Nefertari Vivi looked at the Marine Captain sitting before her.
She felt a sting of disappointment, of course. Yet, burdened by the weight of her country and home, Vivi hadn't given up hope. Alabasta still needed her. As its princess, how could she abandon her country and her people, especially now? And this mission hadn't been without its unexpected turns. She'd only come to the East Blue originally to carry out a simple promotion mission assigned by Baroque Works. She never imagined...
The Marine Captain, supposedly a partner to Baroque Works' elusive president, had just casually betrayed that partner and exposed the president's true identity and purpose. It felt completely surreal. Was the goal she'd worked so hard for, risking her life, infiltrating Baroque Works, really achieved just like that? Betrayed by one of their partners? Even now, she could barely believe it.
Still.
"While I don't know your exact relationship with Crocodile," Vivi, wrapped in a blanket, still managed a deep bow, her expression serious. "Thank you so much for your help."
She straightened up. Hearing such a startling secret seemed to have driven much of the lingering chill from her body. Taking a deep breath, her voice was steady, unwavering.
"Since I now know who is truly behind the situation in Alabasta, I won't give up, no matter what! As the princess of Alabasta, I absolutely will not abandon my country or my people, no matter who the culprit is."
A brave, strong, yet gentle resolve shone through her words.
Unlike some who might only hide and rely on others, Princess Vivi faced impossible odds with remarkable courage. Even knowing the enemy was likely unbeatable for her, with no aid in sight, she still chose to stand tall against the terrifying threat.
Even Kuzan beside her showed a flicker of approval on his face.
Then, after a lazy yawn, his usual languid expression returned. "Sir Crocodile, Desert King. He once challenged one of the Emperors of the Sea, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, Whitebeard himself, in the New World. Got himself beaten, naturally, but the World Government decided to make him a Shichibukai anyway. His bounty before that was 81,000,000 Berries. Oh, and he ate the Sand-Sand Fruit. Logia type. Can control sand freely, turn his body into sand. Nobody normal can even touch him."
He stretched lazily, that same easy smile on his face as he looked at Vivi. Her expression had gone stiff.
"Ah, right, I'm a Logia user too. That little cold wave yesterday? My bad. It was an accident." He gave a small, apologetic shrug that didn't look apologetic at all. "Sorry about that, Princess."
"..."
"Unfortunately, as a completely law-abiding Marine Admiral," Kuzan continued, watching Vivi, whose expression had frozen into silent shock, a hint of satisfaction in his own smile. "I can't just wander into a Shichibukai's territory. Gives the World Government and Headquarters a real headache, makes the Shichibukai jumpy. So, you still planning to take him on yourself? Admirable spirit, truly." He paused, then added in a low, teasing drawl, "Also, let me tell you something interesting~"
He gave a slow, leisurely whistle.
"Yesterday, though... ran into a fellow. Obstruction of a Marine Admiral. Marine Captain, no less. Ignored his own rank for the sake of a wanted criminal, too. Stepped right over his identity, Marine law... bit of a headache. Wonder what his motive was... was the criminal particularly... pretty, maybe? *Sigh*... Shame to see a promising Marine Captain go down that road."
'Huh?'
'What?'
'Slander! Pure slander! We are just allies!' Dante's mouth twitched under Nami and Kuina's suddenly suspicious stares. He wanted nothing more than to leap up and fight the Admiral all over again.
'If you want to help Alabasta, just help Alabasta!' he thought fiercely. 'Is spreading weird rumors about me really necessary?'
'And that nonsense about an Admiral not being able to enter a Warlord's territory without authorization? Ridiculous! If he went in and forced a confession, exposed Crocodile's plot... the World Government and Headquarters would probably shower him with praise!'
'And saying Crocodile has strength comparable to an Admiral? Please! If Crocodile heard an Admiral was hyping him up like this, he'd probably choke on his cigar laughing!'
Meanwhile...
Vivi, her initial determination returning after Kuzan's first explanation, stiffened all over again at his final words.
The resolve in her eyes faded instantly. As the princess of Alabasta, she wasn't afraid of sacrifice. But what if that sacrifice couldn't save anyone? Especially against someone who'd challenged an Emperor and had a Devil Fruit power like an Admiral...
No matter how she looked at it, fighting someone like that didn't seem like something she, a Baroque Works rookie, could possibly handle.
Considering the Admiral's strange words and guessing at his true intention, Vivi turned her head to look once more at the Marine Captain before her, Dante.
Recalling the scene she'd witnessed back on the Conomi Archipelago, perhaps this Marine Captain could truly help Alabasta. Taking a deep breath, she bowed again, lower this time. "Please, save the Alabasta Kingdom. Whatever you need, Alabasta will do everything it can!"
As her desperate plea hung in the air...
Before Dante, who was acutely aware of the eyes of Nami, Kuina, and a faintly smiling Robin on him, could even begin to steel himself to reply...
*Purururu~, Purururu~*
A Den Den Mushi rang.
It was Dante's personal Den Den Mushi.
Without hesitation, Dante pulled it out and answered.
The shell of the ordinarily nondescript snail transformed into a crude, gangster-like face complete with a long horizontal scar, an earring, and a perpetually smoking cigar. A low, hearty voice boomed from it.
"Hahaha, Bro Dante! Been a while!"
Vivi's eyes snapped to the Den Den Mushi in Dante's hand, her expression one of pure shock. "Crocodile," she murmured, disbelieving.
Her gaze shifted back to Dante, suspicion and wariness clouding her features. 'Didn't this Marine Captain say he wasn't familiar with him? That doesn't sound like someone he's "not familiar" with at all!'
Aside from Robin, who merely watched with a knowing smile, even Nami and Kuina exchanged glances, their expressions registering a mixture of exasperation and disbelief.
It wasn't just that Dante knew Crocodile, it was that a Marine Admiral was standing right there. Was he really about to have this conversation in front of an Admiral?
Didn't he see the Admiral's eyes had narrowed?
Silence fell thick and heavy in the hall.
Under the weight of so many gazes, Dante covered the Den Den Mushi with his hand, chuckled awkwardly at everyone, and whispered, "I am not familiar with him! I barely know him!"
Then, uncovering the Den Den Mushi, he plastered on a strained, overly enthusiastic smile and said into it, "Bro Crocodile! It truly has been a long time!"
Yeah, that sounded like talking to a childhood friend.
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