One Piece: I Can Repel Anything

When Pato saw Chris appear, he hurriedly tossed aside his fishing rod, jumped down from the railing, and bounded toward him.

"Looks like this island's luck has turned again! Wahahaha..."

The moment Burgess saw Chris, he understood what was going on and burst out laughing.

Lying on the deck, Doc Q coughed and said, "Hope we get a strong new crewmate. I can't wait for the division commander contest to start."

"I'll teach you when I have time."

Chris glanced at Pato on his shoulder, then leaped down and headed toward town.

"The captain's always so decisive. Never wastes a word."

Burgess picked up Doc Q and his sick horse, then jumped down with a booming laugh.

Ten minutes later.

Chris stood at the western harbor, silently gazing at the blue sea ahead.

He had searched the entire town with Observation Haki.

He hadn't found anything unusual.

But he trusted Baccarat's intuition. He must have overlooked something.

Just then, a conversation among the fishermen at the harbor reached him.

"Say, why would the Marines come here out of nowhere?"

"Who the hell knows? Nothing to do with me."

"I saw that woman Marine from a distance earlier. She was really commanding. Even the soldiers were scared of her."

"She's Vice Admiral Momousagi from Marine Headquarters. How do none of you know that? Unbelievable!"

"Momousagi, Momo-dog, whatever kind of vice admiral she is, what's that got to do with us?"

"But the warship sailed north. Think there are pirates out that way? Ah, forget it."

Now Chris understood exactly where this supposed good luck had come from.

Vice Admiral Momousagi!

Whoosh!

Chris vanished instantly to find Baccarat.

In town.

"Come on, let's try the next clothing store. I haven't bought enough yet."

Honey Queen emerged from a clothing shop carrying bags in both hands.

Belo Betty shrugged, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said, "You go ahead. I'm buying some cigarettes."

Suddenly, a figure appeared right in front of them.

"Baccarat, hold on a moment. I need to talk to you."

Chris set Pato on the ground and said calmly, "Stay here. Don't wander off."

With that, he led Baccarat aside.

"What's the boss doing? Why didn't he take me?"

Pato looked at the two women, his face full of curiosity.

Honey Queen rolled her eyes at him. "Why else? It's obviously a secret. Did you really have to ask?"

Watching Chris walk away, Belo Betty knitted her brows and considered the situation.

"It must be something important. Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept it from us."

"Chris just isn't that kind of man."

(Everyone, the picture above is of Vice Admiral Momousagi. Why bring her up here? If you can guess, I'll post an extra chapter right away (*￣︶￣).)

Celestial Dragons

(An extra chapter for a tip.)

In a secluded alley.

Observation Haki spread outward.

"Vice Admiral Momousagi of Marine Headquarters left here not long ago."

"The Celestial Dragons killed her family, so she harbors a deep hatred for the so-called creators."

Chris looked at Baccarat, his expression grave. "If I approach her about working together, do you think I'll succeed?"

Seeing how serious Chris was, Baccarat fell silent instead of answering at once.

She had never seen him like this before. She knew it had to be important.

After a moment, Baccarat smiled. "Chris, give me your hand."

Without a word, Chris held out his hand.

Holding it, Baccarat felt a reassuring sense of steadiness.

She closed her eyes. A faint white glow radiated from her body and traveled through her arm into Chris.

At once, Chris felt a rush of energy, as though something good was about to happen.

Good fortune was on his side.

"It's done, Chris. You'll succeed."

Baccarat released his hand. Her face had gone pale and sickly.

For once, Chris showed concern. "Baccarat, are you all right?"

"Don't worry about me, Chris. My luck will return in a few days."

Baccarat brushed back her dark red hair and smiled sweetly. "I just overdid it. A few days of rest and I'll be fine."

"Now hurry, before the luck I gave you fades."

Chris nodded with a slight smile. "Go find Betty and the others. I'll be right back."

With a whoosh, he vanished, moving through space toward the north...

On a stretch of sea in the West Blue.

A warship cut through the water at speed.

Inside one of its rooms.

"A few more days and we'll be back at headquarters. Finally, no more drifting from place to place."

Standing by the window and looking out at the blue sky and white clouds, Momousagi felt an unexpected sense of relief.

Suddenly, a quiet voice sounded inside the room.

"Sorry to interrupt, Vice Admiral Momousagi."

"There's something I'd like to discuss with you. It concerns the Celestial Dragons."

Momousagi stiffened.

She spun around and looked to her left.

A young man was leaning against the table, his hands in his trouser pockets.

He looked utterly at ease.

"Who are you?"

Momousagi narrowed her eyes. Her right hand moved quietly to her sword hilt, and she focused her attention.

This man had appeared without a sound. He was dangerous.

"Please don't get worked up, Vice Admiral Momousagi."

Chris shrugged. "My name is Chris. I'm a pirate."

"You can also think of me as one of the Shichibukai. Before long, that's what I'll be."

"Now, back to what I mentioned: the Celestial Dragons."

Momousagi walked slowly toward him, the word "Justice" bright on the back of her cape.

"You want to become one of the Shichibukai? You think that's possible?"

"And you're a pirate, yet you dare show yourself in front of me. You've got nerve."

Momousagi stopped. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "Go on, then. Let's hear what you're after."

Chris folded his arms, his expression calm. "I've already drawn up a series of plans. If we work together—"

"We can overthrow the Celestial Dragons and drag every last one of those bastards down from their pedestal!"

Momousagi stared at him in disbelief. "Do you have any idea what you're saying?"

"Those words alone could get you killed a hundred times over."

Chris ignored her warning and continued.

"Let's be frank, Vice Admiral Momousagi. We share an enemy. Work with me."

"Unless you don't want to avenge your family. In that case, forget I said anything."

Momousagi's gaze turned icy. Her sword looked ready to leave its sheath at any moment.

"Tell me. How do you know about that?"

Momousagi was stunned.

She had never imagined this young man could know her deepest secret.

Even CP9 didn't know about it, yet somehow he did.

It was shocking!

"How I know doesn't matter. What matters is whether we work together."

Chris got straight to the point. "You're powerful. Terrifyingly so."

"But overthrowing the Celestial Dragons on your own? That's a pipe dream. It can't be done."

"If we join forces, though, we can make it happen."

Momousagi was tempted, but she let disdain show on her face.

She scoffed. "With you? Who do you think you are?"

"Even Whitebeard, the World's Strongest Man, wouldn't dare say that."

Momousagi stared at Chris. "I'd love to know what makes you so arrogant."

The corners of Chris's mouth lifted in a confident smile.

"Then let's fight. Actions will give you your answer."

Chris stepped forward and held out his right hand. "Give me your hand. I'll take you somewhere, and you'll soon understand."

Momousagi frowned slightly and studied him from head to toe, as though trying to see through him.

But she was bound to be disappointed.

The man before her was steady and composed. He gave nothing away.

So Momousagi hesitated no longer and raised her hand.

She accepted Chris's offer.

"Let's go."

As soon as Chris spoke, the two of them vanished with a whoosh...

(Just to clarify, everyone: the Celestial Dragons killing Momousagi's family was invented for the sake of the plot. Please don't mistake it for canon. It's entirely fictional.)