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Grand Line, first half.
"Captain Smoker, don't we need to continue the pursuit?" Tashigi asked, holding her sword as she approached Smoker.
"Let the Straw Hat crew go. We're heading to Alabasta first," Smoker replied, putting the Den Den Mushi back into his pocket. He looked down at Tashigi and continued, "Ikki has appeared in Alabasta and defeated the Shichibukai Crocodile with his companions."
"Defeated Shichibukai Crocodile? Is Mr. Ikki that powerful?! Wait, three companions?" Tashigi asked in surprise.
"Yes, three companions. According to Hina's information, Ikki seems to have invited the princess of Alabasta to join his crew and taught her a sword style that can control ice," Smoker nodded. "The princess of Alabasta apparently perford very well in the battle against Crocodile."
"Tashigi, you're familiar with Ikki. Among the sword styles he knows, are there any that can create ice? I don't rember seeing an ice-controlling style in the 'Demon Slayer' manga he gave you. Though that ghost from the 'Upper Moon' seems to have ice powers."
After all this ti, Smoker had found the opportunity to read the "Demon Slayer" manga that Tashigi had. Seeing the sword techniques that Ikki also used in real life, Smoker naturally didn't treat "Demon Slayer" as just a story.
Smoker admired the swordsn of the Demon Slayer Corps depicted in the story. Even sacrificing their lives to kill evil demons—wasn't this the justice he believed in?
"I've never seen Mr. Ikki use swordsmanship that creates ice," Tashigi replied. "However, according to 'Demon Slayer', swordsn can develop different breathing styles based on their own thods. Although it's not shown in the manga, perhaps Mr. Ikki developed a sword style that uses ice."
"Captain Smoker, are we going to Alabasta to hold Mr. Ikki responsible for killing Crocodile?" she asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. That Crocodile was planning to overthrow Alabasta's royal family," Smoker explained. "What Ikki did has been recognized and appreciated by the King of Alabasta. We're going there to work with Hina and others to investigate what Crocodile was doing in Alabasta. Our current location isn't too far from Alabasta anyway."
"After this mission is over, you may need to explain your sword skills to the higher-ups," he added.
"My swordsmanship?" Tashigi frowned.
"Hmph, those people upstairs are very curious about how quickly Ikki's companions get stronger," Smoker said. "They think the breathing thod that Ikki taught you, Nami, and the others might make people stronger more quickly than the Marines' regular training thods."
"I don't believe it. If this breathing thod really has such power, would he let it spread so easily? Tashigi, didn't you learn the swordsmanship Ikki taught almost in a daze? Forget those higher-ups. More than anything, you probably want to see Ikki again. It's been a while since you last saw him. This is a good chance to et up before he gets taken away by Nami and Nojiko."
Smoker patted Tashigi on the shoulder and walked toward the other Marines.
"Really, Captain Smoker says such things again..." Tashigi's face turned red, but she didn't deny Smoker's suggestion that she liked Ikki.
"Water Breathing, following the breathing thod can indeed improve the body's functions. But... how did my body adapt to this breathing thod?" she murmured to herself, thinking about Ikki training her, confusion on her face.
Just as Smoker had said, she seed to have simply followed Ikki's suggestions. It didn't seem easy to summarize the specific thod of Water Breathing.
"Well, at least I don't have to worry about teaching the Water Breathing thod to others and making Mr. Ikki unhappy," Tashigi said to herself. She raised her head and quickly ran to where Smoker was.
'Ikki, we can et again!' she thought. 'I wonder how he's doing now. Nami and Nojiko... they shouldn't be with him yet, right?'
Thinking about seeing Ikki again soon, Tashigi felt both excited and a little worried.
anwhile, in Alubarna, the royal capital of Alabasta...
"Achoo!"
"Have you caught a cold, Captain Ikki?" Vivi asked, as she got off Ikki's back and looked at him with concern.
She didn't notice that her father Cobra, childhood friend Koza, and the others were looking at her strangely.
"Don't worry, my nose just itched suddenly," Ikki waved his hand, indicating that Vivi didn't need to worry.
"Speaking of which, where is King Cobra? And Nico Robin? Where is she now?" Although Ikki felt that his agreent with Robin had been fulfilled and he no longer owed her anything, he had left so suddenly to deal with Crocodile that he still wanted to say goodbye to her properly.
"In her words, she left after seeing what she wanted to see," Cobra replied, walking up to Ikki and Vivi. "But she said she would et you again, Ikki."
Then Cobra's eyes looked Ikki up and down, as if trying to understand everything about him.
"King Cobra, is there sothing about that interests you?" Ikki asked, confused.
"Nothing strange, I just think you're quite talented, Ikki, haha," Cobra laughed. "I really must thank you for your help. Without you, Alabasta would be in a terrible situation."
"Co, Vivi, Ikki, Miss Nami, and Miss Nojiko. I've prepared a banquet for you. Please follow ," Cobra said happily, patting Ikki and Vivi on the shoulders before leading the way out of the royal chamber toward the banquet hall.
"Vivi, is your father acting a little weird?" Ikki whispered, leaning close to Vivi's ear as they walked. "And your childhood friend, and those guards... they're all looking at us strangely."
With Ikki's Observation Haki perception, he could naturally feel the odd looks that Cobra, Pell, and the others were giving him and Vivi.
"I don't know. Maybe everyone just wants to thank you, Captain Ikki," Vivi whispered back.
"Really?" Ikki looked suspiciously at Cobra and the others, feeling that sothing was off.
'Forget it. Compared to this, the swords that Chaka and Pell carry are more important,' he thought, shaking his head before continuing in a low voice:
"Vivi, do you rember the deal you first made with ?"
"The first deal? You an Pell's sword?" she asked.
"That's right! Not just Pell's famous sword, but also the one Chaka carries. Please help get both of them."
"You want Chaka's sword too? Captain Ikki, you're being a bit greedy," Vivi teased.
"I can't help it. The swords they carry are all grade swords. I'm a sword hunter, after all. I can't ignore a famous sword when I see one."
"Okay! I'll ask Pell and Chaka later. But... Captain Ikki, can you promise sothing?"
"What is it? We're crew mbers—I'll agree to whatever I can."
"It's not too difficult. I want to ask you to teach Chaka and Pell your sword skills. I think that would make it easier for to get their swords," Vivi whispered.
After everything that had happened with Baroque Works, Vivi felt more strongly about the importance of having strength to protect a country.
"Captain Ikki, you once taught a Marine nad Tashigi the Water Breathing swordsmanship. You can teach other people related sword skills too. To prevent sothing like Crocodile from happening again in Alabasta, I hope this country can have two stronger fighters. Captain Ikki, can you grant this small request from your crew mber?"
As she spoke, Vivi reached out and grabbed Ikki's hand.
"Teach Chaka and Pell swordsmanship?" Ikki looked at them thoughtfully. "That's not impossible. I'll be staying in Alabasta for a few days anyway. I can use this ti to teach them. But whether they can learn it depends on their talent. You understand that, Vivi."
The breathing sword styles weren't easy to learn. Without the system's power-up items to quickly master the techniques, one had to rely on natural ability to learn the breathing styles. Ikki didn't think everyone in this world had the qualification to learn breathing techniques like Tashigi did. Not many people could master Water Breathing as quickly as Tashigi and learn other breathing techniques.
"Thank you, Captain Ikki. As long as you're willing to teach them, I'm happy," Vivi smiled brightly and hugged Ikki's arm tightly.
Cobra, walking ahead, saw this and beca more convinced of what Nico Robin had told him before leaving.
'Vivi has finally found her ho,' he thought. 'After what Robin said, it seems Vivi wants to go adventuring with Ikki. With his strength, he should be able to protect her. The only issue now is the wedding. Since they're already expecting a child, we need to hold the wedding as soon as possible.'
Cobra nodded to himself, then approached Chaka who was standing nearby and asked in a low voice, "Chaka, is everything for the wedding ready?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," Chaka patted his chest reassuringly. "Everything is prepared, and the announcent has been distributed throughout the country."
"Excellent. That puts my mind at ease," Cobra replied, patting his chest with a relieved expression.
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