Nami suddenly stepped forward with a confident smile on her face.
She said softly, "Luffy, don't worry. I am now a Devil Fruit user with the Azure Dragon ability. I can transform into a Dragon just like Big Mom and Katakuri, and I have the power of flight. I can take everyone away from here."
"What?!" Luffy's eyes widened, staring at Nami in utter disbelief. "Nami, when did you become a Devil Fruit user? How come I didn't know?"
Equally dumbfounded were Bullett, Redfield, and Crocodile.
Their gazes snapped towards Nami simultaneously, filled with shock and confusion.
"What kind of joke is this! This little girl can also turn into a dragon?" Bullett couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his tone full of disbelief.
A complex light flashed in Redfield's eyes.
What is happening to this world? Why is everyone Kaido now!
Crocodile snorted coldly.
'It seems we've truly fallen behind the times...'
Luffy's question was like a massive rock thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples spreading outward.
Zoro, Sanji, Robin, and the others all hung their heads in silence, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard to breathe.
Luffy's gaze swept over each of them before finally settling on Nami's face with a trace of confusion in his eyes.
Nami murmured softly, "Luffy, I... I'm no longer a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. The Straw Hat Pirates have disbanded. I belong to Ron now..."
"Nami, you... are no longer my crew?" Luffy's voice was low and calm, but anyone could hear the suppressed emotion in it.
His fists clenched slightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"Are you abandoning your comrades?"
Nami's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up, but she fought hard to keep them from falling.
Her lips trembled slightly as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
In the end, it was Robin who stepped forward, her voice carrying a barely concealed heaviness.
"Luffy, things aren't what you think," Robin said slowly, her gaze fixed on Luffy. "At the time, we were being hunted by members of the CP Organization, and the situation was extremely dire. If Ron hadn't intervened, we might have already..."
She paused before continuing, "Nami traded her freedom to save us, begging Ron to step in. She... made this choice to protect everyone."
Upon hearing this, Luffy's expression grew even darker.
His fists clenched tighter, his nails nearly digging into his palms.
He said nothing, simply standing there quietly as if digesting Robin's words.
A flicker of pain and struggle passed through his eyes, clearly indicating an intense internal conflict.
Akainu, Kizaru, Magellan, and the others stood by, watching coldly from the sidelines.
Akainu's face remained stern, but a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He hadn't expected such a backstory behind what seemed like a simple conflict.
Kizaru, on the other hand, looked intrigued.
He adjusted his sunglasses and said lightly, "My, my, this is quite interesting. On one side, the savior who rescued you and your comrades, and on the other, the one who took your crewmate... Luffy, boy, what will you choose?"
Magellan frowned, muttering under his breath, "Ron actually agreed to a little girl's request and came to the Impel down to save her friends... This is unprecedented in history, isn't it?"
His tone carried a note of disbelief, clearly taken aback by Ron's actions.
It was a near-suicidal condition, and yet the other party had actually agreed.
If not for exploiting Big Mom, Ron might very well have ended up dead here.
Garp stood to the side, arms crossed, watching Luffy with a complicated expression.
As Luffy's grandfather, he understood his grandson's nature better than anyone.
He knew that Luffy valued his comrades above all else, and now he was facing such a difficult dilemma.
Garp's brow furrowed slightly as he sighed inwardly.
'What will this kid do?'
Luffy remained silent.
His gaze shifted from Nami's face, slowly sweeping over Zoro, Sanji, Robin, and the others before finally settling on Ron.
His eyes held a complex mix of emotions—anger, gratitude, and even a hint of helplessness.
"Ron..." Luffy finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse. "You saved them, and I'm grateful. But..."
His tone suddenly turned resolute. "Nami is my crewmate. I won't let her trade her freedom for our safety. If this is her choice, I'll respect it. But if you forced her, I'll never let you get away with it!"
Hearing this, Ron smiled faintly, his gaze calm as he looked at Luffy.
"Luffy, I've never forced anyone. Nami's decision is her own, and I respect her will."
Luffy's eyes instantly sharpened, his fists clenching tighter as his aura surged abruptly.
"But... if I defeat you, Nami will come back, right?"
Nami's tears finally spilled over as she looked at Luffy, her voice choked with sobs.
"Luffy... I'm sorry..."
Luffy turned to Nami, a bright smile spreading across his face. "Nami, you don't need to apologize. I understand you made this choice for everyone's sake.
But as your captain, I won't let anyone trade their freedom for our safety. Today, I'll use my fists to bring you back!"
Zoro, Sanji, Robin, and the others gleamed with determination upon hearing Luffy's words.
They knew this was the captain they recognized—the Luffy who would never abandon his crewmates no matter the odds.
Akainu, Kizaru, and Magellan watched coldly from the sidelines, clearly intrigued by the impending conflict.
Garp shook his head and muttered under his breath, "This kid... still as impulsive as ever..."
Ron scoffed, a contemptuous curl lifting the corner of his mouth as he cast a cold glare at Luffy.
"Luffy, do you really think you can defeat me?"
His tone carried a hint of mockery, as if ridiculing Luffy's naivety.
"Even if I stood still and let you hit me, you couldn't break through my defense." Ron's voice was calm yet brimming with unshakable confidence.
He slowly raised a hand and lightly tapped his chest, producing a dull thud.
"My Armament Haki grows stronger every second, even while I sleep. What makes you think you can defeat me?"
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