Demon Gate Follower after Demon Gate Follower, there were too many of them to count. The fighting at the church had alerted them long ago. Demon Gate Followers rushed over in ever-growing numbers, and after Ye Chen stirred them up, they all seized whatever they could find and charged at the Straw Hat Pirates in righteous fury.
Luffy stood stunned for a long moment. He couldn't make sense of what was happening. In the time it took him to hesitate, dozens of Demon Gate followers brandishing clubs had rushed up to him. He wanted to fight back, but they were ordinary people. Without a second thought, he gave up on fighting.
Ye Chen charged over with the others. When he saw Luffy turn and run, he hurriedly told him, "You can't just leave. That would give the game away. Weren't you shouting about sending the Archbishop flying? He's right beside me. Running off now would look far too fake."
"What?" Luffy gritted his teeth in anger. He wanted to confront Ye Chen and demand an explanation.
What on earth was Ye Chen up to? He wanted Luffy to run, but he also wanted the act to look convincing. In other words, Luffy had to play along and pretend to flee after being beaten.
Seeing Luffy still standing there in a daze, Ye Chen explained through Silent Voice Transmission as he leaped forward and drove a hard punch at him.
Luffy was about to strike back when Ye Chen warned him with a stern look, "Remember, play along."
Bang! Luffy didn't react at all. Ye Chen knocked him to the ground, and before he could get up, hundreds of Demon Gate followers swarmed him, swinging their clubs wildly.
At the same time, Sanji and the others were surrounded. Even Chopper and