Deep inside the palace, a room was still brightly lit.
"Damn it… this is terrible."
"If only they could leave this island safely… the Marines are moving far too fast!"
Igaram stared anxiously at the wanted posters lying on the table.
Two nas were printed clearly on them.
Wanted Poster
Roronoa Zoro
Forrly a famous pirate hunter from the East Blue, now a mber of the Straw Hat Pirates.
During the Alabasta conflict, he defeated mbers of Baroque Works and caused extensive casualties among Marines and civilians. Considered extrely dangerous to the Kingdom of Alabasta.
Bounty: 60,000,000 Berries
Dead or Alive
Straw Hat Luffy
A pirate born in the East Blue. User of the Gum-Gum Fruit, a Paracia-type Devil Fruit.
Responsible for major destruction during the Alabasta incident. Considered an extrely dangerous criminal.
Bounty: 300,000,000 Berries
Dead or Alive
"Mr. Igaram… with bounties this large, soone at the level of a Marine Headquarters Admiral will definitely get involved," Chaka said worriedly.
"There's no turning back now, Luffy…" Igaram sighed.
"You defeated one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, after all."
Guest Room
"Princess Vivi!"
Igaram burst into the guest room.
But only Vivi was inside.
"Princess Vivi… where are they?"
His right hand tightly gripped the two wanted posters.
"What's wrong, Igaram? Why are you so flustered?" Vivi asked calmly, though her smile seed a bit forced.
"Where did Luffy and the others go?"
"They've already set sail," she replied quietly.
"After all… they're pirates."
"What?!"
Igaram's grip loosened.
The two wanted posters slipped from his hand and drifted to the floor.
Alabasta Coast
On a pirate ship anchored near the shore, the crew had already been defeated.
"Listen up! Pirates are the worst scum in the world!"
Forr pirate turned Marine Headquarters Seaman Third Class Jango shouted proudly.
"Hey, what are you talking about?" another Marine said.
"Weren't you a pirate before too?"
It was Seaman Third Class Fullbody, known for his "Iron Fist."
"…You're right."
"Co on, baby! Let's dance!"
The two began dancing on the deck railing.
"They seem to have finished dealing with the enemy ship," a Marine lookout reported while peering through binoculars.
"…But why are they dancing?"
"That's way too slow," another Marine muttered.
"I trusted their abilities, so I left the remaining enemy ship to them," said Hina, clearly displeased.
"Hina is very dissatisfied."
"Is the warship ready?"
"Yes, everything is prepared!" a Marine reported with a salute.
"The ports inside the country have been sealed."
"However…"
"Hm?"
"The Straw Hat Pirates' ship that was discovered at Ermalo has disappeared."
"…You're saying they already left the country?" Hina asked gravely.
"That's impossible," the Marine replied firmly.
"Then search imdiately."
"Check every inch of the coastline."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Desert Outside Alabasta
The Straw Hat Crew rode across the desert on Supersonic Ducks.
"This feels amazing!" Zoro said.
"So we're finally saying goodbye to the Land of Sand…" Usopp sniffled dramatically.
"Luffy… how long are you going to keep eating?" Usopp asked.
Luffy was gnawing on a massive at bone.
"Alabasta food is amazing!"
"Sanji, make this again next ti!"
"I'm actually interested too," Sanji said.
"I got the recipe from Chef Terracotta, along with so spices."
"Nami, are you feeling sick?" Chopper asked worriedly.
Nami sat quietly with her head lowered.
"Nami… want a piece of at?" Luffy offered.
"Just one!"
"Nami-swan… you're thinking about Vivi, aren't you?" Sanji said gently.
"I understand how you feel, but worrying won't change anything."
"Even though we had so much fun before… we should keep moving forward."
"…I gave up," Nami muttered.
"One billion berries."
"But it was for Vivi's sake."
"OF COURSE WE CAN'T TAKE THAT!" everyone shouted.
"You were thinking about the money?!" Sanji yelled.
"Usopp fell off the duck!" Chopper suddenly shouted.
"Nami! Stop saying things that cause trouble!" Zoro complained.
"What are you guys arguing about?" Nami snapped.
"No matter how much we worry about Vivi, there's nothing we can do!"
"Usopp fell off!" Chopper repeated.
"Just leave him!" Nami replied.
"Hehehe!" Luffy laughed.
Alabasta Palace
"Karoo! Is Karoo still here?" Igaram shouted anxiously.
"It's useless," Vivi said quietly.
"Why? At least we should tell them about the bounty!"
"I already sent the Supersonic Duck Squad after them."
"Even Karoo won't be able to catch them."
"And besides…"
"It wouldn't change anything."
"What do you an?"
"Even if they knew… they'd just laugh."
"Nothing would change."
"They'll be fine."
Vivi smiled confidently.
"Please leave, Igaram."
"I need to sleep. I have to wake up early tomorrow."
"You're right… tomorrow you'll be giving a speech to the entire kingdom," Igaram replied.
As he left, he scratched his head.
"…Sothing feels off."
"She agreed too easily."
"But I can't figure out why."
That Night — Palace
"Grrr… snore…"
Karoo slept soundly.
"It's so quiet tonight, Karoo," Vivi whispered.
"There's no chef complaining about an empty refrigerator…"
"No swordsman training day and night…"
"No navigator throwing pillows while half-asleep…"
"And no… Luffy."
mories of Luffy's smiling face filled her mind.
And the faces of the others.
Now—
None of them were here.
Earlier that day, Mr. 2 Bon Clay had called them.
He told them the location of their ship.
"I'm upstream on the Sandora River!" Luffy had said.
"Can we trust him?" Sanji asked.
"He's kind of a friend," Luffy said with a smile.
"I trust him."
"Well… if the captain says so," Zoro shrugged.
"Fine. But if he tries anything funny, I'll deal with him," Sanji said confidently.
"Then let's move," Zoro said calmly.
anwhile, Vivi stood there, struggling with her thoughts.
"What should I do…?"
Earlier Conversation
"Listen carefully, Vivi."
"We'll give you 12 hours."
Nami spoke seriously.
"After we retrieve our ship at the Sandora River, we'll pass by the East Port tomorrow at noon."
"We probably won't be able to stop."
"If you want to sail with us…"
"That mont will be your chance to jump aboard."
"We'll welco you warmly," Nami added with a smile.
"Even though it's a pirate ship."
"You're the princess of a country," Sanji said.
"This is the best invitation we can give."
"Listen, Vivi," Luffy said, staring straight into her eyes.
Until her face turned red.
"No matter what you decide…"
"You're our nakama."
Vivi's Thoughts
I never imagined becoming a pirate.
If I miss this chance…
I'll probably never have a life like that again.
But being a princess isn't boring either.
Even though the rebellion ended… the country still needs .
She rolled over in bed, unable to sleep.
Karoo slept beside her.
"If I go…"
"You'd go too, right?"
"…Right, Karoo?"
"What should I do…?"
Upstream — Sandora River
"Let's not talk about that anymore!"
"Baroque Works is finished!"
"We're not enemies anymore!"
Mr. 2 Bon Clay sat sadly aboard the Going rry.
"Move over," Zoro said while carrying a crate.
"S-sorry!" Bon Clay scooted aside.
"If we're not enemies, then why are you on our ship?" Usopp asked suspiciously.
"How heartless!" Bon Clay cried.
"If I hadn't boarded your ship, do you know what would've happened?"
"The Marines would've taken it," Nami said.
"Exactly! Not maybe—definitely!"
"So you protected the Going rry for us," Luffy said calmly.
"Thanks, Bon Clay."
He flashed his signature grin.
"So because of the Marines, you can't leave the island either," Zoro said.
"You want to travel together."
"Exactly!" Bon Clay cried dramatically.
"In these troubled tis!"
"Let us unite in the na of friendship!"
"Anyway… thanks," Luffy said.
Then he turned toward the open sea.
His eyes sharpened.
"Raise the flag."
"Set sail."
"Launch the ship!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The Going rry sailed out of the Sandora River.
Standing at the bow, Luffy felt the salty wind brush across his face.
He murmured quietly:
"Marines…"
"Co."
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