Justice by Ganging Up, Qualification to Be a Companion

"Wait, I'm the one who's going to become the King of the Pirates!"

"Hey! Don't get the party started and then just run off!"

Facing Luffy and Zoro, who were waving their fists and brandishing their swords with obvious displeasure, Roman had put away his massive shield, rubbed his wrist.

"Come on, our biggest problem right now isn't fighting, is it? We still haven't found several of our teammates~~"

"That's right,"

Luffy out of his daze, Guotou, and pointed at Roman.

"Roman, quickly use your invincible Paper-Paper Fruit to find the others!"

······

Snap,

As Roman clapped his hands, the surging papers formed a giant paper airplane that appeared in the ruins of Fish-Man Island Square.

"Let's go, I'll take you there."

"And what about me?"

The little raccoon, abandoned by the Red Earl, lowered its head, tears streaming down its face.

"Um... what should I do now?"

"So what do you want to do?"

When faced with Luffy's question, Pato looked up with a pitiful expression.

Brush,

"If you can't figure it out, think about it slowly."

Robin picked up the little raccoon cat, held Pato, and smiled slightly.

"Stay with us for now until then."

"Yeah, little Pato is so cute~~"

Roman stroked his chin as he watched the little raccoon stop crying and start laughing after being teased by Nami and Robin.

As expected, fluffy little animals are just irresistible to women... Wait a minute! Even a man— Roman glanced at the adorable Carrot beside him, and nodded nonchalantly at the bunny girl's questioning look.

Anything cute will have someone who likes it.

"So, you're still coming with us after all~~"

The little tanuki was furious at Usopp's thoughtless words:

"What do you mean 'how'? I was abandoned by the boss because I spoke up for you guys!"

"Yes, yes, then you can get down from Robin's chest first!"

Even Franky couldn't stand it anymore, and Roman, unusually, raised an eyebrow. "What are you, a giant of steel, doing arguing with a tanuki? Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd been possessed by Sanji..."

"Little Pato, what exactly is your relationship with 'Boss'?"

When Robin petted him, the little raccoon gave an innocent and guileless reply:

"A long time ago, I went out to sea with the boss~~"

"Later, I don't know who locked me in a dark and cramped place..."

"I don't know how much time passed, Admiral rescued me. We started being pirates together again!"

Recalling the happy times they had shared, the little raccoon jumped up excitedly, but then she remembered how decisively her boss had abandoned her—

"How about we have Xiao Pato as our partner?"

Carrot patted the poor little raccoon, causing Pedro, who was standing next to her, to sigh.

"Carrot, have you forgotten that Luffy is the captain of this ship?"

"Huh? Huh?"

Wasn't it me? Then it's alright!

"What to do is up to his own wishes."

Faced with Luffy's words, the little tanuki looked conflicted. Logically, since he'd already been abandoned by his 'boss,' joining the Straw Hat crew wouldn't be a problem. But...

Swoosh—

"Here it is?"

As the giant paper airplane flew out of the 'Fish-Man Island' area, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed from the colorful seabed to a white, icy world! In the thick snow, there were also huge, towering cylinders.

"It's Drum Island, which means—"

"This is Chopper's hometown! Hahaha, let Chopper treat my wounds in a bit."

Usopp had been lying there like a corpse, happily sat up once again.

"What a blizzard! I smell adventure!!"

"Roman, open the plane and let me down—" Go ahead, go ahead, anyway, Drum Kingdom doesn't have any 'experts'. Wapol, no matter how much he gets stronger, he can't possibly be a match for any of the current Straw Hat crew.

Hehehe~~~

As Roman opened the 'cockpit,' Luffy out amidst a burst of laughter as he plummeted downwards. When strength reaches a certain level, so-called 'dangerous stunts' become mere play. And even running...

"I'm going now!"

Using his Rubber-Rubber Fruit Luffy himself at incredible speed, even faster than a paper airplane in the sky, leaping headlong towards the largest, gigantic cylinder. Fortunately, not many people are as restless as Luffy, otherwise Roman would be in for a real headache.

Although the Red Earl probably wouldn't have the time to play the "real and fake Straw Hat crew" game again, as a strategist, it's professional ethics to consider defeat before victory and be cautious to prevent unexpected events. Sure enough, a dozen seconds later:

!?

"What's wrong, Roman?"

"Luffy's in 'trouble',"

"Wapol?"

Nami looked puzzled. With the Straw Hat crew's current strength, any one of them should be able to easily defeat Wapol in a one-on-one fight.

"No,"

Roman looked up at the largest column not far away. Even without the help of the white doves, he could see the darkness soaring into the sky!

"This is..."

The others also noticed the building on the pillar and the ominous aura in front of the palace.

"It's 'Blackbeard' Teach!"

"You... you stay away!!"

Wapol, who was easily defeated by Chopper in a one-on-one fight, lay on the ground in a 'girlishly shrinking back' pose, because behind him was a middle-aged man with a burly build and a few missing teeth.

He was wearing a captain's coat, his ten fingers were covered with rings, two large gold chains hung around his neck, his bare chest was covered with thick hair, and three flintlock pistols were stuck in his belt! He looked every bit the wild 'pirate captain'.

"Hahahaha!!!"

"I was wondering who it was, but it turns out it was that Trash King who ran away with his tail between his legs back then!"

"No... whatever!"

"Help! Someone, please save me!"

Even though both Blackbeard and the Red Earl are clones created by him, there are some things that will never change: their individual personalities.

"If you save me, I'll give him status and medals!"

Even half the country—

"Shut up, you trash!"

As Blackbeard stomped down, the jet-black 'Dark-Dark Fruit' instantly nullified Wapol's abilities. As for the difference in their strength...

Thud~~

With a single stomp, Wapol vanished into smoke, even the leaves beneath Blackbeard's feet. Then, he looked up at the two figures before him:

Chopper and Luffy.

"That eyesore is gone! Long time no see! Straw Hat— "

"Ah, Teach!"

Blackbeard opened his arms to Luffy on his face.

"I also secretly saw it at that time. Ace was punched through the chest to protect 'Dad's' honor. It really brought tears to my eyes."

"You bastard—!"

In one sentence, he successfully ignited Luffy's anger!

"There's nothing to worry about. Ace was destined to die from the start, and you survived. That's all. You have nothing to regret, right?"

Although Blackbeard's words were unpleasant to hear,... the Marineford War was a situation where Ace was destined to die! This concerned the face and rule of the Navy and the World Government. Even if all Four Emperors gathered, they couldn't save him, because that would only draw the World Government into the battle, and perhaps even...

Even Imu would be alarmed.

"I have nothing to say to you! Chopper, step back."

Facing Luffy, who had assumed a fighting stance, Blackbeard's hands emitted both black smoke and a blazing white light.

"Really? I was going to try my best to comfort you politely. But since you're so eager to die—"

"I will now let you rest in peace next to your brother!"

As Blackbeard declared his intention to fight, Luffy stopped wasting words and went straight to the point:

"Fourth Gear!!"

When Roman and the others arrived, what they saw was Luffy in Luffy Fourth Gear battling Blackbeard... Well, actually, Luffy was already overwhelming Blackbeard! After all, Luffy, who possesses Advanced Armament Haki, Observation Haki the ability to Future Sight, and has activated Luffy Fourth Gear, is already considered the strongest person below the Emperor.

In contrast, Blackbeard, while also formidable, is clearly from the 'two-year-old' version. Even with two Devil Fruits, the lack of Haki is a major disadvantage. His defense relies entirely on the Dark-Dark Fruit, and his attack on the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, which allows him to barely hold his own against Luffy.

"Dark Water!"

As a deep, viscous black light emerged from each of Blackbeard Teach's palms, he finally seized an opportunity in their renewed exchange, his fingers gripping Luffy's fist! The black light instantly formed two bottomless, swirling, glue-like vortexes, momentarily suppressing Luffy's Rubber-Rubber Fruit! However:

"Ugh—Get away!!"

With a deafening roar, a surge of Armament Haki, crackling with intense black electricity, exploded on Luffy's fist! Instantly freeing him from Blackbeard's grasp and stabilizing his Gear Fourth Gear form, which had nearly dissipated.

"Air Quake!"

With a single punch, Blackbeard sent Luffy, whose breathing was disordered, Luffy away, and then laughed loudly.

"Hahaha, that's a great use of Haki!"

"Unfortunately, this was destined to be my era!"

"Just stall until—"

······

Snap, X3

As several figures landed, Blackbeard's arrogant expression suddenly froze!

Roman, Zoro, and Jinbe! Two of them aren't Devil Fruit users and aren't affected by the Dark-Dark Fruit's weakening effect, while Roman...

"The way to deal with this guy is with ranged attacks. Watch me fly into the sky and unleash my sword energy to easily crush him!"

"Hahaha... If only I had some kind of domineering Haki..."

"Enough with the nonsense! People like you who practice evil and crooked methods deserve to be punished by everyone!"

Roman wasn't some reckless brute who swung his fists indiscriminately regardless of whether his abilities were suited for combat. He conjured a dense array of longswords imbued with various powers behind him, and with a wave of his hand, resembled a 'streetlight king'!

"Forget about pirate ethics, everyone attack together—"

"Paper Dance - Three Sighs Sword Bones!"

Boom boom boom~~

Fists filled the sky, flying swords shot out in a flurry, blades flashed, and water columns surged. Everyone present was either top-tier or second-tier in this world! Every move was earth-shattering, and the resulting massive explosions swept and raged in all directions without end! They once again ravaged the top of the giant pillar.

Of course, poor Blackbeard didn't even have a chance to complain; he didn't even last half a minute.

Thud~~

They were beaten to a pulp on the spot!

"Hmph, is this all the so-called 'Four Emperors' are capable of?"

A cold snort from the rooftop made everyone look up; it was the Red Earl standing there. The little Tanuki Pajon, was also excitedly preparing to speak:

"Old·······"

However, the other person had already turned around with the 'Pato' on their shoulder, and whoosh—

Vanished without a trace.

·····

Luffy,

The little raccoon, abandoned once again Guotou pitifully.

"Hey... can I still be your partner?"

"I've thought about it. Although I still hope I can help the boss, but..."

"If my clone can do all this, I think it might not be so bad... Tanuki! So, I can become your partner..."

Seeing the forced smile on the little raccoon's face, Luffy adjusted his Straw Hat.

"I refuse!"

?!

"Why? Didn't you say I could decide everything myself?!"

This time, Luffy simply turned around.

"I won't take you as a partner."

Even Nami couldn't bear to watch Luffy's resolute words.

"Wait, Luffy..."

Snap,

Nami was about to say something, had her hand grabbed by Roman. Turning her head, she saw Roman shaking his head slightly.

"One raccoon is enough,"

Chopper was enraged by Zoro's words.

"I'm not a tanuki!!"

But... why?

Chopper frowned. He'd refused to join the Straw Hat crew back then, but Luffy had persisted. Now, facing Pato, who had willingly joined...

"Pato,"

Chopper walked over and patted the little tanuki on the shoulder, who was about to cry.

"Don't worry, as long as you truly want to become our partner, Luffy will definitely agree."

"... Do you really want to become partners...?"

"Roman?"

"That's the key point. We don't have any messy or indecisive companions on our ship," Roman whispered in response to Nami's question. Pato still harbored feelings for his boss, the Red Earl, even now that he had been openly abandoned.

That's why Luffy wouldn't agree to let him join the crew, because Luffy never "steals" other people's crew members!

"By the way, why is your name Pato?"

As a doctor, Chopper begins to use 'talk therapy' to distract the little raccoon from its emotions.

"It was the boss who got it for me, I don't know its meaning..."

"My name was given to me by Doctor Hiriluk, meaning that he hoped I would have a pair of horns that could easily cut down trees..."

As the two little animals talked, Pato's emotions gradually stabilized.

And the Straw Hat crew once again embarked on a journey to reunite with their companions!