed the shocking plan known as 'Utopia':
"My goal is simple—to seize Alabasta and establish our own Utopian nation."
"And to obtain the Ancient Weapon sleeping beneath this country—'Pluton'."
Hearing the word 'Pluton,' even these cold-blooded agents gasped.
"Alright, enough talk."
Crocodile blew out a smoke ring, his eyes dark and sinister:
"The final operation, 'Utopia,' is about to begin."
"Go to Alubarna, kidnap the king, and incite an all-out war between the Rebel Army and the Royal Army."
"Go... and set this country ablaze."
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the vast desert.
After sunset, the desert temperature plummeted, turning from a daytime oven into a nighttime freezer.
Free from the daytime heat, the Straw Hat crew gathered under a leeward sand dune, lighting a campfire and enjoying a rare dinner.
Except for Zoro.
The Marimo was leaning against a rock, clutching his swords and sleeping soundly, his snoring like thunder.
"Chomp! Munch munch!"
Luffy grabbed a piece of unknown lizard meat and chewed it hungrily.
After a few chews, Luffy's expression changed, and he stuck out his tongue:
"Wah... it tastes bad, so bitter."
Saying that, he opened his mouth to spit it out.
"Hey! Luffy!!"
Sanji, who had been working hard grilling the meat, instantly flared up, pointing his spatula at Luffy and shouting:
"Don't you dare spit it out! This is prey we worked hard to catch! Food is precious in the desert! Swallow it!"
"But it really doesn't taste good..."
Luffy looked aggrieved, then his eyes darted around. Holding the meat he'd bitten, he grinned and shoved it toward Sanji's mouth:
"Then... you eat it!"
"Who wants to eat your spit! Get lost!!"
Sanji's face darkened. He raised his foot and pressed the sole of his shoe firmly against Luffy's approaching face, pushing him back.
On a few dead trees nearby...
Usopp was perched on a branch, nervously scanning the pitch-black desert with his binoculars.
Tatsuya lay on a branch next to him, hands behind his head, one leg dangling and swaying in the air.
He was supposed to be on guard duty, but his breathing was steady; he was clearly asleep.
"Hey, Clay."
Usopp poked the Crow perched on Tatsuya's belly:
"Why don't you fly around and patrol? What if there's danger?"
Clay rolled his eyes, buried his head in his wings, and gave an extremely half-hearted response:
"Caw... Urusai, Long-nose. This lord wants to sleep."
"Huh? You lazy bird!" Usopp's nose twisted in anger. "Looks like we don't have enough ingredients tonight; I'll just have to eat roast Crow!"
"Coo-coo-caw?! What did you say!!"
This man and bird, whether they were birds of a feather or not, were actually getting along quite well despite the bickering.
By the campfire.
Vivi, Nami, and Chopper were leaning against the warm feathers of the sleeping Karoo, holding water bottles and dry rations.
Because Chopper had hooves, he wasn't very good at using human utensils.
He could only hold the biscuit with both hooves, nibbling clumsily, with crumbs all over his face.
"Ah! So cute!"
Seeing Chopper's fluffy appearance, Vivi couldn't help but reach out curiously and gently touch his antlers.
Nami took a sip of water and looked at Chopper's small figure with a gentle gaze:
"Chopper, thanks for your hard work today. This weather with its sudden heat and cold must be tough on your fur, right?"
Hearing this, Chopper stopped chewing.
He looked up, and although there were still biscuit crumbs on his face, his large eyes sparkled in the firelight.
"Hehe..."
Chopper shook his head shyly, and then his body wiggled like a wave as he said happily:
"It's not hard! Not hard at all!"
"I'm so happy! To be on an adventure with everyone... I'm so happy!!"
Nami's eyes widened, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Ah! Chopper! You're so cute!"
Chopper shyly wiggled like a wave once more.
"You... you bastard, what are you saying..."
In the cold desert night, those simple words were warmer than the campfire.
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