Navy Captain Hina

Just then, the Transponder Snail suddenly rang.

Nami answered it, only to hear Mr. 2's voice. He said that he had taken their ship and that if they wanted it back, they should come to the Sandora River.

"Mr. 2? Damn it, I forgot about him. Everyone, hurry up."

Everyone's expressions darkened at those words.

After defeating Crocodile, they had forgotten about the Baroque Works agents!

These people were no ordinary opponents! Mr. 2 especially had caused them plenty of trouble along the way!

They had first been surrounded by the Navy, and now their ship had been taken. Misfortunes never came singly.

Sanji took a deep drag of his cigarette, his face grim.

"Vivi, whether you leave or stay is up to you. It's exactly noon now. This time tomorrow, we'll wait for you at East Port for five minutes. If you come, we'll sail out together. If you don't, we'll still remember you forever, because we're comrades!"

Nami looked at Vivi, then the group immediately ran toward the Sandora River.

Although the Navy had surrounded the entire city, this was Alabasta after all. With the king's help, Luffy and the others easily broke through the encirclement and reached the Sandora River.

Sure enough, Mr. 2 was sitting aboard their Going Merry. Beside it was a ship bearing Mr. 2's emblem—his own vessel—with several Baroque Works agents aboard.

When he saw them, Mr. 2 greeted them excitedly.

"Everyone, you're here!"

Everyone was stunned. Hadn't things sounded terrible over the Transponder Snail? What was going on?

They soon understood. After Crocodile's defeat, Baroque Works had announced its dissolution. Mr. 2 had nowhere to go and was preparing to sail away when the Navy discovered their ship and tried to seize it.

Mr. 2 had helped them protect the ship.

"I'm no longer a member of Baroque Works, so we're still friends, right?"

Mr. 2 Bon Clay smiled at Luffy.

"Yeah, we're still friends."

Luffy and Usopp nodded.

The three immediately began dancing excitedly. Seeing this, Chopper could not resist joining them.

"They know each other?"

Moonlight could not help asking in confusion.

"Yeah. Back in Nanohana, Luffy and Usopp used Karoo to fish and ended up catching this guy. Then they somehow became friends. Baroque Works got our photos because of him too."

Sanji took a drag of his cigarette and answered irritably.

Nami immediately understood. She and Moonlight had been on Winter Island at the time, so they had not known about this—but Chopper...

Thinking of that, she could not help looking at Moonlight.

Moonlight smiled helplessly. Ever since coming aboard, Chopper had gradually been led astray by Usopp and Luffy.

Perhaps it was simply in his nature; he could actually blend into an enemy's friendship so quickly.

"Hmm?"

Just then, Moonlight suddenly turned around, gripping his sword in reverse. A crescent-shaped Sword Aura slashed fiercely toward the distant sea! "What's wrong, Moonlight?"

Everyone was alarmed.

But at that moment, dozens of black spears suddenly tore through the air from the distant sea and shot fiercely toward their ship. Fortunately, Moonlight had acted swiftly, and his Sword Aura cut them all apart in an instant.

Then, a warship and ten Navy vessels sped toward them across the sea.

Standing on the warship was a woman wearing a Navy Cloak of Justice. She had long, center-parted light-pink hair, purple-lensed sunglasses, and a striped dress with matching shoes. A cigarette hung from her lips. She was clearly the one who had attacked just now!

"Navy Captain Hina!"

At the sight of her, Mr. 2 cried out as though she were some terrifying presence.

"A Navy captain, and she even has a warship. Interesting!"

Zoro raised a brow, his eyes brimming with fighting spirit.

This woman had attacked without saying a word, and that greatly displeased him.

"Wow, what a beautiful lady!"

Sanji, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. The instant he saw Hina, he was completely captivated, his body floating as though it had no bones.

Usopp: "..."

"This is bad. It's actually her. Her Black Spear Formation is an invincible battle formation at sea!"

Mr. 2 wore an expression of utter dread as he explained how terrifying she was.

"Black Spear Formation?"

Everyone looked confused, not understanding what it was.

Hina looked at Moonlight, lightly exhaling a wisp of smoke as she said with interest, "As expected of a great pirate with a bounty of two hundred million Beli. You actually blocked my Black Spear Formation. But it's useless. You've already been surrounded. Straw Hat Crew, if you don't want to sink into the sea, surrender obediently. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Is that so?"

Moonlight smiled faintly. Sword Aura surged around him, and a massive wave of Sword Aura slashed out!

He attacked directly!

The enormous Sword Aura tore through the sea and surged toward the Navy warship.

"He really doesn't waste words!"

Hina shook her head. Her hands suddenly transformed into jet-black spears, which pierced toward the incoming Sword Aura.

"Black Spear Formation!"

It was the very move that had attacked the Going Merry earlier!

Yet the Sword Aura soared through the sky, unstoppable. The black spears rushing toward it had almost no power to resist and were cut apart by Moonlight's Sword Aura like sheets of paper.

The Sword Aura continued tearing through the sea and slammed violently into the warship!

Buzz!

The Navy warship, which had dominated the seas without equal, was suddenly split into two down the middle!

All the Navy soldiers screamed as they fell into the sea!

Boom!

The Sword Aura continued roaring. The sea and air around them erupted into a Sword Aura storm, like a typhoon sweeping through. The surrounding waters were instantly ravaged into a complete mess! "I told you long ago, Hina. You can't handle him alone!"

Just then, Smoker arrived aboard a warship, bringing dozens more Navy vessels behind him and completely surrounding Luffy and the others.

He had his men rescue Hina from the sea and spoke calmly.

"I underestimated him. A great pirate with a two hundred million Beli bounty really is formidable!"

Hina panted and nodded, her expression full of wariness as she looked at Moonlight.

"Luffy, Zoro, you go first. I'll hold them off!"

Seeing this, Moonlight leaped straight into the sea. Dragon Severing Void—storms of afterimages immediately rose around him as he spoke to Luffy and the others.

"Okay, Moonlight. We'll leave it to you."

Luffy nodded, trusting Moonlight completely. Then the group set sail, speeding away before the Navy could complete its encirclement.

What surprised Moonlight was that Mr. 2 was moved by his resolve to face the Navy alone and actually stayed behind to help.

He really is a man of spirit. No wonder he got along so well with Luffy. Luffy has never misjudged a person.

Moonlight nodded to himself. More and more Navy vessels were gathering, their cannons all aimed at him. There were also two Devil Fruit Users. This force was far stronger than East Blue Commodore Nelson's. Two fists could not fight four hands; even for him, dealing with them would likely be difficult.

With Mr. 2 drawing away some of their firepower, things would naturally be much easier.