Paper Paper Fruit In One Piece

At sea,

"Ouch, it hurts~~ it hurts~~"

"Waaahhh~~ Mama, where are you?"

The one crying wasn't a three-year-old child, but a giant ship weighing tens of thousands of tons! Upon hearing the Queen Mama Chanter's cries, the beautiful Charlotte Custard patted the figurehead.

"Be strong! It's just a hole in your belly."

"Remember, you're a ship, not a person. You won't die from a little injury like this!"

"But~~ but~~ it still hurts so much~~"

"I'm the one with a headache!"

Charlotte Custard rubbed her temples. As the highest-ranking officer on this ship, she knew that she had to take the most responsibility for this failure. Just thinking about her mother made even someone with Vice Admiral strength like her shiver.

Charlotte Linlin's upbringing had always been focused on "strength first, education second" before she became powerful, which meant most of her adult children were focused on strengthening their abilities. On the other hand, the younger ones were treated like royalty.

But that was just "education first, strength second."

Of course, if you caught Big Mom's eye and became a special favorite, you'd learn firsthand what it really meant to "serve the queen like serving a tiger"!

"Don't worry, Lady Custard. BON~"

Baron Tamago, known for his intelligence, was one of the few smart members in Big Mom's pirate crew. Even his superior, one of the Three Sweet Commanders, Charlotte Smoothie, respected his opinions.

"How can I not be worried?"

Charlotte Custard snapped back angrily, 

"Caesar is long gone, the 'Queen Mama Chanter' is damaged, and we haven't even managed to scratch them! How are we supposed to explain this to Mama?"

"Calm down," 

Baron Tamago sipped his tea gracefully, spinning the cane in his other hand before pointing it toward the blasted hole in the ship's side. 

"What's that?" 

Seeing Charlotte Custard's puzzled expression, Baron Tamago gave the answer directly. 

"It's a weapon." 

"A weapon?" 

"A new weapon used by the enemy against us." 

Instantly, realization dawned on Charlotte Custard's face, turning into delight. Right, why hadn't she thought of this sooner? 

Mama valued Caesar not just because he was a mad scientist playing with poisonous gases, but because he could research "human gigantification." Mama wanted this to secure a massive number of giant-level fighters. Even though Caesar had now been killed by the enemy, their weapon could be another powerful source of combat strength! 

"But if we want to take their weapon…" 

Most people only see the terrifying strength, brutality, and insatiable appetite of "Four Emperors" Charlotte Linlin. But they forget that she is also a resourceful warlord, relentlessly collecting technology, maintaining the world's top intelligence network, and doing everything to bolster her forces. 

Human gigantification wasn't just about the lack of giants in Totto Land. It was meant to provide giant-level combat power. Although they had failed in their plans, they unexpectedly discovered that the Straw Hat crew possessed a powerful new weapon! 

Forget whether gigantification could succeed or not. Wouldn't it be better to snatch the Straw Hat crew's new weapon? It's a universal rule: 

"If something so powerful exists, it belongs to me. Hand it over, and I might let you live." 

This logic applies in every world. 

"And this weapon is incredibly destructive," 

Baron Tamago explained confidently to the gathered Big Mom Pirates officers. 

"But it poses no real threat to 'strong individuals' like us." 

The railgun's power was indeed terrifying, but as a straightforward, charge-based weapon, it posed little danger to the top fighters of the New World. 

Even though they had never encountered a railgun before, their Observation Haki immediately alerted them, allowing them to dodge the attack. Sure, it scared them for a moment, but upon reflection, it couldn't really harm them. 

A weapon is just a weapon! 

It's different from a clash between skilled fighters, where Haki cancels each other out. That's why the Golden Lion fell victim to Roman's "Electromagnetic Sword," while the Big Mom Pirates officers all dodged the "railgun." 

"Excellent!" 

Fifteen on the outside but actually forty-five, Charlotte Custard perked up. With Baron Tamago's insights, a plan to "redeem herself" began to form. 

"Besides, it looks like their weapon needs electrical power to function, which makes it perfect for our Totto Land!" 

Other factions might worry about energy sources for such a weapon, but for the Big Mom Pirates? Just have Mama create a few more Zeuses, and their Charlotte family could dominate the Grand Line in no time! A cluster of railguns—who wouldn't be terrified? 

"Good, very good, excellent!" 

The more Charlotte Custard thought about it, the more excited she became. She slapped the ship's side. 

"Full speed ahead! Return to Totto Land!" 

Baron Tamago took another sip of tea, though he had his doubts about how they could wrest the new weapon from the Straw Hat crew. But that was for Mama and the higher-ups to worry about. 

---

"A weapon is just a weapon," 

Meanwhile, Roman couldn't help but remark. 

"No matter how powerful it is, it's hard to hit a true expert with Observation Haki. But it's very effective against ships, fortresses, and buildings." 

"You handle these kinds of things," 

"If possible, I'd still rather live as a carefree navigator." 

Nami commanded the "Sunny Merry" to turn towards Dressrosa, dispersing the storm clouds, fierce winds, and waves that were boosting their battle. This sudden move left Roman stunned.

"What the...?"

"What's wrong, Roman?"

Following Roman's gaze, Nami froze for a moment before her face turned serious. Above the Kingdom of Dressrosa, a massive web of strings descended like a birdcage—no, it *was* a birdcage.

Doflamingo's ultimate move: the "Birdcage." 

"That's not right—"

With Luffy and the others' strength, there was no reason they shouldn't have defeated Doflamingo by now. Could something have gone wrong? 

"I'll go check it out!" 

Without hesitation, Roman crouched down and leaped! Two rings of air rippled out explosively from the deck, shaking the "Sunny Merry" violently. Massive waves, over ten meters high, surged on both sides. 

"Always so impatient…" 

While Nami steadied herself and muttered, Roman's figure disappeared. Nearby, Brook looked up, his hollow eyes catching sight of a black dot heading towards Dressrosa.

Too slow.

With Roman's incredible physical strength, leaping was faster than using wings.

---

"Hm?"

Ignoring the ever-approaching "Birdcage," Roman scanned the battlefield and froze in confusion.

A massive mammoth was rampaging across the field, leaving a trail of dried and decayed destruction, as if touched by the Sand-Sand Fruit. No one, not even the foot soldiers or arena warriors, could stop it.

"What the hell? Why is Jack the Drought' here?"

There were plenty of giant elephants in this world, but the one chasing skilled fighters like Cavendish and Chinjao could only be one person:

Jack, one of the three top executives under Kaido, Emperor of the Sea. A key figure in the Beast Pirates, known as the "Drought." With a bounty of 1 billion berries, he's a powerhouse with the Ancient Zoan-type Elephant-Elephant Fruit, Mammoth form.

"That doesn't make sense. Jack should still be at Zou, fighting Cat and Dog in a round-robin match…"

Why is he here helping Doflamingo?

Yes, helping. 

After all, the strange half-human, half-animal figures fighting alongside Doflamingo's officers were clearly Kaido's subordinates, the "Gifters." Among them were several who stood out as true elites. 

No wonder Doflamingo had lasted this long. With the Straw Hat crew's current strength and the arena fighters' support, they should have easily crushed the Donquixote Family— 

*Shhhht!* 

The sound of blades slicing rang out. Lost in thought, Roman collided with the "Birdcage," instantly being "sliced" into countless pieces: white paper.

"This Birdcage… not bad."

Its sharpness was impressive, but more notable was its toughness. Roman had intentionally tested it, crashing into it with Haki fully activated. The result? While the Birdcage couldn't hurt him, he also couldn't break through it.

Interesting. As Devil Fruits are developed further, they seem to take on conceptual properties. 

For example, this "absolutely unbreakable" Birdcage of Doflamingo's… 

Fluttering down like snow, the scattered paper reassembled. Roman quickly scanned the battlefield, where both sides were evenly matched, and was about to jump in to help when:

"Admiral Fujitora, why are you hesitating?" 

A bloodied Marine Vice Admiral, Maynard the "Pursuer," urgently appealed to Fujitora.

"We can't let Doflamingo continue as a Warlord of the Sea. We need to arrest him immediately!"

And afterward? Find another pirate to replace him?

"This same play has been performed many times, hasn't it?" 

Though Fujitora couldn't see, he could hear the despairing cries, mutated roars, the clash of weapons against flesh and life, and the crackling of flames consuming everything.

Replace one Warlord, and another nation's people will suffer through the same tragedy seen "here." 

In such a world, Fujitora would rather remain blind.

"You've served the Marines for many years, haven't you, Vice Admiral?" 

Fujitora might be blind, but he can "see" the current situation more clearly than anyone else. 

"Have you turned a deaf ear to this furious wailing?" 

! 

Behind him, Vice Admiral 'Pursuer' Maynard froze in shock as Fujitora's expression grew more serious. 

"These people aren't crying—they're roaring in anger." 

"The so-called World Government—" 

"Is it 'God,' or something else?" 

Thud. The dignified Marine Vice Admiral collapsed to the ground in fear. At that moment— 

Rustle, rustle~~ White doves descended, forming the words: "White Dove, Candidate for Admiral?" 

The flustered 'Pursuer' Maynard scrambled to his feet and saluted Roman to mask his embarrassment. Draped in a Marine coat, Roman waved it off casually. 

"Vice Admiral Maynard, follow Admiral Fujitora's orders." 

"Yes, sir!" 

Like a prisoner pardoned, 'Pursuer' Maynard quickly turned and left the scene. His mind was a mess, and his hardened body felt weak, his legs as unsteady as if walking on cotton. 

"Are you here to accuse me?" 

Fujitora, who had just uttered such "blasphemous" words, didn't turn around because: 

"I hold no hostility toward you, and honestly, I can't beat you." 

After speaking plainly, Roman shifted the topic. 

"Are you really not going to step in?" 

"I saw Doflamingo walking with Jack, one of the Three Disasters of the Beasts Pirates. Add to that his crimes of enslaving citizens with his powers and framing the former King Riku—" 

"Is it really okay for 'us' Marines to just sit and watch?" 

"We're not just watching. I've already ordered the full-scale rescue of ordinary people. Besides—" 

The blind man turned his head toward the battlefield. His white pupils seemed to see something invisible to others. 

"This country's tragedy was caused by 'us.' At this point, what right do we have to stand up as 'saviors'?" 

"Understood," 

Roman turned to leave. Fujitora's message was crystal clear. Now, the next step— 

Boom! 

A dazzling white suit of armor descended from the sky, smashing into the intense battlefield and crushing one of the Beasts Pirates' top fighters underfoot. 

Straw Hat Pirates, **The White Knight**, joins the fight! 

[End of Chapter] 

 ----You can read 10 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu