Chapter 207: Why Has My Lufia Shrunk?
"...What the hell!!"
Hearing that Ralph had brought a bomb, everyone took a big step back in unison.
The dial timer on the bomb clicked away, each tick feeling like a hammer to the heart.
"Ralph, why did you bring the bomb here?!"
Nami screamed.
"Why not defuse it?!"
Usopp's tears were about to burst out.
"We're gonna die, we're gonna die, we're gonna die—"
Chopper spun in place, clutching his head.
Bon Kurei was already hugging Chopper, the two trembling like frightened little animals:
"I don't want to die yet!"
Sanji held a cigarette in his mouth, but the fingers holding it trembled slightly:
"Hey, hey, this is no joke…"
Hearing his companions' complaints, Ralph's first concern was still Lufia.
"My Lufia, why has she shrunk?"
"She wasn't this small before!"
Nami couldn't help but shout loudly, "We've checked, Lufia is physically fine!
Let's defuse the bomb first, and then we can talk slowly, okay?"
Crocodile's smile bloomed again as he watched the chaotic group, his laughter tinged with triumph, "It's useless."
"Though I don't know how you found the bomb I planted... you have no time left!"
He glanced at the dial.
"When the second hand completes its final lap, the bomb will explode. Everything within five kilometers of this center will be leveled!"
His voice grew louder, carrying the madness of someone facing death.
"Let us—perish together!"
How ironic!
Not long ago, it was King Cobra who had uttered those words.
Now it was Crocodile's turn.
"One minute left!"
Vivi's face turned pale, "Father, quickly organize the evacuation of the people—"
"It's too late."
Cobra's voice was heavy, "Five kilometers, hundreds of thousands of people…"
Just then, a voice spoke up.
"Let me handle it."
Everyone turned to look—it was Pell.
The strongest warrior of Alabasta, the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Falcon Devil Fruit User, wore an unusually calm expression at this moment.
"I am a Tori Tori no Mi Devil Fruit User, I can transform into a falcon."
As he spoke, his body began to change, feathers emerging from beneath his skin, his arms turning into wings, "I'll grab this bomb and fly high enough, far enough away."
"Pell!"
Chaka's expression changed drastically.
"As long as it's out of the blast range, everyone will be safe."
Pell's voice came from the bird's beak, "To sacrifice myself for the safety of His Majesty the King and Her Highness the Princess, for the safety of the hundreds of thousands of people in the capital—"
He extended his claws, reaching for the bomb.
Vivi's eyes instantly reddened:
"Pell, don't—"
"—It's worth it."
Cobra opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound.
What could he say?
Stop Pell?
But if he didn't stop him, Pell would…
Time no longer allowed him to think.
Pell took off abruptly, his claws reaching for the spherical object.
Suddenly, someone stepped in front of the bomb before he could.
"Don't rush, I was just joking!"
Pell froze.
Everyone froze.
Crocodile froze too.
Ralph instantly appeared beside the massive spherical bomb, moving so fast that no one saw how he got there.
He took off the cross from around his neck and gave it a gentle pull.
With a soft shing, the small knife hidden inside was revealed.
"What are you doing?!"
Crocodile's eyes widened, "Want to defuse the bomb? Don't even dream of it! That's—"
His words got stuck halfway.
Because Ralph slid his knife into the gap of the watch face.
Everyone heard a click as the bomb timer's face was pried open.
Revealing the densely packed gears and clockwork inside.
Ralph glanced down, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
A purely mechanical timing device.
Really... walked right into my specialty.
During his adventure on Clockwork Island, he had genuinely acquired advanced mechanical skills.
Technology like Vegapunk's, which was five hundred years ahead of its time, might be beyond him.
But this purely mechanical stuff—
He inserted the knife and gave it a gentle flick.
Click!
The second hand stopped.
The whole world fell silent.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the bomb—
the bomb that should have leveled everything within five kilometers in just a few seconds now lay as quiet as a decoration.
Crocodile's smile froze completely on his face.
"..."
Ralph ignored him.
Cutting the ignition device and stopping the timer didn't make the bomb itself safe. It was still packed with explosives, and a severe impact could...
He looked up, meeting Munch-Munch's bright little eyes.
The little dinosaur had somehow crept over and was gazing up at him expectantly, its tail wagging like a fan.
Ralph smiled.
He tossed the bomb into the air—
"Gulp!"
Munch-Munch's mouth instantly opened wider than the bomb, swallowing the entire thing, which was nearly three or four meters in diameter, in one gulp!
Gulp.
It even chewed a couple of times.
Then let out a burp.
Burp!
A puff of black smoke drifted from its nostrils. It shook its head, still wagging its tail, with an expression that seemed to ask, "Got any more?"
The bomb crisis vanished without a trace.
Everyone present fell into a brief silence.
Pell awkwardly transformed back into human form, standing in place before finally clearing his throat:
"Ahem... well... as long as everyone's safe, that's what matters."
Cobra and Vivi exchanged a glance, then looked at Chaka.
Chaka looked back at them.
All three simultaneously remembered what Pell had been prepared to do.
The resolve of a hero.
They were proud to have such a warrior.
But not having to sacrifice... was truly a relief.
"Whew..."
Nami gasped for breath, patting her gradually fuller chest,
"That scared me to death! Scared me to death! Scared me to death..."
Usopp, Chopper, and Bon Kurei, who had been clinging to each other in a huddle, finally let go, all collapsing to the ground.
"I thought I was going to die..."
"B-but..."
"You bastard, even if we survived, I'm not thanking you..."
Crocodile was personally escorted away by Chaka and Pell.
This former Seven Warlords of the Sea was now shackled with Seastone Handcuffs, but his eyes remained fixed on Ralph.
Fixed on the man who had thwarted his plans from start to finish.
"You... just who are you?"
Ralph glanced at him, "Straw Hat Pirates, Vice Captain, Ralph."
"Straw Hat..."
Crocodile mulled over the word, "I'll remember you!"
"Honored!"
Ralph turned away, ignoring him.
Everything was finally over.
...
Three days later.
Alabasta Royal Palace.
Crocodile was temporarily imprisoned in the dungeons beneath the palace.
King Cobra had already sent a message to Navy Headquarters, and they would soon dispatch personnel to receive this high-level prisoner of the Seven Warlords of the Sea caliber.
Ralph specifically inquired about the handling method.
"Transfer to the Navy..."
He nodded thoughtfully and said nothing more.
But deep in his eyes, a flicker of complex emotion passed.
The Summit War...
Would that fateful turning point change because of his actions?
He didn't know.
But what he knew was that there were more important matters to focus on now.
In the palace bedroom, the miniature Lufia lay on the bed, her small body sprawled out, sleeping soundly.
Ralph sat by the bedside, gazing at that face which appeared especially tender after shrinking, his brow slightly furrowed.