"What are you doing here?" Arlong growled, his grip tightening on the ropes binding his prisoner.
"I told you, I came to find a woman. Now get out of my way, you half-witted fish," Zoro spat back, his voice dripping with contempt despite his predicament.
The murloc leader threw his head back with a booming laugh. "Hahahaha! Only an inferior human would say such a thing. Consider this your one free pass, you won't get another."
Inside Arlong's base, the green-haired swordsman was tied to a post near the docks while Arlong lectured him with smug superiority. "We murloc's can breathe underwater. We are humanity's evolved form. That alone makes us superior. Remember, all primates originated from murlocs. When humans defy us, they defy nature itself."
In the adjacent room, Lucas and Nami exchanged glances as Arlong's speech filtered through the walls.
"He's here already?" Lucas murmured, more to himself than to her.
Nami sighed, rubbing her temples. "You people are relentless. How did you even track me down?"
A grin tugged at Lucas lips. "You've seen Luffy in action. Once he decides something, there's no stopping him. To him, you're already his navigator."
Nami didn't respond. Instead, she pushed past him and strode outside, Lucas close behind. With Zoro's arrival, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the crew showed up. The absence of Hawkeye was puzzling, but the situation was manageable, for now.
"Arlong, spare me your delusional ranting," Nami snapped as she stepped into the open.
The murloc leader chuckled, unfazed. "Ah, Nami! You're different. Our brilliant cartographer, always delivering flawless charts. You're the exception among these primates."
"My brain is different from yours," Nami retorted coldly.
Lucas lingered behind her, observing the exchange. Nami seemed intent on maintaining her facade, offering no explanation to Zoro.
"Why do you look so familiar? Nami, is that you?!" Zoro called out, squinting at her.
Arlong's grin widened. "Oh? You know each other?"
Nami shook her head. "He's just another mark. I swindled him blind, and he was dumb enough to follow me here."
Lucas frantically tried catching Zoro's eye, but the swordsman either didn't notice or chose to ignore him.
"Is this who you really are?" Zoro pressed. "After how much you hate pirates?"
'Damn it, Zoro, read the room!' Lucas internally groaned.
Nami's expression darkened. "It was all an act. Don't believe me? Look at this." She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the Arlong Pirates' tattoo.
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "That's..."
"I'm a true pirate. A captain of the Arlong Pirates," Nami declared, her voice icy.
Arlong roared with laughter. "Hahahaha! She's a witch who'd sell her own mother for gold. Consider yourself outplayed, human."
Lucas patience wore thin. He couldn't let this play out like the original script.
'System, what's my current emotion value?'
[Current Emotion Value: 50,214]
'Upgrade the Orochimaru Card.'
He hadn't realized he'd accumulated so much. What new abilities would a Level 3 card unlock?
[Ding! Operation successful.]
[Ding! 49,800 emotion points deducted.]
[Ding! Congratulations! Host's character card: Orochimaru (Gold) has been upgraded to Level 3.]
[New Skills Unlocked: Advanced Three Techniques (Body Flicker Technique, Temporary Paralysis Technique, and Invisibility Technique.), Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.]
[Chakra reserves doubled.]
'So upgrades now focus on fundamentals. To gain Orochimaru's true power, I'll need to push the card further.'
He pulled up his status.
//
[Host: Lucas]
[Character Card: Orochimaru (Gold)]
[Card Level: 3 (0/2000)]
[Skills: Soft Physique Modification technique, Chakra, Three Techniques, Advanced Three Techniques, Hidden Shadow Snake Hands]
[Equipment: Kusanagi Sword (Gold)]
[Equipment Skill: Serpent Blade, Snake Sword Unity]
[Combat Rating: B (Volatile. Host is no longer ordinary, but consistency is lacking.)]
//
'Volatile? I'm perfectly stable!'
'System, what's the combat tier based on this world's standards?'
A chart materialized.
[D-Class: Frail, elderly, or disabled. Below average.]
[C-Class: Civilians to Marine sergeants. Moderate threat.]
[B-Class: Exceptional fighters. Comparable to Marine lieutenants or pirate officers.]
[A-Class: Renowned warriors. Current Luffy, Zoro, and Arlong fall here.]
[S-Class: Grand Line elites. Emperor commanders.]
[SS-Class: Emperor-tier.]
[SSS-Class: The pinnacle.]
'So I'm solidly B-Class. Not bad.'
[Ding! System emotional fluctuation detected. +1 Emotion Point.]
'Wait, the system has moods now?!'
No time to dwell, Zoro was about to leap into the water.
Just as he tensed to jump, Lucas flashed across the surface and caught him midair.
"What?! How's he standing on water?!" a murloc gasped.
"Wasn't he just Nami's lackey?"
Steel gleamed as Lucas severed Zoro's binds. "We're retreating. I'll explain later," he muttered.
Zoro blinked, momentarily stunned, then nodded.
Arlong's roar shook the docks. "WHAT IS THIS BETRAYAL?!"
Lucas smirked. "Surprise. I'm Mission: Impossible, infiltrated Nami's crew. But now? Time to go, you overgrown guppy." His insult lacked finesse, but it did the job. Hands flew into a seal.
" Shunshin no Jutsu!"
Poof!
White smoke erupted, and the two vanished.
Nami exhaled in silent relief.
Arlong's fury erupted. "AFTER THEM! I'LL SKIN THEM ALIVE!"