Terminator vs. Devil Fruit User

"Such... such overwhelming pressure!"

"Is... is some kind of monster coming?!"

As the footsteps outside the banquet hall drew closer, a terrifying presence gradually approached as well. The Baroque Works officers, who had looked somewhat impatient before, set aside what they were doing, straightened in their seats, and held their breath as they waited for the powerhouse whose mere aura made them tremble.

"Creak."

Rody pushed open the banquet hall doors and slowly walked to the seat of honor at the end of the long table. Robin and Vivi stood at his left and right. Rody's gaze slowly swept across the Baroque Works officers present before finally settling on Mr. 3's partner, Miss Goldenweek, Marianne.

Despite looking like a little girl, she was already sixteen years old.

Rody also remembered that among Baroque Works' high-ranking agents, she was one of only two without Devil Fruit powers. Yet she possessed a talent comparable to one: she could manipulate other people's emotions through the paints on her color palette. The other officer without Devil Fruit powers was Mr. 4, though he possessed a gun that had eaten the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Dachshund.

"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea... Slayer!"

"Miss All Sunday, this is..." Sitting at the head of the table on the left, Mr. 1 Daz Bones expressionlessly looked at Robin standing beside Rody. His gaze discreetly swept over Rody and Vivi as he asked.

The remaining officers also stayed silent, quietly waiting to see how Robin would answer.

"First, I called everyone here to inform you that the Utopia Plan has been terminated."

"What... The plan was proceeding perfectly. Why was it suddenly terminated..." The officers present looked at Robin in confusion.

"Hehe, because the Utopia Plan was formulated by our former Boss, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sir Crocodile."

"But everyone should already know that two days ago, a battle broke out in Rainbase between the former Seven Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile, and Slayer Rody. Baroque Works' former Boss, Crocodile, was killed by Slayer Rody. Slayer is now our new Boss." Robin answered the officers with a faint smile.

"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

"Desert King Crocodile! Slayer Rody!"

"So the battle that broke out in Rainbase two days ago was over the position of Seven Warlord of the Sea!"

Because of the Utopia Plan, Baroque Works' officers had all been paying attention to the situation in Alabasta. They had some knowledge of the great battle between Crocodile and Slayer in Rainbase, but they had never expected Crocodile to be the organization's original Boss. Now that Crocodile had been killed by Slayer, the organization's Boss had become the new Warlord, Slayer Rody.

"Also, Princess Vivi of Alabasta has now become our Boss's woman. The Utopia Plan fabricated by Crocodile for the purpose of stealing the country is to be completely terminated." Robin introduced Vivi's identity and once again confirmed the termination of the Utopia Plan.

"So she's the princess..." The officers nodded in realization as they looked at Vivi.

"Alright, do any of you have any questions now?"

"No. We await your orders, Boss! ×9"

"Good. Then Mr. 3 and his partner Miss Goldenweek will sail with me to the New World in the latter half of the Grand Line. As for the rest of you, you may choose to sail with me to the New World or remain in Alabasta to help Princess Vivi govern the country," Rody said casually.

"Me... me?" Miss Goldenweek blankly pointed at herself and looked at Rody in confusion, only to receive his affirmative nod.

"Um... Boss, I have a question. May I ask it..." Mr. 3 Galdino nervously raised his hand.

"Speak."

Mr. 3 Galdino spoke somewhat anxiously. "First, I'm honored that you chose my partner and me to sail with you, Boss. But may I ask what your goal is in going to the New World?"

The other officers quietly waited for Rody's answer as well.

"My goal? To overthrow the World Government and rule this world myself. What, are you scared?" Rody calmly looked at the people of Baroque Works and spoke with a smile.

"Th-this... all I can say is... as expected of Boss. Even your goal is something ordinary people wouldn't dare to imagine..." Mr. 3 hurriedly wiped away the cold sweat emerging on his forehead and agreed with a fawning smile.

"Boss, I choose to sail with you." Mr. 2 Bon Clay narrowed his eyes and grinned.

Rody was not surprised by Bon Clay's choice. After all, his dream was to find the Kamabakka Kingdom—he thought that was its name, anyway.

"Boss, I also choose to sail with you. But could you let me witness the strength with which you defeated one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile?" Mr. 1 Daz Bones asked solemnly.

"Witness my strength? You aren't qualified for that yet." Rody shook his head, then pointed at the five T-X Terminators behind him and said to Mr. 1, "If you can defeat one of those robots, I'll let you see my strength."

"They're actually robots? You can't tell at all. They look way too much like humans!" The officers present had originally thought the five identical women behind Rody were either manifestations created by someone with a clone-type Devil Fruit or clones themselves. They had never imagined they were robots, because they looked far too much like real people.

"Fine!" Mr. 1 had been wondering why the five women behind Rody looked exactly alike. Now, the question in his heart had been answered.

Mr. 1 was extremely confident in his own strength. As a renowned assassin from the West Blue, he was the user of the Dice-Dice Fruit. His entire body could transform into sharp blades, and his body was as hard as steel. Even if the robot before him was as sturdy as he was, it could not possibly be as agile. His chances of winning were high.

"You. Go defeat him," Rody casually ordered one of the T-X Terminators behind him.

The people present cleared enough space for Mr. 1 and the T-X Terminator to fight. One was a Devil Fruit user who could turn his entire body into steel blades; the other was a T-X Terminator robot made entirely of a hyperalloy skeleton and liquid metal. Rody found himself interested in the outcome as well—superpowers against a futuristic technological robot.

Bang!