The clouds drifted across the sky, and the sea breeze gently caressed the vast ocean.
A three-masted ship flying the flag of the Alabasta Kingdom sailed steadily and slowly across the wide waters of the turbulent sea.
The salty sea breeze swept across the open deck, playfully lifting the blue wavy hair beside the ears of the young woman leaning against the bow.
"Vivi, what are you thinking about?"
From behind came an elderly voice.
Resting her chin on her hands, Vivi, who had been staring blankly at the blue sea ahead, was startled and turned around. Seeing the elegantly dressed old man behind her, her fair and delicate face broke into a cheerful smile.
"Father, I was thinking about when Vice Admiral Rorschach and Hibari will arrive. I just received a call from Hibari through the Den Den Mushi. She said that Vice Admiral Rorschach has already solved the issue in the North Sea and is on his way back. They'll be coming to meet us soon and then escort us to the Holy Land."
As she brushed away the blue curls dancing by her ear, she made no attempt to hide her thoughts. "It's been a few months since we last saw them. I miss them. Father, what do you think Vice Admiral Rorschach looks like now? Is he still the same as before? I'm afraid that when we meet again, I won't recognize him—that would be so awkward."
"You said it yourself—it's only been a few months. No matter how much Rorschach has grown, he couldn't have changed so much that we wouldn't recognize him." Cobra chuckled, his wrinkled face softening into a kind smile, clearly infected by his daughter's joyful mood.
"That's not necessarily true, Father. You probably don't know just how much Vice Admiral Rorschach has become a legend among the people and soldiers. Listen." Vivi smiled mischievously and pointed to a group of royal guards chatting animatedly nearby.
The guards' faces were full of excitement as they eagerly discussed Rorschach's past exploits.
It was clear they too had heard the news that Rorschach would soon be arriving to escort their king to the Holy Land, and they could barely contain their anticipation.
Cobra even noticed his two captains, Chaka and Pell, joining in on the conversation.
Hearing Vivi mention it, Cobra became curious and began to listen.
"You all must've heard, right? The newspapers say that Vice Admiral Rorschach is now the Navy Headquarters' strongest Zoan-type ability user—practically the strongest creature in the Marines! Who do you think would win between him and Kaido of the Beasts?"
"It has to be Kaido. He's one of the Four Emperors, the ruler of the New World. Last time he appeared, he caused a disaster that destroyed our royal capital. His power was like that of a god!"
"I disagree! Vice Admiral Rorschach is stronger! Sure, Kaido is powerful, but don't forget—Vice Admiral Rorschach killed over forty thousand pirates in one strike during the G1 Great Naval Battle, and he even defeated the Golden Lion! You know who the Golden Lion is, right? A legendary pirate who once stood alongside Pirate King Roger and the world's strongest man, Whitebeard!"
"Whatever the case, they're both monsters—gods who can destroy nations with ease. But what I really want to know is what Vice Admiral Rorschach actually looks like."
"Didn't he stay on Saintin Island for ten days last time? You didn't see him?"
"Of course I did! But haven't you read the papers? They said Vice Admiral Rorschach is eight meters tall, covered in muscle, looks fiercer than Kaido, can shatter islands with one punch, and eats ten Sea Kings in one meal!"
"No way! I heard he's three hundred meters tall and can crush a pirate ship with one step! The pirates of the New World tremble just at the mention of his name!"
Listening to their wild chatter, Cobra's mouth twitched.
Seeing his daughter cover her mouth, giggling, he shook his head helplessly.
"These rumors are way too exaggerated."
"Can't be helped, Father. Vice Admiral Rorschach's too dazzling now. Even I can't be sure if he still looks like the last time we saw him. He might look more like… this."
Vivi looked around sneakily, then pulled out a small pouch from her waist and carefully took out a stack of neatly trimmed photographs. From them, she selected one and held it up in front of Cobra.
"What's that?" Cobra peered closer and froze.
In the photo, a tall, slender young man with shoulder-length silver hair and blue eyes like twin stars wore a pristine white naval uniform. His black gloves gleamed, and his polished boots shone under the light.
Seated casually on an ornate chair, he leaned lazily against the armrest, his right hand curled into a fist and propped under his sharp chin. His gaze—cool and piercing—seemed to look directly through the photograph.
"This is… Rorschach?"
Cobra frowned, uncertain.
He knew Rorschach well, and the face and demeanor weren't far off—but…
"Where did you get this? From what I know of Rorschach, he doesn't seem like someone who'd pose for a picture like this."
Vivi's face turned pink. She looked away and mumbled softly, "It—it was from a merchant caravan from Queen's Spring City. I paid over ten thousand Beli for it. They said it's a photo from Vice Admiral Rorschach's photo collection…"
"Cough! Photo collection?!"
Cobra nearly choked on his own saliva.
"What nonsense! Someone like Rorschach would never take such shameless pictures! Even if it was for the Marines' public image, the Navy Headquarters would never allow that! Vivi, you were scammed."
Vivi blinked and looked back at the photo, uncertain. "But… the merchants said it was guaranteed by the Bounty Hunters Guild. They swore it's really Vice Admiral Rorschach! They even said they've signed a long-term partnership with him—if I buy the first volume, I'll be eligible to buy the next ones, and even the ultimate collector's edition…"
Cobra sighed and covered his face.
He was sure of it now—definitely fake.
Probably the work of some impersonator like that Baroque Works agent, Bon Clay, who once mimicked others' appearances.
Still, seeing the dreamy smile on Vivi's face, he knew no amount of explanation would convince her otherwise.
He felt a headache coming on.
What should he do? His beloved daughter was clearly smitten with that boy.
Just thinking about how Rorschach had rejected his offer of royal status last time made Cobra's chest tighten with frustration.
As he sighed, Pell and Chaka approached.
"Your Majesty, Princess Vivi, please return to the cabin. Ahead lies the Devil's Triangle—a region even more dangerous and mysterious than the Turbulent Sea. It's unsafe to remain on deck."
"The Devil's Triangle?" Vivi blinked and turned around. Ahead, a thick fog had appeared, cloaking the sea in shifting mist.
The deeper they looked, the less they could see. Even the water's surface had vanished from sight, and vague shadows flickered within the fog.
Instead of fear, curiosity sparkled in Vivi's eyes.
"I've heard many legends about this sea. The Warlord of the Sea, Gecko Moria—the one Vice Admiral Rorschach defeated outside Alubarna—was said to hide here! They say ghost ships sail through this fog, empty but still drifting across the sea…"
Vivi leaned over the railing, gazing around with excitement, showing no intention of heading inside.
"Princess Vivi, please, enter the cabin. We'll keep watch outside," Pell urged again.
"Let Father go in, it's fine for me to stay. Don't forget—I'm a Logia-type user now! Even you and Chaka can't beat me. Which means, right now, I'm the strongest person on this ship!"
Vivi winked playfully, raising her right hand. It dissolved into flowing yellow sand that swirled in midair before reforming into her hand again.
Pell and Chaka exchanged helpless glances.
She wasn't wrong.
The strongest person on board was Princess Vivi herself.
After inheriting Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit, she had learned many techniques over the past months. Though her stamina still lagged behind, the sheer dominance of a Logia fruit placed her above anyone without Haki.
In fact, within the ancient texts of the Nefertari royal line, Vivi had found extensive records on how past monarchs—former wielders of the same fruit—had honed and mastered it.
With those teachings, her control over the ability grew deeper by the day.
Perhaps, one day, this desert princess would surpass the previous Sand Crocodile himself.
Just as Pell and Chaka were about to answer, Pell suddenly noticed a bright light flickering in the mist ahead.
"What's that?" he muttered.
"Hm? You see something, Pell?" Vivi turned to look.
The glowing light in the fog grew steadily brighter.
If not for the sun overhead, they might've thought it was dawn breaking from within the mist itself.
The radiant glow pierced through the haze like a golden sun rising over the Devil's Triangle.
Then, in the next instant—
The sea beneath their ship churned violently. The water roared and split apart, revealing a deep, dark abyss below.
The fifty-meter-long vessel plunged into the sudden chasm like a small fish swallowed whole, vanishing beneath the waves.
The golden light drifted deeper into the mist, then slowly disappeared.
The surrounding waters shimmered faintly with scattered golden hues.
Minutes later, a warship soared overhead, breaking through the clouds.
Aboard it, Rorschach scratched his head in puzzlement, scanning the endless sea of fog below. His Observation Haki swept across tens of miles—but he still couldn't sense Vivi's ship anywhere.
"Strange… where did Vivi and the others go? Hibari, call them—see where they are now."
End of Chapter)
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