【One Piece】Dawn in the Darkness

Chapter 511 A Scene of Chaos

"Don't talk nonsense!" Usopp was terrified by the horrific scene Robin described.

Luffy, perched atop the half-crocodile man's head, kept asking him about his crew and Lucci, "You really haven't seen them?"

"Shut up, I won't say anything!" Tea Beard shouted angrily as he ran.

"Fine, don't tell me then, then hurry up!" Luffy urged impatiently.

"This is too humiliating! To be ordered around by a little brat...you bunch of robbers!" Tea Beard shouted angrily, but his steps remained swift.

……

Research Institute Front Entrance

"It's unbelievable that there really is no poison gas on the island."

"What about the large amount of poisonous gas at the entrance?"

"This is something done by people who don't welcome us, isn't it?" Smoker replied, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Who lives here?! Get out here now! Whoever it is, arrest them! Get out here now!"

The sailors shouted at the iron gate of the research institute.

"Oh, the door is open."

"What brings you to my villa in person?" Luo leaned against the heavy door, a sarcastic smile on his face as he looked at the Navy "White Hunter" in front of him.

"It's Trafalgar Law!!"

"How could a Shichibukai be in a place like this?!"

A burst of panicked shouts erupted from the sailors.

“Even government officials are strictly prohibited from entering this place, Law!” Smoker said, biting his cigar and staring intently at Law. He never thought that Trafalgar simply lived here. A pirate is always a pirate, and his nature will never change no matter where he goes.

Tashigi stepped forward and showed the conversation she had overheard between the person calling for help and the Straw Hat Pirates. After all, he was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a pirate even recognized by the government. Before any conflict occurred, they needed to provide a reason for entering and searching.

Hearing the familiar voice coming from the Den Den Mushi in the Navy's hand, Lucci couldn't help but smile. Luffy was still as energetic as ever, so it seemed he didn't need to worry too much.

Lucci shifted his attention back to Smoker. He had originally planned to go with Law to deal with him, but he hadn't expected that the Marine Vice Admiral who had broken into the island was Smoker. His going out might cause more trouble, since in Lucci's memory, this guy had been chasing Luffy all the way.

"May I ask what brings you here? Fabricating emergency information is one of your navy's specialties." Even though the emergency signal intercepted by the navy revealed the name of the island, Luo was not flustered at all, although the sarcastic smile on his lips did fade a little.

Law hadn't expected so much to happen. Lucci, the Dragon Prince, wasn't enough, and now the Straw Hat Puppet Master had also joined the fray. However, considering the possible connections between them mentioned in the newspapers, he shouldn't have said he hadn't anticipated facing such a troublesome situation.

"Enough with the nonsense, we're going to open the research institute and search it now!" Smoker said impatiently. He wasn't going to give up this opportunity; he wouldn't let it go this time. He was determined to catch that kid.

"This is my villa now, no entry allowed!" Law said firmly, completely ignoring the angry look on the faces of the Marines opposite him. "What's wrong with a pirate like me staying on an island you don't want? If the Straw Hat crew comes here, I'll take their heads... If there's nothing else, please leave!"

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, chaotic footsteps suddenly came from inside the research institute. Lucci looked at the familiar presence rushing towards them with some surprise.

"It's a door! We can get out of here! Great!!"

"Hacha!"

With a loud crash, the large door next to them was smashed open by a powerful force; it was Chopper in his transformed form who kicked open the half-open door.

"Success!"

"They've come out of the house!"

"I can go home!!"

"I can see my parents again!"

The children raised their hands and cheered.

Feeling the chill of the wind outside, Nami hugged her bare arms and cried out, "It's so cold outside!"

Franky, amidst the incredulous gazes of all the Marines, brazenly led those children, clasping their hands together and shouting "SUPER!" in front of the Marines.

Lucci couldn't help but chuckle at the shock on the Marines' faces and the bewilderment emanating from Law. Although he was somewhat puzzled as to how Nami and the others had managed to break through with so many giant children, the fact that Nami and the others were there meant that Luffy and his crew had also come to the island. Now he didn't need to worry about how to find Luffy anymore.

He'd rather see Law suffer a setback now. Although he'd promised Law he wouldn't do anything rash to ruin his plans for the time being, it didn't mean he'd always listen to him. Besides, this was just to repay Law for saving his life.

As for his heart... he seemed to have been too relaxed, and the enemy had actually exploited his weakness. Lucci placed his hand on his chest, and he could clearly feel that there was no beating in his chest. This was his mistake.

"Ah, I've seen you somewhere before!" Nami exclaimed, noticing Law standing outside the door while holding Chopper.

"Oh right, I saw him in Sabaody Archipelago," Chopper exclaimed, remembering the sight of him.

"Did you lock the children up here?! You pervert! We will never give the children back to you!!"

"The Straw Hat Pirates, kids?" Tashigi asked in surprise, looking at the crowd in front of her.

"You are... Smoker, and the cute girl who's always with you!" Sanji exclaimed in shock, looking at the Marines opposite him. "I didn't expect there to be Marines here! This way won't work, let's try another direction!"

After Sanji finished speaking, he immediately directed everyone to return the way they came. "Hurry up, kids, get back inside, there should be a back door!"

"Why would there be Marines in a place like this?!" Nami ran while looking back in disbelief at the Marines outside. At that moment, she noticed a figure walking out from the corner at the doorway, waving at them as if to say goodbye, but he was quickly stopped by Trafalgar Law.

"Who is that?" Nami tried to see the face of the person who had just waved at them, but she could only see his back.

"Nami-san, what's wrong?" Sanji asked, looking at Nami who kept looking back as she ran. "Watch your step, Nami-san!"

Nami's eyes suddenly widened; she recognized him. "That's Lucci!"

"Lucci!?" Sanji, Franky, and Chopper exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

"Why is Lucci with that pervert?" Nami took a step forward, a puzzled look on her face.

“Let’s go back!” Chopper didn’t think much of it; he was just happy to have found Lucci here and wanted to check him over to make sure he wasn’t hurt.

"Hmm... Lucci looks amazing," Franky said excitedly, looking at the figure in the doorway.

"Let's find the back door of the research institute first and take these kids out." Sanji glanced back at the two figures standing at the door. "Lucci obviously has other plans, but he will definitely come looking for us. Let's leave this building first."