Chapter 178

Even the timid Chopper spoke up in support.

This sense of solidarity,

surprised Xiao Ba and the others — that man had been arrested by the Marines!

"Do you know what you're saying?" Xia Qi questioned. "Even though Fire Fist Ace was captured, for safety's sake he must be locked up on Impel Down's sixth level. In all of history, only Golden Lion Shiki has ever escaped from there. How do you plan to rescue him?"

How to rescue him...

The Straw Hat Pirates all looked at Sima Di in unspoken agreement — planning was hardly their strong suit.

Sima Di smiled.

This was exactly what he wanted — laying out the scheme for the Summit War, the sense of achievement would surely be off the charts!

"Then... first, we need everyone gathered. Franky, go bring Usopp." Sima Di said.

"Aye!"

Franky turned and left, bursting out the door and rocketing into the sky.

"I need some time to think. Do as you please." Sima Di said.

With that, he lowered his head and began pondering.

Luffy also sat to one side with a grave expression, quietly waiting.

Compared to charging in blindly on his own, trusting Sima Di was clearly the more reliable choice.

"Crocus, aren't you going to talk some sense into them?" Xia Qi looked at Crocus.

Crocus could only shrug helplessly.

"They won't listen to me, and besides..." Crocus looked at Sima Di. "I'm also very curious — if it's him, how will he decide to lay out the plan?"

Sima Di's flawless calculations made Crocus want to see whether he truly had any limits at all.

Xia Qi looked at Crocus as though he were a madman.

Crocus knew he was being a little crazy, but along this journey he had witnessed Sima Di create far, far too many miracles.

Instantly awakened Conqueror's Haki!

Armament Haki and Observation Haki — he activated them at will!

He even pioneered an unprecedented Armament Haki Cultivation Method and techniques!

His Haki talent was so monstrous he could tailor-make Haki techniques for others!

His Devil Fruit ability seemed omnipotent — there was nothing he couldn't do!

The key point was he was also a rare strategist. Though he possessed a general-class combat strength on par with Garp, he had never once thought to brute-force his way through — if he could use his brain, he absolutely would not use his fists.

A monster like this...

really makes it hard not to believe in him!

"Fine, does anyone want something to eat?" Xia Qi conceded. "I don't know where your confidence comes from... but since it's Xiao Ba and your friends, treating you to a meal is no problem."

"What kind of meals do you have?" Brook flashed into view. "Yo ho ho ho — beautiful young lady, may I see your panties?"

"Hmm... it seems I'm not wearing any." Xia Qi dropped a bombshell.

"Yo ho ho ho? Then..."

"Zzzt—"

Nami raised her hand and electrocuted Brook into a twitching heap on the floor.

"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have Vibranium Plating! Metal conducts electricity!" Nami said viciously.

However...

Brook's soul left his body, his face full of disbelief.

"I'm clearly a skeleton — I should be immune to lightning!"

"Heh heh!" A wisp of purple lightning appeared in Nami's palm. "Did you forget my Golden Buddha Indestructible Body?"

That Haki Cultivation Method, capable of controlling lightning, allowed Nami — who was only at beginner-level Armament Haki — to not only project Armament Haki outward, but also fuse it into lightning itself.

It was practically a BUG!

Xia Qi looked at the soulless Brook, then at the purple lightning in Nami's hand — clearly weak, yet making her heart palpitate.

She said to Crocus, "I'm starting to believe it a little."

"And all of this was brought about by that man." Crocus looked at Sima Di.

Now Xia Qi understood why Crocus had so much confidence.

"As compensation for my doubts, I'll give you all the intel for free." Xia Qi said. "There's intel suggesting Ace's identity may not be simple — he's not just the captain of Whitebeard's Second Division, he seems to have some connection with Vice Admiral Garp."

Everyone looked at Luffy — wasn't Vice Admiral Garp his grandfather?

"Yeah, Ace and I are both Grandpa's grandsons. He just adopted him in." Luffy said.

Xia Qi nodded in understanding, so that was how it was.

But she still felt there had to be more to it than that...

Sima Di, meanwhile, recalled his earlier speculation — between Ace and Luffy, which one was truly the son of the Pirate King?

Although the two were two years apart in age,

on this miraculous sea, there were plenty of ways to solve that.

"Thud!"

Franky returned with Usopp, pushed open the door and walked into the bar, casually hanging up the "Closed for Business" wooden sign.

Sima Di and Crocus's gazes lingered on Usopp for a few seconds.

Then both shook their heads.

"Good, everyone's here." Sima Di looked at Xiao Ba and the others, saying, "You three have nothing to do with this matter. You can still back out now."

Xiao Ba, however, shook his head.

"If it weren't for you secretly letting me leave back then... I'd definitely be in Impel Down right now, so let me in on this too. As a Fish-Man, my combat power may not be much, but maybe I'll be useful... Xia Qi, please take Kami and the others back!"

Pappag relaxed a sigh of relief, glad he didn't have to wade into these murky waters.

No way......

"I won't! My life was saved by you and Sanji-kun!" Kami hurriedly said: "If Hatchi can do it, so can I! I'm a mermaid who can communicate with fish schools—I'm more useful than you!"

Good grief!

Pappag was so scared his orange turned white, and he frantically tried to give Kami a slap to wake this silly girl up.

Is this something you can take part in?

What are the Straw Hat Pirates about to do?

Break into a prison!

Break into Impel Down's prison, no less!

Isn't this a one-way trip?

But this time Kami was actually prepared for Pappag, firmly raising both his hands, utterly unyielding.

"Alright, Their Thoughts I understand." Sima Di nodded and said: "Actually, I do have something Xuyaoni Gang."

"Okay! No problem!" Kami agreed in one breath.

Little did anyone expect, Sima Di's request was actually......

"Kami, please let me sell you to the auction house, to be today's final lot."

Kami's previously resolute expression changed, and she stared at Sima Di in terror!

Sell her to an auction house?

Never expected......

Even the Straw Hat Pirates had set their sights on the value of her mermaid self?

"I object!" Sanji, unusually, opposed Sima Di, angrily saying: "Di! You owe me an explanation! Otherwise this matter isn't over! I absolutely will not allow my mermaid Princess to be auctioned off!"

"Oh? You're questioning me?" Sima Di raised an eyebrow and said.

Although he knew this was Sanji's code of chivalry, Sima Di was still not satisfied.

Not even this much trust?

Compared to Sanji's intense reaction,

the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates, though also surprised, were far more composed.

Robin said slowly: "Sanji, Di-chan is hardly short on money—let's hear his plan first."

Sima Di Society short on money?

Just the materials used for the Going Merry—if you had Water Seven pay cash Bai Yin for them, they'd empty their coffers and still not be able to gather enough.

Sanji came to his senses at this point, scratching his head somewhat awkwardly.