"An adventure!! Hehehe~~"
"Hmph, I'm actually pretty interested in this land full of samurai~~"
"Tch! Saying that Ace is already... I'm not taking you guys out just for fun!!"
Looking at the two so-called "allies" acting like tourists and the little girl pouting angrily, Trafalgar Law felt a sharp pain in his chest. Yep, teammates were truly the greatest enemy in life...
"Alright, I'm leaving them to you."
Leave them to me, my ass!
"White Knight, what about you?"
Roman's messenger pigeon had found Law and guided him to the meeting point—or rather, Law had spotted the pigeon and rushed over, only to see Roman about to walk away. No wonder Roman was in such a hurry to get him here...
He wanted him to be their babysitter?!
"I heard there's an organized rebel group called 'Unruly Ones' around here. I'm going to check them out."
Since he now had a clear target, Roman had to see what kind of people these "Unruly Ones" were. He wasn't expecting some ancient mastermind like Yuan Tiangang to pop up, but still...
"Don't worry, just make sure Luffy doesn't get knocked out in one hit."
Roman was confident that Luffy, now wielding advanced Armament Haki, future sight, and Conqueror's Haki infusion, wouldn't go down in a single "Thunder Bagua" and end up as Kaido's personal bricklayer in prison.
But Roman always liked to have a backup plan. Law's Ope-Ope Fruit might not be enough to take on top-tier fighters like Kaido, but it was more than enough to help Luffy and the others escape if needed.
"Besides, you don't have to worry about Luffy and Zoro causing trouble. In my plan, they're supposed to be bait anyway..."
!
Using your own captain as bait—was that really okay?
But when Law thought about Luffy's personality, he realized that if he were in Roman's position, he would probably do the same. If Luffy was going to cause trouble no matter what, why not use that to draw enemy fire on purpose...
"Got it. Makes perfect sense."
"Exactly! Luffy and Law should be used this way!"
As the two "intellectuals" of the pirate world exchanged a knowing grin, Usopp quietly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. Yep... book-smart people were scary.
Meanwhile, Luffy and Zoro, now dressed in traditional Wano attire, were already itching to go out and explore.
"Alright, so Luffy, Zoro, Law, and Tama will be the bait."
?!
The Tengu swordsmith beside them was completely stunned. Were these outsiders speaking in some kind of secret code...?
After the "bait team" left, Roman casually started assigning tasks to Sanji and the others.
"Our next target is the prison camp at Udon, east of Kuri. Sanji, use your Raid Suit to sneak in invisibly. Jinbe, follow the river upstream and locate the area where they're holding high-profile prisoners—mark it for us."
Both Sanji and Jinbe were more than reliable when working alone, so Roman had no concerns about leaving this to them.
If it were Luffy and Zoro... they'd probably start a fight or just disappear halfway through.
"The rest of you, stay ready for battle. Once Luffy stirs up chaos, we'll decide whether to go in and back him up or launch a direct attack on Udon."
After assigning everyone their tasks, Roman finally sat down on a couch.
Then, he closed his eyes.
——————
*Whoosh—*
A white dove soared through the sky at a speed even a falcon couldn't match. Its sharp eyes scanned the land below, polluted by both factory smokestacks and sewage pipes. As peach blossoms became more and more abundant in its view, a large cluster of buildings appeared. Neat rows of houses stood among fertile fields, clear ponds, and groves of mulberry and bamboo. Crisscrossing paths connected the area, and the sounds of chickens and dogs echoed through the town—a true hidden paradise.
This was Flower Town. The dove landed atop a massive stone archway, its surface covered in deep cracks and countless chipped edges, each one telling a story of past wars. But beyond this weathered monument lay a peaceful and thriving town, where people wore flowing robes and high-tied hair, evoking the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.
"Ugh… I mean, come on. This is way too out of place..."
As the dove perched on the archway, muttering to itself in soft coos, a massive shadow suddenly loomed over it. Five pitch-black fingers, shaped like an eagle's talons, silently descended. The stone archway, solid as it was, crumbled like tofu under the attack. Deep, smooth claw marks were left behind in an instant.
But—
"Hey, hey, hey! What's with the sneak attack?!"
The dove flapped its wings, hovering in place. The tall attacker, clad in black from head to toe, spread his arms wide, and in an instant, they transformed into massive, outstretched wings! Without a word, he lunged at the dove again, his wings now hardened with Armament Haki, slicing through the air like two enormous, razor-sharp blades.
"Eagle Transformation: Thirteen Strikes—Flesh and Blood Torn Asunder!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You're in the wrong story! And besides—"
Shhhk—
In the blink of an eye, the white dove burst apart into fluttering sheets of paper, revealing Roman standing in its place. With a graceful sway, he dodged the attacker's fierce talons like drifting willow fluff. At the same time, he reached out with both hands and placed them firmly on the man's shoulders. A surge of Haki pierced through the iron-hard feathers, sinking straight into the bones beneath.
Boom!!
The massive black bird was sent crashing down beneath the archway. Roman pinned him down effortlessly, unable to resist adding a sarcastic remark.
"Wait a minute… Isn't this the *Bird-Bird Fruit, Falcon Model*? What's with this 'Eagle Transformation' nonsense?"
"You dare challenge the Turkic Warlord?!"
Whoosh—
Just as Roman had his opponent pinned, an arrow came whistling in from afar. Flames surged along its entire length, setting the air ablaze in its wake. It flew with the force of a fire phoenix soaring skyward, its piercing shriek rolling through the wind like an actual bird's cry.
The arrow moved faster than sound itself. By the time Roman was engulfed in the explosion, the archer's voice finally reached him.
"Phoenix Dance—Nine Heavens!"
That's right. It wasn't just one arrow—it was nine, fired in a perfect line! Explosions roared across the battlefield like artillery fire. Through the fiery blasts, a girl leaped forward, a smug grin on her face.
She had carefully controlled the explosion, leaving just enough space to see the black-feathered figure now lying face-down on the ground.
"Haha! A so-called 'Sky Falcon' groveling in the dirt—what a joke!"
"Watch out!!"
...?
"Seriously, are you guys sure you're in the right story?"
A hand landed on the archer girl's shoulder. A powerful surge of Haki rushed through her nerves and muscles, locking her body in place.
"Advanced Ryuo… No! This is external Armament Haki..."
Finally! Something that doesn't sound completely out of place.
Hearing the girl's shocked exclamation, Roman nodded to himself in satisfaction. If she had suddenly blurted out something like, *'What a strong haki force!'* he wouldn't have even known how to respond.
"You guys must be from the Unruly Ones, right? Let me take a guess—"
Roman's gaze shifted to the black-clad man, who had now returned to human form.
"If your nickname is Sky Falcon, then you must be Tianfu Star, one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gangsters. As for you—"
He glanced at the girl, still frozen in place by his Haki. Tilting his head, he thought for a moment.
"There's no way you're Tianfu Star, right?"
"What do you mean, 'no way'?! Are you looking down on me?! If you've got guts, let me go and I'll shoot you full of holes—"
Tsk, small weapon, big mouth.
With your skill level, it's still up for debate who'd be turning who into a pincushion.
"Just so we're clear, I'm not your enemy. I'm here to negotiate."
"I need to meet with your leader. I'd appreciate it if you could pass along my request. What do you all think?"
As Roman spoke, three new figures silently emerged around the archway.
One was a general in golden armor, wielding a long silver spear.
Another was a scholar, lightly fanning himself, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist.
The last was a martial artist in a simple cloth robe, standing bare-handed.
If their styles weren't so clearly from this world, Roman would have started wondering whether the *Straw Hat Crew* had somehow ended up in a wuxia universe.
"…You're not a Beast Pirates artificial Devil Fruit user?"
At least this conversation sounds normal.
"Of course not. In fact, we're enemies of Kaido, so—"
"Then please leave. We will not take part in Wano Country's war."
?! "Are you saying you don't care even if this place is completely destroyed?"
Roman frowned as he questioned the spear-wielding general, who had rejected him outright. After all, when powerful fighters clash, it's not uncommon for the world to be turned upside down. Destroying a country like Wano is entirely possible, for example:
Kaido could just lift Onigashima with his powers and drop it on Wano like a giant meteor.
"Wano Country? What does that have to do with us?"
The general in golden armor and silver plating remained indifferent, but the expressions of the others weren't as emotionless.
"Wait a minute! You outsiders—"
The young girl, held in place by Roman's single hand, started to panic.
"If you want to fight, go do it on Onigashima! This place is—"
"That's enough, Melody!"
The spear-wielding general clearly held a much higher status. With a single command, the bow-wielding girl fell silent. At the same time, he raised his spear and pointed it at Roman.
"If you have no other business here, let go of our people and get out of Flower Town. Otherwise—"
The three newly arrived individuals, along with the masked man from before, leaned forward slightly, surrounding Roman. Their fingers, folding fans, and fists were all covered in Armament Haki—it was clear they were all elite fighters on the level of commanders in an Emperor's crew!
"Hey, I do have a 'hostage' here, you know."
But even as Roman spoke like a villain, the general in golden and silver armor remained completely unfazed.
"If your skills are inferior, you should accept defeat. It seems we need to start selecting the next 'Heavenly Hero Star.'"
… "You talk tough, but in reality—"
Before he could finish speaking, the ground beneath Roman suddenly exploded! At the same time, a longsword shot up from below, aiming straight at him!
The pitch-black sword, coated in Haki, moved silently like an illusion, but Roman could clearly sense the immense power contained within. If the Haki on the blade were to erupt all at once, it could easily reduce a fortress to ruins.
Yeah, no wonder this group has managed to stand their ground under Kaido's nose. Each of them is seriously skilled. And—
"Melody got him! Attack!!"
The moment Roman loosened his grip on the bow-wielding girl "Melody" due to the ambush, everyone charged at him at once!
None of that "one-on-one duel" nonsense that so many so-called experts of the sea seemed to follow. Roman couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Never thought I'd get to experience the classic "This guy's evil! No need for fair fights—everyone, get him!" treatment usually reserved for boss fights…
"Ice Fist!"
?
"Wind God Kick!"
?!
Before Roman could react, a martial artist in a flowing robe was already charging at him, unleashing what seemed like a single punch—but in reality, it was dozens of punches at once! The countless afterimages merged into a barrage of attacks.
At the same time, a rapid series of ice-infused punches shot forward like cannon fire! They rained down in a dense, relentless storm, roaring like a cavalry charge as they engulfed Roman.
On the other side, the scholar using "Wind God Kick" moved like a fish in water, striking in perfect sync with the ice attacks. His robes fluttered as he suddenly snapped open his folding fan, revealing a line of familiar poetry written in bold black ink on a white background:
*"When I was young, my bangs covered my forehead;
I played under the gate, picking flowers with joy.
You rode a bamboo horse, circling my bed,
Playing together with green plums as our toy…"*
Wait, you're a refined scholar, and the poem on your fan is *Changgan Xing*? Are you seriously announcing yourself as a heartbreaker?! My brain just short-circuited—
"Ice Fist, Wind God Kick… What's next? Threefold Qi Strike?!"
As Roman dodged, struggling to keep up with this ridiculous onslaught, a cold voice suddenly rang out:
"It's right here."
Whoosh—
Looking up, he saw a golden light descending upon him!
PS: This isn't a case of dual-world travel. These characters are all from the One Piece world. Their abilities also come from the One Piece world, just under different names. I've actually left plenty of hints before, so I won't say much more… Most of the upcoming plot is original, of course, with the Straw Hat Crew always remaining the main characters. But don't worry, I'll keep everything reasonable within this story's setting—I won't suddenly go off the rails and ruin everything.
(End of Chapter)
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You can read 30 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu