Weiwei clenched her fists, encouraging herself with a determined expression. "Let's go, Karoo. Let's go back. We're heading for the New World. Next time—next time, I'll definitely beat him."
"Quack!" The loyal duck, Karoo, quickly folded the newspaper, quacking twice in support.
Their departure was quiet and unnoticed, unlike the explosive display of strength shown by Sand Crocodile on the battlefield. Crocodile had overwhelmed the Teabeard Pirates, the New Age Pirates, the Executioners Pirates, and even the Bucky Pirates, forcing them to flee. Once again, he solidified the reputation of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Shichibukai—under his command.
...
Carrying the title of one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Whiskey Mountain, Weiwei fought pirates for half a month before withdrawing from the frontlines under the pretext of needing to recuperate from serious injuries. In truth, she took Karoo and secretly boarded a merchant ship headed for the New World—the second half of the Grand Line.
This world wasn't simply split into pirates and marines. Between these two forces lived countless civilians who made their living at sea.
Weiwei didn't have her own ship, and even if she did, she couldn't afford to openly set sail. Her journey to the New World was a covert operation—secrecy was crucial, and the fewer people who knew, the better.
After careful consideration, she managed to secure a spot with a traveling theatrical troupe that performed stage plays.
The troupe's leader and main actor was a man named Randoluff—an elderly man who once served as a major in the Marine Headquarters. He had enlisted in the navy to avenge the brutal murder of his family by pirates. After achieving his revenge, he returned to the arts, writing scripts, hiring actors and crew, and touring towns between the Grand Line and the New World aboard a large ship.
Unlike pirates, who must pass through the treacherous undersea path beneath the Red Line and Fish-Man Island to reach the New World, and unlike marines who can travel through Mary Geoise on the Red Line, civilians face an entirely different process. To move from the Grand Line to the New World, they must apply through the World Government, receive approval, cross the Red Line on foot, and then continue their voyage on the other side.
The Randoluff Theatre Troupe operated year-round on this route. Their paperwork was immaculate, and they maintained ships on both sides of the Red Line for seamless travel.
If someone wanted to perform in the Grand Line, they would board a ship here. To reach the New World, they would submit an application, have their ship stored, cross the Red Line by land, and retrieve their second ship on the other side to continue touring.
This was how many civilians traveled—tedious but far safer than the pirate or marine routes.
Weiwei had no intention of going through Fish-Man Island. The sea pressure at 10,000 meters beneath the surface was too dangerous. Instead, using her acrobatic techniques learned from Bucky the Clown, she disguised herself with stage makeup, donned her "Jaina" identity once more, brought along Karoo, and three days after leaving Whiskey Peak, officially joined Randoluff's troupe.
Randoluff harbored a deep hatred for pirates. After leaving the marines, he used stage plays to tour the world, educating and entertaining civilians. His model was similar to a performing arts troupe from Weiwei's previous life. He had no issues operating in the New World, and his good reputation and background—akin to former Admiral Zephyr—earned Weiwei's trust. She decided to ride this "tailwind" ship into the next chapter of her journey.
When Randoluff heard about the "hero" from Alabasta battling pirates, he was moved. He brought his troupe to coastal cities to support the cause, staging fifteen performances. Nine of those were free, and the remaining six charged only nominal fees to cover basic expenses. The troupe operated at a loss, but it was a cause worth supporting.
Weiwei applied to become an actress.
With her skills in singing, dancing, operatics, and recitation, she passed the audition with ease. Randoluff was impressed by her humility and lack of concern for salary and promptly signed a contract with her. Thus, Weiwei became an official member of the Randoluff Theatre Troupe.
Since leaving Alabasta, she had performed twice on stage.
The plays were simple in structure—almost rudimentary.
Randoluff played the main character, a heroic marine officer. Two younger men and three older ones portrayed pirates. A few more played civilians. Weiwei, thanks to the old man's sharp eye, was cast as a veiled princess, riding her "camel" Karoo onstage—a background character kidnapped by pirates, alongside the king and prince. This setup emphasized the cruelty and greed of the pirates. After their defeat by the marines, the princess and royal family were rescued, and the play concluded.
The plot was simple, but in towns that had suffered under pirate rule, these performances were deeply moving. The people needed these moments of spiritual relief.
Weiwei's daily routine became peaceful. When she had a role, she performed. When she didn't, she practiced Armament Haki and Observation Haki in her room. She ate well, rested, and spent her free time reading newspapers. She often saw updates about Alabasta. The battle between the "hero" and pirates was still ongoing, fueled by the allure of treasure.
Karoo was equally delighted. The troupe's ship made frequent stops, giving the duck opportunities to explore. The culinary diversity of the One Piece world was unmatched—each island offered unique ingredients and flavors.
After suffering three days of diarrhea from sampling everything, Karoo became more selective.
"Quack?" Karoo pointed at a bottle of cola on a roadside stall, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Weiwei grabbed him immediately. In this world, cola wasn't just a drink—it was potent enough to power Franky's mechanical ships. Something with that much energy couldn't be safe for drinking!
"No! You can't drink that. It's way too dangerous," she warned, pulling Karoo away.
"Quack…" The duck walked away sadly but perked up within a minute after discovering another snack. Its spirit was uncrushable.
Their voyage was filled with small joys. Every day felt easy and free.
The Randoluff Theatre Troupe was beloved by civilians, but among higher powers, opinions were mixed. The Five Elders—the highest authority in the World Government—prioritized maintaining balance. With the Navy, Four Emperors, and Warlords all in a delicate equilibrium, any shift was cause for concern.
Although Randoluff's anti-pirate message clashed with the Five Elders' subtle political strategy, his influence was minor, so he was largely ignored.
"Stop the ship!"
"Prepare for inspection!"
"We're the Navy! Halt immediately!"
Just as the Randoluff Theatre Troupe neared Water 7, a group of arrogant navy officers intercepted them.